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E-pistle

FreeWay Foundation            June 29, 2012

 

 

Learning obedience through suffering

(Hebrews 5:1-14)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the Old Testament High Priests

            1.  They were human beings, v. 1.

            2.  They were sinners ("subject to weakness"), enabling them to have some compassion

                 on the ignorant and those going astray, v. 2.

            3.  They had to offer sacrifices for their own sins before making sacrifices for the sins

                 of the people, v. 3.

            4.  They held this honorable office (High Priest) temporarily, and by God's sovereign

                 will, vv. 1, 4.

II.  Meditation:  on the contrasts with Jesus, our High Priest

            1.  Jesus was more than human; He was God's only begotten Son . . . divinity in human

                 flesh, v. 5.

            2.  Jesus is God's appointed High Priest forever, vv. 6, 10. (See Hebrews 7:25)

            3.  Jesus has His prayers heard because of His unwavering faith in God and His unceasing

                 Fear (reverence) for the Father, v. 7.

            4.  Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, learning (by experience) that obedience involves

                 suffering . . . thus becoming the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, vv. 8-9.

III.  Revelation:  on the responses to these truths by some believers

            1.  Too many Christians have become dull of hearing (spiritually deaf; unperceptive;

                 unappreciative) toward Christ's on-going intercessory ministry for them as the great

                 High Priest, v. 11.

            2.  Too many Christians, who now should be teaching God's word, still need to be taught;

                 they require spiritual milk instead of solid food, v. 12.

            3.  Too many Christians are unskilled in righteousness . . . are spiritual babies, unable to

                 walk in right relationship with God and man, v. 13.

            4.  Too many Christians, through lack of spiritual exercise (Bible study, meditation, prayer,

                 and fasting), remain weak and immature, unable to discern good from evil, v. 14.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Perceive Christ's on-going intercession for me as  God's High Priest.

            2.  Allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind so that I may learn and be able to teach others

                 God's word.

            3.  Grow in grace and knowledge toward spiritual maturity . . . "to the measure of the stature

                 Of the fullness of Christ," Ephesians 4:13.

            4.  Exercise personal discipline in my spiritual life, so that I may be able to see and understand

                 things from God's perspective.

 

 

 

Baptisms and laying on of hands

(Hebrews 6:1-20)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on verses 1-2

            1.  These are six "first principles" . . . "elementary teachings" . . . "foundational doctrines"

                 . . . mentioned in these verses, 5:12; 6:1.

            2.  Four of these basic teachings usually are emphasized by churches today: 

                        1)  Repentance                                     3)  Resurrection

                        2)  Faith                                                4)  Judgment

            3.  Two of these basic doctrines often are overlooked today:

                        1)  Baptisms                                         2)  Laying on of hands

            4.  Believers must comprehend these six principles before they can hope to be able to

                 understand the deeper things of God.

II.  Meditation: on the doctrine of baptisms

            1.  The baptism into Christ (new birth) – I Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27.

            2.  The baptism in water – Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 8:36-38.

            3.  The baptism in (being filled with) the Holy Spirit – Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16;

                 John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16; Ephesians 5:18.

            4.  The baptism of fulfilling God's destiny, including suffering persecution – Matthew 20:22-23;

                 5:10-12; Luke 12:50; I Peter 4:12-19; II Timothy 3:12.

III.  Meditation:  on the doctrine of laying on of hands

            1.  To bestow blessing (in Jesus' name) upon someone – Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16.

            2.  To heal (by God's power) those who are sick – Matthew 6:5; Mark 16:18; Luke 4:40; 13:13;

                 Acts 28:8.

            3.  To be a conduit for God to fill someone with the Holy Spirit – Acts 8:17-19; 9:19; 19:6.

            4.  To ordain someone whom God has called for Christian service – Acts 6:6; 13:3; I Timothy 5:22.

            5.  To impart (through God's grace) spiritual gifts to another believer – I Timothy 4:14; 1:18;

                 II Timothy 1:6.

IV.  Revelation and Application:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Be well grounded in the basic teachings of the Christian faith:  repentance, faith, baptisms,

                 laying on of hands, resurrection, and judgment.

            2.  Experience all four kinds of "baptisms" in my life:  new birth, baptism in water, baptism with

                 the Holy Spirit, and being totally immersed in fulfilling God's mission, purpose, and destiny

                 for me . . . even though it means suffering and persecution.

            3.  Understand and practice the "hands-on" ministries taught in the New Testament and exercised

                 in the early church.

            4.  Continue growing spiritually toward maturity . . . "Let us go on to perfection," v. 1.

 

"You don't have to know everything, you just have to know

where to find the answer to everything."

--Unknown

           

 

 

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