Day 95 "New is Better Than Old" (Hebrews: Chapter 10)

There is something special about getting a new car. The way the paint shines and glistens in the sunlight, the ability to see yourself clearly reflecting off the paint, feeling the smoothness of the surface-no dings, no dents, no scratches. And we go to some extra measures to protect that look. We park where no other cars are parking. Sometimes, we might park in the middle of two parking spaces to buffer our car from people who simply open their car doors without thinking of how close someone else's car may be to them.

But no matter how protective we strive to be, suddenly, it happens! As you come walking up towards your car, you see it! Something is not right. Something looks off, something looks different. And then you discern what it is: a dent or a scratch! Are you kidding me? How did this happen! And then you realize, it really doesn't matter how or why it happened, you new car is no longer new. It's over! One dent or one scratch has tipped the scale to allow all other scratches and dents to start happening. Call it the "curse of the dent" or "curse of the scratch!" It's all downhill from this point onward. And as each new dent or scratch appears, our protective vigilance over our car lessens and our indifference grows. Until, one day, we begin to set our sights on the purchase of our next "new" car. And, so, the cycle repeats itself.

Wouldn't it be great if something new could stay permanently new? In the spiritual realm, through Christ, it does! The old covenant between God and man, based on our works and efforts, is replaced by a new covenant which is solely established by Christ's broken body and shed blood and is maintained by faith, and faith alone. This new covenant has nothing to do with our own abilities and everything to do with Christ's ability to redeem us from our sins-completely and fully! What Jesus has done is to make us completely righteous and holy before a just and holy God. Our broken relationship with God due to our sins and unrighteousness and been fully restored. And here's even greater news!: This new covenant is permanent, non-ending, and binding. It cannot be changed. We cannot screw it up! Our righteousness in Christ is guaranteed, forever!

As we enter into looking at Chapter Ten of Hebrews, some of us may be doing so with a background of having strived for so long to live your life favorable before God, always anxious and fearful not really knowing how God is judging you and deciding your fate. Are you bound for blessing or bound for punishment? Here, in the book or Hebrews, along with what we have discovered in the book of Romans, comes the understanding that it is not our righteousness that matters. All that matters is Christ's righteousness on our behalf! It is Jesus, and Jesus alone, who has set us free from our old nature to live a new life, under a new guardian, God's Holy Spirit and God's grace which is established for us in God's love. God is for us, not against us!

Hebrews: Chapter 10

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves."

Hebrews 10:1

"For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship."

Hebrews 10:1

"If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins."

Hebrews 10:2

"it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

Hebrews 10:4

"I (Jesus) have come to do your will, O God."

Hebrews 10:7

"He set aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus once for all."

Hebrews 10:9-10

"But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."

Hebrews 10:12

"because by one sacrifice he has made perfect, forever, those who are being made holy."

Hebrews 10:14

"Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

Hebrews 10:17

"And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin."

Hebrews 10:18

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to

cleanse us from a guilty conscience."

Hebrews 10:19-22

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,"

Hebrews 10-23

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

Hebrews 10:24

"Remember those earlier day after you received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering."

Hebrews 10:32

"Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions."

Hebrews 10:33-34

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe

and are saved."

Hebrews 10:39

Key verses to me:

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves."

Hebrews 10:1

"it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

Hebrews 10:4

"He set aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus once for all."

Hebrews 10:9-10

"because by one sacrifice he has made perfect, forever, those who are being made holy."

Hebrews 10:14

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to

cleanse us from a guilty conscience."

Hebrews 10:19-22

If Jesus makes us holy, then there stands nothing left to accuse us. Hence, that is why you will find Romans 8:1 stating, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ." Let that thought settle in your mind and soul and set you free. If there is no longer any condemnation, then there is no longer any need to fear. Rather than striving to obtain something, know that you already have it! It is in your possession. Therefore, the motivation by which you live the rest of your life can be totally new and different than the old one. The new life is all about living with the faith and understanding of what it is that you now have. Your old life was burdened with what you were seeking and striving to attain. What God's word is telling us is to strive no more. In Christ, you have become God's child-perfectly loved, perfectly restored. Unlike the new car becoming dented or scratched, your imperfections no longer matter. No matter what faults and failures you incur in this life, God will always and forever see you through the life of his one and only Son, Jesus. You have been set free from a life in bondage to sin, to live a new life ahead lead by the Holy Spirit and inspired by God's love.

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"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

When you look at life with an eternal perspective, it changes everything! What say you then, do you want to live life by fear or by love?

In his love, make it a great day! See you tomorrow...

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)