by Jerry Bangert | Dec 17, 2024 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 How does one make such an evaluation and what constitutes sound judgment? Paul reveals his candid evaluation of himself at three different times in his life. He first calls himself “the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9 NASB); then “the very least of all saints” (Ephesians 3:8 NASB); and finally the chief sinner (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV). This is the chronological order in which these letters were written. But how does this help me in my own self-inspection, if none of these descriptors are my own honest judgment? Since Jeremiah says the “heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”, then my own “honest” judgment cannot be trusted. But the Bible’s judgment can be. What else does it say about me? Ecclesiastes 9:3 states, “the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives.” Lamentations 3:39 asks, “Why should in any living mortal or any man offer complaint in view of his sins?” Romans 3:10-18 indicts the entire human race with among other things, “there is none who does good, there is not even one.” And finally Paul says of himself “nothing good dwells in me” (Romans 7:18). If this is true of the man who says he was blameless with respect to the Law...
by Ed Allen | Dec 16, 2024 | Articles, Mentors Corner
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3). The verses above follow the examples of the “witnesses” of faith given us by those who acted on their faith in preceding chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews. Now we each run our own “race that is set before us.” What do you think? The exhortation here is to follow the examples identified and placing our eyes, i.e. our hope and future on Jesus while setting aside the enticement and distraction of sin. Ought we as Christ followers today, be praying for “endurance” and casting aside “encumbrances” as we pursue our own faith during our own short stay here on earth? If so, why? if not, why not? Read More Articles By This...
by Mitch Hershey | Dec 3, 2024 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Recently I was having a conversation with a friend about some of the challenges he was facing. Whether it’s business, health, financial, or anything else we hold dear, when we face challenges it is easy to ask the question – why is this HAPPENING?! (emphasis on happening, in the way you would hear a 4 year old lament when their juice box spills). As I pondered this more, I was reminded that a proper response would be to ask God – WHY is this happening? (emphasis on why) I crave peace and comfort. My temporal self tells me that the definition of peace is the absence of conflict. When adverse circumstances come into my life, my initial reaction is to try and get rid of them as quickly as possible. The Bible, however, reminds us that trials and tribulations are brought into our lives for our good and for God’s glory. Joseph had a clear understanding of this principle. Even though he had been betrayed by his brothers, even though he had been falsely accused, even though he was forgotten by men, he understood that God was at work in the circumstances of his life, whether they seemed favorable or unfavorable. Instead of focusing on the circumstances themselves, Joseph chose to focus on how God was at work – his mind was on the why. In Genesis 50:20, when his brothers are fearful that vengeance is finally coming their way, Joseph tells them, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Joseph’s heart was set on God’s purposes, not his circumstances. The New...
by Jonathan Koehler | Nov 18, 2024 | Articles, Mentors Corner
A key theme, if not THE key theme, in the letter to the Hebrews is that of holding fast, perseverance, endurance-terms that indicate continuing a sometimes difficult and long course for a purpose and with an end, which may not necessarily be in view at present. The warnings are meant to help readers in the first century all the way through today and beyond to hold on to their faith in the work of Christ that one day they might be counted in those who have “loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8) A brief summary of the warnings and the responses to them follows. Pay closer attention to what God has revealed in His Son Jesus and do not drift from it (Hebrews 2:1-3a). The Greek for “pay attention” in a naval context means to “hold one’s course toward a place”. The context is the spoken Word but would also include the written Word. Stay close to the Bible and its proclamation and obey it. There are no shortcuts. Rest from your efforts to gain salvation; instead, work out its evidence within you by your actions (Hebrews 3:7-4:13). Draw near to Jesus and the throne of grace and realize He has done the work of salvation for you (Hebrews 4:14-16), freeing you to walk in the works He has prepared for you (Ephesians 2:10). Do not waddle in immaturity by thinking you need to go back to the cross (Hebrews 5:11-6:8). Reminding ourselves of the Cross and our need for it is one thing, but returning back to it for salvation over and over is not possible and a...
by Jonathan Koehler | Nov 5, 2024 | Articles, Mentors Corner
One final appeal is issued to the Hebrews in this fifth warning encapsulated in 12:25-29 with echoes back to vv.15-17. There are admonitions that no one should come short of grace, that bitterness not be allowed to take root and bear the fruit of group defilement, and that there be no one like Esau who sold his birthright as the eldest son for a meal. The mention of bitterness refers to Deuteronomy 29:18ff. in which God warns the Israelites against abandoning the covenant He had made with them and adopting idolatry which results in disastrous consequences. Esau gave way to temporary physical desires and in the process sacrificed his inheritance which included participation in the messianic promises (v17). Esau’s situation is particularly poignant as an illustration that there are certain “trapdoors” through which we traverse with irreversible consequences, for when he sought to regain his birthright, he was refused. The author then uses imagery to illustrate the contrast between the fearful environment associated with Mt. Sinai (smoke, fire, earthquakes, unbearable voice of God), representing the Law and the Mosaic, or Old Covenant (see Exodus chapters 19-24), and the peace of Mt. Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem, representing Grace and the New Covenant. Though Grace revealed in the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis chapter 12) preceded Law (Mosiac Covenant), the Hebrews had retreated back to the perceived safety of the Law to avoid persecution. It is telling that relating to God on the basis of law involves fear associated with performance (what we do) whereas the incredible and unique grace relationship because of Jesus is unconditional, even though God knows what we...
by Jonathan Koehler | Oct 7, 2024 | Articles, Mentors Corner
The author further ratchets up the severity of the language surrounding this fourth warning in the series. The text is found in Hebrews 10:26-31. As is often used in the New Testament, there is an argument from the lesser to the greater to emphasize the severity of the warning. Under the Mosaic Law, multiple eyewitness testimony was required to convict of a capital crime and a resulting merciless sentence which involved the physical and the temporal (v.28). But for the sin referenced in this passage, the author poses more severe consequences, expanding to the spiritual and eternal. There is a terrifying expectation of judgement and a consuming fire (v.27), with the summary that it is terrifying to fall into the hands of the living God (v. 31). The word “terrifying” is the same used in 12:21 by Moses when present on Mt. Sinai in the presence of God, such that he trembled or “quaked” with fear. We who have the revelations of the finished work of Christ and the Word of God have greater responsibility as well as accountability. Verse 26 is another of the verses that makes us squirm and seek for alternatives to the plain reading. Let us again be reminded that loss of salvation for the elect (possessors) is impossible but those who only profess faith in Christ, i.e. non-elect, are in peril. Also, while certainty of one’s status (professor vs possessor) is impossible before death, assurance of salvation is not only possible but encouraged. What does the author mean by “go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth” (NASB)? The author is...
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