The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Hebrews

  • Second Chances

    “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

    Hebrews 7:25

    Stephen was one of the seven men chosen who stood out in his service to God (see Acts 6:8). Christians have learned that when God begins to work, Satan likes to stir trouble against them. “Then there arose certain of the synagogue … disputing with Stephen” (Acts 6:9). The religious leaders confronted Stephen. However, see what we can understand. “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:10). The religious leaders may not have received the truths that Stephen taught about faith in Jesus, but they could not refute those truths either. Understand what the religious leaders did instead. “Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God” (Acts 6:11). Suborned means “to introduce underhandedly; to make a secret agreement; to suborn in the legal sense means to induce a person to make a false oath; to commit perjury.” They set up false witnesses who erroneously accused Stephen. Stephen was brought before the council (see Acts 6:12-13).

    Stephen preached to them. He reminded them of their history from the Old Testament Scriptures. In his teachings, he offered to the religious leaders a bold defense of the Christian faith (Jesus). In his remembrance, he made it a point to remind them of something that occurred throughout their history. See if you can understand the thought that he seemed to be presenting.

    God called Abraham to leave his home and family (see Acts 7:2-5). Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans, but he did not enter the land he was supposed to enter into at first. He waited until his father died. Then he finally went where God sent him. 

    Joseph understood God would one day make him a ruler, yet his brothers rejected him – at first (see Acts 7:9-15). It was not until after his brothers had sold him into slavery, Joseph became a prisoner, and was finally lifted up as the second ruler over the land of Egypt that his brothers accepted him as their ruler. 

    Moses believed he was to deliver his fellow Israelites while in Egypt (see Acts 7:17-36). However, when he tried to help one who was suffering a wrong, Moses avenged him and smote the Egyptian. The people refused him as their leader, and Moses went to Midian for forty years until God called him from the “flame of fire in a bush” (Acts 7:30). Moses returned to Egypt. “This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush” (Acts 7:35). Did you notice that the people refused Moses at first, but God sent him a second time? God used Moses to deliver His people from Egypt. Remember: Joseph was initially rejected by his brothers, and Moses was initially rejected by his people. Even though both of these men were rejected at first, when God gave His people a second chance, these men were received as leaders. It was then that these men were able to save God’s people in their time of history.

    It is here one can understand that Stephen made an observation. “This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear” (Acts7:37). Moses had told them of a Prophet who was to come, and that Prophet was Jesus.

    Stephen went on to remind them of God’s Law that they said they would keep, yet they broke. He reminded them that they refused to allow Moses to lead them into the Promised Land, and yet God allowed Joshua to lead them there.

    It sounds as if Stephen was trying to make the point: that God’s people often failed the first time.

    Although there was never a time that the entire nation worshiped God, there was always a remnant of true Believers. Yet as Stephen reminded the religious leaders of these great men of their history, these religious leaders (who knew the history in the Old Testament) had rejected the greatest Deliverer presented to them – Jesus. For Jesus had come to “… save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Stephen rebuked these religious leaders for their unbelief. Remember, it was some of these same religious leaders who had not only rejected Jesus, but had demanded His death (see Acts 7:52). Do you think Stephen might have been just about to tell them that they, too, had a second chance to believe upon Jesus? The Scripture teaches: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

    Yet what did the religious leaders do before Stephen could say anymore? “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54). They were “cut to the heart.” These religious leaders had studied the Old Testament Scriptures, yet they had not believed the words recorded therein. They had rejected Jesus, the One of whom it was all written. In essence, they rejected their “second chance.” Instead of repenting and turning to Jesus (as many people had done), they ran upon Stephen (only the messenger) and bit him with their teeth. They then killed Stephen.

    However, when Jesus returns one day, then the Israelite people will believe. 

    Do you understand that God will give a second chance to one who initially may have rejected His call?

    http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/

  • Through Faith Understand

    “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
    Hebrews 11:3

    “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). This verse has appeared in prominent places on many plaques or posters. However, have you ever considered what these words actually mean? To what faith is this verse referring?

    Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen means “that persuasion is not the outcome of imagination, but it is based on fact; such as the reality of the resurrection of Christ, and as such it becomes the basis of realistic hope.” Many people who lived in Old Testament times believed that Jesus would come (because God had made that promise). Although they did not live to see the fulfillment of that promise, they lived lives declaring they believed that promise: a life of faith. Consider what Jesus said when He was speaking to the religious leaders in the book of John. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Jesus, Himself, recognized Abraham as one who looked forward to His coming. This kind of faith led to the comment in the next verse: “For by it the elders obtained a good report” (Hebrews 11:2). Not only do we understand these people lived believing the promises God made, by faith, today we know that Jesus came – just as God promised.

     However, the following verse is often overlooked: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3). The fact that God created the heaven and the earth from nothing in six days and rested on the seventh is challenged in our world today. Other theories are taught, yet none of them has been proven. God, Himself, declared that He created all. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This is the first thing that He declared to us. This is the first step of faith. If one does not believe that God created the heaven and the earth, how will one ever believe the rest of the Bible? It is interesting to note that this fact is reiterated right here in Scripture, helping us understand the importance of believing all of the Word of God. This first step of faith will allow one to begin to understand that God loved His creation (man) so much, that He willingly sent His Son, Jesus, to restore the relationship broken by man’s sin. 

    Those people recorded in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, believed, by faith, that God created the world. This was the first step of faith. They were then able to believe God’s promises by faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). We find a great list of people who diligently sought God and lived by faith. Many names listed should be quite familiar: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and many others. While reading that listing of faithful men and women from the Old Testament, there are interjections by the writer, helping understand the importance of faith. Remember that the people of faith from the Old Testament believed the promise that God would send One, Jesus, who would bring reconciliation between man and God.

    Each of the people on that list diligently sought God, trusting that God would reward them for their faithfulness to Him, for they looked forward to Jesus’ coming. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

    • Persuaded means “to be convinced; to believe.” 
    • Embraced means “to welcome; to receive gladly – referring to the promises.”

    These people lived by faith. Read how we are to understand this active participation of faith in one’s life by the following verses: “6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).

    • faith means “a knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in certain divine truths, especially those of the Gospel, as produces good works.”
    • stablished means “to turn resolutely in a certain direction; strengthen.”

    One must actively become “stablished” in that faith.

    Chapter eleven of Hebrews is often called the “Hall of Faith” because of the many Old Testament men and women who were commended for this faith. They believed God and His Word. These men and women can help one understand the importance of trusting in Christ, who came as God promised, to restore the life that had been lost because of sin. Not only that, but because of their faith, Christians can look back to their perseverance, lending strength in unsure times.

    Have you taken the first step of faith, believing that God created the heaven and earth, enabling you to trust in God’s Son, Jesus?

    Do you remember those who were commended for their faith, allowing them to encourage you in your Christian life?

    http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/

  • Be Followers, Not Slothful

    “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
    Hebrews 6:12

    Hebrews was written to the Jewish people who had trusted in Christ but were having a hard time letting go of the practice of their old religious system. They were called to die to the old way of life and learn to walk with Jesus in this new life. (See how it is described in Ephesians: “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” Ephesians 4:24.) However, the people were not growing in their Christian faith. Instead, they wanted to return to the old ways.

    After reminding them of the obedience of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews called upon Believers not to digress in their Christian walk. There was much for them to learn. These words were recorded for Christians to learn from today as well. “11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:11-12). It is a shame, but most Christians are “dull of hearing.” Dull means “slothful; sluggish.” Hearing means “of hearing doctrine taught and receiving it with faith.” Many Christians are ignorant of the Word of God, and instead of being able to teach others, they have to be taught, again and again, the simplest things that are written within God’s Word. The writer of Hebrews compared this to one who is like a baby: one who can only drink milk, as opposed to one who is mature and can handle strong meat. “13. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14). Exercised means “to train in godliness.” Each Christian is to train in godliness, then being able to grow by the “strong meat” of God’s Word, making one capable of discerning good and evil.

    The basic foundational truths were not to have to be continually rehashed. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1). Once one learns the basics of the Gospel message and doctrine, they should not have to be dealt with again. They were to grow into maturity: 

    • Salvation comes through faith – one has to believe Jesus died for man’s sin, and that salvation is by grace, not of works (“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” Galatians 2:16);
    • that one must die to the old way of life (“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” Titus 3:5), (see it also pictured in baptism: see Romans 6:3-8);
    • the Holy Spirit is then imparted to every believer (“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” Ephesians 1:13);
    • there is eternal life in heaven for all who have trusted in Jesus (“12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” 1 John 5:12-13);
    • all will one day stand before the judgment seat of God (“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” 2 Corinthians 5:10).    

    One should not have to be continually reminded of these foundational truths once one trusts in Jesus, having assurance of salvation in Christ (not a religion or religious system that one follows). Instead, these truths must be built upon, enabling one to handle the “strong meat” of the Word of God. It is then we are able to have our “senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

    When a Christian needs encouragement to grow in their Christian life, one need only turn to the pages of Scripture that is full of examples of those who chose to walk with God. “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12).

    Are you “dull of hearing”, or are you striving to grow to maturity by learning to handle the “strong meat” of God’s Word?

  • The Way to God

    “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”
    1 John 2:1

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life: Year One Quarter Two.”

    “God has revealed himself gradually through the years. Hebrews 1:1-2a: ‘1. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2a. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son …’ (remember that Hebrews 1:1 refers to the incremental and progressive manner in which God disclosed Himself up until the appearance of the Son. It was fragmentary and piece by piece, sort of like pieces of a puzzle). We see him as the God of creation in Genesis 1. We then see he is a God who cannot look upon sinful man in Genesis 3. We see that there is a limit to his tolerance of sinful man in Genesis 6 (the flood that destroys the world), yet we also see that God shows grace to those who continually seek him (Noah; Genesis 6:8). God then revealed himself to an individual man (Abraham; Genesis 12) and extended that revelation to his descendants (Exodus 3:15). God showed Himself mightily to His people in the ten plagues and the exodus of His people from bondage (Exodus 7–14). He then showed Himself as their provider (in the wilderness; Exodus 15–17). We see He is a God who expects His people to hear His voice and obey Him (Exodus 19–20). Once the people accomplish the great task of building a tabernacle where God’s presence can dwell among His people (Exodus 40), He then reveals just what it takes to become a “clean and forgiven” people in the presence of a sinless, perfect God (Leviticus).

    God has mandated a blood sacrifice for man’s sins since the garden. When man sinned, God shed the blood of an animal to make a covering for man (for he was naked before God; his sins were exposed). When God made the clothes to “cover” Adam and Eve, it was a great picture of what the Old Testament sacrifices did for man. They covered mankind’s sins for a season. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the shedding of blood (from an animal) to cover mankind’s sins. It isn’t until we come to Leviticus that God reveals the intricacies and details of the way it is required. The ritualistic sacrifices (explained in Leviticus) that must be fulfilled, completely and perfectly, are to show us the great sacrifice it would take to cleanse sinful man from his sins. It is to reveal to mankind the impossibility of entering into God’s presence without the perfect sacrifice, only found in Jesus. All throughout the books of the Law we see God gradually reveal Himself to mankind, only a piece at a time, through revelation—only as much as we could handle.”

    “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The word propitiation means “the means of putting away sin and establishing righteousness not by man’s ability to appease God with an of his offerings, (for man is unable to offer anything to placate God), Jesus is presented as the righteous One; … reconciling us to God, allowing us to be acceptable for fellowship with God (see also Romans 3:25). The propitiation of Christ is very personal – the propitiation for our sins.”

    Have you asked Jesus to be your Advocate with God, the Father?