This very brief letter written by Jude had one focus: to warn believers against succumbing to false teaching. Jude helped believers in Christ stay true to the faith by painting a grim picture of deviant teachers. They were arrogant, immoral, and greedy and they were destined for the terrible judgement God had in store for all who deny and defy Him. Jude asked who would want to follow such people to their condemnation? In a world with so many distorted ideas about Christianity, we need to be reminded of the dangers of false teaching as well. Jude called himself the brother of James. The most well known James of the early church was James, the Lord’s brother and the leader of the Jerusalem church. Neither James or Jude referred to themselves as brothers of Jesus but most likely this was done out of reverence for Him. However, others did not hesitate to speak of them in this way. Many believe 2 Peter borrowed and modified material from this letter. If this is the case, then this letter would have been written before 68 AD. It is also possible the borrowing may have gone the other way around. Scholars are not sure. All that is known about the recipients of this letter is that they were Christians. Jude may have known them personally based on verse three and some think this was just a religious pamphlet addressed to Christians everywhere. The tone of the letter carries a sense of urgency and even alarm at the number of false teachers who were infiltrating the church. This was causing division, irreverence, and doubt. Again the motivation was greed. The false teachers always demanded to be paid for their “services”. Jude, like his brother did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry but became followers after Jesus’ resurrection. They both referred to themselves as servants of Jesus rather than brothers. And two of Jude’s grandsons were brought before emperor Domitian as descendants of David but they were dismissed as harmless peasants. Here are a couple of themes to watch for. First, false teachers. By now we all know this was a major issue in the new church. Jude’s primary focus here was the ethical dangers posed by false teachers who denied Christ’s lordship by using Christian freedom and God’s grace as a license for immorality. These teachers were grumbles, faultfinders, and scoffers who followed their own ungodly desires and natural instincts. The second theme is Christian behavior. Jude’s letter emphasized the lordship of Christ. Christian freedom is not a hall pass to do whatever one wants. Christians are to build themselves up in the foundational teachings of faith, praying, remaining faithful to God, and being merciful to others.
In the opening to his letter Jude spoke of being called by the Father who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. This description introduces an important emphasis and gives assurance in the context of false teaching. Jude, or Judas is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Judah. He calls himself a slave of Christ meaning that he is under Jesus’s lordship in every area of his life. This title also carried great honor. The Old Testament leaders of God’s people were also called slaves or servants of God. It is unclear just who the recipients of the letter were. When Jude sat down to write he was going to write about salvation in Jesus Christ. But something came up and Jude found himself writing to warn the believers about the infiltration of false teachers who were threatening to divide and destroy the church. Where the usual thanksgiving in a letter would go, Jude defined his purpose for writing. If you haven’t noticed before, false teachers were a great danger to the church. Many believers were new in their faith and were not able to distinguish what was true and what wasn’t. This played right into the hands of the false teachers who were always looking for those weaker in their faith. In the New Testament faith usually refers to the act of believing while “the faith” refers to the content of Christian belief. Announcing that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives was a constant temptation and a very big lie that the false teachers proclaimed. This would bring condemnation down on the heads of these false teachers. Verses 5-16 elaborate on the condemnation recorded long ago by applying to the false teachers Old Testament examples of God’s judgement. Jude told the believers that the Pre existent Jesus rescued the Israelites out of Egypt and then later destroyed the unfaithful. God led the people towards the promised land but most of them didn’t trust God to protect them. Because of their unbelief God sentenced that generation, except Joshua and Caleb, to wander in the wilderness until they died. The angels who failed to be obedient to the Lord found themselves out of His favor as well. This may refer to the fall of the evil one and his angelic followers. Jude was probably referring to the sons of God in Genesis 6 who were wicked. Their relations with women was the cause of their judgement. God’s judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah had become the proverbial picture of God’s judgement on those who were grossly disobedient. The cities were immoral and full of sexual perversion. They were destroyed by fire and brimstone and serve even today as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgement. Those who claimed authority from their dreams are most likely evil angels. In the Old Testament and in Judaism in general, angels were given a prominent role in judgement. The false teachers may have been downplaying the reality of a judgement to come, or they denied the glorious origin of these fallen angels. Michael was one of the mightiest angels. In Jewish tradition an archangel was the highest rank of angel. There is a story about him fighting with the evil one about Moses’ body that is not in the Old Testament but it is preserved in Jewish tradition. Here in verse 11 we again see Cain and Balaam referenced for their disobedience to the Lord and, the consequences. These false preachers even invaded the celebrations of the Lord’s Supper. Jude told the believers these false teachers were like contaminants among them. The early Christians celebrated the Lord Supper as part of their shared fellowship meals with one another. Jude actually had a number of descriptions for these false teachers, none of which were complimentary. His comparison of the false teachers to planets is interesting. Planets were considered to be wandering stars because they moved across the sky seemingly at random. The false teachers wandered as well in their teachings and God condemned their sins. Enoch was an early descendant of Adam and it is believed that he was just taken up to heaven but didn’t die. Enoch prophesied to the people about the ones coming, thousands of them, to execute judgement on the people of the world. After Jude finished condemning the false teachers he once again encouraged his readers. They had been warned about the false teachers. Now it was up to them to encourage one another in the faith, and reach out to those who were in danger of going astray because of the evil influences. The predictions of the apostles Jude mentioned can be found in Acts 20:29-30, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, and 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Jude wrote of the last times. The coming of Jesus as Messiah inaugurated the last stage of God’s plan, when the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies about the last days began to take place. For this reason, Jude applied the apostles prophecy about the last times to the immediate crisis created by the false teachers. The most holy faith refers to what Christians believe, the doctrinal and ethical core of Christian identity which false teachers threaten. Believers must therefore devote themselves to this most holy faith. The three commands in verses 22-23 correspond to three categories of people: those whose faith is wavering, those who need to be snatched from the flames of judgement, and those who need to be shown mercy. Those who are to be shown mercy must be treated with caution because their sins contaminate even their clothes. Jude ended with a prayer of praise. This is one of the most stirring doxologies in scripture and one often quoted in liturgy. His wording makes it especially appropriate for his readers. They needed a renewed vision of God who could keep them from falling away, from succumbing to the enticing doctrine of the false teachers. He has the glory, majesty, power, and authority to bring them safely into His glorious presence forever. In His Grip Pastor Matt W This small personal letter provides a window into some issues of leadership and conflict in the early churches. A man named Diotrephes was improperly controlling the church and rejecting the apostle and his emissaries. By contrast, Gaius and Demetrius were two men who remained faithful to the church and to the apostle John. Those who truly love God are faithful to His true apostles. Like 1 and 2 John, this letter was probably written in the late first century from Ephesus. John addressed this letter to his friend Gaius. Gaius was a very common Roman name and it is not known whether this Gaius can be identified with any other New Testament individual with the same name. Some of John’s aides had been commissioned by him to go out and teach in various churches. They required lodging from the believers in the places where they ministered. Demetrius seemed to have been one of those folks and it is quite possible that he delivered this letter. As you read look for both John’s commendation of Gaius for his past hospitality and his condemnation of Diotrephes for his mistreatment of fellow believers. Here are a couple of themes to look for. The first is hospitality. John praised Gaius for his hospitality and condemned Diotrephes for his lack of hospitality. There was a network of scattered churches who took great pride in offering food and shelter to traveling missionaries and teachers. This helped the individual churches feel connected to the larger church. The second theme is truth. Demetrius, who is otherwise unknown was probably the bearer of this letter. He was to be received because John said he manifested the truth. Clearly he had passed the ethical test found in 1 John.
Again John called himself the elder. He wished Gaius good health and a strong spirit. It is clear John had great regard for Gaius. The traveling teachers or brothers in faith were most likely John’s emissaries who traveled from church to church, teaching the Good News and encouraging Christians. Gaius had been living in the truth, faithful to the apostolic teachings of the gospel of Christ. The false teachers denied the incarnation and the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Again we see John emphasizing knowing and following the truth. This is in contrast to Diotrephes and his followers. John wrote to encourage Gaius to continue to support the traveling teachers that John had sent out. He provided hospitality for them as they taught. By doing this, Gaius showed that he had received the truth from the apostles and he was faithful to God. The church John referred to in verse six was probably the church in Ephesus where John was staying. Ephesus was an important port city in the province of Asia and the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire. It was also an important city for the Christian community. The traveling teachers were traveling for “the Name”. John didn’t need to explain this because all believers knew this was a reference to Jesus Christ. These traveling teachers had chosen to accept nothing from people who didn’t believe. Instead they relied on the churches of believers for their support. This is where Gaius came in. Once the travelers got settled and started teaching they became partners with the people in the church where they were teaching. Verses 9-12 consist of John’s condemnation of Diotrephes. And he also presented Demetrius as a model of a faithful Christian who lived according to the truth. Gaius is urged to imitate Demetrius. John had written to the church previously. This could be the letter we know as 1 John, or it could be a letter that is now lost. Diotrephes was full of pride and self importance. He was motivated by selfish ambition and he refused to have anything to do with the real teachers of the Good News. This dissidence was one of the issues John dealt with in his first letter. Diotrephes not only rejected the teachers sent by John but he also excommunicated any members of the church who did accept them. He wanted to rule the local church without answering to any outside authority. Diotrephes was a very bad example and John condemned him for his failure to live by the Christian rule of love. This was how Gaius could be sure that Diotrephes was not living according to the truth. This applied to all who refused to accept the apostolic teaching about Jesus Christ and refused to live in fellowship with others who did. Demetrius was the exact opposite of Diotrephes. He was a prime example of one who knows the truth and practices it. Because his name is at the end of the letter it probably means he was the one who delivered it to Gaius. John recognized Demetrius as one who knew the truth. John also wanted to protect his own honor as a reliable elder over these churches rather than being shamed by any possible usurpation by Diotrephes and other false teachers. Once again John tells the readers of the letter that he won’t say anymore because he plans to visit them. Pen and ink here is literally ink and reed. In antiquity writing was done with a stylus shaped from a reed and black carbon ink. John closed his letter with his farewell and greetings to others. Wishing others peace be with you was a traditional greeting among the Jews. It had taken on great significance for Christians because Jesus had used it after His resurrection. Gaius was to greet the friends. That would be all those who accepted the apostolic gospel and lived according to the truth. In His Grip Pastor Matt W Second John is the shortest book in the New Testament at 13 verses. In ancient days the entire book would have fit onto one papyrus. The first letter of John elaborated the principles of continuing in the truth, loving fellow believers, and watching out for false teachers. This letter gives us an example of applying these principles to a specific situation. The letter is written to a dear lady or the chosen lady. This many refer to a particular Christian woman and her family, to a specific individual, or to a female leader of a house church. It is also possible this is a reference to a sister church in a nearby town. In this case the “children of your chosen sister” would refer to the members of another local church. During the first two centuries the gospel was spread by traveling evangelists and teachers. Since inns were not readily available, believers usually took these missionaries into their own homes and supplied them with provisions for their journey when they were about to leave. John asked his readers to refuse hospitality to false teachers moving about among the churches who did not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. As you read this brief letter notice John’s emphasis on truth and love. Also note his warning about false teachers and deceivers. Here are three themes to watch for! The first is false teaching. By now you have seen this theme and warning several times. False teachers were a huge problem in the early church, but it is also a big problem today. We see it in some famous and influential preachers on television. This letter cautions Christians against the same false teaching John opposed in his first letter. The second theme is truth. This is a major theme in John’s writings. He mentioned it 52 times in his gospel and 22 times in his three short letters. The third is love. Like 1 John this letter emphasizes the command to love one another. This is the test of the true believer. John’s command to love does not contradict his directive to refuse hospitality to false teachers because issues of truth are way too important to compromise.
John mentioned truth four times in the first three verses and once more in verse four. This letter is from John the elder. This may mean he served in the Ephesian church as an elder. It could also mean John was old and was using elder as a term of authority to lend credibility to his writing. There is scholarly debate about the chosen lady with many scholars leaning toward this ”lady” as a local church and it’s believers. John professes love for this lady. He loves her in the truth which probably means a love between those who profess the same truth about Christ. This would be in contrast to the lies of the false teachers. John emphasized the pronoun I to contrast sharply with the lovelessness of the false teachers who rejected the true church. Christian love is rooted in knowing the truth. The truth that lives in us is more than just facts and doctrine. It is the presence of God who will be with us forever. Verses 4-11 is where John applied the truth and love that he mentioned in the introduction, to the readers situation. Living in truth and love means maintaining fellowship with true Christians. It is also discerning false teachers and refusing to listen to them or help them. John is writing to remind believers but John really means he is urging these believers. There is a sense of great urgency here. Love here is both a command and an action and the command is that we are called to love one another. Already there were many deceivers and false teachers. They were a dime a dozen. There were docetists who denied that Jesus Christ came in a real body. John refuted this in his first letter too. John reminded them that false teachers were deceivers because they mislead unwary believers. They were also considered to be antichrists because they distracted and lead people away from the true Christ. By using the apocalyptic symbol of antichrist John signaled the severity of the heresy and the ultimate judgement on the false teachers. In verse eight the “we” refers to the apostles and their co-workers. The apostles taught the truth and defended it against heresies. And believers, referred to as “you” are admonished to protect their faith from teaching that could destroy them. John warned that anyone who wandered away from the teachings of the apostles, who believed things the apostles did not teach, had moved far away from God and therefore had no relationship with Him. He cautioned that believers should not invite the false teachers…the ones who do not teach the truth about Christ, into their homes. The early churches met in homes so these false teachers were not to be invited in lest they would begin teaching false things. John didn’t want the believers offering these false teachers hospitality of any kind either. The only way to deal with them was to not accept them into the fellowship. Those who chose to listen, provide hospitality, or invited them to teach would become a partner in their evil work. John did not mince words here. This is just a fragment of what John had to say to these believers but he decided to wait until he could visit them and they could talk face to face. That would make his joy complete. Our relationship with Christ is not just a private experience. We experience the fullest joy in harmony and fellowship with other believers. John’s final greeting here is from the children of your sister. This is most likely a greeting from the church in Ephesus and it’s members with whom John was staying. John lived in that region and cared for several churches. In His Grip Pastor Matt W John’s first letter applies John’s testimony about Jesus Christ to the lives of believers. Because Jesus came to offer eternal life, we can know by our experience and behavior that we have eternal life. Because Jesus came to reveal the Father, we can be confident in our relationship with the father. Because Jesus gives the Spirit to each who is born again, we can live daily in the Spirit. Just as Jesus called His first disciples to love one another, John calls on believers to put that love into action. There is no indication as to when this book was written though it seems that the author is elderly. Many believe this was written near the end of the first century, and that John wrote it from Ephesus. It is fairly certain that the people John was writing to were being challenged by Gnostics. Gnostics considered physical matter to be innately evil and they could not comprehend the incarnation. For them, the divine Logos or word could not possibly have become flesh. Gnosticism denies the need for an incarnation or an atonement. This implied that Jesus had a physical body and the Gnostics could not believe that. The Gnostics may not have been at the height of their influence at this time but Peter warnedthe believers to be on guard against them. Here are a couple more things about Gnostics. They denied that their immoral actions were sinful. They insisted that the teaching of the apostles was to be supplemented with the higher knowledge they claimed to possess. The Gnostics taught that the divine Christ came upon the human Jesus at His baptism and then left Him at the cross so that it was only the man Jesus who died. As you read look for John’s call for Christians to live in a godly manner: turning from sin, obeying God’s commands, showing love to other believers, abandoning worldly glory, and holding fast to orthodox teachings about Jesus Christ. And here are some themes to watch for. First, the incarnation. John wrote this epistle to warn Christians of false teachers or “antichrist” from within the church who denied that Jesus had come in the flesh. John insisted that Christ is not some supernatural apparition disguised as a human but a historical person, Jesus of Nazareth. The test of Biblical Christianity is belief in the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus Christ. Second is love. The key command in this short book is the call to love. Christians are to follow Christ’s example by loving one another and caring for those in need, even to the point of laying down their lives for one another. Since love comes from God, genuine love can only be expressed as God lives in us and we in him. Third, Christian certainties. John asserted that Christians can be certain of the following: Jesus is the Son of God. Believers have eternal life through Him. God heard and answers their prayers. They are no longer in bondage to sin but are kept safe by God from the evil one. They are children of God. They can know God through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true God.
Chapter one is all about Christian fellowship and it reflects the prologue of John’s gospel; John 1:1-14. The we that occurs here is a reference to John and those with him. They were people who had seen, heard, and touched Jesus. They were theeyewitnesses of Jesus and had a personal fellowship with God through Him. Now John has invited the readers to join in that fellowship. They are proclaiming the One who has always been; before time began, eternally. But John and the other disciples saw Him with their own eyes. They actually touched the Word of life. This is big because the Gnostics denied that Jesus was actually a human being. Jesus, the Son of God is the personal expression of the invisible God and the giver of eternal life. Eternal life comes from Him and he makes it available to all who believe. Jesus the Christ was known to His disciples as a human being during His earthly ministry. He also revealed God to the apostles. Once this happened the apostles entered into fellowship with both the Father and the Son. And even better, John told the believers that whoever entered into fellowship with the apostles, entered into that same fellowship with the Father and the Son. Their joy comes from that same fellowship with the Father and the Son. From 1:5-2:6 John is focused on the first aspect of living in fellowship with God. Living in the light means that the believers will see that they are sinners. They will also realize that Jesus is their advocate who makes them right with the Lord. God is light and that light shone through Jesus to everyone He came into contact with. This light exposed their sin and illuminated the moral character of God. In John light represents God’s holiness and revelation and it is the opposite of false teachings and undisciplined living, which is darkness. Verse six is the first time John challenged the claims of the Gnostics. They were living in spiritual darkness. They did not have fellowship with God or shine His light. Keep in mind theevil one pretends to have light but it is really darkness. It is also interesting that the evil one’s name is Lucifer, which means light. But it is not true, life giving light. The gnostic teachers thought they were enlightened but were actually darkened by their so called illuminations. They claimed to have spiritual experiences from God but they rejected fellowship with the oneswho had actually seen God in the flesh, John and the apostles. Believers have fellowship with each other and with God because they live in the light. People cannot say they commune with God and then refuse to have fellowship with God’s people. This was what the Gnostics were doing. On the other hand, the apostles had known Jesus in the flesh and were continuing to have spiritual fellowship with Him. If verse eight sounded familiar it is because that is part of our confession and forgiveness on Sunday mornings. This was the second false claim of the Gnostics. They claimed they could be sinless since Christ had abolished their sins once and for all. Their higher knowledge would lift them above the realm of sin. True Christians acknowledge their sin and trust that God will take it away. In order to maintain continual fellowship with Jesus we need to confess our sins to Him. Forgiveness and cleansing are guaranteed because God is faithful to His promises and because He acts on the basis of His justice. Christ’s death for our sins fulfills God’s justice and acquits us of our guilt. And if we claim to have no sin, we are liars. Gods word emphasizes the permeating and penetrating nature of sin. If we are to live in the light then we are called to confess our sins and stop sinning. John focused on sin in the last chapter in an effort to make believers despise their sin and avoid it. We will sin but we shouldn’t fear going to God to confess those sins. That is because we have a “Paraclete”, an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ who is righteous. He is our defense attorney, representing us before the Father. Jesus is righteous. We are sinners. Because Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and paid sin’s penalty for us, He can plead for us on the basis of justice as well as mercy. Martin Luther said, “The righteousness of Christ stands on our side; for God’s righteousness is, in Jesus Christ, ours.” Obedience is one clear indication that we know Christ and belong to Him. Disobedience shows that we do not belong to Him or love Him. When we obey we also grow in our love for Him and in completeness and maturity. We will live in union with God, showing love for others. John taught about the new commandment. The disciples had the old commandment; to love one another; from the very beginningbut it is also a new commandment. Jesus’s command provided the new basis for their love in His own demonstration of love to the disciples. The light of the Good News expels darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it, particularly when believers are living out the love that is in Christ. Another indication of truly knowing Christ is how one treats other Christians. Again John points out that those who claim to be spiritually enlightened but separate themselves from other Christians with an attitude of superiority are really showing hatred. To cause others to stumble can also mean to ensnare or entrap them. The Greek word is “skandalon” which means a trap, or to block someone’s path. This is where the word scandal comes from. The Gnostics were hindering people by ensnaring them in error and darkness. Verses 12-14 give us John’s purpose for writing. He gave three classes of believers at various stages of spiritual maturity: God’s children, the young in faith, and the mature in faith and he reminds them that there are things they already know. Their sins have been forgiven in Jesus. Jesus has existed from before time. They know the Father. They have won their battle with the evil one because of their faith in Christ. They are strong, and God’s word lives in their hearts. John cautioned the believers that the world is a morally evil system that is under the influence of the evil one and is opposed to God and Christ’s kingdom on this earth. The world appeals to people’s fleshly desires and as such tries to tear them away from God. Those who are from this world need God to redeem themfrom it. John warned about antichrists. That word, antichrist,literally means “instead of Christ.” He claims for himself what belongs to Christ and poses as a substitute for Christ. Many have appeared in the form of the false teachers. It appears that many of these false teachers had once been part of the faith community, in fellowship with John and the other apostles. These teachers deny that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son in the flesh. The false teachers had left the fellowship and formed their own exclusive community based on their false teachings about Christ. True believers would have stayed in the fellowship. It is the Holy Spirit that gives believers the ability to understand and recognize spiritual truth, and those who have the Spirit know the truth about the Father and the Son. Any who deny Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the unique revealer of the Father, John says are liars and the believers are to avoid these people. Remaining in fellowship with Christ means in part to not be misled by any kind of false teaching. If they do fall away they will have to shrink back from Christ when He returns. Chapter three is all about living as children of God and loving one another. When Christ returns we will be like Him for we will see Him as He really is. God’s children bear the image of Christ and will share in His glory. Those who have this hope keep themselves pure, seeking to become more like Him in anticipation of His glorious appearing. John stood in amazement of God’s love but the greater amazement is the fact that God’s love is expressed to human beings; that Christians are included in His family. God loves all believers, weak or strong. And His love stands in stark contrast to the love of the world. The world loves those who love them but God loves even those who disobey Him. We don’t know all the specifics of our future existence but we do know we will put on immortality and become free from the sin that currently plagues us. Those who have the hope of seeing Christ and being like Him realize thatHe is pure. This is an incentive for people to pursue purity even more. Part of this chapter is John discussing what it means to live a pure life. A life of sin is evidence that someone is not truly God’s child and sin is incompatible with the new nature that comes from new birth in Jesus Christ. John wants believers to dowhat is right. Living in Christ means abiding and remaining vs. departing into falsehood. John is not saying that anyone who sins is in trouble. We all sin. John is speaking of those who persist in sin. God came to destroy the evil one. This doesn’t mean to annihilate but to break down, to undo, or to render ineffective. Christ didn’t obliterate the evil one. He came to undo the works of the evil one by freeing people from sin and it’s horrible consequences. Living righteously means living in a right relationship with God. This is in contrast to the false teachers who believed and taught that life in the Spirit could not be contaminated by any behavior in a physical body. This does not mean that we live perfect lives, but that we keep ourselves in a good relationship with God.Verses 11-22 focus on the believers need to love one another. John begins with Cain and Abel. Cain was jealous that Abel received approval from God, and that jealousy led to murder. Hatred is judged, just as the outward acts that result from it. Having love for our brothers and sisters who are believers is tangible evidence that we have experienced rebirth in Christ and we will have eternal life instead of condemnation. Christ’s example shows us that real love involves self sacrifice. We do this by becoming truly concerned about the needs of other Christians and by unselfishly giving our time, effort, prayer, possessions, and even our lives. What John really said is thatactions speak louder than words sometimes. Those who truly love have confidence that God accepts them because real love is primary evidence of real faith and of new life in Christ. The last couple of verses in chapter three find John giving a new criteriafor discerning who has the Spirit. The Spirit is not the possession of the elite who are enlightened without their lives being changed. Instead, the Spirit comes to all believers and stimulates obedient discipleship. Chapter four begins with John calling on believers to discern false prophets or teachers. Those who belong to God can distinguish spiritual truth from error because the Spirit’s presence teaches them. But John provided some concrete tests for the believers to apply so there will be no confusion. This is not an exhaustive list but a starting point for the teachers. Those who left John’s church claimed to be prophets but the true prophet is an instrument for the Holy Spirit’s messages. Every speaker should be tested against what the Holy Spirit has said through the apostles. The test for teachers is this: those who have the Spirit of God confess that Jesus Christ came in a real body. So they must affirm that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Anyone who denies this is a false teacher and an antichrist. Believers however already belong to God and we overcome by recognizing false teachers and refusing to follow them. He who is in you is the Holy Spirit and he who is in the world is the evil one. The Holy Spirit has way more power andinfluence than the evil one. Those who are of the world listen to the evil one. Another benchmark of identifying false teachers is whether or not they listen to the apostles teachings. The Spirit of truth is the Holy Spirit who teaches the truth about Christ. False prophets only have the spirit of deception, the spirits of the antichrist, who lead people away from Christ. Verses 7-21 finds John explaining the source of Christian love. God is love, the source and the embodiment of all love. This and the concept of God is light form the basis for John’s letter. That God sent His only Son to pay the price for our sins demonstrated His love for us. This is real love, not that we loved God so much but that He loves us beyond measure. And because God lovesus, He has set the example for us. Because we are loved by God we are called to love one another. Those who have received God’s love cannot help but love others. When we love others it is clear we love God. Again John reminds the believers that he had seen Jesus with his own eyes meaning what he was saying was true. Those who believe in Christ have God living in them, and they live in God. The Father and Son experience this fellowship, and experiencing God in this way is a special privilege for believers. As we continue to live in God, our love grows more perfect. This doesn’t mean flawless but instead mature and complete. We mature as our relationship with God grows and God’s love makes our love complete. Verse 18 is an amazing promise. God’s perfect love casts out all fear. We can be confident in facing the day of judgement, which will be terrifying for those who don’t know God. Fear anticipates a deserved punishment, producing dread that is in itself a foretaste of that punishment. God loved us first while we were still sinners. God started the process. When He loved us that allowed us to respond to Him in love and to share that love with others. Those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God have been born spiritually as children of God. They are empowered by theSpirit of God to love Him and other Christians. By their faith they will be able to overcome the evil temptations of the world. Through faith they can love God and live in obedience to Him. Only those who belong to the Lord will be able to win the battle against evil. The one who came by water and blood is Jesus Christ. He was revealed as God’s Son in the waters of His baptism and by his blood shed on the cross. The false teachers said “the Christ” descended as a spirit on the man Jesus when He was baptized but left him before He died. All three witnessesagree that Jesus is the Son of God, fully human and fully divine: the baptismal water, the shed blood on the cross, and the Spirit descending in Jesus at His baptism. All who believe know this to be true. This is what John taught and knew to be true; that those who have the Son of God living in them have God’s eternal life now. They enjoy the presence of God’s Spirit and they have the guarantee of eternity with God. John is confident that God hears us when we ask for anything that pleases Him. The key is to pray according to His will. The sins that lead to death are those that involve apostasy. Here that means leaving the apostolic faith and joining a heretical, anti Christian movement like the false teachers John was denouncing. But those sins that don’t involve apostasy can end in repentance and forgiveness. John ends by reminding the people that Christ enables us to know God in a personal, intimate sense. Jesus is the true God and to know Him is to have eternal life. In closing John exhorted his flock to keep far away from anything that would take God’s place in our hearts, keeping away from idols. Here the primary idol would be any false teaching that takes people away from Jesus Christ, who is at once fully man and fully God. In His Grip Pastor Matt W There are many things today that pull at us for our attention. Second Peter urges us to instead grow in Christ’s grace and he warned about compromising the Christian faith by mixing it with ideas that are foreign to Christianity. We need to take this warning seriously. This letter was addressed to Christians to warn them about false teachers. It may have gone to Christians in Asia Minor but the audience is uncertain. Second Peter is an appeal to faith and godliness from the apostles to the churches. Part of Peter’s instructions are to grow in godly virtues and Christian character. Watch for his repeated emphasis on truth which indicates not only his warning about false teachings but also his certainty about Christ’s return. And here are threethemes to watch for as well. First is spiritual growth. As Peter faced the end of his life he predicted impending calamities and he expressed concern about his readers remaining faithful. He was worried that they wouldn’t continue to grow in discipleship. Second is false teaching. This was a huge threat to the early church and posed a challenge to the faithfulness of the believers. Third is the certainty of Christ’s return. Peter warned against scoffers who abandon the hope of Christ’s coming judgement. The delay of divine judgement is a revelation of God’s patience because He is allowing time for everyone to repent. Since the return of Jesus is certain, believers are called to prepare themselves through faithful and ethical living.
Simon was one of the most common names in the first century. Jesus gave him the name Peter. Many people in the Greco-Roman world would use both their given name in their native language and also a Greek name since it was the language of the day. Peter called himself a slave of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament important leaders were called servants but being called a slave underscored Peter’s submission to Jesus and it also suggests that he had an important role in God’s plan. Peter also indicated that both Jewish and Gentile Christians have the same precious faith. This is due to the new covenant. Verse one is one of the few places in the New Testament that Jesus is called God. Verses 3-11 are an explanation of all that God has given us in Jesus Christ. This forms the basis for Peter’s urgent call to grow in the knowledge of Christ. Keep in mind Peter spent three years with Jesus and he knew Jesus well. He saw the miracles, healings, and heard the teachings. He may not have understood everything at the time but looking back with the knowledge Jesus gave the disciples after His resurrection, Peter could speak with authority and authenticity. It is by God’s divine power that we have everything we need for a godly life. And we receive this because we have come to know Him. The great and precious promises we have been given is a reference to the numerous offers of divine provision found in scripture. These promises offer us the glory and virtue of Christ as the basis for our growing participation in the divine nature. We have Christ within us and because we have become new creatures in Him we have already escaped the corruption that is in the world through human desires and lust. Peter called us to make our escape from this world evident to all by our godly behavior and the renewing of our minds. Verses 5-7 have a sort of a stair step structure with one virtue leading to another. The sequence here is not stressed but love is the pinnacle of the virtues. Faith marks the beginning of the Christian life and through faith God grants eternal life to a spiritually dead person. Virtue is the same word used in verse three in reference to Christ’s character. We cannot produce it ourselves but we can choose to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Knowledge is also translated as practical wisdom. This is obtained by dedicating ourselves to learning God’s truth in the scriptures and putting that truth into action. Self control means mastering ones emotions rather than being controlled by them. Perseverance is one who exercises self control and will not easily succumb to discouragement or the temptation to quit. Viewing all circumstances as coming from the hand of the Father who is in control of all things is the secret of perseverance. Godliness is the word Peter used to speak of the Christians need to be continually aware of God’s presence. Knowing that all of our life is in His hand should influence every aspect of our lives. We are called to live for God and not for ourselves. Brotherly affection is closely aligned with godliness and Jesus taught that love involves serving one another, sharing with one another, and praying for one another. Love here is God’s kind of love, which originates not in the one loved but in the one who loves. God loves because He is love and we love because we are from God. This love extends from the Christian community to anyone we encounter, even if it comes at a cost to ourselves. These qualities are the marks of a healthy Christian. But there are those who lack these qualities. They are blind and forgetful. They look only at what is close at hand, the things of this world. They do not or cannot see eternal spiritual realities, and thus they cannot see the things of God. Peter is not telling believers that our being chosen by God for salvation depends on what we do. Instead he reminded the believers that our zeal to grow in Christian virtue confirms that we have been chosen by God. Peter indicated that fruitful and faithful lives will be rewarded by greater privileges and rewards in glory. Peter was writing this at the end of his life so he is like an old and respected leader who is giving instructions on his deathbed. We saw some of this in the Old Testament. Think about Jacob gathering his 12 sons around, giving each of them a blessing/prophecy about the rest of their lives. Peter encouraged his readers to seize the opportunity to show Christ’s love while they still had the chance. Peter’s prophecy about his death may have come in as vision but more likely it was Peter recalling what Jesus had said to him about his death. See John 21:18-19. He spoke about his own eyewitness testimony about Jesus Christ. He denounced the false teachers again and spoke about the certainty of Christ’s return. The false teachers were most likely denying that Christ would come again and He would judge everyone. Peter’s eyewitness experience and the reliability of prophetic scripture make Christ’s return a certainty. The false teachers were making up stories to suit their purposeswith no factual truth, but Peter saw with his own eyes. He saw at the transfiguration where Jesus was revealed as the glorious King. He saw the crucifixion and burial of Jesus and the empty tomb three days later. He saw Jesus appear and disappear at random after the resurrection. And he was with the rest of the disciples when Jesus sat down with them and opened their minds to the scriptures. Peter was the real deal. The word “day” is capitalized in verse 19 because it is a reference to the day of the Lord, the time when God intervenes in history and saves His people and judges His enemies. The first coming of Jesus inaugurated the day of the Lord’s salvation. A future day of the Lord’s judgement on His enemies is yet to come. The planet Venus , known as the morning star, often appears above the eastern horizon just before dawn. Peter has reversed the order of natural events. He wrote that the dawning of the day of the Lordleads the Morning Star’s shining in the hearts of believers. He also reminded the people that the prophets didn’t prophesy all on their own. In fact this was not human initiated at all. And they were not left on their own to interpret the prophesy either. God provided both! But alongside the authentic prophets, there have always been false prophets who will receive God’s judgement. Peter warned that there will be false prophets. That doesn’t mean they had yet to come. Instead it alludes to Jesus’ prediction that false teachers would arise, and now that had been fulfilled. These folks denied Jesus, who bought their salvation with His own blood. One ofthe hardest things and saddest things is that they slander the way of truth and lead people astray. By their immoral and greedy conduct, making false claims about Jesus, brought shame on Jesus. Verses 4-10 contain three Old Testament examples of judgement that show God will vindicate those who remain faithful to Him and will condemn those who deny Him, including the false teachers. The first example of judgement is the angels who sinned. The widespread tradition was that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:1-5 (understood as angels) had intercourse with women and were therefore judged by God at the time. The gloomy pits of darkness describe the underworld. This was a popular description in the ancient world and is most likely metaphorical. The second example of judgement is that God did not spare the ancient world at the time of Noah. In the flood God destroyed all human life apart from Noah and his family. The third example is that God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of these cities were so immoral that God rained down sulfur from heaven to destroy them. Peter focused on the results of this action. The cities were turned into heaps of ashes. The Old Testament doesn’t portray Lot as a very righteous man but he basically remained faithful to the Lord. Jewish tradition also portrayed him as righteous. The Lord knows how to rescue righteous people from their trials as shown by Noah and Lot. The Lord is faithful to His own people. Peter’s readers needed assurance that their struggles to live godly lives in the face of false teaching and the world’s scorn would be rewarded. The Lord was also harsh on those who refused to listen to any authority other than their own. Peter’s profile on the false teachers was focused more how they were living than what they were teaching. The supernatural beings were most likely evil angels (which sounds like an oxymoron) because they bear the mark of their glorious origin. They have real power and pose a significant, serious threat to humans. Eventhe good angels do not dare to bring a charge of blasphemy, but the false teachers were so arrogant they did not hesitate to do so. The only reward they will receive is the destruction they have caused. Christians often ate fellowship meals together in celebration of the Lord. The false teachers were using these mealtimes as opportunities to deceive true believers. They may also have been using these fellowship meals for their own self indulgence. Peter pulls no punches as he warns the believers about these people. They commit adultery with their eyes. Their desire for sin is insatiable. They prey on people who seem to be weaker, luring them into sinning and they are well trained in greed. Wow! The false teachers loved to earn money by doing wrong and Peter reminded the people about Balaam and his donkey. Despite consulting with God about what he should do, Balaam was determined to go his own way in the hope of still getting Balak’s money. The Old Testament hints at his greed. However, God saved him from himself by using his donkey to speak to him. Peter went on to describe the false teachers by explaining their effect on people. They are useless. They brag about themselves and they target new converts, trying to drag them back into their old lifestyle. One of the great lures of false teaching through the centuries has been the promise of freedom from authority. But this is an illusion. The false teachers, while reveling in their freedom from authority were in fact slaves to sin and corruption. They had once known the truth but their deliberate rejection of that truth put them in a far worse situation than when they ignorantly lived in sin. Dogs were not seen as friendly family pets but as wild and filthy beasts. Jews considered both dogs and pigs among the lowest of the animals so Peter chose to use them to describe people who have known the truth and walked away from it. The proverb about the dogs comes from Proverbs 26:11 and the one about pigs most likely originated in Syria. In chapter three Peter shifted from the denunciation of false teachers to the exhortation of believers. The false teachers skepticism about Christ’s return required clear teaching. Christians need to hold onto the apostolic message about the day of judgement and live godly lives in anticipation of that day. Peter acknowledged that this was his second letter to these believers and he reminded them that he has tried to teach them and refresh their memories. The holy prophets of the Old Testament had predicted the day of the Lord, when God would judge His enemies. Jesus had taught the church through the apostles. Peter taught about the last days. He wasn’t just predicting a future event; he was speaking about his readers situation. In the New Testament the last days refers to the period from Jesus’ first coming to his second. It is the time when God’s promises are fulfilled. Scoffers will come and they will belittle the truth and make fun of it. But the false teachers were probably claiming that for all of God’s promises to intervene in history, things had not really changed and they never would. Peter taught that creation was the first evidence that the false teachers were wrong. Change does happen and if God made the world then He could certainly destroy it. The scoffing teachers would conveniently overlook things like creation and the flood. They failed to recognize or admit that just as God had created the world by His word, the world was being sustained by His word. The Old Testament associated fire with the day of the Lord. Fire is typically a sign of judgement. Peter also reminded the believers that God operates on His time schedule, not oursand He will send His Son in His own good time. The very elements themselves probably refers to such components as the sun, moon, and stars. But God will judge all of creation and at that time the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt, presumably by fire. Picture if you will, the sun melting by fire. There are promises made by God and these promises tell us that there will be a new heaven and earth and the world will be filled with God’s righteousness. The New Testament doesn’t say much about the relationship between Peter and Paul. There was the dispute in Antioch and some believe the two were hostile to each other but that isn’t the picture we see here. Peter and Paul essentially agreed about the Good News for the Gentiles. Silas and Mark were associates of both men. According to tradition both men were martyred in Rome during the same persecution by Nero in the mid 60’sAD. Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified upside down and Paul was beheaded. It is quite possible that Peter knew about most of Paul’s letters and his language implies that he considered Paul’s letters to be scripture. At the end of his letter, Peter restated his purpose for writing. He wanted to protect the believers from false teachers so they can grow in grace. He ended with a doxology to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In His Grip Pastor Matt W 1 Peter has the single focus of encouraging Christians to exhibit faithfulness under the pressure of persecution. The believers Peter wrote to were in the midst of fiery trials. The culture they lived in scorned their faith, criticized their morality, and mocked their hope. Peter called on the readers to respond to this pressure with a renewed commitment to live out the grace of God, both to please God and to bear witness to His grace. These Christians were in Asia Minor and it appears that they may have been Gentiles who had come to Christ and were therefore metaphorically strangers and aliens. Peter didn’t address some specific issue or crisis but offered counsel regarding the fundamentals of the Christian life. This letter is in effect a pamphlet on Christian living, written for the benefit of believers in many different places and circumstances. Here are some themes to watch for. First, the believers new identity. Peter’s goal was to encourage Christians during persecution. Because of God’s great mercy, believers have been given a new life, a living hope, and an eternal inheritance. They are now the people of God. As such they are to rejoice and be encouraged in the midst of suffering. Second, suffering for the good. Although believers may experience all kinds of trials they are to stand firm in the faith. Suffering acts as a purifying fire to prove the genuineness of faith. It also gives Christians an opportunity to give witness to their hope. When they suffer unjustly they are to follow Christ’s example. Third, Christian living. Christians are to live lives benefiting their conversion. Peter pictured salvation as a process into which believers grow from their daily faithfulness under pressure. They are to arrive for personal holiness out of reverent fear of God and to Display their faith by loving others.
Peter begins his letter reminding the people of the special status they have because of God’s gracious act on their behalf. They were living as foreigners or aliens because they had been uprooted from their homelands. Now they are living in a world dominated by anti Christian values and ways of life. The listed provinces were Roman controlled and in what is now modern day turkey. They are most likely listed in the order they were on the route the messenger carrying the letter would have followed.When God knows a person it means He has chosen that person and He chose to enter into a relationship with His people before they even knew Him. Verses 3-12 speak to the issues ofsalvation, trials, and hope. New birth is a way of describing Christian conversion and the language of inheritance frequently refers to what God has promised His people. Originally it applied to Israel and it meant the people of God and Hispresence with them. In the New Testament the inheritance is the spiritual benefit and eternal salvation God has promised to His people. This salvation typically refers to the final rescue from sin and death at the time of Christ’s return. This hope encourages believers to persevere to the end. It is hidden now but will be revealed in God’s time. In the meantime there will be trials to be endured. Faith, like gold, is purified as it is tested,but faith is much more valuable. A faithful Christian life brings praise, honor, and glory to God. Peter commends the believers because they have faith even though they have never seen Jesus. And the reward for that is the salvation of our souls. The Greek here refers to the whole person and not just some part of a person. Salvation affects all of us. Our salvation is incredible. The Old Testament prophets predicted it and angels want to investigate it. Much was revealed to the Old Testament prophetsabout the future but they didn’t know when or how the salvation they predicted would come about. The prophets knew that a Messiah would come and that He would be glorified, but they didn’t know who He would be. The angels were eagerly watching and waiting. The Greek word used here is a the same one used about the disciples when they peered into the empty tomb. Peter moved on to a discussion about the call to holiness. New birth and the hope of salvation require that Christians live as God’s people, separating themselves from the values of the world and emulating the holiness of God, who redeemed them. Peter said they were to prepare their minds for action which is literally “gird the loins of your mind”. In the first century men had to tuck the hem of their long robes into their belts before they could work or run. Peter was worried the believers would fall back into their old ways and urged them to stand strong in their faith. Being holy because God is holy is a common refrain. Being holy meant being set apart, different than the world. We are still called to be holy…different and set apart from the world. Peter reminded the people that God doesn’t play favoritesand that we will be judged by a what we do, or don’t do. He also told all of us that our life here on earth is very temporary and that our real home is in heaven. We are temporary residents who are, or should be uncomfortable with the values of the world. God has paid a ransom for us. Ransoms are paid for the release of people held captive. We were held captive by our sins. Slaves in Peter’s day could sometimes pay a ransom and be released from their master. Some slaves actually did quite well for themselves. Some owned property and others had their own slaves! Christ’s death is the price God paid to release us from captivity. Peter went back to his Old Testament roots to explain. Christ was the sinless, spotless lamb of God, the perfect Passover sacrifice without sin or defect. With His coming, Old Testament promises of redemption were being fulfilled and the last days have begun. Following his call for holiness, Peter specifies how believers must live in a loving way with fellow Christians. We literally must show one another brotherly love. We have been born again but not for life here. We have been born again for eternal life with Christ. We are like grass, here today and tossed into the fire tomorrow. The only thing that lasts forever is the word of the Lord, and Peter reminded the people that was what was preached to them. Believers who have been born again are to be like newborn babies in naturally and regularly craving pure spiritual milk. In other New Testament places milk, in contrast to solid food, refers to basic Christian teaching. This doesn’t necessarily mean Peter’s readers are new believers. It most likely refers to God’s Word in general. Tasting the Lords words is a direct reference to Psalm 34:8, “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Verses 4-10 detail Peter’s thoughts and teaching on believers being God’s new people. All through his letter Peter reminded the people of their exalted spiritual status. Peter toldthe people that Christ is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. The cornerstone was the first stone placed, the most important stone. Christ was rejected by the people but God chose Him for great honor. And because the people believed in Christ they too are living stones. God’s people themselves make up the spiritual temple where God dwells. Jesus compared His body to a temple and the church is called the body of Christ. God no longer manifests Himself in a particular place but in the people who belong to Him and praise His goodness. And as God’s holy priests in the new covenant, Christians don’t offer animal sacrifices. Instead, they offer spiritual sacrifices. This means praising God, praying, and doing good works. Verses 6-8 contain three Old Testament quotes; Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22, and Isaiah 8:14. Each of these verses identifies Christ as some kind of stone. He is the cornerstone on which the new temple is built. He is the cornerstone that God, despite people’s rejection, had elevated to be the keystone of His redemptive plan. He is the stone that causes people to stumble. People stumble because they don’t obey God’s word, and as a result they meet the fate that was planned for them. What isn’t clear is whether these people were appointed by God to unbelief or whether they were, because of their unbelief, appointed by God to suffer condemnation. Peter assures the believers that they are not like that because they are chosen people. In fact they are a royal priesthood, and God’s very own possession. Peter is using descriptions of the Israelites in the Old Testament and putting them on his primarily Gentile audience, indicating that they, like all Christians are truly God’s people in the new covenant era. Verses 11-12 are transitional; either the finale to the previous section or the intro to the next section. Peter again called the believers to live as the Lord would have them live, being faithful and obedient even in the face of persecution. Speaking about the day God judges the world, describes the day God will visit His enemies and judge them. Living under authority was something every believer had to do; submitting to human authority. This means government authorities, the masters of slaves and wives respecting their husbands. In Peter’s day the king was the Roman emperor. Christians were suffering at the hands of the state and that would begin to escalate very soon under Nero. Peter reminded the people that it is God’s will that the people live honorable lives so that they silence those who level accusations against them. The believers are free, but enslaved to the Lord, and they are encouraged to respect everyone, even those who were mistreating them. Many slaves in the Roman Empire held responsible positions and had a decent income. But most were treated harshly and deprived of rights and status. Peter called on the slaves to both fear God and their masters punishment. This is often how Peter spoke about showing respectful attitudes as Christians. It quite possible that verses 21-25 are part of an early hymn or creed. For the Christians that were currently suffering Peter reminded them that Christ suffered as well. Christ is the role model for all Christians. He never sinned or deceived anyone. He didn’t retaliate…ever. He left vengeance to God. He bore our sins on Himself on the cross. That means we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. Peter is pointing to Isaiah 53 in these verses. We are healed by His wounds. And, we were once like sheep who have wandered every which way. But now we have turned to the Good Shepherd. Chapter three begins with three exhortations concerning authority. We have heard them before from Paul. Submission in the ancient world took the form of obedience. Women are to accept the authority of their husbands, knowing if their husbands are not believers their Christian lifestyle may just turn theirhusbands to the Lord. Husbands are to be loving and respectful of their wives. Without using any words Peter called Christian wives to evangelize their pagan husbands through their behavior. Peter also instructed the women to not be concerned about the trappings on the outside; clothes and jewelry. Instead, they are called to let their inner beauty, given them by Christ shine through. Peter asked the women to show off their gentle and quiet spirits. It seems that Christian wives married to non believers where frequently pressured to abandon their Christian principles and values. Peter encouraged them to continue doing what is right. Women had less physical strength and often little to no social status on their own. That is most likely the weakness that Peter is speaking of. That means the husband has the duty of protecting his wife. And if the husband doesn’t honor his wife it will hinder his prayers being answered. Peter also called all believers to respond to others, believers and non believers, with love. By blessing others we receive a blessing from God. Again Peter quoted the Old Testament, this time Psalm 34:12-16. Here he is focused on curbing the sins of speech, resisting evil, and doing good. This also highlights the promise of blessing for obedience. Peter spent some time addressing what it means to suffer for doing good. Generally speaking no one will want to harm someone who is doing good but sometimes Christians still suffer even when they do good. Believers are not to be afraid of the threats from others; only fearing the Lord. By fearing Christ they will be free from fear of their human persecutors. It is much better to suffer for doing what good than suffering for doing what is wrong and angering God. The unique work of Christ onour behalf reminds those who suffer that they have a secure foundation for hope and confidence. Jesus literally suffered for our sins once and for all times. Verses 19-20 are difficult. There are three distinct interpretations here. The first holds that these verses refer to the spirits of people who have died and Christ, after His resurrection, preached the Good News to these spirits. However, the idea that people might hear the Good News and respond after their deaths is found no where else in scripture and this meaning of spirits is not the most likely. A second interpretation sees these verses as Christ’s preaching through Noah to people who are now spirits in prison. This does not fit well with both verses and isn’t the most appropriate answer either. In the third interpretation the spirits in prison are evil spiritual beings. Jewish tradition based in Genesis 6:1-3 held that many angels fell in the time of Noah. Peter’s point would then be that Christ proclaimed His victory over the evil spiritual powers after His resurrection. The eight people are Noah, his wife and their three sons and their wives. Peter’s picture of baptism may mean that as the water floated the ark in which Noah and his family were saved, so baptism saves believers. To Peter might mean that as Noah and his family passed through the water to safety so too Christians pass through the waters of baptism to salvation. Finally, Peter might mean that as the water judged sin in Noah’s day, so the water of baptism washes away the sins of Christians. But Peter does not mean that water baptism saves a person regardless of that persons heart. He added that baptism saves only as a response to God from a clean conscience, making it clear that only people exercising faith towards God will benefit from baptism. In the ancient world spiritual beings were widely believed to directly affect the course of affairs in earth. Christians needed to be reminded of that. Christ had already won His victory over these spiritual powers. It means that we don’t need to fear even the spiritual realm. Peter urged Christians to decisively turn their backs on their former sinful ways that Christ’s suffering delivered us from. In 3:18 Peter introduced the idea of Christ’s physical suffering and now he is pointing to that as the attitude we are called to imitate. Our suffering with Christ shows that we have identified with Him. Those who do identify with Him will experience the victory over the power of sin that He won on the cross. Like Paul, Peter had a couple of lists too. This list is of the things godless people do: immorality, lust, feasting and drunkenness, wild parties, and worship of idols. Being godless is another Old Testament term that Peter used. Everybody will have to face God who judges the living and the dead. In verse six Peter referred to people now dead who were exposed to the GoodNews while they were alive. He does not envision a chance to repent after death. If they responded to faith in life they can be confident that, although they were destined to die like all people they will live forever with God in the Spirit. Peter followed this with a collection of miscellaneous exhortations. Peter taught that the end of the world was coming soon and that the last days predicted by the prophets had begun. The next event in salvation history is the second coming of Jesus Christ which will bring to an end the world as we know it. This end could come at any time so Christians must always be ready. By its nature, love overlooks sins committed against us by others.Peter might also mean here that our attitude of love, because it displays our relationship with Christ, covers our own sins and causes them to be forgiven. God has given His people a great variety of spiritual gifts and Peter called us to use them well. Believers are like managers. They have been entrusted by God, their master, with gifts to be used to glorify a him. Verse 11 is a doxology. This has led many to believe the original letter ended here and another was addd to it. Doxologies are typically at the end of letters but occasionally they do appear at the end of a section. Here Peter instructed believers one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. He reminded them not to be surprised when the trials came, especially to those seeking to lead godly lives. They can expect to face the hostilities of a sinful world. He reminded them that they literally will be blessed when they are reproached. This reflects Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:11-12. But they were not to suffer for breaking laws; things such as murder, stealing, making trouble or prying into another’s affairs. There is no shame in suffering for being a Christian. Instead it is cause for praise and rejoicing. There is some fragmentary evidence that suggests the original label of Christian was a convenient way of summarizing the alleged superstitious practices and immoral character attributed to Jesus’ followers. God’s judgement is often pictured as beginning with God’s household, that is His own people, as a means of purifying them. Peter ends this letter with final exhortations to elders, to younger people, and to the church as a whole. These exhortations are followed by final greetings and a closing. Elders were the spiritual leaders of the early churches. By calling himself a fellow elder, Peter identified with them in their responsibilities and with the charge that he gave them. Our word pastor comes from New Testament imagery of a shepherd pasturing his flock. Again we have Jesus the Good Shepherd as our role model. Those who are younger stand in contrast to the elders. This might refer to a specific class of ministers or maybe elders in training or those who assist the elders in various ways. But probably it just denotes the younger individuals in the church. All are called to express themselves in humility. Peter called the believers to be on guard because the evil one is always lurking, waiting for a chance to try to tear them away from the Lord. Even today the evil one lurks, crouching at the door. Peter calls each of us to turn over all of our cares to the Lord. He has called us to let Him carry our burdens because He cares for us. Peter also reminds all of us that we are joined to believers all over the world who suffer in one way, shape, or form because of their faith. In Peter’s day believers almost everywhere were persecuted to one degree or another. It happened every place the Good News was preached. This is intended to encourage believers and console them. Peter remained believers that sufferings on this earth last only for a little while compared to what awaits us in eternity. Sometimes the suffering seems endless but in fact it is only momentary. It appears that Silas was the one who wrote Peter’s words in this letter. This is the same Silas who was a companion of Paul’s. We don’t know how Silas ended up in Rome with Peter but he may have traveled with or followed Paul. The reference to Babylon was probably symbolic for Rome. Like Rome, Babylon was a great city, the capital of an empire. Babylon had held sway over much of the ancient Near East in the 500’s BC. As a great city and the capital of the empire that burned Jerusalem and took many captive Israelites back to the city, Babylon was regarded as the power center of a world hostile to God’s people. For this reason the Book of Revelation uses Babylon as a metaphor or code word for Rome. Peter probably used the title in the same way. The Mark mentioned here is John Mark, another co-worker of Paul’s. This is Mark who wrote the gospel of the same name, which is generally thought to be based in Peter’s teachings. Peter ended by urging the believers to greet one another with the kiss of love. In His Grip Pastor Matt W This is part two of the letter of James. Chapter three deals with speech and conflict. Becoming a teacher was one way to improve social status in the early church. This honor would compensate for the shame imposed upon Christians as social outsiders. But, the conspicuous role of teachers symbolizes the power of human speech to benefit or harm the church. The interesting thing about James is that he does not give the warning of judgement to others without applying it to himself. Teachers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged more strictly than others. Their greater influence translates into greater responsibility. Judgement here most likely translates into greater responsibility that does not refer to separation from God. Instead it suggests a thorough judgement of teachers before Christ. Leadership imposes responsibility. James’s primary concern is with the speech of church members as they influence many relationships. He used the examples of first a tiny bit in a horses mouth that moves the horse any direction the rider wants. Then there is the ships rudder. Again this is a very small part of a ship but by moving it the entire ship can and does change directions. The tongue is a small part of the body but it can make great speeches. And a tiny spark can set a whole forest on fire. How well we know that living in the western part of the country.
An uncontrolled tongue can defile the whole body or whole person. And the tongue acts as the agent of the whole unrighteous world opposed to God. James tells us the tongue can set our whole lives on fire because it is set on fire by Gehenna, or hell, itself. Gehenna is the place of eternal punishment which is in contrast to hades, the place of the dead. This reference to hell points to the evil one himself as the source of evil speech. But we know his native tongue is lies, and accusations. James reminds us that many different kinds of animals can be trained or subdued but the sinful nature that inspires evil words is beyond our control. Only the work of the Holy Spirit within us can bring this destructive force under control. The tongue has an astonishing capacity for committing evil and if it’s evil is motivated by hell it cannot be tamed by human effort. Being full of poison may be a reference to the serpent in the garden of Eden who is identified as the evil one. James pointed out the irony of the tongue. We use it both to give God thanks and praise and to curse those who are made in His image. This is the worst thing because because it is a curse on God Himself. James had more examples. Pouring salt water into fresh water makes salt water. Mixing bad fruit with good fruit makes a bushel of rotten fruit. And, mixing the contradictory speech of blessing and cursing will only produce negative results. There were some springs in the upper sources of the Jordan River that did produce both fresh water and bitter water. These springs could not support a town. And if a person’s speech mixes foul with sweet, it would not build up the community. The solution for the problem of controlling our tongues is to seek divine wisdom. The person who possesses godly wisdom will show it with works, not just words. That means believers should be slow to speak. The wisdom that comes from God is not mere intellectual skill or the collection of information. It means practical insight and spiritual understanding that expresses itself in moral uprightness. The truth is wisdom cannot be associated with jealousy and selfish ambition. Only in humility can we receive God’s true word. The wisdom that is earthly is not part of God’s good creation. It is the opposite of heavenly wisdom because it excludes God. It is not spiritual because it does not acknowledge or respond to God’s Spirit. It is demonic since it comes from the evil one who is the ultimate source of destructive wisdom. James used an agricultural picture to emphasize the benefits of living by the wisdom from above. Those who plant seeds of peace in relationships will enjoy a luxuriant harvest of righteousness in those relationships. There was conflict from selfish prayer and James questioned what was the cause of the quarrels and fights among these people. The quarrels and fights can literally be translated wars and fights. James used military imagery to declare that their own evil desires at war within them were the immediate cause of the battles among church members. And he used the word translated evil desires, here translated pleasures, to bracket the entire paragraph and indicate the source of conflict and unanswered prayer. This conflict within us is between our sinful desires for pleasure and the desire for God’s will, an attitude the Holy Spirit has placed within us. The source of conflict among believers is often material things. James attributes fighting, murder, and war to materialism. He also warned believers to not lust after things of the world. Killing was the extreme outcome of their attitudes. Some of James’s readers may have been part of the Zealot movement and they engaged in murder to benefit their cause. Hostile attitudes and violent methods do not provide satisfaction. Verse four does not speak of God’s attitude toward the believer but of the believers attitude towards God. The difference between the world and God is so vast that as we move towards the world we alienate ourselves from God. The world considers sin pleasurable and acceptable but the world has lost its awareness of sin and that means sin has become a habit. We are living in a time right now where the evil one doesn’t even hide anymore and the world still cannot see him. In verses 4-10 James explained the causes of conflict: love for the world, divides loyalties, and arrogant criticism. And he gave exhortations that will rectify these causes and lead to peace. James used prophetic imagery because his readers were seeking what friendship with the world could give them. That was social acceptance, prestige, and wealth. Divided loyalty towards God is like adultery against ones spouse. In the ancient world friend was used as a title for special and exclusive relationships. Both Moses and Abraham were called friends of God. The world consists of society that is opposed to God and His kingdom. The world is guided by earthly wisdom, not heavenly and is characterized by evil desires, fighting, and killing. James most likely didn’t have a specific Old Testament scripture in mind here but instead is speaking in concepts. The jealous yearning here is God’s jealousy for His people, a concept that is prevalent in the Old Testament. Friendship with the world would likely provoke God’s jealousy for His people. James quoted Proverbs 3:34 to prove his point about the proud. God resists the proud but those who submit to divine wisdom will receive the necessary grace from God to put into practice the kind of life James described in 3:13-18. On the other hand, those who elevate themselves will face a formidable foe. God Himself will fight against their plans because they are not on His side. He calls us to humble ourselves before God. There are two commands in verse seven. First we are to submit to God by abandoning our selfish pride. That involves putting on the whole armor of God. Second we are called to resist any temptation that the evil one throws our way. Then the evil one will flee because we will belong to the army of the One true living God. Coming close to God is the language of friendship and loyalty. When we draw close to Him He draws close to us. Washing our hands is the language of ceremonial cleansing, commonly found in the Old Testament. This cleansing is applied to the inner purity of one’s actions and intentions. But, when a believer who has fallen into sin responds to God’s call for repentance they should place laughter and joy aside to reflect on their sin with genuine sorrow. In verse nine the laughter almost seems to point to the loud revelry of pleasure loving people. They immerse themselves in a celebration of their sins in an effort to forget God’s judgement. But a Christian should never laugh at sin. However, Christian sorrow leads to repentance; repentance leads to forgiveness; and forgiveness leads to true joy over one’s reconciliation with God. To those who humble themselves before Him, God gives honor in place of the shame of their persecution and oppression. James also gave warnings against judging others. Verses 11-12 reflect on Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37. The exhortation for peace in the Christian community requires that Christians not slander each other. Slandering one’s neighbor is the same as slandering God’s law because the law prohibits slander and demands love for one’s neighbor. There is one lawgiver. God is the ultimate judge and the One who will take vengeance on those who practice evil. He also gave warnings about self confidence. Itinerant merchants depended on personal assertiveness as a solution to their poverty and low social status. James urged greater recognition of God’s Providence and warned against arrogantly planning events which one cannot really control. The problem is not the plan or the concept. The problem is leaving God out of the plan. We are reminded that we are like mist or vapor. We are here for a short while and then we are gone, just like mist and vapor. The Lord has authority over life and death. We might boast about what God has done but we cannot boast about our own arrogant plans. That assumes that God has no claim or authority over our lives then. Verse 17 is probably the verse that James wanted his readers to recognize. It’s source is unknown but it is consistent with the teachings of scripture. James says it is a sin to doubt whether an action is right and to then go ahead and do it. It is also a sin to know what is right and then not do it. James begins chapter five with a warning to the rich. He denounces the rich for their greed and arrogant oppression of the poor. He warns them to repent while they can because if they don’t they will face terrible troubles on the day of judgement. The wealth and fine clothes are so excessive that they deteriorate from lack of use. Their destruction is also a sign of the anticipated judgement. Material wealth, represented by gold and silver, is worthless in the face of God’s judgement. In fact it will testify against them because it was unjustly gotten and wickedly used. These rich people were exploitive landowners. Like those in 2:6 who dragged Christians into court, they were exploiting day laborers whose work it was to harvest their fields. Their cries reached the ears of the Lord. God hears the prayers of the oppressed. Even while the laborers are still suffering, the Lord has heard. In fact the cries have reached the ears of heavens armies. This title emphasizes God’s power to act when the oppressed can’t. James pictured the wealthy like animals being readied for slaughter. They spent their years on earth in luxury. Every desire was satisfied. The wealthy had fattened themselves with delicacies and decadence. They were fattened like they were getting ready for market, for the day of slaughter. They had even killed the innocent people like the oppressed laborers. They had much to answer for and their judgement would be harsh. James final exhortations were regarding patience and endurance. Being patient was the ultimate resolution for the poor in their economic pressures and for their unjust treatment by the wicked rich. Even though the poor have been marginalized and oppressed, they must not give up or strike out at their oppressors. At the Lord’s return the faithful will receive their final reward. James warned that the judge is standing at the door. The coming of Christ is imminent. James referenced the prophets of long ago who are examples of patient suffering. And they could do that because they knew there was more to come, and it would be wonderful. He named in particular Job. Job was a man of great endurance. He remained faithful to the Lord throughout his trials and tribulations, despite his complaints of not understanding what he had done wrong. James is not forbidding any believer from taking a oath in court or invoking God as a witness to some significant statement. Because the churches were having such severe verbal conflicts James called upon them to avoid the pitfalls of deceitful oaths by not using any at all. To swear an oath in the name of the Lord was to call upon Him to enforce the oath. When people swore by heaven or earth they were either feigning reverence while avoiding the use of the divine name, or they were being deceitful with clever verbiage. James was prohibiting the ancient practice of appealing to a variety of different objects to confirm the veracity of their statements. This practice was dangerously close to idolatry because it implied that such objects contained spirits. The warning in these verses is also a reminder for us to watch what we say. We should not use God’s name in a reckless manner and we should be careful to speak the truth. The elders of the church were responsible for the well being of a local assembly of Christians. Elders were selected because of their relative age and qualifications as Christian leaders. At this early stage of the development of the Christian church the term church was apparently a non technical term meaning congregation or assembly. The act of anointing with oil symbolized divine blessings and healing. A prayer offered in faith will heal the sick. This proverb is generally a true statement, subject to the will of God. Only prayers that embody true faith will be answered affirmatively by the Lord, and faith for a particular healing is a gift that comes from God. If we have committed any sins we will be forgiven. James suggests that some illnesses might be caused by sin, and it is important that the sin also be confessed and forgiven. We known that prayer is the most powerful weapon in the world because the answers come from the Lord and it is to Him that we go in prayer. James’ example of faithful prayer comes from Elijah who prayed earnestly that no rain would fall and then three and a half years later he prayed for rain. His earnest prayers were answered. Three and a half is half of seven, which symbolizes a period of judgement. Verses 19-20 end the letter as a bookend, counterbalancing the exhortation to endurance. James ends by encouraging and almost challenging the believers that bringing back a believer who has wandered from the faith means saving that person from sure and certain death. And this isn’t just physical death but eternal death which is the punishment for departing from the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ. If the sinful person listens and repents, eternal punishment will be averted. In His Grip Pastor Matt W The Book of James was written from a pastors perspective and it focuses more on ethics than any other book of the New Testament. The letter contains teachings based on the law as understood through the life and teachings of Jesus. James also reflects Jesus’ own teachings, especially as recorded in the sermon on the Mount and the sermon on the plain. Many scholars believe Jesus’s half brother James wrote this letter. James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. This letter lacks any personal greetings to individuals and is addressed to the twelve tribes of the diaspora. The diaspora is the Jewish people living outside Israel. This was probably a circular letter intended for Jewish believers throughout the Roman world. James’ purpose was to encourage his readers who were not only scattered but also largely poor and oppressed. James writes with a very strong moral tone, filled with exhortations to live in a pious and upright manner. Here are some themes to look for as you read. First of all, genuine faith. James’s statement that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone does not contradict Paul’s teaching that salvation is based solely in faith. A faith that knows for certain that God exists but fails to trust Him or to manifest itself in a transformed life is not faith at all. Second is good deeds. “Deeds” in the Book of James is another term for fruit. These are acts of Christian love that inevitably accompany a genuine faith. Third comes genuine wisdom. James contrasted two kinds of wisdom. False wisdom produces envy and selfish ambition where as genuine wisdom results in humility, deeds of mercy and righteousness conduct. Wisdom helps Christians control their speech and promotes peace, consideration, submission, mercy, good deeds, impartiality, and sincerity.
By identifying his readers as the twelve tribes James reaffirms Christianity’s continuity with Israel’s heritage. The exile had dispersed the twelve tribes but Jewish interpreters looked forward to God reuniting them. Christ has spiritually brought an end to Israel’s exile and reunited the tribes. James begins his book by teaching about faith and endurance. This will be a recurring theme throughout the book. Failure to endure is to wander from the truth and that requires being saved from death. Wisdom is also a recurring theme. There were many trials in the first century for the new church and the people were tested. This is the same word that is used for making sure coins were genuine. The aim of testing was not to destroy but to purge and refine. If a believer endures a trial they will be perfect, meaning they have reached the end and they are complete. The wisdom God gives is not necessarily information on how to get out of trouble but instead insight on how to learn from one’s difficulties. It is also not info about how to avoid times of testing but instead a new perspective on trials. The wisdom of God begins with a genuine reverence for the Almighty and a steadfast confidence that God controls all circumstances, guiding them to His good purposes. The person who doubts is one whose loyalty is divided between God and the world. They are literally double minded. James emphasized the need for confidence in God alone. Poverty and wealth are also a recurring theme. James does not promise material wealth to the righteous poor but instead he announces a future reversal in heaven. In the New Testament boasting is usually viewed negatively but here it means boasting about what God has done. James uses irony to describe the wealthy who boast and their fate when they elevate themselves above the poor and vulnerable people. For the rest of the chapter, verses 12-27, James revisits the same three topics we have just seen. But, he has added a new dimension them. External testing becomes internal temptation. The need for wisdom is related to controlling angry speech, and poverty and wealth relate to the need to act on God’s word. The believer who endures trials demonstrates that they love Jesus and therefore will receive the crown of life at the judgement seat of Christ. The Bible describes the believers reward under various vivid images such as precious metals, garments, and crowns. Those who love Jesus are faithful and obedient. Verse 13 is called a diatribe. It is an Ancient Greek rhetorical technique where an imaginary opponent presents a contrary opinion. This way he is able to voice the readers possible objection and immediately refute it. Enticement to sin does not ever come from God. God will never deliberately lead a person to commit sin because trust would not only go against His nature but it would be opposed to His purpose of molding His creation to His Holy image. “Drawn away and enticed” express the intensity that desire causes an individual to be lured away or trapped. When evil desires conceive, they give birth to sinful actions. And when that infant sin is allowed to grow to full maturity it gives birth to death in opposition to the crown of life. God is the father of lights since He created everything in the heavens. In contrast to the moving lights in heaven, God never changes or casts a shifting shadow. God’s true word is the Good News. The imagery of a mother giving birth shows the full scope of God’s parental love for His children. We are His prized possessions and Christians are considered examples of the ultimate restoration of all creation. If a believer gets angry in difficult circumstances then the practical righteousness of God will not be evident in their lives. When someone wrongs us the natural response is to retaliate, at least verbally, but this response does not glorify God. However, holding one’s tongue, trying to understand the other persons position, and leaving the vindication to God demonstrates Godly love in tense situations. Getting rid of the filth in our lives is literally like taking off dirty clothing. We are called to live humbly and accept what God has planted in our lives. James emphasized that Christians are called to respond to a word that God Himself has put within our very beings. This fulfills Jeremiah 31:31-34. When James uses the soul here he is referring to the whole person. Reading the scriptures was an important part of worship but since most people could not read and copies were not readily available, they listened to the readings in public worship. James tells all of us that we can’t just be listeners though. We also must receive God’s word and apply it to and in our daily lives. Forgetting what you look like had nothing to do with the poor quality of the mirror. It had everything to do with the inattention of the viewer. God’s word gives us new birth and salvation but it also demands that we do what it says. James is concerned about controlling one’s tongue. It is literally bridling your tongue. James uses the graphic image of the bridle in a horses mouth to say that people’s ability to control their tongue indicates the condition of their heart and the whole direction of their life. Orphans and widows were among the most unprotected and needy classes in ancient societies. Pure religion not only gives material goods for the relief of the distressed. It also oversees their care. These folks were dependent on the care of others. In James the world always stands in opposition to God. James begins chapter two with a realistic illustration to enforce his prohibition against favoring the wealthy. He began this chapter with an affectionate greeting which served to solicit their loyal response. He contrasts the glory of the Lord with that of a well dressed man. Christ’s glory included His resurrection, exaltation, and second coming. When people gathered there was a pecking order. The fancy clothes and expensive jewelry of the rich in contrast with the dirty clothes of the poor symbolize the contrast In socioeconomic status. It was and is natural to give attention to wealthy people because of their political power, social status, and potential generosity as patrons. By serving and publicly honoring the wealthy the church could gain whatever economic benefits they wished to give. But James warned that this favoritism was also discrimination and that reflected evil motives, a division between loyalty to God, and a desire for the benefits of worldly wealth. He called for the people to listen to him, and then he presented his argument. God had chosen the poor and that is reflected in the Old Testament and the ministries of both Jesus and Paul. This concern was also emphasized in the Jerusalem church which James led. The kingdom of God was central to the teaching of Jesus. He already rules from His place at the right hand of the Father but His kingdom will be fully realized only when the Son of Man comes. The name we bear is Jesus Christ. It is a sign of ownership, pronounced at the time of conversion and baptisms. Christians are to obey the Royal law, just as Jesus fulfilled the law by His coming and His teaching. The law is called Royal because it belongs to the kingdom and was articulated by our glorious Lord. And then James changed from a general reference to the law to a specific written commandment from the holiness code, Leviticus 19. It specifies how our love for God is to be expressed in relationships with other people: “love your neighbor as yourself.” Favoritism violates the command to love our neighbor. God does not allow selective obedience. We cannot choose the parts of the law that are to our own liking and disregard the rest. Some of the Pharisees were guilty of this. Sin is a violation of the perfect righteousness of God, who is the lawgiver. James is saying that the whole divine law has to be accepted as an expression of God’s will from His people and the violation of even one commandment separates an individual from God and His purposes. Believers will be judged by the law of liberty, which is the law of love. Believers who do not practice partiality, but who practice love and mercy will triumph at the judgement seat. Those who have not shown mercy will not receive mercy. James wrote to Christians who needed to be stimulated to produce actions that should arise from genuine faith. Paul also made the same point but often criticized people for trying to base their relationship with God on what they do. James gave an illustration of faith that is useless. A brothers or sister in faith had no food or clothing. In first century Palestine and the Roman world in general many were poverty stricken and lacked the bare necessities. For a believer who could help but only wished the person well was an example of useless faith. Perhaps the believer assumed that God would provide, thinking that simply expressing faith was enough. But without our participation the well wishes mean nothing. We are called to be salt and light, the hands and feet of Jesus. That means we are called to do something. Faith without works is dead. James also demonstrated the futility of believing that something is true without acting upon it. Then he presented another diatribe. One person may have the gift of faith while another person has the gift of works. They may say they have faith and that there is only one God but even the demons say that. Demons do not love God and their kind of love does not lead to submission, or obedience. Instead it leads to hatred, rebellion, and disobedience. James called the person who separates faith and works foolish, meaning empty headed. And then James demonstrated from scripture that genuine faith finds expression in action. Abraham was not justified by his actions alone. His faith and actions worked together and this describes the full scope of Abraham’s faithful response to God throughout his life. James saw the offering of Isaac as the fulfillment of Abraham’s pledge of faith and God’s declaration of Abraham’s righteousness. He was even called the friend of God. James emphasized the nature of faith as a relationship of undivided loyalty. We are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. That is, not like the demons who merely believe something is true, but by a belief that results in generous deeds like those of God Himself. Though some have thought that this teaching contradicts what Paul taught, it does not. Paul does not speak against good deeds themselves, but about trying to receive forgiveness of sins because of good deeds. Just as Paul understands that love and generosity necessarily issue from true faith, so also James knows that good deeds can result only from authentic faith that results in a commitment to God. He presented Rahab the prostitute as his second example of good works that must accompany genuine faith. She declared her belief that the Lord God of Israel was the only God and her faith was made perfect by her actions when she provided hospitality and a means of escape to the Israelite spies. Good works are as necessary to faith as breath is to a physical body. We cannot have one without the other. In His Grip Pastor Matt W Chapter eleven is full of great examples of faith and endurance. The author writes this chapter, building up overwhelming evidence that the life of faith is the only real way to live for God. There is a pattern in this chapter that looks like this: first the phrase “by faith”. This is followed by the name of the person, the event or action of faith, and the outcome of that action and faith. But before presenting the list the author defines what faith is. Faith is acting on what God has revealed about His will and character. The reality that grounds our faith is the God who fulfills His promises. Scripture speaks favorably about people who live their lives in faith. And we believe things by faith, like the entire universe was formed at God’s command.This is a basic belief of both Jewish and Christian theology. God created everything we see now out of that which we could not see. A life of faith understands that by analogy God’s promises are real and will be called into reality by God Himself. So, here we go with the list of those who lived by faith.
The story of Abel’s faith challenges us and his blood bears witness to his righteousness and to the injustice of his murder. Enoch was taken up into heaven and did not face a normal death. God simply took him. Enoch was known as a person who pleased God. The author tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith, and faith must include believing that God exists and he rewards those who sincerely seek him. When life is a challenge the readers are challenged to trust God and to anticipate the fulfillment of His promises. Noah’s story shows us that faith involves obedience in the face of that which is unseen. He obeyed God in the face of things that had never before been seen, the flood. Noah’s faith condemned the rest of the world because he bore witness to God’s reality and His desire for holiness. Abraham too was obedient, acting even though he had no idea where God was taking him. He didn’t experience the inheritance of the promised land. Instead he was an alien living in the land God promised to give his descendants. The same was true for Isaac and Jacob. They received the same promise and they hoped in God but they walked by faith and not sight.Abraham didn’t settle in the Canaanite cities, staying in a tent. Instead he looked forward to a city with eternal foundations. He was looking towards his heavenly home. Abraham and Sarah were both very old, well past their child bearing years but by faith God gave them an heir. They had faith that God is able to answer His promises out of nothing. Verses 13-16 are a bit of a summary of the general principles that are evident in the lives they have pointed out so far. The thing about Abraham is that he and Sarah could have spent some of their time looking back at what they had left behind but instead they looked forward to what God had in store for them. Because they looked forward we see their longing for a better place. Their hope was ultimately in God. Great examples of faith take the reader from Abraham’s family to Rahab. God answered His promise to Abraham by giving him Isaac but He never intended for him to sacrifice his son. That was just a test of Abraham’s faith and we see his obedience. Isaac’s blessings were his sons Jacob and Esau. Jacob passed the ritual blessings on to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph had a rich full life and God used him in mighty ways. He was given prophecy for the Israelites and commanded them to take his bones with them from Egypt when they left. Moses’ parents had great faith in the face of challenges. They acted in faith, placing Moses in a reed basket to keep him safe. They recognized that God had given them an extraordinary child. Moses grew up in pharaoh’s palace receiving the best of everything. But he refused to be called the son of pharaoh’s daughter. Instead, by faith he aligned himself with the Israelites. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people. Moses could have had great wealth and treasures but by faith he chose the greater reward God had for him. Like Abraham before him, Moses entered an unfamiliar land, not knowing what the future held for him. He kept his eyes on the one he could not see. And Moses, by faith kept the Passover, instituting it as a memorial observance. Sprinkling blood for sacrifices under the old covenant was parallel to the shedding of Christ’s blood. The rescue through the Red Sea is the greatest moment of deliverance in Israel’s history. The people’s fear and accusations at the time do not exemplify faith but the people went forward when told to do so, despite their fears. This demonstrated again that obedience is central to faith.The conquest of Jericho gives us another example of great faith. The people acted in obedience to God’s unusual instructions. Rahab the prostitute showed faith in the power of the God of Israel by protecting the spies who came to her home. Because ofthat faithful action she and her family were protected when Jericho fell and they joined the community of Israel. In fact, Rahab is listed in Jesus’ genealogy. She was the mother of Boaz. The chapter ends with a rapid series of examples and the author gives a very brief overview of other faithful people through the rest of the old covenant era. The outcome of faith is deliverance and victory. But faith also brought severe persecution and even martyrdom for some of the faithful. Either way, God honored these folks with a good reputation because of their faith. The author listed six heroes of the faith from the time of the judges and the united monarchy. Gideon defeated the Midianites with torches and jars. Barak routed Sisera and the Canaanites. Samson, though weak in his moral fiber was used by God to fight the Philistines on behalf of Israel. Jephthah won victory over the Amorites and Ammonites. David, the only king in the group, loved God and for the most part lived an exemplary lifeof faith. Samuel was an important transitional leader between the judges and the monarchy. He heard God’s call and obeyed His will. All the prophets means, all the prophets, major and minor. They often exhibited great faith in the face of hostility.During the time of the judges and and the reign of David, Israel defeated many of their enemies. David and Solomon and a few others ruled with justice. Both Elijah and Elisha brought women’s loved ones back to life. But there were others who were tortured. Faith does not always have a positive outcome in this life. Here the author might have been referring to the 170’s and 160’s BC when many Jews suffered and died rather than forsake their faith. This would have been during the period of the Maccabees. According to tradition the prophet Jeremiah died by stoning and the prophet Isaiah was sawed in half. Their hope in God was more than in the pleasures and comforts of this world. The author cautions that the way to live as God’s peopleunder the new covenant is to live as all these people did under the old covenant: by faith in God’s promises, enduring any difficulties faced in this world. God has borne witness to their faithfulness. None of them received what God had promised. All of them died prior to Christ’s coming. The “something better” the author speaks about began with Christ’s sacrificial work and it anticipates the future culmination of God’s plan for His people. Jesus has fulfilled God’s goal of bringing His people into a relationship with Him. The author challenged their hearers to endure in following Jesus who is the supreme example of faithfulness. This was to be accomplished by imitating Him in His suffering, enduring God’s discipline, and by living in peace with others. The host of faithful followers of God, the great cloud of witnesses, bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. In Greco-Roman literature a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. And just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin trips us up, entangles us and restricts us from moving by faith. Jesus is the supreme example of faithful endurance and our endurance will depend on our keeping our eyes on Jesus. We are called to stay focused on Him and His work on our behalf. Christ has done everything necessary for us to endure in our faith. He is our example and role model. He focused on the joy that was set before Him. Jesus’ attention was not in the agonies of the crossbut in the crown that was to come; not on the suffering but the reward. Christ treated the shame of the cross as though it was nothing. The recipients of Hebrews had become weary and they were close to giving up. They were emotionally fatigued because of the persecution they faced but the key to their endurance was to focus on Jesus, who had been through even worse hostility. The author reminded the people that the community had not yet faced martyrdom for their faith. And, if Jesus could endure a shameful death, they should be able to endure a lesser persecution. Verses 5-6 and their encouraging words are a quote from Proverbs 3:11-12. This passage regards hardship as the Lord’s loving discipline for His children. God can turn a wide variety of trials and tribulations to our good. This serves to continue training us in righteousness and holy character. Fathers from both Greco-Roman and Jewish familieswere involved in the day to day aspects of raising their children. Discipline was seen as a necessary, healthy, and important part of preparing a child for adulthood. A lack of fatherly discipline, in this case a lack of hardships in life, is a mark of illegitimacy, not a blessing. Again the author argues from lesser to greater in verse nine. The lesser situation is the respect shown to an earthly father when he is meting out discipline. The author says that we should submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits. In other words, we submit in the most important contextof our relationship with God. We are called to yield to God as to a good father, trusting that He is helping us grow even through painful circumstances. There are at least two limitations on an earthly fathers discipline. First, his discipline or education is only for a few years. Children eventually grow up and leave home. Second, earthly fathers were doing the best they knew how from their limited perspectives. By contrast, God’s discipline lasts throughout life and is always good for us. This is based on His limitless knowledge and love. His goal is that we might share in His holiness. Although it is painful, discipline brings about a peaceful harvest of right living. It brings God’s children into a state that is conducive to harmonious relationships and doing what is right. The author encourages those who are emotionally and spiritually exhausted, using Isaiah 35:3-8 and Proverbs 4:26. According to Isaiah, God is in the process of defeating His enemies and is making a straight path for the righteous so that they will not fall. Those who are living a holy life have confident hope of seeing the Lord. The author also warns about the poisonous root of bitterness. This points to people turning their backs on God’s covenant to serve other gods. Bitterness can corrupt the church. Ancient Jewish literature describes Esau as sexually immoral because he was married to the Hittite women Judith and Basemath. His lack of regard for his birthright was godless. His willingness to give up God’s blessings for immediate satisfaction illustrates the opposite of faith. Hebrews sees Esau’sdisregard for his inheritance and his loss of the blessing as directly related. The result…bitter tears. By analogy those who reject an inheritance through Christ’s new covenant have only bitterness in their future. Verses 18-24 contrast the old covenant with the new. The old covenant, represented by Mount Sinai is shown as impersonal, intimidating, and unapproachable. It booms, flashes, and terrifies. The new covenant is represented by Mount Zion. It is seen as relational, welcoming, and celebratory. The descriptions of Mount Sinai come directly from God’s encounter with Israel at that mountain. The images communicate separation from a Holy God. The awesome trumpet blast and voice terrified the people so much so that they asked God to stop speaking. The contrast between the two covenants is strong. Believers have now come to wonderful Mount Zion which is associated with Jerusalem and represents God’s dwelling place. The new covenant constitutes a relationship with God by which we experience His presence with joy, peace, and fellowship. The word translated assembly here is usually translated church. It speaks of God’s assembled people. God’s firstborn children refers to people who are members of the new covenant. And the thought that God’s people have their names written in heaven speaks to God’s special attention to His people. For God’s children, God as judge is the vindicator of His people. And those who have already died have now been made perfect by the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant and His sprinkled blood, used as the sacrifice for sins speaks of forgiveness. But the blood of Abel cried out to God from the ground demanding vengeance for his murder by Cain . By contrast Jesus’ blood cries out that the price for sins had been paid for those in the new covenant. Verses 25-29 are the final warning in the book and the passage plays off the image of God speaking. God is the One who is speaking His revealed word in His Son Jesus Christ. The author argues again from lesser to greater. Moses’ warning the people under the old covenant is the lesser situation and God warning us from heaven is the greater. If people did not escape judgement when they were warned by Moses, those who reject the message of the Son of God will certainly not escape punishment. The earth shook at Mount Sinai and the earth and heaven will shake in the latter days. But, the kingdom of God will not be shaken because it will endure through all of eternity. But all of creation will be shaken and removed at the judgement at the end of the age. Our God deserves holy fear and awe, and He is a devouring fire. This speaks of God’s awesome power and of His right to judge. The author presents a series of practical guidelines, similar to other ethics lists in the New Testament. These describe how to love others in the community of faith. The people are encouraged to keep loving their brothers and sisters in the faith community. Hospitality was a big deal in the first century and the people were encouraged to treat everyone with care. Some had encountered angels as they were being hospitable. Prisoners in the first century were dependent on their families and friendsfor their basic needs, including food. The author challenged the Christians to provide comfort, food, prayer, and other necessities for those imprisoned because of their faith. Giving honor to marriage means to protect it and hold it as highly valuable. This is also a call to be faithful to your marriage partner. The people were called to be satisfied with what they had, with what God had provided them. They were not to love money and the author reminded them that God would never fail His people. With the Lord on our side there was no need to fear what others might do. The middle section of chapter 13 is bracketed by references to the leaders of the community. Here we see some hints of the issues that may have been troubling this church. The word leaders was used for military, political, and religious leaders. These leaders, evidently the founders of this faith community, taught the word of God to the people. This is a basic responsibility of people who are called to lead. Their lives and faith were to be examples that others followed. Even though it seems that the Community was facing challenges the author reminded them that Jesus is always the same. He is unchanging and his Good News never changes. Yesterday Jesus was the Father’s agent in creation. Today Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will rule the universe forever. Since Jesus does not change it is not wise for the believers to be attracted by strange and new ideas. Some of the false teachings in thiscommunity may well have involved food. Some in the community may have been tempted to abandon the Christian community by participating in Jewish fellowship meals. These meals encouraged participants to focus on the Jerusalem altar. The author here reminded the people that we have an altar of which those still under the old covenant have no part. Again the author turns back to the Day of Atonement and the sacrifice of animals. After the blood of these animals was captured the animals were taken outside of the camp and burned. The analogy here is that Jesus was taken outside the city of Jerusalem to be the sacrifice. Jesus was the supreme, Day of Atonement sacrifice. In verse 13 the author suggests the people should go outside the camp as well and stand with Jesus, identifying with Him and rejecting the apparent safety and comfort of standing with the world against Him. By doing this we also bear the disgrace He bore. The author also reminds all of us that we are not to be invested in the world because it is not our permanent home. We are looking for our home yet to come, the heavenly city of Jerusalem. In light of Jesus’ decisivesacrificial work on our behalf we still have sacrifices to offer. These are things like praise and obedience. These are the sacrifices that please God. The sacrifice of praise may be like the peace offering. A person bringing this sort of offering had to be made ritually clean before the offering could be made. Our thank offering to God can be continual because Jesus has made us clean for all time. When we give thanks to Jesus continually we are proclaiming allegiance to His name. Sharing with others is also a sacrifice that pleases God and characterizes life in the Christian community. It also appears that the relationship between spiritual leaders and the members of the church might have been strained. This caused the author to exhort the members to obey the leaders and do what they say. The Greek word for obey used here can also mean follow, Place confidence in, or be persuaded by. Christian leaders watch over people’s souls. This is a role that carries a grave responsibility which makes them accountable to God. And the word sorrows can also be translated as groaning. This speaks to emotional burdens and stress. Having leaders who are stressed and burdened because of an unruly church does not benefit the church! The author also asked for prayers. Benedictions in letters were an important component of not only letters but also speeches and sermons. This author wove a number of important themes from the letter into this benediction. The Lord as the great shepherd shows God’s provision and protection for His people. That this is a brief exhortation probably means it was a sermon. The Timothy mentioned here was probably Paul’s associate. If this is the case this is the only place where his imprisonment was mentioned. It is clear he knows the author of this letter. The author closes with a formal greeting and a blessing. In His Grip Pastor Matt W The bulk of today’s reading deals with the Jesus’s ministry as the heavenly High Priest being far superior to that of the earthly high priests. The first two verses of chapter eight are a transition from the discussion in chapter seven. The main point is that the author is referring back to the appointment of Jesus as the superior High Priest. He ministers not in an earthly tabernacle but in the heavenly one. This serves to anticipate the theme of Jesus’ superior offering. Unlike the Levitical priests who served in an earthly structure, Jesus’ sacrifice is superior because He serves in the true place of worship, the very presence of God in heaven. Making offerings is one of the basic duties of priests. Since Jesus was also a priest He too had to offer a sacrifice. Under the old order Jesus would not even be a priest because He was not from the tribe of Levi. But, Jesus is in heaven which makes His priestly service different and distinct from the Levitical priests. It also makes it superior to the priests of the old covenant. Here is the big difference. Not only is Jesus serving in the heavenly tabernacle but He serves from the new covenant, not the old. The author of Hebrews also points out that the earthly place of worship was a mere shadow, an imitation of the heavenly place of worship. This is why God wanted Moses to follow His instructions explicitly. Judaism and early Christianity both spoke of a heavenly tabernacle within a heavenly Jerusalem which would come down to earth at the end of the age. Hebrews suggests that this heavenly place of worship was shown to Moses so that he would know how to build the earthly tabernacle. Jesus did not serve in this tabernacle. He only serves in the heavenly tabernacle where He ministers as the High Priest. Jesus is the one who mediates for us. A mediator works between two parties to bring them to an agreement. Jesus’ sacrificial work established the covenant relationship between people and God. This new covenant is a far better covenant than the old because it is based on better promises.
The rest of the chapter is a quote from Jeremiah 31:31-34. This is the Old Testament prophecy concerning the new covenant that includes quite a few striking promises. What we see is that Jesus’ offering under the new covenant is far superior to the offerings of the old. The first covenant was made between God and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. It was not faultless and it was not the end of God’s plan for His people. And, it didn’t solve human weakness. Because the people were not able to keep the terms of the old covenant, God made a new one. This covenant was not dependent on any human action other than believing in the Lord. There is history in these verses. God made a covenant with the Israelites ancestors at Sinai. He went so far as to take them by the hand to bring them out of slavery in Egypt. He led them as a parent would a child who could not fend for themselves. The people were not faithful even though God was. As a result, God turned His back on them. His covenant warned them that if they turned away from Him, He would turn away from them. Under the old covenant the people were commanded to take the words of the law to heart. The kings of both Judah and Israel were judged on whether or not they followed the law of God wholeheartedly. The difference in the new covenant was that God’s laws would not only be in people’s minds but also on their hearts. People would have renewed hearts and minds and God’s law provided internal motivation. All those in the new covenant know the Lord. They have an intimate personal relationship with Him which is the very nature of the new covenant. A final characteristic of the new covenant is that God would forgive their wickedness and never again remember their sins. The blood of Jesus cleanses His people completely from their sins. The word “new” in new covenant emphasizes that once God had enacted this covenant the Sinai covenant was considered old or obsolete and as such was out of date. It’s time of usefulness was over and it’s termination was imminent. Chapter nine is all about the old covenant and how Christ’s death, the sacrifice of the new covenant is superior to the sacrifices in the old. The first ten verses describe the aspects of worship under the regulations of the old covenant. These are then contrasted with Christ’s superior offering. The author begins with a description of the tabernacle, Israel’s place of worship. We have seen this before, all the way back in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. The tabernacle was the place of worship as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, before the temple was built. The author named every piece of furniture in the tabernacle plus the spaces there. The priests worked in the Holy Place as a part of their daily ritual duties. But once a year the high priest went into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the forgiveness of the people’s sins. This was the most sacred place, the home of the ark of the covenant and the earthly place God dwelled. It is here that we discover that the ark of the covenant had the gold jar containing manna, a reminder of God’s provision in the wilderness. Aaron’s staff that had budded was also in the ark as a reminder to not rebel against God’s chosen leaders. And the stone tablets that had the Ten Commandments carved into them. This was a reminder for the people that they were called to live by the terms of the covenant. The cherubim of divine glory were statues of the cherubim that were formed into the cover of the ark of the covenant. These angels are especially associated with God’s glorious presence. The Arks cover was the actual place of atonement on which the blood from the Day of Atonement was to be sprinkled. The main focus here was to be the offering of sacrifices under the old covenant. Worship practices in the Holy place, the first room of the tabernacle were the duty of the priests who kept the lamps lit and the sacred loaves of bread replenished. These tasks happened regularly. The Day of Atonement happened once a year. Under the old covenant the entrance into the presence of God was limited to the high priest, and only once a year. The outer room of the tabernacle served as a sacred barrier keeping the people from the presence of God in the most Holy place. This was symbolic of the old covenant system. Under this system the people where kept out of God’s presence rather than being led into it. The problem with the gifts and sacrifices under the old covenant was that they were not able to cleanse the consciences of the people. They could not remove the people’s guilt before a Holy God. The old system dealt only with physical regulations, not the condition the heart. So this was only provisional. It was only intended to last until Christ could come and establish better system. From 9:11-10:18 the author contrasts the old system with the superior sacrifice made by Christ as High Priest. The blood of His offering was His own blood, not the blood of animals. Christ’s offering was made in the heavenly tabernacle, not the earthly one, and His offering, rather than being made continually, was made just one time. Christ has been made the High Priest over all the good things of the new covenant. He was appointed by God in accord with Psalm 110:4 and offered a superior offering. His sacrifice was superior because of where it was made, in the greater heavenly tabernacle. Christ’s offering was superior because it was made with His own blood instead of the blood of goats, lambs, and calves. And it is superior because He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time. Unlike the sacrifices in the old covenant, which had to be made year after year, Jesus’s sacrificial death only had to be made once and it was decisive in securing our redemption forever. The ashes from the heifer were used with water to cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. The author contrasts the old and new here. This is an argument from lesser to greater, a traditional Jewish rhetorical strategy. The logic in this is that if something is true in a lesser situation, it will be even more true in a greater situation. For instance, if the blood of animals had some cleansing effect then the blood of Christ will be much more effective. Christ’s sacrifice, unlike the sacrifices of the old covenant, removes the guilt that keeps us from God by decisively cleansing us from our sinful deeds. Under the old covenant Moses and the angels were understood to be the mediators between God and the people. In the new covenant Christ takes on that role, mediating between God and people through His sacrificial death and ongoing intercession. Exodus 24:3-8 records Moses’ inauguration of the old covenant with the blood of the sacrifice. Hebrews alone among ancient sources states that Moses sprinkled the book of God’s law. Hyssop branches have blue flowers and very strong aromatic leaves. They were used with sacrifices for cleansing. Moses said “this blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” Jesus used similar language at the Lord’s Supper, referring to His own death. Most of the rituals of cleansing in the law of Moses involved the death of a sacrificial animal. Blood was involved both in the rites of cleansing and in making atonement. But the shedding of Christ’s blood established the new covenant, providing permanent purification and complete forgiveness of sins. Verse 23 also argues from lesser to greater. Just as heaven is greater than the earthly tabernacle and temple, so Christ’s sacrifice had to be far greater than the earthly sacrifices. And, just as the tabernacle had to be cleansed because of the sin of the Israelites, the heavenly tabernacle required that the uncleanness was to be removed from those who would enter heaven under the new covenant. Under the new covenant, Christ did not offer his sacrifice in the earthly tabernacle. Instead he entered into the very presence of God in heaven to act on our behalf. His sacrifice made Him a much better mediator to bring us into a right relationship with God. Christ’s one time sacrifice was permanently effective. Since Christ is both the sacrifice and the High Priest, if His offerings were made every year as with the earthly high priests, Jesus would have had to die again and again. Christ’s first coming was to take away all the sins of many people. When He comes again, it will not be to deal with sins because that has already happened. Instead, He will bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him. The old system under the law of Moses, like the tabernacle itself, was only a shadow, a dim preview of a much greater reality. This would be the good things that Christ inaugurated in the new covenant. The perpetual nature of the sacrifices demonstrated their inadequacy. If the sacrifices had offered a true, lasting purity they would have stopped and the feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead of removing guilt, the ongoing sacrifices actually reminded those who wished to come near God, year after year, that they were guilty before God. The blood offered in sacrifice under the old covenant could not take away sins or even begin to eradicate them in a way that would offer permanent cleansing. Chapter 10:6-7 quotes Psalm 40:6-8. This Psalm is a hymn of praise to God in which the psalmist confesses his desire to do God’s will. The author of Hebrews understands Christ to be the speaker here. God had prepared the psalmist to be obedient, ready to do God’s will and now Hebrews applies this to Christ. For Hebrews, the preparation of a human body, specifically Christ’s body, shows that God would use it as a superior sacrifice. This is the author’s flow of thought here in verses 8-10. First Christ said you did not want animal sacrifices. The author understands this as God’s rejection of the old system of sacrifices. Then He said, I have come to do your will. And the author of Hebrews takes this to be Christ’s willingness to be the supreme sacrifice for sins. The author concludes that because of Christ’s sacrifice, God has canceled the old covenant. God’s will was that Christ would die for sins as a sacrifice and this only had to be done once. Yes, there is a lot of repetition here on the part of the author of Hebrews. Christ’s superior offering was decisive. Christ’s sacrifice contrasts with that of the earthly high priest in that Christ offered Himself up as a sacrifice. And once that was accomplished He sat down in the place of honor. Instead of standing daily like the priests of the old covenant, He waited until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. In Christ we have complete purification from sins. Again the author quoted from Jeremiah 31:31-34 to support their statement that Christ’s one offering under the new covenant has made worshipers perfect forever. God’s laws have now been placed in people hearts and minds and God will no longer remember the people’s sins. This is the reality of the new covenant. The author’s logical conclusion is that when sins have been forgiven, when they have been taken away completely and permanently, there is no more need for any sacrifices. So, the author concluded that the superior sacrifice of Christ had made the entire sacrificial system of the old covenant obsolete. Chapter ten contains a lot of repetition concerning Jesus superior offering and His once and for all sacrifice. We know that under the old covenant the most Holy Place was off limits to all but the high priest. We also know that when Jesus gave up His spirit on the cross and cried out it is finished, the curtain in the Jerusalem temple that separated God from His people was torn in two, from top to bottom. This curtain was sixty feet tall and four inches thick. Only one person could tear this in half. When the curtain was torn God’s people suddenly had full access to Him. Jesus made a way for the people to come into the presence of Holy God. Under this new covenant believers have transformed hearts. Christ’s work on our behalf gives us confidence that God will welcome us into His presence. Our guilty consciences have been sprinkled and our bodies have been washed. Christ’s sacrificial death had provided complete cleansing from sin. When this happens, acts of love and good works characterize true Christian commitment. It seems that in an attempt to avoid persecution, some in the community of the Hebrews were neglecting to meet together in regular worship. But when believers are together that is when we can encourage one another. Gathering together can motivate us to perform good works. All of this is in preparation for Christ’s second coming. Again we see the author of Hebrews warning the people then and now that there is great danger in rejecting God’s Son and His authoritative word. Openly sinning against God’s laws was described as “sinning with a high hand.” The author seems to have in mind here a rejection of Christ and His work. And if a person rejects the Son’s sacrifice, there is no other sacrifice. There is no where else to go for forgiveness. Anyone who rejects Christ can only expect judgement as one of God’s enemies. In verses 28-29 the author once again moves from lesser to greater. The old punishment for a person who refused to obey the law of Moses was death. But the greater concern here is for the one who rejects Christ and treats Him with contempt. Now the punishment is much worse; eternal damnation. God will judge His own people and once God moves to do that, no one can rescue them out of His hand. The warning is harsh but the author follows this up with a word of encouragement. The author reminds the readers of the early days, shortly after the community embraced Christianity when their faith was tested. At that time they remained faithful in the face of terrible suffering. But suffering was normal for a person who identified with Christ and his community. Believers were insulted and disgraced. They were physically abused and sometimes they stood with others who were suffering. Some of those folks had been tossed into jail. Some had been evicted from their homes and were left with nothing. They had even been forced to leave the city. But these Christians had faced this kind of persecution in the past and had accepted it with joy. Now they could anticipate better things that will last forever. God has promised to reward those who faithfully persevere. Based on this the author urges them not to throw away their confident trust in the Lord. The word for confident trust here is the same word used in Hebrews for boldly entering the presence of God. Patient endurance is the key response needed in the face of persecution. Verses 37-38 quote Habakkuk 2:3-4 that contrast the righteous and the wicked as they face God’s judgement. The author ends this section with a statement of confidence in their hearers. In His Grip Pastor Matt W |