Hebrews 6

The fifth truth about Jesus is that he is the sustainer of all things. The word "sustainer" comes from the concept of “carrying.” He carries all things. It’s also in the present – active tense. He is doing it now.

The sixth is that he accomplished cleansing for sins. Notice that cleansing is more than forgiveness. Forgiveness means overlooking the problems, while cleansing means eliminating the dirt, washing it away, removing it. Additionally, the verb is in a tense that English doesn’t have. It basically means that it is happening now and will continue to happen. Our cleansing was done on the cross, but it is also being done now. He is washing you and me clean, now.

Finally, the seventh, and finally, he sat down at the right hand of Majesty.

Seven truths about Jesus
Heir of all things
Creator of the world/ages
The light from God’s radiance glory
Representation of His Essence
Sustainer of everything
He accomplishes cleansing of sins
He is seated at the right hand of the Father

Seven truths that should leave us blessed, grateful, and amazes: If we really let these truths sink in, worship will spring spontaneously from our hearts.

It’s a good time to read the rest of the chapter (Hebrews 1). The author had the same reaction.

Hebrews 5

The third point about Jesus is that he is “the radiance of God’s glory.” If you are looking at a light bulb, you see the light itself. If your back is to the bulb, you can still see from the “radiance” of the light. The radiance is the light you can see when you can’t see the source directly. Jesus is the means for us to see the light of the Father. “Jesus said If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” My grandfather would have said, “he’s the spittin’ image of his father.”

This point is expanded in the fourth truth about Jesus, “the representation of God’s essence.” A few lines from the Nicene Creed make the point very clearly:

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;

Jesus is made of the same essence as God. My grandfather would have said “he’s a chip of the old block.”

Jesus, God’s new method of delivering His message, is the radiance of God’s glory and the representation of God’s very essence.

Hebrews 4

The second of the seven things about Christ is “through whom he created the world.”

It’s clear from other scripture that Christ was involved in creation (John 1:3,10 & Col. 1:16) and that may be what’s meant here. But word translated “world” could also be translated “ages.”

In Hebrews 13:8 we read “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, forever.” The word translated “forever” in this verse is the same word translated “world” in verse 2.

I think the latter or perhaps even both is what the author had in mind. Later in this chapter he wrote…

"You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment, and like a robe you will fold them up: and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out." Hebrews 1:10-12 emphasis added

The emphasis seems to be on the eternal nature of Christ. All previous messengers of the truth were temporary and eventually replaced by a better messenger (Jesus Christ). He is the perfect messenger and it’s inconceivable that he will ever be replaced by a better messenger. He not only created the world, he created forever. This messenger will never be replaced by a new and improved version.

DISCUSSION: If this messenger can never be replaced, what does that mean about His message? What impact was the writer of Hebrews hoping this phrase would have on his readers? What does this mean for those who preach “another gospel?”

Hebrews 3

The first of the seven things listed about the son is that he is "heir of God." (Chapter 1, verse 2) Inherit has at least two meanings that apply here. One meaning is the “stuff” one inherits in the future. In one sense this does not apply because this Father will never die. But in another sense, Christ at one point stepped (or will step) into the throne over all of creation. Verse 13 cites an Old Testament proof text for this. Only the Son, the heir will sit at the right hand of God until his enemies are made into a foot stool. (See also Daniel 7:13-14 and Revelation 5:5-14)

The other meaning of inherit is an intrinsic part of the heir. I inherited dark hair, dark eyes, and a love for learning. I also inherited a sin nature and an inclination toward selfishness. These are genetic and spiritual inheritance.

What did Jesus inherit “genetically” or spiritually from his Father? If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father (John 14:9).

DISCUSSION: Galatians 4:6-7 teaches that since we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we become heirs with Jesus. What do we inherit “genetically” or spiritually from our Heavenly Father?
(See Matthew 5:43-45 for one answer.)

Hebrews 2

This book was clearly written to an audience familiar with Jewish practices. Given that, the first thought is pretty astonishing. It could be paraphrased….

“In times past, God spoke to our forefathers in prophets, dreams, visions, even donkeys, and that’s pretty amazing. God’s truth communicated directly to them by all kinds of ways, but now, something far better has occurred. God has spoken truth to us, directly from His Son.”

The author then lists seven reasons why using this messenger surpasses anything else God could have done to communicate to us.

We’ll look at those seven things, and they should amaze us and change us. But I don’t want to skip the beginning.

God Spoke. That in itself is a miraculous blessing. It shatters Deism.

God Spoke to “our” forefathers. The Jews reading this should be reminded of their holy, special, privileged place. They were God’s chosen.

The pride the Jewish people felt at being God’s chosen was/is significant

DISCUSSION: Should Christians feel a similar pride at being God’s chosen?

Hebrews

For some reason, I woke up humming the happy little toon - "give me that old time religion." Until I remembered two verses.

"It was good for Paul and Silas." Let's see... it got them both imprisoned and at least one executed.

I'm not sure a happy little toon works. But the bigger problem is another verse.

"It was good for the Hebrew children." If the book of Hebrews has one message, it's this... "the old time religion (of the Hebrews) is not nearly as good as the new religion of Jesus Christ."

Discerning his will

On Sunday we focused on determining the specific way to express our desire to provide practical service in His name to someone in need. It started me thinking about some important issues about discerning His direction.

• He IS speaking and leading. John 14:26
• We are, too often, and too easily, not listening. Hebrews 3:6-19
• He does not answer all our questions,
• In some instances he wants us to use the intellect he gave us.
• In other instances he does not answer all our questions, but he answers the right questions. Matthew 10:19,20
• The first question is never “What will work to accomplish our goals?” The first question is always, “What are his goals?”
• The second question is never “How can we help his goals?” The second question is always “What obedience does he desire from us to accomplish his goals?”

So, the key is to ask the right questions, and listen with faith that he is speaking.

I have known for some time that his goals for us include that we touch the lives of a few in very deep and personal, but also practical and specific ways. His goal is to use us to mentor someone in life skills, relationships, caring, giving, and friendship. That means the current, urgent question is, “What obedience does He desire from us to accomplish that (his) goal?”

Old time religion

The following was written in a letter by John Newton (1725 – 1807 -- a former slave ship captain, who became an outspoken opponent of slavery, an Anglican Minister, and author of a hymn he named ”Faith's Review and Expectation” We know it by the first line of the first verse…. “Amazing Grace.”

“The true Christian is sensible and mindful of indwelling sin. He confesses that in everything he comes exceedingly short, and that his best services are not only defective--but defiled. He accounts himself as an unprofitable servant--and is abased in his own eyes. He knows that all that distinguishes him from the vilest of men--is the free grace of God!”

Do Christian still think like that?

Consequences

Looking at the most obvious expert at playing the “victim” role in the Scripture… Ahab, I noticed something. When Jezebel had Naboth killed, and Ahab claimed the vineyard, Elijah prophesied Ahab’s death, and the destruction of the nation. The announcement was blunt and direct. But it also struck me that God clearly and unequivocally linked the two events together.

“In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth's blood they will also lick up your blood”

- I Kings 21:19

It’s clear that if you decide that one of these folks should face some negative consequences, blunt and direct is better than tentative and vague. It may also be reasonable to conclude that whenever a negative consequence is applied to these folks, it should be clearly and unequivocally connected to their behavior.

victims

Does the scripture teach anything directly about how to deal with people who are especially adept at playing the role of being inept, incapable, pitiful, mistreated, victims of misfortune or evil others?

Tax Math

O.K., I know it's dangerous to get political. I hardly ever do. But I just have an observation. Barak Obama says that in his tax plan 95% of Americans will see a tax decrease. It's also a fact that 30% of Americans don't pay federal taxes. I'm not real good at math. But you don't have to be good at math to know this doesn't add up.

Update

I haven't posted in a while. We've been on a strange detour talking about a novel. The novel is called "The Shack." We didn't select it because it's perfect. It's not. The author makes a brave (if not foolish) attempt to illustrate truths about the unknowable mystery of Trinity.

We have used his novel to cause us to discuss the Godhead and how we view the Godhead. We are looking to the novel to springboard a discussion, but we are looking to the Scripture to teach us the truth.

It's been fun, difficult, and interesting. Perhaps the most interesting and consistent realization is that it's impossible for finite minds to approach God's infinite tenderness and compassion or his infinite justice and holiness without doing damage to the other.