Hebrews

November 11, 2016

Since Jesus has become our Great High Priest and has accomplished all that is necessary for those who trust in Him to approach the Father, “let us draw near.” Christ has removed the barrier of separation between us and God. Why stand off afar? Draw near. And let your approach be with “full assurance,” not doubting. Knowing that your hearts have been cleansed by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus and your bodies are being washed, sanctified by the work of the Spirit, come near to God with full confidence. Jesus has done this for you, so… draw near.

November 10, 2016

To those who have received the free gift of salvation that comes through faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit bears inner witness that God has not only forgiven their sins, but has decided to remember them “no more.” Do you struggle with the memory of past sins and failures? If you have given your life to Christ, then all your sins are forgiven and forgotten. Therefore, it is not the Spirit that keeps bringing them to your mind, but your own flesh giving in to Satan’s accusations. As you grow in the Lord, you will learn the difference between the Spirit’s conviction and Satan’s accusation. The first is meant to give you life and freedom from condemnation, the second is meant to kill and enslave. Give your life to Christ and yield to the Spirit’s witness who says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).

November 9, 2016

Christ did not enter into the Most Holy Place in the man-made temple in Jerusalem. For the temple was only a type, a “copy” pointing to its reality in heaven. No, Christ entered into the very presence of the Holy God as our Great High Priest and Mediator. Now, He is both our Representative and our King. The Temple in Jerusalem, with all its careful practices and detail, were always only meant to point to Him and His holy office for its fulfillment.

November 5, 2016

Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” was the king of Salem (or “Shalom – Peace”), whom Abraham paid a tithe (Gen. 14). Quoting Psalm 110:4, the author of Hebrews spoke of the perpetuity of Melchizedek’s priesthood, showing that it predated the Levitical priesthood, and continues on after it to eternity. Though Jesus was born into the royal line of Judah and not the priestly line of Levi, His priesthood is superior because His priestly claim preceded Levi’s and is in every way superior to his. So then, what was the purpose of the Law and the Levitical priesthood? It was a foreshadowing and a tutor (Gal. 3:24) preparing the people of God for its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. In Him, the threefold office of Prophet, Priest and King are united. Christ is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, forever standing before the Father making intercession for us.

November 3, 2016

The author of Hebrews explained that the basic teachings about Christ had to be covered again with them, because they were not growing in their understanding of God’s Word. There are believers like this in every generation. They receive the Word, but don’t grow in it. Hebrews does not question their belief, but it does accuse them of spiritual dullness and failure to listen to God’s Word. People who don’t grow in God’s Word are subject to every wind of doctrine and false teaching. Like spiritual babes they only want milk and not the meat of Christian teaching. They are encouraged to grow up in their understanding, so that God’s Word affects their discernment of right and wrong.

November 2, 2016

Because of the mediatorial work of Christ, we are able to approach God’s throne with confidence. Christ is our Advocate and our Great High Priest, who continually stands before the Father on our behalf. We can have confidence that every prayer prayed in Jesus’ name is heard by the Father.

November 15, 2015

Not only is the “new covenant” sacrifice of Jesus better than the old one instituted under Moses, it is also “better” than the blood sacrifice offered by Abel. While Abel and Jesus have in common that both offered sacrifices acceptable by God and both were killed by their brothers, Christ’s sacrifice is better because both it and the One offering it are better. Jesus is the fulfillment of both Abel’s sacrifice and Moses’ mediation. Without His sacrifice, theirs would be without merit, for theirs is merely a check awaiting His deposit. It is this Jesus that you come “to” when you answer God’s call of salvation.

November 13, 2015

Abraham proceeded to obey God’s instruction to sacrifice his son because he trusted in God’s promise concerning Isaac. He had faith in God’s promises and instructions over his own desires. He reasoned that since God had already promised that Isaac was the son by which he would receive the promised generations (Gen.21:12), then God would have to raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill it. Of course, God did not require Abraham to follow through with this test of faith. Yet, the quality of Abraham’s faith was revealed by his willingness. His faith led him to put loving God above his love for his son. Abraham’s faith was rewarded in that not only did God provide a goat to die as proxy for Isaac, He also provided His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the whole world.

November 12, 2015

The assumption that the origin of the universe can be extrapolated from its present visible condition is here denied. The Bible teaches that God spoke the universe into existence, “ex nihilo” (“out of nothing”). We were not there when this happened, but God has revealed this to us through His Word. According to Hebrews, those listed in chapter eleven’s “faith hall of fame” had a faith that included this foundational truth: God created the universe and we are His creation.