HEBREWS 8


     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 4:7 "Again, he limiteth a
certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is
said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

     Those who hear the Word of God have an obligation to receive the
Word. God will not always strive with man. God offered salvation to
the Jew first, but when they refused to accept it, He turned from them
and sent the message to the Gentiles, who readily accepted it. God
deals with each of us on an individual basis. There is a time when God
will say, That is enough, and will not call us any longer. We must
accept salvation, the day it is offered. II Corinthians 6:2 "(For he
saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time;
behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)"  How can we neglect so great
salvation, knowing that today might be the last time it is offered to
us?

     Hebrews 4:8 "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not
afterward have spoken of another day."

     This is just explaining that this day of rest offered to the
believers is not for their time here in the flesh, but is a promise of
things to happen in the future at the second coming of Christ. This
time of rest is not for the world to experience, but for those who
endure to the end, and remain faithful. Acts 14:22 "Confirming the
souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God."

     Hebrews 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of
God."

     This means that the people of God will have a time when they
cease from labor. In fact all of the troubles of this sinful world
will be no more for those who have chosen Jesus Christ as their
Saviour. Revelation 7:14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And
he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb."  Revelation 7:15 "Therefore are they before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the
throne shall dwell among them." Revelation 7:16 "They shall hunger no
more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them,
nor any heat." Revelation 7:17 "For the Lamb which is in the midst of
the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains
of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

     Hebrews 4:10 "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath
ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his."

     Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and
their works do follow them."  We know that after we are dead we can do
no work for the Lord. We must do our work while we are alive, because
after we are dead, it is too late. Work is for this earth, and the
rewards come in heaven, as we see in Jesus' own words in the next
Scripture. Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my
reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall
be." The earth, and heaven, and all therein contained were created in
6 days and God rested; Jesus worked 6 hours on the cross, and now is
resting, sitting at the right hand of the Father. We, also, will rest
with Him at the right hand of the throne, if we continue in the faith
of Jesus Christ. Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant
to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne."

     Hebrews 4:11 "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,
lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

     II Peter 1:10 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to
make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye
shall never fall:" II Peter 1:11 "For so an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."  The sad thing, sometimes, is that
some who start out with Jesus do not remain steadfast. When troubles
come, they falter. Trials of this world have a way of separating those
who truly belong to God, from those who are just pretenders.

     Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

     Throughout the Bible, we are taught that the weapon of the
Christian is their Bible {the Twoedged Sword}. Christians are in a
battle between the flesh and the Spirit. You might even say, that this
war is between the world and God's people. Christians make up God's
army. The object of this war is the salvation of the people. We are in
the last hours of battle. True Christians must put on their uniform
and come forward to the front lines. Our uniform is the same one
mentioned in the 6th chapter of Ephesians, except we have patches on
our knees from praying. Ephesians 6:13 "Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:14 "Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate
of righteousness;" Ephesians 6:15 "And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace;" Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking
the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked." Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints;"  We must keep our powder dry. We must not water down
the Word of God as many of the new Bibles do. Some are watered down to
the extent that Jesus is no longer God. The battle is in the last
hours and all good soldiers of the Lord are needed in His army now.
This army must be willing to fight to the death, if necessary. There
is no time left for fun and games, WE ARE AT WAR.

     The heart of man is really what he is. If you have a wicked
heart, then you are a wicked man, if you have a good heart you are a
good man. Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the
abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

     Sometimes to be a Christian, a person has to give up family and
friends. Christianity divides families sometimes. The 2 great powers
in the world are the spoken and the written Word. THE POWER OF GOD IS
IN HIS WORD.

     Hebrews 4:13 "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest
in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of
him with whom we have to do."

     God knows not only what you have done, but He knows your thoughts
and He knows the desires of your heart. His eyes look into the very
soul of man. I Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the
righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of
the Lord [is] against them that do evil."

     Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that
is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
[our] profession."

     Hebrews 8:1 "Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the
sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens;" Hebrews 9:12 "Neither by the
blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once
into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]."
Romans 8:34 "Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died,
yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us."  These Scriptures above tell us
that Jesus Christ is the High Priest for all believers. He is our way
into the holy of holies. He is constantly pleading our case to the
Father. Jesus' sacrifice of His body on the cross was our payment for
all time. He is our High Priest forever.

     Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points
tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin."

     Jesus Christ The Righteous [our Lord] took on flesh so that He
might relate to us in our flesh. Jesus fasted 40 days and was tempted
by the devil. Jesus Christ was the only one who ever lived above sin.
Philippians 2:7 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"
Philippians 2:8 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
     Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
need."

     Jesus Christ tore down the curtain separating God from mankind
when He died on the cross. Matthew 27:51 "And, behold, the veil of the
temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did
quake, and the rocks rent;" The way to the Father is provided through
the name of Jesus. Jesus gave us the right to use His name. We pray to
the Father in the name of Jesus. When we pray in the name of Jesus,
God answers our prayers. John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my
name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 14:14 "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it]."









































                             Questions 8

1.  What is the warning given in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 7?
2.  What is the obligation of those hearing the Word of God?
3.  When is the acceptable time of salvation?
4.  When is this day of rest for the believers?
5.  We must through much _____________ enter the kingdom of God.
6.  These who have come out of great tribulation have done what to
    make them righteous?
7.  Who is the Lamb?
8.  Describe the problems that we had on earth, that we will have no
    more in heaven.
9.  Work is for the earth, and what is in heaven?
10. God is going to give us according to what?
11. How long did Jesus work on the cross?
12. Who will sit with Jesus on His throne?
13. What is a sad thing about some Christians?
14. What is the Word of God called in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12?
15. The battle that Christians are in is between whom?
16. What is the object of this war?
17. What is the difference in our uniform, and the one in Ephesians
    chapter 6?
18. Describe the uniform in chapter 6 of Ephesians.
19. What is meant by keeping our powder dry?
20. Why is there no time for fun and games?
21. Out of the abundance of the heart the _____ _________.
22. The power of God is in His _____.
23. The eyes of the Lord are over the __________.
24. Who is Jesus called in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 14?
25. With what did Jesus acquire eternal redemption for us?
26. Why is Jesus able to relate to our feelings?
27. Jesus was obedient to what extent?
28. Where do we read that the veil of the temple was torn from the top
    to the bottom?
29. When did this occur?
30. What was the purpose of the veil being torn?
31. Quote John chapter 14 verse 14.