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The Book of Hebrews

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SpiritPsalmist

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Peanut Gallery

The peanut gallery is for those who want to incourage, ask questions, prove me wrong, etc. Spouting off a bunch of scripture and then claiming that you've proven me wrong is not the way to prove someone wrong. The Mormons can give scripture that they claim back up their doctrine, so do the JW's, ect.. Prove me wrong by using the same method I am...line by line, precept upon precept. If you cannot do that then you are not proving me wrong. I will answer any post that I understand. If I don't know what you are talking about, then I cannot give an adequate answer...scripture instructs not to answer when we don't understand.
 
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A Brief Overview

In this epistle we see because Jesus is who He is and has done what He has accomplished for us, we have a covenant better than that of Israel; a sanctuary better than that of the Hebrews; a better sacrifice than the blood that flowed on Jewish altars; a better ministry than that conducted by the Aaronic priesthood; and better promises than those made to the Jews. In every way we have things better than those enjoyed by the Israelites.
 
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We don't know for sure who wrote the Book of Hebrews but many people believe it was the Apostle Paul.

As you've probably noticed in the Romans teaching I flip back and forth between different versions :blush: Some versions just seem to say different things better than in others. I try to find what I think is the easiest to understand for the particular scripture we are looking at for the moment. :)

So, let's begin


Hebrews 1:1-4Common English Bible (CEB)

1 In the past, God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors in many times and many ways.


God spoke. To me this shows how intensely interested in us that God is. He desires to convey a message. He desires that we converse with Him. God spoke though the prophets. He used various methods. Some He had lengthy conversations and others were shorter. He gave the fullest message through Moses. Through Isaiah He gave glorious predictions all found in the OT. Obidiah had only one short chapter.


2 In these final days, though, he spoke to us through a Son. God made his Son the heir of everything and created the world through him.

Now, in the last days, He's spoken to us. He did this through a Son Whom He appointed heir of all, through Whom He also made the universe.

3 The Son is the light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being. He maintains everything with his powerful message. After he carried out the cleansing of people from their sins, he sat down at the right side of the highest majesty.

The Son is the radiance of the glory and representation of His nature, and carries everything by the power of His word. He carried out the cleansing of our sins by becoming purification by leading a sinless life. This was to qualify as Him as the perfect sacrifice. He sat down at the right hand of the highest majesty. A fulfillment of the prophesy found in Ps 110:1-2


"At the right hand" is a Hebrew idiom that speaks of power and strength. SeeExodus 15:6


Also, according to oriental customs, no King, seated on his throne, would invite anyone other than a fellow sovereign to sit at his right hand. God used this current language, with which the people were familiar, to convey the thought that the man Jesus of Nazareth was His equal.


Here is the interlinear version of verse 3 . Click on the word "brightness". One of the words listed in the definition is "effulgence".


The word rendered “effulgence” is an astronomical term and signifies that Christ is of the same divine nature and essence as God the Father. This truth is graphically set forth by the fact that the rays coming from the sun are of the same essential character as that body itself. Christ, therefore, spoken of in such an astronomical way, was the sunbeam of God's glory sent to lighten man's path in the earth. The accompanying thought that “He is the very image of His substance” is an additional affirmation of this same truth. ~Dr David L Cooper~

The Lord Jesus Christ was of the same divine nature and essence as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.


John, in John 1:1 affirms that by writing that "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God".


4 And the Son became so much greater than the other messengers, such as angels, that he received a more important title than theirs.

He became so much greater in rank than the angels and has inherited a greater name than theirs
 
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We don't know for sure who wrote the Book of Hebrews but many people believe it was the Apostle Paul.

As you've probably noticed in the Romans teaching I flip back and forth between different versions :blush: Some versions just seem to say different things better than in others. I try to find what I think is the easiest to understand for the particular scripture we are looking at for the moment. :)

So, let's begin


Hebrews 1:1-4Common English Bible (CEB)

1 In the past, God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors in many times and many ways.


God spoke. To me this shows how intensely interested in us that God is. He desires to convey a message. He desires that we converse with Him. God spoke though the prophets. He used various methods. Some He had lengthy conversations and others were shorter. He gave the fullest message through Moses. Through Isaiah He gave glorious predictions all found in the OT. Obidiah had only one short chapter.


2 In these final days, though, he spoke to us through a Son. God made his Son the heir of everything and created the world through him.

Now, in the last days, He's spoken to us. He did this through a Son Whom He appointed heir of all, through Whom He also made the universe.

3 The Son is the light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being. He maintains everything with his powerful message. After he carried out the cleansing of people from their sins, he sat down at the right side of the highest majesty.

The Son is the radiance of the glory and representation of His nature, and carries everything by the power of His word. He carried out the cleansing of our sins by becoming purification by leading a sinless life. This was to qualify Him as the perfect sacrifice. He sat down at the right hand of the highest majesty. A fulfillment of the prophesy found in Ps 110:1-2


"At the right hand" is a Hebrew idiom that speaks of power and strength. SeeExodus 15:6


Also, according to oriental customs, no King, seated on his throne, would invite anyone other than a fellow sovereign to sit at his right hand. God used this current language, with which the people were familiar, to convey the thought that the man Jesus of Nazareth was His equal.


Here is the interlinear version of verse 3 . Click on the word "brightness". One of the words listed in the definition is "effulgence".


The word rendered “effulgence” is an astronomical term and signifies that Christ is of the same divine nature and essence as God the Father. This truth is graphically set forth by the fact that the rays coming from the sun are of the same essential character as that body itself. Christ, therefore, spoken of in such an astronomical way, was the sunbeam of God's glory sent to lighten man's path in the earth. The accompanying thought that “He is the very image of His substance” is an additional affirmation of this same truth. ~Dr David L Cooper~

The Lord Jesus Christ was of the same divine nature and essence as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.


John, in John 1:1 affirms that by writing that "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God".


4 And the Son became so much greater than the other messengers, such as angels, that he received a more important title than theirs.

He became so much greater in rank than the angels and has inherited a greater name than theirs
 
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In this portion of his letter to the Hebrews Paul is piling up one scripture (the Tanakh...what we call the Old Testament) after another in proving the divine nature of Jesus the Messiah.

~~~~~~~


Hebrews 1:5-14Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? (Psalms 2:7)


Also, God never said of any angel,

“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” (2 Sam 7:14) (1 Chron 17:13)


This scripture is in reference to the first coming of Jesus.


~~~~~~~


6 And again, when God brings his Firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Psalms 97:7)


This scripture is in reference to the second coming.....His return. When He came the first time there was only a small group of angels sent to announce his birth to the world. When he returns, all of heaven will join in praising God and giving glory to Jesus.


~~~~~~~


7 Indeed, when speaking of angels, he says,

“. . . who makes his angels winds and his servants fiery flames”; (Psalms 104:4)


He makes his angels winds and his servants fiery. The angels are ministers who assume various forms to accomplish the work of God.

~~~~~~~


8 but to the Son, he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever;
you rule your Kingdom with a scepter of equity;
9 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you
with the oil of joy in preference to your companions”;
(Psalms 45:7-8)


Once again the writer is showing the deity of Jesus. The Son is addressed as God whose throne will stand forever and his scepter is a symbol of righteousness and justice.
~~~~~~~


10 and,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth; heaven is the work of your hands.
11 They will vanish, but you will remain;
like clothing, they will all grow old;
12 and you will fold them up like a coat. Yes, they will be changed like clothing, but you remain the same,
your years will never end.”
(Psalms 102:26-28)


The material universe, created by the Son and it's temporal nature are cast off. What will remain is the eternal existence of the Son.
~~~~~~~


13 Moreover, to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? (Psalms 110:1)


His argument is concluded here by asking a question which requires a negative answer. To no one has God offered this position of honor except to the Son.

~~~~~~~




14 Aren’t they all merely spirits who serve, sent out to help those whom God will deliver?
Paul concludes the argument he's making by showing that the angels are ministering spirits whom God uses to serve those who will inherit salvation. Many people I think put too much attention on Angels, especially since Paul goes to great lengths to show they are lesser than the Son. However, we should not refrain from acknowledging the service they render to the people of God. Thank the Lord for all of His gifts and the assistance He provides to us along our path.
 
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Hebrews 2:1-4Living Bible (TLB)

2 So we must listen very carefully to the truths we have heard, or we may drift away from them. 2 For since the messages from angels have always proved true and people have always been punished for disobeying them, 3 what makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation announced by the Lord Jesus himself and passed on to us by those who heard him speak?
4 God always has shown us that these messages are true by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving certain special abilities from the Holy Spirit to those who believe; yes, God has assigned such gifts to each of us.


2:1 So we must listen very carefully to the truths we have heard, or we may drift away from them.
Here is the interlinear version: Hebrews 2:1

Click on the word "slip"
One of the descriptions is: "Lest the salvation which these things heard show us how to obtain, slip away from us"


In chapter 1 we see Paul setting forth the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now he is warning them to listen and consider carefully what they have heard before they slip away....like when we hear a sermon and then the next morning have forgotten what was said. The matter of accepting or rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior is the most serious consideration in life.



The Hebrews were being urged to listen up. The writer never said, nor did he imply that the readers had ever accepted the message. We are sometimes told that this letter was written to Hebrew Christians who were on the verge of "going back" to Judaism. That does not go along with the exhortation though. If these people had already accepted Christ and the Gospel then what is said would be inappropriate as the readers could just reply that they'd already accepted the message and Jesus as Messiah and Lord. These people had heard the message but had not received it yet....thus Paul is urging them accept the message before it slipped from their minds.



The facts are that these people had been brought to a clear understanding of the message of the gospel like a ship brought into port but had never anchored their souls by a personal acceptance of Jesus. There was grave danger that they would drift away without making a decision for Christ.
2:2 For since the messages from angels have always proved true and people have always been punished for disobeying them,
Paul affirmed the necessity of accepting the message by bringing to attention to the fact that the words spoken through angels had proved steadfast and that every transgression and disobedience to the law had been punished.



Interlinear: The line "spoken through angels" is reference to the law of Moses which according to Stephen was "ordained by angels" (Acts 7:53)


This law was perfect. Everything God does and gives is perfect. The service of it though was death. (2 Cor 3)


This law was perfect and adequate for the purpose for which it was given.....to show the exceeding sinfulness of sin (Romans 7:13). It could and did reveal the sinful character of those under the law, but it could not remove the guilt and stain of sin.


The law was steady though. It was God's word and the Lord watches over every utterance of His to fulfill it. (Jeremiah 1:11-12) The word of God is backed up by his power. (Luke 1:37)

2:3 what makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great salvation announced by the Lord Jesus himself and passed on to us by those who heard him speak?
Now Paul asks a question. Since every transgression and disobedience of the law must be punished, how will we escape this punishment for anyone who ignores the gospel call? Paul spoke as an evangelist does to his audience.


Interlinear: The words "if we neglect" is a participle and literally means "not being concerned or interested". The same word appears in the exact form in Matthew 22:5 where they use the words "made light of it". The invited guests where not concerned about accepting the invitation and attending the party. The usage of "made light of" is parallel to that of Hebrews 2:3 "if we neglect". This word shows most clearly that those who are addressed in this portion of the letter had heard the gospel call but had been indifferent toward it. They poo pooed it without any consideration of the claims of Christ.


Paul refers to it as "so great salvation". Salvation means deliverance. So what is this deliverance? The salvation spoken of by Jesus is deliverance from eternal death and being given life eternal and joy with God forever.



Paul states that this gospel which Jesus first proclaimed was confirmed “unto us by them that heard.” Paul, as all who are acquainted with the biblical account know, was not in the original apostolic company. Here he speaks of the preaching of Jesus as being confirmed unto him and his readers, who had not enjoyed hearing personally the messages of Jesus by those who had had this privilege and who had passed on to them the message of this great salvation.
2:4 God always has shown us that these messages are true by signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving certain special abilities from the Holy Spirit to those who believe; yes, God has assigned such gifts to each of us.
God confirmed the message of those who were proclaiming the gospel by “signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will”.
 
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So far Paul has told us that in these last days God has spoken to us through His Son Jesus. By quotes from the Old Testiment he has proven that Jesus is greater than the angels. He's proven the deity of Christ. He's also quoted several scriptures which show the position and duties of the angels. He has proved that Christ is superior to all.

He's urged the Hebrew nation to accept Jesus as their Messiah. In verses 5-8 Paul sets out to show the human side of our Lord.


Hebrews 2:5-9Living Bible (TLB)


5 And the future world we are talking about will not be controlled by angels. 6 No, for in the book of Psalms David says to God, “What is mere man that you are so concerned about him? And who is this Son of Man you honor so highly? 7 For though you made him lower than the angels for a little while, now you have crowned him with glory and honor. 8 And you have put him in complete charge of everything there is. Nothing is left out.”
We have not yet seen all of this take place, 9 but we do see Jesus—who for a while was a little lower than the angels—crowned now by God with glory and honor because he suffered death for us. Yes, because of God’s great kindness, Jesus tasted death for everyone in all the world.

2:5 And the future world we are talking about will not be controlled by angels.
God is not handing responsibility of the world over to the angels.
2:6 No, for in the book of Psalms David says to God, “What is mere man that you are so concerned about him? And who is this Son of Man you honor so highly?

The earth is to be given to man. The Lord has not subjected the inhabited earth to come to angels but has put it under man as is shown in Psalm 8:6-8.



2:7, 8 For though you made him lower than the angels for a little while, now you have crowned him with glory and honor. 8 And you have put him in complete charge of everything there is. Nothing is left out.” We have not yet seen all of this take place,

Since the Son is the one to whom all authority in heaven and earth is given and since man, according to this prediction, is to rule the world, it was necessary that the Son take the form of man in order that He might carry out this purpose. This is the reasoning of Paul as he goes from the discussion of the divine nature of the Son to the human side of Him. The writer tells us that God did not subject “the world to come” to angels. On the contrary, He has turned it over to man. As proof of this position, he quotes from Psalm 8.


According to Genesis 1, God gave authority of the earth to man. It was destroyed when man sinned and satan took it over. God will not be outdone by satan though. Through David in PS 8 He fortold the time when He will come back to His original plan and purpose by putting man in charge over the works of His hands. God has made His promise to mankind and will fulfill it at the proper time. As of yet this prophesy has not been fulfilled.

2:9 but we do see Jesus—who for a while was a little lower than the angels—crowned now by God with glory and honor because he suffered death for us. Yes, because of God’s great kindness, Jesus tasted death for everyone in all the world.
Jesus tasted death for every man. No one will be eternally lost because of Adams sin. Those who do not accept the full atonement of Jesus have eternally sealed their fate. He is the Savior of all men, especially of them that believe (I Timothy 4:10). All were made sinners through the one act of disobedience of Adam. All are made righteous by the one act of obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Romans 5:12-21).


Ok, that's it for now. Here's a little funny :)


How does Moses make coffee?
He brews it
LOL
(highlight the line under the question for answer)






 
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Hebrews 2:10-18New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

10 It was fitting that God,[a] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[b] For this reason Jesus[c] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,[d] 12 saying,
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,[e]
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”


13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,
“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”

14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters[f] in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Recap: Paul has told the Hebrews about God speaking to them through His prophets and through miracles and signs and wonders in the past and now in the last days God has spoken to us through His Son. Paul has told of the nature of the Son and how he's Superior to the angels. Then he goes on to tell the Hebrews to pay attention to what he has told them regarding what Jesus did for them. There was nothing said and/or implied about the Hebrews returning to Judaism. Paul quotes many OT scriptures to prove the deity of Jesus. He affirms that not accepting Jesus as Messiah is detrimental to their well being.



Paul tells them how the world is not for the angels to rule but it's mans. That is why Jesus had to do what He did. The promise is not completed yet because it's not the time...however, God will keep His promise. Jesus tasted death, for a short time the Son was made less than the angels so that by the grace of God all who accepted Him would be saved.

2:10 It was fitting that God,[a] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
It was fitting that God should allow Jesus to suffer so that many sons could be brought into glory. What does it mean though about his suffering made him perfect?
The One New Man version says it this way: For indeed it was fitting for Him, by Whom all things were made and through Whom all things are, when He led many sons into glory, the Prince of their salvation was perfected through suffering.
Was Christ imperfect in any part of His being? The suggestion that He was is repulsive to those who know the scriptural teaching regarding our blessed Lord. No! He was in no wise imperfect. Being God, He was perfection itself on the divine side of His nature; on the human side, He likewise was perfect. There was nothing the matter with His human nature. It was doubtless as perfect as was Adam's before he fell through transgression and disobedience. It is quite possible that even His human nature was in a more perfect state of condition than was that of Adam. On this point, one cannot be dogmatic since the evidence which we have is so very slight; but regardless of all considerations we are positively right in saying that Christ was absolutely perfect in both His human and divine natures. Notwithstanding this fact, He was made perfect through suffering. In ordinary usage the correlative to perfection is imperfection; but the idea that there was something lacking in our Lord's nature is contrary to the facts. Thus when Christ was made perfect, no imperfections were removed. He must have been made perfect in a sense different from that with which we are acquainted. We must conclude that the perfection of Christ here noted was His advancing to a higher state or condition. But since He was God, it was impossible for Him to advance to a higher plane as to His Deity; this development must therefore be connoted of His fleshly nature. A simple little illustration might set forth the truth that is asserted in this verse. The soot that is deposited on the chimney of an oil lamp when it is turned too high is of the same essential nature as the diamond. The chemists tell us that this precious gem is pure carbon. There is positively no difference, chemically speaking, in the two substances. Nevertheless there is a vast difference in their appearances: Carbon becomes a diamond when it has been subjected to intense heat and very great pressure. The atoms are thus forced together and appear as if they were a different substance. In the terms of the illustration, I would say that Christ's body and human nature were in the carbon state when He was upon the earth prior to the crucifixion. He was subjected to the fiery trials of sufferings and death. Thus the pressure of the sin of the world was laid upon Him. He passed through this ordeal and rose from the dead with a glorified, immortalized body, which we may compare to the diamond. Thus by His death, burial, and resurrection He passed out of the carbon state of His human existence into the diamond state of His glorification. Christ therefore reached the state of perfection, from the standpoint of His human nature, by the suffering which He underwent for our redemption. ~David L Cooper~
2:11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying,“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” (PS 22:22)


13 And again,
“I will put my trust in him.” (IS 8:17)


And again,
“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.” (IS 8:18)

Christ who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are one....that is of one nature. He was referring to the human nature of our Lord and asserted that we are one. We are not to think that Jesus had sin in the flesh because he did not. He knew no sin. He was apart from sin. He committed no sin. Being God He could not sin. From the human standpoint though, He and we are of one nature.
When PS 22:22 is studied in it's context it can be seen that David was speaking of Christ acknowledging his brothers, the redeemed, in the millennial kingdom, when the nations are gathered together to worship the Lord of Hosts, the great King.
2:14-18 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Since our Lord partook of a human nature, he is a perfect High Priest who can understand the feelings of our infirmities. He is most qualified to be our High Priest in things pertaining to God in order to make atonement for our sins. He was approached by satan from every angle possible. His temptation was from without and not from within. Jesus was triumphant against every attack of satan. Having fought and won He is able to help all those who are tempted.
 
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Hebrews 3:1-6New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.[a]


3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

I've heard it said that when you see the word "therefore" you need to stop and find out what it's there for :D Paul is lifting us from one point to the next. In light of what has just been said this is of critical importance. Paul acknowledges his Hebrew audiences high and noble identity as Holy brethren, having their heavenly calling (as the descendents of Abraham 2:16) then challenges them to consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. The Greek word "consider" is to fully observe or discover. Paul is calling them to come to a serious understanding of just who and what Yeshua really is.

As Abraham is their genetic identity Moses is their spiritual identity. First Paul makes his parallel with all humanity in general and the descendents of Abraham in particular. Paul now draws a parallel between Yeshua and Moses; their spiritual father.

3:2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

The word "house" appears 7 times from 2-6 and is "oikos", a dwelling. By implication, a family, literally or figuratively. It is translated home, house, household, or Temple. In this context it is referring to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness that Moses served and the Temple that Yeshua was building in heaven (see Heb 8:2 and 9:11)

The same word appears in Acts 2:2. It is traditionally understood as the upper room. That is the Greco/Roman understanding. The Hebraic understanding is "the Temple where all the Jews" whether believers in Yeshua or not, were gathered together to celebrate the Feast of First Fruits (most know it as the Day of Pentecost) (Numbers 28:1-14). Because of the various offerings and sacrifices this had to be done at the Temple (Deut. 12:13-14) This is an example of why we should approach scripture with a Hebraic mindset. First Fruits or Pentecost was a Hebrew feast long before it had any Christian significance.

3:3-5 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward,

Paul is comparing Yeshua and Moses as faithful spiritual heads. Moses being faithful in the earthly tabernacle and Yeshua being faithful in the heavenly tabernacle. He is pointing out that Yeshua is the "better" spiritual head, not a contrast but building upon what Moses had done.

3:6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Moses was faithful in the service of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Yeshua is faithful in building the Tabernacle not made with hands "whose house (temple) we (believers) are. Note that "if we hold fast our confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end". This is a very Hebraic principle in the context of salvation. Throughout the Torah we find repeated over and over and over again, "if you diligently obey the Lord your God" (Deut 28:1-14 being one of them). The word diligently means wholeheartedly, consistently, TO THE END. We see in the scriptures where God delivered blessing upon blessing when His people walked in faith and obedience, and curse upon curse when they did not. That principle is still in effect. God still requires faithfulness and obedience to gain His blessings.

This is NOT an exclusion of grace. His salvation always came through grace because the bottom line was that no one was able to keep the Law in total obedience and neither can anyone now. God's original intent with the Law/Torah was not for anybody to access God or salvation but a means to teach discipline to the people to learn to obey and walk in faithfulness.

What is the desire and intent of the heart? Is the desire to be submitted to Him in humility, love, and service or is it in self pride and religious arrogance? (see Heb 4:12)


Faithfulness does not mean perfection in the law, but does include confession and repentance.
 
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Hebrews 3:7-19New King James Version (NKJV)
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.
10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,
And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
And they have not known My ways.’
11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’”[a]


12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”[b]


16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.


3:7-11 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:“Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”

Paul is quoting from Psalms 95:8-11. The word "today" carries a sense of urgency. "Today if you hear His voice". Both Paul and David in the Psalm are referring to a specific day, a point in time. Paul about a point in time where we must make a decision about our belief in God. David to that point in time when Israel made a decision whether or not to enter the land (Numbers 13:25-14:38). In 2 Cor 6:2 Paul presses in a sense of urgency. He knows that God is long suffering and patient as He draws man to Himself, but there does come a time when God says, "it's time to get off the fence, you have all the info you need, make a decision because now is the time". We know that it's only through the Holy Spirit opening the blinded eyes that people reach a point of decision. They are spiritually discerned, not intellectually sought out (1 Cor 2:14). For everyone though, there is a TODAY.

Paul is telling his Hebrew readers that they have reached their "today". The results of their believing or unbelieving decision would have critical consequences in the rest of their lives. His warning is "today" as they hear the revelation of Yeshua in the design of Torah. "Do not harden your heart", because it will affect the rest of your lives, just as it did Israel of old.

3:12-19 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (He repeats verses 7 and 8)

16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Here Paul spells out the price of unbelief. Note that verse 14 is a repeat of "IF we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end". Our walk with God is a life long commitment. It all boils down to that day of decision. Disobedience and unbelief is what Israel in the Wilderness chose and those who started out did not finish and see the land that God had promised them. Paul is saying, "don't you make the same mistake they did".
 
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I'm attaching this portion of one of my posts from the Romans thread, with a little tweaking just for clarification.


  1. Nomothesia
  2. Anomos
  3. Nomos
Nomothesia is used in reference to Torah as a whole. For example: the Kansas Statutes are the whole body of law in the state of Kansas. Speeding is a law within that body of law.

Anomos is lawlessness and/or without order or principle Used in Romans 2:12 in the first 2 uses of the word.

Nomos is a "law within" the whole of the Law. A law within the body of THE LAW.

Nomothesia is referencing the whole law together, Nomos is referencing a law within the whole. Their both law (instructions from God on how to live a happy and prosperous life). Sorry for the repetitiveness, just I don't know that I explained it very well the first time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anyway,

Hebrews 4:1-13New King James Version (NKJV)

4:1-2 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

God's promise of entering His rest is still in effect. We need to be concerned because just as Israel did in the wilderness we can miss it. The gospel was preached to us AND them; but what they heard was of no profit to them. Not because "that was then" and "this is now" but what they heard was not mixed with faith in those who heard it. We can miss it too if faith is not mixed with the gospel that is preached. What our faith is in is the finished work of Yeshua (Jesus) as the total and blood sacrifice.

4:3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:“So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’” (Psalms 95:11)
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Notice that last line: "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world". From the beginning when God said, "let there be...", God already had a plan for redemption in place. It was finished before it all started. When Yeshua cried from the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30), He was giving witness to the declaration of the Father.

4:4-10 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works” (Gen 2:2); 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” (Ps 95:11) 6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Paul now draws a comparison between Sabbath and "rest". He knew the people he was addressing understood Sabbath. The Sabbath was the declaration of who they were as the Children of Israel: "for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you" (Ex 31:12-13). Not only was it a sign of who they were though, it was a type of the heavenly rest that would be through faith in Yeshua. Paul is not saying that he is introducing a whole new theology and religious system. He was giving their current one fuller meaning with Yeshua as the new High Priest and a complete and better sacrifice.

4:11-13 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Paul again pleads with this readers again to respond to his message of faith in Yeshua.
 
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At the end of last portion the writer of Hebrews put it bluntly:
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
He sees past the words to the intention of the heart. There is no place to hide. God does not play games. God knows the hearts and minds of all men, Gentile and Jew, and cannot be fooled.

Hebrews 4:14-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

The writer points out again that Jesus is our great High Priest. He is a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, he was in all ways tempted as we are, yet he is without sin.

4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Let us come boldly to the throne of grace. Why? So we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I'm reminded of this song:
 
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Hebrews 5:1-10New King James Version (NKJV)

5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

The writer now starts to give the details of the role of Yeshua as High Priest. The people he's addressing, Hebrews, are quite familiar with Torah. They've been raised on it and they know the critical role of the High Priest. They know it so well that some might consider Paul talking about a new order of High Priest to be heresy. Remember at the beginning of chapter 3 where the writer pleads "consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. The writer has compared Jesus to Moses who was a Levitical Priest not a High Priest. He compared their ministries and their faithfulness over their assigned houses. Now the writer is starting to focus on a specific part of the Tabernacle service...the High Priest. Every Hebrew knew that the office of High Priest could only be held only by the descendants of Aaron of the tribe of Levi.

2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.
3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.


Attention is brought to the humanity of the High Priest. In the Law of the Kinsman Redeemer, one of the requirements was that the Redeemer was to be of Kin to the Redeemed. Jesus fulfilled that by coming to earth as a human. Paul said in Phil 2:5-8
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross". So Jesus has equal compassion as any High Priest.

4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.”[a]


6 As He also says in another place:
“You are a priest forever.
According to the order of Melchizedek”;[b]

This position is a calling of God not of man. Jesus fulfills the qualifications. Refer back to chapter 1:5-14. The writer quotes from PS 2:7 again.
Then the writer brings up Melchizedek. There is not a lot of information about this man Melchizedek. He is first mentioned in Genesis 14:17-20. For context read 14:1-16. In the Genesis account Melchizedek is called the "King of Salem", (which later became Jerusalem), and a "Priest of God most High". Abram and Melchizedek are identified with the same God.

The next mention of Melchizedek is Psalm 110:4
The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You (the Messiah) are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,

Not sure what prompted the writer to say this but it makes me think about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. After eating the Passover He told His disciples "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death", and sweating drops of blood He prayed, "My Father if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not as I will but as You will" (Matt 26:38-39). Here is an incredible lesson to learn...Obedience.

8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

The one who shared in creation had to learn obedience. He was an equal to the eternal almighty God in creation AND a human with free will and ability to choose. It was in his role as human that he had to learn obedience.

9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Our theologians go through all kinds of spiritual gymnastics to avoid any appearance of keeping the law because they say that is works and is "crucifying a fresh the son of God. If it's in the flesh I would agree. I don't think we can say though, that Jesus obedience to the Torah and commandments in His life in general and in the garden in particular was in the flesh. He humbly submitted to the will of His Father.

10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

It is my understanding that like Melchizedek, Jesus was not a descendant of Aaron, and thus would not qualify for the Jewish priesthood under Law of Moses. God called Melchizedek outside HIS command that the High Priest be of Aaron and HE did the same with Jesus.
 
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Hebrews 5:11-14 New King James Version (NKJV)

5:11-14 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.


The last part of verse 10 was "according to the order of Melchizedek", then "of whom we have much to say". As the writer continues, he seems to have lost patience with his readers. He's saying "you are supposed to know these things. We have much to tell you but it's become difficult to explain it to you because you have become dull in your hearing. He tells them they ought to be teachers by now. It's like he's telling them "why am I having to go through all this again with you? You've been given the oracles of God and here you are still needing someone to go through it all again with you. That's what he's been telling them up to now, he's repeated the basics...the milk of the gospel and not the meat. Those who partake of only milk are unskilled in the word of righteousness, their just babies. Solid food belongs to those who are of full age. Who because of practice have their senses trained to discern both good and evil. Practice? Practicing what? Being like Jesus. In the earlier verses we read that Jesus learned obedience to God's word. So too must we. All of it. We are not required to be perfect at it, we are however required to aim at it and run for it. Not to gain salvation, which cannot be earned anyway, but to win the prize of finishing the race and hearing our Savior say "well done my good and faithful servant". :angel:

Growing believers are supposed to take an active role in their own spiritual growth. In 2 Timothy Paul tells Timothy "study to show yourself approved, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (paraphrased 2 Tim 2:15). In the book of Acts, Luke, the writer of the book, praised the Berean believers "for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the scriptures (the OT) daily to see if these things were true (Acts 17:11) Paul's council in Romans 14:5b is "each person must be convinced in his own mind". We are to embrace the whole council of God (Acts 20:27)


Questions to ask yourself.


  • Are you practicing obedience to Gods word in order to train your senses in knowing good from evil?
  • Are you taking an active role in your own spiritual growth or are you depending on others to do the research for you and tell you what to do?
 
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Hebrews 6:1-3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits.


Alrighty then, so he seems to say :), lets move on. Get it already! He's not being sarcastic (that I know of) but he's saying we should not have to go over the foundation again and again. He's not saying to "leave" as in throw away but "let the foundation settle and start building on it". Then he makes a list of the things we are to move on from: These are the subjects on his list:


  1. repentance from dead works
  2. faith toward God,
  3. instructions about washings, ,laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal punishment.
1. Repentance from dead works. We can take this in two ways.
A) Works and deeds of the flesh which can only lead to death, B) and the working of death within us as our old sinful nature.

This principle is first because it is at the point where we realize who we are before God and we either begin a relationship with Him or turn away. When we stand before Him we will be without excuse if we did not respond to Him in belief.

2. Faith in God. When we say yes to God that means we have accepted by faith, the blood sacrifice of Yeshua on our behalf. We are spiritually regenerated (Titus 3:5, John 3:3-8). We are forgiven our condition of sin and rebellion and are invited to begin a walk of faith with Him, with the Holy Spirit as our guide.

3. Instructions. Of course there will be many more instructions as we walk with God than what has been listed here. These four listed though must be firmly established if we are going to walk toward maturity.
A) Washings. Ceremonial washings. The Bible emphasizes being clean, pure, and holy. Washings are to be a reminder or symbol of that. Notice it is plural. Washings are to be done repeatedly. Our "Christian" baptism comes from the Jewish practice of "Mikva" immersing oneself in water. Unlike Christian baptism it is done repeatedly, especially for special feast days. The writer is telling them it is expected that they walk in holiness and the "washings" are a perpetual reminder of that.

There is reference to washings also in Eph 5:25-27 where the man is to "cleanse his wife by the washing of the water with the word".
Background: Complete Jewish Bible reads this passage from the context of water immersion before marriage, “Ephesians 5:26 In order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion in the mikveh [immersion pool of living water], so to speak” To the uninitiated, a modern-day mikveh looks like a miniature swimming pool. In a religion rich with detail, beauty, and ornamentation — against the backdrop of the ancient Temple or even modern-day synagogues — the mikveh is surprisingly nondescript, a humble structure. Its ordinary appearance, however, belies its primary place in Jewish life and law. The mikveh offers the individual, the community, and the nation of Israel the remarkable gift of purity and holiness. Mikveh before marriage, strictly speaking, is not contingent upon a commitment to regular observance of Family Purity. Even so, it should not be understood as unrelated to this larger framework. It is simply the first time a Jewish woman is commanded to purify herself in this way. It is an awesome and auspicious way to start a new life together with one’s beloved.

We are the Bride of Christ. We are to allow HIM to wash us with the water of the Word.


B) Laying on of hands. Now the Bible makes mention of laying on of hands to transfer both healing and authority. However, since the writer of Hebrews is stating this activity as being one of the foundations of our faith, I think it goes a bit deeper than that.

In the days of the temple, the different animal sacrifices were brought to the alter for the atonement for sins. They were to give the live animal to the priest, lay their hands (identifying with it himself) on the animals head as a sign of transferring their sins to the animal. Some accounts say the animal was actually killed by the person whose sins were being transferred.

The animal substitute is not a perfect agent though, a non human taking the sins of a human. Animal substitutes were insufficient to completely and permanently remove the stain of sin, because the next time the individual sinned it must all be repeated again. Also, the substitute is not coming of its own will . For the atonement to be perfect and complete, the substitute for an erring human must be a human, one who possesses the innocence and holiness required of such a substitute. Here is the where the death of our Messiah, Yeshua fits into the fabric of substitutionary atonement. (Isaiah 53:4-11)

When we come to God on the merit of Messiah Yeshua, putting our trust in the provision made available by His death the rite of the "laying on of hands" is fulfilled. Yeshua voluntarily offered up His life on behalf of the guilty taking the guilty ones penalty of separation from God and made His holiness available to the guilty.

C) The resurrection of the dead. Resurrection is the culmination of redemption and salvation. Paul said
in 1 Cor 15:14 "and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain". God had it all planned from the beginning and when Yeshua cried from the cross "It is finished", He was giving witness to the plan of redemption being accomplished from the beginning to end, from creation to Armageddon. In Romans 1:4 Paul put it this way, "who (Yeshua) was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead". If we don't know that, if we don't believe that, there is no hope, for their is nothing more final in this world than to be buried in the ground. Without the hope of resurrection, which according to the writer of Hebrews is foundational to our walk, we are of all men most miserable (1 Cor 15:19)

D) Eternal punishment. Judgement. The Bible teaches that every idle word, every thought, every action will pass through God's bar of justice. Actually there are two times of judgement.

The whole business of being accountable for one's actions is so foreign in this culture of victims. Every thing that happens to us is someone else's fault. All my emotional problems are my parents fault. I can't keep a job because it's my bosses fault. The list just goes on and on.

There is good news though. If I'm a believer (a follower in obedient walk and behavior) in Yeshua I will avoid the Great White Throne of Judgement. Whatever I have not repented and turned away from I will have to give an account of what I did in this body, in this life, in this world, whether good or bad (and I'm sure there will be some bad) but then He will wipe away my tears and lead me into His rest. (Rev 7:17, Rev 21:1-4).

Again, when the writer of Hebrews said, "we are to leave and not lay again these foundational things", he is not saying we are to forget and abandon them. We are to build on them as we mature. In his instructions to the Ephesian believers, Paul said, "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming, but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ" (Eph 4:13-15).

Then in verse three the writer says, "and this we will do, if God permits". Certainly we have God's permission to press on to maturity. Also, when the writer says "we", he is including himself in the process as long as God permits him life and strength. We are in this for the long haul. We need each other to give help and support. __________________ __________________
 
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Hebrews 6:4-8Good News Translation (GNT)

4 For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God's light; they tasted heaven's gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit; 5 they knew from experience that God's word is good, and they had felt the powers of the coming age. 6 And then they abandoned their faith! It is impossible to bring them back to repent again, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and exposing him to public shame.


Allow yourself to think carefully over this part of the writers letter. How does one have faith and trust in God for salvation then leave it? How can we be "once in God's light" and then not be? How can one taste heavens gift and have a share in the Holy Spirit and then lose taste for that gift and give up our share of the Holy Spirit? How does one abandon their faith?


The writer of Hebrews says when this happens it's impossible to bring that person back to faith again. Why? Because in their abandonment they are over and over again crucifying the Son of God and exposing him, by their actions, to public shame. I don't believe it's impossible so much on God's part but on that persons part. When a person turns their back on God they are resisting the very one who brings them too God. If someone does that long enough they will reach a point where they no longer can hear God. We can become so calloused to the Holy Spirits wooing and our quenching and resisting Him can make our ears deaf to hearing Him. That is what I believe Jesus meant about the unforgivable sin...blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. When one persistently and consistently resists the Holy Spirit they are crucifying Jesus and putting Him to shame. It is blasphemy.



7 God blesses the soil which drinks in the rain that often falls on it and which grows plants that are useful to those for whom it is cultivated. 8 (A)But if it grows thorns and weeds, it is worth nothing; it is in danger of being cursed by God and will be destroyed by fire.


The writer uses an illustration here: Ground that is tilled (the walking out of our salvation) and receives the rain (the witness of the Holy Spirit) brings forth vegetation (the fruits of our labor) and blessings. Ground that is not tilled nor receives the rain produces thorns and thistles which we are told will be burned up. That's pretty plain and straightforward.


Look at the fruits in your own life. What do you see? Is your fervency for Him growing? Were you once more fervent for Him than you are now? Of course that does not mean that you have fallen away as the writer of Hebrews has described here. However, take heed to whatever you need to do to rekindle the fire that burns within you. Take care to not let it go out.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-cwM54SiPk
 
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SpiritPsalmist

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Hebrews 6:9-12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 But, (A)beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that [a]accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For (B)God is not unjust so as to forget (C)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having (D)ministered and in still ministering to the [b]saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence [c]so as to realize the (E)full assurance of (F)hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but (G)imitators of those who through (H)faith and patience (I)inherit the promises.


From where we last left off the writer of Hebrews was encouraging the readers to not fall away from the faith.


Now he's adding that he's not saying these things because he believes they are falling away but that he wants to encourage them to do even better than what they currently are....doing the things that accompany salvation. He adds that God is not unjust and forgetful of the love and good works they have shown for HIS name and toward those in the faith whom they ministered and are still ministering to. He desires that each one of them continue in ministering works. He says these things to them because he does not want them to become sluggish in their faith and their works. He wants them to be like those who because of their faith and patience will receive all that God has promised.
 
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Before we move on I'd like to look again at verse 9 from last post...
Hebrews 6:9

(NASB) But, (A)beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that [a]accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.


(Living Bible)
9 Dear friends, even though I am talking like this I really don’t believe that what I am saying applies to you. I am confident you are producing the good fruit that comes along with your salvation.

(New Living Translation)
9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.
What are the "better things that come with salvation"? What kind of fruit/works accompany salvation?
 
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