With
much work to do in preparation for today’s class, it was the wrong time to fall
asleep last night before finishing my work, but that is what I did. Despite an
early start to the morning, I was running behind and barely got to the venue at
8:30am – our time to begin. I apologized to the class, telling them that I
always say if one is just on time, he is late! I like to be everywhere early so
that I can be fully prepared to start.
We began
with Hebrews 3:7 this morning, completing through Hebrews 4 by the lunch break.
We discussed the warnings given against falling short of our reward due to
neglect and faithlessness. We looked at the parallel way the Hebrew writer uses
the words “believe” and “obey” in the latter part of chapter 3. We also
examined at length the concept of the “rest” that remains for the true children
of God and how it compares with the rests experienced in Old Testament time.
Our
afternoon study began with chapter 5 and took us through Hebrews 6:12. We
considered the qualifications and nature of Jesus’ place as our High Priest.
Time was given to how Jesus was made “perfect” by the things He suffered. We
also started our examination of what is involved in Jesus being our “High
Priest after the order of Melchizedek” as well as what is said and implied
about the person of Melchizedek. We took time to study in detail the points of
Hebrews 6:4-6 in contrast to the Calvinistic doctrine of “Once Saved, Always
Saved” or the “Impossibility of Apostasy.” We ended by noting the confidence
shown by the writer in his exhortation to the readers wherein he “expected”
better things of them than was evident by their present actions.
After
completing our daily study of Hebrews, we had a period of me going over the
sermon outlines assigned for today. (They also have another sermon outline
assigned tonight which will be handed in tomorrow morning, the Lord willing.)
We also had a short time for a question/answer period in the last 10-15
minutes.
Attention
and perception were even better today than yesterday which is always exciting
to see! Please keep the work in your prayers that all may grow spiritually and
God be praised.
