Sacrifices of Praise

August 24, 2025 Background Scripture: Hebrews 13 - 21 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 13:9 - 21 Neither the author nor the recipients of this letter are explicitly identified in this letter. Furthermore, known authors of the other New Testament writings do not refer to this letter although they addressed many of the same concerns. However, the internal evidence within this letter is insightful. Throughout this letter, the author addresses the recipients as brethren. The author also refers to many Old Testament scriptures and teachings as though they were familiar to the recipients. It is for these reasons that many scholars believe this letter was written to Christian Jews, or Hebrews. The author of the letter did not include the words, "To the Hebrews", but the evidence within the letter alludes to it. Our Background Scripture revolves around the concept of the altar and religious sacrifices of the Levitical Law. When we use the word "sacrifice" in our society, rarely do we think of it in terms of a religious practice, We tend to think of a sacrifice as doing something we find inconvenient, or we willingly tolerate something we might find objectionable. In both cases, we believe we have made a sacrifice. However, Jews in the first century, when this letter was written, were taught to think of sacrifice as a religious act of faith. It was not a matter of inconvenience. It was a matter of making a personal connection with God. In the Law, those who brought animals to be sacrificed to God by the priest, participated in the meaning of the sacrifice by eating the meat of the animal that was killed and offered to God on the altar. They understood that their consumption of the meat that was sacrificed on the altar was their way of identifying with the animal that died on their behalf. They believed their participation in the process was their way of accepting that God had forgiven them of sin because the animal died on the altar for their sin. The priest offered the blood of the sacrifice before God in the sanctuary of the tabernacle (later the temple). Eating at the altar was both a privilege and a right that was granted to the Jewish priest. Certain body parts of the sacrifice were burned outside of Israel's encampment. The author of this epistle used the analogy of Jesus being crucified on Calvary outside of Jerusalem as a comparison, or fulfillment of God's plan. The cross on Calva1Y that bore Jesus became God's altar, and Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin. Likewise, Jesus offered His own blood to God on behalf of believers. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. It is for this reason Christians ought to praise God by giving thanks to Jesus' name. In other words, praise is becoming of Christians, but it should not be seen as sufficient. Christians must also do the works that are befitting of those who have been saved from eternal damnation because of Jesus' blood, Benevolent love should motivate us to meet the needs of others we encounter. In fact, benevolent love should be the lifestyle of Christians. A Christian's good works done in faith are also sacrifices to God. We should respect and follow those God has assigned as our leaders. All have sinned and come short of God's glory; all includes spiritual leaders. Despite the shortcomings of spiritual leaders, spiritual leaders must still give an account to God for those they are assigned to shepherd. Therefore, spiritual leaders need prayer and sincere eff01t from those who follow them. It is difficult enough just to give an account for oneself. Each of us must depend on God to work in us that which pleases Him. As we grow spiritually, we grow into areas of ministry God has assigned for us. As we all mature spiritually, we collectively behave as one body in Christ, Then all of us will express gratitude to God by giving thanks and offering Him the sacrifice of praise. Robert C. Hudson July 31, 2025

The Two Made One

August 17, 2025 Background Scripture: Ephesians 2:11 - 22 Lesson Passage: Ephesians 2:11 - 22 The Apostle Paul was the perfect servant of God to pen the words of today's lesson. His name was Saul, but after his encounter with Jesus, Jesus changed his name to Paul. As a Pharisee of the Pharisees, Saul had in-depth knowledge of Judaism. He was thoroughly familiar with the Levitical laws that govern the Jews as the people of God. Saul was also knowledgeable of the covenant promises God made to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The creation of Israel as a sovereign nation was according to the covenant promise God made to Abraham. Saul became confused when the risen Jesus Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Saul was traveling to find Jewish Christians and persecute them for their teachings that Saul thought was blasphemous and counter to Judaism. Jesus interrupted Saul's journey. Jesus identified Himself - but even more than that, He let Saul know that He identified with the group Saul was persecuting; it was personal for Jesus. Saul was confronted with irrefutable evidence that what the Christians proclaimed was indeed true. Jesus was crucified because the Jewish leaders rejected His claim to be the Son of God. Now, this same Jesus is risen from the dead and had interrupted Saul's effort to destroy the Christians. If Jesus was indeed risen and declaring Himself to be God, what would that mean for the covenants God made with the patriarchs? This was a major concern for Saul. If Gentiles who did not receive the Law were now being saved without the Law, what does that say about Israel who was separated in the world as the people of God? Did God abandon Israel and His promises to the patriarchs in favor of Gentiles? Saul's knowledge of Israel's history and the covenants prompted many questions for him—and Israel! As a result of questions such as these, Saul engaged in much prayer to seek God and understand what it all meant. The answer God gave Saul is the heart of this lesson: in Jesus Christ, God brings both groups, Jews and saved Gentiles, together into one new person. God had not abandoned the Jews, neither did He leave the Gentiles outside of His plan of salvation for all people. Therefore, the Jews who were separated from other nations in becoming the people of God should no longer despise the Gentiles who are being saved by God through faith. Likewise, the Gentiles, who were once without hope of salvation, should not think themselves to be more than the Jews. In fact, through Jesus Christ, the two groups must accept that they are spiritually joined together as one. This is not a matter of tolerating each other but rather seeing themselves as united together in Christ. Gentiles who are saved and Jews share a common foundation which has Jesus Christ as the cornerstone. They are both members of one household, the household of God. This one entity containing Jews and saved Gentiles is the earthly temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The theology behind this union is so profound that Paul used the analogy of the institution of marriage, as God had established it, to describe this new theology. Like marriage, this is not one plus one equal two. This is one plus one equals one. That means if one hurts, the other hurts. If one is elevated and prospers, the other is elevated and prospers. What Saul and the Jewish leaders thought was a misguided cult of Jews, was the eternal plan of God to bring salvation to mankind as He promised Abraham in His covenant. God promised Abraham that He would bless all nations through his descendant. Jesus is the human descendant of Abraham. God does not have two groups He considers His children, the Jews and the Christian church. In Jesus Christ, the two have been made one. Robert C. Hudson July 31, 2025