Hebrews Bible Study Chapter 2. We have received a great salvation through Christ, so we must be careful not to drift away. Only through faith in Christ are we saved: He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The message of Christ was first preached by those who witnessed the miracles, but like the original readers of Hebrews, we base our belief on eyewitness accounts.
The superiority of Jesus
Hebrews Bible Study Chapter 1. The first chapter of Hebrews describes in detail how Jesus Christ fulfils the prophecies of the Old Testament. In the past God spoke to His people by various means: Isaiah, in visions; Jacob, in dreams; whilst to Abraham and Moses, God spoke personally. But now God speaks through Jesus. Jesus is the fulfilment and culmination of God’s revelation. When we know Jesus, we have all we need to be saved and have a perfect relationship with God.
There will be terrible times in the last days
'Mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power.’
An open door of evangelism
Showing the world the Glory and Power of God
My desire is that the world should see the Glory and Power of God. In 1 Chronicles 28, King David commissions his son Solomon to build the Temple by saying, 'It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Covenant could rest permanently.' This was to be such a resplendent representation of the majesty of our God. Today, we are not building a physical Temple, but the Glory of God can be seen through the works we do for Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5, 'Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'
The Power of God to deliver you
I thank God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it is the Power of God at work, saving everyone who believes — the Jew first and also the Gentile (Romans 1.16). As I look back over my life, it is now 50 years since God miraculously released me from a communist prison — and 30 years since I evangelised in the Dynamo Stadium, in Kyiv. It was during that difficult time in the prison, God revealed Himself as my Father in a most special way; it was as if I experienced the Glory of Heaven in that prison cell.
Be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus
How can we be strong in the grace of Christ? Just as we are saved by grace, we need to live in that same grace each day. This means trusting completely in Christ and His power, and not trying to live for Christ in our own strength. Writing to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul said, 'And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done.'
Godliness is great gain
‘Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.’ The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, is very concerned to instruct his young disciple how to deal with false teaching and corruption - especially financial corruption - in the church in Ephesus.
Stir up the gift of faith
Stir up the gift of faith. The Apostle Paul writes, 'I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.'
Don't shipwreck your faith
“Fight the good fight, hold on to faith and a good conscience - because some have rejected these and shipwrecked their faith.” Chapter 2 begins, “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” Paul makes it quite clear that the end goal of our prayer is Salvation! So often we get away from the basic truth of the Gospel, which is to bring men to Salvation.