Full Assurance

June 23, 2024 Background Scripture: Hebrews 6:9 - 20 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 6:9 - 20 There are many unanswered questions about the Epistle to the Hebrews. It is not critically clear who the author is or to whom it was addressed. There are not enough clues within it to support or eliminate any specific person or group. Many of the subjects addressed in it are similar to those addressed by the Apostle Paul in the epistles credited to him. Assuming most congregations at that time faced similar situations, that would place the time of the writing around the middle of the first century. The initial evangelistic work was to Jewish communities. Therefore, the Christian church began as congregations of Jews with Jewish leaders. Much of the presentation in this epistle uses the Old Testament writings as the basis. That certainly supports the thought that the letter was addressed to Jewish Christians who would have been familiar with the Old Testament writings. Furthermore, the author encouraged the recipients to continue to mature as Christians without becoming discouraged by the challenges they faced in their society. Two of the teachings of the Old Testament were used to persuade them. First was the matter of how debates were settled by the patriarchs—or at least how they reached a point of agreement. It occurred when one of them took an oath. That solemn act of basing their commitment on something greater than themselves satisfied the other party. Secondly, the writer used the example of Abraham waiting for God to fulfill His promise to him. God vowed an oath to Abraham based on Himself. God's word and His being became the assurance that He would perform that He had promised Abraham. Because of God's oath, Abraham waited patiently for twenty-five years for the fulfillment of God's promise. Abraham had no reason to doubt the promise would be fulfilled because God vowed an oath that was based on His very person. God's oath is His guarantee. Christians also have God's oath concerning our salvation in Jesus. God has placed all hope of salvation in Jesus to all who put their faith in Him. Despite the challenges a Christian might face, God's oath gives an undying hope that anchors our souls. It was important that the first century Christians understood this. Many of the Hebrew Christians in the first centi11Y faced persecution from their community as well as from the Gentile political leaders. They needed something to help them survive those challenges without them giving up. Our challenges of today are often pacified by the hope we have for a future that is free of such challenges. Where there is hope, there is a clear determination to get through, or beyond the present difficulties. Our topic today is derived from Verse 1 1 of our Lesson Passage that mentions "full assurance of hope". A person without hope can be liken to a ship on a stormy sea without a rudder or sail. The conditions of the sea will toss the ship in seemingly random directions while the storm lasts. The ship's last resort of self-control is its anchor. The anchor provided enough drag to stabilize it. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews refers to the hope in Christians as an anchor of the soul. The unfriendly environment that Christians faced in the first century' became the storms they had to endure. The writer of this epistle reminded them of the anchor God had provided to give them full assurance of the hope that was within them. They couldn't adjust their sails or steer a rudder, but they could drop their anchor, which is the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. This hope allowed them to survive those storms. Robert C, Hudson June 6, 2024

Bold Ministers

June 9, 2024 Background Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5 - 18 Lesson Passage: 2 Corinthians 3:5 - 18 It is easy today to overlook, or forget, the perils faced by the apostles who laid the foundation of the New Testament church. Some of Paul's letters remind us of those challenging times and how the apostles were constantly threatened with physical harm and even death. Most places we travel in this country, and indeed the world, have established Christian congregations there. This was far from the case for the apostles of the first century. They were constantly led by God into hostile regions where Christianity did not exist nor did the political and religious leaders there want it. Many leaders used pagan religions to control the masses and maintain their prestigious positions. Those apostles suffered many things from leaders in those regions; this included imprisonment, beatings, and the threat of death. It is not surprising that some of Paul 's letters show how he engaged in deep and sincere reflections on whether he was doing God's will or not. If there were Jewish synagogues in the region, they were often engaged first by Paul. Paul constantly tried to use their common Jewish faith to lead Jews to faith in Jesus Christ. He was often met with sharp criticism and violence—even among the Jews. Many aspects of Christianity were seen as blasphemous by Jews. They were convinced that no true religion existed outside what God had given to Israel through Moses. When he witnessed to the Jews, Paul would always start with what they clearly knew and accepted about Judaism. From there Paul attempted to show where there was a lack of fulfillment of the promises within Judaism. Paul went on to explain that God promised something better—not to take away Judaism, but to fulfill it. This was Paul's approach. Paul questioned himself out of a reverent fear that he was listening more to his flesh than to the Spirit of God in him. When God granted Paul the assurance that the Spirit was indeed speaking through him, Paul became very bold in his proclamation of the gospel message. Paul offered side-by-side comparisons between Judaism and Christianity. Paul was bold in proclaiming that the Law defined holiness and showed that all people fail to live up to its standard. In demonstrating this, the Law led to condemnation because it only identified the problem, but it did not provide a solution. Paul declared that in Christianity, Jesus is the solution to the condemnation of the Law. Therefore, Christianity provides hope against the condemnation identified by the Law. Furthermore, Paul referred to the glory of God that caused Moses' face to shine when he received the Law from God. That glory gradually faded over time, but in the meantime, Moses covered his face with a veil to keep Israel from being frightened by the glory of God reflected on his face. Paul argued that if the Law, that led to Israel's condemnation was accompanied by the glory of God, then surely the righteousness of God that comes through Jesus Christ also has the glory of God reflected; and the glory of righteousness exceeds the glory of the Law. Just as the glow of Moses' face gradually passed away, so too was the condemnation of the Law replaced with the hope of righteousness found in Jesus Christ. The knowledge of this caused the apostles and their fellow servants to have hope. And that hope led to the boldness they needed to continue to minister at the risk of suffering injury or death. They knew they were empowered by God with a sufficiency necessary to declare God's new testament to people everywhere. And that sufficiency in God made them bold ministers. Robert C. Hudson May 23, 2024