A Study of Hebrews is very relevant for our day. Just as the Hebrew Christians were doing in the 1^st century, people are apostatizing from the faith today. There are many Christians that do not know whether we live under the commands of Christ or Moses or both. They do not understand the distinction between the two systems and so they believe they can live under either or both.

The hope of Heaven is lost on many today because of a worldly mindset. There are those religious folks today that have their hope set on the false doctrines contained in premillennialism rather than the Word of God.

We use the word “hope” in both the past tense and present tense. For example, “I hope I did right” or “I hope I am doing right”. We also use it in the future tense. The Biblical usage of the word “hope” is always in the future tense, looking for that which is to come.

In Hebrews 6:18-20, the Hebrews writer points out the certainty of the hope we have. Our hope is based on two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie about. Immutable means never changing or unvarying. The two immutable things are God’s promise and His oath. God has promised mankind salvation in Christ by the precious blood of Christ, 1 Peter 1:18-19. This promise included those Christian Jews the Hebrews letter was writing to who would forfeit the promise if they turned back to Judaism. Not only the promise, but God “willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath” Hebrews 6:17. Concerning these two, the promise and the oath, it is impossible for God to lie. He is a promise making God and a promise keeping God.

This hope is an anchor of the soul. This anchor is sure and steadfast. As sure, steadfast, and immutable as the promise and oath. As sure, steadfast, and immutable as the One who made them. For these Hebrews to turn back to Judaism was to turn away from their salvation, was to turn away from the promise and oath made to man, and to turn away from the God of Heaven who made them. If they turned from God there was no other means of forgiveness to be found.

Just as the Hebrews of the 1^st century, we also would have no hope were it not for Jesus Christ. Christ has ascended into Heaven itself and this is where our hope is, Heaven, and on whom is it centered, on Christ. He is our Prophet, Priest, and King. Hebrews 1:1-3

Paul’s logic was “ungetoverable”. Jesus Christ is greater than the angels, therefore He is greater than the Law of Moses. Jesus Christ is greater than Moses, therefore He is greater than the Law that came by Moses. Jesus Christ is greater than Aaron, therefore He is greater than the Levitical priesthood or any earthly high priest. Heavenly hope for Jewish Christians could not be found through Moses or Aaron, through angels or the Law of Moses. It was (and is today) only through Jesus Christ and his Gospel that hope can be found and attained.

Abraham looked for a “city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11:10. David looked to the time when “I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” Psalm 23:6. Jesus told His disciples “In my Father’s house are many mansions” John 14:2. Paul looked forward to “a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” 2 Timothy 4:8. Peter spoke of “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” 1 Peter 1:4. John on Patmos wrote of his vision “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away” Revelation 22:1. This is the hope that Paul is admonishing the Hebrew Christians to not forsake by going back to the Law of Moses.

This is the same hope Christians today can look forward to if we have been found faithful at the end of life’s journey, Revelation 2:10.

–Jerry Sturgill

In regard to those who should lead prayers, Paul orders, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting “ (1 Timothy 2:8). The Greek word for men in this verse is aner, denoting males, not mankind in general (anthropos), a fact that is evident from the context; hence, Paul by way of contrast addresses females in the following verse, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel…” (1 Timothy 2:9).
While gender makes no difference in receiving the gift of salvation (Galatians 3:28), there are differences in the roles of men and women in the church. Paul, by apostolic authority, goes on to make these roles clear in this passage, saying, “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence”(1 Timothy 2:12).

The roles of men and women in the church with respect to authority are not based on culture but on creation, and thus do not vary with time and locale, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (1 Timothy 2:13-14). To say that we should disregard these divine injunctions today because of a change in culture is against the basis given in this passage and is thus a violation of God’s will. These were written that we should know how to behave in the church of God (1 Timothy 3:15); thus, the prohibition of 1 Timothy 2:12 that women are not to unlawfully take and exercising authority over men applies to all church practices in and out of the assembly. While we ought to do whatever we can to make the gospel more palatable to the culture we are trying to convert, we cannot disregard the law of God to do so (1 Corinthians 9:21-22).

 
In regard to women’s roles in the assembly, Paul enjoins, “ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law” 1 Corinthians 14:34. This is not merely a preference of Paul based on the culture of the time, for he appeals also to the law as a basis for this silence. If the rule that the miraculously endowed tongue speaker was to remain silent in the assembly if no interpreter was present (1 Corinthians 14:28) meant that he could participate in the worship in singing, etc. but ought not get up himself and lead the assembly in speaking something, then the silence women are commanded to observe must mean the same thing. While women do participate in the worship assembly, the law of God is they do not speak in such a way where their lone voice is heard leading the assembly.

-Mark Day

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27

Moses made a choice that made all the difference. This decision drastically changed his circumstances here on earth and in eternity. The decision was whether to live for the “here and now” or for the “there and then.”

Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Thus, he would not identify himself with the Egyptians and their practice of oppressing the Hebrew people. Moses refused to continue to serve in a court that mistreated God’s people.

In refusing this identification Moses lost his high position in Pharaoh’s palace. He, thus, missed out on a life of opulence and ease. He missed out on the opportunities to fulfill every fleshly desire that palace life would have afforded him because he knew fleshly desires are fleeting.

Because of his decision Moses suffered. He shared the trials of the Hebrew people with whom he chose to identify himself. There were dangers involved in this identification that meant he had to flee for his life and spend forty years in exile in the land of Midian.

But what Moses gained was worth it all. He had the favor of God. Through Moses God gave liberty to the Hebrew people; thus, Moses fulfilled his highest potential in being useful for God’s plan. Because of his decision, Moses received the riches of heaven (Matthew 17:3), greater than anything earth can offer.
How did Moses see his way clear to make this all-important decision? How could he suffer in this life and yet be triumphant? He did it by faith. He saw Him who is invisible. By faith he respected God’s reward for a faithful life and received it (Hebrews 11:6).

What decision will you make? Will you live for the here and now? Or looking to the invisible God, will you live by faith?

-Mark Day