Friday – May 20, 2016
It is Friday and time for each of us to be reminded to pray for the saints of God, the Church of Jesus Christ. Pray for the revelation that all need to be saved and those that are saved must come to the knowledge of God. The building pictured is St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in St. Paul, Oregon. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) This Church was built in 1846, the congregation started around 1836. Pray for those that call themselves Christian, that the Truth be illuminated, received, proven, renewing the mind, and changing the outcomes of our lives. The Truth must bring repentance and a change of thinking, which is what we believe, and in Whom we believe (have faith).
Colossians 2:10-12 (KJV)
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Because Abram/Abraham believed God (had faith) entering into a Blood Covenant that was tested on Mount Moriah in the same place that Jesus would die for our sins some 2000 years later we are of the same circumcision as Abraham.
Romans 4:3 (KJV)
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:11 (KJV)
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Abraham was the first Jew or Hebrew and when Scripture speaks of those who are of the circumcision it is referring to the Jewish people. The physical circumcision was the sign of faith the seal of righteousness. Jesus is our circumcision and the seal (cover) of our righteousness by faith. For the Hebrew the circumcision was a sign of faith in God, in the Blood Covenant. So then, righteousness came to Abram/Abraham the same as it comes to us and that is by faith. We obtain faith by hearing the Word of God and our hope is in that Word. Love, which is obedience to the Word of God, is the fuel of faith which allows the power of God to flow, and hope is the target of our faith. Abraham wanted a son, God said He would give him a son, which was the target, the hope of Abram/Abraham. He believed God (Genesis 17:17) and the son was born. Isaac was important to Abraham but the coming of Jesus was important to God. Faith pleases God, in fact you cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). When Abram/Abraham acted on the Word of God (love) because he believed it (faith), hope (Isaac) became flesh.
Hebrews 10:17-20 (KJV)
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
When Jesus took our sins, became sin for us, the sin was taken out of the way (circumcision) and therefore by the word of our testimony (that we name and function with Jesus as Lord) and the Blood of the Lamb we can freely and boldly enter into the Most Holy Place, the very presence of our Heavenly Father. O what a Savior! Jesus is that new and living way, we enter in Him, the Father sees us just like Him.
There was a veil between the Holy Place where the show bread, the altar of incense, and the candelabra were located, and the Most Holy Place. In the Most Holy Place were the Mercy Seat and the Covenant. Two Cherubim arched over the Mercy Seat and the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. The two chambers were separated by a very thick veil which represented sinful flesh (deeds of the body due to lusts of the mind). The process of getting rid of sin was initiated in the Garden following the first sin with the death of an innocent animal and their sin was covered temporarily. On the Cross our sins were not covered up for a season they were blotted out, not even God has a memory of them in Christ Jesus.
By Pastor David R. Wood
