A Great Salvation Plan

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Imagine being presented with the truth of eternal life and walking away from it. Probably wouldn’t happen, because KNOWING the truth, you’d have a hard time turning your back on it.

“Drifting away” is the problem. Drifting away is a much more common issue. Not a whole-sale sell-out, but a bit-by-bit incremental letting-of-the-sand-slip-through-the-fingers kind of event. An event that cannot really be seen. An event even the one allowing it to happen may not be aware of.

The author of Hebrews, (Paul, I think,) says, “Don’t let that happen!” That it does happen - even among those who are completely convinced of the truth is inarguable. Jesus’ warning to the church at Ephesus in Rev 2 is succinct: “Return to your first love!”

How could you leave your first love – especially when your first love is the guarantor of your salvation? It happens in various times in various ways…the drifting away…

The danger comes with a creeping emphasis of the creation over the Creator. What I can do becomes (in time) more important than Who I do it for. I drift back to establishing a personal sense of righteousness based upon the righteousness I perform rather than Who I am accounted righteous by. (Especially in comparison to others.)

Since grace is superior to the Law, (which is “the word spoken through the angels,”) we revel in the simplicity of grace and, well, the grace of grace. But there is no external framework for grace, which is its greatest power while at the same time its potential for an excuse to “wander” away. Grace takes hold only from the inside, which is the basis of its great superiority. The problem of a loss of love is this: it is invisible, it is odorless, and it is tasteless. No one else knows…and perhaps not you…that you have drifted. After all, you are still in church, and you are still serving the Lord. We must CONSTANTLY remind ourselves how GREAT our salvation is.

-  Pastor Bill

King of Kings

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." 7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." 8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." 10 And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

You have had an audience with The King. Have you ever wondered what it might be like to speak with a king – not knowing he was a king?

It might be like going to a foreign country and meeting someone who is a celebrity in that culture - but you have no idea who that person is - and so you pay them no mind. Without knowing who they are, you cannot relate to the importance of meeting them. How strange it may seem to see people surrounding that same person to seek an autograph – or to just be near them, when that person means nothing to you…

Jesus appeared to have this problem. As He ventured out from Galilee, teaching and healing, He had a difficult time convincing some, (especially the religious leaders,) of Who He was. Certainly, Jesus could have easily overcome this problem, but He chose not to. On several occasions He instructed those whom He had healed to, “not tell anyone.”

The reason, as Jesus’ life in ministry demonstrated, was that He would be found by those who were looking for Him by the Word of God. The witness of His miraculous works would confirm what had been announced beforehand in the Word. His works would be a confirmation for those who knew what they were looking for…

Which is why so many people missed Him. His own people, the Jews, missed Him almost entirely. He was crucified not by the Romans, but by His own people. Tragic.

But was this a totally lost cause? Would the Jews have a second chance to recognize their own Messiah?

This is the Book of Hebrews. The book to the Hebrews. This is their second chance to recognize their king. And not just their king, but The King of Kings.

-  Pastor Bill

Slavery and Freedom

Philemon 8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you--being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ-- 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave--a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay--not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

How would you go about advising someone to give up something very valuable in this world for the sake of Jesus Christ?

In Philemon’s case, he “possessed” another human being, by some sort of contract. (He was a slave-owner.)

In Onesimus’ case, he “possessed” freedom. His own.

Which of those is more valuable is beyond debate, but it does not lessen the point – especially for Philemon.

In order to gain his freedom, Onesimus had to “steal” it. He was a runaway slave. He was a fugitive of justice. I guess the question is: Was Onesimus really free?

Somewhere along the way, Onesimus, in his runaway state, ran into the apostle Paul. Paul evidently led Onesimus to Christ, and then an amazing transformation began to take place.

You have to wonder how long it may have taken Onesimus to confess to Paul he was actually a runaway slave. You can imagine some time had passed, as Onesimus had become a trusted ministry associate of Paul, and enough time had passed that he had become beloved and valuable to Paul – so much so Paul regretted having to part company with Onesimus.

Paul was sending Onesimus back to his owner, Philemon. He could not be certain how Philemon may respond. Would he have Onesimus jailed? (That would have been his right under the law.) If Onesimus had also stolen from Philemon before running away, Philemon could have possibly had Onesimus put to death. How Philemon would respond was uncertain.

Even without making any judgments about slavery, this is still a remarkable story of difficult moral choices Christians – and not the world – are faced with. Both Onesimus and Philemon are being forced to give up something very valuable to receive something much greater…

It always amazes me the changes Christ brings about in others, let alone myself. Onesimus became so concerned over his relationship with Christ he was willing to face loss of freedom and punishment to maintain it. How would Philemon respond to his former slave – but now brother in Christ?

-  Pastor Bill

How Can I Be Saved?

Titus 3: 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

“How did I get here?” might be a reasonable question. Or, “How can I get there?”

Our notion of what it means to be ‘saved’ began with Jesus’ late-night discussion with Jewish religious leader and scholar, Nicodemus. (Some refer to their discussion as, ‘Nick at Night.’)

Nicodemus came to visit with Jesus because he had seen and heard of the works Jesus was doing. This was an incredibly humbling action for Nicodemus to take, because, by all rights, and according to religious status and culture, Jesus should have been coming to him. After all, Jesus was the commoner, and Nicodemus was the religious leader.

But, in deference to the works, of which Nicodemus said, “no one can do these works unless God is with him,” Jesus answered and said, “I tell you the truth, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.”

To which Nicodemus responded, “How can a man be born again?”

This is THE question of salvation. Entry into heaven can be had only by being born again, and by being born again, a person is prevented from – or saved from – going to hell.

Being saved is a ‘from – to’ arrangement. I am saved from hell, and saved to heaven. Therefore, being saved is THE most important thing about my life, or any life.

But, how can a person be born again?

The Bible does a great job of answering all the questions it presents. The question of HOW a person is born again is answered right here in Paul’s letter to Titus.

We read it is NOT BY WORKS, but by MERCY, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

I am fascinated by the process of regeneration. I was generated once, but now I have been re-generated through the mercy of the God of heaven. I am saved by believing on the Lord Jesus, and asking Him to save me according to His mercy. I am aware of His answer to my request for salvation by the new life He creates in me. I am saved!

Now my justification – (or my ability to gain entry to heaven, and to be saved from hell) - is not provided by my works, but by His grace. This is how a person is born again.

-  Pastor Bill