Persevere and Enter the Land

“For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath” – Matthew 12:8

Rest is a theme throughout the Scriptures, found in both the old and new testaments. It starts with creation, extends to the old covenant with Israel finding rest in a physical land, and reaches its fulfillment in the gospel and the new covenant. The picture of rest in the old covenant is fulfilled in the new covenant? But how? What is rest? What is the Sabbath? Let’s dig in:

Genesis 2:1-3

Six days of speaking creation into existence and one day of rest. But, did God get tired? Was He exhausted? Does God need sleep? NO! God is not created, only created beings need rest. God does not sleep. Isaiah 40:28 states that “God does not faint or grow tired.” So what does the Scripture mean when it reads, “He rested?” It means God was done creating the world and then He marveled and took glory in what He had created.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

God commands the nation of Israel to observe a day of rest called the Sabbath. They were to do no work on that day. The purpose of the Sabbath was to remember who they were and how God physically redeemed them from being enslaved to Egypt. God was serious about this. Exodus 31:12-18 states anyone who worked on the Sabbath had to be killed. So, there was no playing football on Sunday or going out to eat at after church if you lived under the Old Covenant. Yet, it pointed to something greater. Jesus and Paul both address the Sabbath. Paul says in Colossians 2:16-17, “Let no one pass judgment on you in question to food, or drink….or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” The Sabbath was a picture and pointed to something greater, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4

Rest, the Sabbath, was a picture of something greater. Because of the nation of Israel’s disobedience under Moses, they did not enter the “rest” of the promise land. After that generation, Joshua led the nation of Israel into the promise land (Joshua 23:1). They entered the rest.  But like Israel, rest in the promise land was a picture of greater things to come. Under the new Covenant the picture becomes clear reality. Salvation is resting in the gracious act of Christ (Matthew 11:25-30). We can’t earn, gain, or produce good works to gain salvation. The old covenant never could change hearts. The final fulfillment of rest (Promised Land) for the believer is Heaven. The context of Hebrews is perseverance in the faith. This is another example of now, not yet. IF you hold fast till the end, you will enter the rest, Heaven. IF you do not hold fast your confession of Christ, you will be like the Israelites under Moses and not enter the rest, Heaven.

As you read and study, questions for reflection:

1. What was rest or the Sabbath a picture of in the Old Covenant?

2. Did God actually get physically tired after He created the world? If not, why does He say "He rested?"

3. What does it mean when Jesus says, "Come to me and I will give you rest"?

4. How does the gospel give rest?

5. According to Hebrews 4, what was the promise land a picture of?

6. In what ways are you not resting in the gospel? 

7. Remember the context of Hebrews 3 and 4. How is perseverance as believers tied to the fulfillment of our rest? In other words, in context of Hebrews, what happens to those individuals who turn their backs on the gospel? Do they get to enter the rest?

My Notes From Hebrews 2: The Incarnation, The Gospel Explained

Hebrews 2: 5-18

The Incarnation, The Gospel Explained

Review:                What are the major themes of Hebrews?

                                What is the topic of Hebrews chapter one and two?

                                How does the writer make Jesus glorious in chapter one and two?

It should be noted that Hebrews is written from a human point of view or from a human perspective. For example in Hebrews 2:8 the Scriptures are clear that Jesus is in control of everything. Not a molecule or a cell is outside of His sovereign hand. Yet, from a human point of view, it looks like Jesus is not in control. Life happens. When your husband is laid off his job, the financial trouble life brings, the troubled child, the troubled teen, material conflict, the unexpected happens; all seems that God is not in control…BUT Everything is in subjection to Jesus, even if it does not seem like it. That is walking by faith, trusting God, and living out the gospel.

God becomes like us

1.       Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. But how? Why is this important? If you do not believe this you do not believe in Christianity. Jesus is relational, therefor Christianity is relational. Christ identifies with us in every way.

Read 1:3 and read 2:14

·         Which words are relational in verses 2:10-18

·         Why is it biblically important that Jesus became like us?

·         Is temptation sin?

·         What are your biggest temptations right now?

2.       Christ becomes like us when He was born from a womb and when He died. Death. Everyone dies. Our culture does a great job masking the pain of death. The hectic lifestyle, the background noise in life, and the tech toys null us to reality of death. Our culture is good at downplaying the fact that they will die. From a human perspective it seems that Satan controls death. BUT.. Through Jesus’ death; death is defeated. The Bible compares believers being set free from death the same way slaves are set free. Jesus delivers us!

•     How are we slaves to death?

•     How should believers view death?

•     Explain, the biblical view of death?

3.       A better gospel presentation.

The Bible explains the Gospel plan in verse 10 and 17 better than most gospel tracts. American evangelicalism often does a poor job explaining the gospel. Hebrews helps; it answers questions like: What is the purpose of Christ death? What is the purpose of the gospel: “To bring many sons to glory” v.10 WOW! That is us…to bring us to glory.

Breaking down verse 17:

·         Jesus had to leave His throne in Heaven to become like us.

·         Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest

·         Jesus makes propitiation for the sins of the people

The gospel is looking back and forward. Through the teaching of the New Testament, we understand the purpose of the Old Testament by looking back and allowing the New Testament writers (by the Holy Spirit) interpret the Old.The Old Covenant points to Christ. The old is a picture, not the reality. Damage is done by teachers and pastors who do not understand the purpose of the Old Covenant and then teach it as if is still applies to believers today. We are not under the Old Covenant! We are under the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21 & Galatians 6:2).The original hearers knew and understood the function of a high priest. Jesus is better. His covenant, the new covenant, actually does something that the old covenant could not with Israel. That is create a people that loves Him, worships Him, and are His beloved. Those that are His have their sins forgiven, are part of His family, and are part of the New Covenant family. Hebrews will continue to unpack this for us throughout the rest of the book.

Jesus and the new covenant

I am starting to teach through the book of Hebrews. This book of Bible explains the purpose of the cross, the advantage of the new covenant, the passing of the old covenant, and exalts Jesus above everyone and everything. 

The major themes of Hebrews:

1.      

Jesus is better than angels, Moses, Joshua, and all the old covenant system (including the sacrifices, and the Ten Commandments).

2.    

  Jesus ushers in a covenant that is better than the old covenant. The old covenant could not produce a real people of God. The old covenant was a type, a picture, and a shadow of the better covenant: The new covenant. The new covenant, which is secured through Jesus, produces real belief, real forgiveness of sins, a real changed life, and a real people of God which is the church. See Luke 22:20.

3.      

As you can see the word better is a theme of Hebrews.

4.      

Hebrews is both a warning and a comfort for believers. The warning is strong. If someone who professes decides to go back and live under the Law of Moses, he is turning his back on Jesus. Some Hebrew believers were wanting to go back under what is inferior to that which is superior. They wanted the picture not the fulfillment, which is Jesus. The old could never take away sins, never.  

5.      

Believers need to take comfort in the cross. Only with the new covenant between Jesus and His church does forgiveness of sins, a changed heart, and the reality of the types and shadows found in the old covenant find its true fulfillment.

6.     

The church that received this letter was suffering persecution for their faith in Christ. The author of Hebrews encourages them to stand firm in the cross and what Jesus accomplished in the face of persecution.

The book of Hebrews connects the dots of the old covenant to the gospel. God had a reason for giving the old covenant with all of its laws, promises, and demands. It pointed to someone greater. All the types and shadows found in the old covenant point to Jesus and His new covenant realities. 

Jesus is better than Moses

This article by Douglas Moo will be helpful in understanding the relationship between the law and sanctification.

Interesting Article on Legalism

Found this article today titled Legalism or Obedience by Fred Zaspel. I found it helpful and thought I would pass it along.

Reflection Questions on The Attributes of God

Since January, I have lead a study on God's attributes. Grasping a correct comprehension of God is crucial to understanding the God we worship. I believe this study is important for each Christian to engage. Do you worship the God of the Bible or the God you "think" is in the Bible? For example, to deny God's Sovereignty or His Self-Existence is to deny the God of the Bible.

Last week we ended our study by discussing what we learned about God and ourselves. The questions are below:

What aspect of God's attributes has impacted you daily life?

How has gaining a correct understanding of God impacted, challenged, or changed your worldview?

How has studying God giving you biblical hope?

How do the Scriptures magnify your concept of God? (worship)

How has this study affected how you deal with sin in your life? (repentance)

Three views on Baptism

Recently (like four days ago) I submitted an assignment for my class on the different views of baptism. Some friends have asked to read it so I thought I would post it here:

                 Baptism and the Lord’s Supper remain a vital part of every Christian denomination. However, baptism remains one of the most controversial and practical doctrines. Defining baptism is important to a correct understanding of the sacrament and the theological implications of this doctrine. The three most popular views of baptism are baptismal regeneration, baptism as a sign and seal of the covenant, and baptism as a token of salvation. Adherents to baptism as a means of saving grace include traditional Catholics and Lutherans. Baptismal regeneration is the belief that God uses baptism as a way to impart saving grace (Erickson 1998, 1100). Through water baptism a sinner is bought from death to life. When infants are baptized in the Lutheran church, they possess an unconscious faith. Their argument focuses on faith not requiring power and self-consciousness for belief (Erickson 1998, 1001). They believe  baptism relates to ones view of salvation. Doctrinal issues such as original sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12-21) and justification are crucial in this discussion. Ephesians 2: 1-4 explicitly states that humans are dead in their sin. Just as a dead person cannot respond, neither can a spiritually dead person. Scripture does not teach that baptism removes the effects of original sin (neither does prevenient grace). The New Testament authors teach that justification comes from the death of Jesus, through faith in Christ alone not through water baptism (Romans 5:6-11).

                

The second major view of baptism believes baptism is a sign and seal of the covenant. This position is held by the traditional Reformed and Presbyterian churches. Theologians and scholars who hold to this view of baptism believe it is the act where individuals are bought into covenant family (Erickson 1998, 1102). Proponents of this view link the covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel to believers in the New Covenant era. Circumcision is now replaced by baptism as evidence Christians are the real people of God. The Bible does teach that baptism replaces circumcision in the New Covenant era (Col 2: 11-14); however, the baptism referred to is regeneration or spiritual baptism not water baptism. A changed life or new birth is now the visible evidence of God’s people. The emphasis of this method is infant baptism. Again, their argument of infant baptism can be traced back to the sign of the covenant in Genesis 17:10-11. “Baptism has been substituted for circumcision as the initiatory rite into the covenant” (Erickson 1998. 1103). Proponents of baptism as the seal of the covenant refer to verses such as Acts 16:31-33 as biblical proof. However, the Bible does not explicitly teach infants should be baptized to receive the benefits of the covenant. There is no example of an infant baptized in Scripture.

                

This stance views baptism as an outward symbol of inward change in the believer.  Those that hold to this view of baptism are typically Baptist. In order to receive baptism a person must show signs of conversion which are repentance of sin and spiritual fruit (Erickson 1998, 1106). After responding to the Gospel, a person would then receive water baptism as a symbol of belief (Romans 6:1-4). According to this view, infants would not receive baptism. Scripture references to support their stance include Matthew 3:7-8, 28:18-20 and Acts 2:37-41. While the mode of baptism is not specifically taught in Scripture, the majority who practice this view baptize using the mode of immersion.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker Book House, 1998.

John Owen's Definite Atonement

This week I came across another article that is worth reading on the extent of the atonement. If you ever wanted a break down of limited atonement vs universalism check out page 70 of this article written by Andy Naselli on his evaluation of Owen's work, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.  

The Case for Limited Atonement

As I embark on this journey called seminary, I came across this article written by Dr. Roger Nicole. This quarter I am writing a research paper on the extent of the atonement. In other words, for whom did Jesus die? Does Jesus' death on the cross purchase; justification, sanctification, redemption, propitiation for  everyone created or just for the elect? Enjoy reading!