Hebrews 2:1-8

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard… (v. 3b, with “It” being the gospel of salvation). This verse gives us one of the arguments against Paul or one of the apostles being the author of this epistle, in that the writer is not claiming to have been with Jesus when He was alive or that Jesus appeared to him as he did to Paul. In the next verse the writer points to signs and wonders and various miracles as providing witness to the truth of the Gospel as presented by Jesus, Paul, and the apostles. Again the “signs and wonders…” provide the proof that the writer did not see personally.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (vv. 1-3a) These verses may be a bit confusing, but my Study Bible helped me. They maintain that the message declared by angels was the Law given at Mt. Sinai. They cite Deuteronomy 33:2, The Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; He shone forth from Mount Paran; He came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand. So, with that understanding the verse now reads that if the Jews were punished for disobeying the Law, then greater punishment should fall on us if we neglect Jesus’ gospel!

What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. (vv. 6b-8) These verses are from Psalm 8, one with which I am more familiar (myself not being very familiar with the Psalms in general!), largely because I have been humbled at the extent to which the Psalmist elevates mankind. Verse 8b continues with that theme, creation being subjected to mankind. But then the author, knowing full well that these verses from Psalm 8 are meant for mankind now applies these verses to Jesus: But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor… (v. 9). That is, in His incarnation Jesus for a time became lower than the angels, but then He would be crowned with glory and honor through His death on the cross. Psalm 8 now means more to me than ever before! Slava Bohu!

Hebrews 1:8-14

This author clearly knows his Jewish scriptures. No doubt he had a scroll in hand, but he still needed to know what to look for and where to look. And I’m also sure that he was very familiar with many of the Old Testament Messianic verses and that he was well versed in the newly-forming Christian “theology” so that he could see how these verses applied to Jesus. All in all, a Biblical scholar!!

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (v. 14) Here I see the “they” in this verse referring to the angels back in verse 13. So essentially our author is saying that we who are among “the elect” (my words) have angels constantly serving us! But he could also be referring to those who are not yet, but will be saved. Either way, we see angels actively serving us here on earth. What a thought!!

So, much of what the author says in this first chapter is that Jesus is superior to the angels, and since we hold angels in high regard, we should give greater glory to that ONE who is supreme over all. GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

Hebrews 1:1-7

A full day, a long delay in getting to my post… Today we begin Hebrews; we’ll spend the rest of the month – and then some – in this book. Unlike all the other epistles, the author of Hebrews is unknown. There are arguments for and against Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Apollos, with other names also suggested. So we move on with an anonymous author.

Whoever this author is, he was clearly well versed in the Old Testament scriptures. We’ll see Old Testament verses quoted and stories told throughout the book. My Study Bible suggested that he was writing to Jewish Christians who were being told by “Judaizers” that they still needed to follow traditional Jewish teachings. The author goes beyond all Judaizers, arguing only for and asking his readers to follow Jesus. That would suffice! In just the first four verses the author highlights seven or eight attributes/statements highlighting Jesus’ superior status in human (and eternal) history. It’s worth reading those verses a couple of times, focusing on each of those statements, embracing who Jesus is and what He has done. It would be good to have each of these statements at the tip of our evangelistic tongues!

Finally, it’s worth quoting verse 6b: Let all God’s angels worship him. Let’s all join the angels and fall down and worship Him together!!

Slava Bohu!

II Peter 3:10-18

After talking about the end times, Peter asks the question: …what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness…? (v. 11b) End times or not, we can ask ourselves that question, what sort of people are we? How do others – the world – see us? I know that there is a lot of derision directed to evangelicals today that quickly and all too easily gets passed on to the traditional church. We need to counter that perspective. We can’t let ourselves be seen as Bible-thumping people-haters. It’s so easy for our fundamental principles to be seen as judgmental by outsiders. But God is the One who judges! Somehow we need to hold on to our principles, but also exude love in all that we do.

More clarification… And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you… (v. 15a) It’s a confusing verse until you refer back to verse 9 from yesterday: The Lord is … patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. So the patience of which Peter speaks in verse 15 is Jesus’ patience toward all His people, not wanting any to perish. So yes, Jesus’ patience is, in fact, salvation to those for whom He has waited.

Peter’s last written words to us: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. (v. 18) Our growth in His grace (i.e., our continuing, increasing understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for us), plus our increasing knowledge of all that has been passed on to us – both of these working together bring honor and glory to Jesus, who is our Lord and Savior. GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

II Peter 3:1-9

Clarification on the following verses: …scoffers … will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (vv. 3-4) Essentially the scoffers (false leaders/teachers) are saying that, since the world has not changed since the beginning of creation, it is clear to them that God has not intervened. Jesus is not coming back. However, in the next two verses Peter reminds them of Noah and the flood – a major intervention by God – and …they deliberately overlook this fact… (v. 5a)

Today’s last verse is really sweet: The Lord is … patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (v. 9) Our loving Lord waits and waits for us to repent – presumably He only takes “sinners” when He sees that their heart will forever be steadfast against Him. This verse brings to mind an incident in my life. My mother was killed in a car-train accident, a really horrible conflagration (I’ll leave out the details). However, in the crush and the flames my younger brother was spared. My mother was ready to go, but my brother was not. He later came to the Lord and remains a believer today.

Slava Bohu!

II Peter 2:12-22

Carol will attest to the fact that I have trouble with pronouns. I’m consistently asking her which “him” or “her” she is referring to. So I had to ask myself in today’s reading, who are the “they”, “them”, and “these” to whom Peter is referring? And as I read and re-read today’s passage, I find that those three pronouns all refer to those “insiders” who are leading people astray with their false teaching. Two sentences refer to their unrighteous “evangelism” efforts: They entice unsteady souls (v. 14b) and For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. (v. 18) Clearly their target in these verses are new Christians or older Christians who have not yet been fully discipled. There are two other third-person plural pronouns in verse 18 cited above – “those”. Here the first “those” refers to those “unsteady souls” mentioned in verse 14b, while the second “those” refers to “unrighteous” persons completely outside the Christian community. So as you read this passage, all of Peter’s chastisement is falling on those “false leaders”.

The end of today’s reading challenges the “once saved, always saved” proposition. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (vv. 20-22) Again, those third-person pronouns refer to the “false leaders” – they have come to Jesus, but then turned away. My Study Bible points to John 10:27-30 and Romans 8:28-39 as support for the “once saved, always saved” argument. So the question hinges on whether or not these false leaders are genuinely saved. And the last verse – the references to dogs and pigs – suggests that these leaders are not genuinely saved; they started as dogs and pigs and they are still dogs and pigs. Draw your own conclusion!

Slava Bohu!

II Peter 2:1-11

Unbelievable! Of our 11 (or 10, if you prefer) verses today, six and one-half of those verses (vv. 4-10a) are all one sentence!! Peter truly writes differently from Paul!

Much of what we have in today’s reading we also saw in Jude. Biblical scholars presume that Peter copied from Jude, or Jude from Peter, or they both worked from a third source. We’ll see this pattern for the next few days.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (v. 1) In bold above I highlighted …even denying the Master who bought them… and I felt so sad. I quickly had in mind people (some whom I know) who have turned away, even priests and “Christian” ministers who deny Jesus’ physical resurrection or do not believe in heaven or hell – especially a hell where people could suffer for all eternity. Yeah, that troubles me also, but it’s what Scripture seems to say. Maybe there is something “post-death” that has not been revealed to us; maybe there is something beyond the “Final Judgment” for which God has a plan. But for me, as I live now, I am humbled and fully grateful that my Master bought me and I trust that I would never deny Him.

Slava Bohu!

II Peter 1:12-21

…I know that the putting off of my body will be soon … And I make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (vv. 14-15) Peter here is speaking of his death and his intention to continue to remind his audience of the things he has thus far spoken of in this letter. When he says that he will make every effort (to keep them “reminded”) I wonder if he is talking about him dictating a Gospel to Mark? You may recall that at the end of his first letter he include his “son, Mark” in his closing remarks. Interesting…!

For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed… (vv. 17-19a) My interest is in that last sentence. My Study Bible spent a whole paragraph explaining that sentence and the next two verses, explanations that were mostly lost on me. However, I went back to the Transfiguration passage in Luke and was referred to Isaiah 42:1, Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights… (NASB) This Old Testament verse is also cited at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17) and by Jesus Himself in Matthew 12:18. So when Peter says that he has the prophetic word more fully confirmed, it seems to me that he is simply referring back to that Isaiah prophecy, that he saw Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled at the Transfiguration. He then goes on to warn us against interpreting prophecy by our own efforts, noting that we can only do so in the power of the Holy Spirit. I think that with these words he is also chastising “those people” who were misleading his audience – a major topic in his first letter. A good day’s reading…!

Slava Bohu!

II Peter 1:1-11

Back to Peter, this time his second letter. Just in reading him again after a three-day break with Jude, I often find it difficult to figure out what he is saying. Part of my comprehension problem is his long (to my mind, convoluted) sentences. His first “content” sentence takes two long verses: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (vv. 3-4) Above I highlighted, “…through the knowledge of Him”, which to me sounded like “…through His knowledge”, which didn’t make sense – “through Jesus’ knowledge…??!!”. Then I wondered, could it mean “…through knowing Him”? And it all made sense. Substitute that yourselves and see if it’s clearer. Just a confusing construction!

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election… (v. 10) Peter calls us to be diligent in confirming our calling. Two summers ago our Creative Arts Camp theme was the Holy Spirit. For my teaching Kelly asked me to cover John 14-16, Jesus’ Last Supper discourse to the apostles. In trying to distill for the kids the essence of Jesus’ teaching on the Holy Spirit, I was surprised at how much I was able to see how the Holy Spirit had been at work in my life. For example the Holy Spirit: (1) will teach us and remind us; (2) will testify about Jesus; (3) will convict us; (4) will guide us into all truth; (5) will disclose the future to us; and (6) will take Jesus’ words and explain them to us. For each one of those attributes of the Holy Spirit, I could point to a specific time when the Holy Spirit had been at work in my life. That later became a sermon in the Czech Republic as to how we can ask ourselves if we have the Holy Spirit in our lives, using my own life applications as examples. Back to the verse cited above – as Peter calls us to be diligent in confirming our calling, we need to also be diligent in seeking the Holy Spirit and in recognizing His work in our lives. We need constant confirmation that Jesus and His Holy Spirit are working in our lives!

Slava Bohu!