The halfbaked Bard

Heb:10:14 For by one sacrifice, He has made perfect forever, those who are being made holy. One sacrifice- instead of repeated ritualistic sacrifices, one has been made enough. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He has - God Himself did this for undeserved people like me. Not by lineage. Nor by inheritance. Neither by the deeds I did. I deserved only hell and punishment. While we were still enemies, Christ made friends with us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We did not choose Him, He chose is. Made perfect forever, those who are being made holy - Called to be made holy - a process. Made perfect in Jesus - a crisis. Sanctification - a process. Justified - a crisis. Forever - for eternity. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It is finished.

Heb:10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. What has been done ritualistically and symbolically has been put away with by the righteous deeds of Jesus, the Son of God. God Himself intervening into mankind to redeem him. For the remission of sins, no more ritualism or symbolism is required now. Once and for all the righteous blood of God who became man, has been shed. Now man's debt is clear. My debt has been cleared. There is no need for repeated meaningless rituals to please God. He has already been please God. He has already been pleased with you, dear one. He did this perfect deed on the cross, because He chose to. What an amazing Jesus! What an amazing Father! Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=crucifixion+blood

And without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb:9:22 Bloodshed is needed for forgiveness, shows that sin is serious. For He is a holy God. And sinful and wretched people like us, fallen and marred can have access to holiness, only by the shedding of innocent blood. In the garden of Eden, God showed the example. The Hebrews were asked to do it. And the culmination of the shadow of the things happening in the Old Testament, happened on the cross, once and for all. That is why He said, it is finished. So let us approach the throne of grace with boldness. Image credit: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/why-hebrews-922-say-without-the-shedding-of-blood-there-is-no-forgiveness.html

Heb:9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption.  The second part behind the veil, The Holy of Holies - the high priest entered once a year after purifying Himself and offering sacrifice for all. But now... The veil has been torn.  In the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, the great High Priest entered the Holy of Holies with His own blameless blemishless blood, once and for all.  It is finished. No more barrier.  No more inaccessibility because of sin. Everything has been dealt with, so wonderfully and perfectly that we can have access to the Holy God, through the blood of the Son. Hallelujah!

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sons and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.  Heb:8:12 The New covenant has been established. The old covenant is obsolete now. Mercy has been given to undeserved rebellious people like the bard. The old covenant, the law demanded justice. The New covenant also demands, but He Himself met with justice out of love. God hasn't changed a bit. But He has bore it upon Himself, covered justice with love. Holiness of God mingled with love on the cross. What amazing climax. Filled with hope for the hopeless person like me.

Heb:8:1 The Son who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. The Son is eligible. The Son is worthy. He is equal in character and essence and existence as the Father. In Him and through Him and by Him all things were created and all things sustained. Ruler. Supreme authority. The Son. The Lamb who was slain for the salvation of man, humbled Himself to the death on a cross to redeem mankind. He alone is worthy to sit on the right hand side of throne. And seated us with Him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Eph:2:6 We are not eligible. We are not worthy. But still He did this for us. Image credit: https://yahwehishisname.blogspot.com/2012/09/understanding-our-inheritance-in-christ.html?m=1

He is able to save completely those who come to God, through Him because He always lives to intercede for them.  Heb:7:25 A priest who lives forever. Sinless. Blameless. Who need not offer sacrifice repeatedly again and again. Once and for all and He lives forever. And because He lives forever, He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him.  A priest of the order of Melchizedek. To whom Abraham offered his tithe. Which means He is greater than Abraham, before the law and no lineage documented. Melchizedek is thus proven to be greater than Aaron and the Levitical priesthood.  Ps:110:4 You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek. Yes. The Son. The High Priest. Who lives forever from a different system as the law... V:8. Son who has been made perfect forever.

We do not want you to become lazy but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Heb:6:12 Being lazy in faith is a dangerous thing - not actively working out the salvation you have freely received by grace. Not actively doing things because you are saved. Continuing on things which once entertained you. May be harmless things. But it quenches the Spirit in you. Not feeding on the right things, so then the new man is stunted; and feeding on the world's things so then the old man is still allowed to grow.. Forgetting the fact that the old man is dead. Proactively do things out of your faith. So that you will inherit what has been promised. Are you lazy in applying your faith in testing times? Are you lazy in spending time with the Word of God? Are you lazy in praying and fasting? Then it would be hard to inherit what has been promised.

We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Heb:4:15 A high priest who sympathizes with us. A meaningful sympathy by someone who is able to help you in your weaknesses. Who knows what exactly you go through in your time of trouble. Because He has been tempted in every way as you have been, yet without sin. He has overcome every single one of them and out of His love and sympathy and empathy to you; He is willing to be with you and help you. Therefore we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. Every time you approach this throne of grace, filled with empathising love to you, you can be confident not to be shewed away, you can be confident not to blamed for your repeated failures and naivety. You can be confident of receiving mercy and grace which has been lavished upon you. Image courtesy: https://christianliferesources.com/family-topics/marriage/sympathy-feeling-with-others-not-for-them

Heb:4:9 There remains then, a Sabbath - rest for the people of God. Rest for the people of God. Rest due to peace with God. Rest due to peace of God. Rest due to belief in God. Rest due to belief upon God. Rest because of obedience to God. Heb:3:19.  They were not able to enter because of their unbelief. The restful life promised to us is achieved through faith alone. Unbelief will take away that rest. The restful life which is part of the abundant life He promised. The restful life which comes out of trust upon this God. Restlessness is because of disobedience in unbelief. Just like all the others apart from Joshua and Caleb could not enter the rest because of unbelief. Beware. Be aware. Image credit: https://sleep.me/post/benefits-of-rest-and-relaxation?srsltid=AfmBOoqJzHFVT_jNlFvpO9lqT1k5Bpowh6myRdBv_AZq15VGsC1W-wkK

Heb:3:19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. A warning against unbelief. All who were rescued from Egypt, all who were able to see the delivering hand of the Almighty God, was not able to enter God's rest because of their unbelief. Unbelief results in unrest. A sinful unbelieving heart turns you away from the loving God (v:10). Sin's deceitfulness is that it will harden your heart in unbelief.  We have to hold firmly to the end. Hardening of heart is equivalent to rebellion. And therefore hardening of heart, unbelief and rebellion are all synonyms that lead to unrest.  Just as they perished in wilderness with lack of rest because of unbelief, you too will end up in unrest because of unbelief. Beware. Be aware. Image credit: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/walking-on-water

Heb:3:3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses. Jesus is superior to Moses, because He was faithful to the One who appointed Him. The builder has greater honour than the house itself.  God is the builder. Therefore isn't God more important than Moses. And Jesus is the Son of God. We are God's house. Moses is a faithful servant who build God's house. But Jesus is the Son of God.  This is of much religious significance to the Hebrew community, that He is speaking to, for whom Moses is the pioneer. Now for us Christians, tradition, genealogy, name , fame will carry no relevance. Only Jesus who is greater than everything.

Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Heb:2:11 A big brother Tempted in every way that I am Yet without sin A big brother who suffered in every way when tempted Therefore able to help us all Who are being tempted. A big brother who understands fully What I go through A big brother who is there With me till the end of days. A big brother who is faithful to the dot A big brother who promised To go to His Father's house And arrange a place for me And has promised to come back To take me home Jesus my big brother The assurance it brings The source of the peace that passeth all understanding  Amen, Lord Jesus; I trust  Image credit: https://www.stocksy.com/photo/812114/two-brothers-holding-hands-walking-on-an-autumnal-forest-road

Heb:2:3 How shall we escape if we ignore such great a salvation? If violation and disobedience of a command of the angels produced just punishment, how much more if we ignore the salvation offered by the Son. Jesus being superior to the angels. He being the Son of God. Therefore pay careful attention. So that we do not drift away. If the world seems more meaningful to you; if logicality and science means more rational to you; if the big bang is more impactful for you, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If the world and its ways seems more attractive to you; if you are more enamored by the world than the Word, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If the Word doesn't excite you much; if the church doesn't give you excitement; if praying is boredom for you, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If it is only a myth; if the Son is not real to you, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If even after knowing this great salvation, you drift away, then be aware. Be careful. Beware....

Heb:1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways; but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.  Earlier God spoke through the prophets. Now through the Son. Jesus is the key to God's communication to men. For He is fully man and fully God. He is fully God and yet understand man fully. For He has faced every temptation that man faced; yet without sin. He understands every struggle ofan for He faced them all. But being God He can relate to the Father. For in Him, and through Him and by Him, all things were created.  Angels are supernatural powerful beings, ministering spirits. But Jesus is superior to them all. Because He is the Son. He is God. He is superior to the angels (v:4)

Confident of your obedience. Phile:1:21 Obedience comes out of your love to that person. It prompts you to do something that the other person has expected you to do even when you don't like to do it, but out of love, you gladly do it. Not with hands tied but with a heart fully opened.  Paul was confident of Philemon's obedience - knowing that he will do even more than he asks. How confident can others be of your obedience. Not begrudgingly. But that if I tell him, he will gladly obey. How confident will God be about your obedience? Image courtesy: https://www.magnific.com/photos/sunset-duo

Phile:1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ A prisoner not of a cruel tyrant. Not as a helpless victim. But denotes complete devotion and absolute surrender to Jesus. Who are you a prisoner of? Anger? Habits? People? - a helpless victim? Break the shackles for you are a prisoner only to Jesus - in 100 % devotion and surrender and submission to Him. Willingly, gladly. There is no habit which cannot be broken in Jesus' name. There is no inheritance which cannot be cancelled in Jesus' name. There is no mountain too big that Jesus can't remove. For in the name of Jesus every knee will bow. Image credit: https://pngtree.com/free-backgrounds-photos/prison-bar

Tit:3:5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. No matter how many times I think about this, I am all the more overwhelmed each time. There is no monotony. This is no jargon. There is no monochromatism in it. That I am saved not because of my righteous deeds, but by His mercy. Not because I deserved it, but He chose to. Mercy is infact not giving me what I deserved . And what did I deserve? I deserved only eternal hell; eternal damnation and eternal separation from my loving Father. Because I rebelled, for the Scripture says, the wages of sin is death. God doesn't hold a scale to weigh out my good and bad deeds. He doesn't see whether I was better. He doesn't see whether I am better than my darker side to decide on my salvation. He doesn't compare me with my brother to decide on whether I can be redeemed. All my righteous deeds are like filthy rags before Him. When He looks at me - I am an object of wrath. I am...

Tit:2:11-12 For the grace of God - it teaches us to say "no" to all ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Grace of God is so special. It not only has saved us from eternal damnation. It also helps us in our daily living. It enables us to say no to ungodly things and worldly passions which drag us down. It gives us self control. Whatever is needed for the full and abundant life that Christ has promised.  Whoever claims and utilised it will be blessed. For the grace of God is freely available, lavished upon us.

Tit:1:1 The knowledge of truth that leads to Godliness. Godliness is a desirable and advisable thing. Along with contentment it is great gain. It is that God consciousness, that God fearing attitude that as man, would be the best thing to have. That will develop only by the knowledge of the truth. That will develop only by spending time with the Word of God. Not just in your quiet times that happen for half an hour in the morning. Let it sink in. Let it richly dwell in you. Let it percolate and dissolve in your life. Keep on pondering. Keep on investing. Keep on reading. If it is God's word, it will impute in you God's character. The more you invest into it, the more you will impart His nature. The more Godly you will be. The more God conscious you will be in your circumstances. The more God oriented you will be. How deep is your relationship with your God, depends on how well do you spend time with His word.

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength. 2Tim:4:17 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom 2Tim:4:18 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress My God in whom I trust. Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare And from the deadly pestilence He will cover you with His feathers  And under His wings you will find refuge His faithfulness will be your shield and your rampart Ps:91:2-4 As the mountains surround Jerusalem  So the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore Ps:125:2 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord. Zech:2:5 The Lord will protect you. He will guard you. He will be your shield. Jehovah yeshmor. Do not be afraid of anything under the sun. For He the Sovereign ruler is our Father. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=%22wall+of+fire%22

I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race. 2Tim:4:7 Oh! With confidence will I be able to tell To the fag end of my life On the last days of my life I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race. What has been entrusted to me What has been given to me Have I managed it well? The resources, the people, the blessings and the responsibilities. Will I be able to hear the sweet voice Well done good and faithful servant You have done well with what I gave you Would I have lived a life worthy of the one who called? What would be my emotion when I see Him? What would be my epitaph? What would He say when I meet Him face to face? What would be that one liner about me that He would say? Fighting the good fight Finishing the race given Is not by might; nor by determination. It says - I have kept the faith. Faith is the weapon with which you fight well Faith is the leg with which you run the race well Faith is the criterion He looks for Trust and obey; for there i...

All Scripture is God breathed 2 Tim:3:16 God is behind this book - 66 books. 40 different authors. Written over a span of 1600 years. But one single theme. Man created. Man fallen. Man helpless. God intervenes. God helps. Man rescued. Man reinstated. Man has an eternal hope. God Himself is the hero of this book. The central character around whom, the others revolve around. This is the story of God. Not a nation. Not a group of people. The central theme is God's love to mankind. That is why it still talks. Because the author is still living and the Spirit communicates still. This books still speaks. Every time a child of God reads the word of God, God sits with him/her to speak, God sits to teach.  That is why it has stood the test of time. Many have put it into scrutiny. The oldest manuscripts have been proven of accuracy. Few disparities here and there, but not on the core. The Bible has stood the test of time. It will change you; only if you allow it to. Read it regul...

2 Tim:3:13 They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. How pathetic? How horrible a life it would be - to deceive and to be deceived. There is no one to trust. And you can't be trusted too. Life is a chaos. The only rule is - what would I gain from this. The whole world becomes self seeking and profit oriented. A godly life is different. It is all about God. And when it is all about God, it becomes all about others - selfless giving.  So when you are asked to take a load for a mile, then you go two miles. So you give all that you have to take care of the person you do not know, lying on the road, beaten and bruised by thugs and you further tell - I will pay back when I come back. So you give your coat as well, when he sues you and takes your shirt. So when he slap you on the cheek, you show him the other as well. You might suffer loss.  But a life to the fullest you can live. Because you know that there is a God above all. Image credit: https://husain...

2Tim:3:12 Indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Do not worry. Jesus told you. When you are in this world, you will have much trouble. When you have moved from darkness to light, you have moved from one system to another. Because you have moved from the enemy territory, the evil one will attack you in many ways - physically, emotionally, relationally, mentally. He will relentlessly try to discourage you to render you useless. But he will not succeed. Be of courage. Jesus is with you. Even as you desire to live a godly life, you will be persecuted. But continue to desire, continue to pursue. Because only on abiding in Him, will you bear much fruit. Only in abiding in Him, will you have life abundance which He has promised. There is no other way to live. In perfect obedience there is life. In perfect clinging there is abundance. Do not be discouraged about living a life clinging to Him. Only that will bring everlasting joy. All the other vain ...

If a man cleansed himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy and useful for the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee from the evil desires of the youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. 2Tim:2:21-22 Cleanse yourself from ignoble things and set yourself apart for noble things. Why concentrate on the evil desires of the youth when you have more richer things to pursue - like righteousness, faith, love and peace. Make yourself useful for the Master in the way you can; concentrating on being holy and doing things for the Kingdom. Why waste your time and energy in useless browsing, meaningless chatter and harmful quarrels. Pursue godly things. Unless you feed yourself with godly things, there is no pursuing noble things. If you feed yourself with ignoble things you will persist to pursue ignoble uselss things. Image courtesy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/clean-vs-cleanse-difference-usage