SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-My Name Is Lazarus-Greater Vision

A Study in Hebrews-Week 4

Hebrews Chapter 04

Verse 1: “Let Us” be careful (KJ: fear)that we are really saved. So many people call themselves Christians without the slightest idea what that really means.

A Christian is one who has believed in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary, His resurrection, and who has recognized and repented of sin in his life giving himself over to Christ in all areas of his life.

Verses 2-3: (Vs 2)We have heard the gospel. We will never be able to stand before God and say that we have not heard the good news.

This has to do with putting your absolute trust in Christ.

Verses 4-8: This references Sabbath rest.

The Sabbath is not a day you keep. The real Sabbath is knowing what it is to trust Christ and find eternal rest in Him. It is a day of grace for every day. (God rested, not because he was tired, but because he had completed the work of salvation).

Verse 7: “Today” is emphasized because TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.

Verse 8: “Joshua” means “Jesus” or “Savior.” But Joshua was not able to secure salvation. Jesus is.

Verse 9: People of God will find a heavenly rest…deep joy.

Verse 10: Once you enter into the rest of salvation, you realize that your own works are virtually worthless.

The rest here is the rest of completeness.

The only work God is involved in now, is the work of a “new creation.” Romans reminds us: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation…”

Verse 11: This is not a suggestion that one can work for salvation. It is a recognition that one cannot rest from rest, one can only rest from work.

The “disobedience” referenced here is the unpardonable sin: the sin of unbelief. It is the Greek word, apeitheia, which means “unbelief.” In fact, the King James has this properly translated as “unbelief.”

Verse 12: “For” is the cement that holds Paul’s argument together. It is the conclusion from what came before.

We serve a living (quick) Savior, and He is active in the lives of His children.

God knows your heart…He really knows it. You cannot hide anything from God: no thought; no deed; no attitude…nothing.

Verse 13: When the Bible says something once it is important. When it says it twice, you better listen up! The idea here of being laid bare is that God can “see right through you.” Don’t you think you can compartmentalize you life and keep some of it from God.

Verse 14: Jesus is our Great High Priest. He is superior to the Levitical priesthood.

Paul’s conclusion is that because of all he has written in verses 1-13, we must hold fast; trust in; live by our faith…not our faith in our faith, but our faith in Him.

Verse 15: Jesus knows every struggle we go through. He was tempted in every way in the wilderness, but He did not succumb to the temptation.

Verse 16: We do not serve an unapproachable God. He is the One we can come to with confidence and assurance that He will receive us. He understands us. He gives us mercy and grace in our times of need.

The Word of God will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the Word of God.

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-No More Night-David Phelps

A Study in Hebrews-Week 3

Hebrews Chapter 03

In chapter 1 we found Christ superior to prophets. In chapters 1 & 2 we found Him superior to the angels. Now we find Christ superior to Moses.

Verse 1: “Therefore” is Paul’s way of presenting his linear logic (just as he did in Romans). “Holy” means separated or set apart unto God.

Israel had an earthly calling. Messianic Jews (we, too) have a heavenly calling in Christ. “...fix your thoughts on Jesus”…He must be our constant focus.

He is the high priest to whom we must confess our sins. There is no longer an earthly priest to whom we confess.

“Apostle” is one who is sent. Earthly apostles saw Jesus, Jesus is THE sent one. Apostle comes from God to man. High priest represents man to God. That’s Jesus.

Verses 2-5: Moses was the one chosen to bring God’s Law to His people.

Jesus must be greater than Moses, or he is not a useful savior.

Moses made mistakes: smiting the rock when he was told not to; he lost his temper; but he was faithful to God.

Who built your house? Most people know, and more people know the builder than know about your house.

So it is with Jesus. He is the builder of everything (John 1:1ff).

Verse 6: Moses was a servant in God’s house. Jesus is the Son in God’s house. To whom does a good father give more honor, his son or his servant? “…if we hold on…” is not the conditional, but the logical.

The proof that you are a child of God is your faithfulness, not the faithfulness of your own power, but of His.

Verse 7-11: As we learned from Jeremiah, we must not harden our hearts against God as the Jews did when they heard His Word. (Psalm 95:7). They doubted God and never entered the land of Canaan.

Vs 10. I was grieved by their unbelief.

Verse 11: The “rest” referred to here is the “rest” of salvation.

Verse 12: We are to encourage one another so that we will be certain that our salvation is not only head knowledge of Christ but is unwavering heart knowledge of Him.

Verse 14: Here is one of the strongest passages in all of scripture that once we are saved we cannot come unsaved. “If we hold firm till the end…” we are saved. If we do not hold firm to the end, we are not saved.

Verse 15: From Psalm 95:7-8. Be certain that when He speaks, you hear His voice and when you hear His voice that you listen and follow Him.

Verses16-19: The Jews were the very people God had led out of Egypt…His chosen people. Yet, they did not trust Him.

Unbelief will keep a person from Heaven. Trusting Him will open the gates of Heaven and you will hear God say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Be Ye Glad-Glad

A Study in Hebrews-Week 2

Hebrews Chapter 02

The key concept in the book of Hebrews is "better." Thirteen times Paul exalts Jesus as “better than.”

Jesus is better than angels, Moses, Joshua, and Aaron. He has better promises, is a better sanctuary, a better sacrifice, and achieves better results.

Chapter two continues the comparison of Jesus to the angels and then turns the corner to His power to save.

Verses 1-2 “The ‘attention’ we must pay” is referring to what we have heard about Jesus. Paul’s “For if the message spoken by angels was binding…” tells us that nothing else can provide salvation for us.

“What we have heard” is a reminder that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word
spoken by and through the prophets.

Verses 3-6 If we don’t accept the salvation offered by Christ, there is no hope for us. We will perish with all of those who reject Him.

Not only did those who listened to God’s Word hear about His salvation plan, it was testified to through His miracles and by the fact that the Holy Spirit has given us gifts, according to His will.

Verses 7-9 Again, Hebrews makes it clear that we are not saved by angelic beings, or by some adherence to a set of rules, but by the power of Jesus, Himself.

Paul quotes Job 7:17ff and references Psalm 144. This helps us remember our deep need for salvation, as well as reiterating Christ’s position above all things, us included.

Everything is subject to Him.

Jesus became lower than the angels to be born a man, and did so for the crown of glory that would be His for what He accomplished in His death, burial and resurrection.

Verses 10-13 Jesus’ suffering (not our own) is what makes us perfect, if we are in right standing with Him.

He tells us that we are all one family…joint heirs with Jesus.

Verses 14-18 Continues the “family” theme and describes what Christ has accomplished through His sacrifice: absolute power over Satan (death); and the freedom of His disciples (us).

He did this, not for the angels, but for those who would accept His offering of salvation through trusting in, and only in, His finished work at the cross of Calvary.

By His suffering, He identifies with and understands everything man has ever been through, is going through now and ever will go through.

A VETERANS' DAY TRIBUTE

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF FAITH-Go Light Your World-Kathy Troccoli

A Study in Hebrews-Week 1

Hebrews Chapter 01

From the earliest times, the church acknowledged Paul as the author. Some however, in the third and the fourth century, did not regard Paul as the author, but Luke, or Clement, or Barnabas.

I subscribe to the idea of Paul as the author.

Scholars divide Hebrews into two main sections: 1. The didactic (designed or intended to teach), made up of the ten first chapters and the parainetic (offering strong encouragement) from the 19th verse of the tenth chapter to the end of the Epistle.

Verses 1-2 The prophets, such as Jeremiah, whom we just studied, were God’s vessels to
carry His message. But now He has spoken through His Son, Jesus.

Verses 3-4 Jesus is the exact representation of God. Here is a strong Biblical declaration that God and Jesus are one.

We are under the authority of Christ, not the Law.

Do not think that the Law has been done away with. It has been fulfilled in Christ, that is: He does the fulfilling because we can’t. According to Romans and Galatians, the purpose of the Law is to reveal our sin and to point us to Christ.

Verses 5-12 Here Paul “compares” Jesus to the angels by pointing out that there is no comparison between Him and the angels.

Here we also find that Christ is the perfect embodiment of God.

In Him the majesty of God is seen. In Him the glory of God is shown. Until Christ, one could not look upon the glory of God. In Christ we can see it plainly.

He is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

In Him what had always been a mystery is solved. In Him is life.

Verses 13-14 Jesus’ position is equal to God and no angel can say that. The angel’s purpose is to serve you and me (“…those who will inherit salvation”).

This comes from Psalm 110:1, a direct reference to Christ.

No angel can experience salvation, and thus they miss the joy of being saved.

But they can assist us in opposing Satan and can defend us from him.

Because of sin, mankind has been banished from God’s kingdom. But through Christ, we can find reconciliation with Him.

This, by the way, is pictured in many Old Testament accounts, some of which immediately come to mind. One I find interesting is Jacob’s ladder, a vision of the possibility of attaining the Kingdom of God. (Genesis 28:10-19)