Entering the rest of God

Entering the rest of God

Hebrews Bible Study Chapter 4. Chapter 4 of Hebrews reverts to the theme of Chapter 3, the Promise of entering a Coming Rest. Paul writes, v1, ‘Let us fear therefore lest, a promise being left us of entering into His Rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.’ In v4, you see that Paul is linking this Rest to the Seventh Day of Creation. For six days God created – and on the seventh day, He rested from His Work. This is a picture of the 1000-year Rest, the Millennial reign of Christ on earth which still to come!

The faithfulness of Jesus!

The faithfulness of Jesus!

Hebrews Bible Study Chapter 3. 'Fix your thoughts on Jesus!' Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, He is our everything, He is all that you need. Our faith is not based on religion or ceremony, our faith is based on Jesus as our apostle and high priest. Who else do we need but Jesus?!

A great salvation

A great salvation

Hebrews Bible Study Chapter 2. We have received a great salvation through Christ, so we must be careful not to drift away. Only through faith in Christ are we saved: He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The message of Christ was first preached by those who witnessed the miracles, but like the original readers of Hebrews, we base our belief on eyewitness accounts.

The superiority of Jesus

The superiority of Jesus

Hebrews Bible Study Chapter 1. The first chapter of Hebrews describes in detail how Jesus Christ fulfils the prophecies of the Old Testament. In the past God spoke to His people by various means: Isaiah, in visions; Jacob, in dreams; whilst to Abraham and Moses, God spoke personally. But now God speaks through Jesus. Jesus is the fulfilment and culmination of God’s revelation. When we know Jesus, we have all we need to be saved and have a perfect relationship with God.

There will be terrible times in the last days

There will be terrible times in the last days

'Mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power.’

Showing the world the Glory and Power of God

Showing the world the Glory and Power of God

My desire is that the world should see the Glory and Power of God. In 1 Chronicles 28, King David commissions his son Solomon to build the Temple by saying, 'It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Covenant could rest permanently.' This was to be such a resplendent representation of the majesty of our God. Today, we are not building a physical Temple, but the Glory of God can be seen through the works we do for Him. Jesus said in Matthew 5, 'Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'

The Power of God to deliver you

The Power of God to deliver you

I thank God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it is the Power of God at work, saving everyone who believes — the Jew first and also the Gentile (Romans 1.16). As I look back over my life, it is now 50 years since God miraculously released me from a communist prison — and 30 years since I evangelised in the Dynamo Stadium, in Kyiv. It was during that difficult time in the prison, God revealed Himself as my Father in a most special way; it was as if I experienced the Glory of Heaven in that prison cell.

Be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus

Be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus

How can we be strong in the grace of Christ? Just as we are saved by grace, we need to live in that same grace each day. This means trusting completely in Christ and His power, and not trying to live for Christ in our own strength. Writing to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul said, 'And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust Him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done.'

Godliness is great gain

Godliness is great gain

‘Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.’ The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, is very concerned to instruct his young disciple how to deal with false teaching and corruption - especially financial corruption - in the church in Ephesus.