“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Most people have two kinds of manners: Private manners and company manners. When we’re by ourselves we’ll let certain things go that we won’t when other people are around, particularly people whom we are interested in impressing. Read the rest…
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
As the writer of Hebrews defines it here, faith is, by definition, a conviction about the positive existence of something we have not seen. For instance and as the writer observes in v. 3, it is by faith that we conclude the world and everything in it was created by God. We weren’t there and so we could not possibly have seen it. And yet we believe it all the same. The question here we must address in light of modern misunderstandings about the nature of faith, though, is this: Is it reasonable? Read the rest…
“…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
This is the tail end of an incredible argument that has stretched on for several chapters focused on the greatness of Jesus, our high priest. He is infinitely superior to the old system of priests and sacrifices that had been laid out under the law of the old covenant. Because of Him, through Him, we draw near to God with boldness and confidence of being received. Read the rest…
“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (ESV – Read the chapter)
This is one of the great promises of God in the Old Testament. Apart from Christ, people lack both the will and the ability to pursue a relationship with God. It’s not just that we want to, but can’t, or even that we are able, but don’t really want it. We couldn’t do it even if our heart desired it. Read the rest…
“And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, ‘Say, Thus says the Lord: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)
Ezekiel is announcing some pretty grim judgment here, but I just want to give a bit of attention to the end of this verse. “For I know the things that come into your mind.” You probably already knew or guessed this about God, but here it is explicitly stated. God knows what’s going on inside your mind. Read the rest…
The Nexus 