July 28, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
I am seizing this opportunity to focus on the book of Hebrews, so strangely ignored and neglected by mainstream Christianity. I am under solemn obligation to call the attention of the spiritual Hebrews to the “two-edged sword” messages given “whether they will hear or whether they will forbear!” It is my prayer and hope that you will “hear” and not “forbear.”
So away we go! Hebrews 1:1-3, A.V.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the WORLDS: who being the brightness of His [the Father’s] glory, and the EXPRESS image of His person, and upholding all things by the WORD of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Heb. 1: 1-3.
“These verses contain a summary of the whole epistle. They present the pre-eminent Son as the appointed heir of all things; the Creator; the express image of God; the upholder of all things; the Redeemer; the Prince-King, seated at the right hand of God.”
“As Prophet, He speaks for God; as Priest, He purged our sins; as King, He shares the throne of the Majesty on high.” Verse 1. “God spake in time past.’ Many critics [and mainstream Christians] do not accept accept the Old Testament writings as inspired [or is already ‘expired’ with the Mosaic dispensation]. If they concede any inspiration at all, it is of an inferior kind.”
“Such should consider the opening statement of Hebrews. God is there presented as the One who spoke in the Old Testament, even though the books bear the name of Job, Isaiah, and Malachi. The admonition, ‘See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh,‘ has an application here. Heb. 12:25.”
“For if God spoke in the men of old, is not Moses but God whom men reject when they discard the writings of the Old Testament. Of this Christ says, ‘Had ye believed Moses [and the five books he wrote], ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?”John 5: 46, 47.” M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 44, 45.
To be continued tomorrow, God willing. NMF