Most of the world religions and faiths teach of God or "gods" as being unapproachable and that man has to do something to make themselves right in order to come to Him or them (see World Faiths and Religions). God always beckoned the children of Isreal to come to Him and to live in such a way before the other nations that all people would come to Him. The one requirement He has is that we all approach Him in the right way, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.' (Leviticus 19:2)
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and a host of others were able to have this close and intimate access to God. But as the population of Israel grew and they moved into different areas of the world and started taking on and becoming influenced by the practices of other cultures, God instituted a system of sacrifices for them to receive forgiveness of their sins and be able to approach Him again (Leviticus, Numbers, see HEBREWS: The Real Tabernacle).
This system was only temporary, But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5) In the prior two lessons from Hebrews, we learned that when Christ died on the cross, Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (II Corinthians 3:16) Through Christ's death and our faith in Him, we have complete access to God the Father.
Unlike the Old Testament covenant, we no longer have to make a sacrifice for sin because Christ is the final sacrifice. All we have to do is have faith in Him, ask God for forgiveness and repent, turn away from doing what we've been doing and strive to live in a way that is pleasing to God, through the empowerment of His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) But, ...if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [Deuteronomy 32:35] says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” [Deuteronomy 32:36] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31)
Like we studied about the "sower" who threw the "seed" that fell on different types of "ground", the Word of God will be heard by all people, but each person will receive it differently. To the person who receives it wholeheartedly and moves foward putting their faith and trusting in God, they will have a blessed and "produceful" life that will last into eternity. But to the ones who hear the Truth and treat it like it's irrelavant, unimportant, even untrue, God will deal with them definitively through eternity because they have counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace. "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
No one has to convince anyone of the Truth. Every human being on the planet knows the truth because God made sure of it (Romans 1:20). That's why so many who profess not to believe talk about God or the non-existence of God so much. No one talks about something they don't believe is real! But they have a certain fearful expectation of judgment. They know they're wrong, but they refuse to admit it, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (II Timothy 4:4) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. (Proverbs 12:15, 14:16, 15:2, 28:26)
Those of us who accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord will have tribulation and will be called fools for believing the Word of God, Jesus promised that we would (John 16:33); But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated [first believed the Truth], you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated [leaving your past behind and spending more time with other believers]; ..., knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. (Hebrews 10:32-34)
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
“For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.” [Habbakuk 2:3-4]
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:32-39) No matter what others may say about God or try to convince us who believe that there is no God, Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth [says the Lord]. (Proverbs 4:5) AMEN!
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.” [Habbakuk 2:3-4]
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