Sound Teaching

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Having established that Jesus is Mediator of a better covenant, we note the necessity of this New Covenant. Seeing it is better shows the old covenant to be lesser, or as stated, faulty. (Only in that it had no provision for mercy. Thus, could not bring redemption to man. That was not God’s intent in establishing it).

The fault ultimately being with sinful man, God designed provision from before the world began for this second covenant, with Jesus as that means of providing mercy and redemption. This is seen from a prophetic declaration from Jeremiah 31:31-34, which the Hebrew writer quotes in verses 8-12. For our point, note the following words: “Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant… For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

This new covenant was ratified and established by Jesus’ death on the cross. As is true with covenants (testaments), the ratification of the new makes the old obsolete. These Jewish Christians needed to know what they were pining for was obsolete and “ready to vanish away.”

Paul began his second letter to the Corinthians with words of blessing to the Almighty. He wrote:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

In the Greek, the phrase “Blessed be…” is basically identical to the thought “Let us give thanks…” We are truly to be thankful to God for all of the comfort and mercy He shows to us in our lives. David wrote, “As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13). In fact, we need to be fully aware of dependence upon our Father.

The interesting aspect of this passage is how Paul reveals that God’s mercy enables us in our ministry to others! Paul had been delivered from many troubles in his ministry as an apostle. His message was, God has comforted me in my tribulations, therefore I bring comfort to you in turn.

This is something that all of us should strive for. We should seek to look outside of our own suffering. Such selflessness strengthens us, and will help us both to sympathize and to help others in their tribulation. We learn from our trials. They help us to be helpful!

A discussion of Paul’s command to the Colossians in 2:6-15. what it means, and the reasons behind walking in Him.

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The fourth and fifth chapters of the book of Judges give a riveting account of a battle between the Israelites and Canaanites during a time when Jabin the king of Canaan had subjugated the Israelites. This was allowed because “the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord” (4:1).

A central character in the narrative was Sisera, who commanded Jabin’s army. The army was strong, with 900 chariots of iron. The Israelites had suffered under the rule of Jabin for 20 years.

After a period of chastisement, God would heed the cries of the people, and raise up judges to end the oppression. He brought peace and prosperity back to the people of Israel. On this occasion that judge was a woman, Deborah, who also was a prophetess of God.

God gave the command, and Deborah called upon a man named Barak to lead the army of the Lord. Her words to Barak, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you 10,000 men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand?’” (4:6-7). Continue reading “Most Blessed Among Women” →

Here is another point of contrast between Jesus as High Priest, and the priests under the old covenant. If Jesus were on earth, he would not be a priest. The earthly priesthood (Jewish or Levitical) had already been tasked with offering up gifts according to that law.

This included (as seen in our text) all that which was revealed by Moses. It is important to note that those fleshly things, like the sacrifices, and the tabernacle itself were a “copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” This is that type/antitype comparison. The old law, Levitical priesthood, the animal sacrifices, and the temple/tabernacle were types.

The antitype, Jesus, has “obtained a more excellent ministry.” The new law is “better” than the the old law. The new priesthood is better than the old priesthood. The new sacrifice (Christ Himself) is better than the old animal sacrifices. Heaven itself, where Christ serves as High Priest, is far better than the physical tabernacle or temple!

Finally, the promises are better as well. Eternal life in the presence of God is infinitely better than the physical blessings given to the Jews.

In Peter’s second letter he refers to his purpose in writing both epistles, “in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder” (2 Peter 3:1).

Two things in this phrase are worth mentioning. Peter first considered the minds of his readers as “pure.” This is from the Greek word eilikrin?s. This word is a compound word taken from one which means judge, and another which means sun-ray. I love the imagery, judged by the sun! In effect, something that is unsullied, it is seen to be pure when it is seen by the light of day. God’s examination of Peter’s readers show them to be among the faithful, true servants of the Almighty.

And yet there was danger. They needed what we all need, for our minds to be stirred up! This means we need active minds, those which are stimulated or aroused, in this context by reminding them of things they already knew. In his first epistle it was a call to holy living and an adherence to God’s will (cf. 1 Peter 1:13-17, 22-25; 2:9-24; 3:8-22; 4:3-7, 12-19; 5:4, 8-11). In this second epistle, the entire second chapter consists of the warning to avoid false teachers and their error!

It’s good whenever we are reminded of the things of God. It is important to review, to be stirred up and be mindful of God’s word!

The inspiration for this short article comes from my son’s fine sermon (6/14/21) titled Spiritual Sobriety. Early in the lesson he spoke of the reasons why people today drink alcohol. One of the main reasons is that alcohol lowers inhibitions. Alcohol is a depressant to the body. It slows you down (your reflexes and brain). It also clouds judgment and lowers self-control. It slows down the pre-frontal cortex which acts as the command center for executive function, impulse control, and long-term consequence planning. It also alters neurotransmitters further relaxing the brain and reducing restraint, making rational decision-making much more difficult.

Sounds bad, doesn’t it. And yet people love to drink! Why? These effects feel good! People fell less stressed, often have more (though misplaced) confidence, and because they feel “loose” laugh and interact more easily. Later on, they may regret what they say or how they interact, but in the moment they feel good. Continue reading “Heightened Inhibitions” →

Preacher: Josh Cox.

A lesson taken from 1 Peter 5:8-9 showing the importance of a sober life as Christian in order to protect ourselves against the Devil.

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I came across a phrase with which I was not familiar the other day, “hedonic adaptation.” Looking up the meaning of the phrase I read, “Hedonic adaptation is the psychological tendency to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness after major positive or negative life events. Also known as the ‘hedonic treadmill,’ it explains why the initial thrill of a new purchase or a major life milestone eventually fades, bringing our emotions back to a baseline set point.” Simply put, it is getting used to pleasure!

The conversation which used this phrase used it in the context of social commentary on our culture. The man quoted from Warren Buffett, a philanthropist who as of this year is the ninth wealthiest man in the world (146 Billion dollars). Buffett was talking about an earlier rich man, John D. Rockefeller who lived from 1839- 1937. Rockefeller was the richest man in the United States, and the world at that time. Adjusted for inflation, his net worth is estimated to have been between 400 and 600 Billion dollars. Continue reading “Hedonic Adaptation” →

The Hebrew writer’s discussion of Melchizedek was given to prove an important point. As Christians, we have a uniquely effective high priest. All of the attributes of Melchizedek. – without end, both Priest and King, show him to be a type of Jesus Christ. These point to a High Priest, “who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (1).

As such, Jesus is a Minister of something far greater than the physical tabernacle or temple. Solomon built a temple to God. The true place of God is heaven itself where Jesus Christ reigns at the right hand of His Father. This is the tabernacle where He serves as High Priest.

Not only does Jesus serve as High Priest, He is also the once for all sin offering for mankind. The blood of bulls and goats, offered by the Levitical priests, could not take away sin (10:4). In contrast the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was sufficient to appease the justice of God.

Since it is the duty of a high priest to offer “both gifts and sacrifices” (3), Jesus fulfills His purpose in offering Himself to God for man.

Have you read the description of the Cretans in Paul’s letter to Titus? “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:16). His assessment agrees with a Cretan prophet who said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (1:12). Paul had also described these people as being idle talkers, deceivers, subverters of whole households, teaching things they ought not for the sake of dishonest gain (1:10-11)

Paul had left Titus in Crete (1:5) to appoint elders in every city, to help deal with these people. They were to be men of faithfulness regarding doctrine, that were “able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (1:9).

Titus himself had a responsibility in the midst of this conflict with evil men. Paul wrote to him, “Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth” (Titus 1:13-14). Continue reading “Cretans Are Always Liars” →

The period of the judges, revealed in the book by the same name was by and large a time of darkness in Israel. The land was only partially subjugated by the Jews, and there were uprisings and battles throughout the period. One of the primary purposes of any judge was to deliver Israel during times of conflict. A verse in chapter 17 indicates how ignorance and anarchy was often present, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6).

This verse occurs in the specific context of a man named Micah, who was practicing idolatry. “The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest” (5).

This shows that at that time, the laws of Israel were not being kept. No king was there to enforce the law. Further, as the law was the law of God, men were only doing their will, not God’s.

The same is often true today. Especially regarding obedience to God. Rather than following His will exclusively, too many are doing “what is right in [their] own eyes.”  This is not, nor ever has been acceptable. God has revealed His complete will for us, (James 1:25). That will is to submitted to and followed by every man. No exceptions!

Claims have been made that God is not fair throughout history.  Nehemiah had the proper perspective as a penitent and righteous man to destroy such thoughts in Nehemiah 9. God is certainly fair in His dealings with man!

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