November 13, 2021
FAITH IN GOD CHANGES OUR IDENTITY AND OUR FUTURE Rahab lived in the ancient city of Jericho. She was a business woman who ran a house that offered meals, lodging and other entertainments. Both here in Hebrews 11 and in Joshua 2:1 and Joshua 6:22-25, Rahab was called a harlot. However, that identity did not
November 12, 2021
WHAT IS FAITH? Hebrews begins its eleventh chapter with the biblical definition of faith. Chapter eleven might be called the faith hall of fame. For following its definition, examples of biblical faith are listed. Yet before we think about this definition, we must clarify the kind of faith of which we speak. This is not
November 11, 2021
HOLDING ON WITH UNWAVERING HOPE Christian hope is confident hope. For Christian hope is based on the promises of God. Since this hope is anchored to God’s promises we can be assured that our hope will not be disappointed. For God is faithful. So rather than hanging on to the temporal things we can see,
November 9, 2021
CHRIST WILL APPEAR A SECOND TIME The Messiah, Jesus Christ, has already accomplished our redemption by the offering of Himself for our sins. Yet, He will appear a second time, not because there is anything unfinished for our salvation, but that He might bring to us its final fulfillment, namely our resurrection bodies fit for
November 7, 2021
THE NEW COVENANT THROUGH JESUS Quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34, the book of Hebrews explained why the new covenant superceded the old. The old covenant, which was the law mediated through Moses, was written on stone tablets. But the new covenant, which is by the grace of God through Jesus, is written on human hearts. The purpose
November 6, 2021
THE SUPREME SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE Hebrews contrasts the daily offerings of Levitical priests with the “once for all” offering of Christ Jesus. The reason for daily sacrifices by the sons of Aaron are several. First, they themselves are sinful and must offer daily sacrifices “first for their own sins.” Second, “since they are prevented
November 5, 2021
JESUS, OUR ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST Quoting Psalm 110:4 (“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek”), the book of Hebrews declares Jesus to be the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy. Jesus is our eternal high priest. Melchizedek is a Christological type, foreshadowing Jesus the Messiah. Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,”
November 4, 2021
HAVE YOU BECOME SPIRITUALLY LAZY? There are some of us who after hearing and believing the gospel become sluggish and slothful in loving others and living for Christ. How can this be since we are assured of inheriting God’s promises? Perhaps it is because we misunderstand our faith, thinking we can hold it passively, when
November 2, 2021
JESUS, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST Jesus is our Great High Priest. He is well acquainted with all of our “weaknesses” because he has experienced them too. Therefore, we can pray with boldness in the name of Jesus, knowing that He sympathizes and will represent us before the Father. Jesus has opened the way for us,
November 1, 2021
HARD HEART OR HEARING HEART? This verse is a quotation of Psalm 95:8. It was a reference to Israel’s forty years of wilderness wanderings because of their unbelief. They did not believe God’s promise to give them the Promised Land when ten of the twelve spies brought back a negative report. They rebelled against God