“But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation….”
— Hebrews 6:9
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues are study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that amid the stern warning that the author of Hebrews has been giving to his readers, in our passage today, he points to a promise…a promise from God.
But what are the these “better things” that accompany salvation???
And how do they assure us of God’s good works and faithfulness in our lives — and ultimately provide us with, what the author describes as, “full assurance of hope until the end”?
* Unfortunately, our LIVE Stream had some internet instability in the beginning. As a result, the first 19 minutes of today’s service were not recorded. The sermon, however, is completely intact.
Avg Guy:Okay… I just read Hebrews chapter 5, versus 5-10, and I have questions.
SBC Host: Let’s hear them.
Avg Guy: All right…
If Jesus is God and knows all things then how can He learn obedience?
What does God require by which men can be saved and have fellowship with Him?
If Jesus is God and perfect, how can He be made perfect?
And… What qualifies Jesus to be our Savior, anyway?
SBC Host: These are daunting questions, to be sure.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that questions like these can leave our minds reeling if we have not acquired the theological framework to think through them.
How we answer these questions will say much about our understanding of Christ – the only Savior.
Description: What does it mean that Christ is our Great High Priest? And how is His priesthood different from the priesthood of, say, Aaron?
These and other questions must be answered in order for believers to have assurance of their acceptance before God.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that our assurance begins and ends in the person and work of Jesus Christ…
…And that His priesthood means that His completed work is being applied by our great Mediator and Savior resulting in our perseverance despite our weakness.
Description: We know that Jesus was tempted as we are tempted… and yet, He was without sin.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and points out that Jesus’s temptation, and corresponding sinlessness, is supposedly mentioned in the book to help us draw near to Him, for He sympathizes.
The problem is that Jesus’ sinlessness makes us think Him unapproachable.
Description: Their wandering the desert floor for forty years not only provides us with a great WARNING, but a great PROMISE: the promise of rest.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that even Joshua and Caleb — the two faithful spies of the Wilderness Generation who were able to enter Canaan — did not receive this “promised rest.”
For it would be the “Greater Joshua,” Jesus the Son of God, Who would be the Champion for His people and complete His work to enter into His rest; and we, if we are partakers of Him, of Christ — having received the Good News — enter, in faith, into this rest that only He alone deserves.
Description: If he was known for anything, the Pharaoh of the Exodus was known for his hardened heart that was calloused to hear the word of the Lord. This hardened heart cost him his kingdom and his son… and finally his life.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and tells the sad continuation of this story: even the entire Israelite generation — the Hebrews who witnessed Pharaoh’s demise — would not believe the word of the Lord either and hardened their hearts as well.
Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea, while they were buried in the wilderness… on the wrong side of Jordan.
The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: “Why didn’t we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? Why has God brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don’t we just head back to Egypt? And right now!”
Soon they were all saying it to one another: “Let’s pick a new leader; let’s head back to Egypt” (Num 14:1-4, MSG).
Why would the Israelites — in the middle of the Exodus, after having seen the Red Sea part and manna fall from heaven — want to return to Egypt?
Why would they prefer slavery in the hands of cruel task masters, once again?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and states that when it comes to the Israelites wanting to return to Egypt, a more dramatic example of foolishness would be hard to find.
But, incredibly, there is a greater example: those who turn back from Christ.
Description: There is perhaps no one in the mind of the Jew who has as much distinction as Moses:
He was miraculously saved as an infant, raised with royalty, sent to liberate his people, and spoke with God face to face — not to mention that he was the writer of the Torah, as well as the mediator of the Old Covenant.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and concedes that it’s a pretty long resume that put Moses in this position of honor.
But then in steps Christ who brings a better covenant …and in order to argue this position, the author of Hebrews demonstrates that Jesus is superior to even the great covenant mediator, himself, Moses.
SBC Host: [Bible Reading, Hebrews 2:10] “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings. For bot—”
Avg Guy:Wait!!! Hold up for a moment! You can’t just read that without prompting some questions: What does it mean that it was *fitting* for Christ to suffer? And what does it mean that Christ was being made *perfect*?? …Isn’t Christ *already* perfect? …And hasn’t He *always* been perfect?
SBC Host: Fair enough.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast —on the Sunday before Christmas — Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that, indeed, these and other questions arise from this Advent passage that we find in Hebrews chapter 2.
Description: God created man in His image. He created him with an intent and purpose. But, was God’s intent thwarted by sin?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that some do say God’s initial intent was thwarted by sin, and yet God doesn’t throw man on the scrap pile of bad ideas.
Rather, He sets about redeeming man and restoring mankind to His original intent… showing us that His plans are never thwarted.
Description: In the first section of the book of Hebrews the author labors a point:
Christ is infinitely superior to the angels.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that it’s a point which may make us wonder, because our thoughts of angels are not the same as the first readers of this book.
However, in a sense, their struggle is our struggle, not because we think too highly of angels… but, perhaps, too lowly of Christ.
Description: In the opening verses of Hebrews we read that Jesus Christ created the universe. …A surprising statement, even for most Christians! After all, didn’t God the Father create everything? And to make matters more confusing, we read that Christ also upholds everything.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues taking us through our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that this great truth of Christ creating and upholding everything — and, as we’ll learn, making purification for our sins —not only gives us a clear picture of both Christ’s deity and humanity, but continues the author’s argument of presenting Christ as the Final and Perfect Revelation from God.
The Alpha and the Omega. The First and the Last. The Beginning and the End.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and gives us more insight into our Special Agent with a capital “S”.
For not only is He the God-Man, Creator of the world, and the Word-Made-Flesh, but our Redeemer… our perfect Redeemer.
And the more we understand who He is, the more magnificent our redemption… in His eyes.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and points out this unique description of Christ that appears in the second verse of the book.
What does it mean that Christ is the “Heir of all things”?
Since He’s God, aren’t all things HIS anyways?
And what does His being heir mean for us who are named as joint heirs or co-heirs of Christ?
…penned the great Christian apologist and philosopher, Francis Schaeffer, concerning God.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our Hebrews study and shows us how in just the first paragraph, the book launches describing the fact that God speaks… and in different ways.
And then culminates in the final and glorious revelation of Jesus Christ — to whom all other revelation pointed and finds there: “Yes and Amen.”
Gameshow Host:And welcome everybody to Bible Questions! …Contestant, here’s your first question: Who wrote the book of Hebrews? …I need an answer.
Contestant: Um…We don’t know?
Gameshow Host:Correct! …Here’s your next question: Who were the first recipients?
Contestant: We don’t know.
Gameshow Host:You’re right!… Well, then when was the book written?
Contestant: We don’t know.
Gameshow Host:Where was the author when he sent it?
Contestant: We don’t know.
Gameshow Host:What city or region did he send it to?
Contestant: We don’t know.
Gameshow Host: Oh my look at the time! Well that will do it for the “We Don’t Know Show!”…
____________
Admittedly there are a lot of things we don’t know about the book of Hebrews.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao embarks on a new study in the book of Hebrews.
And while the background of the book may leave more questions than answers, the content does provide us an answer to the most important question arising from the Old Testament and from life itself.
SBC Host: [narrating audio bible] …Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in ear—
Avg Guy: [knocking on booth glass] Excuse me.
SBC Host: I’m kind in the middle of recording here.
Avg Guy: My apologies. But I’ve always wondered, why should we pray to God that “His WILL be done”? I mean isn’t His will always done? He is God after all.
SBC Host: Good point…. Hang tight for just a second.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao welcomes our congregation back in-person after 17 weeks of Corona Captivity in this pandemic of 2020 and continues his series on The Church — specifically the Lord’s Prayer, in which we learn exactly why we are told pray that our sovereign God’s will be done.
SBC Host: Sounds like this sermon was written just for you. Now if you’ll excuse ME.
Avg Guy: Okay… Bye.
SBC Host: [resumes narrating] …And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors….
Group: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. THY KINGDOM COME, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven…
SBC Host:When we pray the Lord’s Prayer… what do we mean when we say “Thy Kingdom Come”?
Avg Guy:I have no idea.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, as our church family virtually gathers once again during the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020, Pastor Monty Simao continues our series on The Church.
Many have memorized the Lord’s Prayer and so repeat the words while having no idea what they mean.
With the second petition of “Thy Kingdom Come,” we see the present reality of being found in Christ grounded with the ultimate and final eschatological hope we have as believers.
Description: Have you ever had a dream in which you were being pursued? Have you ever awoke in a cold sweat because you were almost caught?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Revelation in which he teaches that the feeling of being pursued is one the ancient Israelites knew well, as God brought about a great deliverance in the Exodus.
But as great a picture as the Exodus is in showing us God’s deliverance, the Bible speaks of an even greater “Exodus” with a freedom that comes from One who is greater than Moses.
Description: Fire and brimstone preaching… a style that has certainly has fallen out of contemporary fashion. And yet, the Bible is chock-full of explicit and implicit warning against the coming wrath of God.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Revelation and points out that whether the message is read from the Bible, or preached from the pulpit, countless people hear it and delay bowing the knee before God in repentance.
The day is coming, however, when it will be too late to repent… and both the believer and the non-believer will be harvested: one to eternal reward — the other, eternal damnation.
Sermon Archives
Given New Life
in SBC Classic Edition
We’re in the process of digging through the colossal SBC Sermon Archive Library to bring forth the rich and timeless Biblical Truths found within the hundreds and hundreds of sermon cassettes from yesteryear, in our Tape to Podcast Project.
Currently on the workbench:
The Jim Allen Lamentations Study (1998-1999) is joining our SBC Classic Edition. Check our progress by Clicking Here.
The Jim Allen MARK Study (1999-2001) continues to upload as part of our SBC Classic Edition. Check our progress by Clicking Here.
Watch our Steeple Study grow! … Great for a listen-study through a book or series.
Our Find-A-Sermon resource page helps you find what you’re looking for.
With the increased release of sermons from our archives, SBC Classic Edition is now podcasting on its own dedicated feed, separate from our current Sunday sermons.
Sermon Notes
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