Considering everything the writer has said previously, it makes all the sense in the world that Hebrews 11 focuses on faith. In chapters 9 and 10, the writer describes how Jesus made one offering for sin for all of time. Since He bore away sin and finished the work of atonement for all time, He…
Category: New Testament
Depraved and Deprived
“If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the…
A Demon’s Advice on Prayer
The following is something I posted in 2015. I was reminded of it when talking with a friend about how we both felt overwhelmed by people’s needs. This is a particular problem in our age when mass media and social media can make us aware of needs and problems half a world away, things we…
No Sacrifice Is Left
Hebrews 10:26 has struck fear in many a heart over the years. Some say it proves Jesus’s sacrifice only covers sins committed before we convert. After that, salvation depends on us not sinning. Ironically, this leads us back into a system where our consciences can never be clean because sin remains uncovered. Such thinking is…
Escha-whatzit & Herme-whozit? (Part 2)
In my last post, I talked about the connection between eschatology (the study of last things or end times) and hermeneutics (how scripture is interpreted). A person’s eschatology will flow from how they interpret scripture so when people talk about eschatology, they’re also (perhaps unconsciously) talking about how to interpret scripture. Given that the integrity…
Escha-whatzit & Herme-whozit? (Part 1)
Over the years, I’ve learned how connected eschatology and hermeneutics are. “Eschatology” is a fancy word for “last things.” When we talk about the end times, we are talking about eschatology. “Hermeneutics” refers to how a person or group interprets the Bible. A person’s hermeneutic is the lens through which they look at scripture. The…
I Never Knew You
A few times in the last couple weeks, I have found myself wondering, “How well do I know the Lord? How well do I know Him *really*?” I can go black and white pretty easily so my first reaction was to doubt whether I knew the Lord at all. But after more reflection I decided…
Out from a Second
In chapters eight through 10, the writer of Hebrews continues contrasting the old and new covenants, also discussing them as the first and second covenants. The first covenant had continual sacrifice. Not only did the repeated sacrifices fail to remove sin, they actually reminded people of their sinfulness and kept their consciences from being clean….
Weakness: Escape it or embrace it?
Two weeks ago, my friend, James Acree, preached at his church on 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. This has been a precious passage to me the last 10 years or so. Among others, the Lord has used it to completely reorient my faith. (For my thoughts on these verses, click here and here). I really appreciated what…
Out with the Old, in with the…Older?
“For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever” (Heb. 7:28). “The law” and “the word of the oath” are set up as contrasting covenants, contrasting approaches to God. “The word of the oath” connects…
The Voice of One 