Core Bible Study New Life Women in the Church The Gospel According to Hebrews 2013-2014
The Trustworthiness of the Bible There is unity in the message of the Bible. The Bible is a collection of 66 books in one volume. They were written over a period of more than sixteen hundred years by more than forty human authors. These authors came from a wide variety of backgrounds. However, the Bible is unified in its message. Its theme is God and His relationship to mankind. Each book, paragraph and verse works together with the others to reveal God s truth. That s why it s best to look at Scripture as a whole first, then at the parts, and then relate the individual parts back to the integrated whole. The Bible is God s Revelation. The Bible itself says that it is the revealed truth from God. The word used for revelation actually means unveiling, like pulling back a curtain to show what is behind it. In Scripture, God has revealed things that would not be known otherwise. He has unveiled what is absolutely true. It is not someone s speculations, guesses, or hypotheses. His truth is entirely consistent. It is never disputed, compromised or contradicted by other parts of Scripture. The Bible is inspired by God. The great theologian B. B. Warfield said, The Bible is the word of God in such a way that when the Bible speaks, God speaks. That s a good description of inspiration. The reason we call the Bible the Word of God is because it is indeed the very words that God wanted communicated. Of course, some people have a problem with this concept, because the Bible was written down by human authors. But 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, All Scripture is inspired by God. Inspired means God-breathed. The word inspired conveys the idea of God breathing out the Scriptures. He was the source of all that is written there. The Holy Spirit directed and oversaw the writing of every part. What part did the human authors play? God supernaturally used them to pen the words, without compromising the perfection, integrity, or purity of the final product. We call this dual authorship. Charles Ryrie said, God superintended the human authors so that using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded, without error, His revelation to man in the words of the original manuscripts. The Apostle Peter wrote men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:21) This is a brilliant word picture that describes this dual authorship. The word moved is the same word used to describe a ship being moved along by the power of a wind. The biblical writers were guided in their writing to produce what God wanted them to produce. It is true that their personalities, writing styles, perspectives, and distinctives are reflected in their words. But their books are more than just the words of men - they are the true Word of God. The Bible is authoritative and trustworthy. Since God is the true author of the Bible, it is authoritative. It has absolute authority over us concerning our thoughts and behavior. And because God is the true author, we can wholly trust what is written there. We have a Bible that is completely trustworthy and reliable. 1 1 This material is based on Howard G. and William D. Hendricks, Living By the Book, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991) pp. 23-25. This handout is taken from the Discovery Bible Study course, copyright 1997, Entrust, revised 2000.
Benefits of Studying God s Word The Core Bible Study Program accepts the Bible as the true Word of God, and therefore draws principles and conclusions based on truths that God has placed throughout Scripture. The Program teaches women to dig deeply into the Word, to know Scripture as alive, and to apply what they have learned to their daily lives, through weekly encouragements, consistent personal study and spiritual growth. The program follows a lecture/discussion format with weekly worksheets for personal study. There are many beneficial reasons why God gave us His Word. This list will be a good reminder for you. You might also want to use it to encourage someone else to read God s Word. God gave us His Word: A. to reveal Himself to us. There are truths about God which we cannot know apart from obtaining them from the written Word. And if you want a closer relationship with Him, you must study the Scriptures for yourself. B. to reveal His plan of redemption. Read Acts 4:12. Knowing His Word helps us to understand and accept God s forgiveness offered to us through Christ s death on the cross. C. to transform our lives and help us become more like Jesus. The Word is God s primary tool for spiritual growth. Read 1 Peter 2:2 and Romans 8:29. D. to help us to obey Him. In the Bible, God has revealed Himself and His will for mankind. And we want to live according to His will. Hiding His Word in our hearts helps us to know His will and to obey Him. Read Psalm 119:9-11, 40:8 and Deuteronomy 29:29. E. to help us become spiritually mature. Hebrews 5:11-14 says that through the constant use of Scripture, in time we can become trained to distinguish good from evil. This is a characteristic of a mature Christian. F. to train and equip us to accomplish His purposes. Read 2 Timothy 3:16,17. When we know His Word, God can use us to do His will and to teach the Scriptures to others. G. to help us evaluate whether or not someone s teaching is true. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, we can compare what people say with Scripture to make sure that it is true. H. to give us encouragement, peace, comfort, wisdom, and guidance. Psalm 119 and Psalm 19:7-14 give us many more benefits of God s Word. I. to expose our sin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that the Word is profitable to correct and reprove us. Scripture helps us realize when we re wrong or disobedient. J. to give us God s commands and principles. God has given us commands and principles to live by that lead toward health and life. K.. to give us His promises. The Bible tells us what we can expect from God and what we can rely on Him to do.
What is the Gospel? 1. There is only one God, existing in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ who is fully God and fully man), and the Holy Spirit. This God is all powerful, all knowing, all holiness and rightness, and with no beginning or end. 2. God created us (mankind) to protect and rule over the creation, to worship and obey God, and to be in relationship with God and find our greatest joy in God. 3. From the very first people on through history, all men and women rebelled, choosing to rule creation without God, to worship created things instead of God, and to search for enjoyment and relationships outside of God. This choosing (called sin) has made all mankind an enemy of God, a people who do not want to know or please Him, who are seduced by their own rebellion, preferring to be cosmic lawbreakers; creatures of endless sorrow, disappointment, alienation, deceit, destruction and death, with no one able to make things right again. 4. But God, who knew mankind would choose rebellion, desired to turn men and women who were His enemies into His friends. Even before He created the universe, God, the Father, in His love, chose many men and women to be His. He sent God the Son, Jesus Christ, to live as a God/man among us, to be one of us, yet never sin. 5. God, the Son, lived the perfect life God had intended for mankind from the beginning. Then God the Son voluntarily allowed Himself to be crucified on a cross, taking our place by accepting on Himself our cosmic crimes against God, and the death our crimes deserved. 6. God, the Son, Jesus Christ, was dead, and rose again on the third day with a greater resurrection body. Jesus said He is the only way we can get right with God and with each other. His death is the only way our sins can be forgiven, as God accepted His death as payment for our rebellion. And His resurrection sets us free from the fear of death, as we will someday also be resurrected into a greater body. Our sin and disobedience is put on Jesus, and God declares that our crimes against Him are paid in full. Jesus rightness, His perfect life without sin, is counted to us and God the Father accepts us as belonging to Him. We are no longer slaves to our rebellion, but free to choose what is right and good. 7. God, through the Holy Spirit, opens our eyes to see how bent our natures really are, and how much we need God and Jesus death on the cross. Anyone who worries about pleasing God is already being changed by God. When we look to Jesus who died on the cross, and trust in what He did to make us right with God, then God, the Holy Spirit, comes into us and changes us. 8. We still struggle with sin, but we are also different. Our sin is not held against us, our attitudes and lives are being changed, and we look forward to the day when Jesus comes again to make us completely new in the new heaven and earth. When we fail, when our lives are a struggle, we know that what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross still covers us, still makes us right with God. Through His death and resurrection, we are now able to have a relationship with Him, and the Holy Spirit guarantees that relationship, helping us to choose rightness, to become as we were originally intended. And in gratitude, we want to do what is right, and we desire joy and peace in our relationships with God and with others. 9. The Bible is God s way of revealing who He is, and who we are. It s His story of His faithful love for His people, no matter what, and how He chose to rescue a people from themselves, revealing Himself to that people over time and history. Every story of the Bible is about God, and how His people are saved through the work of Christ. It is a cosmic rescue operation where every story in the Bible whispers His name. 1 1 Lloyd-Jones, Sally, The Jesus Storybook Bible, Zonderkids, (Grand Rapids: 2007), p. 17.
Turning to Gospel Truths for Comfort, Help and Hope The good news is that we can trust in the work of Jesus in His: 1. Incarnation When we feel discouraged by weakness, temptation, and unrealized good intentions, we need to remember that Jesus became like us in the flesh in order to redeem us. He knows our limitations, sympathizes with our weaknesses and invites us to draw near to receive His all sufficient grace, forgiveness and power. (John 1:14, Phil 2:7-8, Hebrews 10:19-20, Hebrews 4:15-16, Psalm 103:14, 2 Cor. 12:9) 2. Sinless Life When we waver between self condemning despair (because we know we have not measured up to the requirements of God s perfect law) or self -righteous pride over our good deeds, we need to believe that God s love for us is not based on our performance, but on the performance of Jesus, who obeyed the law perfectly for us. Our identity is in Christ and His perfect righteousness satisfies the Father. He is as pleased with us as He is with Christ. We are His forever loved children and our status will never change. (Rom 5:19; Gal.4:4; Phil. 2:8; Rom. 8:3-4; Matt. 5:17; I John 4:17; Jer. 23:6; Rom 10:3-4 ;) 3. Substitutionary Death When we fail, remember Jesus died for that very sin. He paid the penalty we deserved - irreversibly. God cannot require another payment from us. We are not condemned. Our enslavement to sin has died with Christ and we are new creations in Him. (1 Pet 2:24; Heb 9:28; Rom. 8:1-2 Isaiah 53:5, 12; Gal 3:13) 4. Bodily Resurrection When we feel trapped by our self-indulgent idolatry, prideful self love, or temptations, we need to run to Jesus, who was raised to make us right. Since He defeated our greatest enemy, Death, He is powerful enough and good enough to conquer our sin, and to raise us up in a real body to live with Him forever. (Rom 7:24-25; Rom 4:24-5:1; Rom 8:34-39; 1 Pet 1:3; 1 Cor 15:54-58) 5. Ascension When we are plagued with shame, guilt, loss or fear, we are tempted to hide from the Lord because we mistakenly think He is like us -compassionless, quick to anger and disappointed. But He sees us hidden in Christ, who keeps us, and has promised never to leave us. Our trials and losses are not all that we will experience. We have a glorious future, resting in His everlasting love, experiencing fullness of joy and new delights forever in Heaven. (Col 3:1-4; Is 55:7-9; Psalm 16:11) 6. Reign When we are overwhelmed with responsibilities and difficult circumstances, remember that Jesus is holding all things together, is always praying for us, changing us into His image and working out all of the circumstances of our lives for our good. (Col 1:16-17;Heb 7:25; Heb 1:3) Adapted with permission from Counsel From the Cross - by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson.
What is a Covenant? A covenant, in Biblical terms, can be loosely defined as an agreement between two parties. Founded in the Ancient Near Eastern culture, the covenant served as a primary document of relationship between the powerful and less powerful, obligating one or both parties to fulfill commitments under a penalty of divine punishment. God uses covenants in both the Old and New Testaments, as the primary expression of His relationship with His people. The Bible mentions three types of covenants (or agreements), and focuses on the two that express God s relationship with man. The covenant least mentioned is the Parity Covenant. This is a covenant between equals that binds them in friendship and respect. Participants call each other brothers. It is an agreement between men (Gen. 21:27; 26:31; 31:44-54; 1 Kings 5:12; 15:19, 20:32-34; Amos 1:9). The Bible primarily refers to two types of covenants: The Royal Grant, and the Suzerain-vassal Treaty. Biblical covenants usually included a verbal pronouncement of the covenant ( I now establish my covenant with you.. -Gen. 9:9), blessings and cursings ( Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood. Gen. 9:11), and a public seal or sign that reminded both parties of covenant commitments ( Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. Gen. 9:16). The Royal Grant was a grant of land or benefit made by a king to a faithful servant. It was unconditional and its benefits could be passed down to the servant s heirs as long as they continued to exemplify their father s faithful service. Examples of The Royal Grant: Noah (Gen. 9:8-17); Abraham (Gen. 15:9-21); Phinehas (Num.25:10-13); David (2 Sam. 7:5-16); New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). The Suzerain-vassal Treaty was a covenant made between a great king and one his subject kings. The Great king demanded absolute loyalty (the vassal must love his suzerain), and offered complete protection. Michael Horton points out that these treaties were not just legal documents but a public expression of the deepest affections. The great king was the father adopting the captives he had liberated from oppression. Consequently, he was not simply to be obeyed externally, but loved; not only feared, but revered; not only known as the legal lord of the realm, but acknowledged openly as the rightful sovereign. 1 This form of covenant included the following formal elements: 1. Preamble This identified the Great King. I am the LORD your God Deut. 5:6; Ex. 20:1-2. 2. Historical Prologue What the Great King had done for the vassals. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deut. 5:6; Joshua 23: 9-10; Judges 2:1. 3. Stipulations - The Great King s rules and requirements. We refer to one example as the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:3-17; Deut. 5:7-21). 4. Blessings and Sanctions This spells out the benefits for those who keep the treaty, and punishments for those who do not keep the treaty. Ancient Near Eastern kings usually evicted and exiled treaty breakers. (Deut. 5:32-33; 6:24-25; 7:9-11; Joshua 23:12-13). 5. Deposit of Treaty/Public reading/ceremony and sealing Both parties kept a copy of the treaty in their sacred temples (so the gods could keep a constant witness), and vassals were required to publicly and regularly read the treaty so that succeeding generations understood their obligations. The treaty would be ratified in public ceremony that might include public signs or seals as reminders. (Exodus 24:1-8; Deut. 6:6-9, 20-25; Joshua 24:16-27). Scripture presents both forms of these treaties; unconditional divine promises made to succeeding generations, and conditional pledges requiring total consecration with an expectation of blessing or cursing. In the Ancient Near East all the obligations of these treaties fell on the vassal. Amazingly, The Bible is the story of the Greatest King obligating Himself; making unconditional divine promises, offering eternal blessings. And yet, knowing full well that his vassals were a capricious and insubordinate lot, taking on their curses. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is one slowly unfolding story of a promise-making, promise-keeping transcendent King, initiating covenant relationships with unfaithful vassals. These are God-initiating, God-obligating agreements, formal commitments of divine blessing made by the Creator of the Universe; promises in the Old Testament becoming fulfillment in the New, where only God, in Christ, could truly meet the obligations and take on the curse. 1 Horton, Michael. God of Promise. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2006, p. 25.
Related Old Testament Passages Priests/High Priest Genesis 14:17-24; Psalm 110 (Melchizedek) Exodus 28:1-29:46; Exodus 39:1-43; Leviticus 8:1-10:20 (the priests garments/ consecration of the priests/ establishment of the priesthood) Numbers 17 (Aaron s budding rod that foreshadows the greater role of Christ, Hebrews 4-10) Sacrificial system Exodus 29:38-46; Psalm 40:6-8 (instructions for the burnt offering) Leviticus 1:1-7:38 (the five major offerings and the handling of these offerings) Day of Atonement Leviticus 16:1-34 Tabernacle/Solomon s Temple Exodus 26:1-19; Exodus 35:30-40:33; Exodus 40:34-35 (Tabernacle) Exhortation from the Psalms Psalm 2; Psalm 8; Psalm 45; Psalm 95:7-11; Psalm 102
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HEBREWS IT S ALL ABOUT JESUS - HEBREWS 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Focus on the Passage. 1. What is the passage about? 2. Are there any commands? 3. Are there any promises? 4. What are the repeated words and ideas? 5. Any additional observations or insights? Meeting the I AM. 1. What did I learn about God? 2. What did I learn about Jesus? 3. What did I learn about the Holy Spirit? Getting the Bigger Picture 1. What is the Big Idea of the passage? In one phrase sum up the main thought of the passage. 2. How does this passage fit with what we have studied so far? 3. Were there any Old Testament references? (see Old Testament Passages page for further research) Is so, how do they add to the meaning of the text? Applying the Passage 1. Did the passage convict you of any sin in your life, in your relationship with God, or with other people? If yes, re-read the Turning to Gospel Truths for Comfort, Help, and Hope page, and find forgiveness and grace in Christ. 2. Were you encouraged by studying this passage? How can you share this encouragement with others?