Westside Bible Studies

The Hebrews author began the "hall of faith." Yet to what end? Why does the Hebrews author speak of faith, the creation, and Abel? The New and Living Way | Episode 30 | Hebrews 11:1-4 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. For therein the elders had witness borne to them. By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what...

The Hebrews author exhorted his audience to persevere and endure in living by faith. We should take heed. Why are Christians tempted to fall away after having endured for a time? The New and Living Way | Episode 29 | Hebrews 10:32-39 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; partly, being made a gazingstock both by repr...

With the ultimate exhortation comes the ultimate warning. Why is it so important to deeply investigate the Hebrews author's Old Testament references so as to understand what he means to say? The New and Living Way | Episode 28 | Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expecta...

Draw near to God; hold fast the confession of our hope; consider one another to provoke to love and good works. Everything the Hebrews author spoke has led to this; everything he will continue to say refers back to it. The New and Living Way | Episode 27 | Hebrews 10:22-25 Let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our bo...

Hebrews 10:19-25 represents the core exhortation of the whole sermon-letter, the climax of all that has come before, and the basis of all that follows. We consider the ground upon which the exhortation is based. The New and Living Way | Episode 26 | Hebrews 10:19-21 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new...

Jesus' sacrifice perfects those who are sanctified in Him. Why is it so important for believers to require no further offering for sin? The New and Living Way | Episode 25 | Hebrews 10:5-18 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure: Then s...

The Law and the priesthood were a shadow of the reality. They were not the fullness of God's purposes, but they weren't useless, either. They pointed the way; the Hebrews author did not want any to be so enraptured with the shadow so as to turn away from its reality and fulfillment. How do we find relief and strength in Jesus' sacrifice for sin? Why would we eagerly await Jesus' return? The New an...

Covenant or testament? Both are inaugurated in death, and sanctified in blood. How does the sketch reflect the real, even if in a glimpse? What does this tell us about how God has created the world? The New and Living Way | Episode 23 | Hebrews 9:15-23 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under t...

The Hebrews author is saturated in the Israelite world and way of looking at things. We take a moment to focus on the particulars in Hebrews to address the means by which he communicates regarding the atonement. What comes to mind when you hear the term "atonement"? In what ways do the Scriptures connect Jesus' humiliating, degrading death with the reconciliation of God and man? The New and Living...

The Hebrews author speaks at some length about the tabernacle to show how Jesus entered the more perfect tabernacle to atone for sin. Jesus would provide full forgiveness for those who sinned under the old covenant; Israel would only find full salvation, therefore, in Christ. The New and Living Way | Episode 21 | Hebrews 9:1-15 Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its...

What the Hebrews author is suggesting regarding the new covenant in Christ is not all that new. Jeremiah anticipated a new covenant, rendering the covenant old. The New and Living Way | Episode 20 | Hebrews 8:7-13 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he saith, "Behold, the days come," saith the Lord, "that I...

The Hebrews author summed up his argument: Jesus is a great high priest. He serves in heaven, the reality of which the earthly tabernacle was a sketch. Jesus mediates a better covenant founded on better promises. The New and Living Way | Episode 18 | Hebrews 8:1-6 Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne...

Jesus is the high priest of the oath God swore. If we do not draw encouragement and strength from the ability to draw near to God through Jesus' continual mediation, we ought to repent of how much we have taken for granted what God has done in Christ. The New and Living Way | Episode 18 | Hebrews 7:18-28 For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitabl...

The Hebrews author had explained who Melchizedek was. Now he explains the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood, the change of law that comes from a change of priesthood, and the eternal priesthood of Jesus according to the type of priesthood of Melchizedek. The New and Living Way | Episode 17 | Hebrews 7:11-19 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the...

The Hebrews author finally speaks about Melchizedek. He proved to be an incisive and careful reader of the Genesis text. We do well to heed his argument while being careful to not push it beyond what it can sustain. The New and Living Way | Episode 16 | Hebrews 7:1-10 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed...

God swore by Himself to bless Abraham, and He was faithful to His promise. God swore to make David's Lord a priest after the order of Melchizedek. God's faithfulness to that promise ought to provide great encouragement and hope for the Christian. The New and Living Way | Episode 15 | Hebrews 6:13-20 For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself, sa...

The Hebrews author moved to assure his audience of his confidence in their salvation and awareness of their faith and works. He was not nearly as concerned about their heritage and present as he was with their continued endurance in the faith in Christ Jesus. The New and Living Way | Episode 14 | Hebrews 6:9-12 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvatio...

The Hebrews author was deeply concerned about the growth and standing of those to whom he wrote. If they were to quit now there would be no hope for them. He provided a sober warning Christians do well to consider deeply. The New and Living Way | Episode 13 | Hebrews 6:1-8 Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundati...

The Hebrews author made a full stop and chastised his audience a bit. He certainly would get their attention! The New and Living Way | Episode 12 | Hebrews 5:11-14 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principl...

As fully God, fully man, Jesus represented the ideal High Priest for mankind. Thus the Hebrews author sets forth the thesis statement for his argument, rooted in Psalm 110. The New and Living Way | Episode 11 | Hebrews 5:5-10 So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him, "Thou art my Son / this day have I begotten thee": as he saith also in another plac...

Jesus is fully God; Jesus is fully man. He has great power and can sympathize with us. The Hebrews author would have Christians hold firm to their faith and trust in Him. The New and Living Way | Episode 10 | Hebrews 4:14-5:4 Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest that cannot be touc...

The Hebrews author had demonstrated the importance of remaining faithful to the end from Psalm 95. Now he turned to the other emphasis in the psalm: entering God's rest. The New and Living Way | Episode 9 | Hebrews 4:1-13 Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good tidings preach...

The Hebrews audience was growing weary. And yet they were so close. The Hebrews author knew just the reference to explore: Psalm 95. The New and Living Way | Episode 8 | Hebrews 3:7-19 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, "To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tried me by proving...

God has built His house; Jesus is a faithful Son in God's house, and Moses had been a faithful servant in it. The Hebrews author exhorted his audience to remain part of that house, holding firm their boldness and confidence to the end. The New and Living Way | Episode 7 | Hebrews 3:1-6 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession...

The Hebrews author affirmed the great power and majesty of the Son of God. Then he declared how fitting it was for the Son of God to take on flesh and fully experience the life of flesh and blood to become the perfect High Priest. Jesus, fully God, fully man. The New and Living Way | Episode 6 | Hebrews 2:10-18 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringin...