Have we gotten too comfortable in our religion? Could that be that the reason behind many churchgoers’ lack of spiritual growth in spite of years of church attendance? God seems to think so.… Read More Hebrews: Are We Too Comfortable With Our Religion?
Dull of hearing. You know all those jokes you give to the preacher about dozing off during the sermon? Are you the kind of person who sits in the pew at church but never opens their Bible or pays attention to the sermon or the classes? Does your Bible sit in your car or on your coffee table unopened throughout the week? If so, you are dull of hearing and that means you’re not learning nor growing.… Read More Hebrews: Have We Graduated From Elementary School?
Being a Christian means to be a disciple of Christ. Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). If Jesus “learned obedience,” so must his followers. If Jesus was obedient, Christians must be obedient too.… Read More Hebrews: The Importance Of Obedience
The Hebrew author then spoke of how Jesus during “the days of his flesh…offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death…” (5:7a; cf. Luke 22:40-44). While Jesus lived as a human, he was both God and man (John 1:1, 14). During this time, he prayed regularly for the sins of his fellow man just as Aaron’s high priests had done. The difference which shows Christ’s superiority over Judaism’s priesthood is that he did so without sin (cf. 4:15).… Read More Hebrews: Jesus’ Superiority Over Aaron
It comforts this Christian to know that in spite of all of my failures, sins, weaknesses, and mistakes, I can still approach God’s throne in prayer and receive mercy and grace because of my high priest who is there at his Father’s side. It strengthens my hope to know that Jesus, my advocate and friend, tells his Father, “I understand what Jon is going through. I was tempted to do the same thing. I was tempted to feel the same way. I was discouraged for those same reasons. I went through similar hardships. Yes, Jon sinned and I didn’t…but Father, look at him. See his sorrowful, penitent heart! See his heart-felt desire to do better and serve you more fully! See his longing for mercy! Please forgive him, Father.”… Read More Hebrews: We Have A Great High Priest
The Son of God is called “the Word” (John 1:1, 14). “The Word” comes from the Greek term logos, which has to do with the ideas and reasoning that are found in the mind which are then communicated through speech. Jesus is the source of the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of the writers of Scripture (John 16:12-15), and Jesus himself – “the Word,” logos – communicates the thoughts of his Father in heaven (John 12:49-50). We can therefore we be confident that we are in fact reading the thoughts and viewpoints of God when we read the inspired Scriptures.… Read More Hebrews: The Word Of God
Moses had shared the good news of God’s promised land of rest across the Jordan to them just as the good news of Jesus has been preached to Christians today. Yet that gospel message ultimately will be of no benefit if one does not truly believe it.… Read More Hebrews: Strive To Enter The Eternal Rest Of Heaven
Pleading with the Hebrew Christians of the early church to not abandon Christianity due to pressure from Jewish persecution, the Hebrew writer reminds them that they are the house of Christ…but on one condition: “if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope” (Hebrews 3:6). Despite what Calvinism promises, Christianity has never been a religion promising unconditional salvation under the doctrine of “once saved, always saved no matter what.” On the contrary, these Hebrew Christians had, by virtue of obeying the gospel and becoming Christians, received salvation and forgiveness of sins. Yet all of that was now in jeopardy should they give into Satan’s machinations and “fall away from the living God” by going back into Judaism.… Read More Hebrews: Take Care That You Do Not Fall Away
The Hebrew Christians to whom the book of Hebrews was initially addressed were being tempted to abandon Christianity and go back to Judaism to avoid persecution. Thus, Hebrews is basically a reasoned argument showing that Christianity is superior to Judaism. After having shown Christ’s superiority to angels and the Old Testament prophets who had spoken to their ancestors (Hebrews 1-2), the inspired author now turns his attention to comparing Jesus to the prophet for whom the Hebrews justifiably had the most respect: Moses.… Read More Hebrews: Jesus’ Superiority Over Moses
Pre-Denominational Christianity 
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