Brand New

November 6, 2016 Background Scripture: Revelation 21:1 – 8 Lesson Passage: Revelation 21:1 – 8 I love to tell the story of how I learned how to study mathematics effectively. After reading the text carefully to try to understand any new concepts, I would proceed to analyze the example problems given in the chapter. I would practice working the example problems to see if I could determine which steps to take to arrive at the same answer in the book. The real test of whether I understood the new concepts came when I would venture to the end of the chapter and attempt to solve the odd-numbered problems. The odd-numbered problems were the key to mastering new mathematical concepts! What made them key was the fact that the answers to the odd-numbered problems were given in the back of the text book. Now how convenient was that? I could practice the new concepts with full assurance because I could determine if I got it right by referring to the section in the back of the text book to compare my solution to the answer in the book. If I could work all of the odd-numbered problems correctly, then I knew that I understood the concepts in the chapter and was ready to tackle the even-numbered problems which were usually the homework—or quiz. Over the next month, our Sunday School lessons come from the last two chapters of the book of Revelations. Much of what I have learned about mathematics applies to the Bible as well. There are answers in the back of the book! The Bible provides insight into the person of God and the spiritual condition of mankind. This insight lets us know that we have spiritual issues that only God can solve. The more we understand about ourselves and the more we learn about God, the more we see how desperate our situation is. We have problems that have eternal consequences. God offers to help us overcome all of our problems and He extends to us eternal life. It is easy to forget this when we are faced with the constant barrage of trials and tribulations of life. Sometimes we feel a sense of despair and wonder if there really is hope for us. That’s a good time to take a look at what’s in the back of “the book”. In today’s lesson, God is disclosing how He is going to fulfill His promise to destroy this old corrupt world along with sin. Everything that causes trials and tribulations today will be destroyed. God is going to make everything brand new. With this understanding we can face the trials of today because we can be assured that they are all temporary. We are reminded of this assurance by referring to the back of the book. When we look at today’s problems alongside the promises of God, we should be able to come up with the same solutions found in the back of the book. Then we will know that we understand the spiritual concepts that Jesus taught about the kingdom of God. We should also beware to not become too attached to the old things of this world seeing that they are under the condemnation of God. If you doubt that, refer to the back of the book. Robert C. Hudson September 28, 2016

Model of Endurance

October 30, 2016 Background Scripture: Hebrews 12 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 12:1 – 13 Long distance runners are noted for their remarkable endurance. As a result of their training, they are able to push their bodies to perform over great distances for an extended amount of time. They train for a very long time to establish a pace that gives them competition level performance. They understand that their challenge is distance and they must be prepared to push their bodies for an extended time to achieve the desired distance. Unlike sprinters, they do not take off quickly only to realize that a burst of speed is not sustainable for a long distance. They begin at a moderate pace with the intent to finish the race. These techniques have been tried and proven over thousands of years dating back to the ancient games. In those ancient games, athletes from many places competed before the cheering crowd. This appears to be the example the author had in mind when he talked about living the Christian life. He used the many heroes and heroines of faith as a great cloud of witnesses cheering on Christians who are pressing through life as ambassadors for Christ. The emphasis on patience, or endurance, is indicative of the type of race Christian living and service are compared to. This is not a sprint that requires a great burst of energy that soon fizzles out. This is a long distance contest and therefore patience and pace become paramount to success. The other reference seems to point to the practice of the ancient athletes competing in the nude. Anything that could possibly slow them down, hold them back, or restrict freedom of movement was removed so that it would be a true competition of human ability. In the text, the author encourages Christians to lay aside any weight—such as sin—that could so easily become a hindrance to our endurance and ability to finish the race without being disqualified. Jesus is our supreme example and motivation. What he did is far greater than any of us are called to do and he finished his race superbly. He overcame all obstacles he encountered. Jesus overcame much hostility that challenged his endurance and this should serve as encouragement to us. Part of our Christian training involves being disciplined by some challenges in life. We should look at some of life challenges as discipline imposed by the Lord as a demonstration of his love towards us. God’s discipline allows us to share his holiness when we endure it as His children. Our endurance becomes an evident sign of our spiritual maturity. With maturity comes the knowledge that discipline makes us better. We learn this when we are disciplined in the flesh by our parents and then grow up and reflect on our childhood. This text admonishes us to consider that God, our Heavenly Father, is far greater than our human parents and His discipline provides far more benefits for us. As we run this Christian race, we are called to run with endurance. Robert C. Hudson September 17, 2016

The High Priest Forever

October 23, 2016 Background Scripture: Hebrews 7 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 7:1 – 3, 18 – 28 The tribe of Levi was set apart by God to serve the tabernacle in the wilderness and later the temple in Jerusalem. Moses and his family descended from Jacob’s son, Levi and were part of this tribe. Aaron, Moses’ brother, was the first High Priest of Israel and his sons were set apart to serve in the office of priest. The ministry of priest is often referred to as an order relative to a progenitor. For example, we could refer to the Levitical priesthood or a priest of the Aaronic order. The first reference connects the priest to the tribe that descended from Levi in general, whereas the second reference identifies the priest as a descendant of Aaron specifically. The secession of High Priests followed the lineage of Aaron. Therefore, in Judaism, all priests are from the tribe of Levi because they are descendants of Aaron. Prior to the institution of Judaism at Mt. Sinai, there were priests mentioned in the scriptures. The most mysterious of them all was the king-priest, Melchizedek. He was mysterious because he was not introduced as being related to anyone whether by birth or marriage. Likewise, there is no record of his death or where he went after he ministered to Abraham. What we are told about him is that he blessed Abraham and Abraham gave tithes of all he had to him. This brief exchange was enough to indicate that he was greater than the patriarch Abraham in that he blessed him and received tithes of him. Levi descended from Abraham as a great grandson. Levi’s descendants are commanded in the Law to receive tithes of their brethren. Melchizedek, on the other hand, received tithes of Abraham before the Law was given. The last Old Testament reference to Melchizedek is in the Psalms where his office is spoken of as an eternal order in recognition that he had no beginning or no end. The author of our lesson today presents Jesus’ priestly ministry as being of the order of Melchizedek which is in agreement with Psalm 110. Jesus’ priesthood could not be according to the Law because the Law stipulated that the priests had to be from the tribe of Levi. Jesus descended from the royal tribe of Judah. As a king-priest, Jesus could not be of the Aaronic order but instead his priesthood is of the order of Melchizedek. Furthermore, the priests who descended from Aaron all served temporarily because their service was interrupted by death. After Jesus, as High Priest, presented himself as an offering for sin before God, he then entered the eternal service of the office. Jesus’ priesthood will never end. This is further assurance for those who put their trust in Jesus. We never have to worry about Jesus being replaced. He lives forever to make intercession for the saints as he continuously speaks to God on behalf of the saints. There is no need for a saint to be concerned about losing their salvation. The one who saved us, Jesus, lives forever to intercede on our behalf. Therefore, he can forgive sin to the utmost. He is our High Priest forever. Robert C. Hudson September 17, 2016

The Great High Priest

October 16, 2016 Background Scripture: Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 4:14 – 16; 5:1 – 10 One of the challenges of congregational governance is recognizing the role of a religious official outside of the congregational setting. For Baptists, there are only two religious officers and that is the office of Pastor (spiritual leader) and the office of Deacon (secular leaders appointed by the Pastor). There are no other biblical officers beyond these that have any governance over a local Baptist congregation. As such, congregational governed bodies are autonomous. By contrast, Episcopalian and Presbyterian governance recognizes area, regional, and national officers who exercise governance that affects local congregations. For these groups, it is not a stretch to consider the role of an officer beyond the congregation who has direct impact on local congregations. Old Testament Judaism was closer to congregational governance with the spiritual leadership role split between two officers: the prophet spoke to the people on behalf of God and the priest went before God on behalf of the people. Only a few people filled both roles of prophet and priest. Within the office of the priesthood of Israel, there was one leader who was the High Priest. The most important role of the High Priest was to appear before God once a year to petition Him for the forgiveness of sins for the people. No other person, priest or otherwise, could do this. No person can choose the position of high priest for himself. Every person chosen from among men to be high priest is chosen by God. God chooses the high priest from among the people so that he would bear the same burdens as the people and therefore would serve them with compassion. The high priest had to be properly prepared before he could appear before God. First, he had to offer a sin offering for himself to be forgiven and then he made a sin offering on behalf of the people. The congregation depended on the high priest being acceptable to God so that they would have an advocate to plead for them. If the high priest survived the annual encounter with God in the Most Holy Place, the people knew that God had accepted the sin offering and their sins were forgiven. This process was repeated every year by the high priest of Israel. When Jesus was taken from among the people to be a high priest, he too had suffered every temptation known to man. In spite of being tested, Jesus remained sinless. On Calvary, Jesus offered his sinless life upon the altar of the cross as a sin offering for the people who put their trust in him. This he did one time and it suffices throughout eternity. When Jesus rose from the grave on the third day, he entered into the office of High Priest to serve in the true temple in heaven. Unlike the other Jewish high priests, he did not have to make an offering for himself because he was without sin. However, he took upon himself the sins of the world and offered himself as a sin offering before God in the true temple. Because God accepted Jesus’ offering of himself, I know that my sins are forgiven. He is our great High Priest. Robert C. Hudson September 14, 2016

Builder of the House

October 9, 2016 Background Scripture: Hebrews 3:1 – 6; Matthew 7:19 – 29 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 3:1 – 6; Matthew 7:24 – 29 The other day I was wondering if the carpenter who built the house I live in is still alive. I have made a number of changes to the place after living there for over twenty years. What would the builder think about the changes I have made over the past two decades? If he were to stop by, would I invite him in and welcome him into the place he built? How would he feel to walk inside the house and sit down while thinking “I built this place over forty years ago.”? We don’t often think about the carpenters who built the houses we live in. They built it and were compensated for their work so that is the end of the story. But how would the story end if every carpenter remained emotionally attached and committed to the houses they built? I believe the answer to this question can be found in our lesson today. The bible uses a number of illustrations to describe our relationship to God as our heavenly Father. Sometimes God’s people are described as sheep that are trusting in and depending on the Shepherd of our souls. Sometimes God’s people are described as little children who are loved and protected by our heavenly Father. Then again, we are also described collectively as the temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. It is this description that seems to be on the mind of the author in our lesson today. The spiritual church is the house that Jesus is building. We are fashioned together as a spiritual house for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The focus of this illustration in our lesson is not on the house but on the builder of the house. As is made clear in the text, the builder of the house is superior to the house. Jesus is the builder of the church. He is compared and contrasted with Moses. Moses, the Law giver, was considered faithful among those in his house. But that house was built by God and Moses was a part of that house and a highly regarded servant in it. When the scripture states: “Moses was faithful in all his house”, it is a comparative statement. Compared to the others in the house, Moses was faithful because of his reliance on God. Jesus is greater than Moses because he built this house not to be a servant in it but to be Lord of it. As God’s only begotten son, Jesus is Lord of everything because he built all things. The principles in this lesson are further illustrated by Jesus’ teaching in his sermon on the mount. There he taught about the criteria for those who will enter the kingdom of heaven—or “the house”. Additionally, he taught about having the proper foundation upon which to build a house. Doing the will of God is prerequisite to being part of the house. To do the will of God is to believe in Jesus. One establishes his own foundation when he decides what to do with the teachings of Jesus. Those who receive and do what Jesus taught will have the right foundation. It will withstand the storms of life. Those who reject Jesus’ teachings have constructed a very poor foundation which will not withstand the storms of life. There is only one who can lay the right foundation. That builder is Jesus. The spiritual church is his house and he is the builder of the house. Robert C. Hudson September 14, 2016