Hebrews 12:23a

"To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven,..." Which of course in Paul's language is a reference to those of us in the Body of Christ.


Hebrews 12:23b

"... which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,..." Now we covered that at the close of the program - how that every believer will come before the Bema Seat to be judged for reward.


Hebrews 12:23c

"...and to the spirits of just men made perfect." I couldn't just pass that part up. We have to stop for this. Who are the spirits of just men made perfect? Well, let's go back to Romans chapter 3 so that we pick up the scriptural account of what Paul is talking about. I always like to drop down to verse 23 where we have, what shall I say, the culmination of everything that has been building in the first three chapters here in Romans - and that is the conclusion that mankind are sinners, with none excepted - Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, good or bad; it doesn't make any difference.


Romans 3:23

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" But it doesn't stop there. You move right into the next verse and here we have that glorious hope of salvation that is extended to every human being, none excepted - and that is that we are justified by His grace.


Romans 3:24

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" Being justified by His grace, His unmerited favor! God didn't have to do this, but He did. And so now we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption, or the process of paying our sin debt, that is in Christ Jesus. Now verse 25.


Romans 3:25

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, (that shed, atoning blood of the cross) to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"