Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11 – Faith Examples

This week study is on FAITH.  Like oxygen is air to nourish to the body, faith nourishes the soul.

Some call chapter 11 the “Hall of Faith”.  What is faith?  Faith is to have a confidence and assurance in something without having tangible proof.  The word faith is used loosely today.  Some people today think if you have enough faith in something, it will happen.  It’s almost like they will it to happen.  It’s really just wishful thinking.  Heb. 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Faith is belief, trust, loyalty to God.  Faith has action. 

True faith is belief in God and acting on that belief.  It’s having complete trust in God, His Word, and His promises.  It’s knowing that He is in control.  It’s trusting that He died on the cross for us and was raised on the 3^rd day.  Even demons have belief in God and tremble, but they are not saved.  It’s believing God created the universe.  It’s believing in God’s holiness and requires sinners to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins making Him their Savior.

Where does faith come from?  Faith comes from God.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Eph. 2:8-9.

Saving faith is threefold:

1.       Content – Believing in something

2.      Warming of the heart – loving response to God

3.      Commitment – following after Christ.

Many in the Old Testament had faith.  This chapter gives us examples of true faith.

·         By faith Able offered God a better sacrifice.  God is holy and establishes a way man is to approaches Him.

·         By Faith Enoch was taken by God and did not experience death.  Enoch teaches us there is life after death.  He walked with God and was personally rewarded.

·         By faith Noah in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  He teaches us about the judgment of God.

·         By faith Abraham was called by God to leave his home and go to a foreign land.  By faith Abraham became a father in his old age. 

·         By faith Abraham obeyed God when he was told to sacrifice his son.  He trusted God’s word.  He believed God when circumstances seemed impossible.  God called him to go into a foreign land.   

·         By faith Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph lived and trusted God in His promises.

·         By faith Moses identified with his suffering people and chose to be with them instead of having the riches of the Egyptians.  He looked ahead to his reward.

·         By faith the prostitute Rahab acted boldly.  She was an unlikely person to be in the Hall of Faith.  She didn’t know much, but she believed and acted.  She was saved by her faith.  She became the mother of Boaz who was an ancestor of Jesus.

All these examples given of Old Testament believers were not admired in their time because of their faith, but were persecuted.  None received what God promised in their lifetime.

Principle:  Jesus is the superior object of our faith.

How is God calling you to believe what is hoped for and certain of what you do not see?

Does it give you hope that your faith could change the world like those in the Old Testament?

How would you describe your faith?

How would others describe your faith?

Hebrews 12 – Faith Tested

Chapter 12 tells us how to live our faith while our faith is being developed. 

God has personally marked our race in the line of faith.  Every race requires perseverance.  There are four steps listed that urge us to take to persevere in difficulties –

1.       Fix your eyes on Jesus – That’s our actions and our attitudes.  Get rid of everything that makes you doubt.

2.      Welcome discipline – This is not punishment, but acts of a loving parent training his child the way he should go.  If we are believers, God considers us His sons.  As a father disciplines a son, God disciplines us because He loves us.  He tells us to endure hardships as discipline.  It may be painful at the time, but it produces a beautiful harvest of righteousness and peace.  He is the King Righteousness and King of Peace.  His discipline develops our character like Christ.  Have you seen God’s discipline?  What refining process is He developing in you?

3.      Handle our relationships with others right – Reacting with people is a BIG ole life test!  Sanctification is not optional.

Trust in the promises of God.  Consider the Old and New Covenant.  “See that you do not refuse him who speaks….” (Heb. 12:25).  There will come a time when the earth will be shaken.  This refers to the great earthquake that will occur to end the present world and where God’s Great White Throne Judgment will occur.  “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 25:28)  Freedom and peace come by trusting God completely without fear, because of He is unstoppable and unshakable.

Is your life shaky? 

What do you count on for security?

What is hindering your faith? 

What does it take for you to further trust God?

Are you wrapped up in anger or unforgiveness?

Principle:  God is pleased when we trust what He says.

Hebrews 13 – Faith Expressed

Hebrews 13 gives us ways our faith can be put into action.

·         Be loving – Keep on loving each others.  Entertain strangers. 

·         Be sympathetic– Remember those who are suffering, those in prison, and those who are mistreated.

·         Be pure – Guard your marriage and be faithful to your spouse.

·         Be content – Keep your lives free from the love of money.  Be satisfied with what you have.

·         Be loyal – Don’t be persuaded by false teachings, but stand firm in your faith. 

·         Be bold – Don’t be afraid to speak the truth and worry about what others may think of you.

·         Be worshipful – Praise God in all things.

·         Respect your leaders who speak the truth – Imitate their faith, submit to their authority, and be supportive.  Remember that Jesus is the real true leader and head of the church.

Principle:  Faith in Jesus equips us to do God’s will.

How can we grow in faith?

Ask God to increase your faith.

Focus on obeying God. 

Spend time reading and hearing God’s Word.

Spend time with other believers.

To sum up the book of Hebrews:  A life of faith pleases God.  Faith is reflected in our choices.

Trust that He is developing your faith.  May we become a cloud of witnesses for God. 

Jesus’ example of faithfulness is encouraging to us.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Heb 13:8.

Join me here next week as we go back to the study of Acts 15.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 8 – Superior Covenant

The definition of a covenant is an agreement, a contract, a pact, or a treaty.  The first covenant had many regulations for the tabernacle and for worship.  Only the high priest could enter the inner room of the tabernacle once a year to offer sacrifices for the sins for himself and for the people.  These sacrifices were only a temporary fix and not able to cleanse the peoples’ consciences.    God said He would make a new covenant and put His laws in the minds and hearts of the people.  He would forgive them of their wickedness and remember their sins no more (Heb. 8:12).  This new covenant was Jesus.

The new covenant offers what the old cannot.  It offers eternal life.  Now we can go directly to God without a need for an earthly priest or mediator.  God says our sins will not be remembered.  How can God not remember our past sins?  - Because He chooses not to.  God is either the God of perfect grace or He is not God.  Grace forgets.  He who is perfect love cannot hold grudges.

How does the new covenant give you hope in your daily life?

If God has forgiven your sins, why do you still hold on to guilt?

Principle:  God’s new covenant promises believers a new life and new nature with His sufficient, sustaining grace.

Hebrews 9 – Superior Sanctuary

There were many regulations and limitations with the old covenant.  There were regulations as to worship and also an earthly sanctuary.  The tabernacle emphasized the presence of God in the midst of His people.  It was built in a particular way with an inner room called the Most Holy Place.  That was where God’s presence was.  The earthly tabernacle emphasized God’s holiness and His inaccessibility due to their sins.  No one could enter the inner room but the high priest.  He could enter only once a year and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people.  This had to be done over and over each year to cleanse their sins.  

Why was the shedding of blood necessary?  It’s the way the Sovereign God ordained it.  God cannot tolerate sin.  Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin.  He cannot just forgive sins because He is just.  Blood makes atonement for sin.  (Leviticus 17:11) “For the life of a creature is in the blood and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

The New Covenant is heavenly not earthly.  It is free from the ravages of time.  When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the temple which was the barrier between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was supernaturally torn in two.  This symbolized the way to God was now open through the death of Christ.   Christ became the High Priest.  He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood having died on the cross for our sins.  The curtain was torn and now people have access to God.  The curtain is Jesus.  His blood cleansed our consciences and through Him we have obtained eternal redemption.  By the shedding of His blood we are set free from our sins and have the promise of eternal inheritance.  “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” – Heb. 10:19-22.

Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of the people and He will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting on Him. (Heb. 9:28).  He was our substitution.  He stood in our place.  This is the love of God.  When God sees us He doesn’t see our sins, He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

How do you know with certainty you are in perfect standing with God?  Romans 8:1 “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Principle:  Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of His own blood provides our access to God.

How is this truth changing your motives? 

What does it mean to you? 

Hebrews 10 – Superior Sacrifice

The Old Testament sacrifices were a shadow of things to come.  They didn’t clear the peoples’ consciences or solve the sin problem.  They were a continual reminder of sin.  Jesus is the real thing.  Everything else is a shadow or a copy.  Only Jesus gives us access to God.  It is Jesus who saves.  Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all.  We now can enter the Most Holy Place, because of the blood of Jesus our Great High Priest. 

How can you apply this confidence to your life?  

            Draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.

            Hold unswervingly to the hope you profess for He who promised is faithful.

            Consider how you may spur others toward love and good deeds.

            Don’t give up meeting together with others.

            Encourage one another all the more as you see the Day approaching.

            Do not throw away your confidence when exposed to insult and persecution.

            You need to persevere and do the will of God so you will receive what God promised.

            Don’t comprise your beliefs.

There is one sin that cannot be cleansed by Jesus’ blood.  That is the sin of rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior.  When a person rejects Christ and His cross, he will face God’s judgment and spend eternity separated from God.  He will be in eternal Hell.  (Heb. 10:30-31) “… It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.  It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Principle:  Jesus’ superior covenant makes forgiveness of sin permanent.

God keeps His promises.  Forgiven forever is an amazing promise.

Do you know He’s gone through extreme measures for you?

Are you using your access to God?

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Hebrews.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Hebrews 4:14-7:28

Hebrews 4:14-16 – Jesus’ Work as the High Priest

Jesus was appointed as our “great high priest”.  He is able to identify with us, because He was tempted in every way.  As the Son of God He has sympathy for us and understands us.  He has the desire and ability to help through anything we face.

How are you struggling?  Are you trying to resist temptation to rebel or to lose control in anger?  Then read Hebrews 4:15-16 - “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are - yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  To “have” means to receive, accept, and the assurance of Jesus.  We have a relationship with Jesus.  To approach the throne of grace is to take all our problems and concerns to God with confidence that He will help us to overcome them – not only the big one, but the small ones as well.

Jesus was qualified more than anyone to become our high priest.  He was called by God, He submitted to God’s will, He was without sin, He offered up prayers and petitions to God for others, He learned obedience through suffering and He became the source of salvation for all who believe.

Is He your great high priest?  Do you take your concerns to Him?  Is He your savior?  Everyone has a cell phone these days and also with it you have a limited calling plan.  Jesus is our unlimited plan.  He gives us His unlimited attention and complete access to Him.  He is talking to God the Father about you and He knows what you need. 

Jesus knows your pain and your grief.  He knew what it is like to be hungry, thirsty, and tired.  He knew the horrible agony of physical torture, which He endured in His trial and crucifixion.  He knew what it is like to be mocked, distrusted and betrayed by friends.  He was tempted in all the things as we are, yet He is without sin. 

Jesus knows your hearts.  He knows exactly what you are fighting to remain obedient.  God’s way is costly, but guaranteed to transform your very being.  There is another way – your way.  It’s less painful and may make you feel better for a time, but it doesn’t honor God and doesn’t impact others for God.  Trust and obey or go your own way.

Because He can sympathize with us, we should draw near to the throne of grace with confidence.  We should come to the throne because we are weak and we have Jesus as our sympathetic High Priest.  If you have needs, pray.  Jesus is ready to give you mercy and help you fight your battles.

Principle:  Jesus as the Great High Priest helps His people in times of weakness and temptation.

What problems do you need to take before the throne?

What causes you to doubt?

How confident are you that He hears your prayers? 

Hebrews 5:11-6:12 – Jesus’ Word demands Spiritual Growth

We are grateful that churches teach the basics, but it won’t sustain you in life.  Solid food is for the mature (Heb. 5:14).  It is important that we grow spiritually.  We are spiritual infants and will remain so if we are not intentional.  Maturity just doesn’t happen.  It takes study and real work.  Our thinking needs to be trained.  Jesus didn’t demonstrate emotional thinking.  We need to keep going pass elementary truths.

“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers to the coming age, if they fall way, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.” (Heb. 6:4-6)  He is not saying that it is impossible for God to forgive them if they fall away.  God will always forgive all who repent and believe.  The problem is with those who don’t repent.  It is possible to get very close to genuine faith and still not actually repent.  If you are willing to go back, perhaps you haven’t truly accepted Christ as Savior.

“Enlightened” is part of the process of salvation, being taught the truth before we believe.  You can be enlightened to the truth, but shut your eyes to the light of Jesus.

“Tasted the heavenly gift” refers to those who understood the freeness of God’s gift and have even had the Holy Spirit convicting their consciences; however they find it too difficult to leave their way of life, change their minds, repent and go on to true saving faith in Christ.  True Christians cannot fall away and be lost.

“Impossible” here means that having rejected the Holy Spirit who has brought them along knowing the gospel, but they cannot now simply turn to God.  They have not truly repented.

Principle:  Christian maturity involves knowing and doing what God Says.

Knowing must be joined with faith, trust and obedience.  Indifference is our greatest enemy.  If you are feeling weary in spirit, dig deeper into His word.  Even churches have people in pews that need to know. 

Christian growth varies.  Some Christians instantly drop those habitual sins and never fall back.  Others struggle daily.  Motivation is key.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” – Matt. 5:6.  Hunger and thirst are strong motivators and becomes the only thing on your mind.  You want to satisfy that craving.  We must practice and it and make it a habit, a deliberate effort to grow spiritually.

What indifference do you need to lay aside? 

Are you willing to share the solid food? 

Will you share with those who are spiritually hungry?

What is your greatest challenge to spiritual growth?

Hebrews 6:13-20 – Jesus’ Character Anchors Our Hope

There are two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie – His character and His Word.  Believers’ anchor is Jesus Christ and keeps them secure.  Nothing on earth can anchor you securely – only Jesus.

Principle:  Our hope of future salvation is certain because God is incapable of lying.

He is a Promise Keeper!  What makes you feel secure?  Is it your job, money, family?  As we submit by faith and believe the living Word and in His unchanging character, we grow.  Then the world around us will see Jesus.

Hebrews 7 – Jesus is the Superior Priest

Melchizedek is just a man and his features shadow the one to come, Jesus Christ.   Jesus and Melchizedek have some similarities as high priest.  They are:  both are kings, high priests, kings of righteousness, kings of peace and kings forever.  Their differences are:  that Jesus is the Son of God, He lives forever, has a permanent priesthood and is able to save completely.   He is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens is unlike any other high priest and does not need to offer sacrifices day after day for sins.  He is the perfect High Priest – forever!

Not all people have someone praying for them like a mother or a grandmother, but everyone has Jesus praying for them continually.  He’s thinking and talking with God about you right now.

Principle:  God cares enough to send man His very best His Son Jesus Christ.

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Hebrews.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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