Hebrews Bible Study 1

 

 

Humor - Read story about train tracks

 

 

How class will benefit from lesson - Application

 

Sound Doctrine, test what people say to you about what the Lord has told them against the text, if it is not there refer to Heb 1:1-2

 

Jesus is God - This is part of the confession that leads to salvation

 

OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

 

Goal of the Class is point 1,2,3

 

See what is God's revelation to man
What Bible says about the Lords Identity
See how the Lord is better than the angels

 

Approach to Class - How we will study material

 

Non threatining class, easy going, get up get coffee at any time and enjoy our time together.

 

Rabbit trails are fine, just stay on topic and not to long.

 

 

Bible, MHCC, GBC, ACC, FF Bruce Hebrews commentary

 

 

Author - Unknown - Alexandrians, Augustine and Jerome believed Paul, others Barnabus, Luthor thought Appolos, Thomas Aquinas said Luke, Others Clemet of Rome, others Pricilla and Aquilla, which might explain the absence of the Identy.

 

Because of dating of the epistle it was surely edited version of an apostles notes, or someone in very near contact to the Lord with excellent understanding of the Jewish tradition and intimate knowledge of the Lord.

 

Does not read like Paul wrote it to me.

 

Exegesis of Hebrews has to be independent of this issue

 

Setting -
Some say - Judia to Spain, including Rome, Alexandria Egypt, Samaria Palistine and others.

 

Exegesis is independent of this issue

 

Date written - Exact date unknown, most likely before 70AD because temple services seemed to be in process as they are spoken of in the present.

 

Surely before 90ad because clement wrote of the book and that was his era.

 

100-200ad Church fathers wrote of it their commentaries used in canonization

 

Authors Agenda -

 

Geneva Bible Notes say "The purpose of this epistle, is to show that Jesus Christ the Son of God both God and man is that true eternal and only Prophet, King and High Priest, that was shadowed by the figures of the old law, and is now indeed exhibited of whom the whole Church ought to be taught, governed and sanctified."

 

Show Jesus as the Christ, so all can say as Peter did by the proofs offered "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Mt 16:16

 

 

Does it read as a Pauline writing to you?  Does it sound like something Luke might have edited?

 

Study - Hebrews

 

The surpassing dignity of the Son of God in his Divine person, and in his creating and mediatorial work. (1-3) And in his superiority to all the holy angels. (4-14)

 

Point One -  God revelation to man vrs 1-2

 

God spoke to and through the prophets - Nu 12:6,8

 

The Lord is the one spoken of by those prophets

 

2Ki 17:23 - Through them he dealt with Isreal of Old
2Ki 21:10 - He judged through them
Lu 24:44 - The Lord Himself confirmed the writing were about Him
Ac 3:21- Everything the prohets of the Lord said have been and will be fulfilled
Jas 5:10 - The prophets are to be examples to us

 

How do we interpret what we have been given by the prophets (the Bible)?

 

2Pe 1:19  And [so] we have the prophetic word [made] more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of one's own interpretation,
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

 

How does the Lord "Speak" to you?

 

Point Two - Lords Identity vrs 3

 

Image (kjv) or representation (nasb) is the Greek word khar-ak-tare' 
- a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving (("character"), the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or (figuratively) representation):--express image.

 

Used only here!
God become flesh - John 1:14
He who has seen Jesus, or knows Him, knows the Father - John 14:9
His identity is being masked by Satan today to the lost - 2Co 4:4
He is the creator - Re 4:11
All things are held together by the power of his word - Col 1:17

 

What does it say about our salvation knowing that Satan has been defeated and Christ has been revealed to US.

 

Point Three - Better than the angels 4-14

 

Great appologetic for those who whould say Jesus is not God.

 

Vrs 14 - The are ministering spirits to US!
Mt 18:10 - Little ones have angles watching over them
Ps 34:7 - Conditional protection of those who fear Him
Da 3:28 - And trust Him
Ps 91:9-16  -  He Uses angels to protect and care for us
 
The angels seem to attend to those who serve, fear and trust the Lord.

 

 

Sound Doctrine, test what people say to you about what the Lord has told them against the text, if it is not there refer to Heb 1:1-2

 

Jesus is God - This is part of the confession that leads to salvation

 

OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

 

Review approach, how we did the study

 

Did you enjoy the scripture search, this type of approach to bible study?

 

Test goal - Did we Learn - point 1,2,3

 

 

See what is God's revelation to man
What Bible says about the Lords Identity
See how the Lord is better than the angels

 

 

People will not endure sound doctrine many times, instead wanting to focus light on horizontal, moving the spot light from verticle to horizontal.  These are the first steps toward an apostate church.

 

Sound Doctrine, test what people say to you about what the Lord has told them against the text, if it is not there refer to Heb 1:1-2

 

Jesus is God - This is part of the confession that leads to salvation

 

OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

---

Hebrews Bible Study 2

Ice Breaker - Who are some of the most powerful people in the world today?

 

 

Humor -

 

The Creation
In the Beginning:

 

God created the mule, and told him: "You will be a Mule, working constantly from dusk to dawn, carrying heavy loads on your back. You will eat grass but you will lack intelligence. You will live for 40 years." The mule answered:"To live like this for 40 years is too much. Please, give me no more than 20." And it was so.

 

Then God created the dog, and told him: "You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years." And the dog responded: "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog is too much. Please, no more than 10 years." And it was so.

 

God then created the monkey, and told him: "You are a Monkey. You will swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years." And the monkey responded: "Lord, to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years." And it was so.

 

Finally, God created Man and told him: "You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years." And the man responded: "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little. Please, Lord, give me the 20 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog refused, and the ten years the monkey rejected." And it was so.

 

And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, to have mastery over the creatures of the world. Then he is to marry and live 20 years like a mule, working and carrying heavy loads on his back. Then he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers. Then, in his old age, he is to live 10 years as a monkey, acting like a fool to amuse his grandchildren. And it was so.

 

 

How class will benefit from lesson - Application

 

Jesus is God - This is part of the confession that leads to salvation

 

OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

 

Goal of the Class is point 1,2,3

 

What Bible says about the Lords Identity
See how the Lord is better than the angels

 

Approach to Class - How we will study material

 

Non threatining class, easy going, get up get coffee at any time and enjoy our time together.

 

Rabbit trails are fine, just stay on topic and not to long.

 

 

Bible, MHCC, GBC, ACC, FF Bruce Hebrews commentary

 

 

God has unlimited power, He chooses to unleash it in a way that leaves man accepting or rejecting its source by faith.  Man has limited power and chooses to unleash it in ways that leave no doubt as to its source.  mAdams

 

 

What is The Lord upholding today by the power of His word?

 

Study - Hebrews

 

The surpassing dignity of the Son of God in his Divine person, and in his creating and mediatorial work. (1-3) And in his superiority to all the holy angels. (4-14)

 

Point One - Lords Identity Heb 1:3

 

Christ is not valued at all unless he be valued above all. -St. Augustine

 

Radiance, not reflection.  He is light source.

 

Image (kjv) or representation (nasb) is the Greek word khar-ak-tare' 
- a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving (("character"), the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or (figuratively) representation):--express image.

 

Used only here!

 

God become flesh - John 1:14
He who has seen Jesus, or knows Him, knows the Father - John 14:9
His identity is being masked by Satan today to the lost - 2Co 4:4
He is the creator - Re 4:11
All things are held together by the power of his word - Col 1:17

 

A man who can read the New Testament and not see that Christ claims to be more than a man, can look all over the sky at high noon on a cloudless day and not see the sun. -Biederwolf

 

What does it say about our salvation knowing that Satan has been defeated and Christ has been revealed to US.

 

Point Two - Vrs 3 - Uphold all things

 

Upholds all things by the word of His power

 

Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

 

A Saving Power
 
   Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

 

Mt 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

 

Over Nature
 
   Lu 8:25 And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"

 

Wonder-working
 
   Ac 10:38 "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.

 

to subdue all things
 
   Php 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

 

to guard the soul's treasures
 
   2Ti 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

 

to raise up children from stones
 
   Lu 3:8 "Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

 

to subdue all things
 
   Php 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

 

to give life eternal life to mortal bodies

 

Ro 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

 

In multiplying the loaves
 
   Mt 14:20 and they all ate, and were satisfied. And they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.

 

blighting the fig-tree
 
   Mt 21:19 And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it, and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He *said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered.

 

turning water into wine
 
   Joh 2:7 Jesus *said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim.

 

What are examples of how God's power can be interpreted as by Him or through some other agency?

 

Point Three - Better than the angels 4-14

 

Great appologetic for those who whould say Jesus is not God.

 

Vrs 14 - They are ministering spirits to US!
Mt 18:10 - Little ones have angles watching over them
Ps 34:7 - Conditional protection of those who fear Him
Da 3:28 - And trust Him
Ps 91:9-16  -  He Uses angels to protect and care for us
 
The angels seem to attend to those who serve, fear and trust the Lord.

 

What are the angles doing today?

 

 

All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass-Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -Alexander

 

Jesus is God - This is part of the confession that leads to salvation

 

OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

 

Review approach, how we did the study

 

Did you enjoy the scripture search, this type of approach to bible study?

 

Test goal - Did we Learn - point 1,2,3

 

 

See what is God's revelation to man
What Bible says about the Lords Identity
See how the Lord is better than the angels

 

 

People will not endure sound doctrine many times, instead wanting to focus light on horizontal, moving the spot light from verticle to horizontal.  These are the first steps toward an apostate church.

 

Sound Doctrine, test what people say to you about what the Lord has told them against the text, if it is not there refer to Heb 1:1-2

 

Jesus is God - This is part of the confession that leads to salvation

 

OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

Ice Breaker - What inheritance did your grandparents leave you with, not financial.

 

 

Humor - Inheritance

 

Because he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly, widower father died, Charles decided he needed a woman to enjoy it with.

 

Going to a singles’ bar, he spotted a woman whose beauty took his breath away. “I’m just an ordinary man,” he said, walking up to her, “but in just a week or two, my father will die and I’ll inherit 20 million dollars and would like to have someone to share it with.” The woman went home with Charles, and the next day she became his stepmother. 

 

 

How class will benefit from lesson - Application

 

Learn about the importance of Christ's inheritance and His position

 

Goal of the Class is point 1,2,3

 

Inheritance to the throne
Inheritance as God
Position in relation to the Angels

 

Approach to Class - How we will study material

 

Non threatining class, easy going, get up get coffee at any time and enjoy our time together.

 

Rabbit trails are fine, just stay on topic and not to long.

 

 

Bible, MHCC, GBC, ACC, FF Bruce Hebrews commentary

 

 

The kingdom of God does not exist because of your effort or mine.  It exists because God reigns.  Our part is to enter this kingdom and bring our life under his sovereign will. -Koo

 

 

What rights did inheritance give the Lord?

 

Study - Hebrews

 

His inheritance and superiority to all the holy angels. (4-14)

 

Point One - Vrs 4

 

His Man/God nature was foretold long ago as being His inheritance.

 

Heb 1:4  having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

 

His inheritance is in God and Davids throne through Jesse - Isa 11:1

 

His inheritance is two fold, Human as He is in the line of Jesse and heir to Davids throne.

 

He inherited the throne through Mary and Joseph.

 

The stem is a dead branch forshadowed by Arrons budded rod, part of what is in the ark of the covenent.  The dead rod that budded.  - Heb 9:4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which [was] a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant.

 

Why was it important for Jesus to inherit the throne of David?

 

Point Two - His inheritance as God

 

Isa 11:2

 

The seven Spirits of God rest on Him. 

 

Isa 11:1  Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.  2 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 

Re 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne;
 Re 3:1  "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
 Re 4:5 And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;

 

This is the same lampstand that is before the Throne of God in the Tabernacle which is a model of the real throne room.

 

Which of the Spirits of God are passed on to us through the indwelling of the Spirit of God?

 

Point Three - Better than the angels 4-14

 

Great appologetic for those who whould say Jesus is not God.

 

Vrs 14 - They are ministering spirits to US!
Mt 18:10 - Little ones have angles watching over them
Ps 34:7 - Conditional protection of those who fear Him
Da 3:28 - And trust Him
Ps 91:9-16  -  He Uses angels to protect and care for us
 
The angels seem to attend to those who serve, fear and trust the Lord.

 

What are the angles doing today?

 

 

Jesus is God and Man
He is the God of the OT and New Testiment
OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

 

Review approach, how we did the study

 

Did you enjoy the scripture search, this type of approach to bible study?

 

Test goal - Did we Learn - point 1,2,3

 

 

Inheritance to the throne
Inheritance as God
Position in relation to the Angels

 

 

People will not endure sound doctrine many times, instead wanting to focus light on horizontal, moving the spot light from verticle to horizontal.  These are the first steps toward an apostate church.

 

Jesus is God - This is part of the confession that leads to salvation

 

OT proves He is God by the way it addresses Him

---

Hebrews Bible Study 5

Ice Breaker - How do you like to Honor your Mother on Mothers Day?

 

 

 

 

How class will benefit from lesson - Application

 

Goal of the Class is point 1,2,3

 

Discover Point 1-3

 

Approach to Class - How we will study material

 

Non threatining class, easy going, get up get coffee at any time and enjoy our time together.

 

Rabbit trails are fine, just stay on topic and not to long.

 

 

Spurgeon, MHCC, ACC Bible, John Wesley Notes on New Test.

 

Review: Review what approach will be, Goal and benefits for trainee.

 

 

Spurgeon  ~ The most important question concerning any man living is this: Is he a saved soul or not?  Is he a child of God or an heir of wrath?

 

 

Read Vrs 1-4

 

What OT saints heard was important because it was delivered to a large part theough the agency of Angels with signs and wonders.

 

What NT saints have heard is more important because we have the OT testimony delivered and NT testimony delivered by the Incarnated Christ accompanied by signs and wonders.

 

Chart

 

OT and NT Signs and wonders

 

Study - Hebrews 2

 

Point One -   (1-4)  -The duty of stedfastly adhering to Christ and his gospel. and (1-9) - His sufferings are no objection against his pre-eminence.

 

Vrs  1 - For this reason, in light of Christs position, the importance of the message to us.

 

Vrs -2 - Most likely refers to angels that visited Lot

 

The requirement to follow the law was strict - De 27:26
The delivery of the message to OT saints included angels De 33:2

 

Vrs 2 - Just recompence, punishment due, what the law perscribed

 

Vrs 3 - If old testiment saints were under law and had to endure punishment for there lack of obedience, how much more will we be under in light of the wonderful grace that has been provided.

 

Vrs 4 - He have signs and wonders to both old and new testiment saints, both having responsibility.

 

Vrs 5 - The new heavens and new earth are subject to Jesus - Heb 6:5; 2Pe 3:13

 

Vrs 6 - from Job 7:17; Ps 8:4; 144:3

 

What are some of the things sinners are subject to without having Christ as their savior?

 

Point Two - (10-13)  - The reason of his sufferings, and the fitness of them. 

 

He suffered to bring us to Himself, that we might become brothers and sisters - Joh 20:17; Ro 8:29

 

In this text why was He to suffer?

 

Point Three -  (14-18)  - Christ's taking the nature of man, and not his taking the nature of angels, was necessary to his priestly office.

 

The law did not have power to save, to make us brothers with God, Christ and his sacrifice did -  Ro 8:3

 

Vrs 14 - His sacrifice made us whole via his promise in Ge 3:15  - Co 15:54,55

 

Vrs 15 - Sin binds us to itself in slavery, for that which a man is - Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

 

Vrs 16 He did not become a decendent of an angel but of Abraham. -

 

Vrs 17 - He became a bond servant to flesh and blood that he might fee those in flesh and blood from there bondage to sin - Php 2:7

 

Vrs 18 - He knows temptation, He was a slave to his body as we are a slave to sin, so He knows, He was tempted in what we are tempted in - Heb 4:15,16

 

What might Christ be temped with during His life?

 

 

Jesus came to re-unite us with Himself

 

He became a bond servant to flesh and blood that he might free us from bondage to sin

 

We are the subjects of salvation, a great salvation, not one offered to angels, but to us!

 

Review approach, how we did the study

 

Test goal - Did we Learn - point 1,2,3

 

Review the benfits of the lesson

---

Hebrews Bible Study 6

Ice Breaker - What do you like to talk most about related to God?

 

 

 

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" their father and mother," the Sunday school teacher asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"

 

Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

 

 

How class will benefit from lesson -

 

The author corrects readers in their understanding of who Messiah is.

 

Read Application notes

 

Goal of the Class is point 1,2,3

 

Discover Point 1-3

 

Approach to Class - How we will study material

 

Non threatining class, easy going, get up get coffee at any time and enjoy our time together.

 

Rabbit trails are fine, just stay on topic and not to long.

 

 

Spurgeon, MHCC, ACC Bible, John Wesley Notes on New Test.

 

Review: Review what approach will be, Goal and benefits for trainee.

 

 

Lawrence ~ I wish you could convince yourself that God is often nearer to us, and more effectually present with us, in sickness than in health.

 

 

Heb 2:10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

 

What things did Christ suffer?

 

Study - Hebrews 2

 

The Incarnation and His suffering to become brothers with us!

 

Roughly outlines as (read into to points)

 

Point One - In this text, Paul tells us something about who the jews of that day were

 

FF Bruce ~ When a man tells you something he believes about God that cannot be found in the Bible, he is not telling us something about God but about himself.   

 

What did the Jewish leaders of that day believe about Messiah that really revealed something about themselves?

 

Point Two - (10-13)  - The reason of his sufferings, and the fitness of them.

 

Our doctrine of equality and liberty and humanity comes from our belief in the brotherhood of man, through the fatherhood of God. -Coolidge

 

Vrs 10 - The jews thought the Messiah would come as victor and King, that he would not suffer, this is an answer to that argument.

 

Vrs 11 - We, like Christ, are sons of God

 

He suffered to bring us to Himself, that we might become brothers and sisters - Joh 20:17; Ro 8:29

 

Vrs 12 - 13 Takes them back to OT to show that this was true.  Ps 22:22,25 - Isa 8:18; 12:2

 

According to the text why was He to suffer?

 

Point Three  (14-18)  - Christ's taking the nature of man, and not his taking the nature of angels, was necessary to his priestly office.

 

The law did not have power to save, to make us brothers with God, Christ and his sacrifice did -  Ro 8:3

 

Vrs 14 - His sacrifice made us whole via his promise in Ge 3:15  - Co 15:54,55

 

Vrs 15 - Sin binds us to itself in slavery, for that which a man is - Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

 

Vrs 16 He did not become a decendent of an angel but of Abraham. -

 

Vrs 17 - He became a bond servant to flesh and blood that he might fee those in flesh and blood from there bondage to sin - Php 2:7

 

Vrs 18 - He knows temptation, He was a slave to his body as we are a slave to sin, so He knows, He was tempted in what we are tempted in - Heb 4:15,16

 

What might Christ be temped with during His life?

 

 

A mans opinion about God tells us something about the Man, not God

 

Through Christ's suffering He brought us to Himself as brothers and sisters, one who experienced suffering and can relate to us as sons and daughters of God the Father.

 

In His suffering we were not only brought close to Him but He also brought us salvation.  -  A beautiful model of what a brotherhood is, bringing salvation to the lost.

 

Review approach, how we did the study

 

Test goal - Did we Learn - point 1,2,3

 

Ice Breaker - What is the most magnificent building you have ever seen?

 

 

 

 

How class will benefit from lesson - Application

 

Goal of the Class is point 1,2,3

 

Chapter is broken down as follows:

 

The superior worth and dignity of Christ above Moses is shown. (1-6) The Hebrews are warned of the sin and danger of unbelief. (7-13) And of necessity of faith in Christ, and of steadfastly following him. (14-19)

 

 

FF Bruce, ACC, MHCC

 

 

Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true. -Bacon

 

What a man accomplishes depends on what he believes. -Bankers Bulletin

 

Each man's belief is right in his own eyes. -Cowper

 

He does not believe that does not live according to his belief. -Fuller

 

 

What are some of the parallels between Israel's wilderness experience and Christian's experience?

 

Study - Hebrews 3

 

Point One -  (1-6)  The superior worth and dignity of Christ above Moses is shown.

 

The serene, silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the might of the Spirit of God. -Pascal

 

Section 1-6 starts the contrast between

 

Moses ministry over Israel

 

Moses was as a Slave in his house (vrs 2)

 

Christ is a Son (vrs 6)

 

and Christ ministry over the church

 

and

 

their disobedience and the consequences,

 

and

 

the consequences of unbelief and in particular in falling back to or desiring to return to Judaism

 

Vrs 1 ~ consecrated to God is meaning of Holy ones. Ro 1:7; 15:8; 1Co 1:2; Eph 4:1; Php 3:14; 2Th 1:11; 2Ti 1:9; 2Pe 1:10;

 

Different callings, Israel out of Egypt, saints out of world into consecrated life unto God

 

Vrs 2-6 ~ Just as the builder is more worthy of praise than the building, Christ is more worthy of praise than that which He has made, including Moses.

 

The Lord is the builder of the Church

 

What did Christ build during His stay on earth?

 

Point Two - (7-13)  The Hebrews are warned of the sin and danger of unbelief.

 

Christianity is a new exodus

 

Christ is

 

the true Passover
a lamb without blemish or spot
Christians are His church in the wilderness
Their baptism into Christ is type of Israel baptism through the Red Sea, all who passed through the water were identified as Israelites, followers of Moses and worshipers of the true God.
We feed on His word (His body), they fed on the heavenly manna and water from the Rock
Christ the living Rock is their fire by day smoke by night guide through the wilderness as He is to us today
Canaan is there promised destination just as our heavenly rest is our promised destination.

 

Vrs 7-13 Warning against more severe punishment for those with unbelieving hearts like former Israel

 

Vrs 12 - Those rejected Moses received punishment, how much more those who reject Jesus.

 

FF Bruce - Falling away is actually rebellion against Him, just like Israel building a calf and worshipping an Idol.

 

A return to Judaism would be worse than a return to Egypt by Israelites.

 

Vrs 13  - hearts hardened by deceitfulness of sin.

 

What was it that kept Israel out of the Promised Land.

 

What form of disbelief did Israel illustrate?

 

Point Three - (14-19) And of necessity of faith in Christ, and of steadfastly following him. 

 

Vrs 14 - Only a faith that kept them in Christianity to the end would allow them to partakers of Christ, just as Israel did not make it to promised land, so those who return to Judaism would not make it.

 

Vrs 15-18 - Israel witnessed His mighty works and rebelled and therefore called an evil generation

 

- De 1:35 'Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers, 36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and to his sons I will give the land on which he has set foot, because he has followed the LORD fully.'

 

Vrs 19 -

 

What form of disbelief did the recipients of the Letter to the Hebrews get warned against.

 

 

Lessons from the wilderness experience have great application for those who might backslide, or fall away from the faith.

 

God is looking for us to believe in whom He says He is.  Not worship other Gods, but to know Him well enough to worship Him in spirit and truth.

 

God is looking for faithful believers, those who follow through with their faith, not only hearers of the Word by doers also.

 

God will not allow those who have a heart for the old life (practice evil) to serve in His kingdom!

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Hebrews Bible Study Lesson 8 

 

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 We surveyed top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations and asked for stories of unusual behavior by job applicants.

 

Said he was so well qualified [that] if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent.

 

She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to the music and me at the same time.

 

Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later wearing a hairpiece.

 

Asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate.

 

Said if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.

 

Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions.

 

When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office.

 

Candidate asked me if I would put on a suit jacket to insure that the offer was formal.

 

During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's briefcase. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview.

 

A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? When do I start? What's the salary?" I said, "I assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll pay me more." I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer.

 

His attache [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume.

 

Asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now and wanted my phone number. I called security.

 

She threw up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened.

 

Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if he was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state why he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police. He then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No one was injured, but I did need to get a new desk.

 

Asked if I wanted some cocaine before starting the interview.

 

 

How class will benefit from lesson - Application

 

Goal of the Class is point 1,2,3

 

Chapter is broken down as follows:

 

Chapter 4

 

(1-10)
Humble, cautious fear is urged, lest any should come short of the promised rest, through unbelief.
 
(11-16)
Arguments and motives to faith and hope in our approaches to God. 

 

 

FF Bruce, ACC, MHCC

 

 

Before we start Chapter 4 we are going to take a detour

 

Get a good understanding of the implications of "The rest of God"

 

Interactive 

 

What was Israel expected to do in Promised Land?

 

Study - Heb 4

 

Point One -  Rest - abode:--rest.

 

Rest is from a Greek root word that means - to settle down, i.e. (literally) to colonize, or (figuratively) to (cause to) desist:--cease, (give) rest(-rain).

 

Progression of Rest, the type of the ?

 

God's rest

 

Ge 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts.

 

2 And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

 

3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

 

Mans rest before the fall

 

Ge 2:15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

 

Ge 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

 

The Fall which brought the curse of work -

 

Ge 3:17  Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.

 

18 "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field;

 

19 By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

 

Sabbath rest

 

  Ex 23:12 "Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor in order that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.
 
  Ex 31:15 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
 
   Ex 34:21 "You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.
 
   Ex 35:2 "For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
 
   Le 23:3 'For six days work may be done; but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.

 

Abrams rest

 

An ancient promise - Ge 12:7 And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.
 
An eternal promise -   Ge 13:15 for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.
 
With proof He can deliver -  Ge 15:7 And He said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it."
 
A land yet unpossessed -  Ge 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
 
Eternal land -   Ge 17:8 "And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

 

A promise for generations -   Ge 50:24 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you, and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob."
 
Israel's Rest

 

It is a physical place -   Ex 6:8 'And I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the LORD.'"

 

A bountiful place -  Le 20:24 'Hence I have said to you, "You are to possess their land, and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples.
 
   Nu 14:8 "If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us--a land which flows with milk and honey.
 
A place that was built not by them -   De 6:10 "Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build,
 
A place that had been promised -   De 31:20 "For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant.
 
A place not all enter in to -   Jos 5:6 For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
 
A place God is promising, not man, it will not be broken -   Jg 2:1 Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you,

 

Our Rest

 

The Divine Presence Gives - Ex 33:14 And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." 

 

   Ps 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

 

Promised of old, what rest was meant to be - Isa 30:15 For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing,

 

Found in Christ's Service - Mt 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

 

Our Future Rest

 

It will be a refief from toil -  2Th 1:7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
  
It is still spoken of as the sabbath rest   Heb 4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
  
   Re 6:11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.
  
It is a reward system - Re 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."

 

How are you resting now?

 

Point Two -(1-10) - Humble, cautious fear is urged, lest any should come short of the promised rest, through unbelief.

 

Vrs 1 - The promised land is shown to be type of the rest we are to enter into.

 

Vrs 2 - Also - OT Saints had the word or Gospel preached to us read from NIV also.

 

Vrs 3 - God would not fellowship with a rebellious and unregenerate people - Ps 95:7-11

 

Vrs 4 - God entered His rest on the seventh day Ex 20:11; 31:17

 

Vrs 6 - It is disobedience that kept them out and the same thing keeps us out now.  -   1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Vrs 10 - The rest we enter is the same as the rest God entered. 

 

There are two rests for OT saints, one in Canaan and one in eternity. 

 

Here there are two also signified by two different greek words, vrs 8 from our labors - - the one we have now as obedient children of God, and a sacred rest vrs 9- - the heavenly future rest when we are with the Lord in fellowship.

 

Chart

 

What is the work God rested from?

 

What is the work we are to rest from?

 

Note the contrasts between the lists!

 

Point Three -  (11-16) - Arguments and motives to faith and hope in our approaches to God. 

 

vrs 11 - Therefore in light of two rests that we can miss

 

vrs 12 - Train our concience with the word, preaching and teaching.  It is able to provide corrections that will tell us when we are out of fellowship. 

 

Preaching Isa 49:2; 2Co 10:1-5; 1Co 14:24,25

 

His Word Jer 23:29; 1Pe 1:23; Eph 6:17; Re 1:16; 2:16

 

Vrs 14 - Jesus the High Priest was able to break down the barrier that separated cleansed man from God, that is the veil which is His flesh - Heb 10:19-20

 

Vrs 16 - Those with clean hearts are those that can enter into the rest - Heb 10:22

 

Eph 2:18 - The spirit of the Lord might be refereneced here from Is 11:2

 

We have studied - Review

 

(1-10) - Humble, cautious fear is urged, lest any should come short of the promised rest, through unbelief.
 
(11-16) - Arguments and motives to faith and hope in our approaches to God. 

 

 

When God's works of creation were finished, each one being established with boundaries of a beginning and an ending, He entered into rest having completed His labors.  He entered into rest knowing that what He had done was complete.

 

We upon completing our work of believing, (john 6:29) enter the same rest that God is resting in - A rest where man is in fellowship with God.  A place back before the fall - mja

 

Saving Faith that allows a believer to enter the rest of God:

 

Has his concience trained by God
Has a faith that is responsive to the word of God

 

Litmus test:
Responds to what he hears in preaching
Responds to what he is taught

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Hebrews Bible Study 10