Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 14 - Predestination; Jos 14-17.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 14 - Predestination; Jos 14-17.  

 

Announcements / opening prayer:  

 

HEB 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

 

HEB 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

 

HEB 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless [inoperative] him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

HEB 2:15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

The final reason that the writer gives for the cross was to help man. The sphere of Christ's work was men and not angels. Christ has given man surpassing help so as to execute His plan.

 

HEB 2:16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.

 

"descendant of Abraham" - men of faith.

 

Christ became a Jew, a descendant of Abraham, just as was promised to Abraham, and in whom the entire world would be blessed.

 

GAL 3:5 Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 

GAL 3:6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

 

GAL 3:7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

 

GAL 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations shall be blessed in you."

 

GAL 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

 

Christ became the perfect kinsman-redeemer. He became a kinsman [a man], He had the price of redemption [His blood], and He was willing to pay the price [self-determined obedience].

 

By the "blood of Christ" we mean His substitutionary spiritual death.

 

HEB 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

 

In this, Christ restores to man the rulership and glory that he carelessly gave away, and in fact, gave him more than he lost.

 

He was made like His brethren in all things. Are only Jewish males saved? I address the race bating that is current in our culture that Christians are falling for. In Christ there is no race, gender, nationality, economic status, or any other physical characteristic that men use to differentiate and group people. He died for all. In Christ race does not matter at all. There is, and always has been in this world, prejudice against race and gender and nation and culture and the believer will inevitably find himself or herself the victim of it. Should he or she join the protesters and scream injustice?

 

MAT 5:10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

MAT 5:11 "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.

 

MAT 5:12 "Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

If a believer is persecuted or insulted in any unjust way, whether as a Christian or as a certain type of person, he is blessed or happy. It is all on account of Christ who alone bears the injustice.

 

Did Christ protest the injustice that was cast upon Him?

 

When we get insulted we are thinking too highly of ourselves. It is Christ who is being insulted, not us. People hate because they hate Christ. Those who love Christ do not do hate others.

 

Those who persecute and insult are persecuting and insulting Christ and not you. To think that you are actually the victim in this is to think of yourself far too highly.