Morning Bible Study: Holding Fast And Firm To The End

 

"While He was still speaking, behold a shining cloud,
composed of light, overshadowed them, and a voice
from the cloud said, "This is My Son, My Beloved,
with Whom I am and have always been delighted.
Listen to Him!"
(Matthew 17:5)

The Transfiguration 
(c. 1886-1894)
James Tissot
(1836-1902)
French painter
The Brooklyn Museum
Image courtesy/Wikimedia Commons

Why do the nations assemble with commotion, uproar and confusion
of voices, and why do the people imagine, meditate upon
and devise an empty scheme?

The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers of the earth 
 take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One,
the Messiah, the Christ.

They say, "Let us break Their bands of restraint asunder and
cast Their cords of control from us."

He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision
and in supreme contempt He mocks them.

He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles, terrifies and
confounds them in His displeasure and fury, saying,

"Yet have I anointed, installed and placed My King firmly on
My holy hill of Zion."

I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to Me,

"You are my Son; this day I declare I have begotten You.

Ask of Me and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron;  You shall dash them
in pieces like potters' ware."

Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned,
O, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice
and be in high spirits with trembling, lest you displease Him.

Kiss the Son, pay homage to Him in purity, lest He be angry
and you perish in your way, for soon shall His wrath be kindled.
O blessed, happy, fortunate and to be envied are all those
who seek refuge and put their trust in Him!
(Psalm 2)

CORRESPONDING VERSES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT:

"Who by the mouth of our forefather, David, Your servant and child,
said through the Holy Spirit, Why did the heathen nations (Gentiles)
become wanton and insolent and rage and the people imagine and
study and plan in vain fruitless things that will not succeed?

The kings of the earth took their stand in array for attack and the
rulers assembled and combined together against the Lord and
against His Anointed Christ, the Messiah."
(Acts 4:25-26)

"For to which of the angels did God ever say, you are My Son,
today I have begotten You, established You in an official
Sonship relation with kingly dignity? And again I will be
to Him a Father, and He will be to me a Son?"
(Hebrews 1:5)

"And Moses certainly was faithful in the administration of
all God's house, but it was only as a ministering servant.
In his entire ministry, he was but a testimony to the things
which were to be spoken, the revelations to be given
afterward in Christ.

But Christ the Messiah was faithful over His own Father's house
as a Son and Master of it. And it is we who are now members of
this house, if we hold fast and firm to the end our joyful and
exultant confidence and sense of triumph in our hope in Christ."
(Hebrews 3:5-6)

"For when He was invested with honor and glory from God the Father,
and a voice was borne to Him by the splendid Majestic Glory in the
bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying, "This is My beloved Son
in Whom I am well pleased and delight."

We actually heard this voice born out of heaven,  for we were
together with Him on the holy mountain."
(II Peter 1:17-18)

"And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to
shepherd all the nations with an iron staff and her Child was
caught up with God and to His throne."
(Revelation 12:5)

"From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which He can smite
the nations; and He will shepherd and control them with a staff of iron.
(Absolute righteousness). He will tread the winepress of the fierceness of
  the wrath and indignation of God, the All-Ruler, the Almighty, the Omnipotent.
(Revelation 19:15)

WASHED IN THE BLOOD

Washed in the blood, by the Spirit sealed,
Christ in His Word is to me revealed;
Glory to God! in my soul doth shine
God, my salvation, and His life is mine!

Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood!
Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Sealed in the Spirit true, and washed in the blood. 

Once I was blind, but behold, I see;
God from above now hath shined into me;
Cleansed from all sin, in His Word I behold,
Wealth which can never be compared to gold.

Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood!
Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Sealed in the Spirit true, and washed in the blood. 

O that the world might the Savior see,
That blessed Savior Who saved poor me!
O how the lost ones would come shouting home,
Never, never, never, nevermore to roam!

Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood!
Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Sealed in the Spirit true, and washed in the blood. 

Washed in the blood! sinner, come today;
Jesus, so freely the debt will pay;
Come to His arms, to His arms of grace,
Come, now in meekness, seek the Savior's face.

Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood!
Washed in the blood, washed in the blood!
Sealed in the Spirit true, and washed in the blood. 

"Washed In The Blood"
(1910)
Charles Price Jones Sr.
(1865-1949)
American Baptist Pastor 
and prolific hymnwriter,
said to have written over 1,000 
Gospel songs between 1895-1905

"The only way they (sinners) will ever be able to endure heaven is to be born again
and become new creatures with pure hearts, able to fully enjoy the presence of God,
his holy angels, and the redeemed."
-The Amplified Bible