zam
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Posts posted by zam
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Q3. (Hebrews 4:8-11) What do you think the writer of Hebrews means by this promise of "rest" for the believer? Why does the writer urge us: "Make every effort to enter that rest"? What is the difference between apostasy from Christ and the kind of falling into sin that all Christians experience from time to time?
He meant eternal rest which is a promise for each believer.
Because of the grave situations in the context where human live. Human beings are prone to temptations which drags the believers away from what they believed. The author of Hebrews perceived this great danger which is just like a slippery slope where christians might slip away unless they are very careful. He reminds the believers that they should not take for granted the promises of God which will actually realize in our future life when we add up our faith.
'Apostacy from Christ' as far as I understand means 'voluntary rejection of Christ'. Whereas 'falling into sin' is the one which each believer fall without knowing it. In this case if they know that they had fallen into a trap, there is a way out where they'll try to regain back what they had lost.
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Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? How does sin trick us? How does it harden us? What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong?
Faith is a connecting link between Jesus Christ and ourselves. It is because of His importance to our life that we uphold strongly our belief. It we lost this link then our life is at a lost. Right from the beginning, Satan tempts human beings trough different tricks with a motive to cut off the link which we have with our God. Human nature itself is full of weaknesses and easily fall to the temptation of pleasure. That's why when human wants to have much pleasure in their way of life, they sinned and by the time they realize that there is something wrong, then its already late. take as for example the Drug addicts. To live alone and think that we can do everything without any help and encouragements from others will be too difficult. Christian life is a life living in fellowship. It is just like a burning charcoal amidst unburn charcoals which through its presence is able to warm and burn others as well.
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Q1. (Hebrews 3:6b) Why is the writer exhorting his readers to "hold on" to Christ? Why must we continue in our faith? According the writer of Hebrews, what happens if we don't?
Because of the dangers that awaits on the way which attempt to drags us from believing in Jesus Christ. Because we have hope in Jesus Christ, and set our eyes upon Him, therefore we should not discontinue our holds on Him. If we don't then we'll be no more part of his house hold.
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Q5. (Hebrews 2:16-18) Why in God's plan did Jesus have to become human like us? How does his humanity provide encouragement and help to us when we are in trouble?
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Q4. (Hebrews 2:14-15) What was the purpose of Christ's death according to verses 14 and 15? In what sense is this mission accomplished? In what sense will it see its final completion in the future? What is the result in our lives from Christ's accomplishment?
Christ's purpose was to destroy the devil and to free us from the fear of death. He did it through His incarnation. He died for us on the cross. Through His resurrection He had overcome the power of the devil.
Christ'c victory was exhibited right from His resurrection from the death. He became the first fruit of resurrection which in turns assures us of the real liberation. It will be accomplished in the future at the time of His second coming where He will destroy Satan and all his forces.
We are free from the bondage of sin. we are liberated. But so long as we are in this earth, though Christians we are, we are not immune from the temtations and the traps that the devil is presently working. As the writer of Hebrews stressed, we need to hold firm to the end.
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Q3. (Hebrews 2:10) What does it mean, to bring many sons and daughters "to glory"? In what sense did Jesus become "perfect" through suffering? What are the implications for our own lives?
To lead people to His Kingdom which He had prepared. To let us have the qualities of those who live there and to share His glory. Jesus in accomplishing the task entrusted by the Father had to undergo the suffering of human beings. Though He suffer yet He was a conqueror through resurrection from the dead.
Jesus, the One whom the world look as the powerless now became the most powerfull. He had come to suffer and take the disgraceful death on the cross just for us sinners but, he is the first fruit of resurrection, which gives us hope that trusting in Him assures Eternal life.
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Q2. (Hebrews 2:9) In what way did Christ "taste death for everyone"? Why is this so dependent upon God's grace? If Christ died for your blackest and most stubborn sins, what are the implications for you?
He did this as a representative of all human beings. So Paul stress the fact when he compare Jesus with Adam by stating the Jesus is the Second Adam.
It is because of the self giving sacrifice of Jesus which proves the unconditional love of God. God's love is greater than we could comprehend. It is out of His grace that we are saved inspite of the fact that we don't deserve it.
I have to be more thankful to Him less I become just like a dumb fool. The first thing that strike my mind is whether I deserve such good acts for me! Jesus Christ had done so much for me why should I stop doing something good for glorifying Him!
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Q1. (Hebrews 2:9) In what ways did Jesus suffer during his life and death? In what ways are we likely to suffer? Does suffering have any value? What happens when we live in such a way to avoid all suffering?
He faced rejection especially from those who hold important positions in the society. He just lived an obedience life. He becomes a good friend to the rejected, marginalised, the downtrodden, even to the unfriendly and to the enemies. Because He had done all the good things for the sake of others he has to suffer. His suffering is for our good. If Jesus don't endure till the end, then, we'll not be saved and still awaits with groaning for a redeemer.
Christian life is not smooth. we are called to suffer by denying our very self. Jesus instructed us that we should love our enemy. If we win in that then everything else is possible. To stand for Jesus is what matter most.
Yes, it does.
To live a life free from suffering mean that we are not ready to become a real follower of Jesus Christ. Our journey as Christians should be both on good as well as bad weather. We can not just follow Christ during sunshine days, we need too to follow Him even during rainy days.
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Q4. (Hebrews 2:3b-4) In what way has the truth of salvation been confirmed to you? Would signs and wonders help or hinder establishing the truth of Christ's ministry today? From which portion of the Bible have you formed your opinion of the value of signs and wonders today?
The truth of salvation has been confirmed and attested by those who heard Him. Signs and wonders helps in establishing the truth of Christ's ministry today. First from the Book of Exodus and then from the New Testament we have Mark 16:16-18; Acts 4:29-30; 5:12; Heb.2:4.
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Q3. (Hebrews 2:1) In what ways are we not immune to drifting away from the gospel? According to the author, how can we successfully resist the tendency to drift? How did Jesus describe this phenomenon of "drift" in the Parable of the Sower?
We are sinful since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We are vulnerable to things which attack us from all angles especially from our weakest point. Take as for example "the power of wants". If our aim is not clear, we'll not be able to give full attention. So also in hearing the Gospel, if it just ends up by expressing in words like 'the message is nice' then it'll not have a deep impact in our heart. However, as the writer of the Hebrews suggests, we need to give full attention because of the danger that awaits us.
We'll be able to resist the tendency to drift away only by giving full attention to the things we have heard.
In Jesus' description of 'drift' in the Parable of the Sower: drifting away is compared to the seed that falls on the hard ground of the path, the shallow ground of the rocky soil, or the thorny soil where it was choked out.
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Q2. (Hebrews 1:2-3) What about the author's description of the Son makes you think that the Son described is himself divine? What role does the Son have in doing the Father's will according to these verses?
The description of the Son as '...the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His being...' helped me to understand that the Son is himself divine.
The Son sustains the whole universe; most important is His role as the purifier.'...the Son ... provided purification'.
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Q1. (Hebrews 1:2) In what way do you think the author of Hebrews is using the word "Son"? As a metaphor? As a biological relationship? How would a Son's words have more weight than a prophet's?
I do agree with what was discussed in the lesson that the word "Son" specifically in the context of Hebrews meant a real relationship just as a biological relationship between a father and a son. If it has to be a metaphor, then it would be impossible for us to comprehend who Jesus actually is.
To hear the words of a Son is different from what we heard from someone else even though they may take the place of an ambassador. The Son's words has more weight because he knows the heart of his Father. This is possible because the Son had a very close relationship with his father. Because the son loves the father and vice versa so the thoughts of the Father are rightly convey through the Son.
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1. It will happen on the day of redemption; the day where it is intended to be opened; the day of Jesus Christ's return and the rapture of the church.
2. They helped in understanding how the Holy Spirit functions in our lives allowing us to glimse God and heaven.
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1. That we might be for His praise and glory.
2. Phil. 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. This is the best guideline for us.
3. In Matthew 5;13-16 we noticed the metaphors which Christians need to be compared with. The point of similarity are the characters which we all need to imbibe in our life.
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1. To prove that this is the will and plan of God where all human beings will come under one family like brothers and sisters.
2. We are all God's creation and we shouldn't go after any other who are not our creator. The creator has overall authority upon His own creation. Jesus Christ is considered in the New Testament as the agent of creation: Jn.1:3; Col.1: 16. through Him God created everything in Heaven and on Earth.
3. In John 17:21 Jesus prayed that they may all be one... that the world will believe that you sent me. In the Ephesian context the point is that Jews and Gentiles are united together in Jesus Christ though the scope extends to the rest of creation.
4. Both passages talk about the continue process which God is doing through Jesus Christ in which the final fulfillment will happen sometimes in future. The future tense used in these passages confirms it.
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1. I am no more under the bondage of sin because Jesus Christ has redeemed me through His blood.
2. I'll be more miserable and have no freedom to decide even for my own life.
3. I don't see a bright future but only hell.
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1. To me this concept of adoption clarifies the Transcendence and Immanence character of God.
2. Because here is God, the One who in spite of our being strangers, is willing out of His love to embrace us and reckons us to be His very own children.
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1. To be sanctified by the Blood of Jesus. To be set apart for God's purpose.
2. By living an obedient life. Following the examples of Jesus. However, we can not do all these by ourselves but only through the grace of God.
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1. When people do all sorts of things which hurt themselves as well as others and then blame God.
2. In spite of our sinfull nature God had choosen us to be His children through faith in Jesus Christ. And since He bestowed in us the freedom to choose, its up to us whether we accept it or not.
3. God is impartial. In spite of the differences that we humans imposed upon ourselves to think that we are more special than others, yet God's love abounds. Paul rightly brings out this very important concept to let people know that God's love for Gentiles is already there from the beginning.
4. He did this to prove to the Ephesians that God's forgiveness covers them as well even though in the eyes of the Jewish Christians it may not be possible at all as we noticed in Acts particularly in those chapters before Chapter 15. Because the Ephesians had experienced the presence of Jesus Christ in their lives, so Paul praised God for all that God had done.
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To be in Christ means that I am saved. I am no more on my own. My self can not have control over me anymore.
I have to follow His examples all throughout my life that people may see the beauty of Jesus in me. Unless I am able to do that then I am unworthy to consider myself as a person who is in Christ.
Q4. The Living, Active Word of God
in 3. Jesus, the Giver of Rest (Hebrews 3:1-4:13)
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They have a close connection wherein we are told about the seriousness of the Word of God.
The Word of God is described as: 1. The living and active
2. Very sharp, sharper than any two-edged sword
3. The one which is able to separate the inseparable, and scrutinize the inscrutable
The Word of God has all the thing which God intends to communicate His will to us. By allowing ourselves to be exposed to it, we'll be able to take note of our weaknesses and correct them. Through it we're able to examine ourselves.