533. Hebrews 13.  “Living A Positive Christian Life.”

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

The writer has emphasised throughout the book of Hebrews that Jesus Christ is supreme. As the Son of God and as the Great High Priest He offered the one perfect sacrifice for sin and thus secured an eternal redemption for the people of God. They will now be able to approach God with confidence and eventually enter heaven itself. However, in the meantime they have to live lives of obedience to God and in love for one another. This last chapter has the following exhortations. 

A]. DEVELOPING A SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP OF LOVE. (Heb 13:1-4) 

They Are To Love One Another. Heb 13:1, “Let brotherly love continue.” The word for “love” here is from [philadelphia; φιλαδελφία] meaning brotherly love, the love that exists between those united by a common faith in Jesus.

They Are To Be Hospitable. Heb 13:2, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” “Hospitality” is from [philoxenia;φιλοξενία] the love for strangers or foreigners. 

They Are To Remember Those In Prison And The Mistreated.  Heb 13:3, “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” They are to identify with those suffering from a loss in freedom, taking their time to reflect on their situations. It involved empathy, trying to understand what they were going through and their feelings.

They Are To Keep Marriage Holy.  Heb 13:4, “Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Marriage as a relationship instituted by God had to be held in high honour [timios; τίμιος] meaning respected, esteemed, of high value. Immorality and adultery defile marriage. “Undefiled” is from [amiantos; ἀμίαντος = unstained, chaste.]

B]. THEY HAVE SPIRITUAL TREASURES. (Heb 13:5-6)

Contentment. Heb 13:5, ” Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Believers are able to find contentment in God Who has promised not to leave nor desert His followers as seen in Deuteronomy 31:6  “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Jesus promised His followers, John 14:18  “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.“

Confidence. Heb 13:6,  “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” This follows the confident sayings in the Old Testament such as Psalm 30:10 “Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!” Psalm 54:4 “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” Psalm 118:7 “The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.” The writer knew the truth he expressed in chapter 1 that Jesus sustained the whole universe, Heb 1:3  …. He upholds the universe by the word of his power…. .” His followers were safe in Him.

C].      A WILLING SUBMISSION TO LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED. (Heb 13:7-10)

There are three commandments in this chapter that refer to the local church and the place of the pastor and people. Godly living involves godly order and that means respecting and obeying those whom God has placed over His people. 

i. “Remember them which have the rule over you” (Heb 13:7). “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  9  Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.10  We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.” It is the good examples of faith that the people of God are to imitate. The Saviour Jesus Christ is unchanging and therefore their faith is based on certainty, not changing according to new teachings. The “altar” is a reference to the cross of Christ where He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Only those who submit to Him can enjoy the benefits of His sacrificial offering on the cross.

ii. “Obey them that have the rule over you” (See Heb 13:17).

iii.  “Salute them that rule over you” (See Heb 13:24).

D].      SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES TO BE MADE. (Heb 13:11-16)

Be Willing To Suffer Disgrace For Him. Heb 13:11 “For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12  So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13  Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14  For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” If Jesus suffered being reviled, His followers also need to be willing to suffer being reviled for His sake. 

Be Willing To Offer Him Praise.  Heb 13:15 “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” The praise offered to God must come from the lips of those who love Him and who desire to serve Him. It is a sacrifice that must come from the redeemed heart.

Be Willing To Share With Others. Heb 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” When we submit to Christ as Lord we recognise that all we are and all we have are His, not just ours. We are to be stewards of all He has given us. That involves doing good and sharing what God has given us as an expression of our love for Him.  As King David wrote, “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17. 

E].       SUBMISSION LEADING TO SPIRITUAL POWER. (Heb 13:17-24)

Submit To Authority. Heb 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Those whom God has placed in positions of leadership are accountable to God for this privilege. But the people of God are also accountable, so they need to obey and submit to that God-given authority so that leaders are able to rule with joy. 

Pray For Leaders. Heb 13:18 “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honourably in all things. 19  I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.” The writer believes that he/she and associates have a clear conscience and urges that the readers continue to pray for them, especially that the writer may be returned to them. 

Benediction. Heb 13:20.  “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, 21  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.” The word “equip’ is from [katartizō; καταρτίζω] meaning to adjust thoroughly, to fit out, to prepare. God prepares His people to do His will, working in them that which is pleasing to Him. “Working” is from [poieō; ποιέω] meaning to do or to produce. St Paul has a similar expression in Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13  for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” However in this latter passage the word for “work” is from [energeō; ἐνεργέω] though both passages stress the need for their work to be initiated by God working in them. 

F].       FINAL GREETINGS. Hebrews 13:22-25

Heb 13:22 “I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23  You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24  Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25  Grace be with all of you.” 

The “Life Application New Testament Commentary” has this helpful commentary on these words, “A final benediction ends the letter: May God’s grace be with you all. Concluding with “grace” is an appropriate ending for this letter. God’s approval could not be won through ceremonies or through following the old covenant. Rather, God’s grace comes through the new covenant.

Hebrews is a call to Christian maturity. It was addressed to first-century Jewish Christians, but it applies to Christians of any age or background. Christian maturity includes making Christ the beginning and the end of our faith. To grow in maturity, we must center our lives on him, not depending on religious ritual, not falling back into sin, not trusting in ourselves, and not letting anything come between us and Christ. Christ is sufficient and superior.” AMEN!

Blog No.533 posted on Wednesday 06 March 2024. 

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, HEBREWS. A study of the Epistle, Holy Spirit, Justification, Mental Health, New Covenant, Prayer, Questions and Answers, Salvation, Sanctification, Second coming of Jesus, spiritual warfare, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

532. Hebrews 12.  “Jesus, The Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith.”

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

Chapter 11 contained a list of the heroes of faith during the span of Israelite history. The writer begins chapter 12 with the words, “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.” Hebrews 12:1. The cloud of witnesses are the heroes of faith mentioned in chapter 11 and the example of their faith witnesses as an encouragement to the people of God in their Christian race.  

A. Looking to Jesus. 12:1-4

Heb 12:1 “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, 2  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.”

Believers have a race to run in life and there are some preparations they need to make to be victorious in that pursuit. The focus has to be on Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith.” 12:2. They need to keep “looking to Jesus” where “looking “is a present participle from [aphoraō; ἀφοράω] meaning to maintain one’s focus on Jesus having turned from looking at other things. That meant getting rid of anything that could slow them down in the race such as additional weight and sin. The race is not a short sprint but requires endurance. Endurance was what Jesus showed as He ran His race to obtain the joy that was set before Him. The endurance of hanging on a cross as an object of shame as part of the joy of fulfilling the plan of God for the salvation of sinners. Because He had fulfilled God’s plan, He was seated at the right hand of God. There was no further sacrifice for sin to be offered. He had secured an eternal redemption for the people of God.

There is a similar command in verse 3,  “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” The word for “consider” is from [analogizomai; ἀναλογίζομαι] meaning to think over, ponder. The readers were to ponder Jesus who went through very difficult times as He ran His race, eventually shedding His blood. They too were to face difficulties and the writer now begins to show why they would need to undergo suffering.

B. Why God Allows Difficult Times For His People: The Chastening Of God. 12:5-11

Heb 12:5 “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him . 6  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.‘ 7  It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”  Believers need to be disciplined. But there is a positive purpose in the Lord’s discipline. It is a mark of His love, not an expression of His punishment.

The Contrast Between Earthly Discipline And God’s Discipline. 12:9- 11.

Heb 12:9 “Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Human discipline was on the basis of doing what seemed to be best in the minds of those exercising discipline. However, God’s discipline has two main purposes. “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” It is to make us more holy, more set apart to live for Him.  It also ”yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Those who submit to God’s chastening will have the peace of knowing they are living in a way pleasing to God.

C. Application: Instructions on How To Live As Believers. 12:12-28.

i].         Commands To Obey. 12:12-13.

Heb 12:12 “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14  Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”  The Christian race demands deliberate effort such as getting our hands, knees and feet working properly as we run the race. There are 2 goals in sight as we run. We need to ”strive” [diōkō;  διώκω] or pursue peace with everyone and to make a real effort to be holy,  for only the holy will see the Lord.

ii].        Warnings To Observe. 12:15-17

God knows human beings and the power of the temptations they face. So throughout His word, He warns people of the temptations they face and the danger of not relying upon His grace and thus sinning. Heb 12:15  “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16  that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17  For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.”

“See to it” is from [episkopeō; ἐπισκοπέω] meaning to inspect thoroughly and to beware and is at the basis of our English word “episcopal” meaning being an overseer or a bishop. Believers are to be fully aware and to take heed lest they fail to appreciate and appropriate the grace of God in His love for them. Rejecting the grace of God can lead to sinful  behaviour such as 

  • Exhibiting bitterness. Bitterness had characterised the people of Israel in their wilderness wanderings and was infectious as it influenced many of the people and was one of the reasons why they did not enter the promised land. 
  • Sexual immorality. The Decalogue [or Ten Commandments] and other Old Testament passages forbade sexual immorality.  
  • Unholiness such as that shown in the life of Esau when he disregarded his birthright. That meant he missed out on the blessing that had been due to him.

Appreciating and appropriating the grace of God enables believers to have victory over sin.

D].       Coming To An Intimate Relationship With God. 12:18-24

In verses 18 to 24 the writer outlines the journey that believers had begun as they exercised faith in Jesus Christ, using the  words, “You have come!”

They had not come to something fearful, “For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19  and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20  For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21  Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 12:18-21.

Rather they had come into a more intimate relationship with God. This is expressed in many ways using the words “But you have come”

  • to Mount Zion 
  • and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
  • and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 
  • 23  and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, 
  • and to God, the judge of all, 
  • and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 
  • 24  and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, 
  • and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” 12:22-24.

God wants His people to know how He sees them as believers.  He said through St Paul in Ephesians 2:4-7, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” We may find it difficult to see ourselves as now being seated with Christ at the right hand of God but that is what God wants us to know. He Himself actually seated us with Christ at His right hand. It was His doing, not ours. It can be very freeing for us to understand how God sees us, in these passages in Ephesians 2 and in this chapter 12 of Hebrews. 

E].        A FINAL WARNING AND AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO WORSHIP GOD IN GRATITUDE AND PRAISE. 12:25-29

The Warning

Though believers can be assured of their place in God’s purposes, it is still necessary for them to be careful. They need to keep on hearing and obeying God, “See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27  This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.” 12:25-27.

In 1 Corinthians 10 St Paul showed how Israel had not followed God’s commands and perished in the wilderness. Then he added, “Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.’  1 Corinthians 10:6 and “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11. God cannot be ignored or disobeyed. His warnings must be taken seriously. There is no escape for those who reject Him.

The Encouragement

The writer ends the chapter on a positive note, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29  for our God is a consuming fire.” 12:28-29.

The words “let us be thankful” may be rendered “let us have [or, ‘obtain’] grace” (echōmen; charin ) (ἔχωμεν; χάριν ) and is probably a reference to all the resources of grace available from Jesus Christ.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible translates verse 28 as “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe.”

What they have received is a kingdom and that was referred to in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 8, “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of your kingdom.”

Believers are mentioned as belonging to a kingdom in verses such as these:-

Dan 7:18, “But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.”

Rev 1:6, “and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 

Rev 5:10, “and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

(Luk 22:28-30; “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, 29  and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30  that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Rev 20:4-6, “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

What amazing grace is bestowed on those who submit to the rule of Christ over them! To those who enter God’s kingdom through their faith in Jesus Christ. They should be highly motivated to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.”

God consumed human sin on the cross of Christ as He accepted Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. What grace! What a privilege!

Blog No.532 posted on Friday 01 March 2024

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, HEBREWS. A study of the Epistle, Holy Spirit, Judgement, Justification, Mental Health, New Covenant, Prayer, Salvation, Sanctification, Second coming of Jesus, Temptations, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

531. Hebrews11:4-40. The Examples of the Faith Of The Heroes of Faith

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

Hebrews chapter 11 opened with a definition of faith in verses 1 to 3,  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2  For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3  By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 4:1-3. [NOTE 1]

The remainder of the chapter gives examples of those who exercised faith in God in the midst of challenging circumstances. 

This is shown in the different eras of Israelite’s history.

  • A].        11:4-7. Early History To The Great Flood
  • B].        11:8-31. History From Abraham To Entry Into The Promised Land.
  • C].        11:32-40. Other Historical Examples Of Faith. 

A].    11:4-7. Early History To The Great Flood

Heb 11:4  “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” We are not told why Abel’s sacrifice was more acceptable to God than Cain’s, except that it was offered in faith. His example of faith continued to encourage people even after his death.

Heb 11:5  “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 1:6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  The first “taken” is from [metatithēmi; μετατίθημι meaning to transport, transfer, to translate out of the world. The second is from the noun [metathesis; μετάθεσις] and reinforces the concept that Enoch was removed from the world because of his faith. There follows a general truth, namely that anyone who wants to please God, like Enoch, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. 

Heb 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

Noah acted in faith by obeying the voice of the Lord to prepare for a giant flood and was considered righteous for doing so.  

B].     11:8-31. History From Abraham To Entry Into The Promised Land

Heb 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9  By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10  For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Faith means acting on what God reveals. This is what Abraham did as he acted in faith setting out to go to a promised land while not knowing what direction he would be travelling.

Heb 11:11 “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” Sarah allowed herself to participate in the plan of God knowing it was humanly an impossible task. But in faith, she looked beyond the impossible in trusting that God was faithful to His promises.

A summary of those who had faith

Heb 11:13  “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14  For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15  If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Faith is believing in promises that are unseen by natural sight. All the above heroes of faith trusted in God’s promises seeing and greeting them “from afar.”

Examples Of Faith From Abraham To The Entry Into The Promised Land. 11:17-31

Heb 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18  of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19  He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

God’s testing of Abraham in commanding him to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice, may seem out of the character of God. However, God knew that Abraham would act in faith and Isaac would not be sacrificed. Abraham in faith believed that if Isaac was sacrificed then God could bring him back from the dead.

Heb 11:20  “By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.“

Isaac had known God’s blessing on his life and in faith believed that his sons would also receive God’s blessing. He preferred Esau to Jacob and tried to bless Esau first even though he was not the firstborn. His will was contrary to the will of God. However, when he discovered that he had blessed Jacob instead of Esau, he realised that God’s will must be done and in faith accepted God’s plan in making Isaac His first choice in His purposes. 

Heb 11:21  “By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.” 

When Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, he crossed his hands so that the older son’s blessing fell on Ephraim, the younger. In spite of Joseph’s protests, Jacob insisted that the blessings must stand because this was the order that the Lord had specified. He acted in accord with the revealed will of God and this was seen as an act of faith.

Heb 11:22 “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”

When Joseph knew that the end of his life was near, he predicted the exodus of Jacob’s descendants from Egypt. And he expressed his faith in telling these descendants to carry his bones from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. 

Heb 11:23 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”

Here it is the faith of Moses’ parents that is being discussed. Somehow they recognised that this child was special and needed to be protected from Pharoah’s edict that children his age had to be killed. They took the risk of hiding Moses because of their faith in God’s purposes. 

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25  choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26  He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27  By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28  By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 

Moses’ faith was seen in his forsaking all the wealth and privilege of belonging to the court of Pharoah to take a stand for his own people. In faith, he led the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt knowing that Pharoah would be angry and would try to prevent them from leaving. He observed the Passover and encouraged all the Israelites to do the same, and as a result, the destroying angel passed over the homes of the Israelite people. 

Heb 11:29 “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.” The Israelite people followed Moses’ command and in faith began to enter into the Red Sea only to find that the sea opened up for them, but the pursuing Egyptian army was destroyed as the sea closed over them. 

Heb 11:30  “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” 

The people believed that if God’s command was obeyed, then the wall would fall.

Heb 11:31  By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” 

Rahab hid the spies because she had begun to have faith in the God of Israel. She told them, “And as soon as we heard it [the stories of the Exodus and the victories God had given the Israelites], our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” Joshua 2:11. Rahab recognised that God was at work in blessing His people and trusted in Him.

C].     11:32-40. Other Historical Examples Of Faith

The writer concluded the chapter by joining together the many acts of faith that the people of God had performed over many centuries. Heb 11:32 “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—

  • Heb 11:33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
  • Heb 11:34  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
  • Heb 11:35  Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
  • Heb 11:36  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
  • Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—
  • Heb 11:38  of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. The judgment of the writer on all these heroes of faith is given in the simple phrase, “of whom the world was not worthy.” 11:38. The unbelieving world did not deserve to have such heroes living among them and considered them as being of no worth, but by their faith they were worthy in the sight of God.

Something Better For The Current People Of God. 11:39-40.

There is a surprising ending to the chapter as the writer reveals a wonderful truth, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40  since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” 11:39-40. The believers in  the Old Testament period knew God’s blessings but there was more to come which would be introduced through Jesus. God’s promises are eternal but are fulfilled according to His timetable, not ours. The fulfilment would come in Jesus as St Paul wrote in  2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”   

The entry of Israel into the promised land could have been seen as the fulfilment of all God’s promises to His people. But there was something ”better” for the people of God in all ages to experience. As the writer expressed in Heb 4:3 “For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.” All believers may enter into God’s rest which means into a personal relationship with Christ. He encourages everyone to come to Him to enjoy the rest that only He can offer, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

[NOTE 1]. The definition of “faith” is outlined in the previous blog No. 530.

Blog No.531 posted on Friday 23 February 2024

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Healing, HEBREWS. A study of the Epistle, Holy Spirit, Judgement, Justification, Mental Health, New Covenant, Prayer, Salvation, Sanctification, Temptations, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

530. HEBREWS 11:1-3. WHAT IS FAITH?  

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

The writer finished chapter 10 with these words, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:39. This is followed in chapter 11 with a definition of faith and how it was exemplified by people throughout the history of Israel. But first, we look at the definition in verses 1 to 3 in bold print, with the Greek words and their meaning. 

11:1. Verse 1 begins with the words, “Now faith is the assurance [ὑπόστασις; hypostasis = confidence, confident, person, substance] of things hoped for, the conviction [ ἔλεγχος; elegchos] proof, conviction, evidence, reproof] of things not seen [βλέπω; blepō; to look at, behold, perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed.] 

The word for “assurance” [ὑπόστασις hypostasis] had been used 2 times before its use in chapter 11. It means a setting under or the foundation of something.

  • Heb. 1:3 – Nature. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” The word can mean the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution, confidence, firm trust, assurance, substance. Jesus was of the same substance as God and the exact imprint of His substance or nature.
  • Heb 3:13-14 – Confidence. The readers are encouraged to exhort each other to avoid the danger of hard-heartedness, “ But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

God is faithful and His promises are true. Therefore the believer can be assured of His promises being fulfilled in their lives both in the present and in the future. The NEB version puts it, “Faith brings substance to our hopes” where substance is this word [ὑπόστασις hypostasis.] Faith brings hope into being. 

“Hope” as we use the word today has a degree of uncertainty about it, for example, “I hope it is fine today.” However, in the New Testament hope is certain and will surely come to pass. 

“Conviction” [ἔλεγχος; elegchos,  is the inward assurance that comes from faith. Here it is the conviction of things not seen. It is the certainty that God’s promises for the present and the future [at present unseen] will surely come to pass. 

11:2. “For by it the people of old received their commendation [μαρτυρέω; martyreō; to obtain a good (honest) report, be well reported of.] Those in the Old Testament period who had faith in God were recognised by Him as being acceptable in His sight. They honoured Him by trusting in Him and in His promises to them.

11:3. “By faith we understand that the universe [αἰών; aiōn properly, an age; by implication, the world] was created [καταρτίζω katartizō; to complete thoroughly, make perfect, prepare.]  by the word of God, so that what is seen [βλέπω; blepō; to look at, behold, beware, see, sight, take heed. ] was not made out of things that are visible. [φαίνω; phainō; to lighten (shine), appear, be seen.]

Creation is seen by most scholars as being ex nihilo, “out of nothing.” There was nothing apart from God before He spoke the universe into existence. Others look at this verse and suggest that there may have been invisible things existing before God spoke them into being. However other parts of the Bible do not seem to support this latter view. 

The apostle John described creation in John 1:3, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Everything that exists owes its origin to Jesus. 

St Paul in Colossians 1:16, declared that God created everything including the visible and the invisible, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Everything, whether seen or unseen was created by Jesus.

Earlier in Hebrews 1:2, the writer saw Jesus as the creator of the ages, Heb 1:2 “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

SUMMING UP

The word for “faith” [pistis ; πίστις] occurs about 243 times in the Bible and so is of great importance. The writer of Hebrews began  chapter 11 with a definition of faith before beginning to mention many of the heroes of faith in the Old Testament period who gained God’s approval by their faith, “For by it the people of old received their commendation.” 11:2.

In brief, faith is described as the following:-

  • It is the assurance of things hoped for
  • It is the conviction of things not seen
  • It understands that the universe was created when God spoke it into being
  • It understands that everything that exists did not exist before God created [or prepared] it by His word of power. 

The writer now goes on in the rest of the chapter to describe how the people of faith exercised their faith in many different circumstances because of the confidence they had in the God they had begun to worship and to serve.  

The exciting thing we will read as we come to the end of the chapter is that God has provided something better for us, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40  since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. 11:39-40. 

Blog No.530 posted on Wednesday 21 February 2024.

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, Holy Spirit, Justification, Mental Health, New Covenant, Prayer, Salvation, Sanctification, Second coming of Jesus, Temptations, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

529. THE NECESSITY OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ONCE FOR ALL. Hebrews 10

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Jim Holbeck


1]. The OT Sacrifices Could Never Take Away Sin. 10:1-4
In the opening verses, the writer shows the inability of the sacrifices offered in the Old Testament era, to take away sin. That inability was shown in the fact that the sacrifices had to be offered continually every year. “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” If sin had been dealt with, there would have been no more need for sacrifices. However, worshippers’ consciences were not cleansed, for the blood of bulls and goats is unable to take away sins.

2]. Jesus’ Single Sacrifice Takes Away Sin For Ever. 10:5-10
Jesus, operating in the will of God, offered a sacrifice that brought to an end the Old Testament order of offering sacrifices, “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” 10:6-10. This meant that there was no more need for the Old Testament sacrifices to be offered [offered according to the law] because a new order had been established, based on Jesus obeying the will of God in offering Himself as the sacrifice. The old order has been done away with, and the new order introduced by Jesus has come. In fulfilling the will of God, believers have been sanctified through Jesus’ offering of Himself. [NOTE 1]

3]. Jesus As The Better High Priest Who Offered The Better Sacrifice. 10:11-14
The contrast is now made between Jesus as the great high priest and the succession of high priests under the old order of priesthood. Of the latter the writer wrote, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.” 10:11. Then comes the great contrast, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” 10:12-14. The priests under the old order had to stand daily offering sacrifices which could not take away sin. But Jesus offered His single sacrifice for sin and then sat down at the right hand of God. His sacrificial work was done and God accepted it as done. Verse 14 confirms that truth saying, “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” 10:14. This is an interesting verse as the verb “has perfected” from [teleioō; τελειόω] is in the perfect tense meaning that Jesus’ offering was complete. No more sacrifices would ever need to be offered. However the participle form of the verb ”being sanctified” is in the present tense. [NOTE 2]. They were being sanctified [or made more holy] as they lived for Christ.

4]. The Victory Jesus Accomplished On The Cross. 10:15-18.
Jesus through His death on the cross introduced a new covenant. It showed God’s initiative in working inwardly in His people and what would be the result of Jesus’ single sacrifice on the cross. His inward work would be, “And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “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.” 10:15-16. They would become sensitive to Him and to His laws.

The results of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross? Forgiveness! “Then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” 10:17. No more sacrifices needed! The single sacrifice of Jesus had made forgiveness available for the people of God.

5]. The New And Living Way Into The Presence Of God. 10:19-25
What are the results of Jesus sacrifice for sins? We can draw near to God through Him, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.” 10:19-20. Jesus is the great high priest whose sacrifice of Himself allowed Him to enter into the holy of holies and into very presence of God. By doing so He has also allowed us to enter directly into the presence of God as forgiven sinners.
What other advantages or obligations are there for us in having Jesus as our great high priest? The writer lists 3, “and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” 10:19-25.
We can draw near to God as forgiven, cleansed sinners. 10:22.
We can hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. 10:23.
We can consider how to encourage each other in our faith. 10:24-25.

6]. The Fourth Warning Against Deliberate Sin. 10:26-31
The Christian message of Christ’s death for sinners is liberating, but there are dreadful consequences for those who don’t act on the message and deliberately sin, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one
• who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and
• has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and
• has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 “For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Believers need to take God seriously. He has acted in grace towards guilty sinners offering them forgiveness and a new life in Him. They open themselves to His judgment if they ignore, disregard or belittle His amazing grace.
BUT there may be some hope.


7]. Going On In Faith And With Endurance. 10:32-39.
Praise God that the writer writes, “But!” He reminds them of former victories they had known and encourages them to endure to receive the promises of God. “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” 10:32-39.

Chapter 10 ends on a positive note as the writer expresses confidence in thereaders describing them as “those who have faith and preserve their souls.” But they have been warned!

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[NOTE 1. “Sanctified” is from [hagiazō; ἁγιάζω] meaning to separate, cleanse, purify, sanctify; to regard or reverence as holy. Believers who trust in Christ have been separated from the unbelieving world to belong to Christ. God regards them as holy, as set apart for Him. It is a verb in the perfect tense, meaning that it is established, not just part of a process. Believers are now His through Christ’s sacrifice.
NOTE 2]. “Are being sanctified” is the present participle form of the same verb used in verse 10. What it means is that those set apart to belong to God [sanctified] are in the ongoing process of being made more holy [sanctification.]
Blog No.529 posted on Saturday 17 February 2024.

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Healing, HEBREWS. A study of the Epistle, Holy Spirit, Judgement, Justification, Mental Health, New Covenant, Prayer, Salvation, Sanctification, spiritual warfare, Temptations, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

528. What is Valentine’s Day? 14 February Every Year

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

Unfortunately, we do not know after whom Valentine’s Day was named. There are at least three possibilities, one of them being a Bishop who was martyred for his faith. However, research has not actually found who Valentine was. St Valentine’s Day is included in the Church of England Book of Common Prayer as being on 14th February in “The Calendar with the Table of Lessons” under “Martyred at Rome c.269.” It is no longer in more recent Calendars in other Anglican churches.

It has become a day when lovers express their affection for one another by sending cards or giving gifts. It appears that Valentine’s Day did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century. It was in the 18th century in England that greeting cards known as “valentines”  were sent to loved ones.

In “Gammer Gurton’s Garland. The Nursery Parnassus” by Joseph Ritson,”  there is an example of the type of simple affectionate message that appeared on such cards. It read,

“The rose is red, the violet’s blue, The honey’s sweet, and so are you.

Thou art my love and I am thine; I drew thee to my Valentine:

The lot was cast and then I drew, And Fortune said it shou’d be you.” [NOTE 1].

Expressions of love need to be appropriate. But love can be complicated. There are many words used in English to describe the various types of love. One of the best guides to understanding the different types of love is in the writings of CS Lewis, the late English Professor whose writings have become known around the world. He wrote a book with the title “The Four Loves.” He described them as affection [storge], friendship [philia], romantic [eros] and charity [agape]. [NOTE 2].

1].        Affection, [Storge].

“It’s the familiarity of the people with whom you are thrown together in the family, the college, the mess, the ship, the religious house,” says Lewis. “The affection for the people always around us, in the normal day-to-day of life, is the majority of the love we experience, even if we don’t label it.”  It is found in family love such as the affection children have for their parents and siblings and the affection parents have for their children and grandchildren.

2].        Friendship.[Philia].

Lewis wrote “friendship likely has closest resemblance to Heaven where we will be intertwined in our relationships. We develop a kinship over something in common and that longing for camaraderie makes friendship all the more wanted. … Think about it too. Friendships have begun faith movements, developed entire areas of thought, and contributed to many projects from art to business.”

In some ways, it is based on the attractiveness of the other person in our sight. It may be their character or the attractiveness of their wanting to create friendships. 

3].         Romantic love.  [Eros].

Lewis wrote, “Different than friendship, lovers, ‘are always talking to one another about their love’ and ‘are normally face to face, absorbed in each other.’” He adds, ‘The event of falling in love is of such a nature that we are right to reject as intolerable the idea that it should be transitory.’’’

Also “When we discover afresh that romance is more deeply set than the drivel served up by our culture, than we will more rightly hold our spouse in the model of unconditional love.”

4].        Charity. [Agape.]

Lewis wrote, ”This is our chief aim, the unconditional love of the Father given to us through his Son. Affection, friendship and romantic love are each the training ground for charity to grow. It’s also a rival to the three.” It is not based on the outward attractiveness of the other person but on an inward desire to seek the other person’s best interests.   

Reaching out to the other person can bring the pain of rejection or misunderstanding when they are conditioned by life’s experiences to treat any form of perceived kindness as a threat. It is painful when we make the effort to make the life of another person more comfortable or meaningful, to be rejected. But  true agape love takes that risk. As CS Lewis wrote, “If we think that perhaps love is not worth the sorrow and pain, then we are more pagan than Christian. Though the fall has invited such selfishness to linger heavy in our culture, ours is the Gospel charge – to go to the nth degree to love those who are broken, not for some vague humanitarian effort, but to make disciples of all nations, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Is it possible for us to go to the nth degree in seeking to love the other person with agape love?

It is, when we understand that such love is a gift imparted to believers by the Holy Spirit. Our Christian hope enables us to receive the Lord’s blessings, “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5. Such love is beyond our human resources but it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us when we open our hearts to the Lord, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.   

St Paul described agape love in this passage, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5  or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8  Love never ends.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. That means that all the other loves can be appropriate when they are subsumed in the agape love of God, for God is love as we read in 1John 4:16. “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”  

So on Valentine’s Day as on every other day, “Let all that you do be done in [agape] love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14. It is love when we try to make other people feel better about themselves. It is not love when we act towards others so we can feel better about ourselves. It is not love when we act towards others to make them feel better about us or  like us more. True agape love is focussed on meeting the needs of the other, not on meeting one’s own needs.

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[NOTE 1]. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/34601/34601-h/34601-h.htm This has songs and verses for children written by John Ritson in “Gammer Gurton’s Garland. The Nursery Parnassus” in 1873.

NOTE 2]. https://www.cslewis.com/four-types-of-love/  by CS Lewis.

Blog No.528. Posted on Tuesday 13 February 2024.

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Healing, Holy Spirit, Justification, Mental Health, Prayer, Salvation, Sanctification, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

527. What Is The Origin And Significance Of Ash Wednesday?

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

It is certainly true that the words “Ash Wednesday” do not appear in the Bible. So why do Christians throughout the world celebrate it as a day of religious significance? The name “Ash Wednesday” is derived from the custom of placing ashes on believers’ foreheads in the shape of a cross. The ashes come from the burning of Palm crosses which were distributed to worshippers on Palm Sunday, the previous year.  Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent in many churches throughout the world, and services held on that day have the theme of repentance and absolution.

In these services worshippers are urged to reflect on their own mortality and their failure to perfectly obey God’s commandments, and to come humbly before Him, confessing their sins and asking Him for His forgiveness. 

For example, the Anglican Church in Australia has a suggested service in which the following words are used. [NOTE 1]

THE RECEIVING OF ASHES

The ashes are placed on the Lord’s Table, and the priest says

Blessed are you, God of all creation.

You are eternal,

we are mortal,

formed from the dust of the earth.

As we receive these ashes, make them a sign for us of repentance and returning to you.

Breathe into us again the breath of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

Come, receive the sign of ashes

The ashes are placed on each person’s forehead in silence, or with the words

Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.

and/or

Repent and believe the gospel.

and/or

Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.

Each person may answer Amen

The reference to dust [or ashes] comes from God’s declaration to humans when they had disobeyed His commandment not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. His declaration was, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19.

A little later in the service, an Absolution is pronounced by the priest,

The priest pronounces the absolution

With our hearts turned to God in repentance, with the knowledge of our sins

laid bare before the cross of Jesus Christ,

in the name of the living God,

your sins are forgiven.

Receive God’s mercy,

take hold of your forgiveness,

and, in the power of the Holy Spirit, walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

Ash Wednesday has been traditionally observed in churches since the 11th century and begins the season of Lent. It has often been suggested as a time for penitence or reflecting on our failures and coming before God to seek His forgiveness. 

Praise God for His faithfulness and mercy towards those who come to Him in humility and repentance, as Micah wrote, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19

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[NOTE 1.] On this link https://anglican.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Ash-Wednesday.pdf

Blog No.527 posted on Tuesday 13 February 2024

Posted in Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, Holy Spirit, Judgement, Justification, Mental Health, Mini Reflections, Prayer, Questions and Answers, Salvation, Sanctification, Temptations, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

526. What Is “Shrove Tuesday?” Its Meaning And Purpose

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

The word “shrove” comes from an English word “shrive,” which means to give absolution for someone’s sins by way of Confession and doing penance. Thus “Shrove Tuesday” was named after the custom of Christians to be “shriven” or seeking to be absolved of their sins before the start of Lent on the following day, Ash Wednesday.

The custom of having pancakes to eat derived from the idea that because Lent was to be observed as a time of reflection and self-discipline, there could be a more joyous time beforehand when people could use up the available food materials, such as flour, eggs and fats, to make pancakes as a celebration. The custom has been observed for hundreds of years around the world. The day is often described as “Pancake Day.”

Praise God for His mercy as this verse affirms, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John1:9.

Blog No.526 posted on Monday 12 February 2024

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Healing, Mini Reflections, Prayer, Questions and Answers, Salvation, Sanctification, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

525. Hebrews chapter 9.  Jesus As The Great High Priest Of A New Covenant Secured An Eternal Redemption

Posted on February 11, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

In chapter 8 the writer concluded that Jesus had established a new covenant which was much superior to the old covenant. Now in this chapter that truth is described in more detail. We see that Jesus offered a “better” sacrifice in establishing a “better” covenant with “better” promises. 

1].        Sacrifices Offered By High Priests On Earth Could Not Take Away Sin. 1-10.

In verses 1 to 5, there is a description of the Holy Place and also the Most Holy Place. In the latter, the High Priest could enter only once a year but had to take blood to offer for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people.  The writer added, “By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9  (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10  but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.” 9:8-10. The old covenant sacrifices could never take away sin, as seen in the fact they had to be offered every year.  

2].        Jesus’ Sacrifice Of Himself In Heaven Secured An Eternal Redemption Through His Blood. 11-14

There came a change when Jesus came to earth and offered Himself as the sacrifice to take away sins forever. However, this happened not in the earthly temple but in a heavenly tent. And it happened only once, for that single sacrifice secured an eternal redemption, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12  he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” 9:11-12. 

The contrast is also made between the offering of the blood of bulls and goats and the offering of the blood of Jesus, “For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14  how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” 9:13-14.  The blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer did make the worshipper ceremonially or outwardly pure before God to be able to offer their sacrifices. However, the offering of Jesus was effectual in inwardly cleansing human consciences to enable worshippers to turn from dead works [of no value to God] to actually serve God with consciences that were sensitive to God and to His will.

3].        Jesus Is The Mediator Of A New Covenant. 15-23

The writer now contrasts the new covenant [which is so much superior] to the old one and says that Jesus is the mediator of this new covenant., “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16  For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17  For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18  Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19  For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20  saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” Hebrews 9:15-20.

The benefits of the new covenant the writer describes as 

  • Those who responded to God’s call, receive the promised eternal inheritance. 
  • They are redeemed from transgressions committed under the first covenant.
  • The blood offered under the old covenant was that of bulls and goats which we have seen can never take away sin. But Jesus’ blood [shed in His death] established the new covenant which redeemed the people of God.

4].        Jesus Has Entered Heaven To Appear On Our Behalf To Put Away Sin. 24-28

Under the old covenant, the high priest in the temple purified everything with blood for “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” 9:22. But these sacrifices were copies of the real sacrifice that Jesus had to offer, “Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24  For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” 9:23-24. 

The Better Sacrifice Which Jesus Offered

We see now the contrast between the sacrifice Jesus offered and those offered by a succession of high priests. 

The succession of different high priests entered the holy place in the temple every year with blood not their own. 

However Jesus entered the heavenly place just once, shedding His own blood, “Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26  for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” 9:25-26. 

His single offering of Himself made forgiveness available to those who trusted in Him and secured for them an eternal redemption.

The Better Sacrifice Which Jesus Offered Means No Judgment And Future Salvation

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28  so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” 9:27-28.

Every human must eventually die and face judgment. However, for those who trust in Jesus, their sins have been borne by Jesus and so they will not face judgment for their sins. Jesus will return again, not as judge, but as the Saviour of those who trust in Him.

SUMMING UP CHAPTER 9

The writer has described the new covenant introduced in the previous chapter and shown it to be superior to the old covenant. The priests under the old covenant “serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” Hebrews 8:5. “Shadow” is from [skia; σκιά] a shadow, a foreshadowing. 

The whole sacrificial system of the old covenant foreshadowed the sacrifice Jesus was to offer to secure an eternal redemption for the people of God. 

It would be a single sacrifice of Himself as the perfect offering for sin and those who trusted in Him would receive forgiveness of all their sins and would experience salvation when He returned again. 

Blog No.525 posted on Sunday 11 February 2024.

Posted in Bible verses. Comments, Creation, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, HEBREWS. A study of the Epistle, Holy Spirit, Judgement, Justification, Mental Health, New Covenant, Prayer, Salvation, Sanctification, Second coming of Jesus, Temptations, TOPICS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

524. The Privilege Of Marriage. A Blessing From The Lord. Proverbs 31

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Jim Holbeck

We may sometimes wonder if representatives of the male species really appreciate the privilege of having a female of the species to love and by whom to be loved. A true marriage partner is really a gift from God. So we should see our marriage as being a wonderful privilege that God has bestowed on us. To realise that another person deliberately chooses to make you the centre of their universe [after God of course] is nothing less than the grace of God touching your life. 

The writer of Proverbs wrote these words, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12.  What a privilege it is to have found an excellent wife. When one looks around at the number of marriages that end up in separation or divorce, one realises the extent of the privilege we have been given in life to have found an excellent wife. She is indeed worth far more than all the jewels one could amass in a lifetime. The jewels might be precious and beautiful but they offer no warmth or love.  The excellent wife does her husband good and not harm, all the days of her life.

Well, praise God I did find an excellent wife, named Carole. One whom God chose for me especially. She may have been born in Kharagpur in India, thousands of kilometres from I was born in Gympie in Queensland but the Lord overruled so that both our families moved to the same area in Ipswich. The Lord brought us to Himself about the same time and led us to the same church. I knew about her before I met her for she was an outstanding athlete, swimmer, basketballer and hockey player, as well as winning prizes in art of speech competitions at Eisteddfods. I heard her speak on the local radio station on Saturday mornings when they featured junior singing and speaking talent.  Then I met her as she finished Grammar School when she became a member of the youth group I was leading. Just 4 years later I proposed and 18 months after that we were married. 

God was so good to us. We both secured jobs that were satisfying and later came the gift of three great children. We lived together for 3 years in Melbourne, 10 years in Brisbane, 10 years in Armidale NSW, 18 years in Sydney, and retired to Port Macquarie in 2006 when we both retired. The Lord took her home in October 2019 after a long bout with cancer but not before we had enjoyed a wonderful retirement for over 13 years. When the nursing staff rang me to tell me that Carole had just passed away, the words that immediately popped into my mind were these, “Absent from the body. Present with the Lord.” So I know she is at bliss in the presence of the Lord.  

Tomorrow 7th February would have been Carole’s 81st birthday so I felt like writing something about her as I have on many other occasions on this blog site. One of the last memories of our time together was of an incident just a couple of days before I drove her to the hospital for the last time. I was helping her move from one place in our home to her favourite chair. As we passed through the dining room she suddenly stopped and with her lovely brown eyes looked up into my face and said, “Darling, thank you for loving me. Thank you for caring for me.” She obviously knew that her life was coming to an end and so she summed up our almost 54 years together with those simple words. I’m not sure how I replied but I could have said, “I did it because I love you. It was my privilege to love you and to care for you. Thank you for loving me!” 

The privilege of marriage to “an excellent wife!”  A privilege coming from the grace and love of our Heavenly Father who “works all things together for good for those who love Him.” Romans 8:28.

Blog No.524 posted on Tuesday 06 February 2024

Posted in BIBLE PASSAGE OUTLINES, Bible verses. Comments, Coping With Personal Grief, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Glorification, Healing, Holy Spirit, Justification, Mental Health, Prayer, Real Life Stories, Salvation, Sanctification, TOPICS, Tributes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment