Got a High Priest? (A Look at Hebrews 4:14-16) Part 4 Conclusion

My friends and I have been reading through the book of Hebrews. This week we’re reading Hebrews 4 together. I describe our Bible-reading covenant here and recommend that you consider doing the same with a few of your friends!

As we conclude our discussion of the Lord Jesus as our great High Priest, we read the following in Hebrews 4 —

In our three posts we’ve seen that: (1) Jesus is our “great” high priest — and we need to focus on Him! (2) That He has ascended into heaven (v. 14) and is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us! (3) That His role as our high priest should motivate us to “hold firmly to the faith we profess” (v. 14). (4) That we must notice what we don’t have! We don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses!

(5) We also saw that our great high priest has been tempted in every way like we are — yet without sin (v. 15)! Our sixth observation was that (6) We have every reason to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence (v. 16)!

As we conclude this brief study today, I want to remind us of (7) what we receive when we approach God’s throne of grace. We receive not judgment or condemnation, but MERCY and GRACE.  And those two gifts are given to “help us in our time of need.”

Today’s Challenge: What a simple word — HELP! It’s just four letters’ long, but boldly proclaims our utter need for God in our lives! What NEED do you have that causes you to simply cry out to the Lord . . . “HELP!”? Don’t hesitate to do just that. And tell another believer of your situation.

 

 

Got a High Priest? (A Look at Hebrews 4:14-16) Part 3

My friends and I have been reading through the book of Hebrews. This week we’re reading Hebrews 4 together. I describe our Bible-reading covenant here and recommend that you consider doing the same with a few of your friends!

As we continue our discussion of the Lord Jesus as our great High Priest, we read the following in Hebrews 4 —

We’ve seen in our first two posts that: (1) Jesus is our “great” high priest — and we need to focus on Him! (2) That He has ascended into heaven (v. 14) and is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us! (3) That His role as our high priest should motivate us to “hold firmly to the faith we profess” (v. 14). (4) and that we must notice what we don’t have! We don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses!

Let’s make two other observations from our text. (5) We see that our great high priest has been tempted in every way like we are — yet without sin (v. 15)! Temptation is not sin. If you need a really good book on temptation and sin, well . . . I tried to write a good one a few years ago entitled When Temptation Strikes! (And I’ll send you a free copy if you ask me).

Our sixth observation is — (6) We have every reason to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence (v. 16)! How can that be? We are sinners who are tempted, who need to be told to “hold firmly” to the faith, who often fail. But His throne is a “throne of grace” — and that’s what I need.

Today’s Challenge: Do you ever find yourself thinking, “Jesus just wouldn’t understand what I’m going through right now!”? Well, with all the pastoral kindness I can muster, REPENT of that thought! And thank God for your great high priest who has been tempted in every way that you are tempted. And stands ready to help you with the grace that only He can provide!

 

 

Ruminating on ROMANS! (Some Thoughts on Paul’s Great Epistle) #15 “Eight Blessings of Belief” (A Study of Romans 5:1-5) Blessing #4

Many of you know that my New Jersey friend Frank and I are reading through God’s Word together (described here). We’re now in the book of Romans and are reading chapter 5 each day this week. Here is something that I noticed in reading this chapter:

Here are the eight blessings that I see in this passage:

1. Justified through faith (v. 1)

2. Peace with God

3. Gained access into this grace (v. 2)

4. Boasting in the hope of the glory of God

5. Glory in our sufferings (vv. 3-4)

6. A hope that does not put us to shame (v. 5)

7. God’s love poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit

8. The Holy Spirit has been given to us

We will think about each of these blessings — one by one — in subsequent posts. Let’s notice this morning the fourth blessing: WE CAN NOW BOAST IN THE HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD (v. 2).

I will be the first to admit that I don’t have a clue what that expression means! Boasting in the Lord makes perfect sense. Boasting in our salvation — brought about by His grace — makes perfect sense. What does it mean to “boast in the hope of the glory of God”?

We will see in our next blessing that we are to “glory in our sufferings”! Perhaps this boasting in the hope of the glory of God is one way to describe our settled position in Christ. We have the certain hope that we will share in His glory and live forever in the presence of the beauty and magnificence of the Trinune God.

But right now — I’ve got some boasting to do.  And so do you. Talk about your hope in Christ today — and brag about His grace and mercy in saving you!

 

Ruminating on ROMANS! (Some Thoughts on Paul’s Great Epistle) #14 “Eight Blessings of Belief” (A Study of Romans 5:1-5) Blessing #3

Many of you know that my New Jersey friend Frank and I are reading through God’s Word together (described here). We’re now in the book of Romans and are reading chapter 5 each day this week. Here is something that I noticed in reading this chapter:

Here are the eight blessings that I see in this passage:

1. Justified through faith (v. 1)

2. Peace with God

3. Gained access into this grace (v. 2)

4. Boasting in the hope of the glory of God

5. Glory in our sufferings (vv. 3-4)

6. A hope that does not put us to shame (v. 5)

7. God’s love poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit

8. The Holy Spirit has been given to us

We will think about each of these blessings — one by one — in subsequent posts. Let’s notice this morning the third blessing: WE HAVE GAINED ACCESS INTO THIS GRACE (v. 2).

The exact statement is: “we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” We have obtained entrance into God’s concert of grace. The ticket that let us in was not obtained by our works, but by the finished work of Christ. No bouncer can kick us out. We have every right to enter fully into God’s saving grace. And we are to stand strong in that grace.

Today, thank the Lord for your free and complete salvation in the Lord Jesus — by grace through faith in Him! And stand in that wonderful truth!

 

His Indescribable Gift! (2 Corinthians 9:5)

Friends: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that my friend Frank (in New Jersey) and I have been doing an email Bible study for over a year. We read the same chapter every day for a week — and then send a brief email of encouragement to each other. We’ve completed most of the epistles of the New Testament — and it’s been a great discipline for both of us.

Let’s further notice some significant truths in chapter ten:

His Indescribable Gift! (2 Corinthians 9:5)

I. The Source of That Gift: God Himself!

>>> No one can out-give God!

II. The Description of That Gift: Indescribable!

>>> The candy bar “Almond Joy” was marketed as “indescribably delicious!” On this vintage box we read: “When they ask for Almond Joy and you’re out of stock, There go your profits! Plunk! Like a rock!”

III. The Response to That Gift: Giving Thanks!

Today’s Challenge: What did God give? He gave Himself! Pastor John Piper makes the point (in his book God Is the Gospel) that when you trusted Christ, you got GOD! Live today as someone who has been gifted — by God Himself!

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Entitlement)

Wow, does Calvin articulate the spirit of many today. This sense that the world owes us everything is a devastating philosophy. Biblical Christianity rests on the fundamental truth that we don’t get what we deserve. We get grace. And it’s up to us to receive that grace.

 

It’s All Grace! (I Cor. 15:9-11)

Friends: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that my friend Frank (in New Jersey) and I have been doing an email Bible study for over a year. We read the same chapter every day for a week — and then send a brief email of encouragement to each other. We’ve completed most of the epistles of the New Testament — and it’s been a great discipline for both of us.

We’re now in the book of I Corinthians. And we just started reading I Corinthians 15 on Easter Sunday! I want to occasionally post an outline of what I’m learning from my reading. Here’s my outline from I Corinthians 15:9-11:

 

Time for a Great Commercial — Thinking of SELF?

Okay. I admit. I have a lot of admiration for good commercial-makers! And how about those lines?
“I secret Santa-ed myself!”
“I shouldn’t have. I have been very good this year!”

Aren’t you glad God thought of US when He sent His Son! ‘Cause we aren’t good. Have a great day!

 

Amazing Grace — The Sweetest Song I Know! (Great Song from Advent Euphony Zimbabwe)

 

A Spiritually Healthy Family (A Study of the Epistle to Titus) (Part 4 of 5)

God’s Word has so much to say to families today! All 66 books of the Bible can provide tremendous truth and help in raising our families and forming our families into God-honoring units before a lost and dying world!

I am looking forward to Family Camp at Camp Elim in Woodland Park, Colorado, on May 25-27.  There I will get  to preach five messages — and I’ve chosen to study the epistle to Titus from the perspective of the spiritually healthy family. Let’s read carefully the second chapter of Titus once again:

We have already seen that the spiritually healthy family cares deeply about the local church (1:1-9) and that, secondly, it recognizes false teaching in its many forms and opposes it (1:10-16). In our last post we saw that the spiritually healthy family appreciates and applies the clear instructions of God’s Word (2:1-10).

Let’s notice fourthly in this chapter that —

The spiritually healthy family —

IV. Allows God’s Grace to Have Its Full Power in Their Lives! (vv. 11-15)

[I have to confess that this passage — Titus 2:11-15 — is one of my favorites!]

We learn in this passage that God’s Grace —

I. Is a Salvation-Bringing Grace (v. 11)

Salvation is the rock-bottom foundation for a spiritually healthy family!

II. Is a Teaching Grace (v. 12)

Note both the negative and the positive aspects of grace’s teaching.

III. Is a Waiting Grace (v. 13)

How is the deity of the Lord Jesus shown here?

IV. Is a Purifying Grace (v. 14)

What is the logical expression of our gratitude for God’s purifying grace?

V. Is an Encouraging Grace (v. 15)

If you study the so-called five love languages, words of affirmation is a critical way to encourage others!

(We will conclude this five-part series in our next post)