Description: When it comes to Hebrew history and identity, how could anyone be greater than Abraham?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how the author begins his argument for the superiority of Christ by showing us the superiority of Melchizedek over Abraham.
And in his argument lies the very representative principle of not only covenant headship but redemption as well.
We know so little about him, and yet, he and his legacy loom so large.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and attempts to shed some light on this most mysterious character in the Bible.
And the mystery, in part, is not what we DON’T know about him… but what we DO: For he was “made like the Son of God” and is without a father and mother.
Descriptions like these leave us, at best, scratching our heads — and, at worst, dangerously trying to connect the dots… leading us to false conclusions and confusion.
Description: The high priest of the Old Testament could only enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. And while representing others, he could bring no others with him, nor prepare the way for others to follow, nor could even stay himself… for on any other day, his entrance would mean his death.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that Christ’s High Priesthood is different. Not only has He entered the true Holy of Holies — the very throne room of heaven — He goes as a forerunner to prepare others to follow… all the while, guaranteeing their future entrance to where He is seated and reigns.
Christ, in this way, is an anchor to our souls — our great and secure hope, and our forerunner Who has set the course that we should follow.
Bailiff:Do You solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help You… YOU???
God:I DO
…It wasn’t quite like that.
But it was a promise, and it was sealed with an oath.
It’s something God gave Abraham… and it’s a fact that the author of Hebrews ties into his teaching.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that in order for us to understand what the author is teaching in the New Testament, we must first understand the reference to which he teaches from the Old Testament.
“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 our 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.
SBC Host: Some say yes, and they use Hebrews 6 to prove their point.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how it’s not hard to take this position.
After all, when you read the passage, it seems to describe someone who was a true Christian.
Avg Guy:Exactly! It says that they were “once enlightened,” had “tasted of the heavenly gift,” “were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,” “had tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.” So what gives?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that in order for believers to mature, they need to have a firm foundation on the elementary truths of the faith.
Like the sure foundation of a building, the foundations of Christian truth serve to support growth in holiness and the knowledge of God.
Description: If our physical bodies matched the maturity of our spiritual states, would church look more like a senior center or a day care?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and make the argument that while we can all appreciate those who are mature beyond their years, there is nothing more pathetic than one who grows older… but never grows up.
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: God’s word reflects God’s nature. And because He is living and active, His word must also be.
…It is purposeful.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows that not only does God’s word reveal God to us, but it reveals us… the innermost secrets of our hearts — exposed.
Ultimately, for each one of us, God’s word will either be a word of PROMISE or a word of JUDGEMENT.
* Unfortunately, our LIVE Stream started glitching and then dropped at the tail end of the sermon. To catch the rest of the sermon, tune into the audio podcast on the player above at the 43:14 mark (or jump right to it by clicking here).
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 podcasting is roughly defined as “time-shifted media,” and modern scholars believe that the book of Hebrews was actually a sermon instead of a text… then one could argue that the Bible’s “delivery” of the book of Hebrews is one of the earliest podcasts!! [spoof “Epistle Podcast”]
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, brother in Christ Josh Peglow answers the last minute call to stand behind the pulpit as Pastor Monty nurses a disabling case of lumbago and shares with us that the public reading of an entire text in this way was how it was done in the earliest days of the church.
Actually, all the New Testament epistles were meant to be read aloud to the congregation and then passed on to neighboring churches… a practice that promoted a unity of understanding in that together everyone could receive the message, The Word of God.
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.
Avg Guy:Well for starters… the whole author and release details are shrouded in mystery. And then the book doesn’t waste any time and gets right to the good parts, talking about how God speaks and all! And then we learn how Jesus is the Heir of All Things, the Agent of Creation, the Hight Priest, and that He is infinitely superior to the angels! I can’t wait to read what’s next!!!
SBC Host: A Warning.
Today on Scanida Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how at the head of the second chapter, we encounter a warning — and it’s one that we cannot ignore.
The warning, actually, is the peril that comes from ignoring: Ignoring the Gospel. Ignoring the salvation provided for by God. Ignoring the Revelation from God, the apostles of Christ, and the testimony of God the Father.
To ignore these things is to put yourself in eternal peril from which no man escapes.
* Due to conditions out of our known control, we experienced “unstable” internet service during today’s sermon. The Live Stream began experiencing problems at 1:02:03 — about 30% into the sermon. Gratefully, the audio podcast recorded the sermon without error. To pick up where the video drops out, advance to 16:03 on the podcast player (or jump right to it by clicking here).
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 Gospel of John Study (1997-1998) is now complete and in our SBC Classic Edition collection!
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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Sermon Notes
Scandia Bible Church 