Archive for Hebrews

Noah’s Faith in Action

Posted in #PaulthePoke with tags , , , , , , on May 7, 2023 by paulthepoke

Doctrinal Emphasis: Faith, Believing and Doing God’s Word

Scripture: Hebrews Chapters 11-13

Key Theme: The focus of these three chapters is how one responds to God’s word once they believe it.

What is faith? Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Scripture clearly defines the concept of faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6a). Faith is how we obtain our salvation. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law (Romans 3:28). We can not work or earn our way to Heaven.

A historical review of persons with faith and their actions is discussed in Hebrews chapter 11. Faith begins with creation. God spoke creation into existence (Hebrews 11:3, Genesis 1). There are many examples of men and women with faith (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Rahab to name a few). Short term results are noted because of the faith of these men and women. All these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised (Hebrews 11:13, 39). The promise is an eternal, heavenly city.

Specifically, take Noah and his faith. We should be thankful for Noah’s belief in God’s warning and Noah’s subsequent actions. If Noah had not acted on what God told him, we would not be here. The result of Noah’s action has allowed us the opportunity of life. Could Noah have believed and not built an ark? Yes. Can people believe that Jesus died for sins of the world and not respond? Yes. In Noah’s case as well as others, faith, if it has no works, is dead (James 2:17).

Jesus is our object of faith (Hebrews 12:2).

He died for us, sinners (Romans 5:8).

The text of Hebrews Chapters 11-13 does offer description, location, and characteristics of Christ. He is the author and perfecter of faith. He endured the cross. He is at the right hand of the throne of God the Father (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus endured the hostility of sinners for us (Hebrews 12:3). Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He does not change (Hebrews 13:8).

The text offers practical advice and application to our response to faith in Jesus. Reasons for conduct are given immediately after a command. We are called to endure discipline (Hebrews 12:7). It is for our own good. Discipline allows us to share God’s holiness (Hebrews 12:10) and it ultimately yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).

Strengthen weak hands and feeble knees. We are to make the paths of our feet straight. This leads to healing (Hebrews 12:12-13).

Pursue peace with all men, otherwise no one will see the Lord. Avoid bitterness, it can cause trouble and leads to defilement, or contamination. Do not be an immoral or a godless person like Esau. He initially sold his birthright for a single meal. Later he wanted his inheritance. He was rejected. It was too late and Isaac was not going to be changing his mind. Even crying did not help (Hebrews 12:14-17, see also Genesis 27:36-39).

Let the love of the brothers continue. Show hospitality to others because some have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:1-2).

Remember fellow believers who are in prison because they are part of the body, the church (Hebrews 13:3).

Honor marriage by God’s Law. God will judge people who are unfaithful in their marriage (Hebrews 13:4).

We are to be free from the love of money and we are to be content with what we have. The Lord will never desert you, nor will He ever forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

Remember those who spoke and led you to the word of God. Consider what they did and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7).

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings. It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace (Hebrews 13:9).

We are to continually offer up sacrifices of praise and give thanks to His name. Do good and share with others, this is pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:15-16).

Obey and submit to leaders because they keep watch over your souls (Hebrews 13:17).

~

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N

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Red Heifer Update: Candidate Identified, March 2020

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy, Temple, Trend Update with tags , , , on March 12, 2020 by paulthepoke

The following is from the Temple Institute YouTube Channel.

Important update from the Temple Institute concerning the status of the red heifer candidates that the Temple Institute is raising in Israel. Rabbi Azariah Ariel, head of the Institute’s Kollel research department, and and expert on the halachic laws concerning the red heifer, reports on the heifers’ current status and the Institute’s future plans.

Red-heifer temple instititue

The Temple Institute has multiple red heifer candidates. The heifers are approximately one year old. Some of the hairs on the heifers are not quite red enough yet. Ranchers have indicated the hairs can turn the appropriate shade of red to qualify in the upcoming year.

The ashes from the sacrificed heifer will be on behalf of the people of Israel. Priests are being trained for the sacrificial procedure.

The sacrifice of the red heifer should take place across from the Temple Mount. Currently, the plan is to sacrifice the identified red heifer on the Mount of Olives.

See the link below for the Temple Institute video with Rabbi Azariah Ariel, Head of the Institute’s Kollel Research.

Let’s look at the qualifications of the red heifer per the Bible in Numbers 19:1-2.

Numbers 19:1-2 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

The ashes from the sacrifice of the red heifer are necessary for purification prior to the building of the Temple.

Interpretation of verses provided by the Temple Institute. This is the criteria used for the identification of the red heifer.

…and take a heifer… Since the verse instructs us to take a heifer, we do not purchase a calf and wait for it to grow older while in our custody; “and take a heifer” means that the act of acquisition has to take place while the animal is a heifer. However, if a red calf is available, a price can be set with its owner, and the transaction can be concluded, but we do not take possession until it reaches the proper age as mandated by the Bible.

A heifer by definition is a female cow.

…an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect… This means that the presence of as few as two hairs of any other color will render it invalid. Even its hooves must be red. It must also be totally free from any physical blemish or defect, whether internal or external. A list of blemishes that would disqualify the animal for sacrifice are noted in Leviticus 22.

…on which a yoke has never been placed. The red heifer must have never been used to perform any physical labor. This would include riding, or even leaning on her. But if a yoke were placed upon her even once, even if she were not used to plow – this would be enough to render the heifer unfit for use.

Three to four years of age is an oral tradition that has been passed down through the generations.

~

The innocent, shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross is the fulfillment of forgiveness and the release from sin.

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

As the red heifer was and will be again sacrificed outside the city limits of Jerusalem, so was Jesus Christ. As the sacrifice of the red heifer is for the purification and consecration of the people of Israel, so was and is Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Christ’s sacrifice is not only for the people of Israel, but for all the people of the world. He is the sacrifice for all sin for all time.

1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

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Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia???

Posted in Egypt/Nile River, Saudi Arabia/Sheba/Dedan with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 14, 2019 by paulthepoke

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

Midian is a son of Abraham and Keturah. This occurred after the death of Sarah.

Genesis 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

Midian settled in what is modern day northwest Saudi Arabia. The location is east of the Gulf of Suez. This is east of the Sinai Peninsula. And this is east of the Gulf of Aqaba.

Per Strong’s Concordance, there are 59 references to Midian in the Old Testament.

According to the Bible, this is the location where Moses led the Hebrew people after the Exodus from Egypt.

Horeb, the mountain of God… Horeb means: waste or desolate.

This is also the likely location of Elijah the prophet when he escaped Jezebel.

1 Kings 19:8-9 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

There is also the comments of the Apostle Paul regarding the location of Mount Sinai.

Galatians 4:25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

The following is from https://www.jabalmaqla.com/

There is a long-standing academic consensus that the story of the Exodus is entirely, or almost entirely, a myth.

This conclusion is partially based on research assuming that the traditional candidate for Mount Sinai in the southern part of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is legitimate. Although some experts believe in the credibility of that tradition, many have come away disappointed with the evidence (or lack thereof) found since the area has been heavily excavated in recent decades. The result has been a widespread rejection of the historicity of the Exodus story and proposals for over a dozen other mountains as possible candidates for Mount Sinai.

This website is dedicated to the candidacy of Jabal Maqla, which is part of the Jabal al-Lawz mountain range in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The creators of this website currently find this candidacy to offer the most compelling evidence.

Click on the link for video.

However, research regarding this candidacy has been severely limited due to a lack of access to outsiders, with aspiring visitors being arrested, threatened, harassed and blocked by Saudi security or hostile locals who believe foreigners are to be kept out of the area. The authors of this website are among a tiny group of Westerners to successfully visit the sites in question. 

The purpose of this website is to compile all of the relevant information about the theory and its purported evidences so those interested can have a single comprehensive source. The website will be updated as ongoing research yields new information.

This website is a project of the Doubting Thomas Research Foundation, and is dedicated to documenting the true location of Biblical Mt. Sinai. Among the many sites proposed, this particular location in northwestern Saudi Arabia is the best candidate for where the Israelites traveled after fleeing slavery in Egypt. As we continue to study this subject, we remain firmly dedicated to intellectual honesty and integrity, and if new information arises that suggests another location, we will follow the evidence until it leads us to the truth, wherever that may be.

This website is LOADED with all kinds of thought provoking information and photographs. Check it out… https://www.jabalmaqla.com/

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Jude: Once For All

Posted in Gospel, Jude with tags , , , , , , on November 14, 2018 by paulthepoke

Jude 1:3b …I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

Jude’s message of the gospel is intent, earnest, and urgent. With deep feeling and dire straits, Jude informs that he παρακαλέω/parakaleo or appeals to readers. παρακαλέω/parakaleo as defined by Strong’s Concordance means: to call to one’s side, call for, summon; to address, speak to, (call to or upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, teach, etc.; to beg, entreat, beseech; to encourage, strengthen. The grammar indicates Jude’s intent is continual or as a matter of habit and lifestyle. Jude is pleading with all his heart, soul, and mind.

Cross Thinkstock

Believers are called to chronically contend with intensity for the faith. Faith in what? Faith that was once for all. This is Greek word ἅπαξ/hapax. Simply put it means “once for all”. This is a reminder of the cross work of Jesus Christ. This is how Jesus manages sin, “once for all”. Christ’s one and only death is enough to cover the sins of the planet across the ages.

With Jesus, forgiveness of sin is not a one-time special offer. “For this year only…” No, you can come to Jesus any time you want. Now would be a good time. It does not have to be a special year or date. When Jesus dealt with sin, it was taken care of once and for all time. All people are covered if they are accepting of His effort and payment.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

Romans 6:10a For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all…

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Who is this for? The saints.

 

But, Jude is changing course and topic…

 

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Trend Update: Pope Francis Extends Forgivesness, Abortion, November 2016

Posted in Culture, Gospel, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 2, 2015 by paulthepoke

November 21, 2016: Pope Francis has extended forgiveness for abortion. All priests around the world have been granted this authority from the Pope. This act of mercy and forgiveness is now a permanent edict from Pope Francis.

Previously, abortion brought automatic excommunication. There were special, technical conditions where excommunication could be avoided. But as of today…

“Pope Francis delineates the path of the future life of the church so that it can always be an instrument of mercy toward everyone, without ever excluding anyone,” Archbishop Fisichella.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/world/europe/pope-francis-abortion-priests.html?_r=0

On September 1, 2015, Pope Francis announced he was granting authority to priests to forgive women for the sin of abortion. Women must demonstrate contrition for the forgiveness. The forgiveness was available during the upcoming Catholic holy year of Jubilee. At the time, it was not clear if this forgiveness would be extended after the holy year was completed. Would it be a one-time only offer? The Pope was doing this as an act of mercy during the Catholic year of Jubilee. This Catholic Jubilee year is not to be confused with God’s Jubilee year described by Moses in the Law.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/09/01/pope-allow-priests-forgive-abortion/71502832/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34118105

The Pope is a very likeable guy. He is the Pope of the people. Pope Francis is a nice man and appears to have good intentions. But, the Pope it is not capable of forgiving sin(s). Francis’ word or decree does not cleanse anybody. It is the shedding of Christ’s blood that is the forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:12 He (Jesus) entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Jesus is our High Priest. He is our representative before the Father. At this time (September 2015), we do not need an earthly priest. Pope Francis, a priest, or any other human on earth does not represent us before God the Father.

Hebrews 7:24-26 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.

With Jesus, forgiveness of sin is not a one-time special offer. “For this year only…” No, you can come to Jesus any time you want. It does not have to be a special year or date. When Jesus dealt with sin, it was taken care of once and for all time. All people covered if they are accepting of His effort and payment.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

Romans 6:10a For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all…

The Greek word for “once” is hapax. It means: once, one time, once for all. Christ’s one and only death is enough to cover the sins of the planet across the ages.

Jesus forgives all sins. There is not a list of special exemptions or conditions. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. The Greek word for “all” used by John is pas. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything. All sin is forgiven.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

God saves us from sin via the shed blood of His Son. The fine has been paid. There are no strings or conditions attached. Eternal life is a merciful, gracious gift, plain and simple.

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Trend Update: Sanhedrin, September 2015

Posted in Gospel, Sanhedrin, Trend Update with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 26, 2015 by paulthepoke

Matthew 26:59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death.

sanhedrin

The Sanhedrin of Israel is back in the news, August 2015. The Sanhedrin reconvened in 2005 after a 1,600 year absence. They oversee legal matters and future construction of the pending third temple.

http://www.heisnear.com/Sanhedrin.html

The Greek word for Sanhedrin is sunedrion. It is frequently translated as “Council” in the New Testament (Strong’s Concordance).

Who is/was the Sanhedrin? They are/were a group of 71 members. The group was made up of members from the Pharisees and Sadducees back in the day. The Sanhedrin was lead by the High Priest in the past  (Holman Bible Dictionary).

This is the same Sanhedrin who illegally arrested, tried, and convicted Jesus (Luke 22:66, Mark 14:55-56). They pressured Pilate for Jesus’ death on a cross (Mark 15:1-15).

In another sense, they are not the same Sanhedrin of Jesus’s time. They now have their own website.

http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php?title=The_Re-established_Jewish_Sanhedrin

On September 9, 2015, Pope Francis, President Obama and others are ordered by Israeli’s Sanhedrin to come before the Council. They are being charged with a poor policy toward Jerusalem. Below is a statement of the official charge.

The People Israel VS. 1. Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, the Vatican 2. President of the United States, Mr. Barack Hussein Obama 3. Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry, The White House, Washington, D.C. United States of America 4. The signatory nations to the Iran Nuclear Agreement; “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action”, (the US, Great Britain, Russia, Germany, France and China) 5. The United Nations Security Council 6. UNESCO 7. The Supreme Court of the United States of America 8. The Human Rights Court in The Hague, Netherlands 9. The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands 10. The European Union Collectively and each individually stand accused of:

Conspiracy to conduct theft of the Land of Israel from the People of Israel

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/17443#.Vd6IKflVhBc

As of August 2015, there is no current High Priest in Jerusalem, Israel. There is no Temple. There is much debate. Who will appoint the High Priest? Will the High Priest be appointed by the Sanhedrin, the Messiah, or the King?

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/994923/jewish/How-Is-a-High-Priest-Selected.htm

But…there is a High Priest. His name is Jesus. He is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Hebrews 8:1-2 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

Jesus is the King. 1 Timothy 6:14b-15 …until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords…

Jesus is the Messiah. John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name. 

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