Hebrews - It Really Is Finished!
Brad Scheelke - March 2017 - July 2018
If the gospel is simple, then why is Hebrews so confusing today? We miss the context.
The Letter to the Hebrews was written to the Jewish Christian community living in the vicinity of Jerusalem after Pentecost and before the destruction of the Temple. They were under intense pressure to go back to externals as part of what it means to be right with God. This pressure was confusing the gospel for many of them--they were mixing old covenant thinking into the foundation of the new covenant. The whole letter is a long simple explanation of baby food Christianity for readers in a context radically different from ours today.
This cultural difference is much of the reason that every verse isn't seen as crystal clear to mature Christians today. The adversary has tricked many people to read this letter outside of its context and in a confused way that shrouds the cross in a fog. That fog seen here is then easily read into other parts of the New Testament.
This series will seek to blow away all the fog and reveal the glory of the gospel in every verse--especially the controversial ones--so that we too may thrive, grow, and overflow in life.
Our local culture of Mormon temples gives us a great advantage in noticing our own confusion. Come learn with us.
Get ready for surprises.
Surprise 1--great freedom results from admitting that we all have blind spots and are addicted to minimizing them.
This leads to confusion. I am a confused Christian. Are you?
The first step is to admit this addiction.
What was the spiritual battle for those first Hebrew Christians?
What are we to learn from looking in the window of their experience?
What are the implications that Jesus appeared at the consummation of the ages to put away all rebellion by the sacrifice of himself? -Hebrews 9:26
Hint: The letter ends by pointing them to the Good Shepherd. Their book, the OT, is filled with shepherd language. If God's people are his sheep, then what are sheep designed for?
"Dwell in the Land and feed on His faithfulness." -Psalm 37:3
Could it be this simple?
The Letter to the Hebrews was written to the Jewish Christian community living in the vicinity of Jerusalem after Pentecost and before the destruction of the Temple. They were under intense pressure to go back to externals as part of what it means to be right with God. This pressure was confusing the gospel for many of them--they were mixing old covenant thinking into the foundation of the new covenant. The whole letter is a long simple explanation of baby food Christianity for readers in a context radically different from ours today.
This cultural difference is much of the reason that every verse isn't seen as crystal clear to mature Christians today. The adversary has tricked many people to read this letter outside of its context and in a confused way that shrouds the cross in a fog. That fog seen here is then easily read into other parts of the New Testament.
This series will seek to blow away all the fog and reveal the glory of the gospel in every verse--especially the controversial ones--so that we too may thrive, grow, and overflow in life.
Our local culture of Mormon temples gives us a great advantage in noticing our own confusion. Come learn with us.
Get ready for surprises.
Surprise 1--great freedom results from admitting that we all have blind spots and are addicted to minimizing them.
This leads to confusion. I am a confused Christian. Are you?
The first step is to admit this addiction.
What was the spiritual battle for those first Hebrew Christians?
What are we to learn from looking in the window of their experience?
What are the implications that Jesus appeared at the consummation of the ages to put away all rebellion by the sacrifice of himself? -Hebrews 9:26
Hint: The letter ends by pointing them to the Good Shepherd. Their book, the OT, is filled with shepherd language. If God's people are his sheep, then what are sheep designed for?
"Dwell in the Land and feed on His faithfulness." -Psalm 37:3
Could it be this simple?
HOW DO YOU READ THE LETTER OF HEBREWS?
Might the world and the devil seek to trick us to read Hebrews without our gospel glasses on?
Might the world and the devil seek to trick us to read Hebrews without our gospel glasses on?
WHO WERE THE HEBREWS?
We all have blind spots. Let's be honest about our confusion.
Hebrews is a long simple reminder of the gospel. When you read it, does every verse seem to be simple clear gospel? I suggest that the reason for any confusion is two-fold. First, the original audience was in a radically different culture that hasn't existed since AD70. We need to seek to understand and keep in mind that specific audience when reading every verse. Second, Hebrews is simple gospel, but since parts seem difficult to grasp, we assume that the message must be complex. This leads us away from the bright sunshine of simplicity and into the dark shadows of assumed complexity. We become confused about their confusion, and then our confusion spreads.
Listen and seek to burn the context into your mind.
This will help blow away the fog of confusion in Hebrews and elsewhere.
If you have been tricked to misunderstand the context, would you want to know?
We all have blind spots. Let's be honest about our confusion.
Hebrews is a long simple reminder of the gospel. When you read it, does every verse seem to be simple clear gospel? I suggest that the reason for any confusion is two-fold. First, the original audience was in a radically different culture that hasn't existed since AD70. We need to seek to understand and keep in mind that specific audience when reading every verse. Second, Hebrews is simple gospel, but since parts seem difficult to grasp, we assume that the message must be complex. This leads us away from the bright sunshine of simplicity and into the dark shadows of assumed complexity. We become confused about their confusion, and then our confusion spreads.
Listen and seek to burn the context into your mind.
This will help blow away the fog of confusion in Hebrews and elsewhere.
If you have been tricked to misunderstand the context, would you want to know?
IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW GOD?
What is God like?
Can we bypass Jesus in understanding who God is?
Might the world and the devil want to confuse us about the goodness of God?
If you have been tricked away from God's coinage, would you want to know?
What is God like?
Can we bypass Jesus in understanding who God is?
Might the world and the devil want to confuse us about the goodness of God?
If you have been tricked away from God's coinage, would you want to know?
CAN YOU DRIFT AWAY FROM GRACE? - SOME SURPRISES
Might the devil and the world have a counterfeit of drifting away from grace to confuse you with?
Is there a difference between your identity and your mindset right now?
Are both real experiences?
If you have drifted from unmerited favor, would you want to know?
The sermon below in article form can be found here.
Might the devil and the world have a counterfeit of drifting away from grace to confuse you with?
Is there a difference between your identity and your mindset right now?
Are both real experiences?
If you have drifted from unmerited favor, would you want to know?
The sermon below in article form can be found here.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CONSIDER JESUS?
Might the world and Satan have counterfeits with which to distract us away from Jesus?
If you were distracted, would you want to know?
The early Hebrew Christians were under great pressure to get distracted away from Jesus.
What were their distractions?
What are our distractions?
What is the heart of the distraction about holiness?
We need each other to learn together to sweep away our distractions and stand firm in Jesus.
Might the world and Satan have counterfeits with which to distract us away from Jesus?
If you were distracted, would you want to know?
The early Hebrew Christians were under great pressure to get distracted away from Jesus.
What were their distractions?
What are our distractions?
What is the heart of the distraction about holiness?
We need each other to learn together to sweep away our distractions and stand firm in Jesus.
THE SURPRISE IN SEEING THAT GOD IS GOOD
How do flawed humans relate to a perfect creator who can't and won't compromise His goodness?
Might the world and the devil have a counterfeit of God's goodness?
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
WHY SO MUCH CONFUSION ABOUT MOSES?
Might the world and the devil seek to trick into confusion about Moses?
The early Hebrew Christians were confused about Moses.
If you were confused, would you want to know?
Might the world and the devil seek to trick into confusion about Moses?
The early Hebrew Christians were confused about Moses.
If you were confused, would you want to know?
HAVE YOU ENDURED TO THE END?
Does the devil have a counterfeit understanding of endurance to the end to confuse and distract us with?
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Two surprise hints: 1) Endurance to the end must precede assurance of salvation,
2) I endured to the end over 35 years ago.
Does the devil have a counterfeit understanding of endurance to the end to confuse and distract us with?
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Two surprise hints: 1) Endurance to the end must precede assurance of salvation,
2) I endured to the end over 35 years ago.
THE SURPRISE IN UNDERSTANDING HOW SIN HARDENS THE HEART
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit of sin to trick us with?
What is the deceitfulness of sin?
And how does it harden the human heart?
If you have been hardened by sin, would you like to know?
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit of sin to trick us with?
What is the deceitfulness of sin?
And how does it harden the human heart?
If you have been hardened by sin, would you like to know?
HAVE YOU ENTERED GOD'S REST?
The early Hebrew Christians were confused about entering God's rest.
Do the world and the devil have counterfeits to confuse us with about God's rest?
The early Hebrew Christians were confused about entering God's rest.
Do the world and the devil have counterfeits to confuse us with about God's rest?
IS IT POSSIBLE TO REVEAL THE HUMAN HEART?
God declares that His word can do this.
How does this work?
Listen for the surprise that clarifies and simplifies the issue.
Might the world and the devil want to trick us that this is impossible?
God declares that His word can do this.
How does this work?
Listen for the surprise that clarifies and simplifies the issue.
Might the world and the devil want to trick us that this is impossible?
The above recording breaks up frequently from beginning to end. There are some clear spots.
NATURAL EVANGELISM - A SURPRISE IN SEEING GRACE CLEARLY
Would the devil want to confuse us and hinder our witness for Jesus?
Jesus said that what fills our hearts overflows freely.
This is where the spiritual battle lies.
Would you like to witness the easy way?
Would the devil want to confuse us and hinder our witness for Jesus?
Jesus said that what fills our hearts overflows freely.
This is where the spiritual battle lies.
Would you like to witness the easy way?
WHAT IS TEMPTATION ABOUT?
Is it toward something or away from something?
Does the devil have a counterfeit of temptation to trick us with?
If you have been tricked, would you like to know?
Is it toward something or away from something?
Does the devil have a counterfeit of temptation to trick us with?
If you have been tricked, would you like to know?
WHAT IS THE FLESH?
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit view of the flesh to trick us with?
Adam and Eve were created in the flesh and God declared that creation to be good.
Jesus came in the flesh and He was certainly good.
Paul declared that he lived in the flesh by the faithfulness of Christ. (Gal 2:20)
Is the flesh good or bad?
What is the difference between the flesh and the ugly works of the flesh in Galatians 5?
Understanding what it means that Jesus came in the flesh reveals some surprises.
If you have been tricked, would you like to know?
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit view of the flesh to trick us with?
Adam and Eve were created in the flesh and God declared that creation to be good.
Jesus came in the flesh and He was certainly good.
Paul declared that he lived in the flesh by the faithfulness of Christ. (Gal 2:20)
Is the flesh good or bad?
What is the difference between the flesh and the ugly works of the flesh in Galatians 5?
Understanding what it means that Jesus came in the flesh reveals some surprises.
If you have been tricked, would you like to know?
DO YOU SEE JESUS AS OUR DREAD CHAMPION? - Jer. 20:11
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit view of the life of Jesus to trick us with?
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
David rushed out to lay down Goliath's life.
Whose life did Jesus rush out to lay down?
Listen for the surprise in connecting these.
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit view of the life of Jesus to trick us with?
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
David rushed out to lay down Goliath's life.
Whose life did Jesus rush out to lay down?
Listen for the surprise in connecting these.
THE SURPRISE IN SEEING HEBREWS AS BABY FOOD CHRISTIANITY
Would the world and the devil want us to read Hebrews in a confused way?
If the Hebrews needed baby food (5:12), then that is what an inspired writer would have given them.
If it is baby food, then every verse would be simple and clear to help the Hebrews grow in understanding.
Is it all simple and clear to you?
The first step is to swallow our pride, admit our confusion, and honor God as a good teacher.
The Hebrews were confused about righteousness.
Let's identify with their confusion and seek to identify our own.
Would the world and the devil want us to read Hebrews in a confused way?
If the Hebrews needed baby food (5:12), then that is what an inspired writer would have given them.
If it is baby food, then every verse would be simple and clear to help the Hebrews grow in understanding.
Is it all simple and clear to you?
The first step is to swallow our pride, admit our confusion, and honor God as a good teacher.
The Hebrews were confused about righteousness.
Let's identify with their confusion and seek to identify our own.
THE SURPRISE IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT SPIRITUAL MILK IS
This message clarifies what spiritual milk is with the help of 2 Cor 11:3 and 1Peter 1:22-2:3.
Spiritual milk is called pure (unadulterated). What is this purity about?
What is the pollution that corrupts spiritual milk? How important is it to avoid this pollution?
Craving this pure spiritual milk is the way to Christian growth.
Do the world and the devil have counterfeits even on this simple topic?
This message clarifies what spiritual milk is with the help of 2 Cor 11:3 and 1Peter 1:22-2:3.
Spiritual milk is called pure (unadulterated). What is this purity about?
What is the pollution that corrupts spiritual milk? How important is it to avoid this pollution?
Craving this pure spiritual milk is the way to Christian growth.
Do the world and the devil have counterfeits even on this simple topic?
THE SURPRISE IN UNDERSTANDING DEAD WORKS
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit of good works to trick us with?
There are three kinds of works: evil, good, and dead.
What is the difference?
What does it mean to be cleansed from dead works?
Are you purified from dead works?
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit of good works to trick us with?
There are three kinds of works: evil, good, and dead.
What is the difference?
What does it mean to be cleansed from dead works?
Are you purified from dead works?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PERSON WITH TRUE FAITH IN GOD?
Faith is the alternative to dead works.
Rahab is a model of faith in Hebrews 11 and James 2.
Judges 2 reveals the transformation of her heart and gives us clarity.
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit faith to confuse us with?
Faith is the alternative to dead works.
Rahab is a model of faith in Hebrews 11 and James 2.
Judges 2 reveals the transformation of her heart and gives us clarity.
Do the world and the devil have a counterfeit faith to confuse us with?
WHAT DOES REPENTANCE MEAN? A SURPRISE
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit repentance with which to trick us?
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit repentance with which to trick us?
If you have been tricked, would you want to know?
Sermon Visual Aid
Let's identify with the dull-hearing Hebrew Christian community who were confused about righteousness. Hebrews is baby food Christianity to repair their broken foundation. Conversion to Christ is the death of the old life/mind/heart of Adam and the implantation of the new life/mind/heart of Christ. Metanoia (change your mind = take a new mind) is the Greek word used 57 times to mean this transformation by the gospel. The early church was tricked by their Roman culture to view this as direct behavioral improvement, and thus paraphrased it as repentance (look back in sorrow and try to improve). This translation error confuses the meaning of both life in Christ and the spiritual battle. We need good questions to help clear the fog. Let's not be afraid of our Bibles. Books recommended: The Great Meaning of Metanoia, by Treadwell Walden, Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Ted Tripp, and A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin Friedman
Let's identify with the dull-hearing Hebrew Christian community who were confused about righteousness. Hebrews is baby food Christianity to repair their broken foundation. Conversion to Christ is the death of the old life/mind/heart of Adam and the implantation of the new life/mind/heart of Christ. Metanoia (change your mind = take a new mind) is the Greek word used 57 times to mean this transformation by the gospel. The early church was tricked by their Roman culture to view this as direct behavioral improvement, and thus paraphrased it as repentance (look back in sorrow and try to improve). This translation error confuses the meaning of both life in Christ and the spiritual battle. We need good questions to help clear the fog. Let's not be afraid of our Bibles. Books recommended: The Great Meaning of Metanoia, by Treadwell Walden, Shepherding a Child's Heart, by Ted Tripp, and A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin Friedman
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MATURITY?
FREEDOM FROM THE CONFUSION OF HEBREWS 6:4-6
- THE SURPRISE OF A NEW QUESTION -
Would the world and the devil want us to be confused about this passage?
Hint: Are You an Old Covenant Thinker?
- THE SURPRISE OF A NEW QUESTION -
Would the world and the devil want us to be confused about this passage?
Hint: Are You an Old Covenant Thinker?
Sermon Visual Aid - A New Question
This passage mentions falling away and thus has terrified and troubled true Christians, and led to bitter arguments. Here is the traditional question. What is the status of those who fall away: 1) saved, 2) never saved, or 3) lost their salvation? I suggest that God is not confused and that the text is simple and clear. But we are confused in not realizing that Hebrews is baby food Christianity for early Hebrew Christians confused about righteousness. We need a new question.
“The second attribute of imaginatively gridlocked relationship systems is a continual search for new answers to old questions rather than an effort to re-frame the questions themselves. In the search for the solution to any problem, questions are always more important than answers because the way one frames the question, or the problem, already predetermines the range of answers one can conceive in response.” - A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin Friedman, p. 37
Here is a new question to approach this text from a new angle. Is this passage about the status of those who fall away, or is it a simple explanation of how the audience was confusedly mixing the old covenant into the foundation of the new covenant?
If your were mixing them would you want to know?
I suggest that it is a spiritual battle to understand the meaning of Bible words. If we are easily confused about drifting away from grace (#4), God's satisfaction (#6), enduring to the end (#8), how sin hardens (#9), entering God's rest (#10), how the word cuts the heart (#11), temptation (#14), the flesh (#15), dead works (#19), and especially Metanoia (#21)--if we are confused about these--we should not be surprised at being confused at 6:4-6. Be a Berean as you listen to this approach to this passage.
We all "need to suck up our pride and be honest" about our confusion, as a young agnostic told me recently.
This passage mentions falling away and thus has terrified and troubled true Christians, and led to bitter arguments. Here is the traditional question. What is the status of those who fall away: 1) saved, 2) never saved, or 3) lost their salvation? I suggest that God is not confused and that the text is simple and clear. But we are confused in not realizing that Hebrews is baby food Christianity for early Hebrew Christians confused about righteousness. We need a new question.
“The second attribute of imaginatively gridlocked relationship systems is a continual search for new answers to old questions rather than an effort to re-frame the questions themselves. In the search for the solution to any problem, questions are always more important than answers because the way one frames the question, or the problem, already predetermines the range of answers one can conceive in response.” - A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix, by Edwin Friedman, p. 37
Here is a new question to approach this text from a new angle. Is this passage about the status of those who fall away, or is it a simple explanation of how the audience was confusedly mixing the old covenant into the foundation of the new covenant?
If your were mixing them would you want to know?
I suggest that it is a spiritual battle to understand the meaning of Bible words. If we are easily confused about drifting away from grace (#4), God's satisfaction (#6), enduring to the end (#8), how sin hardens (#9), entering God's rest (#10), how the word cuts the heart (#11), temptation (#14), the flesh (#15), dead works (#19), and especially Metanoia (#21)--if we are confused about these--we should not be surprised at being confused at 6:4-6. Be a Berean as you listen to this approach to this passage.
We all "need to suck up our pride and be honest" about our confusion, as a young agnostic told me recently.
DOES GOD REJECT CONFUSED CHRISTIANS?
God calls all Christians to be diligent to mature in the word of righteousness.
What does God think of Christians who aren't diligent and thus remain confused?
Might Satan and the world want to confuse us about how God manages our confusion?
God has a strong encouragement for Christians.
What is it based on?
Do you want to get rid of your confusion? I do.
God calls all Christians to be diligent to mature in the word of righteousness.
What does God think of Christians who aren't diligent and thus remain confused?
Might Satan and the world want to confuse us about how God manages our confusion?
God has a strong encouragement for Christians.
What is it based on?
Do you want to get rid of your confusion? I do.
Why Bring Up Melchizedek With Confused Christians?
Sermon Visual Aid
The early Hebrew Christian audience lived in the shadow of the temple. In the old covenant the high priest was God's visible sin manager in leading the religious and sacrificial system. But Jesus is the only sin manager in the new covenant. The audience couldn't see the big picture and they were under intense cultural pressure to mix the two sin management systems. They were confused about how Jesus could be the new high priest. Thus the author begins painting the big picture for his readers by taking them back to Abraham, their spiritual father, 400+ years before the old sin management system was given at Mount Sinai. He did this in order to show his audience that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and was God's priest without any connection to the law. Jesus followed that pattern in His priesthood, as David prophesied. Similarly we sometimes need to step back and get a bigger picture in order to understand how all sin was managed at the cross. The timeline visual aid is meant to help in that way.
The early Hebrew Christian audience lived in the shadow of the temple. In the old covenant the high priest was God's visible sin manager in leading the religious and sacrificial system. But Jesus is the only sin manager in the new covenant. The audience couldn't see the big picture and they were under intense cultural pressure to mix the two sin management systems. They were confused about how Jesus could be the new high priest. Thus the author begins painting the big picture for his readers by taking them back to Abraham, their spiritual father, 400+ years before the old sin management system was given at Mount Sinai. He did this in order to show his audience that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and was God's priest without any connection to the law. Jesus followed that pattern in His priesthood, as David prophesied. Similarly we sometimes need to step back and get a bigger picture in order to understand how all sin was managed at the cross. The timeline visual aid is meant to help in that way.
WHY IS THE NEW COVENANT BETTER?
When did the old covenant begin and end?
When did the new covenant begin?
Do the devil and the world have counterfeits with which to trick us into mixing the two covenants?
When did the old covenant begin and end?
When did the new covenant begin?
Do the devil and the world have counterfeits with which to trick us into mixing the two covenants?
Sermon Visual Aid
Hebrews declares that the new covenant is better than the old covenant. How is it better? When did the old covenant begin? When did it end? What was wrong with the old one? Why did God give it if it was flawed? When did the new covenant begin and what is it about? What is the opposite of grace? What is the difference between law and grace? If you have been tricked into mixing some of the old covenant into the new, would you want to know? Let's identify with the confusion of these early Hebrew Christians so as to notice more of our own confusion.
Hebrews declares that the new covenant is better than the old covenant. How is it better? When did the old covenant begin? When did it end? What was wrong with the old one? Why did God give it if it was flawed? When did the new covenant begin and what is it about? What is the opposite of grace? What is the difference between law and grace? If you have been tricked into mixing some of the old covenant into the new, would you want to know? Let's identify with the confusion of these early Hebrew Christians so as to notice more of our own confusion.
WHY DID GOD NOT CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE?
Why does Hebrews 8:9 declare this?
Why is God's anger and wrath mentioned so often in the Old Testament?
Why did God give the covenant of law?
Could there be a surprise in the context?
Might the devil and the world want to confuse us about this?
Why does Hebrews 8:9 declare this?
Why is God's anger and wrath mentioned so often in the Old Testament?
Why did God give the covenant of law?
Could there be a surprise in the context?
Might the devil and the world want to confuse us about this?
FORGIVENESS IS ABOUT A CHANGE IN GOD.
Does this bother you?
We seek to change because we notice something wrong or lacking in us.
God notices that too and wants us to be free.
But how can God not remember our sins and yet be righteous?
Surprise! God changes His experience and enters life under law to die the death that lawbreaking deserves.
Do the world and Satan have counterfeits of forgiveness to confuse us with?
Read here the three ways to view forgiveness.
Does this bother you?
We seek to change because we notice something wrong or lacking in us.
God notices that too and wants us to be free.
But how can God not remember our sins and yet be righteous?
Surprise! God changes His experience and enters life under law to die the death that lawbreaking deserves.
Do the world and Satan have counterfeits of forgiveness to confuse us with?
Read here the three ways to view forgiveness.
THE SURPRISE IN KNOWING GOD
What does it mean to know God?
Before the cross, did Jesus' disciples know God?
What does it mean to experience God's goodness God's way?
Is God's goodness something to celebrate?
More than a Super Bowl victory?
How does remembering fit with Super Bowl celebrations?
Might the world and Satan want us to be confused about what it means to experience God?
What does it mean to know God?
Before the cross, did Jesus' disciples know God?
What does it mean to experience God's goodness God's way?
Is God's goodness something to celebrate?
More than a Super Bowl victory?
How does remembering fit with Super Bowl celebrations?
Might the world and Satan want us to be confused about what it means to experience God?
HOW DOES GOD WRITE HIS LAW ON THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE?
Do you have a good heart?
Surprise! This is not about you.
In Adam all are born with a rebellious heart, gripped by hiding and blaming.
Why? Violated accountability leads to SHAME, which leads to hiding and then blaming.
Accountability is the human security blanket used to abuse self and others.
Since to be human includes accountability, how can humans be free?
The Good Shepherd took on our identity as accountable to goodness and died the death that violation deserves.
Surprise! Conversion is following the shepherd to feast on His faithfulness, having died to one's own.
This new life is ours to experience now, but it is easy to get tricked into going back to feeding on human faithfulness.
Do the world and Satan have counterfeits of these matters with which to confuse us?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Do you have a good heart?
Surprise! This is not about you.
In Adam all are born with a rebellious heart, gripped by hiding and blaming.
Why? Violated accountability leads to SHAME, which leads to hiding and then blaming.
Accountability is the human security blanket used to abuse self and others.
Since to be human includes accountability, how can humans be free?
The Good Shepherd took on our identity as accountable to goodness and died the death that violation deserves.
Surprise! Conversion is following the shepherd to feast on His faithfulness, having died to one's own.
This new life is ours to experience now, but it is easy to get tricked into going back to feeding on human faithfulness.
Do the world and Satan have counterfeits of these matters with which to confuse us?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
THE SURPRISE IN LEARNING TO READ IN CONTEXT
Why do we need to learn to read in context?
What is the context of the Bible?
What is the context of life?
Why is learning full of surprises?
The early Hebrew Christian community was confused about their context.
Jesus had died to be Israel's sin manager -
to redeem them from law and give them the gift of righteousness.
What is our context? How does ours fit with theirs? What does it mean to live in His righteousness?
God is good and created the world to reveal His goodness, which is full of surprises.
Do Satan and the world have counterfeits to confuse us about the context of life and the Bible?
Below is the sermon visual aid of the Hebrews' OT context.
Why do we need to learn to read in context?
What is the context of the Bible?
What is the context of life?
Why is learning full of surprises?
The early Hebrew Christian community was confused about their context.
Jesus had died to be Israel's sin manager -
to redeem them from law and give them the gift of righteousness.
What is our context? How does ours fit with theirs? What does it mean to live in His righteousness?
God is good and created the world to reveal His goodness, which is full of surprises.
Do Satan and the world have counterfeits to confuse us about the context of life and the Bible?
Below is the sermon visual aid of the Hebrews' OT context.
WHAT IS FLESHLY RIGHTEOUSNESS?
The early Hebrew Christian community was confused about righteousness.
Old Testament system of gifts and sacrifices was inspired by God, but
Hebrews 9:9-10 declares this to be fleshly righteousnesses.
Is the flesh about humans at their best or their worst?
Is our root issue a desire to do bad things or to define goodness ourselves?
Are we satisfied that Jesus put away all sin (rebellion against goodness) by the sacrifice of himself?
Could this dissatisfaction be the source of our evil thoughts and actions?
Do the world and Satan have a counterfeit of the flesh to confuse us with?
If you were confused, would you want to know?
The early Hebrew Christian community was confused about righteousness.
Old Testament system of gifts and sacrifices was inspired by God, but
Hebrews 9:9-10 declares this to be fleshly righteousnesses.
Is the flesh about humans at their best or their worst?
Is our root issue a desire to do bad things or to define goodness ourselves?
Are we satisfied that Jesus put away all sin (rebellion against goodness) by the sacrifice of himself?
Could this dissatisfaction be the source of our evil thoughts and actions?
Do the world and Satan have a counterfeit of the flesh to confuse us with?
If you were confused, would you want to know?
ARE YOU ALWAYS CLEAN BEFORE GOD? - A SURPRISE
What does it mean to be clean?
At the cross Jesus brought cleansing into the world by putting away all sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Jesus did all the work for spiritual cleansing.
At Pentecost God cleansed His people from their old religious system of dead works.
The community is clean.
Have you been added into God's community?
Are you free from dead works?
A dead work is any work you need to do (Bible reading, praying, confession, etc) to be fully clean before God.
Is it possible to be unclean and yet pretend to be clean before God?
Is it possible be clean but to pretend to need more cleansing?
Do you pretend that it isn't finished for you or the people you interact with?
Do you pretend that Jesus didn't really put away all sin (rebellion against goodness) by the sacrifice of Himself?
Do the world and Satan have counterfeits concerning what it takes to be clean?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Is it good to forget about cleansing?
What does it mean to be clean?
At the cross Jesus brought cleansing into the world by putting away all sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Jesus did all the work for spiritual cleansing.
At Pentecost God cleansed His people from their old religious system of dead works.
The community is clean.
Have you been added into God's community?
Are you free from dead works?
A dead work is any work you need to do (Bible reading, praying, confession, etc) to be fully clean before God.
Is it possible to be unclean and yet pretend to be clean before God?
Is it possible be clean but to pretend to need more cleansing?
Do you pretend that it isn't finished for you or the people you interact with?
Do you pretend that Jesus didn't really put away all sin (rebellion against goodness) by the sacrifice of Himself?
Do the world and Satan have counterfeits concerning what it takes to be clean?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Is it good to forget about cleansing?
HOW DO WE DRAW NEAR TO GOD?
ARE YOU A HOLY PERSON?
If you are a Christian, does it bother you to say that you are a holy person?
Why?
Do the world and Satan have a counterfeit of holiness to deceive us with?
Holiness means to be different. Different from what?
What was the early Hebrew Christians' confusion about holiness?
What is our confusion today?
The world says that holiness is trying, but trying is disrespectful and not good.
If you have been tricked would you want to know it?
Listen for simple explanations of these things.
If you are a Christian, does it bother you to say that you are a holy person?
Why?
Do the world and Satan have a counterfeit of holiness to deceive us with?
Holiness means to be different. Different from what?
What was the early Hebrew Christians' confusion about holiness?
What is our confusion today?
The world says that holiness is trying, but trying is disrespectful and not good.
If you have been tricked would you want to know it?
Listen for simple explanations of these things.
CAN YOU SIN WILLFULLY? - Hebrews 10:26
What is sin anyway?
Might the world and Satan have counterfeits of willful sin?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Hint: What is the opposite of willful sin?
The word willful is translated voluntarily in its only other ocurrance - 1 Peter 5:2
Elders are to lead voluntarily and not under compulsion.
What??? Voluntary sin versus sin of compulsion.
OT law was a system of compulsory sin.
Israel was obligated to do rituals that didn't cleanse the conscience from sin,
but simply reminded them of their sin. They were trapped.
God didn't desire the system, but they did. They had begged him for it. - Deut 5:22-29
Why would a person voluntarily stay in sin (the old way of cleansing that didn't work and which God had ended)?
What is sin anyway?
Might the world and Satan have counterfeits of willful sin?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Hint: What is the opposite of willful sin?
The word willful is translated voluntarily in its only other ocurrance - 1 Peter 5:2
Elders are to lead voluntarily and not under compulsion.
What??? Voluntary sin versus sin of compulsion.
OT law was a system of compulsory sin.
Israel was obligated to do rituals that didn't cleanse the conscience from sin,
but simply reminded them of their sin. They were trapped.
God didn't desire the system, but they did. They had begged him for it. - Deut 5:22-29
Why would a person voluntarily stay in sin (the old way of cleansing that didn't work and which God had ended)?
HAVE YOU DONE THE WILL OF GOD?
What is the will of God anyway?
Might Satan and the world have a counterfeit of God's will to confuse us with?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Satan's lie here is so enticing.
Is God's will like a check list of behavior or a satisfaction with God's goodness?
Only those who do the will of God are welcomed by Him.
Listen to the simple resolution of scary verses.
What is the will of God anyway?
Might Satan and the world have a counterfeit of God's will to confuse us with?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Satan's lie here is so enticing.
Is God's will like a check list of behavior or a satisfaction with God's goodness?
Only those who do the will of God are welcomed by Him.
Listen to the simple resolution of scary verses.
FAITH IS FULL OF SURPRISES
How do you read the Bible - as a history lesson or a lesson in philosophy and good behavior?
Might the world and Satan want to confuse us about how to read the Bible?
If you have been tricked would you like to know?
Everything changed at the cross.
Faith is the new religion that Jesus poured out into the world at Pentecost.
Faith (a noun) is the new way to approach God by the blood of Christ without personal works.
The lie is that faith is about human optimism, about some kind of human faithfulness.
Faith (a verb) is confident expectation in the character of God--
the experience that Jesus is enough.
And this experience is full of surprises--in relationships and how one reads the Bible.
How do you read the Bible - as a history lesson or a lesson in philosophy and good behavior?
Might the world and Satan want to confuse us about how to read the Bible?
If you have been tricked would you like to know?
Everything changed at the cross.
Faith is the new religion that Jesus poured out into the world at Pentecost.
Faith (a noun) is the new way to approach God by the blood of Christ without personal works.
The lie is that faith is about human optimism, about some kind of human faithfulness.
Faith (a verb) is confident expectation in the character of God--
the experience that Jesus is enough.
And this experience is full of surprises--in relationships and how one reads the Bible.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK THE LORD?
Might Satan and the world have a counterfeit of seeking the Lord with which to confuse us?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
God wants people to seek Him in a good way.
What does righteousness have to do with seeking the Lord?
Is it good to lower standards in seeking to draw near to God?
Why did the OT prophets call Israel a prostitute?
What is the difference between law and grace?
Might Satan and the world have a counterfeit of seeking the Lord with which to confuse us?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
God wants people to seek Him in a good way.
What does righteousness have to do with seeking the Lord?
Is it good to lower standards in seeking to draw near to God?
Why did the OT prophets call Israel a prostitute?
What is the difference between law and grace?
GOD'S PLEASURE IS THE CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY
Might Satan and the world have a counterfeit testimony with which to fool people?
If you have been fooled would you like to know?
God was pleased with the sacrifice of the Son.
Is God's pleasure enough for you?
Are you fully righteous?
Are you fully pleasing to God?
Faith makes these possible.
Faith is not some form of positive mental attitude or personal faithfulness.
The Hebrews were confused in thinking that God required some work to please Him.
Faith is touching God's faithfulness--the work of Christ.
Might Satan and the world have a counterfeit testimony with which to fool people?
If you have been fooled would you like to know?
God was pleased with the sacrifice of the Son.
Is God's pleasure enough for you?
Are you fully righteous?
Are you fully pleasing to God?
Faith makes these possible.
Faith is not some form of positive mental attitude or personal faithfulness.
The Hebrews were confused in thinking that God required some work to please Him.
Faith is touching God's faithfulness--the work of Christ.
WHAT IS THE SIN THAT EASILY ENTANGLES?
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit of the easily entangling sin with which to confuse us?
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
Hebrews is a long simple explanation of the gospel,
for dull-of-hearing Hebrew saints who were under intense pressure
to go back to the old way of cleansing by law (human faithfulness).
Jesus' one sacrifice has put away all sin for all time.
Is that enough for you,
or do you too get tricked to go back to finding some satisfaction in human faithfulness?
Listen for application for today.
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit of the easily entangling sin with which to confuse us?
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
Hebrews is a long simple explanation of the gospel,
for dull-of-hearing Hebrew saints who were under intense pressure
to go back to the old way of cleansing by law (human faithfulness).
Jesus' one sacrifice has put away all sin for all time.
Is that enough for you,
or do you too get tricked to go back to finding some satisfaction in human faithfulness?
Listen for application for today.
WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU SEE JESUS?
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit of seeing Jesus with which to confuse us?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Luther wrote that Paul taught that Jesus was purely a grace giver and no lawgiver.
Luther said that because of his past, he was easily tricked into seeing Jesus as a lawgiver.
Do you ever see Jesus as a law giver?
How does one deal with sin if not by using the law?
Listen for the surprise of why you sin.
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit of seeing Jesus with which to confuse us?
If you have been tricked would you want to know?
Luther wrote that Paul taught that Jesus was purely a grace giver and no lawgiver.
Luther said that because of his past, he was easily tricked into seeing Jesus as a lawgiver.
Do you ever see Jesus as a law giver?
How does one deal with sin if not by using the law?
Listen for the surprise of why you sin.
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD -
IS IT ABOUT FOCUS OR BEHAVIOR?
Satan counterfeits everything Christian.
What is his counterfeit of the discipline of the Lord?
If you have been tricked to believe his lie, would you like to know?
Sin is rebellion against our proper place in the world.
Our proper place is to be satisfied with God's goodness and overflow with His goodness to others.
SURPRISE! - Bad behavior always results from a lack of satisfaction in God's goodness.
Discipline is the Greek word child training.
Is God's training of His dear children about their behavior or about maintaining focus on His goodness.
Listen for the simple explanation of how this works.
IS IT ABOUT FOCUS OR BEHAVIOR?
Satan counterfeits everything Christian.
What is his counterfeit of the discipline of the Lord?
If you have been tricked to believe his lie, would you like to know?
Sin is rebellion against our proper place in the world.
Our proper place is to be satisfied with God's goodness and overflow with His goodness to others.
SURPRISE! - Bad behavior always results from a lack of satisfaction in God's goodness.
Discipline is the Greek word child training.
Is God's training of His dear children about their behavior or about maintaining focus on His goodness.
Listen for the simple explanation of how this works.
GOD'S DISCIPLINE - LEARNING TO LEAN ON HIS UNDERSTANDING
Would Satan and the world have a counterfeit here to trick us with?
If you have been fooled to lean on your own understanding, would you want to know?
Were you born leaning on God's understanding?
God has given us gospel glasses to wear as we desire.
It is not good to take them off, but we often do.
Why do you do evil? Why do you stumble?
You have simply forgotten to use your gospel glasses.
Is Jesus enough for you right now?
That is what God's discipline is all about.
Would Satan and the world have a counterfeit here to trick us with?
If you have been fooled to lean on your own understanding, would you want to know?
Were you born leaning on God's understanding?
God has given us gospel glasses to wear as we desire.
It is not good to take them off, but we often do.
Why do you do evil? Why do you stumble?
You have simply forgotten to use your gospel glasses.
Is Jesus enough for you right now?
That is what God's discipline is all about.
GOD'S DISCIPLINE - DO YOU TRAIN ALONE?
Do Satan and the world have counterfeits of discipline to confuse us with?
If you were confused, would you want to know?
Discipline in Greek is child training.
God's training is all about us learning to be satisfied with His goodness.
Does God want you to learn this alone or in community with others?
Israel wanted redemption from Roman domination.
The Good Shepherd redeemed Israel from law and created a new community
of sheep who are called to feed on His faithfulness.
Do you want redemption from other people or with other people?
Surprise! All critics and troubles are opportunities to see Jesus together.
Did you rejoice that Jesus was enough for the last jerk you met?
Do Satan and the world have counterfeits of discipline to confuse us with?
If you were confused, would you want to know?
Discipline in Greek is child training.
God's training is all about us learning to be satisfied with His goodness.
Does God want you to learn this alone or in community with others?
Israel wanted redemption from Roman domination.
The Good Shepherd redeemed Israel from law and created a new community
of sheep who are called to feed on His faithfulness.
Do you want redemption from other people or with other people?
Surprise! All critics and troubles are opportunities to see Jesus together.
Did you rejoice that Jesus was enough for the last jerk you met?
GOD'S DISCIPLINE - WHOSE HOLINESS DO YOU SHARE?
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit of holiness?
If you have bought Satan's lie about holiness, would you want to know?
To be holy is to be different from the world.
God trains His children to be like Jesus and to love righteousness and to hate the dishonor of goodness.
Worldliness is counterfeit holiness and plays into our human fears.
It is a training in measuring human faithfulness and avoiding moral laziness.
Which voice of holiness do you hear?
The surprise in Hebrews 12 is its reference to to Isaiah 35
and the highway of God's holiness revealed at Pentecost.
The Good Shepherd leads God's sheep to walk that highway and to feed on His faithfulness.
Listen to the simple explanation and application of sharing in God's holiness.
The only reason you get upset is because you forgot to feed on God's faithfulness.
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit of holiness?
If you have bought Satan's lie about holiness, would you want to know?
To be holy is to be different from the world.
God trains His children to be like Jesus and to love righteousness and to hate the dishonor of goodness.
Worldliness is counterfeit holiness and plays into our human fears.
It is a training in measuring human faithfulness and avoiding moral laziness.
Which voice of holiness do you hear?
The surprise in Hebrews 12 is its reference to to Isaiah 35
and the highway of God's holiness revealed at Pentecost.
The Good Shepherd leads God's sheep to walk that highway and to feed on His faithfulness.
Listen to the simple explanation and application of sharing in God's holiness.
The only reason you get upset is because you forgot to feed on God's faithfulness.
DO YOU LIVE IN THE HEAVENLY CITY?
Do Satan and the world seek to confuse you about God's goodness to His people?
If you were confused would you want to know?
Heb 12:22 declares that a saved person has come home to the heavenly Jerusalem.
How is that possible while one still lives on earth?
Jesus died to redeem Israel from being a community under law.
At Pentecost God filled His people with His Spirit, His goodness, His new covenant of unmerited favor.
The Spirit is the community (the home) of the Father and Son come to earth. (John 14:23)
His faithfulness is our life.
Let's celebrate and invite everyone into the heavenly Jerusalem.
Do Satan and the world seek to confuse you about God's goodness to His people?
If you were confused would you want to know?
Heb 12:22 declares that a saved person has come home to the heavenly Jerusalem.
How is that possible while one still lives on earth?
Jesus died to redeem Israel from being a community under law.
At Pentecost God filled His people with His Spirit, His goodness, His new covenant of unmerited favor.
The Spirit is the community (the home) of the Father and Son come to earth. (John 14:23)
His faithfulness is our life.
Let's celebrate and invite everyone into the heavenly Jerusalem.
LOVE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD'S SURPRISE PARTY
Life is about hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd.
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit voice to confuse us with?
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
All people are born in the community of Adam with human faithfulness in the equation of life.
It is good to be faithful, but no humans are.
Jesus died to create a new humanity free from the pressure of human faithfulness--
free to be satisfied with His goodness, His faithfulness.
This new community is one of brotherly fondness founded on God's sin-bearing love at the cross.
Jesus is the only good sin manager and has already managed it all.
Brotherly fondness naturally overflows while one is feeding on His faithfulness.
The surprise is that the price of freedom is sufficient motivation for great celebration.
The command to love is the call to remember His faithfulness in putting away all rebellion at the cross.
SINCE THIS IS GOOD, WHY NOT OBEY RIGHT NOW?
APPLICATION - Whose faithfulness are you feeding on right now?
Life is about hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd.
Do Satan and the world have a counterfeit voice to confuse us with?
If you have been fooled would you want to know?
All people are born in the community of Adam with human faithfulness in the equation of life.
It is good to be faithful, but no humans are.
Jesus died to create a new humanity free from the pressure of human faithfulness--
free to be satisfied with His goodness, His faithfulness.
This new community is one of brotherly fondness founded on God's sin-bearing love at the cross.
Jesus is the only good sin manager and has already managed it all.
Brotherly fondness naturally overflows while one is feeding on His faithfulness.
The surprise is that the price of freedom is sufficient motivation for great celebration.
The command to love is the call to remember His faithfulness in putting away all rebellion at the cross.
SINCE THIS IS GOOD, WHY NOT OBEY RIGHT NOW?
APPLICATION - Whose faithfulness are you feeding on right now?
WHY ARE CHURCH LEADERS CALLED SHEPHERDS?
Why are God's people called sheep?
Have you been tricked into forgetting that you are simply a sheep?
Do church leaders ever get tricked into misleading God's sheep?
All people do shepherding work, leading self and others to feed on something.
The voice of heaven leads people to feed exclusively on God's faithfulness.
The voice of the world leads people to feed on human faithfulness.
Life overflows from the voice of the heart - what you eat is what you speak.
ARE YOU SATISFIED TO FEED ON GOD'S FAITHFULNESS?
Why are God's people called sheep?
Have you been tricked into forgetting that you are simply a sheep?
Do church leaders ever get tricked into misleading God's sheep?
All people do shepherding work, leading self and others to feed on something.
The voice of heaven leads people to feed exclusively on God's faithfulness.
The voice of the world leads people to feed on human faithfulness.
Life overflows from the voice of the heart - what you eat is what you speak.
ARE YOU SATISFIED TO FEED ON GOD'S FAITHFULNESS?
Letter to the Hebrews - Finale
THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS OUR LIFE
Hebrews is baby food gospel for confused Hebrew Saints.
Let's identify with their confusion in order to clarify some of our own.
The early Hebrew Christians were steeped in the Old Testament
but had become dull of hearing the word of righteousness
and had drifted from gospel back to law.
Might you have misunderstood their context?
Might you be dull of hearing?
Might you have drifted from gospel back to law?
Might that be why every verse in Hebrews is not crystal clear gospel to you?
All Christians are beloved sheep--
insecure, dumb, vulnerable,
helpless, easily distracted,
easily frightened, unable to be faithful,
and in desperate need of a faithful shepherd whose voice they can learn to trust.
"DWELL IN THE LAND AND FEED ON HIS FAITHFULNESS.'" -PSALM 37:3
THE GOOD SHEPHERD IS OUR LIFE
Hebrews is baby food gospel for confused Hebrew Saints.
Let's identify with their confusion in order to clarify some of our own.
The early Hebrew Christians were steeped in the Old Testament
but had become dull of hearing the word of righteousness
and had drifted from gospel back to law.
Might you have misunderstood their context?
Might you be dull of hearing?
Might you have drifted from gospel back to law?
Might that be why every verse in Hebrews is not crystal clear gospel to you?
All Christians are beloved sheep--
insecure, dumb, vulnerable,
helpless, easily distracted,
easily frightened, unable to be faithful,
and in desperate need of a faithful shepherd whose voice they can learn to trust.
"DWELL IN THE LAND AND FEED ON HIS FAITHFULNESS.'" -PSALM 37:3
