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Our Priestly Service – The Sacrifice of Fellowship

and do not forget to do good and fellowship. For these sacrifices are well pleasing to God – Hebrews 13:16.

We share in common within the body of the Christ and therefore need time together to grow, encourage, and share together in our salvation.

Our Priestly Service – The Sacrifice of Fellowship2023-11-27T10:38:41-08:00

The Temple

In the New Testament there are two primary words used for Temple. Hieron (ἱερόν), which describes the temple as a whole and Naos (ναός), the Holy of Holies. This is the inner chamber where God dwells as described in the building of the Temple in Exodus 26:33 as holy of the holies (קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים), where the ark of the covenant resided and only the High Priest was permitted to enter in once a year to make a sacrifice for the whole nation (Hebrews 9:7).

In Matthew, Jesus calls out the foolishness of the religious leaders who had no issue with someone swearing by the Holy of Holies and breaking their promise, but if they swore by the gold of the Holy of Holies then they were obligated to keep their word (Matthew 23:16). They had the same twisted allegiance to the sacrifice rather than the altar. Yet, the one swearing by the altar also swears by all that is on it, and the one swearing by the Holy of Holies also swears by the One who dwells in it (Matthew 23:20).

In one of Satan’s attempts to lure Jesus into acting independently from God the Father, he takes Him up to the pinnacle of the Temple, Matthew 4:5. His intent was to get Jesus to tempt God by casting Himself off the Temple, for Scripture states that His angels will protect Him. The tempting of God is not appropriate, for God cannot be tempted and tempts no one (James 1:13); therefore, Jesus rebukes Satan for even suggesting it (Matthew 4:7). In seeking to accuse Jesus, the Pharisees seeing His disciples picking grain and eating it as they pass through a grainfield on the Sabbath, tried to call […]

The Temple2023-11-25T07:51:21-08:00

Faith

Scripture defines faith (πίστις) as the substance of that which is hoped for, the conviction of accomplished deeds not seen in Hebrews 11:1. It is therefore not an attitude or belief that is dictated by probability, that is wishful thinking based upon a desire, want, or need; rather, it is a conviction based upon a promise.

Substance is referring to the underlying essence by which something exists. Christ is the exact image of God in the flesh. Through His life the fundamental nature of God was made visible to humans, Hebrews 1:3.

Conviction is the act of presenting evidence to persuade a person’s mind to believe in the truth. This evidence is established upon accomplished deeds that are not seen. We see this demonstrated in the actions of God when He determined to show the heirs of promise the immutability of His determination by giving two immutable facts, it is impossible for God to lie and making an oath based upon His word, Hebrews 6:13-18. The conviction of faith is therefore based upon the facts related to accomplished deeds that God has done.

Therefore, faith is the essence of that which is hoped for, and by the conviction based upon the facts of the promise that hope is based upon, the individual expressing belief will act according to their confidence in the person making the promise.

Many times in Scripture Jesus called out the faith of those around Him, especially of those who would not normally have faith. When a Centurion, a Gentile, asked Jesus to heal his servant, he expressed faith in the fact that Christ is the Messiah promised to the Jews by only asking that Jesus speaks the words, for one who is of authority only […]

Faith2023-12-14T08:12:55-08:00

2 Corinthians Compassions and Encouragement

The Father of Compassions, 2 Corinthians 1:3

God is the Father (the source) of Compassions and Encouragement, 2 Corinthians 1:3

Well Spoken of

He speaks well of us concerning spiritual things in the heavens, Ephesians 1:3

According to His great mercy we are born again, 1 Peter 1:3

He is the One who is well spoke of into the ages, Romans 1:25

Compassions – Having pity; Sympathetic sorrow for someone suffering or in distress

It is by the compassion (pity) of God that we are able to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him, Romans 12:1

As the chosen of God we are to put on compassion (pity), Colossians 3:12

Our Pity needs to be Based upon the Pity God Shows Us

Those who broke the Mosaic Law were shown no pity, Hebrews 10:28

Not permitting Sin Among the Saints

That is not love, 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Removing those who continue to sin from among the saints, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

Showing Grace to Those who Turn from Sin, 2 Corinthians 2:6-7

Encouragement – to comfort, encourage, exhort

It is a Gift from the Holy Spirit for the Church, Romans 12:8

Not out from error or uncleanness or deceit, 1 Thessalonians 2:3

Exhorting is important alongside teaching, 1 Timothy 4:13

Discipline from the Lord is for our Encouragement, Hebrews 12:5

There are times when we need to bear with a word of exhortation, Hebrews 13:22

God Encourages Us in Our Tribulation, 2 Corinthians 1:4

Tribulation – a time […]

2 Corinthians Compassions and Encouragement2023-11-25T17:46:20-08:00

1 John

1 John

Originally penned by the Apostle John through the leading of the Holy Spirit

Translation by Pastor Luther Walker

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Copyright © 2021 by Luther Walker. All Rights Reserved

This translation is intended to give a clear understanding based on the original language, taking into consideration all available manuscripts to reproduce the original letter from John. The original language should always be considered the only authority by which each word, phrase, and all other parts of speech are based upon. Where additional information is needed to better explain the meaning and use of a word, a footnote has been added.

Because the book of 1st John was originally a letter, it has been returned to its original form to reduce confusion to the reader by breaks in the middle of sentences and concepts caused by the addition of chapters and verses. However, to ensure ease in finding sections within the letter while still avoiding breaking the original form of the letter, the chapters and verses have been superscripted along with the addition of paragraphs and punctuations. Brackets and paratheses are used for clarification within the text.

1st John was written by the Apostle John in 90 A.D. from Ephesus.


1.1 What was from a beginning, what we have heard, what we have discerned[1] with our eyes, what we have watched, and our hands touched concerning the Word of the life. 1.2 And the life was manifested, and we discerned, and testify, and announce to you, the eternal life that was before[2] the Father and was manifested to us.  1.3 What we discerned and heard we announce also to you, in order that you also should […]

1 John2021-10-27T08:58:45-07:00
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