Hebrews Interactive Online Bible Study

Hebrews Two

~ 13 day walk through Hebrews ~

~ for the edification of the bride of Christ and centering on Him in these last days ~

(*rules of engagement)

Welcome:

Welcome to the online Hebrews Bible study. We welcome anyone who wishes to engage with us during these thirteen days and even go through and/or post after the study has ended. Want to learn more about this study, be sure to check out the Hebrews Bible Study Page here for more info.

Verses of Impact:

There are just so much that I love and am challenged by this chapter. Right off the bat I am reminded of my wretched state prior to conversion. I think: “I was that guy. I was that guy who blasphemed God, cursed His creation, and misused women. I was that guy who destroyed property, stole, and lied. I was that guy who hated with a passion, lead others astray and was imprisoned by lust, greed, anger, depression, alcohol and drugs. I was that guy! But oh how the grace of God radically set me free from my sins, gave me a new heart and made me come alive. (my testimony here). How could I ever think of NOT pay much closer attention to my faith and what I have heard?“

Below is a verse that the Lord has been having me to ponder for some time.

“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” 2:9

Amazing, simply amazing! If you wish to be a part of a new project that I am working on entitled, Seven Days Grace, feel free to check it out. Grace has been greatly distorted in our day and age (even during the early church). If because of the grace of God Christ tasted death, then let’s see to it that no one falls short of the true grace of God (Hebrews 12:15).

 

Guest Commentary:

Guest Commentaries for today are from sister Lynn Clark and brother Billy Witt.

Hebrews 2

by sister Lynn Clark – USA

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We must take care of the gospel taught to us and confirmed by the Holy Spirit within us, renewing our minds daily grabbing hold of his salvation he suffered to give us. grabbing hold of the word.

Christ has been given dominion over all things, Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death has been crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. All whom would be saved.

That through death He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

He is our sacrificial lamb, he litterly laid his very life down, shed his precious atoning blood paid our debt, took our sins that separated us from a Holy God, so we whom believe and repent and follow Christ, He has set us free, we are sanctified, endowed by the Holy Spirit, The sons and daughter of God.

believe this is an exortation by Paul that we take seriously the gospel that has been given to us, our minds eye seeing the Power of the cross Christ bore for our sins, We must never lose sight of the cross. Christ Jesus bringng us to salvation through his death and resurrection as he so suffered and was tempted, he overcame and sat down at the right hand of God. he is our High Priest and he knows our sufferings and temptations, let us hold steadfast to our Lord and his salvation. Hebrews has so much more to say about our relationship and obedience with our Lord and Savior, it is a very serious yet encouraging book of the bible.

I have appreciated the above comments very fruitful, look forward to further study.

Blessing to you all, sister lynn

Taking Christ Seriously

by brother Billy Witt – TN, USA

facebook / GospelFellowshipsTN (blog page)

 

I. Taking Christ Seriously 

A. Warning Against Drifting From Christ
Hebrews 2:1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift awayfrom it.

The writer of Hebrews believes “we,” all, everyone in Christ can drift away from the truth concerning Christ, thus Christ himself! Drift means to be carried slowly away, almost unknowingly from in this case Christ Gospel! That’s why the Hebrew Christians were warned that they needed to pay much closer attention to what they had heard, so they would not be slowly moved away from it. When I’m in a river, or ocean, I’ve noticed I’m moved almost unknowingly at times by the current, when I’m not putting forth effort to stay in one place. This could be extremely dangerous! Dear brothers and sisters have you been drifting slowly away from Christ without realizing it, due to not putting forth effort to stay close to Him?

B. Warning Against Neglecting Christ
Hebrews 2:2-4 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

The book of Numbers reveals God’s covenant people, carelessly neglecting or drifting away from Gods authoritative orders within His covenant with them time and time again. Like them we to are now in a Covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ and seem to be also drifting away time and time again. However if their punishment in the old covenant for, “transgression and disobedience received a just penalty.” In a covenant that was not sealed by God’s blood, but by the blood of mere animals, while awaiting something better. Then “how will we escape”, plural, meaning every blood bought saint. “If we neglect,” meaning treat carelessly, show little concern for or, too little attention to Christ and His authoritative orders to us? Now the author, whom had heard of this great salvation, presented flawlessly no doubt through the apostles themselves concerning Christ and his Lordship, pushes this great warning on the Hebrew believers and on every Christian since. The question I pose to you dear brothers and sisters is are we likewise neglecting our relationship with Christ, and if so “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

II. Marveling

A. Marveling at God’s Favor

Hebrews 2:5-8 For He [God] did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Here the passages are saturated with God’s sovereignty. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,” For God has planned to put the coming world under the authority of His Sons and Daughters through Christ, highly exalting us. This honor has not been given to the angels in their glorious splendor and magnificent power, but to mere dust particles from earths ground. David was astonished of the fact that God shows such concern for us, caring and even providing for us! While both Job and I must cry out “I am insignificant.” Have you realized that we are Christ creation, created through an already created creation, and that we will be one day “crowned…with glory and honor?” That we will be “appointed… over the works of [Gods] hands,” and that we will “have all things put in subjection under our feet,” and that Christ has “made [us] to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and [we] will reign upon the earth,” in the future tense? So repent and humble yourself you who are arrogant. Bow down and submit to Christ and His Lordship. “Do homage to the Son that He not become angry and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled…,” “For God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Remember therefore your beginning and that God the Father has not yet subjected all things to us, nor to you.

B. Marveling at Christ Sacrifice

Hebrews 2:9-11a But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

We now move from lower case him to upper case Him, from finite to infinite, from the needy to the needed. As the author says, “we do see Him,” we do! He was lowered lower than the angels when He took on humanity, but brought to the highest point possible when he then took control of death and captivity. As the author says, “it was fitting” meaning right, suitable ,or appropriate for God the Father “in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings,” meaning “pain, distress, or great hardships. “Perfect, how do you perfect the already perfected? As is later noted in Hebrews, “all though He was a son He learned obedience through the things that He suffered.” Untested obedience cannot be considered perfected obedience. Thus the Christ had to suffer for faith reveals itself through action and for faith to be realized it must be tested, and of course our great leader passed the testing’s, and can now lead us through ours, since he himself understands our plight. So prepare to, “take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”For, “indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” Just as our Lord was. So hold your head up and constantly, “consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”Follow Him, our captain, and our king, for through Him we have final victory.

C. Marveling At Christ Acceptance

Hebrews 2:11-13 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” And again, “I will put My trust in Him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.

Not only is Christ our captain, but he is also “the firstborn among many brethren,” for we are“All from one father (God),” for which reason he (Christ) is not ashamed to call (us) brethren.” Brethren, is simply the plural for brother, and it seems to denote, family, and is a huge humbly acknowledgement to me, that our Lord claims us using such close and personal terms! He looks on mere dust as brothers, and sons of His Father.  Such a profound truth does beg a profound question. Are we treating our brothers and sisters in Christ as brothers and sisters in Christ literally? I mean if he can claim you and even me with all our flaws, can we not much lower than Him love our brethren as He our older brother does? For not only does Christ claim us, but as our author points out He’s also not ashamed of us. Saying, “behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.” There is a holy pride in these words, as though He has been given things of great worth. Let us acknowledge our brothers and sisters as very precious to our Lord; each one costing such a high cost that we cannot truly comprehend their true worth through Him.

D. Marveling At Christ Humanity

Hebrews 2:14-18 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

 

On ending, do you remember what an angel said to Joseph regarding Jesus? “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Save means to rescue, or free,  so if you have been drifting or neglecting Christ, been prideful, or unloving to your brethren or are trapped in a  besetting sin you”…do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with [your] weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore…draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that [you] may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” For Christ is merciful to saints who come to him in repentance, offering grace to sustain them from the strongest temptations! “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” So let us go to Him for all our needs, and to know Him more personally day by day saints.

 

After Thoughts:

In my book, “Realities of a True Christian,” I used a quote from the book, “Revival God’s Way.” If we paid much closer attention to what we have heard and have truly experienced the new birth, would we have statistics as we do below. Keep in mind the date of the quote.

“Here is a report of a survey of 10,000 Protestant ministers conducted by Sociologist Jeffrey Hadden; 7,441 responded to the questions. Here are the horrifying statistics. Read them, then wonder why God is grieved with our spiritual life. (I am indebted to Christ for the Nations, May 1982, for this information.)”[1]

 

Bible – inspired Word of God?         

82% of Methodists said “No”

81% of Presbyterians said “No”

89% of Episcopals said “No”

57% of American Lutherans said “No”

 

Jesus the Son of God?

82% of Methodists said “No”

81% of Presbyterians said “No”

89% of Episcopals said “No”

75% of American Lutherans said “No”

 

Physical resurrection of Jesus?           

51% of Methodists said “No”

35% of Presbyterians said “No”

30% of Episcopals said “No”

33% of Baptists said “No”

13% of American Lutherans said “No”

 

[1] Revival God’s Way, pg 145, Leonard Ravenhill, Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 1983, used by permission