WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”   Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him; For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by an unknown human author under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the Hebrew believers and indirectly to all believers.  In this eleventh chapter the author discusses “faith,” including what it is and how it is put into action.  He begins with a definition of what “faith” is. (Hebrews 11:1)  Faith depends on The Lord God and He is the object of our faith.  It is based upon our belief in Him and not in the things that we can see.  The author then presents several practical examples of how faith was demonstrated in the past by certain individuals including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, and Moses. (Hebrews 11:2-11 and 11:17-31)  Then he mentioned some of the things that people went through and endured because of their faith. (Hebrews 11:32-38)

 

APPLICATION

Faith requires a belief in God.  Our salvation is based upon our belief in The Lord God.  Our earthly and heavenly rewards are based upon our works, living a Christian life.  Our salvation comes by faith, and our Christian walk also depends on our faith.  It was by faith that Enoch walked with God. (Genesis 5:24)  The faith which guides our walk cannot be seen, but the people around us can see the effects of our faith in our behavior and actions.  We are blessed for believing without seeing. (John 20:29)  The only way we can please The Lord God is by having faith in Him. (Hebrews 11:1)  If we have faith in Him, then we must walk, talk, and act in such a way as to demonstrate it because faith without works is dead and meaningless. (James 2:26)

 

LET US HOLD ON TO OUR FAITH

PROCLAMATION

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith … Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering … Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; But exhorting one another; And so much the more, as ye see The Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:22-25 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the unknown human author, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the Hebrew believers and indirectly to all believers.   The author begins this tenth chapter by continuing the discussion of Christ’s sacrifice once and for all, and the covenant that He made with His people. (Hebrews 10:1-18)  Then he presents a call to the believers to persevere in the faith. (Hebrews 10:19-25)  After this he discusses the implications which could result if they keep on committing the same sin and falling away from God after they have received the knowledge of the truth. (Hebrews 10:26-35)  He ends the chapter encouraging them to persevere and not to shrink back from their faith. (Hebrews 10:36-39) 

 

APPLICATION

We need to hold on to our faith and exercise it, for The Lord God who made the promise to us is coming back. (Hebrews 10:36-37)  He will not be pleased with us if we shrink back from our faith. (Hebrews 10:38)  Not only are we to keep the faith, we also are to encourage one another to do likewise, and we are to do good deeds (Hebrews 10:24) so that God may be glorified. (Matthew 5:16)  Instead of tearing one another down, we ought to be encouraging one another and building each other up.  “The Day” is approaching; the end is closer than we think.

 

AFTER DEATH THEN THE JUDGMENT

PROCLAMATION

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment; So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:27-28 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the unknown human author of The Book of Hebrews under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the Hebrew believers, and indirectly to all believers.  In this ninth chapter the author begins by discussing the early earthly tabernacle. (Hebrews 9:1-7)  Then he goes on to discuss the blood of Christ versus the blood of ceremonial animals. (Hebrews 9:11-14)  Then he presents the importance of the blood and concludes by stating that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. (Hebrews 9:22)  He ends the chapter stating that Christ did not offer Himself again and again as the high priest did by entering The Holy of Holies in the tabernacle each year. (Hebrews 9:25)  Christ came to earth once to sacrifice Himself for all sin. (Hebrews 9:26)  He will come again, but that time will not be to sacrifice Himself for sin, it will be to gather the believers unto Himself. (Hebrews 9:28)

 

APPLICATION

When we think about the birth of Christ, we need to remember that He came to earth to redeem us and pay the price for our sins.  The price for sin is death. (Roman 6:23)  Jesus, The Christ, shed His blood and died for our sins. (John 1:29 and 19:30-34)  The next time that He comes it will be to gather all of His believers unto Himself (Hebrews 9:28) and we will meet Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)  He will also come back again to bring judgment to all of the non-believers.  Bible scholar J. Vernon McGee put it this way, “either your sin is on you, or it is on Christ.”  If you have not accepted Christ as your personal savior then you must pay the price for your sins and you will see Him after death as judge at the Great White Throne judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)  Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 4:17)

 

OUR CONFESSED SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN

PROCLAMATION

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”  Hebrews 8:12 (KJV)

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  Hebrews 8:12 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the unknown human author of The Book of Hebrews under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the Hebrew believers, and indirectly to all believers.  The author begins this eighth chapter by talking about the new high priest, Jesus, and the new covenant. (Hebrews 8:1-9)  Then, according to the author, The Lord God said that He would write this new covenant on the minds and hearts of His people, and He will be their God. (Hebrews 8:10)  Then The Lord God said that He would not only forgive the sins of His people but that He would also no longer remember their sins. (Hebrews 8:12)

 

APPLICATION

This text indicates that as believers when we confess our sins and ask to be forgiven that there will be a full forgiveness and complete pardon for our sins. (Hebrews 8:12 and 1 John 1:9)  The Lord God will not bring our forgiven sins to His mind.  He will be merciful unto us.  However, this does not give us the right to go out and continually repeat our sins.  If our prayer requests to be forgiven is not sincere, then they will not be answered.  Jesus said that some who calls upon the name of The Lord will be told to depart from Him because they were workers of iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)  Only the fervent prayers of the righteous are effective and very productive. (James 5:16)  We are to forgive those who sin against us.  If we do not forgive, then we will not be forgiven. (Mark 11:26)  When we forgive, we are not to bring it up to that person, or bring it up to others, nor to bring it up to ourselves.

 

 

JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE PERFECT PERMANENT HIGH PRIEST

PROCLAMATION

“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”  Hebrews 7:22-27 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by an unknown human author under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the Hebrew believers and indirectly to all believers.  In this seventh chapter the author begins by describing Melchizedek, who was king of Salem and priest of the most high God, and telling them how great he was. (Hebrews 7:1-10)  Then he compares Jesus to Melchizedek. (Hebrews 7:11-16)  Jesus was declared a priest by an oath and not by His pedigree. (Hebrews 7:17-22)  Jesus is greater than all of the other priests because He lives forever, and He is perfect.  He can save a person completely, and He is always available to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:22-26)  Unlike the other priests, Jesus does not need to offer regular sacrifices because He who was without sin offered Himself as a sacrifice for all sins on Calvary. (Hebrews 7:27)  Men are appointed as priests with all of their weaknesses and shortcomings, but The Son of God, has no weaknesses or shortcomings.  He is omnipotent (Matthew 28:18), omniscient, and without sin. (2 Corinthians 5:21)  He was, is, and will be perfect.  He was appointed as the perfect priest forever. (Hebrews 7:28)

 

APPLICATION

Human priests, bishops, elders, overseers, and pastors, with all of their sins, weaknesses, and shortcomings, are men of God and they can help us understand The Word of God.  However, they come and go, they live and die, and they cannot save themselves or us.  Only Jesus, The Christ, can save us.  Believers can pray to God anytime, but we can only come to Him through Christ. (John 14:6)  He is our perfect high priest who lives forever and who sits at the right hand of God, The Father, making intercessions for us. (Hebrews 7:24-25)  We need to acknowledge Him and praise Him for who He is.  Thank God for Jesus.

 

GOD WILL NOT FORGET OUR GOOD WORKS

PROCLAMATION

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shown toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end; That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Hebrews 6:10-12 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by an unknown human author under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the Hebrew believers and indirectly to all believers.  In this sixth chapter the author urges the people of God to move on “from milk to meat,” from the elementary teachings of God to the more mature doctrine. (Hebrews 6:1-3)  He then begins to discuss those who have been enlightened by The Word of God and then fallen away. (Hebrews 6:4-8)  Although The Bible makes it clear that once we are saved, we cannot lose our salvation.  We cannot be taken out of the hand of God. (John 10:27-29)  We may fall out of fellowship with Him, but we will not lose the relationship.  He follows that by saying that The Lord God will not forget their good works. (Hebrews 6:10)  He concludes the chapter by encouraging them to persevere in faith because of the certainty of God’s promise. (Hebrews 6:13-20)

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God knows everything about everything, and He remembers all that we do.  We are encouraged to do good so that men can see our good works and give God glory. (Matthew 5:16)  Our good works will not save us.  Our salvation is based solely upon our belief in Christ. (John 3:16)  It is an unearned gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  However, we will be rewarded for doing good works when we have to give an account of our stewardship. (Luke 16:2 and Matthew 25:21 and 23)  Our good works will result in the rewards and crowns we receive in heaven. (Matthew 5:12, Luke 6:23, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 2:10)  The Lord considers the good that we do to those who are in need as if we had done it unto Him. (Matthew 25:35-40)  So, keep on doing good works and helping God’s people and we will receive God’s promise.

 

 

WE SHOULD BE TEACHING OTHERS INSTEAD WE NEED TO BE TAUGHT

PROCLAMATION

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God: and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”  Hebrews 5:12-14 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by an unknown human author, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the Hebrew believers and indirectly to all believers.  In this fifth chapter the author begins by describing Jesus, The Christ, as the ultimate high priest.  He compares Him to Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:5-6) whose name literally means “king of righteousness or justice.”  Melchizedek was a Canaanite king who reigned in Salem, and who kept up religion and worship of the true God and was honored by Abraham for doing so. (Hebrew 7:1-2)  The author states that the Hebrews had a number of advantages over other people including being descendants of Abraham, being exposed to the law of Moses and the writings of The Old Testament, having heard the ministry of Christ directly from Him or from His apostles, and having received the gift of The Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  They had this for thirty years and they should have grown.  Instead of being teachers of others they were in need of being taught the basics principals of God’s Word themselves.  Instead of being ready for the meat of the gospel, the advanced course, they were in need of milk or formula, which is the basic beginning lessons. 

 

APPLICATION

Today there are many adult Christians who can say that they were “brought up in the church” or that they have “been in church all of their life.”  This text proves that just being in church and being around The Word of God for a long period of time does not mean that a person has grown in knowledge and understanding of it.  Considering the number of years that we have exposed to the teachings of The Bible, most of us should be Bible scholars by now and we should be teaching others.  Unfortunately, far too many Christians have heard a lot of sermons preached but have not internalized or practiced what they heard.  Also, too many believers only open their Bibles on Sunday while they are in church.  If we want to grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s Holy Word, and to rightly apply it to our lives, then we need to read it and study it on a regular basis. (2 Timothy 2:15)