In this verse is the fullness of why the Gospel is good news. The Gospel is not a list of do’s and do not’s, it isn’t a guidebook on how to live a moral life, the Gospel is the Good News that Jesus came and lived a perfect life, died a substitutionary death then rose again and lives this day as Savior, Lord and Treasure to all those that will put their faith in Him. CS Lewis said it like this: “We are not merely imperfect creatures who must be improved: we are… rebels who must lay down our arms!”  You see if the Gospel simply gave us a list of rules to follow and then said follow all of these to a “T” then the Gospel wouldn’t be good news at all it would be really awful news, because if we’re honest we all realize that if we were required to live perfect lives in-order to get to heaven, none of us would be going. But the Gospel is so much better than a list of rules, it is the fact even tho we are un-deserving and ill-deserving sinners God in His mercy and grace gave His only Son to take our place and die for our sins. Paul says it like this; For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Cor. 5:21, Martin Luther calls this verse the “Great Exchange”  meaning that Jesus exchanges what is rightfully ours (death the penalty for sin) for what is rightfully His (Righteousness) and eternal life. This is not just simply good news it is the Best News on Earth.

All for His glory and our joy

-Eden

Reflection-

The act of following hard after God is one that can be accomplished, and when it is accomplished it brings with it so many great things, but we must first realize our need for God and His love for us. Christianity teaches very clearly that in order for a man or woman to have a desire to pursue God, God must have first pursued them. Tozer said it like this; “We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to pursuit.” This is clearly seen in John 6:44, where Jesus says; “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” As the Psalmist said “your right hand upholds me”we get an idea that as we follow after God we are being held in His hands, this whole idea is very humbling and a great relief from legalism, and religion. Where as in religion and legalism say try harder do better and maybe your good will out weigh your bad in the end, Christianity says no one is worthy nor can anyone

attain salvation, but it is a free gift of grace made manifest in Jesus Christ. Sometimes this idea that salvation is a free gift can lead to apathy and the feeling that; it doesn’t matter how I live my life now that I have “fire insurance” but the Bible also clearly teaches that we must choose to answer His calling, we must as Christians respond to His pursuit with our decision to in turn pursue Him. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 42,  “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.”  There is a notion that  has become more and more accepted in the Church today; is that a person can come to Christ be converted and then go on living their life with no change in moral character. This idea is utterly false and should be challenged by us as believers in the One True God, the God that radically changes lives. So as God gives His grace to you, do not simply accept it as true; also seek to live as tho it is true and allow Him to change and bless your life by being obedient to His call and FOLLOWING HARD AFTER HIM.

For His glory and our joy,

Eden

As we study verse by verse and chapter by chapter through the book of Hebrews we will learn not only what it meant to the first hand receivers of the letter but also its relevance to the Christian of today.

Is the Old Testament just a bunch of moral stories and a list of rules? Or is it more does it reveal to us the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Reflection -

And so it is when God opens his word to our hearts.  Who has not felt the power and burning within our heart at the reading of the words of Jesus.  Hebrews 4:12 says “the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit.”  For the believer, God’s word is the fuel that drives our lives and gives us the strength to shine as we walk the Christian walk.  It offers comfort when we are low, gives us hope when we have none and convicts us when we are in sin. It can motivate and empower us to make changes that can bless our lives and the lives of people all around us.  Are you depressed or weary?  Is your sole at unrest over situations and problems that you’re facing right now?  Turn to the word of God and let him speak to you through it.  Let him light your heart on fire with a burning conviction and true power that will hold you through any situation the enemy throws your way!

May the Psalmists words prove true in your life! “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.” – Psalms 34:8

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