Introduction: Repentance may be felt (and usually is felt) at a deep emotional level. But this does not remove the need to be careful and deliberate in how things are set right. The Text: Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there …
Maturity and Discernment
In this next chapter of Hebrews we begin a short introduction to the nature of Christ’s priesthood and intercession for us. The writer of Hebrews is then diverted into a discussion of immaturity and apostasy before he returns to this theme in the middle chapters of his book. “For every high priest taken from among …
Crushed Boldness
As we live out our Christian lives, we must always remember that this is not something we do detached from God, for God. Rather, we are to live our lives in Christ, and on the basis of what He has done for us. Our central interest is therefore the gospel, and the great truths of …
A New Testament Deuteronomy
God loves a cheerful giver. Those who work frantically in His presence displease Him. Those who believe, those who enter rest, are equipped for evangelical work — refreshed work. Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the …
Ezra Nehemiah 10
Introduction: Times of reformation are not times when sin goes away, when no recurring temptations present themselves. Rather, history reveals periods of reformation as those times when the sin was dealt with as it should have been, often at great cost. Reformation is not like a figure skater gliding smoothly across the ice; it is …
An Evil Heart of Unbelief
As we consider the remainder of the third chapter of Hebrews, we must remember what we have already learned about the house of Christ. He is the Lord over the same house in which Moses served. We see the importance of understanding this as we consider the duty of repentance under the New Covenant. Therefore, …
Apostle and High Priest
In this next portion of Hebrews, we see a wonderful unity, where the writer ties together heaven and earth, Old Testament saints and New Testament saints, and Christ and Moses. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who …
Billions of His Brethren
Christ is not ashamed to be our brother. He is not ashamed to share completely in our humanity. Further than this, He was not ashamed to be identified with us in our sin and folly. This is what He did throughout the course of His ministry. He began at the baptism of John by identifying …
Ezra Nehemiah 9
Introduction: Integrity in leaders is not something that makes safeguards unnecessary. Integrity in leaders is manifested in the first place by their insistence on safeguards. This desire for manifest integrity and accountability is seen clearly in how Ezra behaves in this chapter. The people of Israel are under the law of God, all of them. …
Christ the Singer
The Bible teaches us that when Christ brings us to heaven, He does not do so while holding His nose. Many have sought to abase the creature too much, in effect placing sinners beyond the reach of a Savior. This does not honor Him at all. Our need was truly desperate; apart from Him we …