Hebrews - NBST 854

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS - Liberty University campus

He's been teaching here since 1973 and has taught this course 9 times.

January 21 ~

Hebrews refers back to the OT more than any other book. It was written to the Jews. It refers more to Christ's high priesthood more than any other book.

January 23 ~

Many people today and in cities consider rain a curse. In Bible times, people thought rain was a blessing. They needed it to grow crops and saturate the land. Look at the rain and call it beautiful because God made it.

Memory verses in NIV:

Exam 1)

Hebrews 2:9, 10 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." and Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Exam 2)

Hebrews 5:8, 9 "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him"

Hebrews 7:25 "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

Hebrews 8:12 "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Final Exam)

Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Hebrews 12:1, 2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

--if the question of authorship and the fact that we do not know who wrote Hebrews bothers us, consider all of the knowledge in the world that we do not know. It's ok not to know for sure.

--A.D. 68 was probably the date for the authorship of Hebrews

Authorship of Hebrews

1. Arguments in favor of Paul

--most mentioned author

1)--reference to Timothy in Hebrews 13:23. Paul and Timothy were very close.

2)--similar theology and language between Hebrews and other known writings of Paul.

Hebrews 1:4 and Philippians 2:9

Hebrews 2:10 and Romans 11:36

Hebrews 7:27 and Ephesians 5:2

Hebrews 10:33 and 1 Cor. 4:9

Hebrews 12:22 and Galatians 4:26

(Not a Pauline argument, necessarily)--Hebrews 8:13 may be a prophetic reference to the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

"In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."

3)--the centrality of the person and work of Christ

2 Peter 3:15, 16 "and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."

4)--there are things in Hebrews that are hard to understand. Perhaps Peter was referring to Hebrews.

Peter is the apostle to the Jews. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles.

5)--Paul calls himself a Hebrew of the Hebrews in Phil. 3:5 (a Jew with a capital J). He spends 3 chapters in Romans 9,10, and 11 talking about Jews. He never became anti-Jewish. Paul went first to the synagogues, was rejected, then went to the Gentiles.

--some wars are not worth fighting. Don't worry about the authorship of Hebrews or let it effect a ministry. This is not a conservative or liberal issue. The Bible doesn't say who the author is.

2. Arguments against Paul as author

1)--Hebrews majors on the high priestly work of Christ in Heaven. Major Pauline works major on His work on earth. It is referred to, but not a major theme.

2)--Justification by faith is not a major theme in Hebrews. It is in Paul's works like Romans, Galatians, etc.

3)--In Hebrews the law is ceremonial. In the Pauline epistles, it is ethical. Paul is saying that the ethical law has been replaced by grace.

4)--The author of Hebrews never identifies himself. All of the accepted Pauline epistles, he identifies himself without exception. This may be the biggest argument against Pauline authorship. Nearly every single theologian will accept that Paul wrote all of the 13 epistles.

--many people like the Jews tried to kill Paul. Nero eventually killed him. If he wanted to write to the Jews, he may have wanted to write to them secretly. But that doesn't sound like Paul. He was a bold man.

--there's no book in the Bible or the NT that is written to unbelievers. There is information that is useful to nonbelievers like SALVATION, but they were written to believers in the time period.

--Hellenists are Greek-speaking Jews.

The destination of Hebrews will help us see who it was written to. For example, if it went to Spain, it probably wasn't written to Jews. If it was sent to Jerusalem, it probably was written to Jews.

--authorship is usually the question when we determine/consider canonnicity of the Bible. Many books were rejected. Hebrews had a difficult time because of authorship. Nonetheless, it was canonized.

5)--the epistle begins with doctrine which is very unlike Paul. Paul begins with salutations. "I, Paul...write unto you...I pray for you daily...your faith is spoken of in all the world...etc." Hebrews jumps straight into doctrine.

6)--Paul is the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Romans 15:16 (and other places)

Saul was a Jewish name. Paul is a Gentile name. Paul is still called Saul after he is saved. The scriptures began using his name as Paul in Acts 13

7)--begins using the Septuagint completely. Hebrew Bible into Greek for Hellenized Jews. Septuagint was in Greek. If the Greek is the same, then we can assume it was copied directly. If it is summarized or different words are used, it may not be the same.

8)--style and vocabulary is in contrast to Pauline writings

9)--the author says that he is a disciple of the apostles, chapter 2:3

January 28 ~

Continuing authorship lecture.

--the "we" in Hebrews could refer to Paul and someone else. Or Priscilla and Aquilla.

John Calvin said that he was not sure, but it could be Luke. It is more like Luke's style than Paul's writing style.

--Barnabas has been suggested. Barnabas is a Levite and Hebrews has much to say about the OT Levitical system.

Martin Luther said Apollos.

Silas has been suggested.

--It could have been any of these people, plus Paul.

--This was written in Greek because it was the language of the day. The Jews that read this letter (to whom it was written) were probably Hellenistic Jews and spoke Greek.

--Perhaps Paul's "thorn in his side" was hurting him to the point where he could not write the letter of Hebrews. However, he could have co-written it with one of the above people; such as Barnabas or Silas.

B. Destination

1. Who?

"To the Hebrews" is the title of the book. "The epistle of Paul the apostle to the Hebrews" was a later addition to the title.

Jews: Judaism widely conceived. Faithful Jews, faithless Jews and Jews who had an intellectual knowledge of Christ, but not a committed life.

2. Where?

Jerusalem is the most popular opinion for this answer.

Hebrews 13:19 "But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner." Paul often went to Jerusalem and has a similar line in Romans.

Problems:

1) We think that Hebrews was written to Hellenistic Jews since the Septuagint was used, exclusively. In Jerusalem they mainly spoke Aramaic.

2) The church in Jerusalem was poor. Hebrews 10:34 "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." The church that was written to had some money.

Other possible locations:

3) Hebrews 13:24 "Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you." This could have been written from Italy or to people near Italy. Since Paul died in Italy, this helps promote his authorship.

4) Alexandria is another possibility. They had a Hellenistic temple there. The Septuagint came from here.

5) Some say the Qumran community was the recipient of the letter. These are the Essenes. If they were Christians, they were defective in their Christianity.

Homework: Title, author, number of pages (which pages). Make sure it is introduction. It doesn't need to be typed, just written and handed in on Friday.

C. Date

--66, 67 or 68 A.D. Chapter 9 says that these things are about to pass away. In 70 A.D. the temple was destroyed and these things passed away. This helps promote Pauline authorship, too, since he died in 68 or 69 A.D.

--66 A.D. was Jewish persecution and this epistle could have came out of that experience.

--Timothy is mentioned in 13:23 and has been released from prison. The imprisonment was not long. 2 Tim. chapter 4 has more on this.

D. Purpose

1) Keep the Hebrews from backsliding. They were being persecuted and involved in sinful activity. They were perhaps indifferent. They were not going on with the learn. The author is attacking that problem and saying that they should get off their back and return to the team.

2) They could have been persecuted from the Jews and told not to enter the temple area. They were hated and thought lower than the Gentiles by their previous friends, the Jews.

3) Stop your apostasy.

E. Content

1. Subject

a. Free access to God, unrestricted, immediate access. In opposition to the old system where only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies (once a year on Yom Kippur). The temple was actually keeping people away from God. The new covenant let anyone come to God anywhere, any time.

b. Priesthood of Christ. It's Hebrews unique interpretation and teaching on Christ's high priesthood.

c. Worship is what happens in my heart; not with my hands. Jeremiah (in chapter 31) deals with this and is quoted a few times in Hebrews.

2. Development

1:1-10:18 ~ Doctrine, Theology

No opening salutations, greetings or anything.

10:19-13:17 ~ Exhortation

He rebukes, pleads, encourages, challenges

13:18-25 ~ Personal words (which is Pauline)

January 30 ~

The Finality of Christianity 1:1-2:18

A. God's Final Revelation in His Son 1:3

--the completion and end of revelation

--You cannot say you believe the Bible and either the Book of Mormon, Koran, etc. Christ is the final revelation.

Matthew 9:6 -- Jesus did miracles to point to His God-hood, "to show that I can forgive sins."

Jesus didn't raise every dead body or heal every sick person (this is debatable).

--Paul did more miracles than anyone. He wrote more of the New Testament than anyone, too. Paul's miracles declined and disappeared as he grew older.

--Paul's letters aren't in chronological order in the Bible. If they were, we'd see that his miracles declined and ended.

--Dr. Deimer thinks that tongues and the list of spiritual gifts by Paul are not for us today, only for the first century.

--God speaks through His Word, when we pray, through the Holy Spirit and through other believers.

Matthew 21:33 This parable shows how the prophets came and tried to correct people.

Taking away the land and giving it to others can mean taking it away from Israel.

1. The Person of Christ (verses 2b-3)

--If you want to see the brightness of God, you see it through Jesus.

--Like a cookie and mold. You may never see the mold (God), but you have seen the cookie (Jesus).

Colossians 1:17 "In Him, all things exist"

We don't have to understand everything. We can believe things we don't fully understand. Like gravity. Jesus holds all things together.

Jesus is our great high priest. He is still functioning in this role at the right hand of God.

The Holy Spirit is in the heart of believers. "Jesus is in my heart" and "Jesus is coming back" are contradictory statements and can confuse people. Jesus is in Heaven, but the 3^rd person of the trinity is here (Holy Spirit).

7 facts about Jesus Christ:

1) God has appointed Him "heir of all things", 2) it was through Him that God "made the universe", 3) He is the "effulgence" or "reflection" of God's glory, 4) He is the very image of the essence of God, 5) He upholds all things "by his enabling word", 6) He has "made purification for sins", 7) He "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (God)".

February 4 ~

We don't get new bodies until we die and go to Heaven. We have a new Spirit when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Our bodies are not renewed or changed, just our spirit.

--the first execution of a woman in Texas in many, many years just happened. Romans 13:4 is a verse that promotes capital punishment. "For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." However, the Greek words don't give a conclusive argument that proves capital punishment is Godly.

--I see this as a possible permission for capital punishment, but it is not necessarily the best thing to do. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Christ is Better Than the Angels (1:4-14)

--some Jews had been worshiping angels and holding them very high.

Kreitton (Greek) means "better". Jesus is better than angels. It is mentioned several times in Hebrews. Christ is better than the angels. The NT is better than the OT. Grace is better than works.

7 ways that Christ is better than angels:

1) Angels are servants of God. Jesus is the Son of God.

2) Angels worship God, but Jesus is worshiped by angels. The angels say, "Don't worship me."

3) Angels have great power, but Jesus is the King. They don't have all power, but He does.

Hebrews 1:8 calls Jesus God, "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom."

4) Angels live in Heaven and earth, they go back and forth. But Jesus made the Heavens and the earth.

5) Jesus is eternal and remains the same. Angels were created and probably before the Genesis account of creation. Angels are created beings and not eternal (in the past, only in the future).

6) Angels come into God's presence, but they don't sit down.

7) Angels minister to saints in the world. But Jesus creates saints; Jesus saves us, not angels.

--vs. 2, an admonition to heed the gospel

Hebrews is full of warnings. Some people think that the warnings are to those who may lose their salvation (not true).

--He is warning us, as believers, that we should not backslide or depart from God. Sanctification should not be taken lightly.

3 stages of Salvation:

1) Justification by faith (just as if I never sinned), "I got saved". Salvation begins here. I was a lost sinner, now I am a saved sinner (of course hopefully living a better life, according to God's laws and will). Not guilty. This can happen in a moment; an instant in time. Believe and repent and we are instantaneously saved.

2) Sanctification (becoming like Christ) It takes a lifetime to be sanctified.

3) Glorification (dying and getting new bodies) This will be an instant in time, too.

--God is interested in oak trees, not squash. Oak trees take years and years to grow. You wouldn't expect to plant one and have firewood, immediately. It takes lots of time to grow and mature. God is interested in us becoming mature and growing.

--we have bodies, souls and spirits.

--our soul is our personality. Big feet, small feet, hair color, etc. A lot of people who have an external advantage (good looking), don't work on their inside. Like the tortoise and the hare, a person can win by working on their inside.

--the way you think, feel and act (emotions) and will makes your personality. You cannot do much with your body, and less with your spirit. However, you can do things about your personality. Your soul can be changed by Jesus or it can be changed by society. You can control your emotions, beliefs and desires. You can certainly control your will and actions. Sanctification is learning to be like Jesus. Think as He thinks, feel as He feels, and do as He does.

Hebrews 2:3 reads, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" The author is talking about the sanctification aspect of salvation in this passage. The word salvation can mean justification, sanctification or glorification. It must be taken in context and studied in order to understand which stage a verse is referring to.

A way to determine whether one is a believer or not is to see if God is letting them get away with stuff. If they can sin without a conscience, a person most likely is not saved.

--there won't be sanctification in Heaven, like we know here on earth.

--read Deuteronomy chapter 1 for next week's class. It is a summary of the history of the Israelites by Moses.

February 6 ~

The Bible gives us a strategy for defeat. Repentance and forgiveness.

You take an axe to a tree, it will leave a mark. Someone gets divorced, they will have a mark.

Justification has been defined as "just as if I never sinned". This isn't correct because I have sinned and those sins have left some marks.

The word salvation, in scripture, could mean any of the three stages of salvation.

--we cannot ever be certain about a person's salvation. We can have an opinion about it, but we cannot know for sure since only God knows their heart.

If the way to know that someone is saved is the way they are living, then the way to salvation is good works. And we know that isn't true. If someone is living wrongly, and they have salvation, their sanctification is doing poorly. They are not becoming like Christ.

Plants don't have souls, but they have a body or physical being.

Animals have souls in the respect that they have personalities. They don't have an eternal soul.

Humans have souls and spirits. We have communion with God.

--your body and your spirit are always in the same place.

Deuteronomy 1 applications:

Egypt, bondage, lostness

Red Sea, deliverance, justification

Sinai, law, obey

Kadesh Barnea, crossroads, decision

Wilderness, carnal, carnal Christianity

Holy land, sanctification, sanctification

--sometime people aren't doing well on their sanctification because they are not focused on their sanctification.

--the road to Christ is uphill, it is work. If you are coasting, then you are on the wrong side of the hill.

--there is a ranking: God, the angels, man then animals. Jesus was made like man, a little lower than angels, when He came to earth.

February 11 ~

D. The position of man (2:5-8)

E. The position of Jesus (2:9-18)

Jesus came to die. That was His purpose. The rest wouldn't have helped us a bit, except that He died.

--Jesus did not know everything on earth, while He was on earth (questionable...he asked where Lazarus' tomb was located).

--death is to be feared if you are an unbeliever; angels don't experience death, but people do

--Jesus was not everywhere on earth

--Jesus did not inherit a sinful nature, unlike the rest of mankind

--He's a merciful and faithful high priest, so He can make atonement for the signs of the people

Was Jesus really tempted?

"He suffered when He was tempted"

"God cannot be tempted, nor does He tempt"

--there are many things in scripture that apply to Jesus on earth or apply to God in Heaven. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. Satan could have given Jesus absolute ownership of all of the kingdoms of the world (with God's permission), but Jesus didn't give in to temptation.

Yes, Jesus was genuinely tempted.

--the issue is, "Could Jesus have sinned?" If He could not sin, that denies His humanity. This also discounts the temptation account of Matthew chapter 4 and Hebrews 2:18. If He could sin, then that aligns with scripture. It may appear to discount His divinity, but He sacrificed some of it on earth. This question is like asking, "Can God make a rock so big that He cannot lift?" If yes, that reveals that He has limits and cannot lift heavy rocks. If no, then He doesn't have enough power. It's a silly question.

--things that are beyond a person's ability to perform are not temptations

--Jesus did not sin.

During our tests and trials, God hopes we will pass. Satan hopes we will fail.

February 13 ~

Canaan was a symbol of Heaven, in some ways. Of course there was fighting and sin in Canaan, which will not happen in Heaven. But Canaan was the promised land like Heaven is our promised land.

The True Home of God's People (3:1-4:13)

Jesus is greater than Moses (3:1-6)

4 Great Things Moses Did

1) The Great Mediator - between God and Israel (Mt. Sinai, etc.)

2) The Revealer of God - they didn't know who God and Moses didn't either until God met him in a burning bush.

3) The Deliverer - he came to Egypt and told Pharoah "let my people go"

4) The First Author of God's Word - Pentateuch

--There had never been anyone like Moses. Adam and Abraham and David were significant, along with Elijah; but nobody like Moses. Moses is the most significant human being to Israel. The author of Hebrews is saying that someone is greater than Moses. The only way to be greater than Moses is to be God.

--The author's purpose was not to put Moses down. He had weaknesses, but the author did not attack them. The purpose here is to uplift Moses. Jesus is greater than Moses and Moses is somebody special.

--Blowing out someone else's candle doesn't make yours any brighter, it may just appear that way.

--The Catholic people exalt the virgin Mary. They also think she was sinless and was brought to Heaven before she died. In order to witness to a Catholic person, you would not put down Mary. In order to witness to Jews, you would not put down Moses.

--Islam and Mohammed, Mormons and Joseph Smith, etc.

3) --the architect is greater than the building. Jesus (the architect) is greater than the "house" of Moses. He built it!

4) --Moses helped build the house, but Jesus build everything.

5) --Moses was a faithful servant in God's house, Christ was faithful as a Son over God's house

--these are ways that Jesus was greater than Moses, without putting Moses down at all.

--the temple gave people access to God, but actually God had office hours. Only the High Priest could enter the temple and it was only once a year. Gentiles couldn't get close. Jewish females couldn't get very close. Regular Jews could get a little closer. Religious Jews could get closer, but only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies.

--Melchizidek has open access to God without the temple. Jesus is that kind of High Priest.

Admonition to enter into rest (3:7-19)

Another admonition to enter (4:1-13)

--repetition is the key to learning.

--if you preach a sermon and people don't get it, preach it again.

--hope springs eternal in the heart of a pastor.

--Jesus said that His yoke is easy. His burden is light. We will have burdens. A yoke isn't used when there is no work. This is rest in the work, in the yoke, with the burden. Pray for a stronger back. He will give you strength during your burdens. This doesn't mean laziness or the lack of problems. He will make your burden lighter and more bearable. This could be in your perspective. This could be in reality. This could be in supernatural strength and the changing of your character.

--it's amazing how steadily the work of God can go when the Holy Spirit is providing power and direction. I.e. the walls of Jericho fell by God's power, they couldn't have done it on their own.

February 18 ~

Memorize Hebrews 4:12. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

--test on 1 week from today Feb. 25

What is rest? There are different kinds of rest. Salvation, sanctification rest and glorification rest.

Encourage people to go all the way with God. Ask yourself who have you encouraged today. I've encouraged a few people. I sent a tape to one and wrote emails to at least 2 people. Not to mention last night's/this morning's encouragement. Praise God!

Believers are always on the move; either coming toward or away from Christ. "I'd rather be with someone who doesn't know the Bible so well that is moving in the right direction than someone who knows the whole Bible, but is moving in the wrong direction."

God wants us to live in the present and prepare for the future. Don't backslide.

--we must hold on to our confidence in God until the end. Don't lose your sanctification.

3:14 "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." This doesn't indicate that salvation can be lost, it indicates that confidence can be lost.

--Salvation has 3 stages. Not just one. This isn't what people always realize. Justification is the first step. The 2^nd, which Hebrews deals with, is the sanctification. The last step is glorification, becoming like Christ in Heaven.

--Moses wasn't allowed to go into the Holy land. However, he was there on the scene of the transfiguration. The wilderness in Israel has been compared to present-day carnal Christianity.

Everyone has a throne in their life. The unbeliever has themselves on the throne. The carnal Christian has themselves on the throne, but Christ somewhere in their life. Unbelievers see carnal Christians and see themselves. There is little or no apparent difference. Believers have Christ on the throne.

--try and discern whether your job offer, when becoming a pastor, is in a church full of carnal Christians or a church full of carnal Christians or a church full of unbelievers. A Christian can't get Christ out of their life, but they can take Him off the throne. Make sure at least the leaders are Spirit-filled, sincere Christians. If you teach a group of carnal Christians, with carnal leaders, it won't be easy.

The believer is either after the flesh and carnal or after the spirit and Godly.

Out of Egypt: symbolizes Justification

In to Canaan: symbolizes Sanctification

--if you choose to stay in Canaan, you will be saved, but you won't enjoy life. You will be the most unhappy person in the world. The most unhappy person in the world isn't a lost person; they tend to be very happy. Carnal Christians are the most unhappy people in the world. They aren't joyful people. Unbelievers see carnal Christians and they don't want to be like them. Most Christians are carnal Christians and are very unhappy. The world thinks that Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell are exceptions.

People who were 19 and younger were allowed to enter Canaan, 40 years later. There were some 59 year olds and younger people. Some were born in the wilderness.

--we sin in the process of sanctification. We don't believe in a plateau where you make no more mistakes. But you're headed in the right direction. You don't allow the sin to dwell. You may not be able to keep a bird from landing or pooping on your head, but you can keep him from building a nest there. (Tack and sail)

--the main work of a believer is to believe. This is what God has built into you. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. We are created in order to be a believer. Are you a believer? When I got saved, I had to believe in Christ: virgin birth, life, death, resurrection and deity of Christ. One can become an unbeliever because they backslide and their faith doesn't grow. Disobedience and unbelief are synonymous.

February 20 ~

Review for test

True and False questions

Matching : a list of scriptures down one side, and "Jesus is better than the angels", don't memorize the titles of sections, but recognize the material in each section. From overhead * and outline. A series of verses will be matched up with what the verses are about.

Another matching : items we have talked about

(about 1 point each for T and F and matching)

about 3 Multiple choice : a statement and we choose the correct answer

about 4 Completion : a word or phrase is missing and we fill in the blank

about 2 Listing : look on notes for types of lists, 4-8 items (go thru notes and find lists)

Required quoting of verses. The verses we supposed to memorize.

Essay question from a passage in Hebrews. Discuss something like, "Jesus being better than the angels". Try and remember which verse says what. Bring extra paper for this. Or it could be discuss the authorship of Hebrews and be ready to tell my opinion.

--the test should not take a full class period, but we have the entire time

Know these verses:

Hebrews 2:9, 10 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering."

Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

4 Great Things Moses Did

1) The Great Mediator - between God and Israel (Mt. Sinai, etc.)

2) The Revealer of God - they didn't know God and Moses didn't either until God met him in a burning bush.

3) The Deliverer - he came to Egypt and told Pharoah "let my people go"

4) The First Author of God's Word - Pentateuch

7 ways that Christ is better than angels:

1) Angels are servants of God. Jesus is the Son of God.

2) Angels worship God, but Jesus is worshiped by angels. The angels say, "Don't worship me."

3) Angels have great power, but Jesus is the King. They don't have all power, but He does.

Hebrews 1:8 calls Jesus God, "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom."

4) Angels live in Heaven and earth, they go back and forth. But Jesus made the Heavens and the earth.

5) Jesus is eternal and remains the same. Angels were created and probably before the Genesis account of creation. Angels are created beings and not eternal (in the past, only in the future).

6) Angels come into God's presence, but they don't sit down.

7) Angels minister to saints in the world. But Jesus creates saints; Jesus saves us, not angels.

7 facts about Jesus Christ:

1) God has appointed Him "heir of all things", 2) it was through Him that God "made the universe", 3) He is the "effulgence" or "reflection" of God's glory, 4) He is the very image of the essence of God, 5) He upholds all things "by his enabling word", 6) He has "made purification for sins", 7) He "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (God)".

Arguments against Paul as author

1)--Hebrews majors on the high priestly work of Christ in Heaven. Major Pauline works major on His work on earth. It is referred to, but not a major theme.

2)--Justification by faith is not a major theme in Hebrews. It is in Paul's works like Romans, Galatians, etc.

3)--In Hebrews the law is ceremonial. In the Pauline epistles, it is ethical. Paul is saying that the ethical law has been replaced by grace.

4)--The author of Hebrews never identifies himself.

Arguments in favor of Paul

--most mentioned author

1)--reference to Timothy in Hebrews 13:23. Paul and Timothy were very close.

2)--similar theology and language between Hebrews and other known writings of Paul.

3)--the centrality of the person and work of Christ

2 Peter 3:15, 16 "and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."

4)--there are things in Hebrews that are hard to understand. Perhaps Peter was referring to Hebrews.

Peter is the apostle to the Jews. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles.

5)--Paul calls himself a Hebrew of the Hebrews in Phil. 3:5 (a Jew with a capital J). He spends 3 chapters in Romans 9,10, and 11 talking about Jews. He never became anti-Jewish. Paul went first to the synagogues, was rejected, then went to the Gentiles.

3 Stages of salvation: Justification, Sanctification, Glorification

Summary of material that we finished in chapter three:

Rest in Christ isn't sleeping, but working.

Spiritual defeat is in verse 8: hardening your heart, verse 12: unbelief and apostasy, verse 17: dying in the wilderness.

Chapter 4:

First 13 verses are repetitious-a 2^nd warning against apostasy and an admonition toward rest.

--When we read about "salvation" in the Bible and the word "gospel" in the Bible, determine what it means in context. It could mean different things. Preaching the gospel or "good news" could mean a salvation message or it could mean the Bible.

--It's one thing to know and it's another thing to believe. Knowledge must be combined with faith. There are people out there who know what it takes to be saved, but they do not have faith. People hang on to sin, so they do not get saved. They enjoy what they are doing. People think if they surrender their life to Christ, they won't be able to do things that they are used to doing. Christ has far better things, though. Far better things.

--you can tell what the roots look like by looking at the branches and what is visible of the tree.

If we are rooted in Christ, we don't have to fear what the external circumstances are. If our rooting system is all right, it will all come back.

Admit sin to Christ and become more like Him through repentance. Find which sins are most awful or harmful or offensive to God and repent. Sanctification will take place then.

Verse 3: they shall never enter my rest-that is showing how people won't enter Canaan. Joshua and Caleb did enter Canaan, along with the younger Israelites.

"Today" is the day, do not harden your hearts. Joshua gave them rest, since He gave them the land. Did he give them complete rest? No. They still had to work the land. Rest refers to sanctification. Glorification is the end of sanctification. We may make great progress, but we will not be totally sanctified in this life. This theology differs from the Pentecostals. The total rest will be in Heaven. The Pentecostals believe that there is a plateau where we are not sinful any longer, we just make mistakes.

--Wouldn't it be a shame to spend all of life in the wilderness? Unfortunately, most Christians are in the wilderness their whole lives. My job won't always be to get people saved, it will be to get people sanctified. Teach them and watch them grow.

--How can a pastor say, "my work is done here". Complete sanctification doesn't happen until death and glorification. The work is never done because the body of believers will never be completely sanctified. Don't let it overwhelm you, but keep preaching the gospel.

--only God's Word can divide between the soul and the spirit. Human word cannot divide like that. It must be from God. We may have an idea of how to divide between attitude and actions, but God definitely does. We don't have to give an account to all people for all things, but we will have to give an account to God.

March 4 ~

The High Priesthood of Christ (4:14-6:20)

1. Encouragement to God's People (4:14-16)

--Hebrews is a series of warnings and encouragements.

Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus did not sin. Jesus did not sin. He asked the religious leaders and people to show Him His sin, and they could not. Whether He could have, is a circular argument.

Sources of Temptation:

The World

The Flesh

The Devil

--God does not grade on a curve. He is objective and there are objective laws.

2. Qualifications of a High Priest (5:1-5)

1) Jesus had to be a real man

2) Jesus had to be appointed by God

--there's more in the NT about Melchizedek than in the OT. That is ok because it's divine revelation. The NT writer could know more about him than Abraham.

3) Christ a High Priest after order of Melchizedek (5:6-10)

--Does God hear the prayer of a sinner (unbeliever)? It depends on what you mean by hear. Of course He hears all prayers. There is a difference between hearing and listening; and responding is another thing, too.

--What did Jesus mean when He said, "Save me from this hour." A possible interpretation: Jesus' anxiety was so great that there was a possibility that Jesus could die there. Jesus' sweat drops was evidence of this. This bodily function is not unknown to the medical community. It is called bloody sweat and happens under extreme circumstances. This indicates that He was under extreme pressure. Jesus could have been praying to God to have Him save Him from this hour and a heart attack or stroke. Scriptures say that God heard Him. And that is why He said, "Thy will be done."

For next time: read the account of Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18-20. Psalm 110:4.

Hebrews 6:4-6 are critical verses

March 6 ~

4. Admonition concerning immaturity (5:11-14)

--these people should be teaching, but they were still in need of more milk (baby food). They should have been ready to eat meat.

Verse 13 - they're unskilled and unacquainted with righteousness teaching

Verse 14 - they can't distinguish between good and evil

--this admonition was written to believers

5. Let us go on (6:1-8)

a. repentance and faith (they go together for justification)

--when leading someone to Christ they must acknowledge being a sinner and have faith in Christ as Lord and Savior: repent and believe. That foundation doesn't need to be laid again, once it's laid.

b. baptism and laying on of hands

c. resurrection and eternal judgment

Four Approaches to verses 4-6

1. Arminian - they believe that you can lose your salvation, due to these verses (there are different types of Arminians)

--I didn't get saved because I was righteous and I can't lose my salvation because I am unrighteous. My salvation is due to the righteousness of Christ. If He goes bad (which He cannot), then we could lose our salvation.

2. Almost saved - people have a head knowledge of Christ and the plan of salvation, they just need to commit their lives to Christ. "Intellectually Convinced Unbelievers"

--Jesus tasted death and died completely. This verse talks about tasting the heavenly gift. Some say it means a small amount, but others disagree due to what Christ went through and the interpretation of the previous verses.

3. Hypothetical - you can't lose your salvation, but let's pretend you can...what would it be like if you lost your salvation? It would mean you could never be saved again.

4. Backsliding - people do a poor job of becoming sanctified. (R) You are guaranteed one chance at sanctification. You may get more.

Some people look like they are Christians, but are not. Like a person can sell a guitar and know all kinds of things about it, it doesn't mean they can play a guitar.

You may be God's favorite, but if you keep disappointing Him and embarrassing Him, He may use you less or not at all.

March 11 ~

6. Assurance (6:9-20)

a. exhortation to obedience (vs. 9-12)

b. illustration of obedience (vs. 13-15)

c. explanation of assurance (vs. 16-20)

--when God speaks it is important; when God swears, it is more important

Hebrews 6:13 "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,"

--God doesn't need to make an oath, so when He does, it shows emphasis.

** Possible test question: list where Melchizedek is mentioned.

The Order of Melchizedek (7:1-28)

1. Description of Melchizedek (vs. 1-3)

(it's not strange because Mel is mentioned in more detail in the NT than the OT because all of the Bible's authors were inspired by God. God gave him these words and truths.)

--a high priest had to be a man and he had to be appointed from God. Jesus was from the wrong tribe, Judah, not Levi.

--King of Salem was Mel's title. That's Jerusalem and it means King of Peace

2. Three possible explanations

A. Theophany of Christ (the use of the term King and King of Peace, this is a pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ in the OT, he is the priest of God--not the priest of Israel, a priest forever and eternity, "Son of God"). There are more obvious theophany - burning bush, 4^th person in the fiery furnace, appearance to Joshua where he worshiped, etc.

B. A special creation (Gen. 6 - Sons of God)

C. A priesthood comparison

3. Mel's priesthood greater than Aaron's (vs. 4-10)

-- Mel is greater than Abraham:

1. Abraham tithed to him

2. Mel blessed Abraham

-- Abraham is greater than Levite (Aaron)

4. Christ's priesthood greater than Aaron's (vs. 11-15)

Mel is greater than Levite

Christ is like Mel

Christ is greater than Levite

March 13 ~

THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK (MEL) 7:1-28

3. (CONTINUED)

4. CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD GREATER THAN AARON'S

5. CONTRASTS BETWEEN LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD AND THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST - 5 POINTS

A. LAW (LEVITICAL - A FLESHLY COMMANDMENT) VS BASED (ACCORDING TO) ON POWER OF AN ENDLESS, THAT IS INDESTRUCTIBLE LIFE 16-17

B. LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD IS WEAK, UNPROFITABLE, MAKES NOTHING PERFECT 18-19

- CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD IS BETTER, SUFFICIENT, A BETTER HOPE AND ACTUALLY WE CAN THROUGH THIS HOPE DRAW NEAR TO GOD - I.E. CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD GETS THE JOB DONE

THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO HAVE MAN BE ABLE TO DRAW NEAR

TO GOD

C. NO OATH WITH LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD VS CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD

WITH AN OATH 20-22

D. LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WAS SUBJECT TO DEATH - EACH PRIEST

DIED - BUT CHRIST NEVER DIES BUT CONTINUES IN HIS PRIESTHOOD ETERNALLY - HE CONTINUES FOREVER IN AN UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD 23-25

NOTE: THE CATHOLIC TEACHING THAT CHRIST IS RE-CRUCIFIED EVERY MASS FOR SINS IS FALSE BECAUSE OF VS 27 - HE OFFERED HIMSELF UP AS A SACRIFICE ONCE FOR ALL - NEVER AGAIN

E. SINNERS VS HOLINESS 26-28

DOES NOT NEED DAILY TO OFFER UP SACRIFICES FOR HIS SINS AND FOR THOSE OF THE PEOPLE - CHRIST HAD NO SIN - WAS HOLY, HARMLESS (INNOCENT), UNDEFILED

ONCE FOR ALL

MEN HAVE WEAKNESS - THE SON HAS BEEN PERFECTED FOREVER

March 25 ~

The New Order - Hebrews 8:1-13

1. Introductory Comments

--if you don't establish who is doing things, the "doing" isn't worth as much (especially when God is involved)

--it is important to understand who you are and what you are doing

--I'm a sinner and a child of the king

2. The New Sanctuary (verses 1-6)

--our High Priest sat down at the right hand of God in Heaven

--Why do people sit down? They sit down when they are tired. They sit down when they are through. Christ's work on the cross is finished. The Jewish high priests did they work standing up. He serves in the true tabernacle that's set up by the Lord, not the inadequate one on earth.

3. The New Covenant (verses 7-13)

a. Why a "New Covenant"? (verses 7, 8)

--the people were faulty and not obeying the last covenant. God found fault with them.

b. Contrast between the covenant (verses 9-13)

Vs. 10 - "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

--the new covenant is an internal covenant; written on their hearts. It's not an external law code where there is Old Testament rituals involved. However, we still must obey the 10 commandments and the laws in the New Testament.

1) Internal rather than external

2) Universal rather than individual (verse 11)

3) Mercy rather than judgment (verse 12)

--there's all kinds of Old Testament judgments. Even the woman who was caught in the act of adultery was not judged and killed. The people knew this was a trick. She was probably a prostitute. They were caught in the act. Where was the guy? Maybe he was the high priest. If he said, "Don't listen to Moses," then they'd be upset at him. If he said, "Stone her", he would be deemed unkind, uncompassionate and inconsistent. So He drew in the sand, said "You without sin cast the first stone," then he drew some more. He could have drawn the names of their sins, then connected them with the names. The old people became convinced of their sin and their reaction was to leave. Older people know they have sinned; they have generally sinned more. It was toward the end of Paul's ministry that he said he was the chief of sinners.

--the prostitute sticks with Jesus because she likes His form of mercy and judgment. Jesus says, "Go and sin no more." "Who has judged you?" "No one Lord." "Neither do I." Awesome. This is how mercy and judgment work together. We must judge unconfessed sin. But we must apply the mercy.

--mercy triumphs and rejoices over judgment in the NT.

--John 7:24 says to judge righteous judgment. Some people quote verses out of context and say, "Never judge anybody". But that's not what Jesus said. You can't get through life without making judgments. The commandment isn't, "Don't judge". It's "Be careful how you judge." Be merciful. The same judgment you exercise will be the kind you receive. "Judge righteous judgment." Judge like God does. God prefers mercy. However, mercy doesn't eliminate judgment.

--God hasn't literally forgotten about our sins because we remember them. It is impossible for us to know something that God doesn't know. He forgives, but doesn't forget, and never reminds us of those sins.

Distinction between mercy and grace--Mercy is a little lesser than grace. People can exhibit mercy, God exhibits grace.

GRACE = God's Riches At Christ's Expense. God's unmerited favor. Mercy can come from the Lord, too. Mercy is an act of grace.

--the Old Covenant and tabernacle is obsolete and aging. "What is obsolete and aging will soon disappear." This is a prophecy.

--which item is apparently in the wrong location in the tabernacle?

March 27 ~

The tabernacle is set up like this:

Candlestick on left

Bread table on right

Center on the far end next to the veil - golden altar of incense (small altar) 18 inches square. The place must have smelled like a slaughter house without the incense. There was lots of blood in there. Not only did it make the place a sweet smell to God, but it made it a pleasing smell to the priest.

On the other side of the veil is the "Holy of Holies". There is the ark of the covenant and nothing else. It is like the one in Indiana Jones' movies. The mercy seat is on top of the ark and in between the cherubim. This is where the High Priest sprinkled the blood.

There is also a place for sacrificing animals, right outside the tabernacle.

--the location of this altar of incense appears to be in the wrong place in Hebrews.

Comparisons and Contrasts (9:1-10:18)

1. Description of the earthly tabernacle (9:1-5)

6 interpretations for the apparent contradiction about the placement of the golden altar:

1) sometimes the golden altar was taken into the Holy of Holies - problem: it would be a 2 man job and the only one allowed in here was the High Priest

2) this could be a description of a Heavenly sanctuary. But why would there be a 2^nd veil in the Heavenly sanctuary? It has been ripped in 2 by God. The Jews sewed it up. The Heavenly sanctuary would have no need for a veil.

3) the author of Hebrews was ignorant

4) the author is using terminology loosely. He didn't want to go into detail, so he's talking in broad terms. But he seems to have gotten everything else right.

5) (Bruce's explanation) the golden altar of incense was thought of in the mind of the Jews as part of the most holy place. The author is speaking collectively and relating the altar to the holy place.

6) the Greek word used here is the same word in the Septuagint (OT Greek, LXX 70 - 70 scholars translated this book) This was used by Hellenists and Greek speaking Jews and NT authors. (Leviticus 16:12 - He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain.) This shows how the pot or altar of incense is portable. The same word is used here and in Hebrews.

2. Limitations of the earthly tabernacle (verses 6-10)

Access to God in the OT was strictly limited.

--the New Covenant deals with the inside, not the outside.

3. Description of the Heavenly sanctuary (verses 12-14)

Old: blood of goats and calves

New: blood of Christ

-the blood of Christ is referring to His death.

4. Aspects of sacrifice in the New Covenant (9:15-28)

--Jesus doesn't feel physical pain when we sin, but He's not happy.

April 1 ~

Test this Friday.

Quiz next Wednesday.

T and F - 4 or so

Match scripture with content:

Chapter 7 on left - Order of Mel on left - this is matching like the last test.

Listing - or list and briefly describe certain items. Review notes for lists.

Completion - fill in the blank

Quote scriptures from NIV

Discussion question - 30 or 40 points, write at least a page or two.

Notes ~

Aspects of Sacrifice in the New Covenant

1) - The New Covenant requires death (so did the Old one)

2) - Blood is central

--without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

3) - The OT was a pattern and a shadow, the NT says "once is enough"

Jesus will be back. He won't be on a donkey, He'll be on a white horse. He won't be wearing a crown of thorns, He'll be wearing a real crown.

--if you're living in the past or living in the future, you aren't doing much good in the present. Don't focus on what you used to be or what you can't be.

--the 3 appearances of Christ or in Hebrews chapter 9. The first appearance is to man. The 2^nd is to God in Heaven. The 3^rd is His second coming (Thess. 4). Three point sermon.

*Further Explanation of the Contrast Between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

--when God speaks that means we should listen. When he repeats things in His Word, we should sincerely, absolutely listen.

-chapter 10 is repetitious

-the new covenant is internal, the old covenant was external. Christianity is an internal relationship with a person.

--God gives you credit for what you want to do, not what you have to do. The story of the man who put the $10 bill in the offering plate, but wanted to put a $1 bill in it. After the sermon, the man went to the pastor and asked him about getting the money back.

He said, "Pastor, I accidentally put a $10 bill in the offering plate. I meant to put a $1 bill in it. Can I get the money back?"

The pastor answered, "No, it's too late. The money has already been counted and we don't have proof that you put $10 in the offering plate."

Then the main said, "At least I'll get credit for $10 from God."

The wise pastor looked at him and said, "No, you'll get credit for $1. That's what you meant to put in the plate."

Study Sheet for Test:

The Order of Melchizedek (7:1-28)

1. Description of Melchizedek (vs. 1-3)

(it's not strange because Mel is mentioned in more detail in the NT than the OT because all of the Bible's authors were inspired by God. God gave him these words and truths.)

--a high priest had to be a man and he had to be appointed from God. Jesus was from the wrong tribe, Judah, not Levi.

--King of Salem was Mel's title. That's Jerusalem and it means King of Peace

2. Three possible explanations

A. Theophany of Christ (the use of the term King and King of Peace, this is a pre-incarnate form of Jesus Christ in the OT, he is the priest of God--not the priest of Israel, a priest forever and eternity, "Son of God"). There are more obvious theophany - burning bush, 4^th person in the fiery furnace, appearance to Joshua where he worshiped, etc.

B. A special creation (Gen. 6 - Sons of God)

C. A priesthood comparison

3. Mel's priesthood greater than Aaron's (vs. 4-10)

-- Mel is greater than Abraham:

1. Abraham tithed to him

2. Mel blessed Abraham

-- Abraham is greater than Levite (Aaron)

4. Christ's priesthood greater than Aaron's (vs. 11-15)

Mel is greater than Levite

Christ is like Mel

Christ is greater than Levite

6 interpretations for the apparent contradiction about the placement of the golden altar:

1) sometimes the golden altar was taken into the Holy of Holies - problem: it would be a 2 man job and the only one allowed in here was the High Priest

2) this could be a description of a Heavenly sanctuary. But why would there be a 2^nd veil in the Heavenly sanctuary? It has been ripped in 2 by God. The Jews sewed it up. The Heavenly sanctuary would have no need for a veil.

3) the author of Hebrews was ignorant

4) the author is using terminology loosely. He didn't want to go into detail, so he's talking in broad terms. But he seems to have gotten everything else right.

5) (Bruce's explanation) the golden altar of incense was thought of in the mind of the Jews as part of the most holy place. The author is speaking collectively and relating the altar to the holy place.

6) the Greek word used here is the same word in the Septuagint (OT Greek, LXX 70 - 70 scholars translated this book) This was used by Hellenists and Greek speaking Jews and NT authors. (Leviticus 16:12 - He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain.) This shows how the pot or altar of incense is portable. The same word is used here and in Hebrews.

The tabernacle is set up like this:

Candlestick on left

Bread table on right

Center on the far end next to the veil - golden altar of incense

The High Priesthood of Christ (4:14-6:20)

The Order of Melchizedek (7:1-28)

The New Order (8:1-13)

Comparisons and Contrasts (9:1-10:18)

Sources of Temptation:

The World

The Flesh

The Devil

Qualifications of a High Priest (5:1-5)

1) Jesus had to be a real man

2) Jesus had to be appointed by God

--there's more in the NT about Melchizedek than in the OT. That is ok because it's divine revelation. The NT writer could know more about him than Abraham.

3) Christ a High Priest after order of Melchizedek (5:6-10)

Four Approaches to 6:4-6

1. Arminian - they believe that you can lose your salvation, due to these verses (there are different types of Arminians)

--I didn't get saved because I was righteous and I can't lose my salvation because I am unrighteous. My salvation is due to the righteousness of Christ. If He goes bad (which He cannot), then we could lose our salvation.

2. Almost saved - people have a head knowledge of Christ and the plan of salvation, they just need to commit their lives to Christ. "Intellectually Convinced Unbelievers"

--Jesus tasted death and died completely. This verse talks about tasting the heavenly gift. Some say it means a small amount, but others disagree due to what Christ went through and the interpretation of the previous verses.

3. Hypothetical - you can't lose your salvation, but let's pretend you can...what would it be like if you lost your salvation? It would mean you could never be saved again.

4. Backsliding - people do a poor job of becoming sanctified. (R) You are guaranteed one chance at sanctification. You may get more.

Aspects of Sacrifice in the New Covenant

1) - The New Covenant requires death (so did the Old one)

2) - Blood is central

--without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

3) - The OT was a pattern and a shadow, the NT says "once is enough"

Contrast Between New and Old Covenants

1) Internal rather than external

2) Universal rather than individual (verse 11)

3) Mercy rather than judgment (verse 12)

--there's all kinds of Old Testament judgments.

CONTRASTS BETWEEN LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD AND THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST - 5 POINTS

A. LAW (LEVITICAL - A FLESHLY COMMANDMENT) VS BASED (ACCORDING TO) ON POWER OF AN ENDLESS, THAT IS INDESTRUCTIBLE LIFE 16-17

B. LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD IS WEAK, UNPROFITABLE, MAKES NOTHING PERFECT 18-19

- CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD IS BETTER, SUFFICIENT, A BETTER HOPE AND ACTUALLY WE CAN THROUGH THIS HOPE DRAW NEAR TO GOD - I.E. CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD GETS THE JOB DONE

THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO HAVE MAN BE ABLE TO DRAW NEAR

TO GOD

C. NO OATH WITH LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD VS CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD

WITH AN OATH 20-22

D. LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WAS SUBJECT TO DEATH - EACH PRIEST

DIED - BUT CHRIST NEVER DIES BUT CONTINUES IN HIS PRIESTHOOD ETERNALLY - HE CONTINUES FOREVER IN AN UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD 23-25

April 8 ~

The biggest physical disability is the fact that our bodies will die.

Healing isn't the gospel, the gospel is healing.

--In the Bible, people always fell forward on their faces when God was upon them. Benny Hin ministries touches people and they fall backward. Irony. The Baptists in this room do not believe in healers and tongues. They want to see more proof.

--God gives us 2 commands: either "GO" or "SEND". He doesn't say to pray and do nothing.

(First of the warning chapters)

Choosing Between Perseverance and Apostasy (10:19-39)

1. Exhortations to Perseverance (10:19-25)

a. Let us approach

b. Let us maintain

c. Let us cultivate

d. Let us not abandon

e. Let us encourage

--without wax designates purity.

The "Day approaching" refers to either Christ's 2^nd coming or glorification.

2. Warning against apostasy (10:26-31)

a. Arminian view

b. Almost saved view

c. Hypothetical view - vs. 26 "if". The Bible doesn't deal much with the hypothetical. Jesus speaks with authority "No one has spoken like this man".

d. Backsliding view

vs. 26 "sin willfully" - that's planning sin, premeditating sinful actions. Intentional, deliberate.

--backsliding is deliberate and intentional, not accidental. One decides to sin or not become sanctified. This passage is referring to not becoming sanctified.

"Received the knowledge of the truth" -

"No sacrifice for sins left". It has been made already. You can't do what was done in the OT. On Yom Kippur you get forgiven. Once is enough. There is no other sacrifice for sins. Christ's sacrifice for sins is it.

--If you go to church and have been attending for a long time, and you hear something new, it probably isn't right. We are being reminded of the timeless, eternal truths of God's Word.

Vs. 27 "fearful looking at judgment". The unsaved are not fearful of judgment. People who are backsliding are fearful of judgment.

--More damage can be done to the cause of Christ by believers than unbelievers could ever do.

The backsliding we are reading about here is serious backsliding.

April 10 ~

3. Remember and Persevere (10:32-39)

a. Remember (vss. 32-34)

b. Persevere (vss. 35-39)

--believers have the capacity to sin. If we did not, there wouldn't be commands about not sinning and what to stay away from.

--if you're not dealing with sin quickly, that tells you something about your character.

--the recipients are backsliding. "Hebrews" is written to people and their type of backsliding. There is all types of backsliding.

--for those who are present on the earth when the Lord comes, it will seen very soon. Those who are left behind and knew He was coming will say, "I didn't know He was coming so soon!"

The word "soon" in the Bible would mean within a lifetime to a person. But God is eternal. It will be soon in God's view of time and eternity.

Chapter 11 (Faith)

1. A definition (11:1-2)

--faith is what we hope for, not what we have. This is not a complete definition of faith in verses 1 and 2. These verses are right, but not enough. It's a peek at what faith is.

**Faith: Believing what God said when it doesn't appear to be so, but acting on it if it were so, in order for it to become so.

1) Faith is believing. Faith (noun) is related to belief (verb). Faith is not sitting in a corner and just believing. Faith is doing something.

2) Faith is believing what God said. It's not believing what everybody else has said, but believing what God said (primarily the Word of God). This can extend to anything that God has revealed that is consistent to His Word.

3) When it doesn't appear to be so. Not when you can see it and you know it, but when you can't see it. "Seeing is believing" isn't Biblical. "Not seeing is believing" is Biblical.

4) Acting upon it anyway, as if it were so. Faith is getting out on a limb with God. Go out on a limb, that's where the fruit is located. Limbs are fragile. So make sure if you go out on a limb, You go out on a limb with God.

5) So that it might become so.

3 Parts of a Soul: mind, emotions (heart) and will

You must believe in your mind, heart and will. Americans often say they have a "gut feeling."

I can tell if you believe something or not by the way you are living. You can believe in your mind, but not in your will. You can believe in your mind that soul-winning is good. But if your faith has not effected your mind and will also, you do not have a full portion of faith. (Good stuff)

Faith is expressed through their lifestyle. When someone is faithful that means they actually did it. "They made a decision and did it."

Which of these three are more important? They are all crucial. If any of these is missing, you don't have the whole package--as you should. Whichever one is more important to you, is probably the one that you support and are impressed by when you see it. "An emotional conversion, a heart change, an action change."

The volitional decision of faith is important, probably most important. This is the one part of faith that the devil does not have. Volitional faith is doing things in the name of Christ.

--Believe what God said. If the God in Heaven tells you something, then believe it. But you better know that God in Heaven said it. Faith is believing what God says. If you find it in the Word of God and can correctly interpret it, it is true and good--believe it and have faith.

April 15 ~

Titled: Faith (know 5 point definition of faith)

Hebrews 11

Faith always results in substance. It is something that can be measured, like joy (not necessarily physical). Sitting in a corner and doing nothing isn't faith. There is substance to faith. Faith will produce things.

1. A definition (11:1-2)

2. Five examples of Faith (11:3-12)

--the hope of the heart is not faith. Faith is believing what God said. I am not able to talk God into doing things that he does not want.

--God's Word says to flee from the devil. God's Word doesn't say to command the devil. Some people command the devil. Some people command God. We should ask God what He wants us to do. We should be in asking mode, not telling mode, to a Sovereign God.

--if we think we are hearing things from God, and they are not happening, we should try and understand God better.

--God's love shouldn't be measured in the multitude of things He does for us.

--when you express your faith, God works in your midst.

--people doing God's work isn't a miracle. God's activity is a miracle.

--every case of great faith in Hebrews did something. Nobody just thought or sat in the corner.

--Dr. Diemer believes that he was saved when he put his left foot toward the pastor at the altar call. It wasn't when he met the pastor or walked down the aisle. It was when he made a decision and an action.

--if you are sharing Christ with someone, have them do something. Have them pray and accept Christ. If they don't want to do this, you could say, "take my hand if you want to accept Christ." Don't make them do back flips, but encourage them to do something--take an action.

--the more we trust the God of Heaven, the less we will fear Satan.

--the faith of yesterday will not suffice for the faith that is needed today and tomorrow.

--the one thing absent from the question of faith is the question, When? The definition of faith does not tell you when. God works on a timetable that is not our own!

--God is never late, but He's never early either.

--death is only a change of venue

(2 cont. from above)

2 a. creation (vs. 3) - belief in creation is an act of faith

b. Abel (vs. 4) - God asked them for a blood offering. Abel gave him one. Cain gave him a grain one.

c. Enoch (vss. 5-6) - the first example of a rapture. "He pleased God."

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (ATHEISTS HAVE A PROBLEM HERE), and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

d. Noah (vs. 7) - Noah believed. He believed what God said. He built an ark (a unique command) in the desert. Noah acted when it didn't appear to be so--it appeared to be a stupid thing to do. (There had been no rain at this time. There was a canopy of vapor over the earth. There was water under the earth. No one had heard of rain.) Noah gathered the animals and put them in the ark. Then God shut the door! Noah was a perfect example of our definition of faith!

--the last words of a dying church, "We've never done that before! No!"

e. Abraham (vss. 8-12) and Isaac/Jacob/Sarah - all of these people were examples of faith. Here Abraham is listed as leaving Ur and not knowing where he was going. Romans 4 called him the "Father of faith." There are 3 clear examples of his faith.

April 17 ~

When everything goes well, we can think we can do without God.

--God tests us with the intent to pass. Satan tempts us with the intent to destroy.

Summary (11:13-16)

14 Examples of Faith (11:17-38)

a. Abraham (vss. 17-19)

b. Isaac (vs. 20)

c. Jacob (vs. 21)

d. Joseph (vs. 22)

e. Moses (vss. 23-28) and parents

11:23 - Moses' parents, not Moses had faith when he was a baby.

--sin has a charm and allure, or people wouldn't do it as much

4 Examples of Faith in Moses:

1) Moses' parents hid him

2) Moses left Pharaoh's courts

3) Moses left Egypt with the Israelites

4) Keeping the Passover

f. Israelites (vss. 29-30) and Joshua

--the wilderness and unfaithfulness is not mentioned

g. Rahab (vs. 31)

h. 6 others and prophets - Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, Daniel, Elijah, Stephen, Isaiah

Summary (11:39-40)

Promise- relationship with Christ, new bodies, eternal life, Jesus' return

April 22 ~

The New Testament Believer (12:1-29)

1. Looks unto Jesus (12:1-4)

-Paul communicates athletics to Christianity. A track meet.

"So great a cloud of witnesses" - people who have died and are in Heaven (people in the stands),

"The sin that so easily entangles us" -the sin of unbelief is the worst sin we could commit. It's like running the race with our practice weights. We must remove our practice weights. Unbelief causes us to commit all of the other sins.

-2nd definition: the sin that entangles us, personally, the most. This will be different for different people.

-if you sin publicly, you should confess it publicly. If you sin privately, you should confess it privately. If you sin against a person, you should confess it to God and to them.

-we should not desire to find and know each other's hidden sins.

"Let us run with patience" - What kind of race is this? Not a 100 yard dash. This is a long race! This is not the Lynchburg 10 miler. This isn't the Boston Marathon - 26 miles. This isn't the Appalachian Trail or across country, either. This race in Hebrews is the race of life. It began when we got saved and we're not finished yet. The Christian race is run every single day.

"It's not what you do on that great day where you are inspired and you serve Jesus with all of your heart. It's the day after. How do you act on an average day?"

-The Christian life isn't a 100 yard dash, it's not making a big splash, it's swimming across the Atlantic. It's important to find people who are still running, even after a long race.

-Polycarp: At 80 years old, they wanted to kill him for serving Jesus Christ. He said, "At 80, would you really expect me to deny Christ after serving Him for so many years?!" They martyred him.

"Keep your eyes on Jesus" Keep looking at Jesus. He is with you and He is at the finish line. He is the author, perfect. It's important to look where you run.

Like tennis, "You can hit what you don't see." You don't want to look at your feet or at your competitors. The proper comparison is Christ. That will always be a challenge to us because we'll never run like Jesus ran.

-Comparing ourselves to weaker ones or greater ones shouldn't be too satisfying. Ask yourself if you did a certain things with all of your heart. That is what really matters.

-Pride and discouragement can arise when we compare ourselves to others.

1) Surrounded by witnesses

2) Lays aside sin

3) Patient

4) Keeps his eyes on Jesus

2. Endures chastening (12:5-11)

-if your parents never disciplined you, you would wonder if they truly loved you. If God never disciplined you, you would wonder if He truly loved you.

-God knows about everything and you don't get away with stuff. One way to tell you are a child of God is that He disciplines us. He is a God of forgiveness and chastening. If you never feel guilt or conviction, you should wonder if you're in God's family.

-spankings don't feel good. Spankings can be over-done. But God won't over-do our discipline. He disciplines us just right.

-a child's discipline shouldn't be because they inconvenienced the parent. It should be because they behaved sinfully (i.e., lying, stealing, etc.). Chastening when angry can be bad.

-God disciplines the believer and the unbeliever differently.

Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

3. Protects his Testimony (12:12-17)

Don't let infirmity become an item of complaint. We all have something to complain about. But don't!

-pursue peace, don't be sexually immoral

-you protect your testimony by your attitude about your infirmity.

April 24 ~

Esau's unfaithfulness - Hebrews 12:17

-he couldn't change his mind after he sold his birthright

-we don't truly know whether people are saved or not. We cannot see what motivates people, we only see what they do. We can't see their heart. People can fool other people.

Romans 9:13 "As it is written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

-church is used 114 times in the NT. 5 of those uses are with secular meanings. 109 are with Godly meanings. 95 are related to local assemblies.

Greek definition:

1577. ekklesia, ek-klay-see'-ah; from a comp. of G1537 and a der. of G2564; a calling out, i.e. (concr.) a popular meeting, espec. a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Chr. community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.

"Church" can relate to the "body of Christ." That is what Dr. Diemer thinks this means in this scripture.

4. Is part of the Church (12:18-24)

5. Listens to God's Voice (12:24-28)

26-28 there is a play on the word "to shake"

-translators of the KJV had policies. When they saw the same word being used over and over and over, they would give different phases of its meaning. It gives a wider picture. But one can miss the fact that the same word is being used over and over again. The author is repeating himself for emphasis.

Romans chapters 4, 5 and 7 have repetition.

Righteousness is: Imputed, counted, calculated, reasoned (chapter 4) is the same word.

Joy is repeated in chapter 5 in different words.

Chapter 7: surrender/yield is used repeatedly.

--My relationship with Christ cannot be shaken, no matter what. It will not. Heaven cannot be shaken.

April 29 ~

The definition of faith will be on the final. Know various personalities in chapter 11. Explain what different people did, how they acted, what they didn't know, what was the result of their faith.

Miscellaneous Final Exhortations (13:1-19)

1. Live ethically (vss. 1-6)

Verse 3 - Remember the prisoners as if chained with them; those who are mistreated; since you yourselves are in the body also.

--prison ministries are great. Some have used this verse to show how we should evangelize to prisoners. However, the people that are in prison, according to this verse, were imprisoned due to their belief in Christ.

Verse 4 - Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

--marriage is honorable. Monks or priests without wives aren't necessarily any closer to God are obedient to God than married people.

--if you are single and in ministry, or married and in ministry, don't let yourself be alone with a woman or girl. You could get into trouble, even if you don't do anything wrong. Be careful about counseling the opposite sex. Put a window in the door with a curtain on it or have a glass door. This way people can see inside. If you don't have a window, you should leave the door open. However, people outside could hear what was going on.

Verse 6 - So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

2. Follow the leader (vss. 7, 17)

--a leader is someone who has followers. If you think you are a leader, you may want to turn around and take a look. You may be just taking a walk.

--I would wish that there will be no carnal Christians or rebels in your ministry. But if there weren't, they wouldn't need you. Just like children; they can be a pain in the neck, but they need you.

--there will be a time when someone will offend you and never apologize. You must forgive them. Getter better, not bitter.

(Immutability of Christ - vs. 8)

3. Worship properly (vss. 9-16)

Verses 15 and 16 - The right kind of sacrifices: Not bloody animals, but praise and helping. "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

4. Pray for us (vss. 18-19)

Epilogue (13:20-25)

1. Doxology or Benediction (vss. 20-21)

2. Personal matters (vss. 22-24)

3. Final Benediction (vs. 25)

Prisons, obey the leaders, Timothy, Italy. These things in chapter 13 can support Pauline authorship. Paul spent time in prisons. He preached obey the leaders in Chapter 13 of Romans. He knew Timothy. Paul was last seen in Rome (where Italy is located).

Final exam - not comprehensive.

10:19-end on exam

Less material than previous exams. True, false, matching, completion, a listing (chapter 12, 4 words about running the race as a Christian, etc.), quoting verses, a discussion question on faith! Know about faith from the Bible. Give definition, then relate it to some individuals. Read above for more.

Choosing Between Perseverance and Apostasy (10:19-39)

Exhortations to Perseverance (10:19-25)

Remember and Persevere (10:32-39)

A Definition of Faith(11:1-2)

Five examples of Faith (11:3-12)

Summary (11:13-16)

14 Examples of Faith (11:17-38)

Summary (11:39-40)

The New Testament Believer (12:1-29)

Looks unto Jesus (12:1-4)

Endures chastening (12:5-11)

Protects his Testimony (12:12-17)

Is part of the Church (12:18-24)

Listens to God's Voice (12:24-28)

Miscellaneous Final Exhortations (13:1-19)

Epilogue (13:20-25)

Five examples of Faith (11:3-12)

a. creation (vs. 3) - belief in creation is an act of faith

b. Abel (vs. 4) - God asked them for a blood offering. Abel gave him one. Cain gave him a grain one.

c. Enoch (vss. 5-6) - the first example of a rapture. "He pleased God."

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (ATHEISTS HAVE A PROBLEM HERE), and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

d. Noah (vs. 7) - Noah believed. He believed what God said. He built an ark (a unique command) in the desert. Noah acted when it didn't appear to be so--it appeared to be a stupid thing to do. (There had been no rain at this time. There was a canopy of vapor over the earth. There was water under the earth. No one had heard of rain.) Noah gathered the animals and put them in the ark. Then God shut the door! Noah was a perfect example of our definition of faith!

--the last words of a dying church, "We've never done that before! No!"

e. Abraham (vss. 8-12) and Isaac/Jacob/Sarah - all of these people were examples of faith. Here Abraham is listed as leaving Ur and not knowing where he was going. Romans 4 called him the "Father of faith." There are 3 clear examples of his faith.

**Faith: Believing what God said when it doesn't appear to be so, but acting on it if it were so, in order for it to become so.

1) Faith is believing. Faith (noun) is related to belief (verb). Faith is not sitting in a corner and just believing. Faith is doing something.

2) Faith is believing what God said. It's not believing what everybody else has said, but believing what God said (primarily the Word of God). This can extend to anything that God has revealed that is consistent to His Word.

3) When it doesn't appear to be so. Not when you can see it and you know it, but when you can't see it. "Seeing is believing" isn't Biblical. "Not seeing is believing" is Biblical.

4) Acting upon it anyway, as if it were so. Faith is getting out on a limb with God. Go out on a limb, that's where the fruit is located. Limbs are fragile. So make sure if you go out on a limb, You go out on a limb with God.

5) So that it might become so.

The "Day approaching" refers to either Christ's 2^nd coming or glorification.

2. Warning against apostasy (10:26-31)

a. Arminian view

b. Almost saved view

c. Hypothetical view - vs. 26 "if". The Bible doesn't deal much with the hypothetical. Jesus speaks with authority "No one has spoken like this man".

d. Backsliding view

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, Daniel, Elijah, Stephen, Isaiah, Israelites, Joshua, Rahab

4 Examples of Faith in Moses:

1) Moses' parents hid him

2) Moses left Pharaoh's courts

3) Moses left Egypt with the Israelites

4) Keeping the Passover

1. Exhortations to Perseverance (10:19-25)

a. Let us approach

b. Let us maintain

c. Let us cultivate

d. Let us not abandon

e. Let us encourage

Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Hebrews 12:1, 2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."