Introduction to Hebrews (Part 2)

Lesson One

Introduction to Hebrews

Hebrews 1:1-3

 

 

 

Introduction

 

 At first Christianity was Jewish. Jesus was a Jew, His disciples were Jews, and the first converts were Jews. Their first meetings took place in synagogues, and their first controversies concerned adherence to Jewish laws. Christianity’s first critics knew it as a Jewish sect. 

Outstanding Thoughts in Hebrews

Continuing now five characteristics of the Epistle to the Hebrews starting at Number 5: 

I.                It Is a Book of Exaltation

The Epistle to the Hebrews exalts the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first three verses set this high and holy theme which is maintained throughout the entire book. Their immediate purpose is to prove that Jesus Christ is superior to the prophets, men who were held in the highest esteem by the Jewish people.

A.     In His person, Christ is superior to the prophets. Why?

1.      Because Sonship belongs to Jesus (Heb. 1:2). This term “Son” is designed to emphasize relationships between the Persons of the Godhead, not to suggest that Jesus is a created being. Even the term firstbegotten [firstborn] (v. 6), portrays the “One coming forth from God to found the new community of saints.”

                                                    i.     He is “Firstborn” in that He is the Founder, the Model, the One with the Father’s full authority to act (see Rom. 8:29; Rev. 1:5).

                                                  ii.     The clearest evidence of Jesus’ position as a full Member of the Godhead is given in these early verses, as we see who Jesus is, all He accomplished, and all that will be His.

                                                 iii.     The coming kingdom belongs to Jesus, the Son “Heir” (Heb. 1:2). Jesus has been appointed “Heir of all things.” He will inherit and purify this world at His coming, and then create a new heaven and a new earth. He is Heir to all, and this constitutes a promise that one day all will be fully God’s.

2.      Because Jesus is the very Son of God and not merely a man called by God (Heb. 1:3). Clearly Jesus Christ is God, for his description could never be applied to mere mortal man.

                                                    i.     The original glory of God belongs to Jesus (Heb. 1:3).

1.      Brightness is the radiance, or the light shining forth from a star, this is all that the human eye can see.

2.      Similarly, all that we can see of God shines through Jesus! He is the full blaze beams of divine perfection—one in essence with the Father!

3.      Christ is to the Father what the rays of the sun are to the sun. He is the radiance and splendor surrounding God’s glory. As it is impossible to separate the rays from the sun, it is also impossible to separate Christ’s glory from the nature of God (Col. 2:9).

4.      The Son is the effulgence or shining forth of God’s glory and the likeness of the Father. Being the brilliance of the eternal light (John 1:4-5), the Lord Jesus must also be Himself eternal. The all-glorious divinity of the Son of God is essentially one with the Father's, but the Son is a personality distinct from that of the Father.  –The Complete Word Study Dictionary

5.       “Brightness of His glory” reminds us of the shekinah glory of God that dwelt in the tabernacle and temple. (See Ex. 40:34–38 and 1 Kings 8:10. The word Shekinah means “to dwell.”)

                                                  ii.      “Express image” (Heb. 1:3) carries the idea of “the exact imprint.” Our English word character comes from the Greek word translated “image.”

1.      Literally, Jesus Christ is “the exact representation of the very substance of God” (see Col. 2:9). Only Jesus could honestly say, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). When you see Christ, you see the glory of God (John 1:14).

2.      Express image [exact representation] assures us that there is a total and complete correspondence between the eternal God and the Man, Jesus. If you and I look at Jesus, we see exactly what God is like, for Jesus is God, and reveals Him exactly.

B.     In His work, Christ is also superior to the prophets.

1.      He is the Creator. To begin with, He is the Creator of the universe; for by Him, God “made the worlds” (Heb. 1:2).

                                                    i.     Creative power belongs to Jesus (Heb. 1:2).

1.      Jesus is the One who spoke causing our whole vast universe to appear. Jesus is the One who acted to shape stars so distant that astronomers can only guess at their existence.

2.      John 1:3—“All things were made by Him.” In the creation He was the acting power and personal instrument. Creation is the revelation of His mind and might. Heb. 1:10 shows the dignity of the Creator as contrasted with the creature. Col. 1:16 contradicts the Gnostic theory of emanations, and shows Christ to be the creator of all created things and beings. Rev. 3:14—“The beginning of the creation of God,” means “beginning” in the active sense, the origin, that by which a thing begins to be. Col. 1:15—“first-born,” not made; compare with Col. 1:17, where the “for” of v.16 shows Him to be not included in the “created things,” but the origin of and superior to them all. He is the Creator of the universe (v.16), just as He is the Head of the Church (v.18). –Evans, William

                                                  ii.     Sustaining power belongs to Jesus (Heb. 1:3).

1.      Not only did Christ create all things by His Word (John 1:1–5), but He also upholds all things by that same powerful Word (Heb. 1:3). “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [hold together]” (Col. 1:17).

2.      The word “upholding” (Heb. 1:3) does not mean “holding up,” as though the universe is a burden on the back of Jesus. It means “holding and carrying from one place to another.” He is the God of Creation and the God of providence who guides this universe to its divinely ordained destiny.

3.      Even today the entire universe would flicker out of existence if it were not for the power of Jesus, energizing the so-called “natural laws” that govern our physical universe.

4.      The universe is neither self-sustaining nor is it forsaken by God (Deism). Christ’s power causes all things to hold together. The pulses of universal life are regulated and controlled by the throbbings of the mighty heart of Christ. –Evans, William

2.      He is The Prophet. He is also the superior Prophet who declares God’s Word.

                                                    i.     The contrast between Christ, the Prophet, and the other prophets, is easy to see (Heb. 1:1-2):

Christ                                                             The Prophets          God the Son                                                    Men Called by God          One Son                                                          Many prophets          A final and complete message                        A fragmentary and incomplete message

                                                  ii.     The periodic, partial, and differential prophecies of the OT have now been overshadowed by God’s pre-eminent and final revelation in the person of His Son. The prophets were only channels through whom the divine word was communicated.

                                                 iii.     The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the final revelation of God to men. As John said, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:18). The Lord Jesus said concerning Himself, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Christ speaks not only for God but as God. –MacDonald, William

3.      He is the Priest. Redemptive work belongs to Jesus (Heb. 1:3).

                                                    i.     Jesus Christ has a ministry as Priest, and this reveals His greatness. By Himself He “purged our sins” (Heb. 1:3). This aspect of His ministry will be explained in detail in Hebrews 7–10.

                                                  ii.     Christianity is a religion of atonement distinctively. The elimination of the doctrine of the death of Christ from the religion that bears His name would mean the surrender of its uniqueness and claim to be the only true religion, the supreme and final revelation from God to the sons of men. It is its redemption feature that distinguishes Christianity from any and all other religions. If you surrender this distinctive Christian doctrine from its creed, then this supreme religion is brought down to the level of many other prevailing religious systems. Christianity is not merely a system of ethics; it is the history of redemption through Jesus Christ, the personal Redeemer. –Evans, William

                                                 iii.     As a Man, Jesus walked our earth and knew our nature and weaknesses. But now, once again, He has returned to “the right hand of the Majesty on high.” His work has been fully accomplished. He rests now, knowing that He has provided a salvation able to make us whole. Now, seeing Jesus, the focus of our praise and worship, restored to glory, we need to learn to rest in the fact that Jesus is God.

4.      He is the King. Finally, Jesus Christ reigns as King (Heb. 1:3). He has sat down because His work is finished. But where? “On the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

                                                    i.     This is the place of honor and privilege (Heb. 1:13). This proves that He is equal with God the Father, for no mere created being could ever sit at God’s right hand. Because of His glorious triumph, God has highly exalted Him (Phil. 2:5-11).

                                                  ii.     The right hand is also the position of power (Matt. 26:64) and delight (Ps. 16:11). The nail-scarred hand of the Savior holds the scepter of universal dominion (1 Pet. 3:22).

                                                 iii.     The assertion of God’s absolute sovereignty in creation, providence, and grace is basic to biblical belief and biblical praise. The vision of God on the throne—that is, ruling—recurs (1 Kings 22:19; Isa. 6:1; Ezek. 1:26; Dan. 7:9; Rev. 4:2; cf. Pss. 11:4; 45:6; Heb. 12:2; Rev. 3:21); and we are constantly told in explicit terms that the Lord (Yahweh) reigns as king, exercising dominion … (Exod. 15:18; Pss. 47; 99:1-5; 146:10; Prov. 16:33; 21:1; Isa. 24:23; 52:7; Dan. 4:34-35; 5:21-28; 6:26; Matt. 10:29-31). God’s dominion is total: he wills as he chooses and carries out all that he wills, and none can stay his hand or thwart his plans.

In Psalm 93 the fact of God’s sovereign rule is said to

(a) guarantee the stability of the world against all the forces of chaos (v. 1b-4),

(b) confirm the trustworthiness of all God’s utterances and directives (v. 5a), and

(c) call for the homage of holiness on the part of his people (v. 5b). The whole psalm expresses joy, hope, and confidence in God, and no wonder. We shall do well to take its teaching to heart. –Packer, J. I.

                                                 iv.     In following the pathway of our Lord from creation to Calvary and then to glory, it seems we have quite lost sight of the prophets. Illustrious though they were, they have receded into the shadows. They bore witness to the coming Messiah (Acts 10:43). Now that He has come, they gladly retire from view. –Believer's Bible Commentary

Creator, Prophet, Priest, and King—Jesus Christ is superior to all of the prophets and servants of God who have ever appeared on the sacred pages of the Scriptures. It is no wonder that the Father said, at the hour of Christ’s transfiguration, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him” (Matt. 17:5). Two of the greatest prophets were there with Jesus—Moses and Elijah; but Christ is superior to them.

As we study Hebrews together, we must keep in mind that our purpose is not to get lost in curious details. Nor is our purpose to attack or defend some pet doctrine. Our purpose is to hear God speak in Jesus Christ, and to heed that Word. We want to echo the prayer of the Greeks: “Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). If our purpose is to know Christ better and exalt Him more, then whatever differences we may have in our understanding of the book will be forgotten in our worship of Him.

 

A Suggested Outline of Hebrews

 

Key theme: Press on to maturity

Key verse: Heb 6:1

I. A SUPERIOR PERSON-CHRIST - chapters 1-6

A. Better than the prophets - 1:1-3

B. Better than the angels - 1:4-2:18 (Exhortation: drifting from the Word, 2:14)

C. Better than Moses - 3:1-4:13 (Exhortation: doubting the Word, 3:7-4:13)

D. Better than Aaron - 4:14-6:20 (Exhortation: dullness toward the Word, 5:11-6:20)

II. A SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD-MELCHIZEDEK - chapters 7-10

A. A superior order - 7

B. A superior covenant - 8

C. A superior sanctuary - 9

D. A superior sacrifice - 10 (Exhortation: despising the Word - 10:26-39)

III. A SUPERIOR PRINCIPLE-FAITH - chapters 11-13

A. The great examples of faith - 11

B. The endurance of faith chastening - 12 (Exhortation: defying the Word - 12:14-29)

C. Closing practical exhortations – 13

—The Bible Exposition Commentary

 

 

A Thematic Summary of Hebrews

 

The best just got better—it's a favorite slogan with advertisers.

It's not that our previous product was poor. It's just that the current one is superior.

The Book of Hebrews might well use the same slogan. The best just got better.

There was nothing inferior about the Jewish religion. It was given by God and designed by God. Every principle, rule, and ritual had a wealth of meaning. The Old Testament served as a faithful guide for thousands of people over thousands of years. It was the best offered to man.

But when Christ came, the best got better.

Hebrews was written for Jewish believers who were torn between their new faith and their old ways. The temptation was to slip back into familiar routines and rituals, settling for second best.

The author skillfully makes a case against such a digression. He argues that Jesus is better than every form of the old faith—better than the angels (1:4–2:18), better than their leaders (3:1–4:13), and better than their priests (4:14–7:28). When it comes to comparing the two there is simply no comparison. Christianity has a better covenant (8:1–13), a better sanctuary, (9:1–10), and a better sacrifice for sins (9:11–10:18).

It's not that the old law was bad, it's just that the new law—salvation by faith in Christ—is better. Once you've known the best, why settle for second rate?

It's doubtful that you will ever be tempted to exchange your faith for an ancient system of priests and sacrifices. But you will be tempted to exchange it for something inferior.

If you are reading Hebrews, be reminded: Once you've known the best, why settle for anything less? (Hmmm, there's another catchy slogan.)

 

 

Holding on to His Promise

 

Rev. 22:7, 12, 20

Subject: Calm Assurance/Strong Faith

Theme: Take Jesus Christ’s Promise to Heart to Finish Strong

Introduction:

Assurance and direction bring strength and resolve to our experiences though we are certain to face many challenges. We are assured of ultimate triumph through the precious promises of the Lord.

Relevance: real faith…our otherworldly confidence in God is strengthened by His promises. These promises prepare, stir, and assure us resulting in power to endure the trials and unfair situations of life.

Message:

I.               Prepared by His Promise (Rev. 22:7).

Christ Himself seeks to prepare His people for His return with this promise.      

   A.  A Motivating Promise.  “Behold, I come quickly:”

From Jesus himself come these words of assurance and motivation.

       1. Pay Careful Attention to the Promise.  “Behold”

The command “Behold” is an imperative! We must give our attention to this motivating and stirring truth, that Jesus could come at any time.

       2.  Be Prepared Considering the Promise. 

            a.  Three times at the close of this book Christ says, “I come quickly!” (vv. 7, 12, 20).

            b.  The word “quickly” in Rev 22:7 means “swiftly come to pass in succession.”

                  — This means that his coming will be quick and without delay.

                  — It will not be “soon” according to human timing (after all, John wrote this two thousand years ago), but it is certain to occur; it is imminent.

            c.  The churches have expected Christ to return since the days of the Apostles, and He has not yet come; but when John's prophecies begin to be fulfilled, they will happen very quickly. There will be no delay.

            d.  We do not know when Christ will appear, and it behooves us to be ready. Jesus clearly told his followers to be prepared, because they don't know when Lord is coming. 

Matthew 24:42, Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:44, Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

   B.  A Clarifying Promise. “blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

Jesus announced a blessing for those who obey the prophecy of Revelation.

       A.  What Does it Mean to Keep the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book? (Rev 22:7)

             1.  Basically, the word “keepeth” means to guard, to watch over, to preserve intact. 

                    a.  It has to do with maintaining, observing, and fulfilling the commands of God in this book.

                    b.  “[Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book] That receives them as a divine communication; that makes use of them to comfort himself in the days of darkness, persecution, and trial; and that is obedient to the precepts here enjoined.”  — (from Barnes' Notes)

                    c.  Thus, the Book of Revelation is to be Received, Used, and Obeyed.

             2.  What exactly is a Christian to obey as detailed in The Revelation?

                    a. We are to be faithful to Christ. God commended the Philadelphians for keeping Christ's words and not denying his name (Rev. 3:8).

                    b.  We are to be spiritually and morally clean and prepared for Christ’s return (Rev. 7:14; 22:14).

                    c.  We are to endure patiently (Rev. 14:12-13).

                    d.  We are neither to add nor detract from Revelation's words (Rev. 22:18, 19).

             3.  Serving God begins with our faithful service to him now. Remain Faithful!

       B.  What is the Blessing? (Rev. 22:7) “blessed is he”

           1.  The command given to Record the Vision (Rev 1:11,19), has been carried out; this book was designed to be a blessing to believers according to (Rev 1:3).

Rev. 1:11, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev. 1:19, Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Rev. 1:3, Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

           2. “Accordingly a special blessing is pronounced on those who believe and heed the prophecy of the book. As stated earlier, this last book of the Bible, so neglected by the church and with its meanings confused by many expositors, contains more promises of blessing than any other book of Scripture. This reference to blessing is the sixth beatitude in the book (the seventh is in v. 14).”  –John Walvoord

           3.  Like the beatitude in Rev. 1:3, this one promises a blessing to believers who obey God by heeding the warnings of this prophecy.

Application: Preparation, motivation, clarification, and inspiration. We must be prepared as Paul insisted in 2 Ti. 4:1, 2: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” Again, it was Peter who required in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: [16] Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” The need to be prepared is pressed upon each of us as believers. It is our lot to be firm, stable, established, ready, and to make the necessary arrangements! In other words, we need to stand firm in our faith in God, be stable in our walk with Him and be ready to meet the Lord Jesus at any moment.

II.           Stirred By His Promise (Rev. 22:12-13).

Clearly the coming of Christ in the Rapture is a stirring promise to be embraced by every child of God. The Promise of Christ’s Return here seems to be related more to the Rapture then the Revelation. We are so stirred to serve, trust, and rest in the Lord’s promises!

        A.  It Will Be Surprising (Rev. 22:12).  “And, Behold, I come quickly”

              1.“The coming of Christ is the preeminent theme of both the Prologue and the Epilogue (Rev 1:7; 22:7,12,20). By quickly (v. 12) is not meant that the Second Advent would occur soon after John completed the writing of this book. Rather, it means that the events of the Second Coming will occur so fast, one event quickly following another, that many will be taken completely by surprise.”   — (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

              2.  Bear in Mind that the Second Coming Has Two aspects: The Rapture and The Revelation. The first is before the Tribulation and the second is after the Tribulation. The next event on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the saints.

        B.  It Will Be Rewarding (Rev. 22:12).  "My reward is with Me"

              1.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ!

Believers will be judged according to their works; and rewards will be given to those who have been faithful. This implies that God is mindful of our sufferings, and our service, and nothing will ever be done in vain if it is done for Him.

The Bible records God rewarding his people for good works according to his justice.   No act of mercy will be forgotten; no true believer will be abandoned. (For more on rewards, see Matt 16:27; 19:27-30; Luke 6:23,35; 1 Cor 3:8,13-15; 9:25; James 1:12.)

              2.  We Have the Responsibility of Serving the Lord. 

Throughout church history, there have been those who have (to use Dwight L. Moody's words) become "so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good." They quit their jobs, sold their property, and sat and waited for Jesus to return. All of them have been embarrassed, of course, because it is unbiblical to set dates for His coming. It is also unbiblical to become careless and lazy just because we believe Jesus is coming soon. Paul faced this problem with some of the believers in Thessalonica, (2 Thess 3).

              3.  There Will Also Be Rewards in the Kingdom.

Christ reiterated that He would bring a reward for his people, according to what each had done (Rev. 20:12-13.) Our reward will include a place in God's kingdom (see Matt 25:34-40; Mark 9:47; 10:29-30), not because of our good deeds but because of God's gracious promise to people of faith (Luke 12:31-32).

               4.  Some Rewards Will be Personal and Individual.

Although all God's people will be saved and will enjoy the reward of eternity with him, several rewards seem to be given to individuals, according to what they have done. God will look at each individual's heart; thus, it may be that a quiet saint praying daily beside her bed will receive even greater reward than a flamboyant, well-known preacher. It may be that the woman who used her gifts to the fullest extent will be rewarded more greatly than the one who believed but was too afraid to reach her potential. God will not bestow his rewards in ways that we humans might. Each believer's job is to serve God to his or her fullest potential with a heart that is right with him (1 Cor. 3:5-15).

        C.  It Will Be Completing (Rev. 22:13). He will Personally Complete what He began in your heart! Christ repeated the words he had spoken at the beginning of the Revelation: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (see Rev. 1:8,17).

                1.  Christ as the Creator. (Alpha, Beginning, First)

The Creator began and will end time itself. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; it's like saying he is the A and the Z, or even A-to-Z.

               2. Christ as the Completer. (Omega, End, Last) 

Rev 22:13 is a great encouragement to anyone who seeks to serve the Lord. Whatever God starts, He will finish; for He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last.

Philip. 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philip. 2:12-13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Application: Stirred, stimulated, motivated, encouraged by this promise from the Lord Jesus to spring into actions of service, trust, and rest in Christ! I am reminded of the words of Moses when he said in Exodus 35:21, “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.” The encouragements of the apostle Paul seem to belong here as well. He said in 2 Tim. 1:6-14, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the gift of God, which is in thee (inner fire from God) by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: ¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” May we be possessed by a passion to serve, trust, and rest in the Lord’s promises.

III.        Assured by His Promise (Rev. 22:20-21).

Assurance based on Christ’s promises yield great confidence, faith, and rest in the Lord.

   A.  The Final Promise of the Savior (Rev. 22:20).

        1.  We must keep expecting Jesus Christ to return (vv. 17, 20-21). Three times in this closing chapter John wrote, "I [Christ] come quickly" (Rev 22:7,12,20). 

        2.  But He, has "delayed" His return for nearly 2,000 years! Yes, He has; and Peter tells us why: God wants to give this sinful world opportunity to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:1).

   B.  The Fervent Prayer of the Saints (Rev. 22:20).

        1.  John adds the hope of all believers to the declaration of Christ by praying, “come, Lord Jesus.” 

        2.  If our study of Revelation has been truly led by the Spirit, then we will join John in the Bible's last prayer. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" To this John replied in a brief prayer, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Are you ready?

         3. John could pray this because he was fully convinced of our Lord’s promise! 

   C.  The Final Provision for the Saints (Rev. 22:21).

Rev. 22:21, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

“This expression, so common in other New Testament books, brings this final word from God to an end. For those who believe that Christ in His first coming provided salvation, there is the wonderful promise of His coming again to bring full and final deliverance. As the book began by introducing a revelation of Jesus Christ so it ends with the same thought that He is coming again.”— John Walvoord

Application: Assured and therefore comforted by our Lord’s promise. Assurance is part of the experience of trusting in the promises of a completely trustworthy God. Faith takes God at His word, being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what he has promised (Rom. 4:21, Heb. 11:1-2). Assurance springs not from the power of positive thinking then but the power of the gospel. The Gospel is indeed good news, but since the gospel is God’s gospel (Rom. 1:1) it can be trusted because He is powerful to save, faithful to his word (Rom. 3:3), unable to lie (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18) and unable to change (Mal. 3:6). And since the gospel promises are according to the Scriptures (1Cor. 15:3-4) certainty is possible because these same Scriptures are God authored and therefore infallible and trustworthy (2Tim. 3:16-17; Luke 1:4; 2Pet. 1:20). Believers in Christ are assured of salvation because our God and salvation are true, sure, perfect, and unchangeable in Jesus Christ forever. It is okay for the believer to rest in the Lord Jesus every day of life. 

Conclusion:

“Probably no other book of Scripture more sharply contrasts the blessed lot of the saints with the fearful future of those who are lost. No other book of the Bible is more explicit in its description of judgment on the one hand and the saints’ eternal bliss on the other. What a tragedy that so many pass by this book and fail to fathom its wonderful truths, thereby impoverishing their knowledge and hope in Christ Jesus. God’s people who understand and appreciate these wonderful promises can join with John in his prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus.””— John Walvoord

Real faith always rests on the promises of God. Faith is essentially trusting in what God said, promised, wrote, or committed Himself to. It is not merely rooted in our own desires, ambitions, prayers, plea bargains, or wishful thinking…no matter how much we want it or how fervently we pray for it. This is why we should want to will of God above all else…His will often highlights his promises or feature His actions. Anytime we place confidence in something God said or promised, we exercise faith in God and His will. God’s promises give rise to real faith in our hearts. Yes, God is the worthy object of our faith, and His promises provide the very content or substance of our trust. 

Our spiritual confidence is strengthened by these clear promises from the Lord Jesus. They prepare, stir, and assure us resulting in strength to endure through the challenges and unfair circumstances of life. Take the Lord Jesus Christ’s Promises to your own heart so you too can finish life’s race strong, full of faith, and even more committed.