HEBREWS 2:5–11 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:7). Hebrews 2:6–8 quotes from Psalm 8:4–6. Psalm 8 begins by reflecting on the majesty of the universe. Then the psalmist notes that God has preeminent regard for humanity, which makes humanity even greater than the … Continue reading “A LITTLE LOWER THAN ANGELS”
LYING MIRACLES
ACTS 19:23–41 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?” (Acts 19:35). One day a meteorite fell from the sky and became the sacred … Continue reading “LYING MIRACLES”
COUNTERFEIT MIRACLES
EXODUS 7:1–24 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake (Exodus 7:12). We saw in last Friday’s lesson (April 30) that Satan cannot do miracles. Otherwise, Nicodemus would have been wrong in … Continue reading “COUNTERFEIT MIRACLES”
SIGNS OF THE TRUTH
JOHN 3:1–8 [Nicodemus] came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2). Nicodemus’ statement to Jesus is important for our consideration of miracles. He says that … Continue reading “SIGNS OF THE TRUTH”
SIGNS, WONDERS, AND POWERS
HEBREWS 2:1–8 God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will (Hebrews 2:4). What are “signs, wonders, and various miracles”? A sign (semeion in Greek) communicates information. None of the miracles Jesus or the apostles did was for sheer effect. They were … Continue reading “SIGNS, WONDERS, AND POWERS”
ATTESTATION OF THE GOSPEL
HEBREWS 2:1–8 This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him (Hebrews 2:3b). Today we return to our study in Hebrews. We left off in Hebrews 2:3 with the statement that the good news of salvation was first announced by Jesus, and then was attested to … Continue reading “ATTESTATION OF THE GOSPEL”
PERSEVERING IN THE FAITH
JOHN 8:12–41 To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples” (John 8:31). True faith, as we have seen, finds its fulfillment in good works. The Bible teaches that anyone who has true faith will persevere in good works until the day of his … Continue reading “PERSEVERING IN THE FAITH”
OUR ADOPTION BY GOD
ROMANS 8 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). When God justifies us, He also adopts us as His children. There is a true sense in which God is the father … Continue reading “OUR ADOPTION BY GOD”
JUSTIFICATION AND WORKS
JAMES 2:14–26 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did (James 2:22). One major theme of Hebrews is that believers must persevere in the faith and not fall away. If we are saved by faith alone, how is it that we must … Continue reading “JUSTIFICATION AND WORKS”
THE LAW AND THE SINNER
ROMANS 7:1–25 Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died (Romans 7:9). When a Christian hears the law of God, he should be delighted. He should be thrilled to hear the voice of his loving Father. He should be excited at the truth and … Continue reading “THE LAW AND THE SINNER”