HEBREWS: Lesson 18 - Responding to the New Covenant - Part 2

Today we completed chapter 10. Last week we looked at the positive response to the New Covenant (10:19-25). This week we looked at the negative response to the New Covenant (10:26-39).

After spending ten chapters making very strong arguments why Christ and the New Covenant are better than the Old Covenant ways, the author is urging his audience to come all the way and trust Christ fully.

Last week, the author spoke very positively. This week, we see a more serious tone as he warns of the consequences that wait for those who fall away, withdraw, defect, turn back to the old ways. If they choose to turn their backs on Christ, after having been told, having understood, and even having experienced the truth, they will be lost forever. They will become apostates.

Apostasy is THE most serious sin. When you think of an apostate, think of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. He followed Jesus for three years as one of the 12 chosen disciples. Then he betrayed Jesus. Jesus said it would have been better if he had not been born (Matthew 26:24)

Today we looked at the nature of apostasy, the results of apostasy and the deterrents to apostasy. Apostasy is defined as falling away; withdrawal; defection; rebellion.

There are two main types of apostasy:

1. A falling away from key and true doctrines of the Bible into heretical teachings that proclaim to be "the real" Christian doctrine.

This would include those who cling to sins, lifestyles, and beliefs that are in direct opposition to scripture yet attempt to defend those convictions using scripture, situational ethics/morality, or cultural norms.

In an earlier series on discipleship, we covered five of the false doctrines that form the foundation of many people's beliefs. These false doctrines are all born from a root of sin. Those that embrace these false doctrines, after hearing and understanding "the real" truth found in God's Word, would be an example of what the author was saying in verse 10:26: "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins..."

2. A complete renunciation of the Christian faith, which results in a full abandonment of Christ.

How bad is apostasy? It is the worst sin! There is nothing worse than to have known and understood God's plan and then to have turned away. There are degrees of sin and punishment just as there will be degrees of rewards. Apostasy will undoubtedly merit the most sever form of punishment.

John 19:11: - Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Luke 12:47: - And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

It is much worse to know and not believe than to not know and not believe.

Can a true believer, someone who has been saved, become an apostate?

If you're born of God, you cannot continue committing sin. But if you're an apostate, you continue committing sin. For one who continues in unbelief, he never was a believer. Because if a man is born of God, he cannot continue to commit sin. He must stop at some point and fall at the feet of his Savior in penitence. The truly saved continue to follow Christ. The truly apostate continue in their unbelief. Continuance is the issue.

I John 3:9: "Whosoever is born of God does not continue to be committing sin, for His seed remains in him, and he cannot continue to be committing sin, because He's born of God."

You see? If you're born of God, you cannot continue committing sin. But if you're an apostate, you continue committing sin.

1 John 2:19: They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Matthew 24:10-13: (Jesus predicted it) – “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

The hottest fires and torment of Hell wait for those who are apostate. Their punishment will be much greater than all others.

(v. 10:27) “but a certain fearful expectation of judgement and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries [those who know the truth and walk away].”

Jude 1:6: “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;”

John 15:6: “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Matthew 3:12: “who shall purge His floor, gather His wheat into the granary, but He will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 13:36: – Parable of the Tares of the Field – “…and therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this age."

Matthew 13:47: – Parable of the Dragnet - “The kingdom of heaven is like a net…The angels shall come forth, separate the wicked from among the righteous, cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Mark 9:42-47: - "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

The DETERRENTS to apostasy (vs. 32, 35)

1. Remembrance: (v. 32) “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:”

2. Reward: (v. 35) “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”

Next week we will begin to unpack chapter 11 and learn of the great men of faith.

HEBREWS: Lesson 17 - Responding to the New Covenant

CHAPTER 10 is a pivotal point in our study of Hebrews. It is in this chapter that the author ask his audience for a full response based on all that he has said so far--from 1:1 to 10:18. He has presented a solid foundation in doctrine and now he ask for a response:

"Therefore, brethren..." (v. 9)

"Therefore,..." after all that I have told you, you have two choices:

Hebrews 10:19-25:

1. POSITIVE RESPONSE: Go on to become a true believer of our Lord Jesus Christ by making a complete commitment to surrender all to Him by FAITH (v. 22), HOPE (v. 23), and LOVE (vs. 24, 25).

Hebrews 10:26-39:

2. NEGATIVE RESPONSE: Fall back to be an apostate who rejects the truth, having known it.

Today, after reviewing 10:1-18, we looked at the first choice: the positive response. Next week, we will consider the negative response, and we'll study the horrible tragedy, beginning in verse 26, of willful apostasy, and what happens when a man willingly has a negative response to the gospel.

When a man hears the gospel, the good news of salvation from sin through Jesus Christ, and when that man understands the gospel, and when that man believes that the gospel is true, and when he, to some extent, commits himself to that understanding, then he will, from that point, either go on to be a true believer or fall back to be an apostate.

HEARS the gospel; the good news of salvation from sin through Jesus Christ;

UNDERSTANDS the gospel;

BELIEVES the gospel is true; and

COMMITS to that understanding...

These are the A-B-Cs of God's plan of Salvation:

Admit that you are a sinner, and that you're sorry for breaking His law;

Believe that Jesus Christ died to pay the price for your sin;

Commit to stop living your life for yourself, and start living it for Him.

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14)

There are only two possible responses to the knowledge of the gospel. When an individual knows the truth of the gospel, he either goes on to believe, or he falls back into apostasy. An apostate is one who rejects the truth, having known it. That's different from somebody who rejects the truth after only knowing a portion of it.

Therefore, there are only two possible responses to the individual who intellectually understands the truth of the gospel, and that is to go on to faith or to fall back into a state of apostasy, which deserves, as the Bible tells us, the severest kind of punishment.

Today, we considered the first of those two possibilities, and that is the positive response to the new covenant, or salvation, the positive response. A man knows the truth. He understands the truth. To a certain measure in his mind, he believes the truth. And at that point, if he goes forward and commits his life to Christ, he has taken a positive response to the truth. If he falls back, it's a negative response.

FAITH (v. 22) - "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..."

HOPE (v. 23) - "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering..."

LOVE (v. 24-25) "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love..."

Signs of a TRUE believer: Let us... draw near, hold fast, and love each other. 

"...to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..."

There are two very important aspects to verses 24 and 25.

1. Believers need to be in fellowship with each other to encourage and be accountable.

2. There are those among us on the edge of faith that need to fellowship with believers in order to make the break from the secular world.

Bottom line: We need each other!

Statistics show that our current culture is turning away from regular church attendance. Self-gratifying activities hold priority over regular attendance in church and corporate Bible study. Why? The reasons are numerous, but in most cases simply due to a lack of commitment.

"It is the will of Christ that his disciples should assemble together. The communion of saints is a great help and privilege, and a good means of steadiness and perseverance; hereby their hearts and hands are mutually strengthened." (Matthew Henry)

"Christian fellowship is helpful to us, and we are helpful to others by it. A Christian is not meant to be a solitary being. Sheep are gregarious, and so are the sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ." (Spurgeon)

HEBREWS: Lesson 16 - Jesus - Our Great High Priest

Today we completed chapter 9. In this chapter the author continued to make comparisons between the New and the Old: priesthoods, sacrifices, and covenants. He is careful to say that the old covenant was good and it served its purpose, but now it is obsolete. As prophesied, there is a better covenant, a perfect sacrifice, and a better High Priest.

The old covenant provided limited worship of God in that there was no access to the Holiest of Holies except for the high priest (9:8). The ritual sacrifices only allowed for imperfect cleansing (9:9). Sins were covered but not forgiven. The sacrifices did not take away sin. They were merely acts of obedience that showed that faith was legitimate. They were merely symbols of an act that would satisfy God. The practices and rituals were only temporary and had to be continually repeated (9:10).

The old covenant was replaced by the new and better covenant that allows all believers access to the Holiest of Holies and provides forgiveness of all sins as a result of one final Sacrifice which last for eternity. Forgiveness of sins reaches back to the beginning of time and extends throughout all eternity.

In 9:8 we read: "The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning."

In order to provide every believer access to the Most Holy Place, there must be a perfect, eternal Sacrifice. That Sacrifice was Christ Jesus. So at the moment Jesus died on the Cross at Calvary a New Covenant was put in place.

What happened when Jesus Died?

"The curtain of the sanctuary was torn in tow from top to bottom. The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised" (Matthew 27:51-52)

What happened to Old Testament saints after they died?

Old Testament saints never really entered the presence of God until the death of Jesus Christ. When they died in the Old Testament, they went to a place called Sheol (Hebrew) / Hades (Greek). There they remained until the death of Jesus Christ. They could not have full access until that final Sacrifice was made which truly satisfied God.

Luke 16:19–31 shows that, prior to Christ’s resurrection, Hades was divided into two realms: a place of comfort where Lazarus was (Abraham’s bosom or Abraham’s side) and a place of torment where the rich man was. Between the two districts of Sheol/Hades there was “a great chasm” (Luke 16:26). The fact that no one could cross this chasm indicates that, after death, one’s fate is sealed.

Before Christ died, salvation was on credit. Payment was made at Calvary. Ephesians 4:8 and 9 tells us that it was at the death of Christ that He then took these Old Testament saints, who couldn't have full access until He opened the way, and took them to God. Ephesians 4:8. "Wherefore He saith, when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. Now that He ascended," verse 9, "what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth." 

We believe that Jesus, when He died, went down into Sheol/Hades, gathered the Old Testament saints, their spirits, and ushered them into the presence of God. They had to wait until a perfect sacrifice was made on the one final day of atonement, and then were ushered into the presence of God. The Old Testament saints could not inherit their promises until sins were done away. That's what it says at the end of verse 9:15. They were under the first testament, but it was only by His death that they were able to inherit their promises. The first covenant couldn't bring them to God's presence.

Today, when an unbeliever dies, he follows the Old Testament unbelievers to the torment side of Sheol/Hades. At the final judgment, Sheol/Hades will be emptied before the Great White Throne, where its occupants will be judged prior to entering the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13–15).

On the other hand, when a believer dies today, he is “present with the Lord” in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:6–9). There, he joins the Old Testament saints who have been enjoying their reward for thousands of years.

How were people in the Old Testament saved?

Since the fall of man, the basis of salvation has always been the death of Christ. No one, either prior to the cross or since the cross, would ever be saved without that one pivotal event in the history of the world. Christ's death paid the penalty for past sins of Old Testament saints and future sins of New Testament saints.

The requirement for salvation has always been faith. The object of one's faith for salvation has always been God. The psalmist wrote, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12). Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed God and that was enough for God to credit it to him for righteousness (see also Romans 4:3-8).

The Old Testament sacrificial system did not take away sin, as Hebrews clearly teaches. It did, however, point to the day when the Son of God would shed His blood for the sinful human race. God's way of salvation never changes. It is only by faith.

HEBREWS: Lesson 15 - A Better Covenant; A New Covenant

Today we completed Chapter 8 - A Better Covenant; A New Covenant.

In previous lessons we looked at the role the high priest played under the old covenant in Israel. Once a year, the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, or the temple, which symbolized God’s throne: “Go into the very presence of God.” He was the only one who could go there, but he couldn’t go in until he had made a sacrifice, an acceptable offering to God.

Prior to entering the Holy of Holies, the high priest would make a sacrifice according to the prescription that God had revealed in Scripture. And then the blood of that sacrifice would be taken by the high priest into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat atop the ark of the covenant. He would also have a sensor with incense in his hand which symbolized the prayers of the high priest for his nation. Prayers were offered, but only after the sacrifice had been made.

And so it is with our Lord Jesus Christ. He now lives, interceding for us, constantly praying us into eternal glory. He has the right to do that because He has also made the appropriate sacrifice. And unlike any priest or high priest before Him, He sacrificed Himself. Chapter 7, the end of verse 27, “He offered up Himself.” This is the first time ever a high priest was also the sacrifice. Jesus ever-lives to make intercession for us in the presence of God in the heavenly Holy of Holies, because He has full access, having provided the acceptable sacrifice.

Notice in verse 1 His seat: "...who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." There was no seat in the Holy of Holies under the old covenant. The high priest went in, sprinkled the blood, waved the incense, and left immediately. But this High Priest [Christ Jesus] is such a high priest who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. He sat down permanently in the presence of God, fully acceptable to God, honored above all other priests.

Why at the right hand of God?

The supreme court of Israel, the Sanhedrin, had seventy members, plus the high priest. They were the adjudicating body of the nation Israel. They made the final decision; they were the final court of appeal. On the left and right sides of that body of men, there sat a scribe. If the verdict was condemnation, the scribe on the left rendered the verdict condemnation. If the verdict was acquittal, the scribe on the right side rendered the verdict acquittal. Our Lord is on the right side saying to God the Father, “Acquittal, acquittal, acquittal,” no matter what the crime is, no matter what the offense is, because He has Himself paid in full the punishment for that crime. He ever-lives to declare that we [those who are saved] have been acquitted, forgiven.

What do we mean a better covenant?

In verse 8 it says “a new covenant.” And in verse 13, it’s repeated, “a new covenant that makes the old covenant obsolete.”

On Thursday night of Passion Week, when our Lord gathered with His disciples in the upper room, they gathered to hold the Passover. The Passover was a feast commemorating God’s deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Passover commemorated the delivering power of God. But on that night, our Lord transformed that Passover into the Communion service.

Read Luke 22:14: “When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.’ And when He had taken some bread and given thinks, He broke it and gave it to them saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took the cup after they eaten saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’”

That Thursday night in the upper room He was anticipating the death He would die in just a few hours, the next day on Friday; a death that He would die to satisfy divine justice, to ratify the new covenant which was promised in the Old Testament. His death would be a substitute for believers, to provide forgiveness, deliverance from judgment and reconciliation with God. This is the new covenant.

What is a covenant?

Simply stated: a covenant is a promise. Or a covenant can be a collection of promises. In the case of the old covenant, it was a collection. The new covenant can be said to be this: all God’s promises, all the treasures of heaven promised in one covenant, all the treasures of heaven promised in one covenant through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How was God's Holy Law revealed to man?

The holy law of God has been revealed to man since creation in several different ways. There was the law of God before the fall, there was the law of God given at Sinai, and there is the law of God that comes in the new covenant.

Revealed in Adam's nature:

Adam imitated God, because God’s law was in him naturally. It was in his nature. Then came the fall; and when the fall came, Adam’s heart was darkened, and what was natural to him was sin – dominating, relentless sin. In fact, only evil was natural to him and everybody he produced after that. So we see that before the flood, God said, “I looked at the world and it was only evil continually.”

After the fall, God eventually chose another son to replace Adam; that son was a nation, Israel. Israel was like every other nation; it was made up of people who naturally did sin and only sin. Like everyone else, they were under the dominating power of iniquity. Evil was normal, and they could not and did not imitate God.

Revealed in the Levitical Law:

So God wrote His law for them, because it wasn’t natural to them. They passed that law down to the world. And that law described how they were to live and how they were to enjoy fellowship with God and blessing from God and escape judgment. Obedience was unnatural. Obedience was alien. Obedience was foreign. Obedience was impossible. The old covenant did nothing for the heart.

The old covenant didn’t write anything on the mind or the heart, it just wrote the law of God in cold, hard, crushing stone, threatening everyone who disobeyed it. The Word of God does the same today. We are to obey God's Word. That external law, with all of its requirements had no power in it to help the sinner. It couldn’t save, it couldn’t change the heart, so it had to become obsolete.

Revealed in the Son of God:

Then the law came in another form. The law came in a human form in Bethlehem, in a child, the Son of God. This is a far better representation of the law of God, far better than stone, because stone was external. But now the law was internal, and it was in a man. It was in the Lord Jesus Christ. He even said, “You have heard it said. But I say unto you,” and then He drove the law into the heart. It’s not just what you do, it’s what you think. He says in Matthew, chapter 5, that He did not come to set aside the law, but to fulfill the law. He said in Matthew, chapter 3, that He came to fulfill all righteousness. So in Christ, you have the perfect - the perfect person, the perfect obedience to the law of God

Jesus obeyed God’s law. Why? Because it was His holy nature. God’s law was written on His heart, and nothing else was written on His heart. It dominated His mind, and nothing else occupied His mind. That is why the Father said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased.” He was a living example of God’s law. That’s a better pattern to follow than something written down. It’s better to see it living, because then you’re dealing not only with the external, but you’re dealing with the internal. You’re dealing with not only behavior, but you’re dealing with attitude. So now we have something more than the law in stone, we have the law in flesh, and it’s clearer, it’s more understandable

What was the purpose of the Law?

The answer is clearly given in Scripture. Read Romans 7:7. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the law; for I wouldn’t have known about coveting if the law hadn’t said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”

If you never saw the law of God, you would just go happily through life thinking you were fine. But when facing the law of God, it kills you, it slays you. Why does the law want to do that? Why is that the purpose of the law? What does God have in mind for the law?

Read Galatians 3:19. “It was added because of transgression.” Why? Verse 24: “The law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The crushing weight of the law, the threat of the law is to put us in a situation of desperation where we are looking for a Savior. 

What hope do we have since we can't keep the written law and we can't live like Christ?

In a sense, a perfect life [Christ] is just as useless to us as a perfect written law. Why? Because we can’t keep the law that God gave Moses, and we can’t live like Christ either. And if the law written was to show us our sin and lead us to Christ, then the law lived in Christ was also to show us our sin and lead us to Him. It doesn’t work to preach Jesus as an example and try to be like Him. If you get close to the life of Jesus and you see it for what it is as revealed in Scripture, it will crush you just as much as the stones will crush you.

The perfection of Christ in some ways is more disturbing; it’s more intimidating than even the law in stone. His perfection forces on us a higher view of the law than we could ever know just reading it. He greatly defines the true view of obedience, holiness, and righteousness. In fact, Jesus was so disturbing in His holy obedience to God that He intimidated the most religious people, the superficial legalists to the point where they saw His kind of righteousness as a threat, and they killed Him for it. 

So what hope do we have?

The answer comes in verse 12 of Hebrews 8. Here’s part of the new covenant from Jeremiah 31: “I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” That’s a new covenant. That does not appear in the old covenant; does not appear in the old covenant. He will forgive our violations. He will forgive our transgressions in the new covenant. That’s why the new covenant has come and the old is obsolete.

So what happens when we come to Christ and we are forgiven through the provision of His sacrifice? What happens? What about the law? There it is, verse 10: “This is the new covenant. I will put My laws into their minds; I will write them on their hearts. I’ll be their God, they’ll be My people.”

What defines us in that way? We are God’s people, He is our God, because His law has been put into our minds and written on our hearts. The law in Adam’s heart was loved and obeyed. The law in Moses’ stone was rebelled against. The law again in Christ’s life perfectly obeyed. And now the law in us is loved and cherished and delighted in and obeyed imperfectly.

Our society hates God’s law. It’s unnatural; sin is natural. It is an offense to sinners. They resent Christ and they resent a Christ who lives in perfect adherence to God’s law. You proclaim the true Christ in His true holiness and righteous perfection, and you will become more and more hated, as our society becomes more and more ungodly.

Christ is the model, but you can’t follow the pattern. You have to be forgiven for violating the law, even as manifest in Christ. That forgiveness comes because God is merciful and remembers our sins no more.

So what defines a believer?

The law in the mind, the law written on the heart; that’s what defines those who belong to God and are His people. We are those who have had God’s law written on our hearts. We love it. We desire to obey it, to follow it, to proclaim it. All our failures and violations are forgiven. Our nature is changed so that now there is a sense in which it is our deepest desire to obey the law of God. “O, how I love Your law,” David says. Paul says, “Your law is holy, just, and good; and I find myself doing things I don’t want to do, because what I want to do is obey Your law.”

There is yet another revelation of God’s law, another stage greater than any yet, and that’s in eternal glory. We will obey from the heart, not in the limited ways we do now, but in a limitless way. What is heaven going to be? Eternal, perfect obedience. We will be like Christ when we see Him as He is: perfect, eternal, obedience, with the accompanying personal blessing that comes from God. The law is our joy; we are no longer condemned by it. Christ has satisfied its demand. But having it written in our hearts and our minds, we love it, we seek to obey it, to proclaim it. And for all our failures, we seek cleansing.

HEBREWS: Lesson 14 - Jesus: The Guarantee of a Better Covenant

We completed chapter 7 with the lesson: Jesus: The Guarantee of a Better Covenant. The lesson covered verses 20-28. In these verses the author is piling up proofs that the priesthood of Jesus Christ is superior to that of Aaron.

The Jews, as you know, had put all of their stock in the Levitical priesthood, the priesthood that came through the line of Aaron and the tribe of Levi. And Jesus came as a priest of another order, the priesthood of Melchizedek (a man who predated Aaron, who was at the time of Abraham).

Jesus, as a priest after the order of Melchizedek, is therefore a superior priest to all the priests of Aaron. And the point is simply to prove that Jesus is superior to everything in the old covenant, therefore proving that the new covenant is better than the old.

He is writing to Hebrews and saying, "Come to Christ." He is writing to Hebrew believers and saying, "Drop all the Jewish trappings, Jesus is sufficient. He is superior."

In this last section of chapter 7, the author presents Jesus as a superior priest in three ways:

1. SURETY OF A BETTER COVENANT (v. 22-22)

2. SAVIOR TO THE UTTERMOST (v. 23-25)

3. SEPARATE FROM SINNERS (v. 26)

In the Old Testament, the priest wore a breastplate. And on the breastplate were all the stones representing the 12 tribes. When he went into the presence of God, he carried with him, on his chest, all the tribes of Israel.

He also wore, draped over his shoulders, what the Bible calls an ephod. We don't really know what an ephod looked like, but apparently it was something that went over the shoulders. And on the ephod, on his shoulder, were also all the names of the 12 tribes.

You say, "What was the point?" The priest bore the children of Israel to God on his heart, his affections, and on his shoulder, his strength. You see, this is the indication of what the priesthood is to be. First, a heart for the people. Secondly, the strength to help them.

The Old Testament priest could have the heart for the people, but he didn't have the strength. Jesus Christ, right now, is at God's right hand, interceding for those who are in saved. On His heart are the names of all those who are saved. Unlike the priest under the Old Covenant, Jesus is not only willing, He is able.

"...Jesus has become a surety (guarantee) of a better covenant." (v. 22)

"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession of them." (v. 25)

"For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners..." (v. 26)

HEBREWS: Lesson 13 & 14 - Melchizedek and The Perfect Superior Priesthood

Review from last week (10/8/17): Hebrews 7:1-10

In Chapter 7:1-10, the author began with a description of Melchizedek. He shows how Melchizedek was a "type" of Christ and how the priesthood of Melchizedek was better than the Aaronic priesthood. He presented five ways that the priesthood of Melchizedek is better than Aaron's.

First, it was a universal priesthood, and Aaron's was national.

Secondly, it was a royal priesthood. He was a priest king. Aaron's was subject to kings.

Thirdly, it was a righteousness and peace priesthood. Aaron's could not provide either righteousness or peace.

Fourth, it was a personal priesthood. It was based on Melchizedek's own character. Aaron's was based on descent and heredity and had nothing to do with character.

Fifth, it was an eternal priesthood, and Aaron's was definitely limited by time.

So in those five ways, we see that the priesthood of Melchizedek is a superior priesthood to that of Aaron.

The Jew always felt that there was nothing superior to the Aaronic priesthood, the Levitical ritual, and to the whole ceremonial law as given to Moses. All their lives, they had been taught that the Levitical system was perfect, that it was instituted by God, that it was sufficient, and that it was permanent. But the very fact that there existed another priesthood that had superiority to Aaron's proves that Aaron's priesthood was limited and the promise that David gave in Psalm 110 was that, when Messiah came, He would not be a priest like Aaron. He would be a priest like Melchizedek, which means that whatever kind of priest Melchizedek is, it must be better than Aaron.

All along God had designed to set aside Aaron's priesthood. From the very time it was initiated, it was inferior. Even before Aaron's priesthood, Melchizedek's existed, and David said, "When Messiah comes, He will be like Melchizedek," showing that Aaron's priesthood was inadequate and would one day fall by the wayside and be replaced.

Now, this is important, because this is proof positive from the Old Testament that God never intended the covenant with Israel to go on forever, but that it would be replaced by a different priesthood. This is what the author is trying to prove - that God has set aside Judaism and brought in a new priesthood patterned after Melchizedek's.

Remember that Melchizedek was very important, because Abraham actually paid tithes to Melchizedek. Abraham, in a sense, was acting for the whole nation of Israel. So Melchizedek is greater than Aaron, and since Jesus Christ is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, He is greater than Aaron. This is the first argument in proving to the Jews that  there is a better priest and a better covenant, and Judaism has thus been set aside.

Today's Lesson (10/15/17): Hebrews 7:11-19

The author is not finished proving that Jesus is superior to Aaron. He continues in verses 11-19 to prove that Christ is better, because David prophesied (Psalm 110:4) that Messiah would be of another order.

The key verse in this section is verse 19: "For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God."

The goal of God in all that He does in behalf of man is that man might come into His presence. Drawing near to God is the goal of Christianity. This is the essence of Christianity. This is its highest experience. Access to His presence and coming into His presence with nothing between.

I think sometimes we forget this. Christians look at their Christian life at least three ways. Some look at their Christian life, and they see Jesus Christ as only a means to salvation and personal happiness. They're on a quest for security. Jesus is the essence of their happiness and their security and that's about as far as it ever goes. Other people look at their Christian life as a relationship to Jesus Christ, and they seek to know Christ better.

Both views are good, but if it stops there then they haven't yet grasped what Christianity is all about. It's not just about security and happiness. It's not just knowing Jesus Christ deeper and deeper. It is drawing near to God and becoming one with Him and letting nothing come between you and God. The fullest expression of our faith is to enter into the presence of God, into the Holy of Holies, and to sit on the throne with Him. The author is telling the Jew that this is now possible because of Calvary. Judaism has thus been set aside.

Imperfection of Aaronic Priesthood (11-14)

"If therefore, perfection were by the Levitical priesthood..." (v. 11)

Perfection, as used in this verse is referring to access to God; someone in the position in which he can come before God. It is the full goal of our faith. Paul said in Ephesians 2:18: "For through Him we have access by one Spirit to the Father."

In verses 12-14 the author clearly explains to his audience that Messiah was to come from another tribe, not Levi, but Judah (see Micah 5:2). It was something Moses did not talk about.

Perfection of the Superior Priesthood (15-19)

It would be a priesthood born from the power of an "endless life" rather than from a carnal or fleshly commandment. It was evident from prophecy that Jesus would rise as a different kind of priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Note: Reference Genesis 49:10 and Matthew 1:1-16 for more on the linage of Jesus.

HEBREWS: Lesson 12 - Beloved & Salvation

Beginning with 6:9, the author makes a very sensitive, encouraging transition to those Jewish believers who are "in Christ." In the preceding passage (6:1 thru 6:8) the focus was on warning the Jews who had not yet made a full commitment to Christianity.

He starts (v. 9) with "But, beloved..." This is the only time in Hebrews that the term "beloved" is used. It is a term of the richest and deepest kind of love. The author doesn't want the genuine believers, which represent the majority in the church, to be discouraged by his strong rebuke or to doubt their salvation.

In this section (6:9 to 6:12) he references the three cardinal Christian virtues: love (v. 10), hope (v. 11), and faith (v. 12) as he talks about the things that accompany genuine salvation.

LOVE

Are you growing in love? Do you love God more and more, cherishing His Word? Do you love His people, difficult as they may be at times? Plug in the marks of love from 1 Corinthians 13 (1 Corinthians 13:4ff) and ask, “Do I love my immediate family members in this way?” Do you love the lost enough to give your money and time so that they can hear the good news, that Christ came into this world to save sinners? None of these graces are automatic. You must cultivate them daily through the spiritual disciplines (Bible study, prayer, worship, service, and fellowship). These are the things that accompany genuine salvation.

The author mentions the love which they had shown toward God’s name. His name represents all that God is as revealed in His Word. It refers to His holy attributes and His ways. To love His name is to have a passion for His glory, to see God exalted to His true place of honor over every creature. Loving God and His name is the basis for all that we do in service for Him.

HOPE

Are you growing in hope? Biblical hope is not uncertain, as when we say, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” Biblical hope is certain, but not yet realized. It is an attitude that is the opposite of discouragement and depression. The person who hopes in God is buoyed up by the promise of Jesus’ coming, and that the future will be glorious for all of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. As Paul prays (Romans 15:13): Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

While there may have been a few apostates in the church, the author is confident that the majority are saved because he has seen the evidence in their lives in their ministry to the saints. Then (6:11) he shares his desire that each of them continue with the same diligence and adds, “so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end.” Full assurance of hope is tied in with diligent service, especially practical deeds of love towards fellow believers.

As John states, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14; see also 15-20).

The bedrock of Christian assurance is that God has promised eternal life to those that believe in Jesus Christ, and you know that you have trusted in Him. But, how do you know if your faith is genuine, saving faith? Since the apostates had what seemed to be many evidences of salvation and yet were not truly saved, how can you know that your faith is the real thing?

The biblical answer is, your life should reflect the reality of what God has done in your heart. As John also states in 1 John 2:3), “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” The more that you see God’s working through you, the greater will be your assurance that “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

FAITH

Those who are genuinely saved will be growing in these three areas, and so they are good yardsticks to measure your life by. Are you living by faith in God’s promises in your daily life? If you are, you will know God’s promises (through Scripture memory), and you will be praying those promises back to God, claiming by faith what He has promised in His Word.

In 6:12 he says, "that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

We are to imitate those who by faith and patience inherit the promises. As Hebrews 11 makes clear, most of the Old Testament saints died in faith without realizing the promises in their lifetimes (see Hebrews 11:39). This means, as Paul puts it, that if “we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

God’s promises are fulfilled in eternity. That’s where faith comes into play. Will we trust God to keep His promises, even if in this life we are despised, rejected, and destitute? Will we endure hardship as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, knowing that He will reward us far beyond any sacrifices that we make here below?

In 6:19, we see that our hope is an anchor to our soul. "This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary." (NLT)

We will all have trouble in this life. Without a full assurance of hope, we will be tossed to and fro in the sea of trouble. Our hope must be certain yet unrealized. We must know that what we hope in is trustworthy and true. This is what gives our soul rest.

Next week, Nolan Helder will be teaching. He will pick up where we left off with Chapter 7. In Chapter 7 the author returns to his description of Melchizedek.