BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2019

  • The New Covenant of Grace!

    Scripture reading for October 23rd:  Hebrews 8, Psalm 62, Proverbs 27

    Key Scriptures:  Hebrews 8:6-7, 13 “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.  For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.  . . . In speaking of a new covenant, He makes the first one obsolete.  And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” 

    Christ’s ministry was far superior to that of Moses.  Moses was the mediator of the old covenant of law.  Those who obeyed would live, an impossibility because of our sin nature.  Christ’s covenant was one of grace through faith.  If we repent of trusting in our own good works and believe on Jesus, we will be saved.  The old covenant is obsolete–out of date!  It has been replaced by something new and better–forever!

    Faith Confession:  I thank God for the new covenant based on grace through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  I live by faith in the gift of eternal life and receive grace to stand forgiven before God in Christ Jesus my Lord.  Keep me from the danger of self-righteousness.

    Proverbs 27:12 “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”    

     

     

  • Eternally Secure in Christ!

    Scripture reading for October 22nd:  Hebrews 7, Psalm 61, Proverbs 26

    Key Scriptures:  Hebrews 7:22-25  “And it was not without an oath.  For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this One was made a priest with an oath, but  this One was made a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever,’” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.  The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever.  Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

    Jesus Christ, Messiah, was declared by God to be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.  God’s decree is eternal and will never change.  There was no official record of Melchizedek’s birth or death.  His priesthood is eternal by the oath of God.  Jesus is alive forever and joins that eternal priesthood as our High Priest.  He can save all who come to Him and keep them safe eternally!

    Faith Confession:  I am thankful that Jesus Christ, Son of God, my High Priest, is able to save me completely and eternally.  God’s Word is truth and will never change!  Praise the Lord Jesus!

    Psalm 61:4-5 “Let me dwell in Your tent forever!  Let me take refuge under the shelter of Your wings! (Selah)  For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your Name.” 

     

  • Never turn back!

    Scripture reading for October 21st:  Hebrews 6, Psalm 60, Proverbs 25

    Key Scriptures: Hebrews 6:4-8 “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt.  For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.  But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.”  

    The writer of Hebrews addressed the subject of apostasy, the turning away of a believer in Jesus from a relationship with Him.  There were Jews who had been saved by putting faith in Jesus Christ as Messiah.  They had received the Holy Spirit and been taught the Word of God, understanding the gift of eternal life and the coming age of Christ’s eternal rule.  Because of persecution, family pressure, or the lure of this world, they had fallen away from a relationship.  The end result of apostasy is the Lake of Fire.

    Faith Confession:  I believe in Jesus Christ and have placed my faith in Him, never to turn back.  I have been filled with the Holy Spirit and now know God as my Father.  Lord help me to stand firm and receive my eternal inheritance.

    Proverbs 25:26 “Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.”  

     

  • Reverent submission and obedience!

    Scripture reading for October 18th:  Hebrews 5, Psalm 59, Proverbs 24

    Key Scriptures:  Hebrews 5:7-9  “In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.  Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.  And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

    Jesus was the Son of God, but came to earth in a human body, subject to all its weakness and limitations.  Jesus relied upon prayer and reverent submission to His Father in heaven and obeyed Him perfectly.  He learned obedience through suffering because of it.  Because of His willing and perfect obedience, He could become the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him!

    Faith Confession:  I believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and my Savior and freely choose to obey His Word.   He is the source of my salvation from the consequences of sin and my power to live a life free from sin by obeying Jesus.  I bow in reverence to Jesus Christ, my Savior!

    Psalm 59:9-10 “O my Strength, I will watch for You, for You, O God, are my Fortress.  My God in His steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.” 

  • Our Great High Priest

    Scripture reading for October 17th:  Hebrews 4, Psalm 58, Proverbs 23

    Key Scriptures: Hebrews 4:14-16  “Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  

    The writer of Hebrews saw Jesus Christ as our great High Priest.  He was able to come to our aid, because He had been tempted in all ways like other human beings.  Unlike other humans, Jesus Christ was without sin.  Because of this, death and the grave could not hold Him and He was resurrected to the right hand of God.  We can have confidence to draw near to Him on the throne of grace and find help and mercy anytime we need it.

    Faith confession:  I have a great High Priest, Jesus Christ, who understands my weakness and is able to come to my aid.  I can go to Him anytime and have confidence in His wisdom, instruction,  mercy and help.

    Proverbs 23:22-23 “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.  Buy truth, and do not sell it; by wisdom, instruction, and understanding.”  

  • Holding firm our confidence!

    Scripture reading for October 16th:  Hebrews 3, Psalm 57, Proverbs 22

    Key Scriptures: Hebrews 3:12-14 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”  

    This letter contains a warning against unbelief and falling away from the living God.  It is possible to let go of our confidence in Christ Jesus and again be overcome by the sin of unbelief.  We are charged by God’s Word to exhort one another to stand firm and watch over each other and our own hearts for hardening through the deception of sin.  Today is the day to be watchful!

    Faith Confession:  I am watchful today for sin’s deception in my life.  I do not want to be hardened by the sin of unbelief and fall away from the faith.  Help me to watch over my own heart and others in my life who believe and exhort them today.

    Psalm 57:1  “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge, in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”

  • The Founder of Salvation

    Scripture reading for October 15th:  Hebrews 2, Psalm 56, Proverbs 21

    Key Scriptures: Hebrews 2:9-10 “But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.  For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

    The writer of Hebrews shared how God the Father sent His Son from heaven to earth, to take a position lower than the angels.  Jesus willingly suffered death, taking the penalty for our sins upon His own body and suffering that taste of death for each one who would believe on Him.  God then crowned His own Son with glory and honor, declaring Him perfect through His obedient life,  by raising Him from death.   Jesus is the founder of all salvation!

    Faith Confession:  I believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, who is the source of all creation and the founder of all salvation.  I am a son destined for glory through His suffering on my behalf.

    Proverbs 21:21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”  

  • The oil of gladness!

    Scripture reading for October 14th:  Hebrews 1, Psalm 55, Proverbs 20

    Key Scriptures:  Hebrews 1:7-9 “Of the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.”  But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”  

    The writer of Hebrews extolled the Son of God as God’s final Word from heaven.  The Son was better than angels who were ministering spirits to us the heirs of salvation.  The Son’s throne was forever and His ruling ‘scepter’ was one of righteousness.  His righteousness was a perfect love of truth and a constant hatred of evil.  This earned Him an anointing with the oil of gladness!  Joy comes from perfect obedience!

    Faith Confession:  The Son of God, Jesus Christ rules on an eternal throne at the right hand of God the Father.  His throne is established in righteousness according to His perfect obedience to God’s Word.  He loved righteousness and hates evil!  I have joy because I am submitted to His rule!

    Psalm 55:22-23 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.  But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days.  But I will trust in You.”

     

  • The blessing of sharing our faith!

    Scripture reading for October 11th:  Philemon, Psalm 54, Proverbs 19

    Key Scriptures:  Philemon 4-7 “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.  For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”  

    Paul wrote to Philemon, a friend and fellow church member, from prison.  This letter accompanied Onesimus, Philemon’s run-away slave who had been miraculously saved under Paul’s ministry in Rome.  Paul wrote to ask Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother.  As he began the letter,  he thanked God for Philemon’s faith and love for Jesus and for his ministry of refreshing the other believers in the church.  He prayed that Philemon would possess a full knowledge of every good thing in him through the sharing of his faith.

    Faith Confession:  Through the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have come to a more complete knowledge of everything I have in Jesus Christ my Lord.   Lord, fill me with faith and love to refresh the saints!

    Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rest satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”  

     

  • Regenerated and renewed!

    Scripture reading for October 10th:  Titus 3, Psalm 53, Proverbs 18

    Key Scriptures:  Titus 3:3-7 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  

    All of us humans have a common history.  We were foolish and in slavery to our fleshly passions before hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   But when the good news of Jesus Christ was preached to us and we repented and believed on Him, He saved us by a gift of His grace.  He washed us with His own blood, and regenerated us through new birth.  He renewed our life when we received the gift of the Holy Spirit, marking us as heirs of the gift of eternal life, the nature of God Himself.

    Faith Confession:  I used to walk according to my fleshly passions, but I heard the good news of Jesus Christ.  I repented of my sins and passions and received regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit.  I am an heir of eternal life!  Praise the Lord!

    Psalm 53:3 “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”  

    Psalm 53:6  “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!  When God restores the fortunes of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”