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Hebrews 3-4; Psalm 26


Skeptic:

·         “They’ll know we are Christians by our T-Shirts.”

·         “How do you know when a Christian is lying?  When he is singing!”

That’s understandable when you look at some verses out of context; and Psalm 26 is no exception:

Ps 26:1-2  …I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; NIV

I’m not blameless.  I have often wavered.  And if God examines me … enough said! 

How do texts like Psalm 26 meld with a verse like Isa 64:6:  “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”?  The answer, of course, is IN CHRIST JESUS.  2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. KJV ß IN HIM – in Christ Jesus.  How can that be?  How can Christ take me with all my ugliness (aka SIN) and “turn a blind eye”:  Eph 5:27 present her [the church – including yours truly] “present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ß there’s that word “blameless” again.

The book of Hebrews can help us.  A key word in Hebrews is “better.”  Jesus is BETTER than:

·         the prophets                   ch. 1:1-3
·         the angels                       ch. 1:4-14
·         Moses the servant          ch. 3:1-6
·         provides a better rest    ch. 4
·         Aaron’s priesthood        ch. 7+8
·         a better covenant           ch. 8+9
·         a better sacrifice             ch. 9+10
·         faith is a better way        ch. 11

But chapters 3+4 focus on Jesus being better than:
·         Moses. And all the trappings of the Mosaic Law, the Pharisaical add-ons, and our legalistic add-ons.
·         Rest.  Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” while Proverbs tells us the way of the transgressor is hard



Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. NIV 

An old gospel hymn says it best: “Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing!
John Skrabak

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