InTotalAwe

Q5. (Hebrews 9:11-12) What does "redemption" mean? Deliverance, ransom, buy back (that which once belonged to you but is now in the possession of another). What were we redeemed from? Redeemed from the evil one, from death, hell and the grave. What was the price of our redemption? The precious, spotless blood of The Lamb of God, Christ Jesus our Savior. How long does our redemption last? It is without end. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? The Old Testament high priest alone could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifice for both himself and the people. The offering, being the carnal blood of bulls and goats, was only a type and shadow of the spotless blood to come and as such could only temporarily sanctify to the cleansing of the flesh. The Holiest of Holies, the true tabernacle not made with the hands of man had not yet been made manifest under the old system, because even one carrying the blood of bulls and goats could not have entered in. Christ, unlike the Old Testament high priest, entered the Holiest of Holies with His own spotless blood which is entirely able to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? If there is a guilty conscience, sin is evidently present. Not only can there be no intimacy, sin in effect separates us from His presence. Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)? We must hold fast to our profession of faith knowing that we have a High Priest, who through the sacrificial offering of His own spotless blood, tore down that otherwise impenetrable wall that separated us from our God, and gained 24/7, intimate entrance for us to the very throne of Grace where we can find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4

Q3. (Hebrews 9:7) Did the Old Covenant provide forgiveness for intentional, active, maintained rebellion against God? Intentional sin was not to be tolerated. Those guilty of such were to be cut off from the people, not exceptions were to be made. Does the New Covenant provide this forgiveness? Jesus' sacrifice paid for ALL our sins. What is required for forgiveness to be granted? Our forgiveness is granted when we humbly confess our sins to the LORD, repent or turn from them and ask forgiveness. This is the promise given to those who are sancitified by faith in Him. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Q2. (Hebrews 8:7-13) Why did the Old Covenant fail? The old covenant failed because the blood of bulls and goats was only a temporary and outward covering of sins which had to be repeated often and therefore not sufficient. It was made for past sins and did nothing to address present and future sins of the person the sacrifice was being made for. Also it was an external act, a ritual that had no abiding effect on the inward man to overcome his dominating sin nature. What are the primary promises of the New Covenant as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34? Beautiful and blessed promise; the scriptures themselves say it so much better than I ever could. The beauty of the King James language here is breathtaking. Jeremiah 31:33-34 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Q1. (Hebrews 8:6) In what sense is Jesus the "mediator" of a new covenant? He is now sitting at the right hand of the throne of God mediating on our behalf. What did he do to mediate this? He took our sins upon Himself and made the necessary blood sacrifice on the cross, dissolving the old covenant and becoming mediator of a better covenant which the blood of bulls and goats could never satisfy.

Q4. (Hebrews 6:12) If we take seriously the writer's exhortation to exercise both faith and patience for the long haul, what effect does that have on our Christian life? We will not be tempted to turn back in times of adversity and will instead rest in the grace of God knowing that His promises are true. On our perspective? It helps us to remain conscious of the 'big picture'; to endure with patience the sometimes harrowing journey of life because we know in the end the glory of the final destination will far outway whatever adversities we have endured to get there. How can we resist the subtle temptation to think that our salvation depends upon our endurance rather than Christ's atonement and the grace of God? By realizing that it is only by grace, through faith in the atoning sacrifice that we are both saved and able to endure life's up and downs. Endurance doesn't save us, but it will keep us from becoming apostate (falling into apostasy).

Q3. (Hebrews 6:4-6) What is apostasy? Apostasy is an absolute, no looking back, deliberate separation of oneself from God. Why is it impossible from a practical standpoint to restore apostates to Christian faith and practice? Because it is, in effect, blaspheming the Holy Spirit which is unforgivable. What point was Jesus making in his Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)? Jesus is essentially saying that those who have received the word in earnest, sought to understand it and are actively and consistently applying it to their lives are bearing fruit, sowing and reaping along lifes way are true disciples. What is Jesus' point of the Parable of the Tares or Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)? We do have a responsibility to warn those who are in open and evident sin. That is not a difficult call to make. However, wheat and tares are very difficult to tell apart. We are not to go about trying to rid the church of what we consider 'tares'. We are to leave that to the Lord. We dare not destroy the good in our feeble attempt to purge the bad. Only God can read the heart and tell the true from the false. Our job is to exhort and build each other up, urging one another on to victory.

Q5. (Hebrews 5:9) In verse 9, what does "made perfect" refer to, since it obviously isn't talking about Jesus' moral growth and perfection? (Hint: The word teleioō means "bring something to its goal or accomplishment.") Jesus summed it up quite nicely in John 19:30 when on the cross, with his dying breath he said, "IT IS FINISHED". The moment of fulfillment had come. He had completed the task for which He came into the world. He had torn down that wall of separation between man and His God and made reconciliation attainable to all who desired it. In all other religions of the world man is rabidly searching for God through self-punishment, sacrifice and man-made rituals; but in Christianity, God came searching for us. He took the punishment, He made the sacrifice and did away with useless rituals. Now we can come boldly to the throne of grace and find grace to help in time of need. How awesome is our God.

Q2. (Hebrews 6:4-5) What difference, if any, would you find between the description in verses 4-5 and a Spirit-filled Christian today? It seems to me this passage is describing those who have more than a nominal experience with the LORD. These persons would be akin to the apostles who walked so closely with Jesus they not only witnessed His miracles but partook of their power also (as at the gate Beautiful where Peter imparts healing to a man lame from birth). How many Christians do you know in this day and age walking in such power? It would indeed be impossible for someone with that deep an experience to make a complete break away and then deny the power of God to be restored. That would be tantamount to blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which is the only unforgivable sin. What is the writer's point in forming this description? He was stressing the danger, brevity and consequence of those ministering and participating so closely and deeply in the full ministry of the gospel, and then doing a 180, completely denying it's truth and power as though it were mere sport or fabrication. There could be no greater transgression against Father, Son and Holy Spirit than that.

Q1. (Hebrews 5:14) How does a person become mature in God's Word according to verse 14? We must actively and deliberately seek to learn and understand the Word of God by reading and meditating on it until we have a clear understanding. If we do not at first understand, we must pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us. I have made it a practice in study not to leave a passage until I understand what it is saying. What can you do to grow in maturity? We grow in maturity by applying scriptural principles to our daily circumstances and life in general.

Q3. (Hebrews 4:16) Why should we approach the "throne of grace" with boldness and confidence? Because Jesus, our high priest, by His sinless sacrifice tore down that middle wall of partition between God and man, gaining for us the privilege of approaching the throne of grace with boldness, knowing that we have been washed and cleansed by Christ's atoning sacrifice. What are the promises contained in this verse? In approaching the throne of grace with boldness we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need. On what basis is God able to offer us unrestrained mercy and grace for our sins while still retaining his justice as judge? On the basis that we have a high priest (someone who has made sacrifice for our sins) that has passed into the heavens; that someone being Jesus, the Son of God.

Q4. (Hebrews 4:12-13) What do these two verses have to do with what precedes them? Nothing is hid from God. He knows even the very intentions of the heart. If we are doing those things necessary to enter into His rest to be seen of men but that's not really who we are in our heart, He knows it. Only those committed to Him in truth will enter His rest. How is the Word described? It is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. What effect does the Word have on us? It divides soul and spirit, and discerns our thoughts. Why do we need to continually expose ourselves to the Word of God? To keep our hearts and minds focused on Him; for strength, encouragement and growth in the knowledge of God. The Word is our guide book for life. We are to learn it, live it and pass it on by teaching and example to our children and children's children.

Q2. (Hebrews 4:15) In what ways did Jesus share our weaknesses? Jesus shares our weaknesses in that He came in the flesh and lived among us for 33 years. In what ways was Jesus' tempted? He was tempted in all 'points' with the same temptations mankind is faced with today. There is no need to point to individual temptations. They all fall under one or the other category; l*st of the eyes, l*st of the flesh or the pride of life. Because we know he didn't sin, were his temptations easier or more difficult than ours? We can look back in history to the Inquisition, or the Roman Coliseum infamous for Christians being fed to lions or being burned alive and see that many martyrs suffered horrendous torture and death. However, none of us has had to do battle with satan face to face as Jesus did during His 40 day wilderness temptation. Few today, at least in America, have shed any blood 'striving against sin'. Do we have any temptations he didn't have? Jesus most likely wasn't tempted by chocolate so to speak or the newest BMW or Mercedes on the market, but technically all sin falls under the 3 categories stated above, the l*st of the eyes, the l*st of the flesh and the pride of life. Why does it comfort us that he can sympathize with our temptations and weaknesses? It comforts us because it is only by and through Him and His mercy that we can overcome these things. Better still, He can empathize with us, because He has suffered the same frailties and weaknesses Himself. That is why He came. He wanted to walk, talk, breathe and bleed in the flesh so He could experience our plight and relate more closely to our pain before He laid His life down in the ultimate sacrifice. We will never experience any greater love than our very Creator has shown us. How comforting is that?

Q1. (Hebrews 4:14) What is so important about "holding fast to our confession." That we may lay hold of eternal life. What is our confession or profession of faith? It is our statement of allegiance to the LORD our Saviour. Why is maintaining this confession so vital? So in the end we may enter into the eternal rest promised to those who believe.

Q3. (Hebrews 4:8-11) What do you think the writer of Hebrews means by this promise of "rest" for the believer? The scriptures tell us that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth; this is not our home, we are merely passing through. It also tells us that we are 'running a race' so to speak and must labor to reach the finish line. Our rest is not here on this earth. We are to be busy about our Father's business in the here and now. Our rest will be found in the hereafter, in our eternal home with the LORD. Why does the writer urge us: "Make every effort to enter that rest"? Because if we fail to hold on to our faith and become disobedient to the call of Christ, we will not be allowed to enter into that place of rest. What is the difference between apostasy from Christ and the kind of falling into sin that all Christians experience from time to time? Apostasy is not the mere act of stumbling that every Christian experiences from time to time, but is in fact a complete rejection of the tenets and doctrines of once held beliefs. One is literally separating himself from God by denying the truth he formerly walked in. Most Christians stumble from time to time, but get right back up through prayer and repentance. They did not lose their faith in God, but experienced a temporary veering off course, which is easily done and why we are urged to be deliberate in holding steadfast the beginning of our confidence unto the end.

Q2. (Hebrews 3:12-14) What is the importance of faith in our relationship to Christ? Maintaining faith in Christ will keep us strong, steadfast, with full confidence in our walk and service to the LORD knowing in certainty that what He promised, he will perform. How does sin trick us? Sin is insidious. It comes in subtley, developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent (if you aren't guarding your walk). It's much like the old analogy of the frog in the pot of water having the heat gradually turned up on him, ever unaware or unconcerned about the gradual change, until it is finally too late and he is doomed. How does it harden us? We allow it to creep in gradually until we become immune, even blind to it's destructive tendencies and suffer no conviction in continuing to practice those things offensive to the walk of faith. What is the value of Christian fellowship to keep our faith strong? Proverbs 27:17 Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. We exhort one another to good works and encourage each other with our testimonies and victories to continue steadfastly in the faith that saves us.

Q1. (Hebrews 3:6b) Why is the writer exhorting his readers to "hold on" to Christ? Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. The implication is clearly that we must make a conscious effort to hang on, to not let go, of our confidence and hope in Christ to the very end if we are to remain in the household of God. We must not be foolish enough to ignore that little 'IF' word. Why must we continue in our faith? To guard against having our hearts tricked by sin and falling away from God. According the writer of Hebrews, what happens if we don't? Hebrews 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? If we do not hold fast (firmly) to our faith to the very end, we will not be among those entering into the rest of God.

Q4. (Hebrews 2:3b-4) In what way has the truth of salvation been confirmed to you? The truth of salvation has been confirmed to me in so many ways, but here are some of them: Firstly, the radical and instantaneous change in thinking in my own personal conversion; my desire to know the true and living God, to study His Word and be in His presence which was not present before. Watching as the Lord changed the lives of friends and family that also were born again. Then later in studying the lives of the precious saints who went before us, their courage and convictions even unto death, that could make sense only if they KNEW what they were dying for to be true, helped to solidify what I already knew in my heart. The history of nations who served the Lord verses those who were/are ruled by tyrants with false gods and the differences in peace, prosperity, freedom, respect for life and love for our fellow man, the rule of law and in education whether one is free to follow every avenue of discovery or restricted by a regime with an agenda as represented by those who serve/served God and those who didn't/don't. Would signs and wonders help or hinder establishing the truth of Christ's ministry today? I would simply ask, "did signs and wonders help or hinder establishing the truth of Christ's ministry in the day of the apostles"? It would certainly help now, just as it did then. The time of signs and wonders has not ceased as some claim. Why would we be less in need than those who physically walked with the Lord? Is there no further need of healing? Of course there is. Nobody will need healing in heaven. We are a continuation of the book of Acts. Jesus has not yet returned. He still desires that our faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Co 2:4 "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" ICo 2:5 "That your faith should stand in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power and not in the wisdom of men." From which portion of the Bible have you formed your opinion of the value of signs and wonders today? The two mentioned above, Joel 2, Ps. 103, Isaiah 53, Acts 10:38 and many, many more. The bible is replete with healing scriptures and coupled with the fact that God is no respecter of persons, it's an obvious conclusion.

In what way do you think the author of Hebrews is using the word "Son"? As a metaphor? As a biological relationship? The author is clearly using the word 'Son' as a biological relationship. He is 'heir' to the throne, whereas a prophet is a 'servant' even to the 'heir' of throne. How would a Son's words have more weight than a prophet's? A prophet being mortal can only bring forth the divine message or word from God; the Son is the Word being the very essence of divinity Himself, thereby, possessing divine authority and power the prophet is not privy to. To be more precise, the prophet is 'a messenger'; the Son of God is 'the message'.