Hebrews Chapter 07
In Hebrews 5:10 and 6:20 we were told that Jesus is “…in the order of Melchizedek” (refer to Genesis 14:17-24).
In Chapter 7, Paul (whom I believe to be the author of Hebrews and uses it as a Hebrew commentary on his letter to the Romans), expands on the Melchizedek analogy.
The Verses
Verses 1-3 – “Melchizedek” means my king is righteous. He was king of Salem (Jerusalem), which means peace.
He was not a priest by virtue of the Mosaic Law, but of the “most high God.”
We have no record of his parentage, and had no “pedigree.” There is no record of the end of Melchizedek’s priesthood.
Verses 4-12 – Abraham had given Melchizedek a tenth of the spoil (Genesis 14:20).
Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical priesthood. You and I are in Adam (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22). You and I are in Christ (Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:1).
Aaron’s priesthood belonged to the Mosaic Law. Christ has delivered us from the Law.
The purpose of the priesthood is to bring perfection— to restore and continue the relationship to God. The Levitical priesthood was powerless.
Verses 13-19 – This section shows us a contrast between two types of priesthood: Law vs. Power (Law restrains — power enables); Commandment (external) vs. Life (internal); Carnal (flesh) vs. Endless (eternal life); Changing vs. Unchanging; Weakness and un-profitableness vs. Nigh to God; Nothing perfect vs. Better hope.
Verses 20-24 – Here we have a quote from Psalm 110. The “better covenant” in verse 22 is the New Covenant. The Levitical priesthood was interrupted by death. Christ is the perpetual, perfect priest (vs 23-28).
Verse 25 – This is the key verse of this section and the center of the gospel. Christ is not dead, but living. Emphasize the death and resurrection of Christ — but go on from there (see Romans 8:34; Revelation 1:18). He died down here to save us; He lives up there to keep us saved. He is able to keep on saving us.
“To the uttermost” is all the way through; completely; perfectly. “Intercession” is intervention. “We shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10).
Verse 26 – Christ “became us,” that is, He is just what we needed. He is “Holy” in relation to God. “Harmless” is free from malice, craftiness, or cleverness. “Undefiled” is free from moral impurity. “Separate from sinners” — He is like us, yet He is unlike us.
Verses 27-28 - This underlines the value of the sacrifice. Christ is the sacrifice that the Aaronic priesthood could not provide.
Christ is the final word in priesthood.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
A Study in Hebrews-Week 6
Hebrews Chapter 06
Many Hebrew Christians wanted to go back to Judaism, with its rules and regulations.
Verses 1-3: Let’s grow up! Grow up from the works of the Law. Israel was in a pattern of keep-break-keep-break…baby stuff.
This is a reference to the ceremonial washings of the Old Testament-they wanted to go back and do those things (see the book of Galatians). The “laying on of hands” sprung from ceremonial washings in OT.
Verses 4-9: Is this about whether it is possible for a saved person ever to be lost?
Many theologians have shied away from this passage.
Some hold the position that it is possible to lose your salvation.
Some contend that the “if” is hypothetical. Others say this is talking about those who “profess” but have not really accepted Christ.
Some theologs hold that it is impossible for those who have turned away from Christ to be brought “back” to Him because they never were with Him to begin with.
Still others teach that we have a sure salvation (Romans 8:1 & 33-37; “My sheep hear my voice…eternal life…they shall never perish…”). It is about His ability to hold on to you. “it is impossible for those who have tasted (not eaten)…” the gospel and who do not embrace it to come back to it.
Some theologians say this is not about salvation at all. They say this is about believers and their rewards. This is for the repentance of believers. It is about the fruit, not the root, of salvation. Paul is talking about the things that accompany salvation. They are in danger of losing their reward.
(Verse 6) “fall away” is the Greek word, “parapipto,” which is the same phrase used of Christ in the Garden when He “fell” on His face in prayer. It means to fall down, and does not refer to apostasy.
(Verse 8): Works do not save you, but they give evidence of your salvation. Before you are born, heredity determines your life. After you are born, your environment determines your life. Before you are born again, works do not enter into your “goodness.” After you are born again, works are important to witness to your salvation.
Verses 10-20: We are to minister to the saints. We are not to be lazy Christians. We must not say, “OK, I’m saved. Now I’ll sit back and enjoy my salvation.”
(Verse 15): After waiting Abraham received his promise. And he had to wait a LONG time.
(Verse 18): The two unchangeable things are: the death of Christ and the resurrection of Christ These are the condensation of the four principles in Romans 8.
We are approaching the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is important to remember the following:
1) The birth of Jesus is important, but not the point; 2) Christ (the Greek word for the Hebrew Messiah) always has been (John 1:1ff); 3) He came for one reason...to die a sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary for the remission of sins and sealed that deal with His resurrection (Romans 10:9 & 10).
Trusting in the birth of Jesus will gain you nothing. Trusting in, and only in, Christ's finished work at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection will gain you eternal life.
Many Hebrew Christians wanted to go back to Judaism, with its rules and regulations.
Verses 1-3: Let’s grow up! Grow up from the works of the Law. Israel was in a pattern of keep-break-keep-break…baby stuff.
This is a reference to the ceremonial washings of the Old Testament-they wanted to go back and do those things (see the book of Galatians). The “laying on of hands” sprung from ceremonial washings in OT.
Verses 4-9: Is this about whether it is possible for a saved person ever to be lost?
Many theologians have shied away from this passage.
Some hold the position that it is possible to lose your salvation.
Some contend that the “if” is hypothetical. Others say this is talking about those who “profess” but have not really accepted Christ.
Some theologs hold that it is impossible for those who have turned away from Christ to be brought “back” to Him because they never were with Him to begin with.
Still others teach that we have a sure salvation (Romans 8:1 & 33-37; “My sheep hear my voice…eternal life…they shall never perish…”). It is about His ability to hold on to you. “it is impossible for those who have tasted (not eaten)…” the gospel and who do not embrace it to come back to it.
Some theologians say this is not about salvation at all. They say this is about believers and their rewards. This is for the repentance of believers. It is about the fruit, not the root, of salvation. Paul is talking about the things that accompany salvation. They are in danger of losing their reward.
(Verse 6) “fall away” is the Greek word, “parapipto,” which is the same phrase used of Christ in the Garden when He “fell” on His face in prayer. It means to fall down, and does not refer to apostasy.
(Verse 8): Works do not save you, but they give evidence of your salvation. Before you are born, heredity determines your life. After you are born, your environment determines your life. Before you are born again, works do not enter into your “goodness.” After you are born again, works are important to witness to your salvation.
Verses 10-20: We are to minister to the saints. We are not to be lazy Christians. We must not say, “OK, I’m saved. Now I’ll sit back and enjoy my salvation.”
(Verse 15): After waiting Abraham received his promise. And he had to wait a LONG time.
(Verse 18): The two unchangeable things are: the death of Christ and the resurrection of Christ These are the condensation of the four principles in Romans 8.
We are approaching the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is important to remember the following:
1) The birth of Jesus is important, but not the point; 2) Christ (the Greek word for the Hebrew Messiah) always has been (John 1:1ff); 3) He came for one reason...to die a sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary for the remission of sins and sealed that deal with His resurrection (Romans 10:9 & 10).
Trusting in the birth of Jesus will gain you nothing. Trusting in, and only in, Christ's finished work at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection will gain you eternal life.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
CHRISTMAS SOUNDS OF FAITH-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Mannheim Steamroller
NOTE: Today's Bible lesson in Hebrews will appear next Saturday due to special programming at our church this week.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Saturday, December 03, 2011
A Study in Hebrews-Week 5
Hebrews Chapter 05
Definition of a priest. Important, because Paul calls Christ a priest. A priest engages in Sacrifice; Substance; and Prayer. A Priest is one who offers gifts and sacrifices. He is: 1) Taken from among men…he must be a person; 2) Be acceptable to God…ordained by God and 3)Be ordained for man…Representing man to God
A priest goes from man to God to represent man to God. A prophet comes from God to man with a message from God. A priest does not tell us what God has to say. He represents us before God. The only one who can represent us is the Lord Jesus, Christ. The priesthood is not for lost sinners but for saved sinners.
We tend toward either an emotional or a ritualistic approach to worship. We need to come to Him simply and rid ourselves of the meaningless trappings.
The verses:
1. The gift Christ offers to God for the forgiveness of our sins is Himself. No other gift would have been sufficient. He is our advocate (lawyer), and the best one there is.
2. Jesus was sinless, but can have compassion on those who commit sins of ignorance (Leviticus 4:2.). Christ takes care of those sins. He does not lecture us about how badly we have behaved…he just cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
3. The priest had to sacrifice for himself as well as for others. Christ did not have to make an offering for Himself.
4. He is the highest priest because He is acceptable to God
5. The beginning of His priesthood has to do with the resurrection.
6. Aaron’s order is not adequate…Christ is a Son, Aaron was just a servant. Melchizedek is only mentioned in Genesis 14. He brought forth food and wine for Abraham as the priest of the Most High God. Psalm 110 the prophecy of Christ in the order of Melchizedek.
7. Three occasions Jesus wept: Grave of Lazarus; over Jerusalem; Garden of Gethsemane. Some theologians teach that “Let this cup pass” refers to His dying in the garden. He did not want to die there. If He prayed in the garden to “let this cup pass” and that meant He didn’t want to die on the cross, His prayer was not heard. In a very real sense, He wanted to go to the cross! He found the cross joyful…He submitted to God. That is unfathomable to us.
8. He only offers eternal salvation. If you can lose it tomorrow, it wasn’t eternal, was it? (See John 3:16)
Why did the Son of God need to learn obedience by suffering? The only answer is that God got
something out of the death of Christ that has made Heaven more wonderful.
9. Why did the one who was perfect need to be made perfect? These are two significant mysteries. Lots of theologians have given their answers, but none of them satisfy me.
10. “Designated” comes from the word for “salute.” Melchizedek was a “type” of the priesthood of the Lord, Jesus, Christ.
11. As a group, we are not very good learners. We are “dull of hearing.”
12. We ought to be teachers, when we, ourselves still need to be taught. What we need to learn is not the depth of the Word. Paul says we need to learn the elementary truths of the Word…milk, not solid food. And we need it again and again.
13. Turn this around and realize that too many of us teach what we call “righteousness” when it is really nothing more than “behaviorism.” Not the same thing at all.
14. Ask yourself the question: Am I mature enough to absorb the solid food of the Word?
If we are not growing, we are dying, both personally and corporately as the church. Let us grow as the Body of Christ, into mature, Word-filled people of God.
Definition of a priest. Important, because Paul calls Christ a priest. A priest engages in Sacrifice; Substance; and Prayer. A Priest is one who offers gifts and sacrifices. He is: 1) Taken from among men…he must be a person; 2) Be acceptable to God…ordained by God and 3)Be ordained for man…Representing man to God
A priest goes from man to God to represent man to God. A prophet comes from God to man with a message from God. A priest does not tell us what God has to say. He represents us before God. The only one who can represent us is the Lord Jesus, Christ. The priesthood is not for lost sinners but for saved sinners.
We tend toward either an emotional or a ritualistic approach to worship. We need to come to Him simply and rid ourselves of the meaningless trappings.
The verses:
1. The gift Christ offers to God for the forgiveness of our sins is Himself. No other gift would have been sufficient. He is our advocate (lawyer), and the best one there is.
2. Jesus was sinless, but can have compassion on those who commit sins of ignorance (Leviticus 4:2.). Christ takes care of those sins. He does not lecture us about how badly we have behaved…he just cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
3. The priest had to sacrifice for himself as well as for others. Christ did not have to make an offering for Himself.
4. He is the highest priest because He is acceptable to God
5. The beginning of His priesthood has to do with the resurrection.
6. Aaron’s order is not adequate…Christ is a Son, Aaron was just a servant. Melchizedek is only mentioned in Genesis 14. He brought forth food and wine for Abraham as the priest of the Most High God. Psalm 110 the prophecy of Christ in the order of Melchizedek.
7. Three occasions Jesus wept: Grave of Lazarus; over Jerusalem; Garden of Gethsemane. Some theologians teach that “Let this cup pass” refers to His dying in the garden. He did not want to die there. If He prayed in the garden to “let this cup pass” and that meant He didn’t want to die on the cross, His prayer was not heard. In a very real sense, He wanted to go to the cross! He found the cross joyful…He submitted to God. That is unfathomable to us.
8. He only offers eternal salvation. If you can lose it tomorrow, it wasn’t eternal, was it? (See John 3:16)
Why did the Son of God need to learn obedience by suffering? The only answer is that God got
something out of the death of Christ that has made Heaven more wonderful.
9. Why did the one who was perfect need to be made perfect? These are two significant mysteries. Lots of theologians have given their answers, but none of them satisfy me.
10. “Designated” comes from the word for “salute.” Melchizedek was a “type” of the priesthood of the Lord, Jesus, Christ.
11. As a group, we are not very good learners. We are “dull of hearing.”
12. We ought to be teachers, when we, ourselves still need to be taught. What we need to learn is not the depth of the Word. Paul says we need to learn the elementary truths of the Word…milk, not solid food. And we need it again and again.
13. Turn this around and realize that too many of us teach what we call “righteousness” when it is really nothing more than “behaviorism.” Not the same thing at all.
14. Ask yourself the question: Am I mature enough to absorb the solid food of the Word?
If we are not growing, we are dying, both personally and corporately as the church. Let us grow as the Body of Christ, into mature, Word-filled people of God.
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