Tag: Hebrews

Hebrews: When Jesus’ Sacrifice No Longer Applies

There’s a popular notion that the God of the Old Testament is the vengeful, punishing God, while the God of the New Testament is the God of love and grace. This view ignores not only the fact that the Old Testament cites God’s love and mercy repeatedly (i.e., the Psalms, Jonah 4, etc.), but also that the New Testament frequently refers to the wrath and vengeance of God (cf. Acts 5:1-11; Romans 2:4-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; et al). God is both love and wrath, mercy and vengeance, forbearance and justice. … Read More Hebrews: When Jesus’ Sacrifice No Longer Applies

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Hebrews: Holding Fast To Our Confession

Our study of Hebrews has shown us a group of Christians pressured to renounce Christ instead of confessing him.  The persecution brought onto Jewish Christians by their fellow Jews was severe (Hebrews 10:32-36; 12:3-12).  So confessing Christ back then was not a simple, one-time admission of faith in an air-conditioned church building surrounded by approving friends. … Read More Hebrews: Holding Fast To Our Confession

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Hebrews: How To Have Your Hearts Sprinkled Clean

What “sprinkles” our hearts “clean” is the blood of Christ, which the Hebrew writer would later bring out when he writes of “the sprinkled blood” of Jesus (12:24).  Peter would teach that Christians are “elect” (i.e., chosen) “for sprinkling with his blood” (1 Peter 1:1-2).  It is the blood of Christ that redeems us and forgives us of our trespasses (Ephesians 1:7).  In like manner, the mention of “our bodies washed with pure water” is a reference to baptism in water, which “washes away our sins” (Acts 22:16; cf. 8:38-39; 10:47).  One comes into contact with the cleansing blood of Christ which sprinkles one’s heart clean from an evil conscience and brings redemption and forgiveness through baptism. … Read More Hebrews: How To Have Your Hearts Sprinkled Clean

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