Bible Study

Hebrews

In this series of CIC radio programs Dick Kuffel and Pastor Bob DeWaay discuss the book of Hebrews verse by verse. The message of Hebrews is critical for Christians today to understand. For the Hebrews Sunday School Classes click here.

Hebrews 1:1,2 God Has Spoken
We begin a new series where we will teach verse by verse through the book of Hebrews. This show is about the fact that had God not spoken, we would all be pagan. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 1:2-4 The Glorious Person and Work of Christ
We discuss the rich, meaningful, and beautiful terminology used by the author of Hebrews to describe the glories of Christ. Our listeners will gain a greater understanding of Christology, the study of the person and work of Christ. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 1:5-14 The Exalted Son is Greater than the Angels
At His ascension, Jesus was enthroned and the angels were instructed to worship Him, showing His deity. Jesus is also shown to be ruling, pre-eminent, the uniquely anointed Messiah, eternal, and imperishable. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 2:1-4 A Warning to Pay Attention to What God Said
This first warning passage in Hebrews is a call to listen to God that uses nautical terminology to not drift off course. The author of Hebrews uses a lesser to greater argument to prove that if those under the Old Covenant were punished... mp3 Audio

Hebrews 2:5-9 Jesus' Incarnation, Exaltation, and Final Triumph
The author of Hebrews uses Psalm 8's description of man analogically to show how in Jesus' solidarity with man He perfectly fulfills the role that man only partially fulfills. Furthermore, Jesus in His exaltation is "crowned with glory and honor"... mp3 Audio

Hebrews 2:10-13 Jesus' Suffering and Solidarity With His Sons
The author of Hebrews tells us that it is fitting for God to perfect the Author of our salvation through suffering and thereby sanctify for Himself many sons. We explain various theological implications of this. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 2:14-18 Delivered From Satan, God's Wrath and Temptation
This section of Hebrews tells us some important reasons for the Incarnation of Christ. He took on flesh and blood to deliver us from Satan, God's wrath and temptation. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 3:1-6 Delivered From Satan, God's Wrath and Temptation
In this section of Hebrews, it is shown that though Moses was a great, faithful servant over God's house, Jesus is greater because He is the faithful Son over His house. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 3:7-13 Delivered From Satan, God's Wrath and Temptation
In this section of Hebrews, the author uses Psalm 95:7b-11 which is commentary on the events of Numbers 14 where the Israelites rebelled against God to warn us against similar apostasy. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 3:14-19 The Tension Between Peril and Promise
The Hebrew Christians are reminded of the "provocation" that happened at Kadesh when the Israelites refused to believe the promise of God and fell in the wilderness. Christians face the same peril of unbelief. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 4:1-7 The Danger of Failing to Enter God's Rest
The author of Hebrews links God's rest in Gen. 2:2 to the failure of the Israelites to enter God's rest mentioned in Psalm 95:11 to give us a solemn warning. The promised rest for the people of God can only be found through faith and resultant obedience. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 4:7-13 The Danger of Failing to Enter God's Rest
True Sabbath keepers are those who believe the gospel and find rest in Christ. We are warned not to fall short of the promise because the Word of God penetrates our hearts, causing us to be laid bare before the eyes of God. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 4:14-16 Access to the Throne of Grace
Jesus, our High Priest can sympathize with our weakness, so we are encouraged to go to Him. We discuss the idea of "draw near" and its many, important implications. We can only draw near through the terms of the New Covenant. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 4:16-5:2 The Incredible Privilege of Prayer
We explore many implications of the fact that we have access to the throne of grace where we can go with confidence and not shame. There, we find mercy, grace, and "timely help." mp3 Audio

Hebrews 5:3-7 Christ as the Eternal High Priest
We discuss the key distinction between unintentional and defiant sin that is spelled out in Numbers 15 and show how this distinction is necessary to understand Hebrews. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 5:8-11 The Doctrine of Christ
This section states that the Son "learned obedience" and was "made perfect." This raises the issue about how Christ, who is not only man, but God, could be perfected when He shared the essential attributes of deity with the Father from all eternity. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 5:11-6:3 A Warning Against Dullness
This section of Hebrews addresses Christians who have the tools to learn Christian doctrine but lack the desire and motivation. They have morally culpable "dullness" that results in a lack of discernment. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 6:4-8 A Severe Warning Against Apostasy
Those previously warned about spiritual dullness are now warned that it could lead to apostasy. This state would be so horrific that there would be no way out of it. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 6:4-8 A Severe Warning Against Apostasy Part 2
Will a true Christian will ever commit apostasy? We outline three positions 1) true Christians can lose their faith 2) apostates are people like Judas who were never really truly saved 3) that the warning against apostasy is God's means of keeping all... mp3 Audio

Hebrews 6:9-18 Encouragement, Assurance and Hope
Having warned his readers against apostasy, the author of Hebrews now encourages them. They have evidence that God has done a work of grace so there is reason for assurance of salvation. Abraham serves as an example to encourage us in Christian hope. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 6:19-7:4 Christian Hope as the Anchor of the Soul
Christian hope has objective content: the promises of God in Christ. We also discuss the person of Melchizedek from Genesis 14 and the importance of understanding corporate solidarity. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 7:5-14 The Melchizedek Priesthood
The author of Hebrews uses the narrative about Melchizedek from Genesis 14 to prove the superiority of the Melchizedek priesthood over that of Levi. The point of this argument is to prove that Jesus Christ has a unique and superior role... mp3 Audio

Hebrews 7:15-27 Drawing Near to God Through Our Great High Priest
We discus the implications of the priestly ministry of Christ through whom we draw near to God. We show that a correct application of Hebrews rules out mysticism. Those Jesus saves, He also intercedes for. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 7:28-8:6 A Better High Priest
We explore the once for all sacrifice that Christ made whereby He became the High Priest in heaven. He ministers in a better sanctuary, with a better ministry over a better covenant with better promises. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 8:7-13 The New Covenant
Everyone under the New Covenant knows the Lord, or else they are not part of it. We also discuss pageantry and mysticism that are created in some churches to give a sense of spirituality to the unconverted. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 9:1-10 Old Covenant Sacrifices Cannot Cleanse the Conscience
This section of Hebrews describes the tabernacle and some of its furnishings to show that it was only provisional. It provided a continual reminder that though God was in their midst, He was holy and they were separated from Him by the veil. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 9:11-14 The Cleansed Conscience
How Christ's once for all shed blood is superior to that of OT sacrificial animals and provides both propitiation and expiation. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from the inside out, so that we are fit to come before God in holy worship. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 9:15-22 Without the Shedding of Blood There is no Forgiveness
We discuss Jesus as the mediator of the New Covenant and how God has chosen to speak through mediators. This section also teaches why Christ's death was necessary and the utter importance of the shedding of blood. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 9:23-28 It is Appointed to Men Once to Die
In solidarity with the human race, Jesus Christ died once. But His once for all death provides decisive cleansing that reaches to heaven itself. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 10:1-7 The Blood of Bulls and Goats Cannot Take Away Sins
This section discusses the inadequacy of Old Covenant sacrifices. Unlike Christ's offering, they were not done "once for all" and they left the worshippers with consciousness of sins. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 10:8-14 "Once for All"
The sacrifice that Christ made once for all is the one God desired and it permanently consecrates believers for service to God and holy worship. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 10:15-21 Released From Sin
New covenant believers have continual, unhindered access to the presence of God through Christ's finished work. Therefore unbiblical practices designed to make people feel close to God are seriously in error. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 10:22-25 Exhortations for Christians to Take Action
This section of Hebrews contains three exhortations: draw near, hold fast, and assemble together for mutual edification. Our gatherings are to emphasize the means of grace in light of the end of the age. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 10:26-31 A Horrifying Possibility
This is yet another warning against apostasy in Hebrews. Apostates have trampled Christ under foot, regarded His blood as defiled, and insulted the Holy Spirit. Therefore they face certain judgment. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 10:32-39 Christian virtues: Boldness, Endurance, and Faith
The author of Hebrews calls the congregation to remember the days when they were willing to suffer for Christ. He does this to comfort them and exhort them to press forward and not shrink back. He calls all Christians to endure in faithfulness to God. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:1,2: Faith as the Evidence of Things Not Seen
Christian faith is not some metaphysical entity, but belief in God and His promises. We discuss these verses in light of some currently popular heresies and point our listeners to the meaning of the Holy Spirit inspired author of Hebrews. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:3-6: Faith That Believes God and Comes to Him on His Terms
This section covers God's creation not only of the world, but the "ages." The story of Cain and Abel shows us that we must come to God on His terms, not our own. We then discuss what it means to believe that God exists and that God rewards believers. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:7,8: Noah and Abraham Exemplify Faith
Noah believed God when instructed about the coming flood, though he had never seen such a thing. We also must believe God about coming judgment even though the world mocks that idea. Abraham left the safety of family and home to obey God because he believed God's promise. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:9-12: Abraham Believes God’s Promises
Abraham exemplifies the type of faith that God wants us to have: faith in God and His promises. We discuss how important preaching God’s word is to the church so that His flock is constantly reminded about God and His promises so they have an object for their faith. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:13-16: Heaven as the Fatherland of the Heroes of Faith
Heaven is the destination for the people of faith. We discuss how important heavenly citizenship is for believers and that heaven is often wrongly de-emphasized in many churches. The faith of the patriarchs pointed to heaven and so should ours. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:17-23: The Faith of the Patriarchs
This section speaks of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses' parents. We discuss how they expressed faith and how we can learn from their example. We also discuss God's providence in the birth and preservation of Moses. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:24-27: By Faith Moses Chooses God's People
Moses made a dramatic choice when he gave the treasures of Egypt to identify with the Hebrew people of his ancestry. Christians must choose to associate with the gospel and God's people rather than enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:28-31: Faith that Responds in Obedience
The most important question concerning Christian practices is: What has God ordained? The Israelites kept the Passover and were saved because God ordained the Passover for them. We also discuss Rahab who believed in the God of Israel and was saved. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 11:32-40: Heroes of Faith
The author of Hebrews gives a list of names of people who did mighty things through faith. He intends this list to inspire and motive as we remember the events in the OT. We also learn that even when the outcome appears unfavorable: torture or martyrdom, their faith was still demonstrated. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 12:1-3: Running With Endurance
The author of Hebrews uses the analogy of a long distance footrace in a stadium to describe the Christian life. We need to lay aside all distractions, run with endurance, with our eyes on the goal, and do not lose heart. mp3 Audio

Hebrews Hebrews 12:3-8: Our Need for Discipline
We need to understand that the Christian life is filled with difficulties and trials. To see those as the discipline of the Lord will help us not get weary and quit. That God disciplines us is evidence that we are His adopted sons and daughters. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 12:9-13: The Fruits of Discipline
God's discipline is always for our spiritual good. It is very important that we stay in the race and not drop out. God wants us to help our brothers and sisters in Christ to stay in the race and not get discouraged. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 12:14-16: The Danger of Defilement
We are instructed to pursue peace and sanctification because of the danger of the community being defiled by the presence of apostates. Esau is used as an example of such a person. We apply this to apostasy in the church today. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 12:17-21: Sinai Was Tangible But God Was Unapproachable There
We are instructed to pursue peace and sanctification because of the danger of the community being defiled by the presence of apostates. Esau is used as an example of such a person. We apply this to apostasy in the church today. mp3 Audio

Hebrews 12:22-29: We Have Come to the Heavenly Mount Zion
Though the theophany at Sinai was awesome and tangible, those who come to Christ under the New Covenant have something much better. We have access by faith to glorious heavenly realities that we will one day experience first hand. mp3 Audio

Special Messages

Pastor Bob's Testimony About Becoming a Christian
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What is Twin City Fellowship? What is Critical Issues Commentary?
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