STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

CHAPTER EIGHTvs 1-2

without Jesus there is no church.

Brothers and sisters, God gives us an absolute, meticulous, repetitive, explicit, exhaustive, exclusive, final, finished, complete rendering in the general, specific, and minutiae about God His Son Jesus Christ.  We know, brethren, God grants absolutely no alternatives, plan b’s, divisions, denominations, organizations, institutionss, alternative doctrines to the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.  We know the whole of scripture is relevant and valid. However, we know the Bible is complete, final and finished for all eternity in Jesus Christ, the foundation of salvation in whom we rest in God.

 

Brothers and sisters, let us pour out lavishly our love offerings, thank offerings and praises to God our Father, God the Son our only Saviour Jesus Christ and God our Holy Spirit who indwells us and will be with us forever. Lord Jesus we will never forget that you paid for all of our sins with your life. You suffered the deepest of rejections and humiliation from those you came to save. Men thought when they beat you, that you would turn your face away. Instead, you turned your face to those spitting in your face and striking you:  Isa 50:6. When Pilate came to whip you, men thought you would cry and try to get away. Instead, you gave your back to the lashes. Men thought when they had you up on the cross, you would recant that you were the Son of God. Men thought you would beg for your life, but instead you chose to die there. When they struck you in your side with a spear, they thought you would break, get mad, but Instead you forgave them.

 

Lord Jesus, thank you for taking the cup of afflection/condemnation of God for us, drinking it to the full, and supping down the dregs. You died to pay for all of our sins so that all who believe and obey you  receive eternal forgiveness; are never doomed to be destroyed for their sins in everlasting fire and punishment/ condemnation and separation from God.  

 

Brothers and sisters, let us go to Lord Jesus’ table to dine with Him in the presence of God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit who will synergistically feed us and minister the word to us for the glory of God and our good.

 

From the get go of Hebrews, as well as in all scripture, God presents to us an awesome, stunning, spectacular, dazzling, mind- blowing portrait of God the Son of God Jesus Christ, His love, heart, mind, power, authority, and eternal ministry. Then, brethren, we kind of hit a low point where Paul the apostle reveals to us the slothful Hebrew believers who although they were taught the scriptures neglected to keep any of it in remembrance. Although Paul gives certain warnings, he does not condemn His Hebrew brethren, but works by reteaching them to aid them to move forward to maturity.

 

Praise God for the faithful pastors, elders, teachers and body general that are faithful to teach, remember and live the gospel message. However, there are still some local churches that either break up, or grow poorly due to neglecting the ongoing teaching of the whole gospel message. Paul gave many sermons to the churches, however, he clearly taught that it is the duty of the church as a whole to study, teach and practice the word of God. How else shall we achieve unity in the body outside of scripture rightly divided? Eph 4:13-16.

 

Interestingly, Paul makes no assumptions that these Hebrew believers automatically understand his message, because he gives here a highly detailed, repetitive rendering of scripture to them. Sheep are clueless, assume nothing and do not fail to teach in full detail. Holy brethren, raise your hand if you know what I mean about us sheep and cluelessness. I raised both of mine.

 

We need sermon teachings, individual study, and interactive Bible study none of it should be neglected. However the fastest growth is from interactive Bible study where the group can benefit from the teachings of many members as well as work out issues or questions. We find many examples of this in scripture.

 

Paul is not interested in making good students, He wants to make good teachers who can share what they know to help others move forward to maturity.

 

A Better Ministry

Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

 Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

 

Now look, holy people, Paul is absolutely declaring that all of the aforementioned chapters boils down to, sums up, concludes finally, completely that Jesus Christ is the total package. Jesus Christ is the only High Priest that God has set over His house forever. None other need apply, there are no wannabees accepted, none other than Jesus Christ is forever proven, fit, able, and appointed by God forever. No one need wait around in hopes of a vacancy because Jesus lives forever there will never be a need for any replacement because other than Himself none other exists who is fit to take His place. His is not a shared High Priesthood it is His alone by the command of God the Father.

 

We don’t have to worry ever, brothers and sisters, that Jesus might not show up in the sanctuary due to illness, vacation, or neglect, because He never ages or gets sick, is forever Faithful and True: Rev 3:14 . We don’t have to worry about the sanctuary burning up, destroyed by the weather, or just plain ole neglect of not keeping the place up, like some places of worship on earth. Let us be absolutely convicted, convinced, and fully persuaded to confidently enter into His presence in our time of need for He is ever waiting for us there in His sanctuary made by God the Father, not men, in heaven itself.