Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistle of Paul to the Romans

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

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JUNE 2024 – 2025 —

1 CORINTHIANS

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Letters – Is he writing to me?
The short answer: YES.

In their epistles or 1st century church letters the Apostles and other men sent out by Jesus build up the saints [small – ‘s’] or members of local first century churches.

A Disciple or other witness of JESUS would write it. Messengers then delivered these church letters to many isolated worshipers.

Followers of Jesus Christ receive these letters as a major encouragement to their personal faith. Then leaders read them to worshipers of their church.

Although the Epistles 0r Letters to the Church were originally written to churches of the first century,

Romans through Jude will seem like letters to your 21st century church.

What do Peter, Paul, John and others tell us we must do?
Is he talking about an issue in your 21st c. church as well?
How does the writer’s advice, warning, or encouragement to the 1st c. believers apply to you as well
Is the writer of this letter talking about something you need to address in your 21st century ‘christian’ life?

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

Most New Testament writers take on specific issues confronting faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These same issues continue to confront believers until the Lord’s coming again in these last days.

Certainly Christ our Lord will come again to those God has chosen for eternal life.

Believers currently suffer more than most of you who know Christ in your local church can imagine.

In other lands Christians continue to suffer by the hand of the ungodly.
Go into all the world

A 21st century Common Era church can see and hear nearly any atrocity of man or artificial imagination of sinful man’s mind, yet ‘christians‘ dare not speak of any absolute truth of the Lord God or talk of JESUS CHRIST.

Will YOU comment on Scripture and share the Gospel?

I invite you to read the inspired word of Scripture written in these LETTERS TO THE CHURCH.

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Beloved brother or sister in Christ Jesus,

Will you read this ‘CHURCH LETTER’ and talk of JESUS through your comment, sharing and email to me about this ‘Letter to you?”

Roger@talkofJesus.com

Hebrews 13 -Remain in Philadelphia
13:1 ἡ φιλαδελφία μενέτω [menō philadelphia menō]

Philadelphia?

‘Wait,’ you say. Philadelphia – stay in Philadelphia?

If your familiarity of the New Testament extends beyond the Pennsylvania ‘city of brotherly love’ in the U.S., you may recall the importance of one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation. Not that Philadelphia either.

The author of Hebrews has nearly concluded his letter, but we need to address an application of his purpose. By doing so we must first take a look at love as we often misrepresent it in the English language.

A lesson in love

C.S. Lewis wrote an important book addressing the translation issues from Greek to English called, “The Four Loves.” (Link to study guide.) For our lesson here I will outline the four Greek words which translate as “love.”
1. eros – romantic love (which receives much worldly attention)
2. storge – love for family and affectionate love
3. agape – spiritual love
4. philia – friendship
Understand that the Hellenistic or Greek culture was common to Jerusalem, Rome and the world in between. So to hear the word ‘love‘ in Hebrews and other letters of the New Testament and the Gospels as a Greek-speaking believer of the first century church, ask yourself ‘which of the four loves?’

philia love

The writer of Hebrews here uses this ‘philia’ love when he writes:

Let love of the brethren continue.
Hebrews 13:1 NASB

Paul urges this same philia love of friendship in Romans 12:10-11.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor..

Consider any urging of ‘brotherly love’ or ‘love for the brethren’ as φιλαδελφία translated to english as: philadelphia.

agape love

Earlier in Hebrews 6 we also encountered agape spiritual love.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
Hebrews 6:10 NASB

The author reinforces a call to this same spiritual love in Hebrews 10:24

.. and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds..

Yet these loves overlap even in a Greek understanding of love. Occasionally one type of love illustrates a desired characteristic of another.

Jesus uses a tense of agape love for His closest friends and Disciples in a command specific to them, yet applicable to all believers.

αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ ἐμή ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς
“This is My commandment, that you love [agapaō] one another, just as I have loved [agapaō] you.
John 15:12 Greek, NASB

Could any command of our Lord hold more importance?

In Christ spiritual brothers become family

This spiritual love secured by our Lord Christ Jesus, of persons requires us to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly our brothers and sisters bound by our faith as His church.

The author of Hebrews therefore encourages us that by this very love in Christ, we are different from everyone else.

Of course our storge love for family and philia friendships rise to a higher good as well. And love’s action, ἀγάπη agapē, ofter translated ‘charity‘ derives from this grace-filled love of our spiritual relationship with God.

Philadelphia: Remain in the Lord’s place of brotherly love, which witnesses our Lord’s own affection for the brethren (fellow-believers). Its adjective implies kindhearted.

Hebrews 13:
- 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality,
- 3 Remember those in prison..
- the mistreated…
- “as though you suffered with them.”
- Honor marriage (pointing to eros as God intended).
- Be satisfied with what you have…
Once again the writer quotes scripture:

I will never leave you or abandon you.
Hebrews 13:5B, quoting Deuteronomy 31:6

7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace…
Hebrews 13:8-9a

Our Altar in the Enduring City

10 We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.

Even Moses was unable to enter when the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle, for it is the holy place where God accepts the sacrifice of man.

The author of Hebrews illustrates that the blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering is not a complete sacrifice. He make a point to show us the fate of the sacrificed bodies. 11 For the bodies of those animals… [from which the blood of the sin offering was sacrificed] are burned outside the camp.

The Road to Calvary

Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify the people by his own blood.
Hebrews 13:12 CSB

Go to Christ outside the camp

A works-driven Judaism, catholicism or easy christianity draw us to the victory procession of the king entering the city. Crowds will follow any easy path to the high hill of victorious faith.

Jesus falls carrying Cross out of Jerusalem to Golgotha

Yet those same expectant masses who laid palms before Jesus chastised a bloodied and beaten Son of Man as He was lead away from the city to the hill of Golgotha.

Isaiah tells us: He bore the reproach for our sin. To this end, by our humble worship we must also take up His Cross to follow Jesus.

The author of Hebrews therefore leads us to worship our Perfect High Priest following His path of reproach for our sake. His earlier mention of this reproach was in Hebrews 11.

Let us therefore go forth to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach.
Hebrews 13:13 HNV

14 We do not have enduring city here…

True then of Jerusalem and more so true now of our own 21st century city of destruction. Our call to the path from the city therefore:

… we seek the one to come.

in conclusion

Heaven is not found on the heights of our successes in faith, but on the humbling path of scorn where Christ bore our sin and death.

We have a new High Priest of a New Covenant with God, the Father of all.

Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Hebrews 13:15 CSB

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

With this final caution the author concludes his letter to the Hebrews, having only to request prayers and leaving words of his blessing.
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Letter to the Hebrews: To be concluded...
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February 25, 2019
Hebrews 12- Reject Not God’s Grace
Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees
Hebrews 12:12 NET

The author of Hebrews assures us: “We have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us;” therefore do not grow weary and lose heart.

Life’s race shall not be to the finish of death, but to our completion in eternity.

In Christ we have grace. So many witnesses of faith, as the writer of Hebrews points out, from Noah to Moses and David. These pointed to a more perfect place and worship.

The imagery of the Priest making offerings to the Lord in the Holy of Holies is an earthly imitation of true worship and perfect offering made by our Holiest and Perfect Son of God, Christ Jesus! He alone sanctifies us. By His grace we are saved.

Hebrews 12:

a Few Cautions

14 Pursue peace with all men… and the sanctification…

The author of Hebrews cautions to believers echo: “Love one another,” and be holy before the LORD your God.

15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God…

Who is the author addressing? Brothers (and sisters) who believe in the Lord. Yet what is their understanding of the grace of God?

We often reject the grace of God when roots sprout from our selfishness. He cautions next to make sure ‘that no root of bitterness springs up…

A ‘root of bitterness‘ springing up draws on the imagery of weeds (among the good crop), an extreme wickedness and hatred growing from the depths of your heart. He compares this by example to the attitude of Esau, of whom the Lord said: ‘but I have hated Esau.’

Come to the Mountain

Worship at Mount Sinai

You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.
Hebrews 12:18 NLT

Sinai or Zion: Fear or Joy

20 [CSB] for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.

וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַךְ מֹשֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי מֹותֹֽו׃
וַיֹּאמַר יְהוָה מִסִּינַי בָּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמֹו הֹופִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן וְאָתָה מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ מִֽימִינֹו אשֶׂדת לָֽמֹו׃
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:1-2 (WLC)

Do you fear Almighty GOD!?

Moses did, many prophets did, Saul of Tarsus and others all fell prostate before Almighty God.

… and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
The REVELATION of Jesus Christ to John 16B-18 CSB

Since the generations of Moses, priests entered the Holy of Holies with an expectation of meeting the LORD.

Moses placed a veil over his face after descending Mount Sinai with his face shining with the glory of the Lord. The Holy of Holies was separated from other rooms of the Temple by a veil.

The LORD is fearful and awesome! What mortal may face Him?

Mount Zion, above all the high places

To enter the Holy of Holies is to step across the threshold of holiness to encounter the LORD in a place above His creation.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. – Matthew 27:51-53 NKJV

22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem)…

The author of Hebrews describes, in part, the heavenly abode of the Lord God and Christ Jesus. Moses could not fully explain the Face of God. Ezekiel and other Prophets could not fully describe the glory of the Lord. John could not fully reveal the Heavenly Place of the Lord or the Apocalypse of this created heavens and earth.

Yet here the author assures us of the joy we have in Christ Jesus. He describes this holiest place of the Lord as the place of our Priest making His Perfect Sacrifice.

… 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

Do Not Refuse the Voice of Jesus

New Covenant, therefore, a new Priest – a Perfect Sacrifice and Perfect Mediator between the LORD God and sinful man. Which will you choose?

²⁵“See that you do not refuse Him… “ states the NKJV. Once again, the author of Hebrews invokes our natural fear of the Lord quoting well-known scripture. HE WARNS YOU FROM HEAVEN!

Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob.
eXODUS 19:18; pSALM 114:7

28 [NIV] Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Two covenants, two mountains, two types of High Priests to intervene for you before Almighty God. Will you worship by the grace of Christ Jesus?
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To be continued...
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February 22, 2019
Hebrews 12-Grow Not Weary and Lose Heart
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:3 NASB

Endurance for the race

Life wears me out – daily and year to year. My faith fades into a fog of uncertainty as I wonder if the Lord has any use for me at all. I am weary of sin and sinners, my heart broken and soul suffering. How will I endure this marathon of mortal life?

Can you relate to that? Do your days run endlessly with all around you asking you to sprint to their end rather than endure the race of hope to finish?

It was no different for a persecuted church, yet in Christ we have found our Hope and Light to victory over death and the joy of the prize.

The author of Hebrews has just connected a genealogy of Jewish faith where ‘faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Now he urges us to continue in Christ by faith.

Lay aside every burden

Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
Psalm 55:22 CSB

Many know well the comfort of our Lord’s invitation to give to Him the great weights of our lives which hold us down.

At that time Jesus said,
“All things have been entrusted to me by my Father.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
excerpt from Matthew 11:25-28

The author of Hebrews has just shown us many witnesses who have gone before us in this long journey of faith. He has provided the evidence.

Hebrews 12:

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us.

Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1b-2a CSB

Clear imagery of our remaining days, as well as the persecuted lives of the early Christians to whom the author of Hebrews wrote his letter. We are not in the race alone, but have run it with Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, the many Prophets of God and all the others.

We have received a baton of hope from our forefathers, which we may place gently into the hand of our children by faith. Jesus, the Messiah is our hope of winning the prize joyfully awarded by our Heavenly Father.

Fix your eyes upon Jesus

It bears repeating: Jesus IS our pacesetter. He has run this same race of mortality before us.

Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

ἀφοράω – aphoraō
- to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something
He exhorts us to turn away from things that are not part of the race of eternity and fix our eyes on the finisher of our faith.

The once-familiar hymn based on this passage expresses the authors same desire.
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O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
 
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.
2
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu’rors we are!
3
His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell! 
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Do not lose heart

These three verses appear as an introduction to Hebrews 12, but they comprise the heart of the author’s conclusion continuing in chapter 13.

3 For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.

Fix your eyes upon Jesus. Our race is not ended, but Christ our Redeemer assures our victory!

Striving against Sin

Have your forgotten the exhortation, the admonition and encouragement of scripture?

Proverbs 3:11 Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,
and do not loathe his discipline;
12 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

Are you an obedient son or daughter of God our Father? The author of Hebrews continues with the example of earthly fathers. They discipline their child because the love them. It’s just for a few days, but God’s discipline to our holiness ‘yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.’

Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees…
Hebrews 12:12 CSB

Walk the straight and narrow so that your woundedness may be healed.

ἁγιασμός – Sanctification

We are all broken though perhaps we have not yet shed blood for the sake of God. Our lives, disjointed by the sin that surrounds, wander the paths of unrighteousness.

What is needed? How will a sinner like me ever get to the holiness required of heaven?

The writer of Hebrews will continue to chastise us as a loving father when we continue in chapter 12.

To be continued…
February 19, 2019

Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

Don’t miss our recent FEATURED SERIES

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Hebrews 13 -Remain in Philadelphia

Philadelphia?

A lesson in love

philia love

agape love

In Christ spiritual brothers become family

Hebrews 13:

Our Altar in the Enduring City

Go to Christ outside the camp

in conclusion

Hebrews 12- Reject Not God’s Grace

Hebrews 12:

a Few Cautions

Come to the Mountain

Sinai or Zion: Fear or Joy

Mount Zion, above all the high places

Do Not Refuse the Voice of Jesus

Hebrews 12-Grow Not Weary and Lose Heart

Endurance for the race

Lay aside every burden

Hebrews 12:

Fix your eyes upon Jesus

ἀφοράω – aphoraō

Do not lose heart

Striving against Sin

ἁγιασμός – Sanctification