The Power Of An Indestructible Life

Hebrews 7:13-19 - For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.


Revelation 5:5 - And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Psalm 110:4 - The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Galatians 3:21 - Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

Hebrews 10:1,19-22 - For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near…Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 3:5-6 - Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Colossians 1:3-8 - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

Application:

· Jesus has triumphed
· Christ is king-priest in the order of Melchizedek
· The law reveals sin which alienates me from God and shows that I need salvation
· The sacrifice prescribed by the law prefigured Christ’s ultimate sacrifice
· Failure to persevere reveals that a person is actually not a child of God, whereas perseverance is the hallmark of His children
· Because Christ our high priest has experienced human temptation, He stands ready to give immediate and sympathetic help when we are tempted
· To draw near to God, I need to show allegiance to Him, faith without hesitation, freedom from guilt and inner cleansing
· I have a hope stored up for me in heaven

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Him Who Holds The Power Of Death

Hebrews 2:11-15 - Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.


John 10:29 - My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Genesis 3:15 - And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 18:4 - For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.

Application:

· I am made holy through His blood
· I am completely secure because the Father’s power is greater than that of any enemy
· Do I lash out against human opponents as if they were the real enemy? Do I think I can fight the battle on my own?
· I will share in Christ’s victory over Satan
· I have been given the victory over condemnation for sin, death and the grave through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
· Do I use the doctrine of inherited guilt to justify my behavior?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Salvation

1 Peter 1:3-5 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Colossians 1:3-6 - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

2 Timothy 4:8 - Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 - So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Titus 3:4-7 - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Romans 13:11 - And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Conclusions:

• The Christian is shielded (1) by God’s power and (2) by his own faith
• The sheep’s security is in the power of the shepherd, who will let no one take them from Him
• Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit but comes through God’s mercy alone
• Every day brings us closer to the second advent of Christ

Application:

• Do you have a firm assurance?
• Is there a crown of righteousness in store for you?
• Are you shielded by God's power and your faith?
• Is your security in the power of your shepherd?
• You are saved by grace.
• You are saved by God's mercy.
• Are you waking up from your slumber?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Power Under His Control

Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Ephesians 1:18-23 - I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Conclusions:

• In Ephesians 1:19 Paul piles term upon term to emphasize that the extraordinary divine force by which Jesus Christ was raised is the same power at work in and through believers
• Some insist that the knowledge in Romans 8:29 is not abstract but is couched in love and mixed with purpose
• Some hold that God not only knew us before we had any knowledge of Him, but that He also knew us, in the sense of choosing us by His grace, before the foundation of the world
• Others believe that Paul in Romans 8:29 refers to the fact that in eternity past God knew those who by faith would become His people
• Predestination in Romans 8:29 is to moral conformity to the likeness of His Son
• The reason God foreknew, predestined and conformed believers to Christ’s likeness is that the Son might hold the position of highest honor in the great family of God
• All rules and titles that can be given include whatever supernatural beings Paul’s contemporaries might conceive of, for in his day many people believed not only in the existence of angels and demons, but also in that of other beings
• Christ is above all other beings
• Like the rabbinic teachers of his day, Paul distinguishes between the present age, which is evil, and the future age when the Messiah will consummate His kingdom and there will be a completely righteous society on earth
• Ultimately it is the Son of Man who rules over everything
• Christ is not only head of the church, but also head over everything

Application:

• Is Christ's power at work in and through you?
• Did God foreknow, predestine and confirm you to Christ's likeness?
• Do you believe that Christ is above all things?
• Is Christ head over you?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible