You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
Heb. 8:13
13 In [en] that he saith [lego], A new [kainos] covenant, he hath made [palaioo] the first [protos] old [palaioo]. Now [de] that which decayeth [palaioo] and [kai] waxeth old [gerasko] is ready [eggus] to vanish away [aphanismos]. KJV-Interlinear
13 When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. NASB
God himself made the statement. Jeremiah just wrote the words.
Jer. 31:31
31 'Behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will make a new covenant' NASB
'New' means a cancellation of the former. Even in Exodus, Moses wrote the words from God that all would be priests, a nation of priests. And yet, Moses also wrote the formation and rules for the Levitical Priesthood - a temporary group which was to function only until the sacrifice of the Messiah.
When Jesus Christ came and was crucified and after His spiritual work had been finished on the Cross, then He died physically. Immediately, there was a great storm, an earthquake, and the curtain which separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom.
The restrictions on the priesthood had been thrown out and now the way was open for all of mankind to approach God, but now they had to approach through the Cross, the reality, and not through a Levite priest.
Judea remained defiant toward God and that defiance turned eventually toward Rome. All defiance toward God eventually turns equally toward someone, or something in this world. That trouble ended up in the destruction of Jerusalem, and specifically the Temple.
The place of sacrifices was destroyed, permanently.
They were destroyed because they were no longer necessary. We have a new command, 'This do in remembrance of Me.' And so we celebrate the communion, as many call it today. But again the communion is yet another ritual for remembrance. The real remembrance of Christ comes with Bible study and having doctrine inside of the soul. That is the place of the real spiritual life, of real spiritual power, of real spiritual faith, of the real spiritual life.
There are other things that are growing old and will become obsolete. This world is growing old and will be discarded at the end of the Millennium. Your physical body grows old every day and will eventually be discarded. Your physical body replacement will be your resurrection body. That for us will come at the Rapture.
All of your things and interests are becoming obsolete with each passing day. Your cars and real estate, your toys and hobby things, clothes, jewelry, the things that interest you, your career, your work, your social life, everything that you have and enjoy in life, all these will eventually be discarded. You lose it all when God removes you from this world.
The only things in this life which you can have now, and can keep for your very own possession, are your spiritual assets, your spiritual growth. These you keep within your soul forever. You can never lose them. That is, God will never take your spiritual resources away from you.
Now, you can become negative and indifferent and lose your spiritual advances, but you can never lose your salvation. And, if you remain positive toward God and doctrine, then you will never lose your spiritual gains.
The book of Hebrews is a book of glories - honors, distinctions, blessings, and so forth. The greatest glories come only to mature believers. God gives us many incentives to encourage us to advance in our spiritual life, so that those glories can become a reality in our life both now, and forever.
Some blessings are meant for this life. The greater blessings are designed for the next life.
God gives each and every believer in Christ, His Son, Jesus Christ, as our very own intermediary to the Father. Christ gives each and every believer, the Holy Spirit as our very own source of divine power to help us advance in our spiritual life. God gives us His doctrine - the source of our strength and growth.
We provide nothing in this whole effort, except our positive volition, our willingness learn and grow. We have an opportunity to have a tremendous future both now in time and especially in eternity. The only thing keeping anyone from seizing hold of that future is ones own resistance to growing up spiritually.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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