HEBREWS ARE HEIRS

By James N. Jester

July 14, 2019

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4, 14; 2:1-4

The book of Hebrews was written during the last half of the first century. We do not know for sure who wrote this Epistle. The mention of Timothy (Heb. 13:23) has led some to think that Paul or one of his associates wrote it. Our friend, Bill Fink, an Internet C. I. teacher at Christogenea.com, believes Paul did write it.

The church of Alexandria appears to have been the first to consider that Hebrews was written by Paul or reflected his thought. Clement of Alexandria (c. A.D. 150-215) named Paul as the author and that he wrote it in Hebrew, but argued that Luke translated it into Greek. Origen (c. A.D. 185-253) concluded that the thoughts were of Paul but that the phraseology and composition were those of someone who was recalling the apostle’s teaching (e.g., Clement of Rome, Luke, or Priscilla). Most say it was written during the last half of the first century.

The Jamison, Fausset, Brown Commentary also believes Paul wrote it:

“The writer, though not inscribing his name, was well known to those addressed (Heb 13:19). For proofs of Paul being the author, see my Introduction. In the Pauline method, the statement of subject and the division are put before the discussion; and at the close, the practical follows the doctrinal portion. The ardor of Spirit in this Epistle, as in First John, bursting forth at once into the subject (without prefatory inscription of name and greeting), the more effectively strikes the hearers. The date must have been while the temple was yet standing, before its destruction, A.D. 70; some time before the martyrdom of Peter, who mentions this Epistle of Paul (2Pe 3:15, 3:16); at a time when many of the first hearers of the Lord were dead.” –JFB

As to who the Book of Hebrews was written to, there is plenty of confusion in judeo-Christianity.

DOES GOD WELCOME ALL? 

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

June 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: Genesis 19:24-25

Zoar was the smallest of the five cities that were on the same very fertile plain of the Jordan River. It was there where Lot begged the two angels that his family could go instead of into the mountains. As soon as they entered the city (minus his wife because she died when she disobeyed God’s command and looked back, and his two married daughters who remained in Sodom) the destruction quickly followed. The smoke from this fire and brimstone was so great that Abraham could see the smoke from where he was living which was in Hebron (Mamre).

Maybe Zoar had 10 or more righteous people living in the city? Maybe the 10 or more righteous individuals referred to each city separately not collectively? If it had, then it could have been spared by Abraham’s intercession given in Genesis 18:23-33. Anyway, Zoar continued for many centuries, not because of Abraham’s request only, but no-doubt also because it was not as ripe for judgment as the other cities. But Lot and his two remaining daughters did not stay in this small city very long. They very quickly left town and went to the mountains. All their cattle were destroyed—they were homeless and desolate.

ARE WE MODERN-DAY SODOM?

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

June16, 2019

Scripture Reading:  Genesis 19:1-3

Thus, begins the story of the destruction of Sodom along with the three other cities that were close by. All four towns were lying in one of the most fertile areas of the world. It has been compared to being close to the fertility of the Garden of Eden.

Two angels came to town while Lot was sitting in the entrance of the city. What did Lot do when he saw them? Did he:

1. Shake their hands?

2. Watch them go by?

3. Bow down to them with his face to the ground and offer them to stay all night in his home?

4. Offer them a place to stay in a local inn?

How did Lot recognize that they were angels? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but it says that when they turned down his proposal, which is listed above, he made another request for them to go and stay at his home where he would fix them a large, delicious meal. This offer was accepted by the two angels.

But shortly after their feast, before they laid down for the evening, they experienced some tribulation. All the men, (old, middle-aged, and young), of the city of Sodom, (that must have been a large crowd), came to Lot’s house and asked for the men (angels) to come out to them so that they may know them.

GALATIONS ON RACE

by James N. Jester

June 2, 2019

Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Introduction

After church last week, we went out for lunch, which we often do as a time of fellowship (or communion) with our racial brethren. One of the waitresses noticed the service dog with our group and so a discussion of dog breeds developed. I thought to myself, that people naturally will discuss breeding among animals; but if one were to discuss the subject within the human realm, it would usually be rejected as ‘not relevant’ or not the same. But of course, it is the same because it is about life and genetics and that is common to all living organisms. And so, we continue in this series to examine Paul’s statements that relate to race.

In our Scripture reading of Galatians, we saw that, “God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). Jesus, the Son of God, was born of a woman of our race, which makes Him an exclusive kinsman Redeemer. He did not redeem all races. Thayer defines ‘adoption’ as: “that relationship which God was pleased to establish between himself and the Israelites in preference to all other nations.”

Then our Scripture further says, “…and if a son, then an heir through God” (Gal. 4:7). What a wonderful thought, that we are literally sons and daughters; and therefore heirs through our God. This is a racial relationship.

by Alan Breitenstein

May 19, 2019

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 1: 10

Do you remember what it was like before you came to the knowledge of the truth?  Do you think you know everything now? Do you stubbornly cling to what you want to believe, or is your goal to actually follow the truth wherever it leads? Will you cling to something that cannot be sustained by facts?  Whatever is not of faith is sin.  Faith is not some ether that floats around.  Faith is based upon the facts of God’s Word.

PAUL, CHRISTIAN IDENTITY APOSTLE: Romans on Race

by James N. Jester

May 5, 2019

Scripture Reading: Romans 1:16

In our last lesson, we saw a brief sketch of history surrounding Paul; and quite a few quotes from prominent church fathers and historians proving that the Apostle Paul traveled into Europe, including the Britannic Isles. Picking up where we left off, I want to continue some of this history with a quote from Sheldon Emry’s book, Paul and Joseph of Arimathea.

Rome Declares War on Christianity

A quote from Chapter 10 of The Drama of the Lost Disciples shows how rapidly Christianity was accepted in northern Europe. On page 89: "The Holy Crusade had spread so rapidly from Avalon to beyond the seas that Rome was so disturbed it could no longer ignore the challenge to its own pagan policies and imperial security. In the year A.D. 42 Claudius, Emperor of the Romans, issued the fateful decree to destroy Christian Britain, man, woman, and child, and its great institutions and burn its libraries. To this purpose Claudius equipped the largest and most efficient army ever sent by Rome to conquer a foe and led by its most able generals."

THE CANAANITES

Copied from the sermon notes of Pastor Don Elmore

April 21, 2019

Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:18, 19

The Age that ended just before these verses was called the Antediluvian Age. This Age was from the time of the sin of Adam till the flood of Noah. It lasted 1656 years. Most Christians don’t really consider, even if they know how long Adam lived, that Adam lived over half of that time—930 years out of 1656 years. In fact, Adam has lived about 1/6 of all time—from his sin till the present.

The Antediluvian Age was about 30% of the time to the present. In other words, there has only been about 4300 years from Noah’s flood to the present time. What was the Age before ours like?

The Bible reveals very little about that Age. There was a Garden that was made by Almighty God, and that is where He placed both Adam and Eve. The Garden was on the eastern portion of Eden. And there was the land of Nod to the east of Eden. And there were lands and oceans to the north, south, west and east of Eden.