Sunday
Morning Bible Study
October
7, 2018
Announce
We wanted to take a few minutes this morning and give you a peek into some
future tech we’re developing.
If you were here two weeks ago, you heard me announce that we’ve opened up
a new way to give.
We are now using “PushPay” to broaden the ways you can give, even allowing
you to “text to give”.
You send the message “ccfullerton give” to 77977.
You’ll receive a message back with a link to our Pushpay portal.
The first time you will need to take a minute to enter either a credit
card, debit card, or set up an ACH withdrawal from your checking account.
After that, it’s a simple 10 seconds to click and give when you go back to
that weblink.
You can also reach the portal from our website.
Be aware that there is a transaction fee of 1-3%, and no, you don’t have to
give through PushPay – putting a check or cash in the offering still works just
as well.
In addition, we’re about a week or two away from making our public launch
of our new smart phone app.
Right now we’re doing our beta testing – and it looks like this.
When you download the app, you will be able to click to our live webcast,
look at recent messages, look at my sermon notes, have an online version of the
bulletin, prayer requests, and when we have events like a retreat, you’ll be
able to click, register, and pay right from your phone.
Introduction
The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers.
The author expects the
readers to be well acquainted with Levitical worship and sacrifice.
He will constantly quote the Old Testament in a way that expects that the
reader understands what he’s talking about.
We also know that these believers were encountering very strong
persecution.
Times were so bad that some were beginning to wonder if they shouldn’t quit
following Jesus.
We will see three elements woven throughout this letter to the Hebrews.
1. Both Testaments
Even though the Old Testament has become “obsolete” (Heb. 8:13), the entire
book of Hebrews is built upon the clear foundation of the Old Testament.
(Hebrews 8:13 NKJV)
In
that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what
is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
You aren’t going to understand Hebrews, or even the New Testament correctly
unless you learn the Old Testament.
2. Jesus is superior
He’s superior to angels, Moses, and the Torah.
He’s superior to the Levitical priests and their sacrifices.
3. Don’t quit
The ultimate goal of the book is to encourage those who are struggling with
difficult times, and help them to endure.
10:1-4 Animals Not Enough
:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not
the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they
offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
to come – mello – to be about; to be on the point
of doing or suffering something; to intend, have in mind, think to
image – eikon – an image, figure, likeness
the things – pragma – that which has been done, a
deed, an accomplished fact; what is done or being accomplished; that which is
or exists, a thing
year – eniautos – a year, in a wider sense, for some fixed definite period
of time
sacrifices – thusia – a sacrifice, victim
offer – prosphero – to bring to, lead to; to
bring a present or a thing, to reach or hand a thing to one
continually – dienekes – continuously, continuous
never – oudepote –
never
can – dunamai –
to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or
of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of
law or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful
who approach – proserchomai – to come to, approach;
draw near to
make … perfect – teleioo – to make perfect, complete; to
complete (perfect); add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full; to
be found perfect
:1 having a shadow of the good
things to come
Our author has already made the
point that the Old Testament was simply a model or shadow of something greater
that was coming.
The Tabernacle was a model
patterned after heaven – meant to give men a glimpse of what heaven was like.
The Old Testament sacrificial animals
were just a picture of a greater sacrifice that was coming – Jesus.
:1 can never …make those who
approach perfect
The Law was just a model of what
was coming.
A model airplane can give you an
idea of what an airplane is like, but it’s not going to take you anywhere.
The Law was not intended to make
anyone “perfect”.
make … perfect – teleioo – to make perfect, complete
This is a word we’ve seen several
times through Hebrews, and it not only carries the idea of “perfect”, but even
“mature”.
You are not going to be a mature
Christian if you are clinging to the Law.
:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers,
once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
ceased – pauo – to make to
cease or desist; to cease, to leave off
to be offered – prosphero –
to bring to, lead to; to bring a present or a thing, to reach or hand a thing
to one
consciousness – suneidesis –
the consciousness of anything; the soul as distinguishing between what is
morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter,
commending one, condemning the other; the conscience
of sins – hamartia – to
miss the mark; to err, be mistaken; to miss or wander from the path of
uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God,
violate God’s law, sin
the worshipers – latreuo –
to serve for hire; to serve, minister to, either to the gods or men and used
alike of slaves and freemen; in the NT, to render religious service or homage,
to worship; to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the
observance of the rites instituted for his worship; of priests, to officiate,
to discharge the sacred office
once – hapax – once, one
time; once for all
purified – kathairo – to
cleanse, of filth impurity, etc; to prune trees and vines from useless shoots;
metaph. from guilt, to expiate
Perfect passive participle
:2 would have had no more consciousness of sins
If the Old Testament sacrifices were intended to make the worshippers
complete and perfect, then the worshippers would have no more guilt, and the
sacrifices would stop.
Note: Jesus has indeed given one sacrifice that has made us perfect.
You may not feel “perfect”, but in God’s eyes you are.
:3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
reminder – anamnesis – a
remembering, recollection
:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could
take away sins.
not possible –
adunatos – without strength,
impotent, powerless, weakly, disabled; unable to be done, impossible
blood – haima – blood
should take away –
aphaireo – to take from, take away,
remove, carry off; to cut off
:4 it is not possible that the blood of bulls…
Lesson
Incomplete Forgiveness
The best the Old Testament sacrifices could do was to look forward in faith
to a perfect sacrifice – Jesus.
But the Old Testament sacrifices themselves did not have the ability to do
anything with your sins.
We may not bring animal sacrifices to God in order to find forgiveness, but
people do all sorts of things to try and take away their awareness of guilt. And they too don’t work.
Some people try to do good works, hoping in the end that their good works
will somehow offset the evil of their sins.
Some people try to punish themselves for their sins.
They either sabotage the good things in their life so they
can be more miserable, or they choose to stay away from things that could be a
blessing all because they feel they deserve some sort of punishment.
What’s worse is often the person isn’t quite aware they’re
doing it to themselves.
Others just try and cover up their sense of guilt through self-medication:
Drugs, alcohol, sex.
Have you found the complete forgiveness that Jesus offers to you?
10:5-10 Christ’s Death/God’s Will
Our author is going to make some points by doing some exegesis on one of
David’s Psalms (Ps. 40:6-8)
(Psalm 40:6–8 NKJV)
—6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You
have opened. Burnt
offering and sin offering You did not require. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the
scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law
is within my heart.”
There are a few differences though in the quote.
The writer is quoting from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old
Testament.
In verse 5 he substitutes the word “body” (soma) for “ear” (hotia).
For the Messiah, it wasn’t just His “ears” that God had “opened” or
“prepared”, but His entire body.
In verse 6 he substitutes “required” with “had no pleasure”.
Verse 7 is missing the last part of Ps. 40:8.
:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and
offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.
sacrifice – thusia – a
sacrifice, victim
offering – prosphora – the
act of offering, a bringing to; that which is offered, a gift, a present. In
the NT a sacrifice, whether bloody or not: offering for sin, expiatory offering
You did not desire – thelo –
to will, have in mind, intend; to be resolved or determined, to purpose; to
desire, to wish; to love; to like to do a thing, be fond of doing; to take
delight in, have pleasure
body – soma – the body
both of men or animals
:5 a body You have prepared for Me
Our author has Jesus speaking this “when He came into the world”.
When did Jesus “come into the world”?
At His conception and then birth in Bethlehem.
That little baby’s body was “prepared” for the second Person of the
Trinity.
That “body” would one day become a sacrifice.
That was God’s plan for the “body”.
Lesson
God has plans for me
The word translated “prepared” is
prepared – katartizo – to
render, to fit, complete; equip
Have you ever wondered what you are here on this earth for?
God not only had plans for Jesus and the “body” He had prepared for Jesus,
He also has plans for us.
(Ephesians 2:10
NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
God has things for you to do, things He has specifically designed you to
do.
Illustration
Eric Liddell was the Scotsman portrayed in the 1981 movie “Chariots of
Fire”. He was a Christian. He was also an athlete.
Early in life he sensed a call from God to the mission field, but he also
felt that God wanted to use his athletic abilities.
He would end up running for Britain in the 1924 Olympics.
The race he trained for was the 100 meters, but because that race was
scheduled to be run on a Sunday, he felt he would better honor God by turning
down that race and run instead the 400 meters, which was held on a weekday.
He won gold for Britain.
Video: Chariots
of Fire – He who honors God – His Pleasure
Mr. Liddell did more than just run in the Olympics. After the Olympics, he would move on to the
other passion of his life – missions. He
served in China from 1925 until his death in a Japanese internment camp in
1945.
He had a purpose in life. He lived
for God’s glory and honor.
This is the same word (katartidzo)
is used our blessing from Hebrews 13:
(Hebrews 13:20–21
NKJV) —20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, 21 make you
complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well
pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever
and ever. Amen.
Mr. Liddell said that when he ran he felt “God’s
pleasure”. He was doing what he was created for.
Each week we receive this blessing, God is nudging you to help
you realize the purposes He has for your life.
:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
burnt offerings – holokautoma –
a whole burnt offering; a victim the whole (and not like other victims only a
part) of which was burned
had no pleasure – eudokeo –
it seems good to one, is one’s good pleasure; think it good, choose, determine,
decide; to do willingly; to be ready to, to prefer, choose rather; to be well
pleased with, take pleasure in, to be favorably inclined towards one
:7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book
it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ”
I come – heko – to have
come, have arrived, be present
volume – kephalis – a little head; the highest
part, extremity of anything; the tips or knobs of the wooden rod around which
parchments were rolled were called by this word, because they resembled little
heads; the Alexandrian writers transferred the name to the roll or volume
itself; in the roll of the book
the book – biblion – a
small book, a scroll, a written document; a sheet on which something has been
written
to do – poieo – to make;
to do
will – thelema – what one wishes or has
determined shall be done; will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure
Here is where it may get a little confusing because we saw last time how
the English word “will” is used to describe future things, but also as a
“covenant”, as in a “last will and
testament”.
:7 In the volume of the book
Just a little nugget here – this Messianic prophecy has Jesus speaking as
if the entire “book”, perhaps even the entire “Bible”, was written about Him.
You can indeed see glimpses of Jesus through the entire Bible.
:7 To do Your will, O God
If you’ve been with us through Hebrews, we’ve used the word “will” used in
terms of a “last will and testament” (Heb. 9:16).
(Hebrews 9:16 NKJV)
For
where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of
the testator.
That’s NOT what we’re talking about here.
Here the idea is that of a person’s “choice”, God’s “desires”.
Jesus came to do the will of the Father.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was facing death on the cross when He
prayed,
(Matthew 26:39b
NKJV) …“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Our author is now going to draw some lessons from Psalm 40.
:8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and
offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which
are offered according to the law),
Previously – anoteros –
higher; of rest: in a higher place,
above
sacrifice – thusia – a
sacrifice, victim
offering – prosphora – the
act of offering, a bringing to; that which is offered, a gift, a present. In
the NT a sacrifice, whether bloody or not: offering for sin, expiatory offering
burnt offerings – holokautoma –
a whole burnt offering; a victim the whole (and not like other victims only a
part) of which was burned
had pleasure – eudokeo –
it seems good to one, is one’s good pleasure; to be well pleased with
are offered – prosphero –
to bring to, lead to; to bring a present or a thing, to reach or hand a thing
to one
David (Ps. 40) was saying that the offerings that were made according to
the Law of Moses did not give God pleasure.
:9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He
takes away the first that He may establish the second.
takes away – anaireo – to
take up, to lift up (from the ground); to take away, abolish; to do away with
or abrogate customs or ordinances
establish – histemi – to
cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; to make firm, fix establish; to
establish a thing, cause it to stand
:9 He takes away the first
Our writer is simply dividing David’s passage (Ps. 40:6-8; Heb. 10:5-7) into
two parts.
The first part had to do with the sacrifices of the Law.
God had no pleasure in these things.
:9 that He may establish the second
The second part of David’s passage was about “coming to do God’s will”.
The Law was done away with and replaced by the “second” thing, which was
Jesus doing God’s will by dying on a cross.
:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all.
:10 By that will
will – thelema – what one wishes or has
determined shall be done; will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure
Jesus did “God’s will” when He died on the cross for us.
His death is what makes us holy, or “sanctified”.
:10 we have been sanctified
offering – prosphora – the
act of offering, a bringing to; that which is offered, a gift, a present. In
the NT a sacrifice, whether bloody or not: offering for sin, expiatory offering
body – soma – the body
both of men or animals
once – ephapax – once, at
once; all at once; once for all
sanctified – hagiazo – to
separate from profane things and dedicate to God; to purify; free from the
guilt of sin
Perfect passive participle
The verb is in the “perfect” tense, meaning that it’s happened in the past,
and the results continue into the present.
Lesson
Perfectly Holy
Whether you realize it, feel it, or know it –
Jesus’ sacrifice for us has made us “holy”.
Completely. Now. Once
for all.
Even though God understands where you are right now, and He sees your flaws
and your failings, He also sees you as His finished work, as complete in
Christ.
Illustration
The great artist and sculptor Michelangelo said,
“In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as
though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have
only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal
it to the other eyes as mine see it.”
You may look in the mirror and only see a stupid block of stone,
but God sees what He’s making of you.
I found a fascinating video of a gal demonstrating how she carves a
person’s face out of a solid block of stone.
First she starts with a live model and makes a clay sculpture, then takes a
block of stone and starts working.
I like what she said at the end, that she wants people to
see that she “pushed” the material as far as it could go … that they would wonder
about her reasons for carving it…
That’s like God working on us.
Paul talked about these same kinds of things when he wrote about our
“position” in Christ.
(Ephesians 2:4–7
NLT) —4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even
though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ
from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he
raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the
heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can
point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his
grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united
with Christ Jesus.
God intends that the universe would see what He’s made of
us and be amazed at the beauty of His grace in our lives.
You may feel at times like you are just hopeless, but God isn’t giving up
on you.
He knows what He’s going to make of you.
He’s making a masterpiece.
(Philippians 1:6
NLT) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will
continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus
returns.
Don’t be quick to give up on yourself. God isn’t giving up.
10:11-18 Becoming Perfect
:11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
ministering – leitourgeo –
to do a service, perform a work; of priests and Levites who were busied with
the sacred rites in the tabernacle or the temple
repeatedly – pollakis – often, frequently
never – oudepote – never
can – dunamai – to be able, have power whether
by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through
favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom; to be able to do
something; to be capable, strong and powerful
take away – periaireo – to
take away that which surrounds or envelopes a thing; metaph. to take away
altogether or entirely; the guilt of sin, to expiate perfectly
:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat
down at the right hand of God,
Man – autos – himself,
herself, themselves, itself; he, she, it; the same
one – mia – only one,
someone
offered – prosphero – to
bring to, lead to; to bring a present or a thing, to reach or hand a thing to
one
forever – dienekes –
continuously, continuous
sat down – kathizo – to
make to sit down; to sit down
:13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
waiting – ekdechomai – to
receive, accept; to look for, expect, wait for, await
are made – tithemi – to
set, put, place
footstool – hupopodion – a
footstool
:11 every priest stands ministering daily
The Levitical priests performed their sacrifices daily because they were
never “finished”. They couldn’t bring
perfection because the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins (v. 4)
:12 He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever
Jesus had a better sacrifice, so He only had to offer it once for all
time.
:12 sat down at the right hand of God
The author is again quoting from one of his favorite Messianic psalms:
(Psalm 110:1 NKJV) The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right
hand, Till I make
Your enemies Your footstool.”
This is one of our author’s favorite passages. He makes allusions to it at least five times
(1:3, 13; 8:1; 12:2)
After He was done with His sacrifice, Jesus was able to sit at God’s right
hand.
I get the idea that the author is telling us that Jesus was finished doing
any work. He now sits.
He’s already quoted this passage back in 1:13
(Hebrews
1:13 NKJV) But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My
right hand, Till I make
Your enemies Your footstool”?
He’s made allusions to it in:
(Hebrews
1:3 NKJV) 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,
(Hebrews
8:1 NKJV) Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We
have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens,
He’ll again mention it in:
(Hebrews
12:2 NKJV) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being
sanctified.
one – mia – only one,
someone
offering – prosphora – the
act of offering, a bringing to; that which is offered, a gift, a present. In
the NT a sacrifice, whether bloody or not: offering for sin, expiatory offering
has perfected – teleioo –
to make perfect, complete; add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing
full
Perfect active indicative
forever – dienekes –
continuously, continuous
being sanctified – hagiazo –
to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow; to separate from
profane things and dedicate to God; consecrate things to God; to purify; to
cleanse externally; to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin; to
purify internally by renewing of the soul
Present passive participle
We’ll come back to this at the end…
:15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
said before – proereo – to
say before; to say in what precedes, to say above; to say beforehand i.e.
before the event: prophecies
:15 for after He had said before
He’s going to take us back to Jeremiah 31:33-34, which is something our
writer has already talked about in Hebrews 8:7-13.
His point is to show from another passage that God had planned on doing
something to completely deal with our sins.
(Hebrews 8:7–13
NKJV) —7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place
would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are
coming, says the Lord, when I
will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—9 not according
to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by
the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue
in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be
their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother,
saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall
know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will
be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless
deeds I will remember no more.” 13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first
obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish
away.
(Jeremiah 31:31–34
NKJV) —31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of
Israel and with the house of Judah—32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the
day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt,
My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that
I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds,
and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. 34 No more
shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know
the Lord,’ for they all shall
know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their
iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
:16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the Lord: I will
put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”
The first line of the New Covenant was that God would put His laws into
human hearts.
covenant – diatheke – a
disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last
disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a
testament or will; a compact, a covenant, a testament
will make – diatithemai –
to arrange, dispose of, one’s own affairs; of something that belongs to one; to
dispose of by will, make a testament; to make a covenant, enter into a
covenant, with one
literally, “the covenant that I will covenant”
put – didomi – to give; to
give something to someone
:17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no
more.”
This was the last part of Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning the New Covenant.
God would no longer remember their sins.
remember – mnaomai – to
remind; to be recalled or to return to one’s mind, to remind one’s self of, to
remember; to be recalled to mind, to be remembered, had in remembrance; to
remember a thing; be mindful of
:18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an
offering for sin.
:18 there is no longer an offering for sin
remission – aphesis –
release from bondage or imprisonment; forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting
them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty
The author is using “remission” to be equivalent to God not remembering our
sins.
With the New Covenant, the New Testament, there is complete forgiveness
(remission). God no longer remembers
your sins.
That means there is no longer a need to keep making sacrifices for your sins.
:14 He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified
There are two Greek verb tenses to pay attention to here.
The word “perfected” is in one of those past tenses, meaning that it’s
already done, just as we have been “sanctified” (v.10)
The phrase “being sanctified” is a present tense, meaning that it is
something happening continually.
How is it that on one hand we’re already “perfect” and “sanctified”, and
yet we are also “being sanctified”? It’s
because we’re on the…
Lesson
Conveyor Belt
I don’t know what you think of when you think of a “conveyor belt”. Perhaps you think of something that’s
impossible to keep up with, like this:
The conveyor belt I’m thinking of is more like the assembly line in a
factory.
Here’s the tension in the Christian life:
God sees the finished product, that we are “perfect” and “holy”.
We only see where we are right now, which is far from perfect.
The Christian life we are to live is like a conveyor belt, moving us closer
and closer to the finished product.
We’ll never get there until we see Jesus, but we stay on the conveyor belt
and let Him work on us.
This is the role of spiritual disciplines, things we need to practice in
our lives.
We learn to cultivate the practice of prayer, reading our Bible, confessing
our sin, sharing our faith, hanging out with Christians.
You may not feel forgiven right now, but if you have trusted your life to
Jesus, it’s true. You are forgiven.
When we sin, it’s important that we practice “confession”.
(1
John 1:9 NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As we confess our sins, we experience cleansing and have a taste of that
perfection.
An important part of the conveyor belt is the Holy Spirit.
(1 Thessalonians
4:3–8 NLT) —3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so
stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his
own body and live in holiness and honor—5 not in
lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating
his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you
before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not
disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to
you.
Don’t misunderstand – though holiness involves our sexuality, it is a much
bigger issue than just sexual purity.
We move the conveyor belt along as we learn to yield to the nudging of the
Holy Spirit.
He’s constantly nudging us, convicting us, empowering us, all in the
direction of being “holy”, because after all He is the “Holy” Spirit.
It’s not something that happens overnight.
It’s something that will continue for the rest of your life.
Don’t get discouraged because it takes you time to learn a lesson, just
learn the lesson.