2025 Bible Study Group

GodfatherPartTwo · Nov 23, 2025

Hebrews 10

1 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have consciousness of sins?

The logic of Hebrews is very simple. If you have to offer the same sacrifice over and over again, then the sacrifice doesn't take away sins. This is why you ought not turn the Lord's Supper into a new version of those old sacrifices. Christ removed sin once for all time by the Cross.

3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.

Since those OT sacrifices didn't actually take away sins, they functionally served as a reminder of when the people sinned. The word 'reminder' is the same word as 'remembrance' that Jesus uses when He instituted the Supper. "Do this in remembrance of Me." In the OT sacrifices, you had a reminder of your sin. In the NT Supper, you have a reminder of your sin-bearer. You no longer remember when you sinned, you remember when your sin was taken away.

5Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;

The body of Jesus became the true sacrifice that all of the former sacrificial offerings had pointed to and signified.

9then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

It was God's will and it was according to the Scriptures for Christ to give Himself up as our atoning sacrifice. In so doing, He took away the first will, that is the Mosaic Covenant, in order to establish the second will, the New Covenant. It is by this will, the New Covenant, that we have been sanctified by the sacrifice of the body of Christ once for all time.

11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

The Jewish priests stand up to do their work, offering repetitive sacrifices that don't actually take away sins. To the contrary, Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, and then sat down at God's right hand. His work as a priest is complete. As He said on the cross, it is finished.

14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

He has perfected forever (past tense) those who are being sanctified (present tense). This is why we can take comfort in the fact that we are saved if we are covered in His blood, His sacrifice has perfected us who are in Him. Now we are being sanctified by the Spirit to work and to will according to His good pleasure.

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

That is to say, there is no longer any propitiation for sins since forgiveness has already been accomplished. If anyone maintains that propitiation for sins is still necessary, he is telling on himself, He hasn't yet been atoned for by the cross of Christ because he has not yet believed.

GodfatherPartTwo · Nov 23, 2025

Hebrews 10, Part II

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,

We are to fear the Lord. That is, we are to revere Him. If you know Him, you can't help have reference for Him. Yet, it is according to the grace of God that we may approach Him with a holy boldness and a holy confidence, being fully assured that Christ has purified us and made us acceptable in God's sight. The High Priest had to cross his t's and dot his i's to pass through the Temple's veil and enter God's presence. But what was so hard for him has become easy for us. The Veil as a symbol for the flesh of Christ is an astounding concept when you think about it.

24And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Be a good influence to your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Build them up in the faith. Encourage them to live out the Christian walk. This is why we ought not neglect church. Those people in your church need you and you need them.

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

I believe that "sinning willfully" most chiefly refers to apostasy, since that is the overarching warning in Hebrews. To throw away Christ and to go back to Judaism, or to believe in any other false religion, is to throw away the only true sacrifice that can take away your sins. That said, I do not believe it only means that. You may say that you believe in Christ, but if you go on living in sin the way you always have, your works demonstrate that He never knew you. A true appraisal of the Gospel and a heartfelt faith in it will change you. Doesnt mean you won't still struggle with sin, but it does mean that you cannot wink at your sin using Christ as your excuse.

29How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

The punishment for breaking the Law was severe. But the punishment for neglecting the Gospel is even more severe. I do not take "by which he was sanctified" to refer to this hypothetical apostate, but to the Son of God. If applied to the apostate, much damage is done to verse 14 earlier in the chapter. If applied to Christ, the message is that Christ was Himself sanctified by the blood of the covenant, as the High Priests were, in the vein of Jesus' High Priestly prayer in John 17: "I sanctify myself."

39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Just as he did in the warning in Hebrews 6, the author gives a word of assurance after a word of warning, so as to maintain balance.

GodfatherPartTwo · Nov 24, 2025

Hebrews 11

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old gained approval.

Faith is the "assurance" of God's promises. It is a trust in God's covenant promises, and Christ Himself is the chiefest of these. It is not a vague superstition or empty mental assent. Whenever the author says "by faith" in the following "hall of faith" section, understand him to be saying, "by trusting in Christ."

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

By faith, not by natural theology and empirical evidence, do we know that God made the world from nothing.

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was approved as being righteous—God approving his gifts—and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

Cain's offering was literally his own works, the fruits of his hands as a gardener; unacceptable in God's sight since the ground and men's works are cursed on account of Adam. In contrast, Abel was not trusting in his own works but trusting in the substitute, namely Christ, when He offered to God his sacrifice, and through this substitute, Abel was approved in God's sight.

6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Without trusting in Christ, you will never be approved in God's sight. Some people entertain the virtuous pagan. There is no such thing according to Scripture. Faith in Christ is not optional. How can they be righteous if they don't even get past the first commandment? Those supposed virtuous pagans were in fact master idolaters.

7By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Notice how the ark is paradoxically a symbol of salvation and condemnation. The same is true for the cross. Salvation to God's people, condemnation to those outside the covenant.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, 10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham, not content with the city of man, spent his life wandering, looking for that city of God. The first time the Bible refers to a city is in the tower of Babel, which was a proto-Babylon. They said "Let us build for ourselves a city and make a name for ourselves." Following their spirit, Nebuchadnezzar said "Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built?" before being struck with insanity by God. It has been aptly pointed out that America is very much like this following WW2. Being full of the same pride, then being given over to a reprobate mind. The New Jerusalem is not like these, it is not man-made, it's architect and builder is God.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son, 18to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED.” 19He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he also received him back.

One of my favorite passages here because of it's profundity. People tend to assume that when God tested Abraham, that Abraham offered Isaac as a sort of begrudging obligation. Like he didn't want to do it but he did it anyway. After all, who wants to sacrifice their own son? Yet, nothing I see in Scripture suggests this, but rather the opposite. Abraham was able to offer Isaac as a cheerful giver, faith over fear. Why? Because he considered that God was able to resurrect Isaac. He was convinced that God was able to do the impossible. The Lord is able to provide for all our needs and more, everything He requires of us, He gives to us free of charge.

GodfatherPartTwo · Tuesday at 8:32 PM

Hebrews 11, Part II

21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and WORSHIPED, leaning ON THE TOP OF HIS STAFF.

When Jacob blessed his sons, he wasn't playing favorites or prophesying according to his own will, that is the will of man, but he was being carried along by the Holy Spirit, leaning on Christ as he uttered the words of God.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26regarding the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

Moses chose the sufferings of Christ over the riches of Egypt. Do not tell me that these men did not know Christ and did not have faith in Him. He saw Him who is unseen, even as we do, through the eyes of faith.

28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

When the Hebrews painted the blood of the lamb on their lintel and doorposts, they would've been painting a cross over their door when you think about it.

29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land, and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

Here is another instance of the salvation/condemnation paradox.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I recount Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, as well as David and Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

You might remember some of these names from Judges. None of these men were perfect, but they accomplished what they did through trusting in Christ.

37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, mistreated 38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in desolate places and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

The Jews killed the Prophets, as Jesus said. Even as the Gentiles killed the Apostles. The prophet Isaiah was sawn in two. It was never that the prophets weren't good enough for the people or didn't preach a good enough message, but the other way around. The world did not deserve to hear their words. Everywhere the Gospel is preached, the world does not deserve to hear it.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

That is, they did not live to see the world to come, not in their lifetimes. But they preached the Gospel for our sake, and they will share with us in the resurrection. We who believe are the completion of their ministry.

GodfatherPartTwo · Thursday at 8:07 AM

Hebrews 12

2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Like that great cloud of witnesses, we can run the race, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the one who began and completed our faith. This verse is good because it comments on Christ's own disposition towards the cross. He despised the shame of it, but endured it to procure the joy set before Him. From Condemnation to Justification.

4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.

As bad as you think things are, you haven't even shed blood in this spiritual warfare yet. The Jews were threatening those Christian converts with loss of livelihood and social ostracization, but they would escalate that persecution in due time.

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

So why does God let you endure these trials? Because He loves you as sons. If He did not discipline you, you are not His sons. We touched on this in Micah. The Father wants to see His children grow into full maturity with all godly character.

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our benefit, so that we may share His holiness.

We all had fathers who gave us what for. I hope in your case that you had a good father who disciplined you toward your good. I was blessed to have such a father, but many people weren't. The abusive fathers set a bad precedent for the heavenly Father. But the heavenly Father always disciplines us towards a perfect end.

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20For they could not bear what was being commanded, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.” 21And so terrible was what appeared, that Moses said, “I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling.”

Here again is a contrast between the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant. The Mosaic Covenant was ratified at Mount Sinai and the author is heavily referencing Exodus. What is the nature of the Mosaic Covenant? God's Holy Law. That's a good thing right? Yes. The Law is good for your condemnation. It has the power to totally expose you, condemn you and bring all of God's wrath to bear on you. It is very good at trying, convicting, sentencing, and executing guilty sinners. This is the fearsome and terrible power of the Law. This is why the Hebrews and Moses simply could not bear the proclamation of the Law and were filled with fear. The Law will prove to be your tragedy if you are not in Christ.

22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

But if you are in Christ, you have not come to Sinai but to Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. It is a party, a comedy. It is not characterized by a spirit of fear "leading to slavery again" but God's perfect love casts out that fear. The New Covenant is a party. Live like it. This is why I recommend you do not confuse austerity for holiness. Rather, have a holy joy and live a joyful life in Christ.

24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

The blood of Abel still speaks. I pointed out earlier in this thread that ghost stories are of ghosts seeking vengeance from beyond the grave. This is exactly what the blood of Abel speaks, a word of vengeance and justice. This is what the martyrs, of whom Abel was the first, in Revelation speak of. But in this New Covenant, the blood of Christ speaks a better word, a word of forgiveness. The sprinkling of blood is when the covenant is ratified. In Moses, at Sinai. In Christ, at

26And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.”

"His voice shook the earth then" refers to God's words, the Law, causing Sinai to quake. A sign of His judgment, but a final judgment still waits. At which time, both heaven and earth will be shaken and they will pass away.

28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29for OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.

This is the formula for true worship. First, God provides. Second, in gratitude you offer service. Everything you do, do in gratitude to the Lord. Everything you've needed, He has provided. The acceptable service that you offer in gratitude is not just something you do on Sunday. That liturgy is your whole life, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

GodfatherPartTwo · Friday at 8:31 PM

Hebrews 13

1 Let love of the brothers continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Some have entertained angels unawares. You saw this in Judges for example, when Samson's parents entertained God's messenger without realizing who he was.

5Make sure that your way of life is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU”

If you are not ambitious, a go-getter, you will not get ahead in this life. This is why that spirit of ambition is ultimately at odds with a godly character. The godly character is not about wanting things, it is about being content with what you have. But people don't want to be content just yet. They want to become successful first then they'll be content. That's what they tell themselves at least but such people might become rich, but they'll never be content, some don't even want to be. I encourage you to be content with what you have by trusting in God and thanking Him for His providence.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The Scriptures testify that God does not change. Since Christ is God, He does not change. You've all been disappointed by people due to their flightiness, not so with God. God is always faithful to His word.

9Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

Grace is not a substance. It is not stuff. You don't eat it to get it inside of you. It's personal and relational. It refers to God's workings. What He's done for you. His love for you.

10We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no authority to eat.

This verse is peculiar. The altar can refer to the table, on which you eat the Lord's Supper. That could seem likely given the previous section where the author makes a contrast between grace and food. But I've heard people argue that it actually refers to the cross, and that also seems likely given the very next section.

12Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

The sacrifices were taken outside the camp. And fulfilling that typology, Christ Himself was taken outside the gate and sacrificed outside the city. "So let us go to Him outside the camp."

GodfatherPartTwo · 2025-11-30T21:56:50-0600

Hebrews 13, Part II

14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one to come.

It seems that many Christians are utopians. They want to build a lasting city here on this earth. This has been tried before and God's providence has not allowed any of these kingdoms to last. You will not see a perfect kingdom until Christ brings in the eschaton.

15Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

It may strike you strange how things such as praise or thanks are described as sacrifices. You may be loading more into the word 'sacrifice' than you ought. A sacrifice can mean a simple offering. It is not always a bloody affair. The question is whether the sacrifice is propitious, which Christ's death was. But when you offer thanks or praise to God, through the Lord's Supper or through your prayers, these are not propitious, not according to the Bible at least. The beauty of the system is this, Christ made propitiation for us, upon which our sacrifices are acceptable, not as a payment for sins, but as pure gratitude to the Lord. Your offerings are a response to what God has done, that is acceptable worship. When you pray, you are not trying to twist God's arm into doing your will, but to the contrary, it is by the operation of His will that you pray, and your prayers are heard since you are in Christ Jesus.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they will do this with joy and not with groaning, for this would be unprofitable for you.

To be a good elder is a difficult job. They struggle in many ways. Do not make their lives harder. Go out of your way for them as their brothers in the Lord.

20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep athrough the blood of the eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 21equip you in every good thing to do His will, by doing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

You want to do God's will? He must equip you first. So turn to His equipping. As Paul says, the Scriptures are able to make you thoroughly equipped for every good work. And may God work His will in you, to grow you in faith and love for Him. May the Lord Jesus be glorified over all.

Tippy · 2025-12-01T01:04:44-0600

GodfatherPartTwo said:
Hebrews 6

These things you can read about in the Gospels and in Paul's letters. This dates the epistle a little. It assumes, not a full, but an approximation of the NT canon. Another important clue about when Hebrews was written will come up later.

Here is a warning against apostasy. They put Christ back on the cross. The strongest wording here is "impossible to renew them to repentance." Not "very hard." Impossible. If they hear the Gospel and have enjoyed some of its benefits, what hope do they have if they deem the Gospel not good enough for them?

But before someone might say that Christians may not have assurance of their salvation nor confidence in Christ's mercy, the author asserts his assurance of their salvation. God is not stingy and He keeps those who are His.

This is the self-attesting nature of the Word of God. There is no higher standard, so it must necessarily be self-attesting. You may recall this episode from Genesis 15, when God cuts the covenant with Abraham.

God cannot lie and His oath guarantees He cannot lie, since His Word cannot be broken. You've heard the phrase "He's as good as his word" but this is taken to a whole other level when you apply it to God. Men swear by oaths, and they often break them, but God who cannot break His swore this oath to give absolute assurance that He would fulfill His promise to Abraham, by which we have obtained the Gospel and have received our Lord Jesus Christ.

This hope, this promise of God, enters within the veil, into God's presence. Into God's presence, Jesus has already entered to represent us, reconciling us to God. The author will describe what the Melchizedek priesthood really is and what it's qualifications are in the next chapter.

Been a while since I read the Bible as I feel into various attacks of indecision, despair and anxiety - the exact timings when perhaps I need to read it most.

I feel Hebrews is a little esoteric for this particular mindset but I'll try to catch up a bit.

'
6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3;And God permitting, we will do so.

4;It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5;who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6;and who have fallenaway, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7'

Interesting passage saying there are some who can NEVER be saved. Hard to know how to be sure you have 'been enlightened' though I think this has to be put into the context of the times of certain people who were returning to Judaism to escape persecution.

It says we need to move into spiritual maturity but how exactly do we do that?

Tippy · 2025-12-01T01:26:07-0600

GodfatherPartTwo said:
Hebrews 7

Melchizedek, King of Salem. Literally, King of Righteousness and King of Peace. Is Christ not both of those?

Here is where the author lists out the qualifications of the Melchizedek priesthood. If someone does not meet these qualifications and they tell you they are a Melchizedek Priest they are lying to you. Mormons especially are guilty of this. Ask any of the priests you meet if they meet these qualifications. The qualifications are so strong that some even consider Melchizedek to be Christ, or a theophany of some sort. I'd say that is a strong possibility.

The Levitical priests received a tithe from the people but Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek. The Levitical Priesthood is therefore lesser than the Melchizedek Priesthood, since the Levites descend from and were represented by Abraham.

This argument follows similar logic to his Sabbath argument. In Psalms, God speaks of the Melchizedek Priest, Christ. This was already after the Levitical Priesthood was established in Exodus. If the Levitical Priesthood could actually accomplish our salvation and perfect us, why is God looking forward to the Melchizedek Priest in Psalms?

By law, he means the rites and qualifications of the priesthood, as well as the covenant. For the Levitical Priesthood was ordained to be the priesthood of the Mosaic Covenant, but the Melchizedek Priesthood is the priesthood of the New Covenant. You cannot be saved in the former but you will be saved in the latter.

Jesus is from the tribe of Judah but He does not have His Melchizedek Priesthood on account of lineage, as the Levitical priests were supposed to, but on the basis of His indestructible, immortal life.

The Law could tell you what to do and what not to do, but it was not baked into the Law to change your hearts. This is why God's Grace, as communicated through the New Covenant, is absolutely necessary. We must be forgiven before we can be good.

Notice the stark contrast. Many Levitical Priests vs One Melchizedek Priest. When the Levitical Priests would pass on, so would their priesthood. But Christ never passes on His Melchizedek Priesthood because He is immortal, He holds it without succession.

Since Christ holds His Priesthood permanently, He is able to save to the uttermost, forever, those who draw near to God in Him, in His representation and His Covenant, since He lives forever to make intercession for them. Those who are in Him have such a High Priest who always intercedes for them before God. Fundamentally, this is why I don't believe that anyone in Christ's care can be lost, this and John 6. If Christ is constantly interceding for His people, how can any of them be lost?

The "once for all" in Hebrews often gets abused and taken out of context. It is a temporal term. Once for all time. This is in stark contrast to those priests who make daily sacrifices. It happened on One Day. Christ's once for all time sacrifice was sufficient to save His people, and that sacrifice was when He offered Himself up on the cross.

Hebrews 7

'24;but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.;Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.'

I guess the question is how to actually come to God through Christ? What do I actually need to do? Pray? Join my church? Give to charity?

I almost wish there was some sort of job interview for coming to God through Christ and as for the interceding? I don't actually see it happening so it's easy to forget all this and get stuck in all the petty minutae of daily life.

It's great to know Christ can save us all but there isn't a switch that flips and says 'ok I'm saved now' and what to do with doubt? The doubt is always there a little bit. Making me think somehow that if I were to say I fully accept Christ I wouldn't be entirely honesty as some doubts remain. The nature of these doubts are various but I wish I could say so with absolute conviction. I tend to think if I profess full acceptance with remaining doubt I'll receive an even greater punishment somehow.