Hebrews 7:26-28 – “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”

Explain: 

The writer is illustrating how Jesus is the great high priest above all of the previous high priests.  He is compared to Melchizedek who was held in the highest regard in the history of the high priests.  Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe which illustrates the greatness of Melchizedek.  Jesus is even greater than Melchizedek because he is a high priest forever, and he never had to make sacrifices for his sins.  Every other high priest to sacrifice for their own sins, but Jesus was perfect.  Therefore Jesus is qualified to make atonement for our sins.

Apply: 

I think the most important application for me from this passage is to first thank Jesus for being the great high who permanently made atonement for my sins.  One of the best ways for me to show that gratitude is to tell someone about Jesus’ sacrifice for them.  There is no way around it.  If I am truly grateful, then I will be quick to share that with others.

Respond:

Lord, help me to be faithful to share the gospel with others on a regular basis. Don’t let fear or intimidation stop me from being a witness for You.

Brad Perry

Highlight: 

 Hebrews 6:9–12 (NKJV) ⁹But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. ¹⁰For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹²that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

Explain: These verses provide commentary on the beginning part of chapter 6 which speaks of the possibility of those who reject Christ after having some acquaintance with Him. The writer, I believe, here settles the question of whether he is speaking to those already saved or those who may have mere acquaintance with Christ. The key is v 11: True faith is shown in the fact that those who trust Christ genuinely will show evidence of that hope “until the end.” True faith will produce fruit that remains and continues to be produced.

Apply: I must be careful in giving people assurance of salvation based on a prayer they pray. It is certainly true that, in that moment if they have genuinely trusted Christ and received the Holy Spirit, they are saved and will continue. The proof of this, however, is in the continuing, not in my assurances. The assurance must come through the fruit that continues to be produced.

Highlight:  Heb 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.^[1]

Explain: 

The writer of Hebrews is showing us the superiority of the priesthood of Christ. The earthly priest is taken from among sinful men and appointed by God to offer sacrifices for sins. Christ was also appointed by God. During His days on earth, as a man, He cried out to God and was heard. As God before the incarnation, Jesus never had to experience what it meant to obey. As man He learned obedience by all the suffering He experienced, and, having been taught through the experience of obedience, He became the cause of our own salvation, having shown us through His example that obedience was possible.These truths are not for the newborn Christian. These are solid food teachings for those who are more mature. The tragedy was (in Hebrews) that the readers were still babes when they should have been more mature.

Apply:

This book, though filled with warnings to those who are unbelieving, is nevertheless so encouraging. I am blown away to think that Christ experienced obedience. Think of it! The Son of God—God in the flesh—knows what it is to wait on God and be challenged by a course of action that seems too hard or beyond him. You see this fleshed out in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus, facing the cross, had to make the difficult choice of obedience. No matter what I am going through, Jesus knows what it feels like to step out on faith and obey. 

Respond:I will thank my High Priest for going before me and teaching me what it means to obey. I will also remember this today when I am called to step out on faith and obey.

Highlight: Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.^[1]

Explain: 

The rest that God promised from the creation of the world is still available, although we, like the Israelites, may miss it through our unbelief and disobedience. The activation of the rest occurs through the powerful Word of God. It both commands us and exposes our unbelief. We, however, have an advantage over the Israelites. We have Jesus, our great High Priest, who was tempted like we are tempted, but didn’t sin. He is there to hear our petitions and, since he was human, he understands our weaknesses. If we will come to Him, He will show us great mercy and give us grace to help us when we most need it.

Apply:

Living in God’s rest, then, involves:

• Interacting with His powerful Word. We have to be in the book so that we can hear what He has to say to us, how He corrects us  and also how He encourages us.
• Bringing our troubles/petitions, etc., to Him. We come boldly to the throne of grace.
• Putting our trust in Him and seeking His blessing and approval, rather than the blessing or approval of anyone else.

Respond:I will think about the implications of this for time management.

H  —  Hebrews 3:1  And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.  

E  —  The writer in this passage was challenging the people to really think about who Jesus was to them. The writer wanted them to truly try to understand the sovereignty, the power, and the hope that Jesus has.  

A  —  Honestly, so many times in my busy life, I take my mind off of who Jesus really is.  I like when the writer says “think carefully about this Jesus.”  When I truly think carefully about Jesus, my thoughts should change, my actions should change, my desires should change, and my focus should change.  How often do I really think carefully about Him?  

R  — Dear Lord, please help me to live a life that is focused on Jesus.  Please don’t allow me to get so busy during my day that I don’t focus on Him and His calling on my life.

Carl Bradshaw

Highlight: 

Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ² For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?^[1]

Explain: 

The writer gives several reasons why we cannot neglect our great salvation:

1. God’s justice – If God punished the angels who turned away, He will maintain His justice and punish us. – v2.
2. God’s witness – 
   1. Through Christ – It was declared by Christ – v3Through the Holy Spirit – It was testified to by signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit. – v4
3. Christ’s suffering – 5-13
4. Christ’s victory – 14-15
5. Christ’s ministry (as High Priest)– 16-18

Apply:

1. Because of God’s justice, I have a healthy fear.
2. Because of God’s witness, I have a well-founded confidence.
3. Because of Christ’s suffering, I have a spiritual identity. Through His sacrifice, I have become God’s Child and belong to Christ’s family.
4. Because of Christ’s victory, I have a guaranteed future.
5. Because of Christ’s ministry, I have a present helper.

Respond: I will avail myself of God’s help through Christ today.

Highlight: 

Hebrews 1:3-4 – “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

Explain: 

The writer of Hebrews begins with explaining the supremacy of Christ above all over things, even angels.  He says that Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God, and that he is the exact imprint of God’s nature.  Not only that, but Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power.  Jesus is the one who purifies us from our sins, and is now seated at the right hand of God.  He is superior to angels, and his name is greater than theirs.

Apply: 

Jesus was not just a great teacher or prophet who lived long ago.  Jesus was God in flesh, and he is the author and finisher of our faith.  Jesus is enough for me, and he is the only way of salvation.  Because of this, I must surrender all of my life to Him, because he is worthy of my praise and devotion.  I may encounter people who believe that he was merely a man, so when I do, I must point them to the truth of his deity.

Respond:

Lord, help me to fully follow and surrender to You daily, and to be faithful to show the world the real You.

Brad Perry

Highlight:  

Titus 3:3–11 (NKJV) Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. ² They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. ³For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. ⁹But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, ¹¹knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. 

Explain: In vv 1-2, Paul describes the kind of people believers are to be and how they are to live in society. We are to show humility, remembering that we were once hateful and disobedient too. We, however, (vv3-8) were redeemed by God’s mercy, washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit, and made right with God so that we could live a life of grace to others. The basis, then, for our right attitude towards others is the grace of God. vv 9-11 show us that this grace is most evident in how we relate to other believers. If we insist on stirring up dissension and division, we are not what we claim to be. People who are divisive should be warned then shunned if they do not cease from causing division. They show by their attitude that they are “warped and sinning.” Their actions condemn them. 

Apply:

Our attitude towards the world is to be one of grace. We should not expect them to treat us well because they do not know Jesus. His grace and salvation make it possible for us to take abuse and return good for evil. On the other hand, we should not treat the divisive fellow believer in the same manner. The fellow believer who causes division must be warned and shunned because, if you do business as usual with a divisive fellow believer, you send the message that they are ok when they are actually “warped, sinning, and self-condemned.”Therefore, divisive “believers” must be confronted.

Respond:

I need to think about how to implement this.

Highlight:  Titus 2:11–14 (NKJV) 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Explain and Apply: 

Having described how the church leaders are to behave, Paul tells Titus how the church population is to act. There is a lot here and it serves as a guide for how we are to “do church.” We see:

• The FOUNDATION of our behavior: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all menteaching us that, The grace of God. All of our actions have to flow out of the gospel. We cannot manufacture holiness. It is a reaction that motivates behavior not a proaction that produces behavior. The gospel TEACHES us certain things.

• The DESCRIPTION  of our behavior:denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,

• Behavior denied: 

• Ungodliness. In this occurrence this word means having an impious attitude, i.e. lacking a proper regard and respect for God. The idea is to lack reverence.

• Worldly passions. Ungodliness speaks of a lack of passion for God because we regard Him too lightly or we don’t think about Him at all. Worldly passion means to have too much regard for the world so that we think about the world too much and are captured by it’s desires and want what it has to offer.

• Behavior embraced:we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

• Self-control – This is a balanced approach to life which emphasizes wisdom and a clear monitoring of our desires so that we are not captured by the world.

• Uprightness: To be in accordance with the moral and social standards set forth in the Word of God.

• Godliness- Having a pious attitude which brings the proper regard and powerful passion for God.

• The MOTIVATION for our behavior.

• Expectation – ¹³looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Our motivation to seek this kind of life comes from the expectation we have that Jesus is really going to return.

• Appreciation – who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us. We are also motivated by the realization that Jesus gave His life for us.
• Recognition – from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. We are also motivated by the recognition that He did all of this to create a holy people who truly are different from this world.

Respond:Think about some ways to communicate these truths to the church.

H  —  Titus 1:5-7  5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.
E  —  Paul was writing to encourage Titus in these verses.  Paul had charged Titus to appoint elders in the churches in that region, and these were some of the qualifications that Paul encouraged Titus to look for when appointing. 
A  —  Leadership is hard…especially leadership in the church.  Leaders in the church have such a high standard to live up to, and I myself needed to be reminded of these verses today.  There are people that are “counting on me” to lead well, and God has called me to do so as well….which is the most important thing. 
R  — Dear Lord, please help me lead a life that is described in these verses.  Please help me to focus on You, and lead as you have called me to lead.