Seeing Jesus...the Panacea for All Emergencies
Ivor Powell
Hebrews 2:9
Many of the early Christians were in trouble. Their newly-expressed faith in Jesus of Nazareth had been challenged, but a return to Judaism seemed to be impossible because the foundations of the ancient faith had been destroyed. The temple was in ruins, priests no longer ministered in the sanctuary, and God appeared to be unconcerned with what was happening in Jerusalem. Furthermore, the church was being attacked. Believers were being fed to ravenous beasts, others were slain in the arena, and some had been burned at the stakes in the gardens of the emperor. The new converts to Christianity were perplexed: the old faith had almost disappeared, the new one seemed to be on the verge of extinction, and God, apparently, was not interested. It was to explain this situation that someone-maybe Paul-wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews. The writer tried to explain that the old doctrines were an introduction to the new, and the ancient priests were ordinary men to be followed by a Priest whose ministry would never terminate. The Aaronic priests had ceased to function, but the work of Christ had only just commenced.
Many problems remained to be solved, and questions needed to be answered. The leaders of the church were unable to explain why certain things had been permitted, but one thing was irrefutable-they could see Jesus, and even though they were mystified and perplexed, the Savior was aware of everything that had taken place. The writer reminded his readers that the Lord Jesus Christ "because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:24-25). Believers, therefore, should keep their eyes focused on the Savior.
Christians of all ages will be eternally indebted to the ancient author for he expressed the mind of God. The facts he enunciated can ...
Ivor Powell
Hebrews 2:9
Many of the early Christians were in trouble. Their newly-expressed faith in Jesus of Nazareth had been challenged, but a return to Judaism seemed to be impossible because the foundations of the ancient faith had been destroyed. The temple was in ruins, priests no longer ministered in the sanctuary, and God appeared to be unconcerned with what was happening in Jerusalem. Furthermore, the church was being attacked. Believers were being fed to ravenous beasts, others were slain in the arena, and some had been burned at the stakes in the gardens of the emperor. The new converts to Christianity were perplexed: the old faith had almost disappeared, the new one seemed to be on the verge of extinction, and God, apparently, was not interested. It was to explain this situation that someone-maybe Paul-wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews. The writer tried to explain that the old doctrines were an introduction to the new, and the ancient priests were ordinary men to be followed by a Priest whose ministry would never terminate. The Aaronic priests had ceased to function, but the work of Christ had only just commenced.
Many problems remained to be solved, and questions needed to be answered. The leaders of the church were unable to explain why certain things had been permitted, but one thing was irrefutable-they could see Jesus, and even though they were mystified and perplexed, the Savior was aware of everything that had taken place. The writer reminded his readers that the Lord Jesus Christ "because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:24-25). Believers, therefore, should keep their eyes focused on the Savior.
Christians of all ages will be eternally indebted to the ancient author for he expressed the mind of God. The facts he enunciated can ...
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