A Wake Up Call: Brought to me by the book of Hebrews.

1 Corinthians 1:23 "We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles..."

I believe the reference "to Jews" could be used to reference those of us who are of the mind-set of the pharisees, those of us who try obey the letter of the Law to attain our "so-called right standing" before God- or at least we appear to others to be obeying the Law. Because it offends those who can not except such a free gift of grace. Personally I know how hard it is to try to wrap my mind around something I did nothing to deserve. I am in the process of losing some mind-sets I am in a process of true repentance, that is "to have ones mind changed"

I found an interesting portion of scripture in my reading of the book of Hebrews

Hebrews 7:18-20

18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,
'You are a priest forever.'"

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.


Hebrews 10

1 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. 20 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said,‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”

17 then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

These scriptures have shown us that GREATNESS of the sacrifice of Jesus. If our minds of have been in a work-based mindset it should change our minds on how we approach God.

Just as the Old covenant was fulfilled and set aside, I have to come to a place in my life where the former ways of "doing things to be right with God" comes to an end.

I come to God only on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus. Not the Law. Not my dead works. I want to rest completely in His sacrifice. I want to see the great power of God working in His great salvation In me!


1 Corinthians 2:1-5 "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."