-Persuaded Of Better Things PART 3

Posted on January 5, 2011 in Bible study, Christianity, faith, God, JESUS CHRIST, lectures, religion, sermons, spirituality

Persuaded Of Better Things PART 3

In Part One we looked at a better priest, a better covenant, a better sanctuary and a better sacrifice. Last month we looked atbetter blood, a better hope and better promises. This month we conclude our look at the better things mentioned in Hebrews by considering a better substance, a better country, a better resurrection and a better thing. A Better Substance “For ye ... took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance” (Heb. 10:34). All the examples of faith in Hebrews 11 are there because they gave something up in this world, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25). Believing that God is able to deliver on His promises is so much better than grabbing all you can in this life, for after this life is done, the eternal outlook for an unbeliever is unbearable. It is by two immutable things, God’s promises and His oath to keep those promises, that we can base our faith on things not seen as yet. And since it is impossible for God to lie, we have strong consolation that our faith is not in vain. We know we will receive all the land that God has promised.

A Better Country
God promised Abram a land, and he went out from his home town of Ur not knowing where he went. This land was later known as “the land that floweth with milk and honey” (Dt. 6:3). Even today, that land is the center of controversy in the Middle East and a trouble spot to the whole world. But Abram “looked for a city … whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). The only land Abram possessed in Canaan was a graveyard (Gen. 23:4,20). Such is this world to us, for we, like Abram, look for that same city, the New Jerusalem, for it is a better country. “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city” (Heb. 11:16).

Where is this country? Psalm 48:2 says it has a beautiful situation, and is the joy of the whole earth, called Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. “Beautiful” literally means “in elevation.” It is an elevated or heavenly place, the length, breadth and height of it are equal (Rev. 21:16). It is huge: 1,440 miles (2400 kilometers) on each side. It is so wonderful that the kings in Psalm 48 were gripped with fear when they saw it: “For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail” (Ps. 48:4-7).

This is the city which has foundations in eternity, because of the loving kindness of our God, the Lord Jesus having entered the holiest with His own blood to make reconciliation for the sins of the world. The result of that judgment is what produced this city. It is a city of promise, and therefore mother of all who are the children of promise, as Isaac was (Gal. 4:26-28). The wall of the city has twelve foundations having the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb and twelve gates having the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. This wall or bulwark is 144 cubits, about 200 feet high (94.5 meters). “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14:2,3). This better country also has a border, one we know to be the first resurrection, beyond which is an unknown, except for what the Word of God reveals about it. There is no need for the sun nor moon there, for the glory of God will light it, and the Lamb is the lamp of it (Rev. 21:23). This country, far better than any we know now, is waiting until that better resurrection.

A Better Resurrection
In Old Testament days “others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Heb. 11:35). Obtaining a “better resurrection” implies that there’s a resurrection that’s not so good. Abraham believed in resurrection (Heb. 11:9), as did Job (Job 19:26). Daniel mentions two resurrections, one to everlasting life, the other to shame and everlasting contempt (Dan. 12:1-2). Jesus expands on these two resurrections using two different words for “done.” “The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good (a single act), unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil (habitually), unto the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:28-29). The single act is to trust Christ as Lord and Savior. To habitually do evil is to continue in unbelief.

Again, what must I do to obtain the resurrection of life? “Jesus answered and said … ‘This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent’” (Jn. 6:29). That’s the one act of faith that brings us into the better resurrection. To not believe is to practice evil by calling God a liar (1 Jn. 5:10). This results in our inclusion in the other resurrection, the one unto shame and damnation.

The better resurrection is called the first resurrection, because it will happen first. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). The other resurrection, the one of damnation will happen a thousand years later. The dead, “whosoever was not found written in the book of life,” will be delivered up to be judged and then “cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:11-15). Is not this “book of life” the very book Daniel mentioned in Dan. 12:1? Moses mentioned it in Exodus 32:32. Psalm 69:28 mentioned it, and it is spoken of four times in the book of the Revelation (3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:15).

It is not that your name needs to be written in, as it was there from the foundation of the world (Ex. 32:33; Rev. 17:8). What is important is that it not be blotted out. If it is, it won’t be found there anymore. God is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), so everyone’s name is there at first. But for those who persist in their sin against Him by unbelief even to the point of death, He blots out their name. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement” (Heb. 9:27). To be an overcomer through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to have your name not blotted out (Rev. 3:5). “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power” (Rev. 20:6).

A Better Thing
The cloud of faithful Old Testament witnesses in Hebrews 11 is mainly Israelite in origin. “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect” (Heb. 11:39-40). They became witnesses to God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His word through the faith they had in what He promised, even though they never received the total fruition of those promises, because God was yet going to call out from all nations a people for His name. Israel has been set aside for a time until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in. In the meantime, Christ is building His Church from both Jews and Gentiles. The Old Testament saints will be included in that finished building, for “they without us should not be made perfect” (Heb. 11:40).

This Church age, which has lasted nearly 2000 years, is a much better thing than what the Jews had by themselves, for now both Jew and Gentile are made one. Both can walk with God in the power of the Spirit, laying “aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Heb. 12:1). No more are we enemies, but now sons: “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord” (Heb. 12:5). No more is there a difference between Jew and Gentile in God’s eye. “Let brotherly love continue” (Heb. 13:1). Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (Jn. 10:16). He could say by the prophet, “I will declare thy name unto My brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay My vows before them that fear Him” (Ps. 22:22,25).

This great congregation includes not only those of the congregation of His Jewish brethren, but those out of every tongue, people, and nation. God has always had in view this great congregation with the Lord Jesus as the One “being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Heb. 1:4). His inheritance is this great congregation. It is amazing to think that we, who were once enemies and aliens in our minds by wicked works, now make up the company of those who establish before the watching universe that His name is above every name. That’s a much better thing for us all, a better position, a better condition, a better tradition.

Are you fully persuaded that you would be brought on to full maturity? Have you seen again and again how much better the Son is than any other, as well as how much better He is for us?

By Tom Steere

Better Things In Hebrews

Better Priest	4:14;7:7
Better Covenant	8:6
Better Sanctuary	9:11
Better Sacrifice	9:23
Better Blood	9:22
Better Things	12:24
Better Hope	7:19
Better Promises	8:6
Better Substance	10:34
Better Country	11:16
Better Resurrection	11:3
Better Thing	11:40