Enter Your Rest; Psalm 95

As we consider the warnings in Psalms 95, listen carefully to what He has told us in Hebrews 4 - “we who have believed enter that rest”. YHWH rested from His creation work. When we were made new creatures in Christ, we entered His rest. We still struggle against unbelief and we still grumble and lust after things of this world. But struggle is the operative word. We have our citizenship in heaven and Christ Jesus is coming to set all things right and put an end to unrighteousness. He is our Lord and King, He is mighty to save. The transcendent one is immanent. And He bids us come.

If what you hear is strange to your ears, He is calling you, Come. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart – come to Christ. He declares, Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life (John 5:24). Eternal life – an irrevocable gift from God. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. 

The Gospel in Hebrews

Latest publication: The Gospel in Hebrews - a Christ-focused walk through Scripture. Available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible formats.

Hebrews 13:18-25, A Three-fold farewell

Hebrews 13:18-25; A Three-fold Farewell

This section presents with a three-fold farewell, containing a plea for prayer, blessings in Christ, and brother-love; topics that have been taught throughout this epistle and the Bible.

Hebrews 13:7-17; Life Outside the Camp

These things preserved for us in the Word of God will cause us to live differently from those whose home is this world – if we are indwelt with His Spirit. Jesus was taken outside the camp to be sacrificed for us; we are called to go to Him, outside the camp. We have no eternal city here, inside the camp of the world. As the disciples of Jesus went back into the city to carry on their lives and witness for the Lord, so we maintain our presence in this world, the city of man, to carry on our lives in honor of the One who gave Himself for us, doing good to all – especially those within the household of faith. 

Hebrews 13:1-6; Love and Money

The tone and structure of this chapter is remarkably different from the preceding 12 chapters. Some think it was actually a “cover letter” for the epistle, others think another human author wrote it. But what I think we see here is the outworking of the new priesthood that has been established in the earlier chapters. In this world, you can’t live without money. How much is the question. In eternity, you can’t live without the love of God. How we handle money reflects, in part, how we view God. This is immensely practical! 

 

Hebrews 12:14-29; A Tale of Two Mountains

Here's my message, A Tale of Two Mountains. The Spirit makes clear: One cannot live with one foot on Sinai and the other on Zion.

 

Hebrews 12:1-13; Consider Him!

Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

If the encouragement is to look unto, to consider the Lord Jesus; the problem we have is focusing on something lesser.

Hebrews 11:30-40, Our Trials Have Purpose

The Bible makes clear that God is sovereign over all created things, including time. As we close the Hall of Faith chapter, we will see a summary of the trials that befell ancient saints. Each trial, each set-back was part of God’s decree to provide a savior. We are to learn from this historical account how to see such trials in our own lives; never to think of them as “chance” or “bad luck” – all is from the hand of God, including the throw of the dice - The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord (Prov. 16:33). We may not see the results determined by God, but we need to be confident that our trust is in Him and not in the circumstance we face. 

 

Hebrews 11:17-29; The Testing of our Faith

Here's the message from Hebrews 11:17-29, the Testing of our Faith. May the Lord be glorified and His saints equipped. Forget the one speaking; focus on the One who is faithful. 

Hebrews 11:1-16; Lively Faith

This chapter is encouragement to the saints to live like we believe what the Bible says; opening with a description of faith. Biblical faith is key to our world-view and contrasts strikingly with walking by sight. But it’s important to reflect on the foundation which was laid in the preceding chapter – see verses 22-25. That passage exhorts us to faith, hope, and love which are part and parcel of our walk with the Lord. Chapter 11 develops faith, chapter 12 hope, and chapter 13 love. The suffering and perseverance of the saints summarized in chapter 10 are expounded with biblical examples in this chapter.

Hebrews 10:26-39; Warning and Encouragement

This section represents a change in direction for this letter – a hinge-point, moving from theological truth to how that impacts our lives. It’s not an absolute change in direction, as all of Scripture has something for us in both of these arenas. We have read of intense teaching of how Christ is better and greater than all and has brought His people into a better and greater covenant and state of being, coupled with warnings about drifting away and false belief. This section repeats the warning and ends with encouragement to the saints to live like we believe; opening the way to chapter 11 and following, where the focus is on living worthy of our call. 

 

Hebrews 10:1-10; Just Give Me Jesus

While the author continues to stress the futility of law-keeping as a means to reconciliation with God, the deeper issue is the underlying condition of the human being. We are inclined to trust what we can comprehend with our natural senses; what we can touch, see, and hear. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We are to look for that which is unseen, things that are eternal. We must have Jesus!

 

Hebrews 9:11-28; Substance

The first half chapter 9 reviewed the pattern of the tabernacle and what it consisted of; then it reviewed the practice within that tabernacle. This is to provide a contrast between the shadow and the substance, which is where we are today. Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (Col. 2:16-17)

Hebrews 9:1-10; Shadowland

Chapter 8 revealed that the Levitical religion and all its rites were a shadow of the heavenlies. Shadows can be very detailed, but they lack substance. The first half chapter 9 reviews the pattern of the tabernacle and what it consisted of; then it reviews the practice within that tabernacle. This is to provide a contrast between the shadow and the substance, which follows. Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (Col. 2:16-17) 

Hebrews 8 - The Main Thing

Here's my message from Hebrews 8 - The Main Thing. When myriad things cloud our minds and distract us for the Lord, His Spirit reminds us Who is the Main Thing and calls us back to worship and honor Him.

Hebrews 7:11-28 The Priest We Need

The opening phrase presupposes that perfection is not possible through the Levitical priesthood – it was a temporal priesthood that only covered sins for a season. This point is emphasized by the observation that the Mosaic Law was received under that priesthood. Law is tied to covenant; both are dependent on the priesthood given. Since the Levitical priesthood was unable to bring eternal life, there was a need for a priesthood that could do so – we see, again, this reference to the man of mystery, Melchizedek. We need a priest from his order, not that of Aaron! The author specifies that he speaks about the One, He, the Lord Jesus, being from a different tribe than Aaron’s – a tribe from which no one has served at the altar in the Hebrew sanctuary. He sums up by observing that Christ came from the tribe of Judah and that Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe. We have the perfect priest from that tribe; a priest Who is a lion. This was said about Him: The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. (Gen .49:10) The scepter, meaning rule, will always be His; the obedience of the redeemed people will be His. Consider Him!

The Man of Mystery - Hebrews 7:1-10

My message from Hebrews 7:1-10; The Man of Mystery.

We should be as satisfied with the silence of Scripture as we are with the words therein.

The Anchor Holds - Hebrews 6:13-20

Where your heart is, there is your anchor. This could be worldly wealth, health, your kids, your standard of living. None of these are bad, in and of themselves; but if they drag us away from Christ, they have taken over a position they cannot fulfill. We must never get satisfied with the gifts, but always direct our affections to the giver of all good things. He is the Rock our hope, our anchor, must be fixed upon.

Hebrews 5:11-6:12 Warnings and Encouragement

Exegesis must not be influenced by one's system of theology, but only by the Scripture, which interprets itself. When we come to a difficult passage in this book we cannot ignore the allusions to the Old Covenant. The description of people and land in this passage have been variously interpreted; I think the proper path is to understand these allusions and what they would mean to the original audience; then determine how they apply to us.

 

Our Great High Priest!

Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10 – Our Great High Priest

1. Jesus is our Great High Priest
2. Our Great High Priest has compassion
3. Our Great High Priest gives us confidence
4. Characteristics of an Aaronic High Priest
5. Jesus – the Supreme High Priest