JESUS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER
Wednesday – August 8, 2018, Av 27, 5778
Greetings and welcome back to this wonderful Bible Study from the Bible Book of Hebrews. O isn’t God so good to give us His Word, He makes it plain, no guessing games with God. I heard an internationally known preacher say once that the Word of God is so clear that you need to get a good theologian to mix you up. That is not to say that for the beginner and even more seasoned Christians that there are not areas of Scripture that present challenges. However, the Holy Spirit who wrote it all is our Teacher. With diligence and allowing Him to teach us we can understand it all. Sometimes I think we may preclude understanding because what we hear from the Teacher conflicts with other things we believe as Truth but are not. We have been given the mind of Christ. There is nothing hidden from Christ (the Anointing, or the Anointed One) and therefore nothing is hidden from us as we go about our God given assignments. Now, let’s look at our primary Bible text from the wonderful Book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 13:7-9 (KJV)
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
What an unfolding of Scripture so far this week and I do not expect that to stop. If it stopped we would have to take this eighth verse we are about to embark upon out of the Bible. As we parse this verse I believe we have to pay particular attention to each and every word. Not one of the Words are there by accident, it all purposeful. It seems to me that the phrase “Jesus Christ” is the key to the verse. Basically, this phrase is the proper name “Jesus” followed not with His last name but Jesus’ status as the Anointed One or Messiah (Savior). The proper name “Jesus” is from the Hebrew name Joshua meaning Jehovah saved. So, it would seem to be accurate to say this term (Jesus Christ) points to the Anointed of the Holy Spirit Messiah or Savior. The coming of a Messiah was prophesied right from the Day of Sin in the Garden of Eden. There was no need for a Messiah (Savior) before the Day of Sin however there was one person with that title should the need arise.
Revelation 13:8 (KJV)
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
In the preceding Scripture we are told that in the mind of God the Lamb (Jesus Christ) was slain from the foundation of the world. The word foundation at its root means the casting down. The casting down is referring to the situation we see in Genesis 1:2 which was simultaneous with Lucifer being cast to the earth and the fallen angels being put in chains awaiting judgment. At that time God had conceived of this new creation we see unfold starting with Genesis 1:3 and following to this day. The person we now call Jesus Christ has always existed. For example, I existed long before I became a father. At the moment I became a father I had and continued to be known also as a husband, son, cousin, and so on. The same is true for Jesus Christ. Prior to Him being known as Jesus Christ He was known as the Word as well as many other names. Now, I believe we have adequate information, background, to evaluate what timeframe is being referenced by the term “yesterday”.
It does not appear that the Holy Spirit is referring to all of eternity past but to a more recent time frame. I think we could say it most accurately is referring to the Word from the time of the casting down (foundation of the world). All that happened from that decision in Heaven between the Trinity to the present time has been a playing out of the process. For us, for all of mankind, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yesterday is good news for the Old Testament saints, today is wonderful for the New Testament saints, and forever is necessary for all saints. Our security is in Him, Jesus Christ, in His Blood, and in our testimony that He is our Lord. Remember, all men for all time including Jesus are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony.
Revelation 12:11 (KJV)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Whatever Jesus, the Word, God has ever done for anyone He will do for you and me. If God the Father brought Jesus from the spiritual dead so will He you and me. If He raised Jesus from the physical dead (resurrection) so will He do the same for you and me. If He restored all to Jesus, He is doing the same for each of us not only in this world but that which is to come. In case mankind might sin, a covenant was discussed in Heaven which we see play out down through Scripture culminating on the Cross when it was finished. There is a trail of blood from the Garden of Eden, to the Cross, and to the Mercy Seat of Heaven.
Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 1:16-18 (KJV)
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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