The Incomparable Christ

Jim Leffel
Colossians 1:15-23

Paul makes the argument that Christ has the authority and is sufficient to forgive sins. Christ's death on the cross gives the grace that humans cannot earn on their own. Christ is worthy of people's lives, and he is adequate to meet their needs. He is ultimately trustworthy and the only way to be made right with God.

8 Essential Attitudes (Part 5)

Dennis McCallum
Hebrews 13:8-9

One goal of effective Christian living is to represent balanced biblical truth. We are able to accomplish this as we teach what the Bible teaches and emphasize what the Bible emphasizes. Perhaps the most emphasized teaching within scripture concerns God's grace; His unmerited mercy towards us at Christ's expense. Christians who are strong in the grace of God are able to reflect His truth in a real way that separates itself from false and strange doctrines.

Implications of the Finished Work

Dennis McCallum
Hebrews 8:16-10:22

The author of Hebrews argues the sufficiency of Jesus' work on the cross. Four implications of Christ's finished work include: 1) the Old Testament forms are obsolete; 2) no further need for forgiveness; 3) no works based on guilt feelings; and 4) bold access to God. Thanks to what Jesus did, Christians can live in close communion with God and express gratitude through praise and meditating on His Word and how that affects our lives.

Melchizedek

Dennis McCallum
Hebrews 7:1-25

The author of Hebrews addresses the issue of priesthood, showing through Old Testament prophecy that Jesus Christ is the ultimate high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Through his argument, three implications of Jesus being a high priest are seen: 1) all priesthood is worthless because of Jesus' work; 2) Christians are no longer under law; and 3) Jesus can rescue people forever. This is a detailed argument seen through fulfilled prophecy spanning hundreds of years, all directly pointing to the finished work of Christ.

Why Rituals?

Dennis McCallum
Hebrews 9:1-12

The Old Testament rituals within the sanctuary were regulated for the people to be able to worship God. All of the elements of Old Testament ritual represented the distinctiveness between God and fallen humans, and our utter rejection of His Law, provision and authority. The Old Testament rituals were a form of teaching to symbolize what Christ would ultimately fulfill. Now, these rituals are obsolete because of Jesus, giving Christians bold access to worship God under radical grace.

Entering God's Rest

Dennis McCallum
Hebrews 4:1-16

The author of Hebrews describes entering God's rest. God's rest is communicated through His radical grace, to recognize the sufficiency of Christ to accomplish what we could not. To the original audience, this rest included a step of faith, total dedication, and a lack of confidence in self. Today, it means that we trust God will come through, giving up on "works". This kind of relationship with God is genuine and is rooted in the confident assurance to approach God based on His grace, not by our works.

Introduction

Dennis McCallum
Hebrews 1:1-2:3

An unknown author writes this letter to Jewish Christians to explain the significance of Jesus Christ. God has revealed Himself through prophecy and various ways, but in the New Testament He has been revealed through Jesus, who is the incarnation of God in human form who went to take on the penalty of humanity's sin. The superiority of Jesus gives the basis for living according to the New Testament principles as opposed to the Old Covenant prior to the cross. Continuing to live by the Old Testament is a failure to recognize the importance of Jesus' sacrifice.

Jesus' Identity & Mission

Gary DeLashmutt
Luke 9:18-36

Jesus' disciples expected Jesus to establish God's kingdom; however, before establishing God's kingdom, Jesus first needed to die for our sins. Through this event, God confirms that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, and that his death fulfills God's plan. Jesus asks of us, "Will you entrust yourself to me as your Messiah, and will you give your whole life to me and to my mission?"

An Interrupted Dinner Party

Gary DeLashmutt
Luke 7:36-50

When an immoral woman interrupts a dinner party that is thrown by Pharisees, Jesus teaches that Simon the Pharisee self-righteously thinks he doesn't need forgiveness. Jesus claims divine authority to forgive sins; loving Jesus doesn't merit his forgiveness, instead being forgiven by Jesus motivates love for him.