#46-Why Faith Works?
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(English Standard Version)
Heb 7 - The Priestly Order of Melchizedek - Jesus Compared to Melchizedek
Heb 8 - Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant
Heb 9 - The Earthly Holy Place - Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
Heb 10 - Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All - The Full Assurance of Faith
Heb 11 - By Faith
Heb 12 - Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith - Do Not Grow Weary - A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
Heb 13 - Sacrifices Pleasing To God - Benediction - Final Greetings
COMMENTS and QUESTIONS
by J Neil Evans:
Read Hebrews for yourself then …
Watch Bible Project summary of Hebrews
Hebrews was written to people who had been immersed in the world of the Old Testament. They observed strict religious rules led by prophets and priests who they believed God used to atone for their sins and lead them toward God’s personal and national blessings. The Apostles taught that the crucifixion of Jesus permanently took the place of all the sin offerings and sacrifices that the Jewish priests offered daily in the Temple. Some Jews believed in Jesus and became His followers; others refused to believe and violently persecuted anyone who refused to follow the familiar Old Testament laws. For everyone there was some confusion about just how Jesus Christ fit into the Jewish religious system. The Jews held in highest esteem their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. They still followed Moses and their prophets and priests. They longed for the return of their legendary kings. How could Jesus fit in and compare to these icons of their faith?
The first six chapters of Hebrews declared that Jesus was greater that the angels by whom God had delivered messages and help. Jesus was greater than Moses who had led them out of bondage in Egypt and gave them the laws of God. Jesus was greater than the priests of Aaron who offered sacrifices in their stead for the forgiveness of their sin. Hebrews described that Jesus was greater than any and all of these because He was not just a man but also “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (1:3)
Further demonstrating the uniqueness of Jesus, Hebrews compares Him to an Old Testament priest named Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a one-of-a-kind priest in the Old Testament. His story is told in Genesis 14. Abraham was returning from rescuing Lot and his family from enemies who had captured them. Abraham was met by Melchizedek “King of Salem … Priest of God Most High.” (Gen 14:18,19) Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. Nothing more is said about this priest until Hebrews brings him up in the New Testament. (Psalm 110:4 simply says: (referring to the Messiah) “you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”)
Melchizedek lived hundreds of years before Aaron and his descendants who became the official priests of Israel. It is left to Hebrews to explain the connection between Jesus and this most unusual priest of Israel’s antiquity. In addition to the titles recorded in Genesis, Melchizedek is: “without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” (7:3)
The Aaronic priests were given their position because they were in the Jewish tribe of Levi. On the other hand, according to Hebrews, Melchizedek became a priest “by the power of an indestructible life.” (7:16,17) Thus, as a priest like Melchizedek, Jesus holds His office as Priest forever “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (7:25-28) Exactly who Melchizedek was we do not know, but we do know that in being like him there has never been another Priest like Jesus who offered not bulls and goats but Himself as The Sacrifice for our sin. Jesus “has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (9:26)
In the new covenant God made, “Christ offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, … For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. (10:12-18)
The offering that our Eternal High Priest Jesus has given us gives us confident faith to come to God not because of things we have done for Him (with inconsistent faithfulness) but because “He Who promised is faithful.” (10:23) It is easy to see why it is often assumed that people in the Old Testament were blessed by God because of their obedience to the rules God gave them. But Hebrews dramatically points out that it was their belief, their trust, their faith in God that preceded any genuine obedience. Hebrews takes all of chapter eleven to list specific examples of men and women of the Old Testament who received God’s blessings, not because of their religious behaviors, but because of their faith in Him.
The last two chapters of Hebrews describes how our faith in the salvation that Jesus has provided for us motivates our life of obedience to Him. Remembering the faith of the Old Testament Saints it says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (12:1,2)
For more than a thousand years the Jews had their laws, their priests, their tabernacle and temples, their prophets, and their sacrifices. They were still religiously following them when Jesus came. While they were always confident they were doing what God would bless, God’s assessment was: “this people honors me with their lips, but their heart if far from me;” (Matt 15:8) And the crowds that gathered around Jesus revealed that superficial, repetitive and proud obedience never really cured their need for forgiveness. Hebrews describes how Jesus Christ became the real and effective sacrifice for sin and gave the belonging and peace for which our human heart longs.
The remarkable thing is that two thousand years later, we still tend to think that rote obedience to rules, ceremonies and all manner of religious rituals can bring forgiveness and peace with God. The book of Hebrews teaches us that Jesus death and life accomplished for us what no religious behaviors ever could. And because Jesus did all the work to gain our forgiveness and new LIFE, we work not to earn what Jesus offers us, but to thank Him and bring Him the honor and glory He deserves for what He has done for us. Hebrews 13:20,21 puts it this way: “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
(English Standard Version)
Heb 7 - The Priestly Order of Melchizedek - Jesus Compared to Melchizedek
Heb 8 - Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant
Heb 9 - The Earthly Holy Place - Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
Heb 10 - Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All - The Full Assurance of Faith
Heb 11 - By Faith
Heb 12 - Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith - Do Not Grow Weary - A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
Heb 13 - Sacrifices Pleasing To God - Benediction - Final Greetings
COMMENTS and QUESTIONS
by J Neil Evans:
Read Hebrews for yourself then …
Watch Bible Project summary of Hebrews
Hebrews was written to people who had been immersed in the world of the Old Testament. They observed strict religious rules led by prophets and priests who they believed God used to atone for their sins and lead them toward God’s personal and national blessings. The Apostles taught that the crucifixion of Jesus permanently took the place of all the sin offerings and sacrifices that the Jewish priests offered daily in the Temple. Some Jews believed in Jesus and became His followers; others refused to believe and violently persecuted anyone who refused to follow the familiar Old Testament laws. For everyone there was some confusion about just how Jesus Christ fit into the Jewish religious system. The Jews held in highest esteem their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. They still followed Moses and their prophets and priests. They longed for the return of their legendary kings. How could Jesus fit in and compare to these icons of their faith?
The first six chapters of Hebrews declared that Jesus was greater that the angels by whom God had delivered messages and help. Jesus was greater than Moses who had led them out of bondage in Egypt and gave them the laws of God. Jesus was greater than the priests of Aaron who offered sacrifices in their stead for the forgiveness of their sin. Hebrews described that Jesus was greater than any and all of these because He was not just a man but also “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (1:3)
Further demonstrating the uniqueness of Jesus, Hebrews compares Him to an Old Testament priest named Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a one-of-a-kind priest in the Old Testament. His story is told in Genesis 14. Abraham was returning from rescuing Lot and his family from enemies who had captured them. Abraham was met by Melchizedek “King of Salem … Priest of God Most High.” (Gen 14:18,19) Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. Nothing more is said about this priest until Hebrews brings him up in the New Testament. (Psalm 110:4 simply says: (referring to the Messiah) “you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”)
Melchizedek lived hundreds of years before Aaron and his descendants who became the official priests of Israel. It is left to Hebrews to explain the connection between Jesus and this most unusual priest of Israel’s antiquity. In addition to the titles recorded in Genesis, Melchizedek is: “without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” (7:3)
The Aaronic priests were given their position because they were in the Jewish tribe of Levi. On the other hand, according to Hebrews, Melchizedek became a priest “by the power of an indestructible life.” (7:16,17) Thus, as a priest like Melchizedek, Jesus holds His office as Priest forever “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (7:25-28) Exactly who Melchizedek was we do not know, but we do know that in being like him there has never been another Priest like Jesus who offered not bulls and goats but Himself as The Sacrifice for our sin. Jesus “has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (9:26)
In the new covenant God made, “Christ offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, … For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. (10:12-18)
The offering that our Eternal High Priest Jesus has given us gives us confident faith to come to God not because of things we have done for Him (with inconsistent faithfulness) but because “He Who promised is faithful.” (10:23) It is easy to see why it is often assumed that people in the Old Testament were blessed by God because of their obedience to the rules God gave them. But Hebrews dramatically points out that it was their belief, their trust, their faith in God that preceded any genuine obedience. Hebrews takes all of chapter eleven to list specific examples of men and women of the Old Testament who received God’s blessings, not because of their religious behaviors, but because of their faith in Him.
The last two chapters of Hebrews describes how our faith in the salvation that Jesus has provided for us motivates our life of obedience to Him. Remembering the faith of the Old Testament Saints it says: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (12:1,2)
For more than a thousand years the Jews had their laws, their priests, their tabernacle and temples, their prophets, and their sacrifices. They were still religiously following them when Jesus came. While they were always confident they were doing what God would bless, God’s assessment was: “this people honors me with their lips, but their heart if far from me;” (Matt 15:8) And the crowds that gathered around Jesus revealed that superficial, repetitive and proud obedience never really cured their need for forgiveness. Hebrews describes how Jesus Christ became the real and effective sacrifice for sin and gave the belonging and peace for which our human heart longs.
The remarkable thing is that two thousand years later, we still tend to think that rote obedience to rules, ceremonies and all manner of religious rituals can bring forgiveness and peace with God. The book of Hebrews teaches us that Jesus death and life accomplished for us what no religious behaviors ever could. And because Jesus did all the work to gain our forgiveness and new LIFE, we work not to earn what Jesus offers us, but to thank Him and bring Him the honor and glory He deserves for what He has done for us. Hebrews 13:20,21 puts it this way: “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Check out these LINKS:
Watch Bible Project summary of Hebrews
Read "Bible Words to Ponder" related to this week study
Read "The Gospel"