Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of Hebrews

Chapter 3

Every House is Built by Someone

****Heb.3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Jesus; 3:2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house. 3:3 For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who built the house has more honor than the house. 3:4 For every house is built by someone; but he who built all things is God.

The writer of Hebrews makes a stark contrast between a physical home on earth, and a heavenly home in his discussion here in the book of Hebrews. He is also word specific in whom he is talking to? It is the partakers of heavenly calling, did you note that? Many helped Moses construct various objects for the tent of meeting, for pure worship of God on earth, but one should note only Moses was accredited with being faithful in that construction.

2 Corinthians 5:4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

1Cor.3:7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building.

Now the contrast is laid not by chance, but by direction of God's Holy Spirit. Christian's are not part of an earthly construction in some religion boasting in growth. Their home is but a tent on earth, not a lasting house with foundation and estate right attached to it for future generations. The tent, their fleshly bodies can be folded up in a moment to move on into the house Christ is constructing for his Father habitation and glory. Flesh is temporary, as are the labors they create.

Isaiah 40:6 The voice of one saying, "Cry!" One said, "What shall I cry?" "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field.

2 Peter 1:14 knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

Ezekiel 37:27 My tent also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This is the contrast found in all the apostles writings, that is, the Greek Scriptures, none of which has any hope or permanence on this earth. Earth and that which dwells in it, presently, is not God's creation or his home, he has not set about through religion to construct religious building; places of worship, and/or corporate religious governments to prove his Son's faithfulness in those constructions.

1 John 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's. 2:17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever.

The work Christ is faithful over is God's assignment which is his body members the temple of the living God built without human hands, but instead God's own hands holy and pure free of any corruption of this world.

James.3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."{Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27}

Please note that Christ is the builder of God's house not us, we are not accredited the building of God's house, why? Simply put, we are members not owners, and/or the head, nor the mind that is faithful to God, Christ is, we belong to him as servants to his body members. God is building the house through Christ mind a faithful fully tested and proven slave of God. Still Christ does not take credit for the work, because like body members he is under God's own headship as part of him, doing perfectly and in harmony with the will of that head making it God's project.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

Matthew 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.

Matt.19:16 Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
19:17 He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

It is false religion that makes men and woman more important in position, power, and honor while on earth that many Christian's are confused over. Religion like Satan has stolen the glory and honor by building millions of false churches to God on earth through human will, power, and wisdom. In other words, taking yeast placing it into what cannot be corrupted Christ kingdom above and corrupting the whole lump on earth. There is nothing new under the Sun when it comes to mankind's works in sin their works cannot do the works of God's temple, God's house is removing corruption from the fallen human race. For thousand's of years mankind has built in the name of God and Christ, elite, righteous structure dedicated to holiness, but what are the fruits?

Haggai 2:12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'" The priests answered, "No."

Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.{TR reads "self-indulgence" instead of "unrighteousness"}

They have blinded mankind by a false light an appearance of righteousness, many are awed, many worship these wondrous works of the flesh, and many have died willingly for false religion. Yet, not one of these works have produced a sinless person, not one has taken sin out of one human so they can live forever like Adam was created to do. But all have boasted in the flesh, and all have gladly stolen God's glory, with prided of workmanship.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

But he is faithful in all his Fathers house and he stated without an illusion of words that a corrupt tree cannot produce good fruit, and for those with ears, hearts, Spirit and truth not to be mislead. Instead focus on the truth, above, where our home is, stop the chasing the hopes of the flesh, stop planning ahead for works of the of flesh because God is not in those works.

Isaiah 49:26 I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says Yahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh.

Romans 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

Matt.7:18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
7:19 Every tree that doesn't grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.
7:20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.

Faithful Over God's House

****Heb.3:5 Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken, 3:6 but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.

Moses was not God's temple upon earth, in fact, once the tabernacle was completed, and dedicated Moses could not enter into the holy of hollies, only the high priest could once a year. Christ is God's temple, one temple, one faith, one God, one Christ, and we through Christ as many members, but one in Christ belonging to God as his temple.

Heb.12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, 12:19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, 12:20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned{TR adds "or shot with an arrow" [see Exodus 19:12-13]};"{Exodus 19:12-13} 12:21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, "I am terrified and trembling."{Deuteronomy 9:19} 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels.

1Cor.3:9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building. 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
3:11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3:12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; 3:13 each man's work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man's work is. 3:14 If any man's work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. 3:15 If any man's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. 3:16 Don't you know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you? 3:17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are. 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.

The problem facing the early congregation of God, that is, those anointed by God's Holy Spirit as body members in his temple was one of faithfulness? Not faithfulness to the physical temple, but to the Spirit temple of God. The natural ebb and flow for the flesh is to emphasis all things physical giving loyalty to flesh over the Spirit. Building as it were kingdoms upon earth physically then labeling them from God. In other words, making it man's work, using the the things revealed by the Spirit to God children as foundation stone for institutions of religion where leaders of men are honored.

2 Corinthians 3:3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

But let us note a serious warning Moses was faithful to God in the physical things he commanded him to build. However, Christ is God's temple, Christ is the house, he alone is charged with building God a Spirit temple not made with human hands, we are members of Christ Spirit work by faith. We are created as a new creation by Spirit, we are instructed by the head of the temple by Spirit, we must listen to the Spirit, and teach by the Spirit God's living waters. We are members not of flesh and blood, but Spirit, we are feed Spirit to keep us alive in the Spirit, we walk by Spirit, allowing us to live in the Word, Christ, the truth of God.

Luke 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."

John 1:33 I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, 'On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

John 7:39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified.

The world, that is, the flesh, the physical things of the flesh does not know, or can know the working of God. Subsequently, there are no institutions of God built by human hands as God's representatives on earth today even if they hold captive some of God's children. The glory was stripped by Christ death and resurrection into the Spirit from all physical things created by the flesh upon earth. All glory was given into one place, where God own glory resides in Christ the head of the congregation of God, God's temple.

Heb.1:1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 1:2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. 1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 1:4 having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.

Habakkuk 2:20 But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!"

Matthew 23:16 "Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.'

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own.

God is not building upon earth through the body of Christ things of this earth. The things of God is being built in heaven by Spirit hands of Christ for God's glory to bring all things on earth to nothing through his temple restoring God's name sanctified before all corrupted creation. Christ is doing a priestly work, not a reconstruction work through human efforts. Christ removed sin once for all times, he did not rebuild our mortal bodies into a temple of God, but instead killed our old flesh and its sin so we could enter into the Spirit making us part of God Spirit temple the Christ, as the new heavens where righteousness dwells.

John 2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 2:20 The Jews therefore said, "Forty-six years was this temple in building, and will you raise it up in three days?" 2:21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.

Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 2:13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

There is our question of faithfulness, it's not attending religious meeting, doing a work for a physical religion and/or government, nor business as weed Christ teach and practice in the ebb and flow of the spirit coming from their flesh (the world) which always pushes to glorify human efforts. Are we faithful to our head, his work unseen by this world, how are we known of God if its not by his Spirit, which is love? Can we stop the trampling of God's precious things by the power of our flesh, can we convert someone into a new creation? Can we take the weeds out of the field of wheat for God? If we use the flesh, what comes from planting flesh? Do we uses the power of this world, and then label it from God as does false religion, or do we wait upon our life, our strength, our power, our head? Who are we faithful to? Spirit or Flesh?

Isa.40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of Yahweh, or has taught him as his counselor?
40:14 Who did he take counsel with, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 40:15 Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.

Revelation 3:6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

1 John 5:6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

One is glory in the flesh, the other is an off scouring to this world, one is wisdom of this world, the other is foolishness to this world treated as dung under its foot. Yes, its true, few will find it, fewer less want it that bad, and even fewer still can endure it to the end.

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you.{literally, into your bosom.} For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you."

John 3:34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Ephesians 4:16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Don't Harden Your Heart!

****Heb.3:7 Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice, 3:8 don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, 3:9 where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my works for forty years.

Returning evil for good that is the way of the fallen flesh, but these brothers and sister were no longer in their fallen flesh according to God's judgment of them in Christ! They were to be found in faith, returning good for evil. They had confused themselves with the desires of the flesh thinking it was from God.

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'{Deuteronomy 30:12} (that is, to bring Christ down);

Romans 10:8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;"{Deuteronomy 30:14} that is, the word of faith, which we preach:

They judged God, as they judged each other under test of the flesh, the good of God's love in delivering them from false gods, idols made from images and ideas of flesh in rulers like Pharaoh of Egypt as he was God's YHWH creation. They has forgotten the sacred blood of the passover lamb that was bigger than their goodness, works, ideas or flesh which saved them out of bondage for some four hundred years. They had not stop sinning, God, God had redeemed them from their own selfish evil ways by one thing?

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 3:7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Faith in the blood! God did not look at them, as they harshly judged each other in the flesh. God looked to the faith of putting blood on the door post. Now in the book of Hebrews, Jewish Christian's wanted to bring the law of commandments that could not be kept in the fallen flesh back. Saying its righteous judgments saved them from the world of darkness they had been delivered from by Christ blood, God's great passover lamb.

Romans 3:25 whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice{or, a propitiation}, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance;

Romans 3:26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

It was a lie, no matter how fear inspiring such strong demands are upon the flesh by God's righteous laws, it could not be kept. Get the sense the context if you will? Israel was delivered not for their good name, but God's good name, God's promises to Abraham a man loved of God by his faith in Him. When our faith lacks, it is killed by our judgments. Faith comes by love for our creator and all that he has done for us, not judgment of us, that is, our evil fallen flesh.

Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

Colossians 2:13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.

James 2:7 Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"{Leviticus 19:18} you do well. 2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"{Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18} also said, "Do not commit murder."{Exodus 10:13; Deuteronomy 5:17} Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 2:12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

These brothers and sisters could not stop sinning in their flesh, if they stated they could they were liars. So if we sin, we are disobedient, and if we are disobedient we cannot please God. So how does one get delivered from this horrific place we find ourselves in? By putting faith in God's passover lamb.

Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Acts 15:9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Romans 1:17 For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."{Habakkuk 2:4}

There is no power in our flesh when standing before God's righteous law, bring it back did not fix the sin in our flesh or empower it at all unless we lived a lie, how? By judging other peoples flesh, comparing us against them as to whom is better by degrees of sin is the only power the flesh has. But standing before the perfect law of God in our fallen flesh means death, made hopeless and weak in our flesh, striking terror and fear into our heart for fear of the truthful judgment of God.

Isa.6:3 One called to another, and said, "Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!" 6:4 The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 6:5 Then I said, "Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!" 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 6:7 He touched my mouth with it, and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven."

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

No way out, like Pharaoh who trapped Israel on the red-sea, like Pharaoh great power over his slaves, who could break that yoke off of God's people neck? Who can break the yoke of the fallen flesh off our necks, only God, by faith in his righteousness, by his gift of salvation. Don't be fooled obedience does not come from the fallen flesh, it can't, it is dead in Christ, we live by faith.

Rom.7:23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

James 4:11 Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. 4:12 Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?

Enter into God Rest

****Heb.3:10 Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart, but they didn't know my ways;' 3:11 as I swore in my wrath, 'They will not enter into my rest.'"{Psalm 95:7-11}

How do we rest? Simple enough question? We stop our work pull up a chair set down and rest, but is this the rest God speaks to here? Adam was in God's rest before sinning and being put out of the Garden of Eden. He rested from his personal works, and did God's works in the Garden; God's creation and works. Everything in paradise for Adam was supplied by God, nothing was lacking. Adam and his wife had a beautiful life in paradise if they put faith, and/or trusted God.

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their army by number. He calls them all by name. by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, Not one is lacking.

Jeremiah 23:4 I will set up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, says Yahweh.

But they both failed in loving God, for without love of God there can be no trust, which is complete faith in love. Now the writer of Hebrews points to yet another time where God's people failed to enter into God's rest that of Israel going into a paradise promise land. They looked to flesh, the power within themselves to take the promise land, by their works, denying all that God had delivered them from in Egypt through God's own power. Now we as God's anointed face the same test, have we delivered ourselves into Christ our promise land?

Exodus 16:3 and the children of Israel said to them, "We wish that we had died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger."

Numbers 14:19 Pardon, Please, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your loving kindness, and according as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

Numbers 14:22 because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice;

Has the power of our knowledge delivered us into Christ? Will a religion deliver us into Christ? Who of us has made ourselves clean by our works? Who of us, raised ourselves up into being seated with Christ above in Spirit and truth? Do we understand, what works mean? Do we understand what justification means? How can anyone of us leave the primary doctrines of Christ when we are still justifying our works, as though we have placed ourselves into Christ?

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

The power of death is found in us by sin, not life. We did not give ourselves the power of life, Christ Jesus. That was a gift given us not by our works, but God's love, the very love so many claiming to be God's people deny throughout the history of mankind for personal works, in justifying themselves as deserving of.

Colossians 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Yes, our justifying that we have done something or will do something in study, meetings, good gifts, prophecy, having vision, or whatever, powerful works puts us into Christ is a lie. We have done nothing, we were placed in paradise, Christ, and we can be put out if we lack love for the undeserved gift of God's kindness. We must be marked with the seal of approval, love for God that cannot be separated from life. Christ.

1 John 4:19 We love Him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

**** Heb.3:12 Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;
3:13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called "today;" lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end:

Here we must take the context of Paul's writings in Hebrew with the rest of the Greeks writing to unlock the complete truth of God's word to his anointed children.

1 Peter 2:22 who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth."{Isaiah 53:9}

What is an evil heart for example, is it what we human consider evil, or is it what God's calls evil throughout his word? Moreover, what is the deceitfulness of sin? Once, again is it what human account as deceitfulness of sin, or God's standard of deceitfulness of sin? There are vast difference at times that we get out of context sending us down a road of salvation by works of law instead to the truth of the letter of Hebrew, which is anything but works of law rather unmerited kindness of God is saving us.

Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die."

3 John 1:11 Beloved, don't imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn't seen God.

James 4:16 But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil.

1 Peter 2:1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking.

The issue specific to the letter of Hebrew must also be kept foremost in our mind, like looking at a road map or we certainly will get off track quickly. The letter of Hebrew is proof beyond doubt Christ is the end of the law for Christian's, not the start of it for false Christian's whom teaches works of law mixed into the blood of Christ.

Matthew 13:38 the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one.

We as Christian's are deceived if we think we can rid ourselves of sin by application of God's perfect commandments, this is what Paul is arguing against in Hebrews. In other words, teaching the laws commandments takes sin away means one is deceived by the deceitfulness of sin once more. The law was not a corporate ladder where each day one works allowed them to go higher and higher until reaching the top wrung as a non-sinner, which is, exactly what all false religion teaches.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."{Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21}

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.

If you believe that three things are happening to you. 1.) you have moved away from Christ, 2.) you are hardening your hearts toward God and mankind teaching Salvation comes to them by their own works which you are better at than they are making yourself the judge and law giver, and 3.) you have been deceived by the deceitful nature of sin as Eve was in the Garden.
Romans 6:14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Sins nature started with being like God, that is, being a god, it deceived Eve into believing without God by her own life, and her good motives she was “equal” to God in not needing his life sustaining power to keep her alive forever! Not many of mankind can turn away for works of law, but neither are they going to concede they don't love God, and/or are they deserving to be his children by their own efforts.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

Matt.7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, lord, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name cast out demons? and in thy name done many mighty things? 7:23 and then I will acknowledge to them, that -- I never knew you, depart from me ye who are working lawlessness.

1 John 3:6 Whoever remains in him doesn't sin. Whoever sins hasn't seen him, neither knows him.

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

Flesh takes by its power, what power? The power of life in the flesh to fight to stay alive, the flesh demands rights to this life, it gains power by its works building a protective wall of works throughout a life time to deal with every problem which plagues this life of sin that effects all of us. However, as Eve found and we will find, God was not dealing with Eve flesh, he was dealing with her eternal life, her soul while her flesh corrupted and died.

Romans 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

She was deceived by her own flesh, the power in it, the goodness she felt in herself, by the free gift of life God had given her. Now, Paul is telling us, and those brothers back there don't be deceived by the power of your own corrupt flesh that is not what saved you, it is not the new life God has put in you, or is it righteous as you think you can make it by your own judgments of what sin. In fact, don't trust your flesh at all, its dead, a liar, it is evil towards God and his Spirit, it lust, it deceives and won't ever stop until we are called home.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

Stop trying to save it by applying God's righteous commandments to a dead person that cannot change; this is not a corporate ladder it is a free gift of God's love without the evil motives of your flesh given us without works of law.

Romans 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Can you accept that or are you demanding God recognizes your own works adding yeast to the unleavened bread of Christ? Can you rest in Christ life, his goodness, his power, his righteous blood? Now that is called faith beyond the power of this life in fighting, lying, wrangling in our own flesh. Can you stop being the judge of everything and everyone in your flesh, can you make your flesh lay down and rest? Can you find one thing in your flesh that can save you?

Rom..7:22 For I delight in God's law after the inward man,
7:23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

No! We cannot, so who is going to save us out of this body of death, which cannot, cannot keep God's standards of eternal life, where indeed is it found in heaven, on earth, in the sea, where and who can get it for us? Who cares that much about us, who would even give us the time of day?

And that my friend is the deceptive power of sin in us to deny the truth of Christ, it is in our own mouth and hearts, if we have faith, and not works of law!

****Heb.3:15 while it is said, "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the rebellion."{Psalm 95:7-8} 3:16 For who, when they heard, rebelled? No, didn't all those who came out of Egypt by Moses? 3:17 With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 3:18 To whom did he swear that they wouldn't enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 3:19 We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

The logic of the law how powerful does any subject become when formed into a legal argument? How often a person misstates something and when its brought back up years later under a legal investigation the same words make the person sound like a mass murder!

Job 31:35 oh that I had one to hear me! (behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); let the accuser write my indictment!

Revelation 12:10 I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.

Legal arguments are used to isolate statements, forming them into a prosecution causing fear and doubt for those listening to them so they are forced into making a conviction because of the power of the legal argument. But God requires faith, not legal argument to enter into his rest, it is by legality we don't enter into Christ our sabbath day. Here the brothers and sister where being over powered by the law, it sounded logical, the power, the fear of judgment the law was created to prove all were sinners. Once we divide, dice up God's love into legal requirements we lose faith in God, we distrust him, we are forced at all times to protect ourselves with legal argument by other scripture to defend ourselves against prosecution.

John 9:13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees.
9:14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 9:15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see." 9:16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them. 9:17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

John9:25 He therefore answered, "I don't know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see."
9:26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" (by the law the Pharisee's accounted Christ a sinner what an everlasting mistake judgment of sinless by laws for the sinner.)

John. 9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 9:36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" 9:37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you."
9:38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshiped him. 9:39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind."

It much like the happy couple that love each other than one of them starts reading books on how to have a happy marriage, now they realize their mate isn't doing things correctly and they become unhappy with their actions. The relationship falls into distrust, which lead to thinking the other person is selfish or they would change to follow the rules of a happy marriage, next the happy marriage ends in discontentment.

Luke 10:27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind;{Deuteronomy 6:5} and your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}

John 5:42 But I know you, that you don't have God's love in yourselves.

John 8:42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me.

So too have many been lead away from the love of Christ by a religion and their many legal teaching about God and Christ. They live in fear of the prosecution, or not being perfect enough or they become a harden hypocrite living a lie but selling to others they are the perfect Christian.

Matthew 25:26 "But his lord answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn't sow, and gather where I didn't scatter.

Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

The power of the legal argument it empowers the unrighteous over millions hiding behind the logic of law, the weak man's way of not dealing with the truth, or dealing with others like they want done on to themselves. Simply put, the reason for the letter of Hebrew to strip away the false pretense of not having faith and enslaving God's anointed into works of law. Trying to keep law did not remove sin, it did make perfect our faith, and it certainly did not make a person sinless by works of law.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

Hebrews 7:11 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 9:9 which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect;

The Christ, the love of God, the love of God, how? Towards us, in redeeming us from the legal acts of commandments something we could not do ourselves as a condemned sinner. The total unmerited kindness of God move by his own love toward us. Removing the law, removing the legality of a relationship based upon judgment into a Father son relationship with Himself, the same relationship Christ has with his own Father YHWH that fulfilled the law.

Matthew 7:12 Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Romans 2:23 You who glory in the law, through your disobedience of the law do you dishonor God?

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

Romans 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

Romans 3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;

Romans 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Entering into the rest of God's love towards us, but the key? We must rest as God has rested in his judgment (works) from the law towards us, we must stop judging God! We must stop believing the lie that God is withholding something good from us that he has both good and evil intentions towards his children, that is, both love and the judgment of the law. How can we possibly do that? It is by our faith, our complete trust in him as good.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
1:7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

We must stop thinking in works of law that we are becoming good enough, stop! We are not becoming good enough, that is a lie! We were never good enough; we have been made good enough by God's act of love in the merit of Christ Jesus. It is God who removed our judgment that makes us sinless in the life of Christ freely given us by God's love that save us completely, we must rest in that, and nothing else!

Hebrews 4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}

Rom.8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Completed: December 8, 2016

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus