Galaxy Three: Why What Is Happening a Billion Light Years Away Right Now Matters to You

“Galaxy Three: From Flower Girl to Bride”

www.pmchurch.tv

• Hebrews 5:11-14
  • Hebrews 5:14—“But solid food is for the .”
  • The Greek word for “mature” here is teleios, a word that is often translated “” in the New Testament.
  • It can be translated: perfect, complete, whole, full-grown, mature.
  • Hebrews 5:8,9—“Son though he was, [Jesus] learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made , he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.”
  • Hebrews 2:10—“It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation through suffering.”
  • Hebrews 10:14—“For by one sacrifice [Christ] has made forever those who are being made holy.”
  • Matthew 5:48—“‘Be , therefore, as your heavenly Father is .’”

• Hebrews 12:1-4
  • “Such a great cloud of witnesses”—the checkered-life of Hebrews 11 were hardly .
  • “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the    that so easily tangles.”
  •  Ryan Dobson: “What’s with this culture of all-me-all-the-time? More important, what’s the alternative, and does anyone have a picture of that?” (WSJ 8-20-14)
  • Desire of Ages: “Looking upon the crucified Redeemer, we more fully comprehend the magnitude and meaning of the sacrifice made by the Majesty of heaven. The plan of salvation is glorified before us, and the thought of Calvary awakens living and sacred emotions in our hearts. Praise to God and the Lamb will be in our hearts and on our lips; for and cannot flourish in the soul that keeps fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary.” (661)
  • For a generation whose prevailing sin is our , what else can heal us but our on the cross?
  • Turns out Roger Morneau’s idea of the story of Calvary every morning as part of our worship is a remedy whose time has come—Matthew 27:24-54.
  • Christ’s Object Lessons: “Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. . . . It is formed by hard, stern battles with . Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.” (331)
  • “[Christ] made an offering so complete that through his grace may reach the standard of perfection. Of those who [1] receive his grace and [2] follow his example it will be written in the book of life, ‘Complete in him—without spot or stain.’” (Review and Herald  5-30-1907)
  • Revelation 3:21
  • Steps to Christ: “There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God.” (64)
  • “He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. more fervently; more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance.” (64)
  • “The closer you come to Jesus, the more you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is evidence that Satan’s delusions have lost their power; that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you. No deep-seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness.” (64-65)
  • “The we see to esteem in ourselves, the we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. . . . The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character, and the more we shall reflect His image.” (65)

“Grow up!”