2025 Bible Study Group

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Hebrews 10

1 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have consciousness of sins?

The logic of Hebrews is very simple. If you have to offer the same sacrifice over and over again, then the sacrifice doesn't take away sins. This is why you ought not turn the Lord's Supper into a new version of those old sacrifices. Christ removed sin once for all time by the Cross.

3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.

Since those OT sacrifices didn't actually take away sins, they functionally served as a reminder of when the people sinned. The word 'reminder' is the same word as 'remembrance' that Jesus uses when He instituted the Supper. "Do this in remembrance of Me." In the OT sacrifices, you had a reminder of your sin. In the NT Supper, you have a reminder of your sin-bearer. You no longer remember when you sinned, you remember when your sin was taken away.

5Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;

The body of Jesus became the true sacrifice that all of the former sacrificial offerings had pointed to and signified.

9then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

It was God's will and it was according to the Scriptures for Christ to give Himself up as our atoning sacrifice. In so doing, He took away the first will, that is the Mosaic Covenant, in order to establish the second will, the New Covenant. It is by this will, the New Covenant, that we have been sanctified by the sacrifice of the body of Christ once for all time.

11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

The Jewish priests stand up to do their work, offering repetitive sacrifices that don't actually take away sins. To the contrary, Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, and then sat down at God's right hand. His work as a priest is complete. As He said on the cross, it is finished.

14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

He has perfected forever (past tense) those who are being sanctified (present tense). This is why we can take comfort in the fact that we are saved if we are covered in His blood, His sacrifice has perfected us who are in Him. Now we are being sanctified by the Spirit to work and to will according to His good pleasure.

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

That is to say, there is no longer any propitiation for sins since forgiveness has already been accomplished. If anyone maintains that propitiation for sins is still necessary, he is telling on himself, He hasn't yet been atoned for by the cross of Christ because he has not yet believed.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Hebrews 10, Part II

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,

We are to fear the Lord. That is, we are to revere Him. If you know Him, you can't help have reference for Him. Yet, it is according to the grace of God that we may approach Him with a holy boldness and a holy confidence, being fully assured that Christ has purified us and made us acceptable in God's sight. The High Priest had to cross his t's and dot his i's to pass through the Temple's veil and enter God's presence. But what was so hard for him has become easy for us. The Veil as a symbol for the flesh of Christ is an astounding concept when you think about it.

24And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Be a good influence to your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Build them up in the faith. Encourage them to live out the Christian walk. This is why we ought not neglect church. Those people in your church need you and you need them.

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

I believe that "sinning willfully" most chiefly refers to apostasy, since that is the overarching warning in Hebrews. To throw away Christ and to go back to Judaism, or to believe in any other false religion, is to throw away the only true sacrifice that can take away your sins. That said, I do not believe it only means that. You may say that you believe in Christ, but if you go on living in sin the way you always have, your works demonstrate that He never knew you. A true appraisal of the Gospel and a heartfelt faith in it will change you. Doesnt mean you won't still struggle with sin, but it does mean that you cannot wink at your sin using Christ as your excuse.

29How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

The punishment for breaking the Law was severe. But the punishment for neglecting the Gospel is even more severe. I do not take "by which he was sanctified" to refer to this hypothetical apostate, but to the Son of God. If applied to the apostate, much damage is done to verse 14 earlier in the chapter. If applied to Christ, the message is that Christ was Himself sanctified by the blood of the covenant, as the High Priests were, in the vein of Jesus' High Priestly prayer in John 17: "I sanctify myself."

39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Just as he did in the warning in Hebrews 6, the author gives a word of assurance after a word of warning, so as to maintain balance.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Hebrews 11

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old gained approval.

Faith is the "assurance" of God's promises. It is a trust in God's covenant promises, and Christ Himself is the chiefest of these. It is not a vague superstition or empty mental assent. Whenever the author says "by faith" in the following "hall of faith" section, understand him to be saying, "by trusting in Christ."

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

By faith, not by natural theology and empirical evidence, do we know that God made the world from nothing.

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was approved as being righteous—God approving his gifts—and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

Cain's offering was literally his own works, the fruits of his hands as a gardener; unacceptable in God's sight since the ground and men's works are cursed on account of Adam. In contrast, Abel was not trusting in his own works but trusting in the substitute, namely Christ, when He offered to God his sacrifice, and through this substitute, Abel was approved in God's sight.

6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Without trusting in Christ, you will never be approved in God's sight. Some people entertain the virtuous pagan. There is no such thing according to Scripture. Faith in Christ is not optional. How can they be righteous if they don't even get past the first commandment? Those supposed virtuous pagans were in fact master idolaters.

7By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Notice how the ark is paradoxically a symbol of salvation and condemnation. The same is true for the cross. Salvation to God's people, condemnation to those outside the covenant.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise, 10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham, not content with the city of man, spent his life wandering, looking for that city of God. The first time the Bible refers to a city is in the tower of Babel, which was a proto-Babylon. They said "Let us build for ourselves a city and make a name for ourselves." Following their spirit, Nebuchadnezzar said "Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built?" before being struck with insanity by God. It has been aptly pointed out that America is very much like this following WW2. Being full of the same pride, then being given over to a reprobate mind. The New Jerusalem is not like these, it is not man-made, it's architect and builder is God.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son, 18to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED.” 19He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he also received him back.

One of my favorite passages here because of it's profundity. People tend to assume that when God tested Abraham, that Abraham offered Isaac as a sort of begrudging obligation. Like he didn't want to do it but he did it anyway. After all, who wants to sacrifice their own son? Yet, nothing I see in Scripture suggests this, but rather the opposite. Abraham was able to offer Isaac as a cheerful giver, faith over fear. Why? Because he considered that God was able to resurrect Isaac. He was convinced that God was able to do the impossible. The Lord is able to provide for all our needs and more, everything He requires of us, He gives to us free of charge.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Hebrews 11, Part II

21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and WORSHIPED, leaning ON THE TOP OF HIS STAFF.

When Jacob blessed his sons, he wasn't playing favorites or prophesying according to his own will, that is the will of man, but he was being carried along by the Holy Spirit, leaning on Christ as he uttered the words of God.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26regarding the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

Moses chose the sufferings of Christ over the riches of Egypt. Do not tell me that these men did not know Christ and did not have faith in Him. He saw Him who is unseen, even as we do, through the eyes of faith.

28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

When the Hebrews painted the blood of the lamb on their lintel and doorposts, they would've been painting a cross over their door when you think about it.

29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land, and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

Here is another instance of the salvation/condemnation paradox.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I recount Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, as well as David and Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

You might remember some of these names from Judges. None of these men were perfect, but they accomplished what they did through trusting in Christ.

37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, mistreated 38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in desolate places and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

The Jews killed the Prophets, as Jesus said. Even as the Gentiles killed the Apostles. The prophet Isaiah was sawn in two. It was never that the prophets weren't good enough for the people or didn't preach a good enough message, but the other way around. The world did not deserve to hear their words. Everywhere the Gospel is preached, the world does not deserve to hear it.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

That is, they did not live to see the world to come, not in their lifetimes. But they preached the Gospel for our sake, and they will share with us in the resurrection. We who believe are the completion of their ministry.

 

[GodfatherPartTwo]

Hebrews 12

2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Like that great cloud of witnesses, we can run the race, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the one who began and completed our faith. This verse is good because it comments on Christ's own disposition towards the cross. He despised the shame of it, but endured it to procure the joy set before Him. From Condemnation to Justification.

4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.

As bad as you think things are, you haven't even shed blood in this spiritual warfare yet. The Jews were threatening those Christian converts with loss of livelihood and social ostracization, but they would escalate that persecution in due time.

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

So why does God let you endure these trials? Because He loves you as sons. If He did not discipline you, you are not His sons. We touched on this in Micah. The Father wants to see His children grow into full maturity with all godly character.

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our benefit, so that we may share His holiness.

We all had fathers who gave us what for. I hope in your case that you had a good father who disciplined you toward your good. I was blessed to have such a father, but many people weren't. The abusive fathers set a bad precedent for the heavenly Father. But the heavenly Father always disciplines us towards a perfect end.

18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20For they could not bear what was being commanded, “IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED.” 21And so terrible was what appeared, that Moses said, “I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling.”

Here again is a contrast between the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant. The Mosaic Covenant was ratified at Mount Sinai and the author is heavily referencing Exodus. What is the nature of the Mosaic Covenant? God's Holy Law. That's a good thing right? Yes. The Law is good for your condemnation. It has the power to totally expose you, condemn you and bring all of God's wrath to bear on you. It is very good at trying, convicting, sentencing, and executing guilty sinners. This is the fearsome and terrible power of the Law. This is why the Hebrews and Moses simply could not bear the proclamation of the Law and were filled with fear. The Law will prove to be your tragedy if you are not in Christ.

22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23to the festal gathering and 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,

But if you are in Christ, you have not come to Sinai but to Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem. It is a party, a comedy. It is not characterized by a spirit of fear "leading to slavery again" but God's perfect love casts out that fear. The New Covenant is a party. Live like it. This is why I recommend you do not confuse austerity for holiness. Rather, have a holy joy and live a joyful life in Christ.

24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

The blood of Abel still speaks. I pointed out earlier in this thread that ghost stories are of ghosts seeking vengeance from beyond the grave. This is exactly what the blood of Abel speaks, a word of vengeance and justice. This is what the martyrs, of whom Abel was the first, in Revelation speak of. But in this New Covenant, the blood of Christ speaks a better word, a word of forgiveness. The sprinkling of blood is when the covenant is ratified. In Moses, at Sinai. In Christ, at

26And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.”

"His voice shook the earth then" refers to God's words, the Law, causing Sinai to quake. A sign of His judgment, but a final judgment still waits. At which time, both heaven and earth will be shaken and they will pass away.

28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29for OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.

This is the formula for true worship. First, God provides. Second, in gratitude you offer service. Everything you do, do in gratitude to the Lord. Everything you've needed, He has provided. The acceptable service that you offer in gratitude is not just something you do on Sunday. That liturgy is your whole life, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.