Hebrews 2:1–4

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture. From memory, determine the central points.

1. Hebrews is written to a group of Jewish Christians, likely in Rome, somewhere between 80 and 95 CE, and written by an unnamed second-generation Jewish Christian.
2. The writer previously, chapter one, corrected a theological error to the effect that Jesus is an angel and nothing more. Such error would not be unusual in that day, and such error is common among many Christian cults and contemporary occultism groups today.
3. There is indeed the possibility that some might “drift away.” This does not mean a loss of salvation, for it is true that “once saved always saved,” but we Christians can be troubled, abused, disregarded, and more, which may easily result in drifting away, even if just for a time.
4. The falling away may have been that some, living in that debauched era, would miss their old sins, and return to the “world.” And in a pastoral kind of way, the writer of Hebrews wants to reach out to these.
5. The born again true believer in Jesus will suffer the consequences, the natural not specific, consequences, of such rebellion and ignorance. Our Bible author hopes to prevent this.
6. Though this second generation Christian experience was not as full of “signs and wonders and various miracles” as the first generation, that of the Apostles, and Paul, and more, still they are called to be faithful people in the midst of a corrupt world.
7. This complex Hebrews yet speaks to us today as we are living in what are called “normal times” and not revival times with it’s out powering’s of the Holy Spirit. This calls for even more faith and faithfulness.

Hebrews 1:5–14

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture. From memory, determine the central points.

1. In this passage are 7 quotes from the Hebrew Bible. The author of Hebrews likely would have memorized all of these as few had access to the written Scripture.
2. The subject of these verses has to do with the contrast between angels and human beings, especially in regard to Jesus. Angels are created beings, while the Son is not.
3. Spiritual groups both then and now, make an angel out of Jesus, and one well know Christian cult makes Him out to be Michael the archangel.
4. In language we are not accustomed to, the author of Hebrews makes it plain, and poetically, that the Son is uncreated, that His throne is forever.
5. To say of the Son, “sit at my right hand” means that this Son is of the same nature as the Father.
6. Angels are “ministering spirits” sent out into the world to serve those who “are to inherit salvation.”
7. We must focus on the word “inherit.” Here we see the Gospel of grace as the original intent of God. No one earns an inheritance; this is only given out and received.
8. The point of our passage is the supremacy of Christ over the angels. From early on, angels have been worshipped instead of the Creator God. This continues to this day. We read of this reality in 2 Corinthians 11:14–15: “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”

Hebrews 1:1–4

The Prologue

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture. Reread them. From memory, determine the central points.

1.         As to the author, the date written, and to whom “Hebrews” is addressed—all questions are yet debated today. My guess is that the author is Barnabas, written between 55 and 65 CE, and to a Jewish-Christian population in Palestine, Rome, Alexandria, or Ephesus. Clement of Rome commented on it in 95CE in his letter to the Corinthian church. A clue as to the date is that the Fall of Jerusalem in 70CE is not mentioned.

2.         The reason for this sermon (it is more pulpit oratory than prose composition), which is the best Greek in the New Testament, is that some within the group written to were who were either “Christianized” thus not truly converted, or some who were disappointed that the “kingdom” had not fully come and were “tottering” due to persecution.

3.         Verses 1 to 4 consists of one long sentence. The revelation the Writer speaks of is not of two parts but one, and begins with the earliest biblical revelations in the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, and most concretely with “our fathers by the prophets.” This may refer to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Aaron, and then the great later prophets, Elijah, Isaiah, and so forth.

4.         Now the last prophet has come, the Son, who inherits all things, even through whom the universe has been created. The Son, in the economy of the Trinity, is not creator, the Father is creator, but the Son is present.

5.         The Son is of the “exact imprint of his nature.” (see John 1:1–3, 14:8–11; Galatians 4:1–7, and Colossians 1:15–20) The Son “upholds” the universe by the word of his power — a phrase that is too very grand we may never fully comprehend it.

6.         The whole of this is that the Son makes purification for sins, a very Jewish statement, and means that the Son as a sacrifice atones for sin.

7.         After having finished His work, he “sat down,” meaning having completed this greatest of all work, at the right hand of the Majesty on high, a means of declaring the deity of the Son.

8.         No angel could perform this work, only God, the Messiah, could, and did.

Luke 2:22-35

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.        Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple

according to the Law of Moses. (See Ex. 13:2 & Lev. 12:8). They offered 2 pigeons indicating that the family was poor.

2.        The obedience of Mary and Joseph indicates also that they were observant Jews as Jesus would be as He grew up.

3.        Here now the Holy Family meet Simeon, a Holy Spirit inspired prophet, who is awaiting the arrival of the Messiah.

4.        The remarkable statement about Jesus being the cause of the “fall and rising of many,” is a preparation for Mary about what was to become of her baby. The Child would be loved and hated, both at once, and so He has remained to this day, a sign that is opposed.

5.        Simeon goes even further: “And a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” Indeed, she would be present as her Son is crucified. The words may well have been meant to be comforting to Mary, by taking away any surprise or false expectation.

7.        Then Anna, another witness to Mary and Joseph, two witnesses then along with Simeon, thus meeting the Biblical requirement of Deuteronomy 17:6. Mary and Joseph would be comforted by this.

8.        Some 30 years before the cross, God brings three “old” people to the temple to announce the great event that was to come.

Genesis 3:14–16; Psalm 22:14–18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; Gal. 4:1-6

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

God addressing the Serpent, who had deceived Adam and Eve, states, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heal.”

1. The woman’s offspring, as the historic drama in Scripture makes plain is Mary’s son Jesus, who defeats the serpent while the serpent is only able to do minor or temporary damage.
2. In Psalm 22 then is a portrayal of the damage the serpent does, all under the authority of the Creator. The Psalmist, David depicts a man dying on a cross hundreds of years before the invention of this horrible instrument of execution is invented.
3. Isaiah the prophet speaks of a virgin giving birth to “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” Then this virgin born son is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (If you look carefully you will see the Trinity.)
4. Further along in Isaiah we find this Immanuel as the suffering servant of Israel. The prophet speaks of a person despised and rejected, but who is “wounded for our iniquities” and upon whom is laid all of our sin.
5. Isaiah goes on to say that this despised one’s dying is an “offering for sin” yet his days will be prolonged, even that “the will of the LORD prosper in his hand.” This is clearly about Jesus’ resurrection. (see Isaiah 53)

In the first century CE a former Jewish Rabbi, the Apostle Paul, in writing to a Gentile audience, sums up the ultimate intention of God in this manner: When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5

Mark 3:31–35; Luke 1:26–55; John 2:1–11; 19:16b-27;

Acts 1:12—14

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture. Memorize the memory verse.

1. Her name appears 51 times in the New Testament. It is thought the name means “bitterness” or “sorrow,” and indeed she had much sorrow as well as joy. “Dolores” a name often associated with Mary means “sorrow” in Latin.
2. Why was Mary chosen to give birth to the Messiah? She was of no account, was poor, and lived in a small village with no reputation. Indeed, Nathaniel asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
3. What a wonderful mother she was. Besides giving birth to Jesus she gave birth to four boys, two of which became authors of New Testament books, James and Jude. And she bore at least two girls as well, maybe more, and who are unnamed in Scripture.
4. At one point her family questioned Jesus’ activities, thought He might be mad, yet she supported her son despite the opposition He faced. She was present at the crucifixion, and at one-point Jesus her son, while dying commended her to the care of Apostle John, the only disciple present at the cross. Legend has he cared for her until her death. At some point, they lived in Ephesus.
5. Mary became a widow as Joseph disappears fairly early on in the life of Jesus. Mary then raised a rather large family and with good result.
6. It is probable that you have at least one family member in your remembrance who has the name Mary or a derivative thereof.
7. She will always be honored as the woman who gave birth to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:18–25; 2:13–23, and Mark 6:1–6.

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture. Memorize the memory verse.

1. Joseph, of the line of David, as is Mary, a carpenter by trade and a thoughtful and respectful man, meets young Mary while on a contract deal in Nazareth of Galilee. They become legally betrothed to be married.
2. Joseph discovers that his wife to be is pregnant, so likely at least 5 months along. He is badly shaken and decides to divorce her quietly, thus protecting both Mary and himself.
3. God intervenes and fills Joseph in as to the actual events, which focus on the fact that the son to be born to Mary is the One who will bring salvation to “his” people.
4. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph is warned to take Mary and the child and flee to Egypt because Herod is seeking to destroy the child, having been alerted by the three “Wise Men.” Egypt is 90 miles or more to the south of Bethlehem, where the family remained until Herod’s death, which was in 4 BCE. Yes, Jesus was likely born in 6 BCE not 0 CE.
5. Herod, fearful that a powerful rival is in his domain, has children 2 years old and younger killed in the Bethlehem area. Estimates are that perhaps as many as 50 children were murdered on Herod’s orders.
6. Joseph and family return to Israel, but upon arrival find that Herod’s ruthless son Archelaus is ruling Judea. Once again Joseph is warned in a dream of this danger, and flees north to Galilee, to a no-account city called Nazareth.
7. Jesus will later be known as a “Nazarene”, which was a derogatory title. Note: John the Baptist took a “Nazarite” vow, meaning a person who lived an austere and spiritual lifestyle, which is different from being a “Nazarene.”

Luke 1:26–38

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture. Memorize the memory verse.

1. Six months before the announcement to Mary that she would have a child, an angel of God named Gabriel revealed to Elizabeth, a relative of Mary, that she would have a child. This child would be named John (later added the title “the Baptist”) who would prepare people for what would be revealed.
2. Sixth months later the angel Gabriel was sent to the virgin, Mary, already engaged to be married to Joseph, who then proceeded to tell Mary who this child is and would be.
3. How it is that Mary was “favored” above all women to bear the Messiah, the Christ, of whose kingdom would never end, is not revealed.
4. Mary protests, and this word may not be the best word to be used, but she asks, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
5. Now the angel responds with an explanation that is far beyond our ability to grasp, except that it is the result of something miraculous. The miracle is a son who is “holy” and only God is holy so this one will be the “son of God.”
6. Briefly the angel says that the “Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” in an attempt to explain to Mary the unexplainable.
7. Then the angel says her relative Elizabeth has already conceived a son, this six months earlier, someone Mary knew was too old to be able to give birth.
8. Mary makes an incredible statement of faith and commits to what the angel has announced to her.

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1. To grasp the historical background to the Day of Pentecost read Exodus 34:21–23, Leviticus 23:15–16, and Joel 2:42–47. Then go to Acts and read chapters 1 and 2.
2. Pentecost is the fourth of the seven feasts of Israel, each of which is explained in Leviticus 23. Fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits, the day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, came the celebration of the wheat harvest. Pentecost, the word, comes from the Greek language, ‘pente’ and the Hebrew word for it is Shauvot.
3. In addition to celebrating the Fall harvest on Pentecost, the giving of the Law of Moses was also celebrated on that day. It was a “pilgrimage feast” when vast numbers would come into Jerusalem.
4. The chosen Apostles had already received the indwelling Holy Spirit prior to Pentecost. This is evident from John 20:      19–23 where we read: “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
5. Now indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and we can look back at the prophecy of Joel 2:28–32 as being fulfilled here, but there was more to come. There would also be the Holy Spirit baptism of fire (see John 3:11),, which Jesus, just prior to His ascension, told His followers would take place. And it did on the Day of Pentecost.
6. The term, baptism of the Holy Spirit, is variously understood, but most see it that it is separate, and comes later, or at the same time, as the initial indwelling of the Spirit at conversion. And we now desire to be filled with the empowering Holy Spirit in order that we may be effective evangelists.

Baptism in Water: The Dunking

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1. Two words in our English New Testament have not been translated, rather they have been transliterated since those responsible for the King James version of the Bible insisted they could not be. These words are “baptizo“ and “ekklesia.” The first word means “dunk” or “immerse” and the second means “called out ones.”
2. Problem was the church in control then did not immerse new believers in water but rather “baptized” infants by means of sprinkling “holy water” on the candidate’s head. And instead of “called out ones” the identity was “church.”
3. Following the Reformation in the 16^th century, Christians who wished to follow the Scripture, immersed or dunked in water those who were born again of the Spirit of God. These became known as “Anabaptists” and the “ana,” which means “re,” dropped off the word so that we have the designation “Baptist” like in Miller Avenue Baptist Church.
4. By examining the passages here: Matthew 3:13–17; 28:18–20; Acts 2:37–41; 8:34–38; 10:44–48; 16:11–15; 16:25–34; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Corinthians 12:12–12-13, (and there are dozens of others passages that could be cited) it becomes clear that Jesus intended that new believers were to be dunked or immersed in water following their conversion.
5. And why? When a person is immersed in water it pictures the dying to sin, and that sin being forgiven. This forgiveness has already happened. Then laid in the water, like in a grave, symbolizes that the sin is removed, gone forever. The coming out of the water symbolizes the resurrection that we have in Christ. Baptism then is a testimony, a sermon presented.
6. Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and then is raised from the dead. This is the story of biblical baptism.