I sit here this morning in awe of the graciousness of God. God was in Christ, reconciling any who would come unto him, and we read in John 1:10, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But many has received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on his name.” What a glorious passage of Scripture this morning. When we read the scripture, the prophets came and prophesied concerning many things. But when Christ came, his purpose was the will of his Father, which had sent him into the world. Listen to these beautiful words this morning. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” In John 1:9 we read that Christ when he came, was powerful: “That when the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. He was in the world, and the world knew him not.” (The one who was truth and light wasn’t recognized by many as to who He was.) Why speak thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. Therefore I speak to thee in parables: because they seeing see not, neither do the understand.” These portions I am sharing help us understand that all will not hear nor understand, but some will and those who do, come to Christ.
If we read 1st Corinthians 1:26-27 we might understand better. “For ye see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to naught things that are.” Why is that? “For the natural man receives not the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” What is God’s goal for us, as believers? Hebrews 6:1 tells us. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. Of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” We have such a need to understand the words we are hearing here. It is far more important for us to receive the engrafted word, believing and by study in the same Word of God. Basically, there are those in Verse 7 of Hebrews 6 who drink in the rain of God’s Word, being washed by the water by the Word, and receives blessing from God. But there are also those who bear thorns and briers and are rejected. Verse 8 But listen to these glorious words. “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget you work and labor of love which ye have showed toward his name, in the ye have ministered the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.” Hallelujah!
The writer to the Hebrew believers encourages the believers. “For when God, (in Verse 13 of Chapter 6) made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he ware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And after he patiently endured, he obtained the promise. “ When we believe in verse 17, “God is willing to show unto us more abundantly, because we are heirs of promise, the immutability of his counsel, and confirmed it by an oath.” Two important things:
a. It is impossible for God to lie, having given us a place of refuge
b. We lay hold of hope which is a strong anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, giving us access within the veil, to our High Priest, who makes intercession on our behalf.
“Continue in the things which thou hast heard and been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” 2ndTimothy 3:14 2nd Timothy 1:13-14 says this: “Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us.” Keep on keeping on. Be a disciple of Jesus Christ and hold fast to truth, for Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and none come to the Father but by Him.”
