Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 7:24-25 (emphasis added)

The word here as completely is better translated as ‘uttermost’. It’s the Greek word pantelés (pan-tel-ace’) meaning complete, entire, and perfect throughout time. That word comes from the Greek pas (pas) meaning all or every kind of in the sense of every part that applies. An emphasis of the whole picture and then every piece itself. Seeing the forest and then each individual tree. It also comes from telos (tel’-os) meaning the principal end or a toil of purpose. A proper consummation of the closure with all its results unfolding one stage at a time to function with full-strength of capacity and effectiveness. This ‘saved completely’ then is more than just a guaranteed spot on the 9:15 to heaven.

Yahweh has always been interested with ALLs. All the people. All the details. All the reasons. All the blessings. All the sin. All the redeemed and redeemed in all. “He brought his people out enriched with silver and gold; none of his tribes stumbled” (Psalm 105:37). Think of that. Not one infirm person came out of Egypt. Regardless of age, sex, or community ‘status’. It worked both ways. “But the Israelites disobeyed the command about the city’s riches. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches. The Lord was furious with the Israelites” (Joshua 7:1). One man defied Yahweh, but they were all responsible. ALL means ALL. One person, three hundred thousand people. Adonai looks at us ALL not just those we think are worthy. Reality is NONE are worthy. “just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10-11). Yet Adonai loved us while we were unworthy (Romans 5:8) and saved us (John 3:16-17). We didn’t earn this. This was GRACE.

This is eternal Grace – Adonai’s very own – that ever renews in Jesus. “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation of the true sanctuary—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice” (Hebrews 9:24-26). He paid the price of sin. His blood is laid ever fresh on the mercy seat in heaven. Always there proving to all that Jesus indeed pay for sin. Jesus is therefore able to intercede for us eternally, able to point to His payment and declare us spiritually redeemed. This is the weight and value of our salvation.

But this word didn’t mean only spiritually. Or only physically. Or only mentally. Or only relationally. It means salvation to the UTTERMOST. To every corner of our being (spirit, soul, and body). To every facet of who we are (spiritually, mentally, and physically). Every piece. One at a time. Renewed and restored to full and complete functionality in full strength, capacity, and effectiveness. THAT is salvation. We don’t all walk in that, though. Which comes down to knowledge. “May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!” (2 Peter 1:2). The grace and peace available to us is in direct proportion to the knowledge we have of Adonai. The more we know, the more we have. The less we know, the less we have. Not because Adonai is stingy, but because we either don’t know what is available to us or how to engage it (to appropriate it from our spirit into the rest of us). Jesus spent three years directly teaching His disciples and they still missed it at crucifixion. They had been given clear instruction, but they hadn’t engaged their notes. They’d been taught, but they didn’t understand (John 20:14; Luke 24:15-16).

Jesus is more than eternal (Isaiah 9:6-7). His offices will not pass away (Matthew 24:35). No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. No matter what is wrong with us. No matter how much has been healed already. Jesus is in it to win it. He is going nowhere, staying at our side until AFTER everything is finished, polished, and renewed (Deuteronomy 31:8). Jesus is staying until even our bodies are perfected into their spiritual form (Hebrews 10:14; Philippians 3:21). In the meantime, in HIM, we are already made perfect – if we will acknowledge, submit, and engage our resting in Him. “We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). Jesus can be our total, complete, and absolute salvation starting right now. He doesn’t need to be limited to being our ticket through the Gates of Heaven.

Jesus dealt with a lot in His life and short ministry. He was taught and gave teaching. Ridiculed and loved. Followed and scorned. Ignored by many. Given adulation by others. Sought out regardless of His weariness. Mobbed – in both good and bad ways. Plotted against. Welcomed. Gifted. Refused. An object of disgust, mocking, and torture. An object of love, rejoicing, and worship. Men, women, demonic spirits, and the devil came against Him. Rulers and thieves. Jesus endured it. But not once – not even when being beaten, whipped, and taking on all the disease of mankind – not ONCE was He ANYTHING less than victorious here on this Earth. We’re to be like Him. Like He was in His walk. We do NOT have to wait until Heaven. We do NOT have to lose while we are here. That is religious teaching. We can be everything Jesus was IF we will do what Jesus did: totally and completely submit to the will of the Father in ALL THINGS. To ignore EVERYTHING that WE feel and learn to agree, support, and accept what the FATHER feels. It is not easy. It’s almost like having to crucify our whole way of thinking every day (Matthew 16:24-26).

Even in THAT Jesus helps us. We have access to the Mind of Messiah Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:16). We have access to all the wisdom of the Father (James 1:5). These things, combined with study of the Word, will teach us and, along with the guidance of Ruach HaKodesh, enable us to embody the nature of Jesus. “You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature” (Philippians 2:5-7). Humility. We can learn humility. We can learn to project humility. We can learn to interact with this world in humility just like Jesus did. The first step of that is putting Adonai in the place in our lives that He deserves to be: first. When Adonai is first and the things of Adonai are first, then it is easier for us to learn to engage them into all the corners of our lives.

It is a process, but it is one Jesus says we can accomplish. He told us to seek the Father first (Matthew 6:33). He told us to submit to the Father (James 4:7). He told us to learn who we are in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). He told us to connect to Him like we were a branch and He the vine (John 15). If we will, then piece by piece we will be restored in our uttermost. Whole and complete because we are in Him. Nothing missing and NOTHING broken. Amen.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Isaiah 11:2

“The Lord’s Spirit will rest on him—a Spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a Spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a Spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord.” Messiah would be the Anointed One by the Spirit. Ruach HaKodesh had rested on people (King David for example) and had indwelt John the Baptiser from the womb (Luke 1:15). Moses was anointed. So were the elders (Numbers 11:17-25). But Messiah would be special. A joining without leaving – like Doves who nest and do not depart. A permanent Anointing bond unlike anything else. “John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming—I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire” (Luke 3:16-17). Jesus was baptised by John and Ruach HaKodesh descended on Him like a dove. Descended, rested on, stayed, and never departed throughout His entire life. “Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.”” (Luke 3:21-22). Jesus IS the Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b