Understanding God’s Word Ministry

Drifting Away from God’s Redemption to Religion - Study in Hebrews

 
CHAPTER 2(A.D. 64)
COVENANT
THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard (actually refers to the New Testament Message of the Cross), lest at any time we should let them slip. (In the Greek Text, it carries the idea of a ring slipping from a finger. Regrettably, the Church presently has let the Message of the Cross slip and, as a result, the Church hardly knows where it’s been, where it is, or where it’s going.)2 For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast (actually refers to the Law of Moses, which had many Angels in attendance), and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward (sin is either addressed at the Cross, or else it is addressed in Judgment; so, each person has a choice);3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great Salvation (if we neglect the Cross, we have destroyed ourselves); which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord (announced by Christ when He said, “repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” [Mat. 4:17]), and was confirmed unto us by them who heard Him (confirmed by healings and miracles which were witnessed by the original Twelve, plus untold numbers of others);4 God also bearing them witness (presents the highest evidence of all, actually that which is absolutely indisputable), both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles (which began with Christ, and continued on through His Apostles), and Gifts of the Holy Spirit (has to do with those listed in 1 Cor. 12:8–10), according to His Own Will? (These things were the Will of God then, and are the Will of God now!)
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 2120). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Study in Hebrews - Christ Superiority Over the Prophets, Moses and the Angels

Study of the Book of Hebrews 1

HEBREWS
CHAPTER 1(A.D. 64)
JESUS CHRIST
GOD, Who at sundry times and in divers manners (refers to the many and varied ways) spoke in time past unto the fathers by the Prophets (refers to Old Testament Times),2 Has in these last days (the dispensation of Grace, which is the Church Age) spoken unto us by His Son (speaks of the Incarnation), Whom He has appointed Heir of all things (through the means of the Cross), by Whom also He made the worlds (proclaims His Deity, as the previous phrase of Him being the “Heir of all things” proclaims His Humanity);3 Who being the brightness of His Glory (the radiance of God’s Glory), and the express Image of His Person (the exact reproduction), and upholding all things by the Word of His Power (carries the meaning of Jesus not only sustaining the weight of the universe, but also maintaining its coherence and carrying on its development), when He had by Himself purged our sins (which He did at the Cross, dealing with sin regarding its cause, its power, and its guilt), sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on high (speaks of the Finished Work of Christ, and that the Sacrifice was accepted by the Father);
ANGELS
4 Being made so much better than the Angels (He was better than the Angels, which refers to the Incarnation, the price paid at Calvary [the reason for the Incarnation], and then His Exaltation as Saviour; as God, Jesus has always been greater than the Angels, but this is speaking of Him here as man), as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. (This refers to what Christ did at the Cross, with the present result being that the inheritance is in His permanent possession.)5 For unto which of the Angels said He (God the Father) at any time, You are My Son (Son of God), this day have I begotten You? (This speaks of the Incarnation. God never said such of Angels, only of His Son [Ps. 2:7].) And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? (When uttered, referred to the future tense, but now is past tense. All had to do with Redemption, and all for you and me.)6 And again, when He (God the Father) brought in the Firstbegotten into the world (refers to Jesus being born of the Virgin Mary), He said, And let all the Angels of God worship Him. (The idea is only Deity can be worshiped. Jesus is God!)7 And of the Angels He said, Who makes His Angels spirits (the emphasis upon the variableness of the Angelic nature), and His Ministers a flame of fire. (This does not speak of Preachers, as some have suggested, but continues to address itself to Angels.)8 But unto the Son He said, Your Throne, O God, is for ever and ever (Thrones typify dominion, which in this case can only be occupied by Deity): a sceptre of Righteousness is the sceptre of Your Kingdom (totally unlike any other Kingdom that has ever existed, and was made possible by the Cross).9 You have loved Righteousness, and hated iniquity (proclaims the True Man, Christ Jesus); therefore God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows (refers to the Holy Spirit).10 And, You, Lord, in the beginning have laid the foundation of the earth (proclaims Jesus the Messiah as the Creator as well!); and the Heavens are the Works of Your Hands (presents the fact that only Deity could do such a thing):11 They shall perish (means to wax old as a garment); but You remain (Christ is exalted because of the Cross, and will remain thus forever); and they all shall wax old as does a garment (proclaims the fact that there is going to have to be a change regarding the Creation);12 And as a vesture shall You fold them up, and they shall be changed (changed from one condition to another): but You are the same, and Your years shall not fail (refers to the superiority of the Creator over the Creation).13 But to which of the Angels said He (God the Father) at any time, Sit on My Right Hand (Angels stand before God; it is a mark of superior dignity that the Son sits), until I make Your enemies Your footstool? (This refers to God rendering all Christ’s enemies utterly powerless, which is carried out by the Cross.)14 Are they not all Ministering spirits (the function of Angels), sent forth to Minister for them Who shall be heirs of Salvation? (This proclaims that they attend only those who have made Christ their Saviour.)
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (pp. 2119–2120). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Overcoming Resistance - Bearing the Image of Christ

1 John 5
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world (if we follow God’s Prescribed Order, we will overcome the world): and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our Faith. (John is speaking here of Faith in Christ and the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within our lives [Rom. 8:1–2, 11].)5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (It is not he who “does,” but who “believes.”)
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (pp. 2174–2175). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

The Struggle to Overcome Bondages

 
CHAPTER 5(1491 B.C.)
PHARAOH
AND afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told the Pharaoh (according to many authorities, the Pharaoh at that time was “Menephthap,” the son and successor of “Rameses II”; history records that he was a weak individual, but, because of certain events, had an exalted opinion of himself; the close of Chapter 4 presents the people worshipping in believing joy; the close of Chapter 5 sets before the reader the same people filled with unbelieving bitterness; the glad tidings of Salvation is one thing; the struggle against the power that tries to keep the soul in bondage is quite another), Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let My People go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness. (If it is to be noticed, the Holy Spirit, in giving Moses direction regarding the Sacred Text, in no way recognizes the splendor of Egypt. The character of the Message that Moses was to deliver to Pharaoh was not calculated to compromise or pacify.)2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey His Voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. (Satan will not easily allow his captives to go free; and God permits the bitter experience of Satan’s power in order to exercise and strengthen Faith. Mackintosh says: “When we contemplate Israel amid the brick kilns of Egypt, we behold a graphic figure of the condition of every child of Adam’s fallen race by nature. There they were, crushed beneath the enemy’s galling yoke, and having no power to deliver themselves. The mere mention of the word ‘liberty’ only caused the oppressor to bind his captives with a stronger fetter, and to lade them with a still more grievous burden. Consequently, it was absolutely necessary that deliverance should come from without.” Nevertheless, Pharaoh will soon find out exactly “Who is the Lord!”)3 And they (Moses and Aaron) said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us: let us go, we pray you, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. (This simple statement tells us, even as given to Moses by the Lord, that it is the Cross only which holds back the Judgment of God. In other words, the only thing standing between man and Hell is the Cross of Christ.)
HARDENED HEART
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. (They will now find that the burdens are increased. As the Children of Israel, it seems that many do not too very much mind being slaves to Satan, until the burdens become so heavy that they cannot be borne. Invariably, that will happen!)5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many (the Israelites), and you make them rest from their burdens.6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,7 You shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. (Oftentimes, the setting to carry out the Will of God will result in Satan’s anger, with opposition being increased.)8 And the tale (number) of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, you shall lay upon them; you shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. (At the mention of Sacrifice, Pharaoh increased the pressure and the workload, almost to a killing pace. When the Believer first begins to hear the Message of the Cross, he will find the opposition of Satan greatly increasing. This will be confusing at first, but the Believer should take heart. The enemy does this because he knows the Believer has now found the source of victory; therefore, he seeks to move the Believer’s faith from the Cross to other things, by discouragement, etc.)9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard vain words. (Pharaoh regarded the offering of “Sacrifices” as “vain words.” Regrettably, much of the modern Church does the same, as it regards the Cross.)10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 110). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

A Change by Truth Requires One to Seek Deliverance and Not Relief

You Must Rest in Order to Possess

Hebrews 3
“Rest” = ?• Cessation of movement or action.• Cessation of labor; a state of freedom from exertion. • Freedom from anxiety; freedom from mental or emotional anxiety. • Repose of sleep; refreshing to body marked by a reduction in metabolic activity.• Repose of death (death perceived as freedom from earthly toil).The “Rest” Being OfferedIt is possible that the faith of these Jewish believers will be tried because of the persecution they are experiencing at the time this epistle is written to them. Because of their present situation, they, too, might fall short of attaining all God wants them to attain in this life. The promise of rest is still available because it was never totally fulfilled. The promise of rest in the Old Testament was unfulfilled, but it was not withdrawn; it is available to those who want it now. The entire purpose of this letter to the Hebrews is to get the Jewish believers to enter the fullness of “rest.” The writer uses two different words for rest in this chapter. The one he uses the most is kata,pausij katapausis, which is used eight times in Chapters 3 and 4 (Heb 3:11, 18; 4:1, 3—twice, 5, 10, 11). Outside of the Book of Hebrews, this word is used only once in the entire New Testament (Acts 14:18). The word means “a cessation of activity.” It means rest in the sense of ceasing.

Failure to Enter Into His Rest

Hebrews 3