Gleanings from Hebrews

I recently finished a study of the book of Hebrews. I have never looked at Hebrews in depth before so I found a whole treasure trove of discoveries.
A while back my position as a dispensationalist was questioned. It's not a bad thing to have your beliefs questioned, as you grow in Christ you need to re-examine your stance on things and change according to what the scripture says. When my position was questioned I studied the matter for myself and made sure what I believed was right. I did not have to change my beliefs. In fact, I'm even more persuaded of them now then I was before.
Before you go running off calling me a hyper-dispensationalist, let me explain. I take the whole Bible as the perfect Word of God and I believe it in it's entirety. I believe the whole Bible is written for us but not everything in the Bible is written to us.
I will not skip over books like James, Hebrews, the gospels, even the entire Old Testament just because they were not written to the Church. I will certainly read, study and know them but I will not get my doctrine from there- specifically salvation doctrine.

For whatsoever things were written

aforetime were written for our learning,

that we through patience and comfort of

the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4

That all being said, the Lord directed me to study Hebrews.
Having been questioned, a few times, about divisions in the Bible, I am ultra-sensitive to the words God uses in scripture. I don't believe God let any word into His Word if it wasn't the right word. This made reading Hebrews really interesting.

There were a few things I studied that further cemented my stance that there are divions in the Bible and that a book named Hebrews would be written to the Hebrews. I thought I'd share some of these things that I've learned. This is not a commentary at all, just comparing scripture with scripture and seeing what the bible actually says about it self.
My study began in Hebrews 1 verse 1:

God, who at sundry times and in divers

manners spake in time past unto the

fathers by the prophets,

(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by

his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of

all things, by whom also he made the

worlds;

God, right away, refers to the fathers who He spoke to by the prophets.

Is there any question who He is talking to?

The fathers refer to the Israelites who bore sons who bore sons who bore sons that are the nation of Israel. Peter, talking to 'ye men of Israel' elaborates on this Hebrews passage in Acts 3.

So who is the 'us' in Hebrews 1:2? The 'us' are the sons of the fathers in verse one- the jews.

This book is for the Jews- specifically Jews (and those who convert) in the tribulation. At this very moment the Jews (as a nation) do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. The book of Hebrews clarifies it for them in a way that relates to them- the Priesthood of Christ. God makes it very plain that the sacrifices of animals, made by imperfect Levitical priests cannot take away sins (Hebrews 10:1-4).

Jesus, however is

Called of God an high priest after the

order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:10

Just a note- the first time the word 'priest' appears in the bible it is a reference to Melchisedec (spelled Melchizedek in the OT) in Genesis 14:18. You can read more about Melchisedec in detail in Hebrews 7. The word 'priest', 'priests', 'priesthood', and 'high priest' does not appear in the bible between the books of Acts and Hebrews. 

Having established that Christ is a perfect high priest, having made one sacrifice for all, and is passed into the heavens, Hebrews 8 describes the need for a new covenant.

For finding fault with them, he saith,

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant with the

house of Israel and with the house of

Judah:

Not according to the covenant that I 

made with their fathers in the day when I

took them by the hand to lead them out of

the land of Egypt; because they continued

not in my covenant, and I regarded them

not, saith the Lord.

For this is the covenant that  I will make

with the house of Israel after those days,

saith the Lord; I will put my law into their 

mind, and write them in their hearts: and I

will be to them a God, and they shall be to

me a people:

>skipping down to verse 13<

In that he saith, A new covenant, he

hath made the first old. Now that which

decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish

away.

Hebrews 8:8-10,13

He continues in this vein through chapter 9, dealing with the earthly tabernacle as a picture of the heavenly tabernacle and the ordinances of the priesthood.  

For the blood of bulls and of goats,

and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the

unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the

flesh:

How much more shall the blood of

Christ, who through the eternal Spirit

offered himself without spot to God, purge

your conscience from dead works to serve

the living God?

Hebrews 9:13&14

I think that's amazing- it might be obvious to everyone but to me it was the first time I realized that the blood of animals purified the flesh but did not purify the conscience. I did know that the levitical sacrifices were just a stand in until Christ came, but I had not really considered what the animal's blood was cleansing.

By the end of the chapter we know that Christ dealt once and for all for the sins of the world. The Holy Spirit describes it to a Jew in a way the Jew will understand. The tabernacle was given to the Jews so they could have fellowship with God. All us saved gentiles know is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We've never had to know anything about the temple (except to study).

The Holy Spirit describes Christ's sacrifice in Jewish terms- the tabernacle and the sacrifices- the covenant originally given to Moses.

Hebrews 3:

(15) While it is said, Today if ye will hear his

voice, harden not your hearts, as in the

provocation.

(16) For some, when they had heard, did

provoke: howbeit not all that came out of

Egypt by Moses.

(17) But with whom was he grieved forty

years? was it not with them that had

sinned, whose carcases fell in the

wilderness?

(18) And to whom sware he that they should

 not enter into his rest, but to them that

believed not?

(19)So we see that they could not enter in

because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:

(1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise

being left us of entering in to his rest, any

of you should seem to come short of it.

(2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as

well as unto them: but the word preached

did not profit them, not being mixed with

faith in them that heard it.

(3) For we which have believed do enter into

rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my

wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:

although the works were finished from the

foundation of the world.

There is a lot we can learn here but I'm going to focus on one thing. The phrase 'harden not your heart, as in the provocation' appears three times in the bible, twice in Hebrews 3 and once in Psalm 95:

(8) Harden not your heart, as in the

provocation, as as in the day of

temptation in the wilderness:

(9) When your fathers tempted me, proved

me, and saw my work.

These mentions obviously refer to one event: the refusal of Israel to go into the promised land the first time. The record is found in Numbers 13&14.

Above, in Hebrews 4:2 notice the bolded phrase: unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them.

'Them', evidently, is referring to the Israelites who could not enter into His rest because of unbelief in the day of provocation. There is no one else in the passage who 'them' can refer to.
The gospel was preached, way back, before Christ had manifested Himself in the flesh.

Numbers 14-

(6) And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the

son of Jephunneh, which were of them that

searched the land, rent their clothes:

(7) And they spake unto all the company of

the children of Israel, saying, The land,

which we have passed through to search it, is an

exceeding good land.

(8) If the LORD delight in us, then he will

bring us into this land, and give it us; a

land which floweth with milk and honey.

(9) Only rebel not ye against the LORD,

neither fear ye the people of the land; for

they are bread for us: their defence is

departed from them, and the LORD is with

us: fear them not.

(10) But all the congregation bade stone

them with stones. And the glory of the

LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the

congregation before all the children of

Israel.

(11) And the LORD said unto Moses, How

long will this people provoke me? and how

long will it be ere they believe me, for all

the signs which I have shewed among

them?

>>skip down to verse 23<<

Surely they shall not see the land which

I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any

of them that provoked me see it:

As best as I can figure out, the text I've bolded in the passage above is the gospel preached to the children of Israel in the day of provocation. There is one more verse I should mention in Numbers 13

(30) And Caleb stilled the people before

Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and

possess it; for we are well able to overcome

it.

This was the gospel preached to them:

-Go up and possess the land

-rebel not against the Lord

-fear not the people of the land

-the Lord is with you.

If they had obeyed God in that day, they would have entered into His rest. Please do not tell me that promised land is a metaphor or a picture of heaven, while it is in some cases, in this case it certainly is not. We are talking about a literal, physical occurrence and the book of Hebrews literally tells us that the gospel was preached to them.

I was very excited when I discovered this because it is proof that there is more than one gospel preached in the bible. There is only one gospel for us in the church age, but throughout the entire canon of scripture, there is more than one gospel mentioned.

Search for yourself: is there anywhere in any of the applicable passages to the provocation that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is even mentioned?

Before you count me accursed consider this:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed

from him that called you into the grace of

Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some

that trouble you, and would pervert the

gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven,

preach any other gospel to you than that

which we have preached unto you, let him

be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If

any man preach any other gospel unto you

than that ye have received, let him be

accursed.

Galatians 1:6-9

This passage in Galatians is talking about the gospel of Christ

The first time the gospel of Christ is mentioned is Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of

Christ: for it is the power of God unto

salvation to every one that believeth; to the

Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The gospel of Christ is salvation to everyone that believes. The gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles is found here: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Paul, the apostle to the gentiles (Romans 15:15&16), in the first book to the gentiles, in the first chapter to the gentiles, tells us what the gospel is for this age. Not only that, the term gospel of Christ is only mentioned from Romans to 1 Thessalonians, it fits neatly into the books written to the church in the age of Grace.

This business of the different gospels in the bible is for another post, one I do intend to write if I ever have the time.

Suffice it to say this: 

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you

the gospel which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received, and wherein

ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in

memory what I preached unto you, unless

ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received, how that Christ died

for our sins according to the scriptures;

and that he was buried, and that he rose

again the third day according to the

scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

That is our gospel, that is how you will be saved. Once more:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth

the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine

heart that God hath raised him from the

dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:9

Back to my study of Hebrews:

It is becoming more and more prevalent to believe that the 'age of grace' started way back in Genesis with Adam and Eve. People are leaving off rightly dividing. If you study scripture, desiring God's truth, you will come across division after division. For example: there's an Old Testament and a New Testiment- DIVISION.

God did not just put the word 'gospel' in Hebrews 4 because He had no better word. He used 'gospel' because it was a gospel that was preached.

I continued my study and a few days later I was in chapter five verse eleven:

(starting in verse 8 for context)

(8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he

obedience by the things which he suffered;

(9) And being made perfect, he became the

author of eternal salvation unto all them

that obey him;

(10) Called of God an high priest after the

order of Melchisedec.

(11) Of whom we have many things to say

and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull

of hearing.

Verse 11 struck me because it did not fit the way the writer had been writing up to this point. To my memory at least he had not just thrown out a reproof to his audience. Why would the Holy Spirit move him to tell the subject they are dull of hearing?

So I looked up the phrase dull of hearing

This phrase is mentioned three times total in the bible. First in Matthew 13:15-

For this people's heart is waxed gross,

and their ears are dull of hearing, and their

eyes they have closed; lest at any time they

should see with their eyes, and hear with

their ears, and should understand with

their heart, and should be converted, and I 

should heal them.

This is Jesus talking about the Jews. Read Matthew 13

Next mention is in Acts 28:27-

For the heart of this people is waxed

gross, and their ears are dull of hearing,

and their eyes have they closed; lest they

should see with their eyes, and hear with

 their ears, and understand with their heart,

and should be converted, and I should heal them.

This time it is Paul speaking to the Jews. Read Acts 28

The third mention is Hebrews 5:11 seen above.

Jesus, Paul, and the Holy Spirit writing in Hebrews are quoting Esaias (Isaiah):

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear

ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye

indeed, but perceive not.

Make the heart of this people fat, and

make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes, and hear with

their ears, and understand with their heart,

and convert, and be healed.

Isaiah 6:9&10

You know who he is talking to? The Jews.

After the Holy Spirit tells THE JEWS that they are dull of hearing He goes on to tell them:

For when the time ye ought to be

teachers, ye have need that one teach you

again which be the first principles of the

oracles of God; and are become such as

have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Hebrews 5:12

They rejected Christ (Acts 28:28) so the gospel of Christ went out to the gentiles and-

blindness in part is happened to Israel,

until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans 11:32

This proves, once again, that Hebrews is written to the Hebrews.

What advantage then hath the Jew? or

what profit is there of circumcision?

Much every way: chiefly, because that

unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Romans 3:1&2

I think I'll leave it at that for now. There is so much to get into but so little time.
I hope this was enlightening and helpful to you in some small way!

Hymns vs. Praise Songs -- Round One

There are two things that mark modern Christianity: new age Bible versions and praise and worship music. The modern movement has rejected the wisdom of their elders and removed Christianity's ancient landmarks. In place of that good old time heritage, they've erected monuments of their own feelings. Instead of what's right, it's what do I like and what makes me feel good?

I have very strong opinions on music and bible versions. In fact, I can't take worship or preaching seriously if it's not hymns and the King James Bible. That may sound extreme to many but please hear my case: If you had a genuine brand name watch that cost thousands of dollars and you saw someone with a similar watch but clearly a complete rip off of the real thing, would you take it seriously?
Having spent good money on a well designed and carefully manufactured watch you would take good care of it, clean it, and protect it. Perhaps you would only wear it on the weekends or to special occasions. Now then, you see someone else that has that exact same watch. You inquire after it and find that they spent $20 on it at some little shop in Chinatown that sells fake brand name watch. Upon closer inspection, you see the cheapness of the make and the scratches and dings from everyday wear and tear. Would you take that watch seriously? Heck, even it's owner does not take it seriously.
That may be a poor analogy but it's a close sentiment about how I feel about church.
I go to my King James only, hymn singing church and I know that it is real. I know God is worshipped there in truth.
I go to a whatever bible suits you, contemporary praise song singing church and I know it's not real. I'm not saying the people aren't genuinely trying to serve God, I am saying that their worship is shallow. As shallow as the bibles they read and the songs they sing. I know the real thing and I will not take anything but.

I went to a church, for about five or six years, that was not a KJV church and they sang hymns and praise songs together. Normally my family would not attend a church like that but we had been searching for a long time and just gave up. We were spiritually dead during that time.

I don't remember any Spiritual growth during that time. I did, however, get to witness firsthand the contemporary Christian movement. I was never caught up in it, but I've experienced it. I'm not just writing against it from an outsiders perspective. I've been in the midst of it and witnessed it.

I will go into bible versions eventually but first I'd like to tackle the music. It is a big, divisive topic so I've decided to take my time with it and really delve into the matter. This music has taken both the youth and the old of North America. If you think it does not matter, you're wrong. Everything you do matters, and everything you put in your head will manifest itself in your life. It may not happen right away, but if allowed to remain and grow, the things in your head and the sins of your thoughts will manifest themselves in your words and actions.

I've already said that praise and worship music is shallow.

To prove this I'll juxtapose a hymn and a well known praise song together and we'll see how they compare.

The two songs are these:

Praise song- Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman*

Hymn- Blessed Be the Name by Ralph E. Hudson and William Clark**

Please note: Blessed Be the Name is in black, Blessed Be Your Name is in blue, my comments are in green

Verse one- 

All praise to Him who reigns above -we get to know who we're singing about and give him 'all praise'

In majesty supreme

Who gave His son for man to die -hey look, the gospel!

That He might man redeem - this is why we are singing to Him who reigns above

Blessed be Your name -who are we blessing the name of?

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be your name

Okay, I get that Blessed Be Your Name has a story to it, but come on, Blessed Be the Name has the gospel in its first verse. Not only that, it tells us who the song is about: Him who reigns above.

Who is the 'your' sung about in Matt Redman's song?

Chorus:

Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!

Blessed be the name of the Lord! -reference to Job 1:21 and Psalm 113:2

Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord-okay this is who we are singing about

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your Glorious name

The hymn is based on scripture. Blessed Be Your name has a nice sentiment in it's chorus.

Verse two- 

His name above all names shall stand- reference to Philipians 2:9

Exalted more and more 

At God the Father's own right hand-reference to Acts 7:56, Hebrews 1:3

Where angel hosts adore-reference to countless scriptures where angels stand before God

And blessed be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be the Name tells you why we are blessing His name with scriptural references. Blessed Be Your Name is still telling a story.

Verse three-

Redeemer, Saviour, Friend of man -just a few names of Christ that we are singing about

Once ruined by the fall -our depravity

Thou has devised salvation's plan -this is why we are singing about Him

For thou has died for all -our salvation, why we praise Him

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's all as it should be -I'm thinking this line is probably talking about when things are going well for us, but to say the world is as it should be is not biblical at all.

Blessed be Your name

Once again, you have a hymn that is informative, descriptive, and explanatory and a praise song that keeps saying the same things and doesn't really describe anything except the ebb and flow of life.

Verse four-

His name shall be the Counsellor

The Mighty Prince of Peace

Of all earth's kingdoms Conqueror

Whose reign shall never cease -this whole verse is a reference to Isaiah 9:6, it is prophetic, more of Christ's names, this is why we praise Him, because He will reign in peace, we can rest assured on that.

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering-didn't we cover this already in verse two?

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Now at this point, I'm realizing that Blessed Be Your Name is just feeding emotions. The whole song to this point has been about good times and bad times and praising the Lord in both. It is a very nice sentiment but there has not been one edifying, strengthening line thus far. Not one verse of scripture either- at least from the King James.
Blessed Be The Name has power behind it because it is filled with scripture. I believe every verse in the song. I can sing it loud, strong, and with conviction because I believe the Words and they speak to me the way the scripture does.

So this is where Blessed Be The Name finishes. Blessed Be Your Name has to continue because it hasn't said half of what the hymn said.

You give and take away

You give and take away -reference to Job 1:21

My heart will choose to say, Lord -the heart is deceitful above all things

Blessed be Your Name, Lord

(apparently this repeats three times then breaks out into the chorus)

Okay, so you might be thinking, well the songs have similar names but the point of each was differnt.

Very true: Blessed Be the Name blessed the name of the Lord while describing the names, reasons, and  references why we are praising Him. Blessed Be Your Name is about blessing God in good times and bad.
The fact is, the hymn is all about God. It mentions us in our depravity but that is it. The praise song is all about us. It doesn't tell us why His name is blessed or enforce our beliefs about the matter. It just says the same things over and over and over and over again.
If you don't think that the praise song is shallow, you don't know what shallow is. There is so much meat in the hymn, the praise song is half a cracker.
I cannot sing Blessed Be Your Name with any conviction because there's no Word in there. Its just like a love song written by the world.

I hope this was a help and a blessing to you. Stay tuned for round two!

*Redman, Matt. "Blessed Be Your Name." Rec. 2002. Where Angels Fear to Tread. Survivor Records, 2002. Metrolyrics. Web. 13 July 2015.

**Clark, William. Hudson, Ralph. "Blessed Be the Name." 1888. Timeless Truths. Web. 13 July 2015