2 Peter 2

Peter continues to warn his readers about false teachers who will seek to not only distort truth but mislead as many as possible. God does know them and their works and will not allow them to escape judgment.

2 Peter 1

Peter writes to those with the same faith as his - to remind them of the preciousness of that faith. It is a growing faith, a sustaining faith, a faith that will endure until life ends - as Peter is sure that his is about to. He reminds his readers that the Gospel was not a cleverly crafted deception, but a careful recounting of the Good News that Jesus from Nazareth has proved by His life, death and resurrection that He Himself is the God-promised Messiah.

1 Peter 5

Peter concludes his letter by encouraging the older followers of Jesus to carefully lead the less-experienced in their development. All should take careful notice of the seriousness of their relationship to their Messiah. He concludes with a reminder that those on the run are not alone. There are other believers throughout the Roman Empire!

1 Peter 4

Peter continues his argument for a transformed life by reminding his readers that they had spent enough time proving how wicked they were. Now it was time to demonstrate how great God's transforming power was! The life of the believer is to be spent in serious acknowledgment that God has done a great work. This life is not dour or bleak, just properly balanced between the sobriety of a holy God and the joy of a loving God. There will be confrontations with those who have not been transformed by the Messiah, Jesus; but even these confrontations can serve as evidences and reminders that God is at work and He will preserve His children from every attack.

1 Peter 3

The follower of Jesus who submits to those around them will evidence the transformation made by the Messiah of their life. Spouses will notice the difference, acquaintances will see the recreation made and God receives the glory. Those who suffer for following Jesus do so in an honorable fashion. Those who suffer for breaking the law ought to suffer the consequnces - their standing before God does not exempt them from obedience to man's statutes.

1 Peter 2

Even believers "on the run" (as Peter's audience was) need to grow. Peter encourages them to put away their former lifestyles and mature in their faith and its expressions. Believers are a chosen people; they must act accordingly - not establishing roots in the world system, but living in the world as travelers with a possession elsewhere. They are still subject to the laws of the land; but need not order their lives according to the priorities of the land. In all things, Christ is to be the Supreme Example.

1 Peter 1

Peter, one of three men to see Jesus in His transfigured glory, writes to those who have been scattered by the Roman government about the need to persevere and endure times of difficulty. He begins by reminding his readers of the great gift they possess: salvation and all its attending blessings. These blessings include an inheritance, the keeping power of God, a genuine faith, a growing character. Many have lived desiring to understand and appropriate this faith, but God has allowed them to possess it at this time in history so that He would be seen as gracious, good, powerful and mighty. Because of this, they are to live seriously and dedicated to following Him closely because of the great price paid for their redemption. To saints on the run, a message declaring their great value would be a large encouragement.

James 5

The rich are warned not to trust their riches to support them in the day when God brings them to judgment. Riches are not capable of purchasing favor with God. Those who suffer now should patiently bear under such trials; God is the Supreme Judge and will make a correct evaluation at the last reckoning. Prayer is stressed as vital to the life of the believer. Great things are accomplished through the avenue of prayer.

James 4

Controversy arises when folks seek their own well-being instead of the well-being of others. When these conflicting interests collide, disputes, battles and wars result. God, however, is pleased to show grace to those who put others first - the humble. All of life should be lived with God's plans in mind.

James 3

The one who follows Jesus will find one problematic element in his life that keeps him from being as effective and productive as he would like to be: his tongue. The tongue, such a small anatomical member, can be used for great help and tremendous disaster. The one who carefully keeps a guard on his words will prove to be wise indeed.

James 2

Following Jesus means evaluating people as He does. God shows no partiality; in fact, He chooses the ones that others would see as meaningless and expendable to be the ones in whom He most magnificently displays His glory. We follow His example when we show the same love we give ourselves to our neighbor. Truly, just saying we follow Jesus is not enough; there must be actions that bear out our verbal acknowledgment. Verbal assent is good, as far as it goes, and it is that much more impacting when displayed through transformed actions of service and love.

James 1

James, the first book of the New Testament to be written, addresses an issue that has been ever present in the church - testing and trials. James writes to be thankful for such afflictions, as they present opportunity for character to be developed. God will generously provide wisdom to those who ask for assistance in times of testing so that the follower of Christ can be stable in turbulent times. Those who endure temptations are promised rewards for their labors. James quickly reminds his readers that God is not the creator of temptation. Every gift He gives is good and perfect due to the simple fact that He is the Originator of the gift. Our response is to be obedient to His commands and directions, allowing the Holy Spirit to change us into the likeness of Jesus, the Christ who died for us.

Hebrews 13

The fact that Jesus is superior must have implications on the way one lives presently. His superiority motivates unifying love, hospitality, purity in relationships, contentment and boldness. The superiority of Jesus as King prompts those who follow Him to pray for their earthly leaders in a way that might not seem possible otherwise. Jesus' superiority grounds one's belief in Truth and protects them from being mislead by error. Prayer is a vital part of the life affected by Jesus, for it is through His power that His followers find strength for their daily lives.

Hebrews 12

With so many examples set for us, we also should live in a way that demonstrates our faith in Jesus as superior to all others. He endured far more than any other will or can endure, and as God's children some discipline is expected as it eventually yields the rewards of a great inheritance. Those who follow Jesus with their lives must do so carefully, to experience life the way God intends it to be experienced. This is accomplished out of a reverent heart attitude; God removes all other baser motivations and purifies them with His holiness.

Hebrews 11:20 - 40

Because Jesus is superior, faith in Him enables people to experience spectacular life situations. The history of Israel is resplendent with accounts of people whose faith in God and His promised Deliverer produced actions that pleased God and resulted in extraordinary feats. Dead raised to life, nations rising from a barren couple, a national Golden Age sparked by a shepherd boy, the list goes on. And yet, there is something even better prepared for those who continue to demonstrate their faith ... because what the folks of old anticipated has now arrived and been validated as the promised Deliverer - Jesus, the Messiah.

Hebrews 11:1 - 19

How important is faith? Faith is described as a confidence in what is not seen. It is through faith that the patriarchs obtained a 'good report' of their lives through their faith-motivated actions. It was through faith that these mighty men and women of old did remarkable works and saw amazing circumstances in their own lives. It was through their faith that God was able to accomplish what He had promised that these heroes lived such incredible lives.

Hebrews 10:19 - 39

Because Jesus suffered on our behalf, and because His suffering has purchased salvation for those with their trust in Him alone, believers can approach God boldly and without fear of punishment for their transgressions. His sufferings make our peace possible. Those who continue to live a life characterized by sin will receive greater punishment for neglecting to appropriate so great a salvation when it was offered.

Hebrews 10:1 - 18

The law could never make those who kept it perfect, as it was a shadow of what was to come. The best it could do was point out how much a person had failed to keep it. The sacrifices made were evidence that the law was correct - all had failed to keep the law perfectly. When Jesus arrived, the law was shown to have been kept perfectly by Him. By His absolutely perfect life He obtained the authority to make Himself an offering for sin by which the laws demands would be completely met. His one offering accomplished more than all the offerings made prior to and since His action. The action of Jesus provides remittance for sin, making further payment unnecessary.

Hebrews 9

The tabernacle is described. The furniture and fixtures are explained, as well as the procedures taken by the priests offering the sacrifices. It is explained that the entirety of the process was symbolic of what God was doing and promising to do. When Jesus came as The High Priest, He offered a sacrifice (His own blood) better and superior than the blood of bulls or goats. His sacrifice brought not just atonement but redemption. This testament (a legal term describing a document put in force at the time of death) is effective because of Jesus' death on the cross. It was necessary for Jesus to die in order to put God's plan into 'motion,' so to speak. His death bore the sins of many and served as the judgment necessary for sins' effect. Those who trust in His payment of their sin-debt find forgiveness and salvation.

Hebrews 8

The point being made up to this point is simple: Jesus is far superior to the priests of old times. He is The High Priest, as He has mediated a better covenant than the one presided over by the former priests. This new covenant has been promised by God, as the old covenant was broken by mankind. The new covenant will supersede the former one and cause it to vanish away.

Hebrews 7

Jesus is referred to several times as a priest "after the order of Melchizedek." That term is now explained. Melchizedek was the priest of God and king of Salem to whom Abraham gave a tenth of his treasure. Melchizedek can be translated "king of righteousness" and his title "king of peace." This great person received tribute (tithe: a tenth) from as great a leader as Abraham. Those who are his descendants (the Jewish priests and Levites) continued to receive offerings from the hands of those who worshiped and offered them up to God. Because Christ is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, He is able to receive those offerings without having to offer them to one higher than himself. Jesus is the pinnacle of priesthood: He receives offerings without needing to offer them higher; yet He offers Himself on behalf of the people's sins. By doing so, He saves to the uttermost, not just passes along an annual atonement.

Hebrews 6

Because of the difference Jesus makes in a life, a person who has been subjected to the transforming power of the Messiah is unable to return to his former lifestyle. Jesus makes a life-changing difference! God has promised, based on the most powerful element in the universe - Himself, that those transformed by Jesus will receive all that is due to them as His joint-heirs. How is this possible? By Jesus' position as our High Priest.

Hebrews 5

Jesus is uniquely qualified to be our great High Priest. God Himself validates the Messiahship and position of High Priest held by Jesus. It is through His suffering that Jesus proves His worthiness to intercede on our behalf before God. These are the fundamental teachings of the Gospel.

Hebrews 4

Jesus proves His superiority by providing the rest that God promises. Rest is not possible by any other means; all others fail in their attempts to bring peace with God. God's Word shows us our true condition and lays us open to God's unbiased eye. Jesus, however, provides Himself as our High Priest, interceding on our behalf before God.

Hebrews 3

Jesus is held up as superior to Moses. Moses, the revered 'father and leader of the nation,' was great; but Jesus Christ is greater. The builder is greater than the building; and God demonstrates that fact to be true by building all things through the power of His Son, Jesus. The only proper response to God's working is to submit to Him; anything else is rebellion and folly. Those who rebel will be judged by God for their actions.

Hebrews 2

The discussion on Jesus' superiority continues. He is vastly superior to the angels, and is far above the place of men. All is in subjection to Him (and one day that subjection will be wonderfully and visibly manifested) so that He can redeem and provide what is necessary for the redemption of mankind. Jesus is superior because He faced all that mankind faces, yet faced it without sin tarnishing Him in the least.

Hebrews 1

Disclaimer: The author of the book of Hebrews is a subject for much debate. The focus of the book is NOT who wrote it, but the superiority of Christ Jesus over all other systems of thought and belief.

Jesus is the pinnacle of God's communication to mankind. God has revealed Himself to us through the person and work of His Son Who reigns, rules and lives from eternity to eternity. Scripture from the very beginning has been pointing to this fact, if we were only wise enough to comprehend it correctly.

Philemon

Paul writes a touching letter to Philemon, a church leader in the city of Colosse. This letter is one of redemption, restoration and love. A former slave of Philemon's, Onesimus, had embezzled funds and fled to Rome. In Rome, he encountered Paul who introduced him to Christ and the transforming power of the Gospel. Onesimus was returning to Colosse to reconcile with Philemon; Paul asks that they demonstrate the power of the Gospel in the way they interact with one another. Truly, the gospel is powerful.

Titus 3

Paul continues to admonish his colleague Titus regarding the personality and conduct of church leaders. The lives of those who lead are to be exemplary. They are not to be perfect; they are to show that God is continually transforming them into His image. The transformation is to result in works that please God and highlight His power to others.

Titus 2

Titus' responsibility in Crete was simple: demonstrate the difference the gospel makes in a life no matter what the age of the person affected. Older men and women were to demonstrate a maturity that balanced their advanced age. They were to serve as examples to the younger men and women of God-centered living, sobriety, and propriety. The minister was to use his very life as an example to others. Slaves were to demonstrate the life-transforming power of the Gospel through their responses to their masters. The Gospel was to show its transformational power and ability in lives - no matter who was impacted by it.