The Book of Hebrews

Focus book: Hebrews (NLT)

Wow,

The book of Hebrews is a fascinating, beautiful, yet extremely troubling book. It's not long, only 13 chapters... but nevertheless, it is very d-e-e-p-! As I read it this week, I couldn't help but think of a symphonic masterpiece... something designed to start out in a hushed intensity... then slowly but surely build to a thundering crescendo that moves the hearer in a profound way. Something like Handel's Messiah, maybe? Anyway, Hebrews does that to me. Rather than comment on a small section, this week I thought I'd share a small snippet of thought from each chapter... kind of a quick overview of what I hear the author sharing with the reader along the way. Hopefully you'll be able to sense the need for reading this book in full context... it was never meant to be picked apart for sound bytes. The brilliance in this book is in it's dramatic unfolding of truth.

(Of course, people often hear me say that about all the books of the Bible... but I really do believe Hebrews has a special quality that makes context even more necessary than most other books.)

Anyway... this is what I heard in each chapter... serious food for thought!  

Chapter 1 - Christ is greater than Angels

• Jesus is God's Son, through whom everything was created
• The Son is greater than angels, who are powerful, but created beings

Chapter 2 - Christ is fully Man

• So we must listen carefully to the truth, or we will drift away
• Jesus is fully man - made in every respect as we were, and who suffered as we do
• He came to help the descendants of Abraham, not angels
• For only as a human being could He die, and only through dying could he break the power of the devil

Chapter 3 - Christ is greater than Moses

• Jesus is greater than Moses, Israel's savior from Egyptian slavery
• The ministry of Moses was the building, but the ministry of Jesus is the Builder - deserving more praise
• Be careful not to harden your hearts against Jesus as the Israelites did against Moses
• Because of their disobedience (to God), they did not enter the rest of the Promised Land

Chapter 4 - Christ is our Spiritual Rest

• Resting in God is not merely Sabbath, that is physical (on the seventh day), but spiritual (through the Son)
• Sabbath rest in the Law was a foreshadow of the rest we have in Christ
• Resting in God comes about through a softened heart that trusts in Him
• Christ is our Great High Priest who understands our weaknesses, and pours out mercy and grace

Chapter 5 - Christ is our perfect High Priest

• A High Priest whom the Father qualified Him as perfect, through the obedience of things He suffered
• A High Priest in the order of Melchizedek
• You who have been believers for a long time now ought to understand these things and teach others
• But instead you are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food
• Solid food is for those who are spiritually mature

Chapter 6 - Because of Christ, we can persevere in our faith

• So let's stop going over the basics over and over again
• It is impossible to bring back to repentance those who - once enlightened - reject the Son of God, nailing Him to the Cross all over again
• But surely, that is not you - you are meant for better things that come with salvation
• Our great desire for you that you will love others - and not become spiritually dull and indifferent
• That you will live by faith like our forefather, Abraham
• Thus, by faith, we understand that Christ leads us through the curtain to God's inner sancuary
• He is our great High Priest

Chapter 7 - Christ is our heavenly priest

• Melchizedek is greater than Moses
• Abraham gave him a tenth, and Melchizedek gave Abraham a blessing
• Unlike earthly priests, Melchizedek lives on
• Jesus is like Melchizedek, guaranteeing a better covenant with God
• His priesthood is by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed
• Because Jesus lives forever, His priesthood lasts forever
• He is the kind of High Priest we need, because He is holy and blameless, unstained by sin

Chapter 8 - The new covenant Christ mediates is superior

• This is the main point: we have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven
• Christ is our High Priest, far superior to the old priesthood
• He is the one who mediates a far better covenant with God, based on better promises
• Because of what Jesus did, the first covenant - the old one - has become obsolete 

Chapter 9 - Christ is the perfect sacrifice, made once for all

• That first covenant had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth
• This system was only in effect only until a better system could be established
• Worship under the old covenant were a shadow of things to come
• Nearly everything was purified with the blood of an animal
• But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals
• Christ is the perfect sacrifice, dying once for all time
• He entered into heaven itself to offer to appear before God on our behalf
• He will come again, to bring salvation to all who are eagerly awaiting Him

Chapter 10 - The blood of Christ cleanses us forever

• The old system of Moses, was a shadow, a dim preview of things to come
• Christ canceled the first covenant in order to put the second (new) one in effect
• By His one offering, he forever made perfect those who are being made holy
• So we too can now enter heaven's most holy place, because of the blood of Jesus
• Our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with blood to make us clean,
• And our bodies have been washed with pure water
• But if we keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins
• So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord
• We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved

Chapter 11 - We can follow the Scriptural examples of faith

• Faith is confidence that what we hope for will happen, giving us assurance about things we cannot see
• By faith we understand the entire universe was formed by God's hand
• Examples: faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, etc.

Chapter 12 - We need to keep our eyes on Christ

• Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us strip off sin that burdens us
• Let us keep our eyes on Jesus
• He endured the cross because He had His eyes on the joy awaiting Him at the Father's side
• So too can we keep our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith
• God disciplines those He loves, so endure it as Christ did
• So work at living a holy life
• And be careful not to refuse to listen to the One who is speaking
• Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe
• For God is a devouring fire  

Chapter 13 - We need to remain steadfast in our faith

• Show hospitality, love those who are mistreated
• Stay on the path, don't let others take your eyes off of Jesus
• Earth is not our permanent home
• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow
• Pay attention to the words of this letter (exhortation)
• May God's grace be with you all

Amen and amen!

Jesus Junkie

This week's focus book(s) to read is: TITUS / PHILEMON


From Titus 1:1-3

 ¹ This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. ² This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. ³ And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

That pretty much says it in a nutshell for me. I am a slave of Jesus Christ. And, by nature of my calling to ministry, am an apostle, "sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God- who does not lie- promised them before the world began."


What is a more important role than that for a preacher? Ya, I know as a church-planter I am forced to wear a lot of hats... but frankly, I don't like that part of this job. I suck at administrative tasks... and people remind me of that often. Ya, I know paperwork is important. I know organization is necessary. I know communication is paramount. I know tasks have to be delegated. I know emails have to be answered and phone calls have to be returned, and websites need to be updated, etc., etc., etc.


But when it comes down to it... all I really want to do is two things: (1) spend time with God, listen to God, pray to God, serve God, cry out to God, and seek God's Word for wisdom and revelation... and (2) sit with people, talk with people, laugh with people, cry with people, pray with (and for) people, learn from people, debate with people (sometimes), wrestle with biblical issues with people... heck, sometimes even argue with people! All to accomplish one thing: to stand in the gap as a shepherd between God and the people of my flock to, "proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives." And allow that truth to give them, "confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began."


You see, I believe in the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. I don't always act like a holy man... far from it. I'm a work in process. But nevertheless, I'm a legitimate, authentic sold-out Jesus Junkie... a nutjob for Christ who really and truly believes that...


1. God made us to be whole and good and eternal, but...


2. Individually and collectively, we all have chosen to rebel against God's boundaries. Consequently, the curse of sin that we invited into our world prevents us from living the fulness of life God originally intended, but...


3. God did not give up on us. Through Abraham He called a people, and...


4. Raised a nation. God spoke to them and blessed them, taught them, warned them, and promised to save everyone through their obedience to His law, but they could not live up to their high calling, so...


5. God did the craziest thing imaginable. The Son of God came to our world and obeyed for us vicariously... He lived a human life for us... died a sacrificial death for us... obeyed the Law for us, and was resurrected to fully and completely reveal the power and grace of the Father... all for our sake. Then He...


6. Established His Messianic presence right here on earth. With mercy and forgiveness we can't begin to imagine, through His Holy Spirit God continues to reveal Himself to those who live by faith and trust and obedience to His invitation to EVERYONE to become reconnected to eternity and therefore become whole again (holy), reflecting the gift of His love. Finally, He will...


7. Come again at the right time to fully and completely establish His kingdom. He will create a new heaven and a new earth, fusing the two together He will live among His people (His true disciples) who choose to love Him seek to be with Him for ever and ever and ever.


I know. Crazy, huh?