The Book of Acts
By Charles Box,
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS SON
-- HEBREWS ONE
Hebrews one is designed to cause us to understand the
greatness of Jesus. He is the only one through whom God speaks today. God
formerly spoke by the prophets. Now He has spoken by his Son. This epistle or
letter is designed to keep people from turning from Christianity. In order to
accomplish this goal the superiority of Jesus is show. It is likewise clearly
proven that Christianity is superior to the Mosaic system.
The entire purpose of Hebrews chapter one is to show the
exalted nature of the Son of God. Jesus is addressed as God, and His throne is
said to be for ever and ever. Jesus, the author of the Christian system, is
greater than Moses and greater than angles.
The Christian system is superior to any other system
because it centers in the one true God and His only begotten Son, Jesus the
Christ. This Jesus is, (1) Prophet -- He serves as God's spokesman (Hebrews
1:1-2), (2) Priest -- He makes purification for sins (Hebrews 1:3), and (3)
King -- sitting on the right hand of God. (Hebrews 1:3)
Let us learn of the superiority of Jesus:
God's word was spoken through His Son -- Hebrews 1:1-3: One
major difference between the law and gospel has to do with the manner of their
revelation. God's revelation of the law was at different times. God's
revelation was given before the flood to Adam, Enoch, Noah and others. After
the flood His revelation was given to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the
prophets.
God not only communicated the law at different times but
also in different or divers ways. He sometimes communicated His will by
visions, sometimes by an audible voice, sometimes by legible characters written
by His own hand, as when He wrote the Ten Commandments on tables of stone,
sometimes by Urim and Thummim, and sometimes by signs from heaven.
In the last days God gave a perfect, and likewise a final
revelation of His mind for a lost world. This revelation was given through His
Son. He, "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:2-3)
The New Testament is the revelation which God made by his
Son. He is the most excellent messenger that was ever sent into the world, far
superior to all the patriarchs, prophet and angles. The superiority of Jesus is
seen in the fact that: (1) God appointed Him to be heir of all things. (2) By
him God made the worlds, both visible and invisible, the heavens and the earth.
(3) He upholds all things by the word of His power. He keeps the world from
dissolving. It was written of Jesus that, "He is before all things, and by
him all things consist." (Colossians 1:17)
God's Son is superior to the angels -- Hebrews 1:4-7: The
Lord Jesus Christ is pre-eminent. He is superior to the prophets and to the
angels. Peter wrote of Jesus that He, "is gone into heaven, and is on the
right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto
him." (1 Peter 3:22) He has a more
excellent name than angels. They are called ministering spirits or servants. He
is called God's only begotten Son.
God demanded that even the angels worship Jesus. "And
again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let
all the angels of God worship him." (Hebrews 1:6) He is the Lord Jesus
Christ. He is the Mediator of the New Testament. In His own person Jesus is God
blessed for ever, the one that is worthy of our honor and worship. "Let
all the angels of God worship him."
Jesus is greater than the angels, and thus His word is what we are to
obey.
God's Son is upon the established throne -- Hebrews 1:8-12:
Observe what God said to His Son, Jesus, "But unto the Son he saith, Thy
throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre
of thy kingdom." (Hebrews 1:8) In Hebrews chapter one we are taught that
Jesus should be on the throne because: (1) He is the "Son" of God
(Hebrews 1:5), (2) He is the "firstbotten" of God (Hebrews 1:6), (3)
He is "God" (Hebrews 1:8-9) and (4) He is "Lord" of all. (Hebrews
1:10)
Jesus should be on the throne because He is God. His part
in the creation proves His Deity. "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid
the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine
hands." (Hebrews 1:10) The words of Hebrews 1:10-13 are taken from Psalm
102:25-27. To apply these words to Jesus which were spoken of Jehovah proves
conclusively that Jesus is Divine.
God said, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and
ever." If God the Father declares Jesus to be God, He must be really and
truly be God. Earthly kings are often unrighteous and their thrones fall. The
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Christ's kingdom. All the laws of
the Son's kingdom are just, righteous and holy. Jesus is King of kings because
of His love for righteousness and hatred of sin.
Christ's
kingdom is not a future kingdom for God declares Him to have, (1) A throne, (2)
A kingdom, and (3) A sceptre of that kingdom. This kingdom is forever. Christ
Jesus did what He did for man with gladness and cheerfulness. These same
attitudes must characterize our service to God!
We are better people if we follow the
guidance of God's Son. We must follow Jesus as, (1) Our sympathizing "High
Priest" (Hebrews 4:14-16), (2) The "Mediator" of our New
Covenant. (Hebrews 8:6), and (3) the "author and finisher" of our
faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
God's angels are servants, not sons -- Hebrews 1:13-14: The
superiority of Christ over angels is seen in the fact that God never said to
the angels what He said to Christ. He said to Jesus, "Sit on my right
hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" (Hebrews 1:13) He never
said that to an angel. Angels are simply "ministering spirits, sent forth
to minister." (Hebrews 1:14) Angels are servants to the
Christ Jesus has His enemies. There are those that are, (1)
Enemies of God's supremacy, (2) Enemies to God's cause, (3) Enemies to His
people, and (4) Enemies to His church. They will not have God to reign over
them. Let us serve God faithful least we also be made God's footstool.
Heirs of salvation have God's word in
their heart. They have obeyed and are obeying His will. They have Heard the
gospel (John 6:44-45), Believed in Jesus (John 8:24), Repented of sins (Luke
13:1-5), Confessed Christ as Lord (Matthew 10:32-33), and been Baptized. (Mark
16:15-16). Those who are heirs of salvation have stayed faithful to God.
(Matthew 10:22)
GIVE THE MORE EARNEST HEED
-- HEBREWS TWO
We must attend diligently to the things that were spoken by
the Lord and not allow ourselves to slip away from them. The writer of Hebrews
shows what Jesus accomplished by becoming the man who died for all. His message
is greater than the Old Law.
People gave heed to that Old Law. Should we not even more
heed the New Covenant which was given by one who was greater than the angels?
Jesus has the right to be heard because: (1) The world to come has been put
under Him, (2) He was crowned with glory and honor, and (3) He tasted death for
every man.
Jesus became a man and suffered severely to provide
salvation for humanity. Jesus took upon Himself our nature and suffered for our
sins. The Hebrew writer wrote, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little
lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and
honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."
(Hebrews 2:9) Jesus conquered him who has the power of death, the Devil.
How shall we escape if we neglect so
great salvation -- Hebrews 2:1-4:
We must give the more earnest
heed to the things which we have heard because Jehovah made them available. We
must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard because they
relate to the Christ and to our eternal salvation. We must give the more
earnest heed to the things which we have heard because they relate to God's
great promises of forgiveness and an eternity in heaven. We must give the more
earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest we lose the joy of our
salvation.
The great salvation which was spoken of by the Lord can be
ours through: (1) Our faith in the truth that Jesus is the Son of God (John
8:24), (2) Repentance from our past sinful living (Luke 13:3-5), (3) Confession
of our faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ (Romans 10:9-10) and (4) Baptism for
the forgiveness of our sins. (1 Peter 3:21) Since the Christ is so far exalted
above the prophets, angels, and Moses we ought to give the more earnest
attention to all that He has spoken.
The word spoken by angels refers to the Law given by the
ministry of angels. Under that Old Law all transgressors were justly and
severely punished. So then, how can we escape eternal damnation if we neglect
the gospel of Christ! The gospel of the Son of God was confirmed by signs and
wonders, by miraculous powers and gifts of the Holy Ghost. The use of all the
signs and wonders was controlled by the will of God.
Jesus is our great Savior. Therefore, let us be careful
that we esteem the greatness of His person, that we respect His authority, and
that we receive His message.
How could we not appreciate one who died for all -- Hebrews
2:5-9:
We must give loving obedience to Jesus Christ because
God has put the world to come in subjection unto Him. The church can depend
upon Jesus Christ as her loving head. The unbelievable love of the Son of God
toward mankind is seen in the fact that He willing condescend to this earth and
suffered terribly to provide our salvation.
Jesus Christ has the government over that church.
The words of Psalm 8:4-6 are here applied powerfully to Him. "What is man,
that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For
thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory
and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou
hast put all things under his feet."
God is mindful of Jesus and He is also always mindful of
us. Therefore, let us never be forgetful of Him. Let us remember God daily as
we approach Him by doing our duty. God accomplished in Jesus what he could
accomplish in no other. As a result of His suffering and death, Jesus was
crowned with glory and honour.
Salvation was not provided by any
right which man had earned, but it was provided by the grace of God. By the
favour of God, Jesus experience death for the sins of the world. Jesus bore the
bitterness and unpleasantness of death (physical and spiritual) for every man,
whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free. The atonement made by Jesus was unlimited
in its nature and design. When we look upon the sinfulness of man, we too, can
only exclaim, "What is man that thou art mindful of him?"
How touched we should be by the suffering of the Saviour -- Hebrews
2:10-15: The Hebrew writer refers to Jesus with many wonderful terms.
Among then, he calls Him "the captain of our salvation." (Hebrews
2:10) His purpose is and our purpose also is to bring many to heaven so they
can be treated as sons. God as God could not die for our
sins -- God cannot die. So God took our nature that he might die for us. He
became one with us that we might become one with Him.
Observe these truths: (1) Jesus Christ has a church. (2)
Christians are one of another and brethren to Christ. (3) Jesus declared the
Father's name to them in the church. and, (4) Jesus sang praise to the Father
in the church. If He would praise the Father with song in the church so should
we.
Jesus undertook the work of destroying him that
had the power of death. This was accomplished by His own dying. When it was
said that Satan had the power of death I understand this to mean that the Devil
was the cause of death being introduced into the world, and he was the means of
its long and depressing reign.
Jesus Christ, by dying, has freed all His children from the
tormenting fear of death. Christ took away the reason to fear death, namely,
the curse or condemnation of the Law of God. Sin is now curable by the precious
blood of Jesus.
How the Saviour is able to succor those that are tempted --
Hebrews 2:16-18:
Christ did not take upon himself the nature of
angles because the angels sinned without a tempter. There was no one who
seduced them to evil. Also the angels sinned against knowledge. The angels
sinned by purposed malice.
We shall never fully understand the riches of God's amazing
grace toward sinful man until that Judgment Day when Christ appears as both our
judge and our justifier. Christ is ready, willing and able to succour those who
under their temptations come to Him. He became man and was tempted in every way
that He might be qualified to succour His people.
Are you in Christ so that He might be able to succour you? "For you are all sons of God through
faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians
3:26-27) As a Christian you will have
the help of Christ as you live a faithful life.
PARTAKERS OF THE
HEAVENLY CALLING
-- HEBREWS THREE
The Hebrew writer appealed to his readers to seriously
consider Jesus Christ as faithful High Priest. Christianity was founded by one
superior to Moses. Moses was only a servant in the house. Jesus is the Son over
the house. Jesus Christ, as high priest, was likewise superior to the high
priest of the Jews.
Much of this section
of scripture is occupied with showing the superiority of the Christ over Moses.
If we accept the fact that Jesus is superior to Moses certain consequences will
result.
Moses was faithful as a servant of God. Christ was faithful
as God's only begotten Son. Jesus is greater than Moses just as the builder is
greater than the house he built. This being true there would be serious and
grave danger to any who turned away from Christ. Those Israelites who were
disobedient to Moses suffered sever consequences. What of those who in unbelief
and rebellion have turned away from the Son of God?
Christ is to be preferred to Moses -- Hebrews 3:1-6: The
"partakers of the heavenly calling," must seriously consider Jesus,
"the Apostle and High Priest of our profession." Those that “partake
of the heavenly calling” are called "Holy Brethren." The heavenly
calling is extended to man by gospel preaching. Paul wrote,
"Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:14)
The "partakers of the heavenly calling," must
consider Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is Lord over His
church. He is the king, priest, prophet, and apostle of all. God appointed Him
as Mediator. He is faithful to that appointment. Moses was faithful in the
discharge of his office to the Jewish nation in the Old Testament. His
faithfulness was typical of Christ's faithfulness to those under the New
Covenant.
The Hebrew writer did not attempt in any way to
undervalue Moses. But, he did say that Jesus, "was counted worthy of more
glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour
than the house." (Hebrews 3:3)
Jesus Christ, the builder of the church, the house of God, is worthy of
all glory and honour.
Every house has a builder. Every family has a founder;
every age or dispensation has someone responsible for it. Someone had to be
over the old and the new dispensations --- Moses was over the Jewish age and
Jesus Christ is over the Christian age. Christ is the Son and we are His house.
We are the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and Christ dwells
in us by faith (Ephesians 3:17).
God expects us to
maintain a bold and open profession of the truths of the gospel firm unto the
end. "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that
endureth to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 10:22)
Christ desires hearts that are not hardened -- Hebrews
3:7-11: It is our duty to hear the voice of Jesus, our great
High Priest, speaking in the gospel. We must hear and obey the voice of Christ
"Today." All of God's commandments relate to the present. "For
he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2) Our obligation to God is to turn from
sin, and to love Him NOW.
We must be careful not to allow our heart to be hardened by
sin. The hardening of our heart to one sin may open the door for many other
sins.
The sins of others should serve as an example to us. God
used the "provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness"
when
The source of their sins was they "erred in their
heart." The result of their sin was that God said, "They shall not
enter into my rest." The result of sin is always great loss. The worst
result of all concerning their sin was when God said, "Wherefore I was
grieved with that generation." How sad it would be to face God in judgment
having been a grief to Him in our lifetime.
Christ demands that we hold on to our faith -- Hebrews 3:12-15:
Christians must be careful that they do not sin. Sin is a departure from God.
Unbelief, in particular, is the root of all such departures. Unbelief makes the
soul negligent and careless in opposing sin. We must be extremely careful that
an "evil heart of unbelief" does not give birth to the sin of
backsliding.
While it is called "Today" much encouragement to
faithfulness should be given. Close friends in the church should admonish and
encourage one another. Parents should daily encourage their children to
faithful service to God.
The need for this encouragement is seen in that, "we
are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end." (Hebrews 3:14) We have been spiritually united
with Jesus the Saviour. Our goal now should be to become like Him and one with
Him. "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the
sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as
in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When
your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I
grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their
heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they
should not enter into my rest." (Psalm 95:7-11)
Christ expects steadfastness to the end -- Hebrews 3:16-19:
It was not all of those who came out of
Unbelief, resulting in rebellion against the will of God is
the great, damning sin of the world. This sin shuts up the heart of God against
the rebellious. It also shuts up the gate of heaven against them. It puts them
under the wrath of God forever. No unbeliever or unfaithful soul shall enter
into the rest of God!
Through obedient faith you should become a Christian now.
(Matthew 28:18-20) Our love for God
should then lead us to persevere till death. (Revelation 2:10)
OUR PRIVILEGES
UNDER THE GOSPEL
-- HEBREWS FOUR
In Hebrews three the author set forth the sin of the Jews
and the punishment for their actions. Here in Hebrews four he begins to show
the benefits and privileges that come to believers in Christ through the
gospel.
The Holy Spirit wanted us to understand the promise of a
"rest" that remains. There is a real danger of coming short of God's
rest and of losing it. The reason that Jews of old did not enter into God's
rest was because of a lack of faith. Unbelief will also keep us out of God's
promised rest.
One of the main points of this section was that a rest of a
spiritual nature remains for the people of God. This rest is much more
desirable than the
Our boldness in coming before God should exist because of
Jesus, our Great High Priest. In all of our spiritual weakness and struggles we
can come to Him for help.
Great privileges under Christ -- Hebrews 4:1-4: The writer of
Hebrews says that the example of the Jews dying in the wilderness because of
unbelief should motivate us to faithfulness to God. Unbelief or unfaithfulness
will cause the same end to come our way concerning our rest.
The great privilege of knowing Christ and His gospel is
ours. Let us fear lest we come short of the heavenly rest promised in the
gospel. The kind of fear which is here spoken of leads to caution, care and
faithfulness.
We have been blessed with the promise of God's
rest and of knowing how to enter that rest. God will demand a strict account of
how we how dealt with His will if we are to enter His rest. How sobering the
truth, "but God's word did not profit some because it was not
mixed with faith (obedience) in them that heard it."
Man missing the promised rest because of unbelief
in no way reflects on God faithfulness and the certainty of the promise. God
finished His work, and then rested from it on the Sabbath Day. He will cause
all who believe (obey) to finish their work and to enter into their heavenly
rest. There is a promised spiritual rest in heaven that you may enter!
Great blessings for the believers -- Hebrews 4:5-8:
Here
the Hebrew writer continues to quote from and apply Psalm 95. In Hebrews 4:5 he
refers to Psalm 95:11, "Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not
enter into my rest." The quoting of this Psalm seems to have two purposes:
(1)
To show that even in this Psalm God promised a rest that many would
miss, and (2) To show that a heavenly rest remains for the faithful child of
God.
The Spirit used two Old Testament rests to
picture a third rest yet to come. God's rest on the Sabbath Day and the rest
that some Jews entered into in Canaan, thought most missed because of unbelief,
is a picture a our rest when the preaching of the gospel is mixed with faith on
our part. The true spiritual rest was not
Great motivation for serving God -- Hebrews 4:9-13:
We
must take heed to live our lives by the word of God, or doctrine of Jesus
Christ. The gospel will quickly find you out if you are guilty of disobedience
to it. All insincerity, unbelief, and hypocrisy, will be detected by God
because, "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart." (Hebrews 4:12) There will be no escape from the penetrating,
powerful word of God.
Man possesses spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thessalonians
5:23) Man has a physical body, a life much like the animals have, and an
immortal soul that leaves the body when earthly life ends. United these three
constitute one man. The word of God is able to separate all of these. When our
life is measured by that same word of God it will be determined as to whether
we can enter into God's rest.
The word of God is able to lay bear the secrets of the
heart. "All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we
have to do." (Hebrews 4:13)
Great help from our High Priest -- Hebrews 4:14-16: In
Hebrews 2:17 the idea had been introduced that Jesus Christ is our merciful and
faithful High Priest. "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made
like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people."
What kind of High Priest is Jesus? The Jewish High Priest
passed once a year into the
Even as great as Jesus is He is very kind, tender and
concerned about us. He can "be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities." He understands what it is to be tempted. He understands our
weaknesses. We have a faithful High Priest who is qualified to sympathize with
us in our afflictions, and to whom we may look for help in trials and
temptations. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews
4:16)
With our focus on Jesus let us labour
to enter His rest. Through the preaching of the gospel of Christ may we be
drawn to His perfect life and to His powerful teachings? Let us love Jesus
enough to surrender our lives to Him and His will. He promised "Come unto
me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew
11:28-30)
Repentance, baptism and faithfulness are required of all
who would enter God's rest. (Acts 2:38, Mark 13:13) Will you enter?
LEARNING ABOUT
CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD
-- HEBREWS FIVE
Let us rejoice in that we have a High Priest who is called
by God. He was not a descendant of Aaron; He is the Son of God.
The writer of Hebrews had introduced Jesus as our
"merciful and faithful high priest." In Hebrews 2:17 he said,
"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." He had also
admonished Christians to, "consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession, Christ Jesus." (Hebrews 3:1)
Not many passages in our Bible encourage us more than
Hebrews 4:14-16, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need."
In this chapter the writer continues his discourse upon the
priesthood of Christ. Here he: (1) Explains the nature of the priestly office,
Hebrews 5:1-3, (2) Explains how priest are called to this office, Hebrews
5:4-6, (3) Explains the qualifications for their work, Hebrews 5:7-9, (4)
Explains the order of the priesthood of
Christ, Hebrews 5:10, (5) Explains the failure of the Hebrews in living for
Christ, their High Priest. (Hebrews 5:11-14)
The priesthood was a very essential part of the Jews
religion. Those who have become Christians have lost nothing concerning the
priesthood. In fact they have gained, because in every way, Christians have a
High Priest that is equal to or great than the high priest of the Jews.
The nature and call of Christ's priesthood -- Hebrews 5:1-6: The
Jewish priest was "taken from among men." This same nature allowed
them to practice true compassion. Christ can be tender and compassionate toward
because He took our nature. The writer gave this simple definition of the
priesthood -- he is "ordained for men in things pertaining to God."
The priest was to deal with Almighty God on behalf of sinful man.
Had it not
been for sin, everyone might have gone to God in his own person. But now our
only way to God is through our High priest, Jesus Christ. The sacrifices were
offered by the priest to clear the way to God for sinful man. Gifts to God
involved many things, but sacrifices were bloody offerings for sin. Our High
Priest offered Himself for our sins.
The Old Testament priest had to have compassion for the
sinful and concern for their own personal sins. They were chosen by God. It was
an act of the sovereignty of God to call whom He pleased to His priesthood.
"So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he
that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee."
(Hebrews 5:5) Christ's priesthood was not after the order of Aaron. He was a
priest "after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5:6)
The qualifications for Christ's priesthood -- Hebrews 5:7-9:
Jesus Christ, while in the flesh subjected Himself to hunger, temptation,
bleeding and dying Jesus. God could have saved Jesus from dying. But, what
would have become of us if He had. In the days of His flesh Christ offered up
prayers to God, joined with strong crying and tear.
Christ was God's Son and by His suffering He
learned obedience. There are two ways of learning obedience: (1) You learn it
by comprehension of mind, and (2) You learn it by experience. Christ has now
been "made perfect, and he became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9)
God's desire is for every person to obey
Him and become Christians. Let all come to Jesus in faith (Hebrews 11:6),
repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confession (Matthew 10:32-33), baptism for
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) and then live a Christian life (I Peter
2:9). If you are not yet a Christian, it
is my earnest prayer that you will heed the call of our risen Lord thought His
glorious and powerful gospel while you still have life and opportunity. Christ
gave His blood to make your salvation possible. Lean obedience NOW before it is
too late!
The order of Christ's priesthood -- Hebrews 5:10:
Jesus
Christ is, "Called of God an high priest after the order of
Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5:10) His priesthood is eternal. It is a
special priesthood. Jesus was like Melchisedec in his designation to the
office. The arrangement of His priesthood was like that of Melchisedec.
We have a more detailed account of this Melchisedec in
Hebrews 7. He was both a priest and a king. None of the kings of the Jews were
priests; nor were any of the priests ever elevated to the office of king. But
in Melchisedec these offices were united.
Melchisedec was a powerful type of Christ Jesus who is prophet, priest
and king.
Christ is a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
The priesthood of Christ is an eternal priesthood; He ever lives to make
intercession for us
The priesthood of Christ was unappreciated -- Hebrews
5:11-14: The Hebrew writer had many "things to say"
concerning Christ and Melchisedec. Sadly the Christians were "dull of
hearing" and could not receive theses sayings. The problem was the
incapacity of the hearers, their dullness and slothfulness.
Enough time had elapsed since these Hebrew Christians were
converted that they should be teaching God's word. They had been Christians
long enough to be expected to understand such doctrines. Now they should be
able to instruct others. Instead they needed someone to teach them again the
very first lessons of Christianity.
It is reasonably expected by God that His people should
thrive spiritually and grow in their knowledge and godliness. Proportionally to
the time they have been Christians they have personal responsibility for
growth. Sadly, many, after thousands of sermons and Bible classes, are still
ignorant of even simple Bible lessons, and need to be taught again the same
things which they heard so long ago.
May we all diligently seek to grow in the word of righteousness?
The process of learning and obeying the doctrine of Christ is how men become
righteous and find the way of salvation offered by our Redeemer. Habit or
practice in the word of God allows Christians to be in the position of being
able to "discern both good and evil." The Christians grow in the word
of God will appreciate and understand that which is true. They will likewise
reject that which is false.
To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans
10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), Repent of sins (Acts 2:38), Confess
Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized to was away sins. (Acts 22:16)
After your baptism, "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever." (2 Peter
3:18)
Go On Unto Perfection
-- Hebrews Six
In
Hebrews six the writer shows that the best way to prevent apostasy is to do
better than the Hebrews had done in serving God. Our goal must be to persevere
in the faith and to grow in holiness. True happiness comes in serving God
faithfully until the end.
The
purpose of this chapter is to warn these brethren against the danger of going
back to Judaism. God wanted to encourage them to gain as much knowledge as
possible of the Christian system and of how to please Him daily.
The
writer uses several methods to encourage these brethren to faithfulness. First,
he encouraged them to leave the simple doctrines and to go on to maturity.
Second, he warned them of the danger of falling away from the grace of God.
Third, he showed that those who did not grow and become more Christ-like would
eventually be destroyed. Fourth, he showed that he was expecting better of them
than their past life had shown. Fifth, he desired that they show diligence
until they had received the fulfillment of their hope. Sixth, He showed that
God would be faithful to His promises and that it was important for them to be
faithful also.
Let us
labor to attain a more perfect measure of the knowledge of the glorious gospel
of Christ.
A warning against apostasy -- Hebrews 6:1-6: In
Christianity there are many fundamental principles that must be carefully
taught and learned. Sadly many never learn these principles. Some who learn
these elementary things never go beyond them. Once the foundation principles
have been learned we must go to perfection.
The
writer names six foundation principles of the Christian religion. These
foundation matters include: (1) Repentance from anything causing spiritual
death, (2) Faith in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, (3) The matter of baptism
into Christ, (4) The laying on of hands as a manner of blessing and accepting,
(5) The resurrection of the dead, the animating principle of the gospel, and
(6) The eternal judgment, which will doom the lost to everlasting punishment.
"Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; which we will do, if God permit."
How could anyone who has been once enlightened, tasted of the heavenly gift, been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, turn away from God? Those who do so, "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." The sin here mentioned is plainly apostasy from the truth and from the Christ, Himself. There is but one way of salvation. If a man deliberately rejects that, he must perish.
An illustration of apostasy -- Hebrews 6:7-10: The
truth concerning apostasy is illustrated by the ground that after much
cultivation brings forth nothing but briers and thorns. It "is nigh unto
cursing; whose end is to be burned." (Hebrews 5:8)
The
good ground drinks in the rain that comes upon it. This rain softens the earth,
refreshes it, and makes it fruitful. Those who desire to serve God drink in
God's truth in the same fashion and it brings forth fruit in their life. The
sincere Christian becomes fruitful under the preaching and teaching of God's
word and receives many blessings. The fruitless professor of Christianity is
like the dry desert, which, after many refreshing showers, brings forth nothing
but briars and thorns. Blessings belong to those who serve God faithfully,
burning awaits the others.
The
writer expected better things of the Hebrews. His desire and hope was that they
would produce the proper fruits of holiness, and that they would be saved.
We
must learn that while we must teach men that if they should fall away they
would certainly perish, we must nevertheless address them with the full assurance
that salvation is possible! Salvation is possible because of God. He "is
not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed
toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do
minister."
A sure promise from God -- Hebrews 6:11-15:
When
Christianity is persevered, hope can be obtained. Those who faithfully serve
God will attain the full assurance of hope in the end. No one can have this
hope who, does not persevere in holy living! Therefore, the object of every
Christian must be a life, totally devoted to God.
It is
sad, but, sometimes even good men relax their efforts for God. They sit down
feeling contented, thinking that they now have it made as far as going to
heaven is concerned. Those who have a "full assurance of hope" must
show diligence unto the end.
Those
who have gone before have set many good examples of continuing diligently until
the end. Just as God blessed Abraham He will bless all who are faithful till
the end. Would your faithfulness serve as an example for someone else?
Heaven
is a promised inheritance, which saints, by faith and patience, can possess. We
have the promise of God that heaven can be our home. God could promise by no
greater than Himself! God did not fail Abraham and He will not fail us. Abraham
did not fail God, and we must also be careful that we remain faithful.
An anchor for our soul -- Hebrews 6:16-20: God's
promise of our heavenly hope provides an anchor for our soul. Two immutable
things, God's promise and the oath of God should cause us to possess a strong
consolation. As Christians we have fled to Christ for refuge. He is the
Christian’s city of refuge, the only sanctuary for distressed souls.
We are
in this world as a ship at sea. The world tosses us in all directions. There is
always the danger of being cast away. Our souls are at stake. Heaven is the
harbor to which we sail. The temptations, persecutions, and afflictions that we
encounter, are the winds and waves from Satan that threaten to shipwreck our
soul.
We have an anchor and that anchor is Christ. Without Him we
have neither anchor nor hope. The hope of the believer is invisible unto the
world. They enter within the veil. How beautiful and wonderful it must be
beyond that veil in the heavenly land.
It is necessary to be in Christ in order to be saved and to have this heavenly hope. To be in Christ you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), Believe in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), Repent of sins (Acts 2:38), and Be Baptized to wash away sins. (Acts 22:16) But it is not enough just to have been baptized into Christ. In Christ we must live faithfully to the end. May God help each of us to remember who we are, where we have been, and where we are going.
CHRIST'S
-- HEBREWS 7
We have already been introduced to the idea that Christ was
made a high priest after the order of Melchisedec. The writer had much to say
about that but, they were not in a state of mind then to understand it. They
had made very little progress in their Christianity. In Hebrews seven the
writer returns to the subject of the priesthood of Christ. He shows that Jesus'
priesthood is superior to the Jewish priesthood.
Jesus was a priest like Melchisedec. Abraham, the father of
the Jewish nation and Jewish priesthood acknowledged that Melchisedec was
superior, and even he paid tribute to him. But Christ was of the order of
Melchisedec. His priesthood was superior to the Jewish priesthood.
Melchisedec stands alone on the pages of the sacred
Scripture. He was without any known ancestry and therefore was worthy to be
compared with the Son of God. Even Levi paid tithes in Abraham, to
Melchisedec.
"Perfection" could not come through the Levitical
priesthood. There had to be a new priesthood in order to have perfection. But
to have a new priesthood there had to be a change in the law. (Hebrews
7:12) Under the Jewish system there were
many priests. Those priest lived a brief period, and were then removed by
death. Under Christianity there is but one High Priest and no dying. His is an
unchangeable priesthood. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
"Nothing
made the Jews as fond of the Levitical dispensation as the high esteem they had
of their priesthood." The Hebrew writer here shows them that being in
Christ they have a much better high priest, a priesthood of a higher order, and
consequently a better dispensation or covenant, a better law and a New
Testament.
Priesthood like Melchisedec -- Hebrews 7:1-10: Melchisedec
is set forth as a type of Christ. He is (a) king of
There were many in the Bible who gave us brief glimpses of
what Jesus would be like. Melchisedec, the priest, was the first to represent
Christ by what he was and did. He depicted the foundation of all that our Lord
Jesus Christ would do. Like Melchisedec, Jesus would hold a priestly office,
whereby He made atonement, and reconciliation for the sins of mankind.
Abraham gave a tenth to Melchisedec and Melchisedec blessed
him. The Levitical priests had a right to receive tithes of their brethren, but
still that they were inferior to Melchisedec. Liberal giving was a part of the
life of the patriarchs before the law, the Jews under the law, and the
Christians in times of the gospel.
"King of righteousness" is the meaning of the
name "Melchisedec." What better type of the Messiah could there be
than him who was king of righteousness? We have no record of Melchisedec's
death. Just so, the life of the church depends upon the everlasting life of
Jesus Christ, our Savior. The Hebrew writer attempted to show the superiority
of Jesus by proving that His priesthood was like that of Melchisedec.
A priesthood that brings perfection-- Hebrews 7:11-19: If
perfection, remission of sin, could have been obtained by the sacrifices
offered by the Jewish priests, there would have been no need that God give a
new law and a new priesthood. God sent another priest who was not after the
order of Aaron. This priest was God's own Son, a priest forever after the order
of Melchisedec.
The Old Testament priesthood was limited to one tribe,
Levi, and to one certain family, that of Aaron. Under that priesthood and those
sacrifices there was no forgiveness of sins. That helped us understand the
necessity of raising up another priest, after the order of Melchisedec and not
after the order of Aaron. God's mercy was seen in the giving of the law and
even more so in the taking away of the law. Now sins can be forgiven!
Under the Levitical priesthood the next high priest was the
eldest son of the present high priest. Death brought a new high priest. The law,
by which Christ was constituted a priest, after the order of Melchisedec, was
the power of an endless life. Life and immortality is what gave Jesus His
priesthood.
A priesthood superior to Aaron's -- Hebrews 7:20-24: The
writer continues to press the subject of the excellency of the priesthood of
Christ. In addition to every other consideration showing the superiority of
Christ as a priest, there was the solemnity of the oath by which He was set
apart to the office. Under the Levitical system men became priest by decent,
because of death it was now their turn. Christ did not become a priest by
decent, but by an oath. "The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 7:21)
Jesus is the surety "of a better covenant." The
New Covenant which God made with mankind by means of Jesus is a better
covenant. It is a better covenant because its commands are simple. It is a
better covenant because it related to all men, not just the Jewish people. It
is a better covenant because it is eternal and under it sins can be forgiven.
Priesthood with a superior priest -- Hebrews 7:25-28: