Through the Bible for Skeptics, Seekers, and Disciples

The author of Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a king and priest from ancient times. He was an example of what one day would be true of the Son of God. Jesus gave his life as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the priests and all people. The new covenant in Jesus allows us to leave the past. We no longer need the daily sacrifices in the Temple because of his death. We no longer need to go to another person to get to God. Through Jesus we have direct access to our Heavenly Father. #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

The letter to the Hebrews contains serveral “warning passages” that have confused many over the years. Remember any time we come across passages that are hard to understand, look at the context and allow other clearer Scriptures to interpret the less clear Scriptures. Some feel the author is warning these Jewish Christians that if they turn away from faith in Jesus and back to Judaism, they will lose their salvation. Others think the warning is for those within the community who are not really following Jesus. In other words, those who fall away never truly had faith because those with genuine faith will persevere. Some think these warnings are about losing the blessing of life with Jesus we can experience even in the midst of persecution. There are far too many passages about how Jesus’ power to save us brings us from death to life. Something happens in the spiritual realm to us when we choose to follow Jesus that cannot be undone. When talking of those He’s rescued by grace through faith, Jesus says: “No one can snatch them out of my hand” - John 10:28 Jesus rescues us completely and fully! Just as our good deeds cannot save us, our bad thinking and bad choices cannot unsave us. This passage is in the midst of a warning against immaturity. There are consequences for not taking our faith seriously. The consequences of not remaining faithful to Jesus is life without Jesus, a life without purpose, without victory, a life as if you never said “yes” to Him. (This does not mean they lose out on heaven when they die, but they experience hell on earth while they live. You cannot lose your salvation because you did not earn your salvation!) “But that’s not you!” The author warns them but then reminds them that their faith is stronger than that as they demonstrated in the past! They will experience the blessings of God in the life to come AND in this life because they are not like those who give up. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…. ” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬a NIV) Too often Western thinking emphasizes whether or not someone is in or out of heaven as if the kingdom of heaven is only experienced after death when the scriptures teach the kingdom of heaven is here! But it’s not just whether someone is in or out but also even if you are in so to speak, are you moving toward God or away from God? These passages aren’t to make us worry about losing our salvation but to encourage us to take our faith seriously and pursue growing closer to Jesus. #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

Jesus became the ultimate high priest. Before Jesus the high priest was selected from among the people and was appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He was able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself was subject to weakness. Jesus was chosen by God, and He never sinned and remained perfectly obedient to the Father. As a result, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who choose to follow him. Choosing to follow Him means fully trusting Him and obeying Him. Too often followers of Jesus fail to grow - looking to have others feed them like infants rather than becoming teachers and helping others in their faith. Those who are mature know how to help others grow and have learned to “distinguish good from evil.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭‭14‬ NIV) #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God. Access to this rest comes through faith. Sadly the unbelieving people of Israel who had been freed from slavery refused to believe and did not experience the rest offered in the Promised Land. This rest is … like the way God rested on the 7th day of creation. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Fortunately we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Jesus can empathize with our weaknesses as he was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. As we hold firmly to the faith we profess we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ‭ #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

The author of Hebrews was writing followers of Jesus who were facing tremendous persecution. He or she wanted to remind them why following Jesus was worth the suffering. Jesus is the heir of all things, and the Creator of all things. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ NIV The author of Hebrews then quotes several passages from the Hebrew Scriptures which emphasize the uniqueness of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, the One ruling over heaven and earth. We also discover that angels worship him, and “all angels [are] ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ NIV #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Crucifixion #Ascension #Angels #Hebrews

We need to listen to the message of Jesus rather than drift away. “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” God made humans in His image and gave us the responsibility to co-labor, co-rule with Him. However, our sin keeps us from fully living out our calling, but Jesus fulfilled what we have not. “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬, ‭9‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭17‬-‭18‬ NIV #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Crucifixion #Hebrews

The author of Hebrews was writing followers of Jesus who were facing tremendous persecution. He or she wanted to remind them why following Jesus was worth the suffering. Jesus is the heir of all things, and the Creator of all things. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ NIV The author of Hebrews then quotes several passages from the Hebrew Scriptures which emphasize the uniqueness of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, the One ruling over heaven and earth. We also discover that angels worship him, and “all angels [are] ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ NIV #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Crucifixion #Ascension #Angels #Hebrews

Paul wrote Philemon about his former slave Onesimus. More than likely Onesimus had run away from Philemon, a crime punishable by death. While in prison, Paul led Onesimus to faith in Christ. Paul sent him back and asked Philemon to give Onesimus his freedom as a fellow brother in Christ. The Scriptures reveal God as the One who frees the enslaved. N.T. Wright calls this brief letter “a ticking time bomb” for the abolition of slavery. All are invited into the Kingdom of God regardless of their station in life. Slavery 2,000 years ago was prevalent with 80% of the Roman world enslaved. For some this was the only way to have a place to live or food to eat. Onesimus whose name means “Useful” delivered this letter to Philemon. Paul invited Philemon to do something extremely counter cultural and more in line with the heart of God who created all human beings in His image. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Titus #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Philemon #abolitionists #endslavery

Paul reminds Titus of the importance of living differently from the rest of the world. We honor and pray for our authorities. We are productive and caring for each other. All of us fall short of the life God has for us, but He offers to rescue all of us. This offer is not because of the good things we have done but because of His mercy and kindness. He renews us and makes us new by giving us His Spirit when we surrender our lives to follow Him. We become part of a new community, a new version of humanity #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Titus

Paul reminds Titus to spend time with those who are older and those who are younger. There should be healthy interaction between all the generations. All are welcome and all have a part to play. The secret to move broken people to become spiritual leaders is grace. It’s God’s unconditional love that helps us say “no” to those things which are destructive. We should be so overwhelmed with God’s love that we desire to become more like Jesus out of gratitude for all He has done for us. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Titus