| The Epistle to the Hebrews - Chapters 5-10 |
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SUNDAY, July 18, 2010 |
| Introducing Our Great High Priest Hebrews 5:1-10 |
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Q#1 - What did it
take to be a PRIEST in Israel?
5:1-4 5:1 - Summary overview... 5:2-4 - 3 Qualifications: #1 - The priest had to be COMPASSIONATE... (5:2) #2 - The priest had to be CANDID, i.e. realistic about himself... (5:3) #3 - The priest had to be CALLED of God, not self-appointed... (5:4) Q#2 - What about our Great High PRIEST? 5:5-10 #1 - He was CALLED of God, not self appointed... (5:5,6) #2 - He was CANDID, i.e. realistic about himself... (5:7) #3 - He was COMPASSIONATE... (5:8-10) 4 APPLICATIONS: #1 – PLACEMENT: If Jesus served at God’s appointment, how much more should we wait for God to place us in the ministry where he wants us to serve. #2 – PRAYER: If Jesus spent time in prayer during his earthly ministry, how much more should we depend on God constantly in prayer. #3 – OBEDIENCE: If Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered, how much more will we learn to obey God through what we suffer... #4 – COMPASSION: If Jesus became our compassionate High Priest by what he endured, we too can become compassionate servants of God through what we endure. |
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SUNDAY, August 1, 2010 |
| Am I Growing in Christ? Hebrews 5:11-6:3 |
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INTRO: I’m
not where I should be...I’m not where I want to be...
But I’m certainly not where I started out... 2 NT Passages regarding our GROWTH... #1 - 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 You still need milk...not meat... #2 - Hebrews 5:11-14 An interruption to the author's discussion of Christ's Melchizidekian High Priesthood... He's saying: "I'm not sure you're ready for this truth that is... - demanding intellectually - demanding spiritually I. A Stringing Evaluation 5:11-14 A. A teacher's frustration at the slowness of the students... (5:11) B. Students' failure to pass the test of maturity... (5:12-14) II. A Stern Exhortation 6:1-3 A. Leave the elementary things... B. Go on to maturity... |
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SUNDAY, August 8, 2010 |
| Untying the Knot of Hebrews 6 Hebrews 6:4-6 |
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INTRO: Gleason
Archer, a well known scholar once said,
“I
know of no other passage in the NT that has given believers more difficulty...” WHY? 6:4-6 appears to teach that believers who fall away will lose their salvation... SEVERAL MAJOR VIEWS we must consider... VIEW #1 – WARNING about mere PROFESSION vs. true POSSESSION... Key Question: Was this person ever truly a believer? PROBLEM: the terms used in 6:4 & 5 speak of someone who has truly believed... a. "ENLIGHTENED" illumination of HS b. "TASTED the heavenly gift" i.e. gift of Salvation c. "SHARED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT" d. "TASTED the goodness of the Word of God...the powers of the coming age..." VIEW #2 - WARNING that a Xns can, in fact, lose their SALVATION... 3 PROBLEMS #1 – Inconsistent with HOW WE RECEIVED our salvation i.e. as a gift from God #2 – Inconsistent with WHAT HAPPENED when we were saved... i.e. Sealed w/the HS and adopted as sons into God’s family #3 – Inconsistent with other passages that teach the security of the believer such as John 10:27-30 VIEW #3 – WARNING to Hebrew Xns about renouncing their professed faith in Messiah and returning to their Judaism...this sin cannot be committed today... PROBLEM: seems to particularize this passage too much... VIEW #4 – Hypothetical WARNING i.e. IF a Xn could lose his salvation (which he can't) there would be no provision for repentence... PROBLEM: a hypothetical warning isn't really a warning... VIEW #5 – WARNING true XNs about falling away... • DECEIVED by sin and falling into DELIBERATE rebellion... • DRIFTING by failing to walk X/depend on HS... i.e. “backsliding” • DUPED by false doctrine...a cult or a church that teaches contrary to Scripture • DISCOURAGED by persecution/suffering/loss... 2 supportive EXPLANATIONS #1 – They are just like X's enemies who actually crucified and shamed Him... #2 – It is "Impossible to renew them unto repentence" i.e. for us or anyone else: NOT something that any human can accomplish... BUT not impossible for GOD! By HIS GRACE such a one can be RESTORED! KEY EXAMPLE: Peter who denied the Lord 3X – Restored by the gracious intervention of X... |
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SUNDAY, August 15, 2010 |
| After the Warning... Hebrews 6:9-20 |
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INTRO: Trying
to understand Hebrews 6 is like a wrestling
match... I. An EXHORATION (6:9-18) A. Established on God's faithfulness... (6:9,10) B. Expressed in the challenge to remain diligent to the end... (6:11,12) C. Exemplified in God's dealing with Abraham... (6:13-18) Gen. 12:2,3 - God calls Abram... Gen. 13:14-17 - God's describes the extent of the promise... Gen. 15 - God makes a covenant with Abram... Gen. 17 - God changes Abram's name and makes circumcision as the sign... Gen. 22:15-18 - God takes an oath to fulfill the promise... II. An ENCOURAGEMENT (6:19,20) Our HOPE - an anchor for the soul... Our great HIGH PRIEST - who enters the Holy of Holies for us... |
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SUNDAY, August 22, 2010 |
| A Priest Forever... Hebrews 7:1-10 |
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INTRO: We are
ready to return to considering Melchizedek after
the "interruption" of 5:11-6:20... The story of Melchizedek is found in Genesis 14 the story of Abram rescuing Lot... While returning from this great victory, Abram was met by Melchizedek who blessed him and received a tithe from him... 7:1-3 WHO Melchizedek was: Names: King of Righteousness and King of Peace No beginning, no ending... a Priest of God who blessed Abram... 7:4-10 HOW GREAT Melchizedek was: Abram gave him tithes indicating that He was greater than the patriarch and greater than his offspring... We believe that Melchizedek was a theophany, that is, an appearance by the Pre- Incarnate Christ... We'll learn more about him in the next part of Hebrews 7... |
