Sound Teaching

Paul gave an encouraging message to the Thessalonians in his first letter to them, in chapter 5. He refers to the “times and the seasons” (1), referencing the second coming of Jesus.

Teaching concerning Christ’s coming in judgment had been given by the Lord Himself. He said, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:43-44). Paul uses the same language here in referencing Christ’s final return, noting this was a truth with which they were familiar. “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (2). Continue reading “The Times and the Seasons” →

In the previous section, the Hebrew writer showed the inviolability of the hope that is ours in Christ. It exists because of God’s righteousness, and the oath He made to us that a faithful life would be rewarded.

Here we have a discussion of the nature of this promised hope. It is the anchor of our faith. The metaphor is used only here in scripture, though it was a common illustration in the Greek language. Our hope is what gives us calmness and assurance during the storms of life. The mental picture we have of a spiritual reward at the end of our lives sustains us during all times good and bad.

The second metaphor, “which enters the Presence behind the veil” is sometimes not understood.” Personally I love Dan King’s short explanation of the phrase: “The point is that the Christian’s anchor of hope is not dropped into an earthly sea, but passes beyond the curtain of mystery to the heavenly realms. There it moors us to the very throne of God.”

This is the same place where our Savior resides, exalted forever as our High Priest on His throne in Heaven by the Father (cf. Philippians 2:9-11).

A simple examination of the book of Hebrews shows it to be a comparison and contrast between what went before, and what is now present in the kingdom of Christ. A simple way to think about the book is that it is about the better things in Jesus. A better covenant, a better Lawgiver, a better rest, a better High Priest, a better Sacrifice, a better sanctuary.

The book was written to a Jewish group that was faltering in their faith in Christ. They were pulled by the past to embrace their previous relationship to God through the old law, and were questioning their commitment to Jesus. This was in part because they had not grown as Christians, and needed “someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (5:12).

They had faltered in their growth disappointing the writer, but he had not lost all his trust in them. After his admonition he said, “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation” (9). Here we have an important truth revealed. Since what Jesus has brought is better, better things are required of us as well! “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, what at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (2:3).

This section of Hebrews gives us the firm basis of our hope. It is in the person and character of God. He uses an example of a promise God made to Abraham to bless Him, “because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself” (13).

We know that an oath is binding. That is why we ask those testifying in court to “swear to tell the truth.” If they lie after swearing this, it is legal perjury and punishable by law.

God swore by Himself. This is the strongest oath He could have taken, as no one is greater than God Himself. Then there is God’s character, one who cannot be tempted to sin (cf. James 1::13). As such, God can’t lie. Since He can’t lie, and He further swore an oath, we know that the promise to Abraham was inviolable.

The Hebrew writer used this example to note that our hope of salvation is based upon these same two immutable things. God’s promise, and His person. As such we “might have strong consolation” (18). God promised it, so we can have certain trust in our hope!

We are called by God. We have been chosen for salvation. We are the elect. Ephesians 1 tells us this choosing took place before the world was founded.

We are creatures with free will. God calls us to believe and obey the gospel. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

These two truths must be resolved for us to have a proper understanding of scripture. Paul does this in 2 Thessalonians. The explanation is a that we are predestined as a collective or a group, not individually. God chose those who responded positively to the gospel of Christ. Our free will allows us to determine whether we will be in that group or not. Also, it determines whether we will stay in that group once we begin our Christian walk. Consider Paul’s words:

“…God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(2 Thessalonians 2:13b-3:1)

The chosen, the sanctified, the elect are those who believe the truth. They are called by the gospel of Jesus Christ. So we must ask, when the gospel calls will you listen and obey?

A discussion of Apostasy, noting that our eternal crown will be given to us at judgment.  What is this crown, and is it possible for a Christian to lose their soul?

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A Discussion of the words and phrases used by Peter in his first epistle to describe Christians.  Each phrase has its own lesson.

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After admonishing the Hebrew Christians for their lack of zeal in pursuing the knowledge God wanted them to embrace, and warning of the possible consequences, Paul here reaffirms his love for them. He states that even though he spoke harshly in admonition and warning, he was confident they would grow and gain their salvation.

The primary basis for this confidence is God’s love and longsuffering toward His children. It was not too late for them. He acknowledged their present love and service toward one another. This is interesting in that is shows faithfulness in one area does not ensure safety before God. Doing some things well is not enough if other things are being neglected.

Paul desired that the same diligence they showed in some areas be present in all aspects of their Christian walk, and that it be maintained “until the end.”

This final exhortation is for continued zeal. Remember the possibility that we can be faithful for a while, then falter. We can become lukewarm (cf. Rev. 3:14-22). To do so is to forfeit our inheritance!

The similarities of Elijah and John the Baptist is an example of Biblical Typology.  An examination of their similarities also have great application to all Christians.

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A discussion of the necessity of repentance, and what it is.  This truth is seen throughout the Bible.

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Neglecting the elementary principles of God’s word, and failing to grow in the word makes a Christian vulnerable. Verses 4-8 are a crystal clear warning of the possibility of apostasy. This directly contradicts the preeminent doctrine held to by many, commonly called “once save always saved.”

Consider: The full context of Hebrews shows a letter written to faltering Christians, whose return to the Old Law with which they were familiar was a return to a system that could not save.

In our verses, we read of individuals who were enlightened by the gospel, and “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come”, indicating they were Christians. The phrase “if they fall away” is not an impossible hypothetical (an absurd concept), but a description of what will happen should their faith weaken as warned.

What is referred to is the possibility of one who once was saved losing his salvation eternally. Verses 7 and 8 note the distinction: Bearing good fruit brings praise, bad fruit rejection, “whose end is to be burned.”

In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul described the characteristic walk of worldly people. He refers to them here as “the rest of the Gentiles” (17). For the Jew, Gentiles were considered to be unclean (cf. Acts 10:16). God declared that under the new covenant the important thing was not your nationality, but whether you have faith in Jesus Christ. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:28-29). Therefore Paul’s reference here to the Gentiles is not to the physical Gentile but the man who has not been washed or sanctified before Him.

His description of them? They were futile in their thinking, with darkened understanding. They had given themselves over to lewdness, uncleanness and greediness.

This type of behavior is antithetical to being a Christian, an inward Jew. This is why in verse 20 of Ephesians 4, Paul wrote, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus.” Christ teaches us that when we are separated to God through faith, we are to live our lives as a “new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (24). Learn from Him!

An examination of 2 Corinthians 1:3-14, as the Apostle Paul gives instructions to the young evangelist Timothy concerning his faith and ministry.

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A discussion of Ephesians 4:17-24 as the apostle describes the New Man in Jesus, contrasting him with the old man before our conversion.

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