Hebrews 1:

Hebrews 1, Hebrews chapter one, Rubel Shelly and John York at Woodmont Hills say SCRIPTURE is PREACHER'S TOOLS to point out to you where supernatural activity is taking place.

WE HAVE EXPANDED THIS REVIEW TO PROVIDE A BACKGROUND. WE TRULY SEE SHELLY AND YORK NOT PREACHING ABOUT JESUS AT ALL BUT ABOUT THEMSELVES.

Click Here to go directly to the Sermon review minus some personal remarks. Otherwise this first introduction provides some background to make the reader aware of the FOUNDATION upon which the book of Hebrews is narrated for the post-modern mind.

THE GOAL SEEMS TO BE, AS WITH MANY OF SHELLY'S SERMONS, TO POSITION HIMSELF AS "chosen and equiped as an evangelist by the sovereign grace of God." And in discussing the Elders he notes that the MINISTERS are best trained and equipped to be THE LEADERS of the church.

Therefore, you can read the sermon about York and Shelly by looking at the red text (we have cut most of the personal stuff). Then look at as much of the quoted Scriptural refutation as you can handle.

These are quick notes from the cheap seats to help you understand heresy. I will proof read as time permits.

Shelly York identify Jesus Christ as A son of God. Therefore, as you hear the new version of the book of Hebrews you must understand that it has no historical Christian or Church of Christ underpinnings.

As sons of God we are not GOD INCARNATE.

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Hebrews 1:2

Greek, "IN (His) Son." A "son" of a Holy (wholly) Spirit Being is God's working agency or manifestation in the physical world. Messiah is also called the ARM of God as the working of FULL DEITY in the world:

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?

the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but
the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:10

The FATHER is the source of the THOUGHT. The Spirit or Breath is articulated by the LIPS or "double-edged sword" and the audible expression is the WORD. So say all older authorities who would consider it blasphemy to call God a "person" or a "people."

There are no early scholars who would agree with Shelly/York that the Godhead is a "family" or "tribe" of independent "persons." Rather, their word is "personae."

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The Shelly-York Resource Minimizes Jesus' Way to Salvation:

If you want to read this stuff on the internet by Ray Steadman Just click and save your TITHES.

If you want to know where the BAPTIST or PAGAN or ZWINGLISM on baptism is taught, just ask this same Ray Stedman:

"Then, the second thing, be baptized. Now, baptism does not add anything to your repentance. It does not make you better. It does not do anything magic for you so that you are suddenly forgiven of your sins. (I will take up that problem in a minute.) But baptism is the outward declaration, by symbol, of the change of mind that you have experienced within. Baptism is an open identification with Jesus Christ. To be baptized means that you are telling everybody, "I belong to him. I follow him. I am one of his." It is a cutting off from the old way of thinking, and a beginning of a new life.

If you want to understand why DOCTRINE is spewed out of preacher's mouth we invite you to understand the prevailing ZWINGLISM which is intimately connected to Calvinism Just click.

And why the new DOCTRINE of "faith only" is 1500 years to late to be Christian Doctrine.

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The RSV Minimizes Lord Jesus Christ as Shelly and York Claim that Mary lived as a shamed, pregnant teenager.

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If the apostle Paul didn't write Hebrews it becomes much easier to assign it to some non-inspired writer and therefore make it no more authority than latter day SPIRIT-INSPIRED apostles. However, the evidence is that prior to lots of "theology" there was not too much doubt that Hebrews is an inspired EPISTLE and NOT, therefore by definition, a SERMON.

See some evidence to support Paul as the inspired writer who is not therefore just a theologian writing "for his own personal agenda" as Shelly claims for John's writings.

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The CORE GOSPEL Minimizes Lord Jesus Christ

Rubel Shelly identifies seven facts ABOUT Jesus but then says that:

These are the essentials of Christian faith. It is this core message about Jesus that we share

in common with other
Bible-believing, cross-proclaiming, resurrection-confessing, born-again persons that constitutes us a church.

Outside the essence of the gospel,

there are other features that reflect our history and consensus interpretations of the larger biblical message.

Then faith, repentance, confession, baptism, the gift of A holy spirit and many other gifts of life are OUTSIDE THE ESSENCE OF THE GOSPEL.

Rubel Shelly dismisses the epistles as the product of, say, John sifting poor memories with philosophy and writing something based on his own personal agenda.

Note below that Jesus wasn't egocentric: He said that the WORDS THAT I SPEAK will judge you.

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Apostolic Claims Minimizes Lord Jesus Christ's FIRST attempt.

Rubel Shelly in RED:

> "In the Old Testament God spoke at many times and in a variety of ways.

> Through Jesus, God Himself spoke to His people during His lifetime.

> Now God speaks through the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things,

will call to your memory the things Jesus said,

will guide you into all truth,

will speak what He hears from the Father,

will tell you what is yet to come,

and glorify Christ as He reveals Christ to you.

 

But, John 14:16 Jesus said "I" will come to you. 1 Peter 1:11 says that the prophets spoke by the SPIRIT OF CHRIST. See also Rev. 19:10)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:14

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:15

Rubel Shelly: Then I begin reading my Bible again and find that my experience isn't all that unique.

The Holy Guest will supply everything you need. In your weakness,

you will feel his strength.

Not only through the exhortation of the Word of God

 

but in your daily routine,

you will hear from

and experience the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Blackaby and King (Souther Baptists) in Experiencing God asks:

"Does God really speak to His people in our day?

Will He reveal to you where He is working when He wants to use you?
........... Yes! God has not changed. He still speaks to His people.
........... If you have trouble hearing God speak,
........... you are in trouble at the very heart of your Christian experience."

In this Sermon John York and Rubel Shelly claim the Bible to be PREACHER'S TOOLS to help you see where God is Working so you can do it:

Rubel Shelly: God is still at work in his church today.

Scripture -- all of Scripture --

is still the tool of the preacher

for helping God's people to identify divine activity in our world and in our lives.

I know what you do when you feel trapped, weak, and outmatched by the devil. You do the same thing I do. You think about everything behind you, in front of you, and around you that screams "Target!", "Scapegoat!", "Patsy!", "Victim!"

It's time for you to begin hearing the voice of God speak to you in those moments to tell you,

"Ah, but look at what's inside you!"

And then perhaps these explicit words will come ringing in your ears:

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,

because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

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The Lucado-Shelly etal Incarnational Theology Minimizes Christ

Without the FLUFF, John Mark Hicks notes of the Lucado-Shelly view of the Godhead. As the Zwinglism on baptism was a radical shift from historic Christianity prior to about 1500, the polytheism took its big step with H. Leo Boles of the Gospel Advocate but has been popularized by Rubel Shelly etal especially in the JUBILEE which tried to drag the church to the LEGALISM side of the Cross. John Mark notes:

John Mark Hicks: Fourth, we have

shifted from an emphasis
rooted on a common factual confession that Jesus is the Christ
to a Trinitarian emphasis on his deity.

Trinitarianism has been (re)born among us. An incarnational theology, represented by Max Lucado in particular, dominates the current climate in our churches. Interestingly, this renewal has primarily developed along ethical and devotional/spiritual lines.

Born is the world because it has nothing to do with historical trinitarianism which never CUTS GOD into a tribe or "standing committee."

At the same time Hicks identifies Max Lucado as being the most influentiel

Shelly followed with his Surely This Man Was the Son of God.[42] That same year Hazelip and Durham published Jesus: Our Mentor and Our Model in the same vein.[43] Harding University's 1988 lectureship on the Gospel of Mark was entitled The Lifestyle of Jesus.[44]

While, as Doug reminds us, Lucado brilliantly brings Jesus to life for us and reminds us of his humanity,

I fear that his incarnational theology undermines the very thing he wants to press--Christ's empathetic humanity.

His theology seems to lack any significant kenosis. Instead, Mary "knows she is holding God."[47] He is the "infant-God" to whom Mary prays.[48] His Jesus counts the stars as he lies in his crib and remembers his creative work. Mary is tempted to call him "Father."[49]

This type of incarnational theology tends to undermine the humanity of Jesus because it assumes that Jesus did not really identify with the human psyche.

The divine mind informs and empowers the human life of Jesus in such a way that he is no longer a genuine model for struggling Christians.

I think his Christology needs a good dose of the incarnation as a participation in fallenness where Jesus assumes fallen human nature, struggles with sin and shares our weaknesses.[50]

In other words, Lucado's Johannine Christology needs to be tempered with the Christology of the synoptics and Hebrews.

Contrary to Doug's reading,

I believe Lucado ultimately subsumes the human under the divine. John Mark Hicks, Lipscomb. Reviewing Doug Foster

Making the Son into a DISPENSATIONAL presence is the meaning of ANTI-CHRISTISM.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 1Jn.2:18

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 1Jn 2:19

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning.
If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you,
ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 1Jn 2:24

Thereby know ye the Spirit of God:

Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ (full Deity) is come in the flesh is of God: 1Jn.4:2

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:

and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 4:3

If God is Old Father, Middle aged Son and End-Time Spirit then CHRIST did not come fully in the fully in the flesh: only 1/3 of God at a time in this radical repudiation of Lord (God) Jesus (Manifestation) Christ (Spirit anointed).

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Making the Words of Christ the Spirit just TOOLS of the Preacher in revealing God's TRUE activity minimizes the Work of Lord Jesus Christ who THOUGHT that His words needed no FURTHER EXPOUNDING according to Peter.

John York: And that is the third point we are going to try to make ring in your ears from Hebrews:

God is still at work in his church today.
Scripture -- all of Scripture --
...........is still the tool of the preacher
........... for helping God's people to identify divine activity in our world and in our lives.

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Review of the First Lesson on Hebrews:

Strength for the Journey #1 (Hebrews 1:1-4)

[Note: This sermon was preached as a dialogue between John York and Rubel Shelly.]

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We won't waste time commenting on the fur licking but someone should CALCULATE the COST per Bible Word. Old "friend" Billy Graham would get up and say: "The Bible says." Count the words of Jesus, divide by the total words then multiply by 100 and you will have JESUS speaking maybe 5% of the time.

Rubel Shelly: There is also a second thing that needs to be addressed here as well. While you were away last Sunday, it was reported to me by someone in his Sunday School Class that John Mark Hicks had a few things to say about the then-upcoming Hebrews series.

It was something to this effect: "You can come to my class and get the real 'stuff' on Hebrews, after hearing the 'fluff' out in the Great Hall each Sunday!" I just want you to know . . . that I came to your defense!]

John York: What? Why, I had that same comment reported to me this week. And I must have understood it differently. I came to your defense!

John York: Uhhh, maybe that episode just proves again that each of us reads the world through his or her own lenses!

And we occasionally need help to see things from a broader, fuller perspective. We human beings certainly do it with one another. We have our peculiar reads on the same event. Each of us tends to interpret the world far too narrowly -- if not altogether egocentrically!

This is why Peter (see below) issued a direct command that we not FURTHER EXPOUND the Word but just leave it where it was left and Peter promises that GIVING HEED to it will cause the Day Star to Arise in our heart WITHOUT special agents.

And Paul told Timothy to "give heed to the public reading of the word" and then to exhorting people to follow the READ WORD. He was also to teach the DOCTRINE contained in the Text.

Timothy had no authority to FURTHER EXPOUND or applicate or explicate the Word of God which is only FUZZED UP by proof-texting.

Rubel Shelly claims, like Joseph Smith, to have NEW GLASSES to get a NEW VISON of the church. Check it out if you can tolerate that old doctrine stuff.

That is why the operative WORSHIP WORD in the New Testament is to GIVE HEED TO THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN even is song (Romans 15). We don't have to have a DIRECT OPERATION of the separated Holy Spirit person of this, His, dispensation. We can have the gift of A holy spirit or a clear conscience which comes ONLY at the time and place of baptism.

Rubel Shelly: Don't you think there is something of that problem being addressed in the Epistle to the Hebrews? Don't you think there were some first-century Christians who were giving a flawed reading to their life situation in relation to God's activity ? Wasn't that narrow reading about to among them put some of them in a spiritually precarious situation?

No, we believe that the people were rejecting the once-delivered Word of Christ. By moving away from the WORD they had tasted at first and listening to other voices they were committing the unforgivable sin.

By making the preachers the MEDIATORS between God's Word and God's People, and making MUSICAL WORSHIP TEAMS lead the "audience" into the presence of God, we believe that Jesus Christ is blasphemed.

Both Paul and Peter will make the point about PREACHERS:

1. The Word of God is inspired by God as Mind is Father of the thought.

2. The SPEAKER of the WORD is His Son: the only Incarnate Being of the universe: John and Rubel will never make it.

3. That Word has been VALIDATED by miracles of Jesus and His PERSONALLY PICKED AND TRAINED Apostles.

4. If you don't "give attention to the reading" and exhorting the Once Delivered Word of Christ here is what is gonna happen at Woodmont:

1. When you open up the REVELATION process to latter day Johns and Rubes you open the door to false prophets who PROOF-TEXT and TAKE LIBERTIES and NARRATE their own new revelation.

2. This REPUDIATES the Incarnate God of the universe and there are no modern 13th apostles or Christ to replace Him.

3. God then sends strong delusions through strong deluders to lead the blind into the ditch: And They Will Never Get Out.

John York: Was it ever! In fact, some of them were already in trouble -- and others were on the verge of serious jeopardy. They had started a spiritual journey with Jesus and were getting discouraged. Some had turned back, and others were looking over their shoulders. They were experiencing with Jesus what those Israelites whose story we read from Exodus last year had gone through with Moses out in the wilderness.

And some were not returning to the Word as it HAD BEEN delivered to them.

I fear one of the reasons Hebrews doesn't get much reading time today is that the title itself and then all of the references to life in Israel tend to make us think this book doesn't have much relevance to us. After all, most if not all of us come from a Gentile background. We've been told somewhere along the way that this material is written for Jewish Christians who are thinking about returning to Judaism.

Or we've just tried to read the material ourselves and become thoroughly confused by references to strange people like Melchizedek and strange stories about the tabernacle and the whole sacrificial system of Judaism.

Over at Madison they are following the THOUGHT LEADER on tithing and CANNOT grasp that Abraham's gift of ten percent of the king of Sodom's recovered LOOT does not authorize churches to JUBILEE all of the way back to TITHING CASH pretending that they are of the tribe of Levi or Aaronic priests.

We will see in this review that MUSICAL WORSHIP TEAMS were out there where they later slaughtered Jesus with mocking music. They were never allowed into the Holy Place which was typical of the Church as synagogue or school of the Bible. If musicians ever lead the people into the presence of God in the Holy or Most Holy Place they would be killed.

I fear that it is too tough for FLUFFY preachers and we are gonna see it.

We've been told somewhere along the way that this material is written for Jewish Christians who are thinking about returning to Judaism. Or we've just tried to read the material ourselves and become thoroughly confused by references to strange people like Melchizedek and strange stories about the tabernacle and the whole sacrificial system of Judaism.

We clearly understand that Levitical Worship Teams to "lead you into the presence of God" repudiates Jesus who was mocked with His own Jewish, Military musicians.

We understand that that this instrumental noise is not called music. Rather, a great crashing noise was made in the court while they burned the animal sacrifices which have been replaced by Jesus suffering outside the camp.

These musicians couldn't get into the Holy Place which was typical of the church and they would have been PSALLOED to death with a sword if they dared to try.

So it probably helps to clarify a few things about the background before we begin.

First, the title itself is not original to the work, and seems to be based on the fact that the writer uses so many Old Testament references.

But it's curious that all the references to Jewish worship are to the tabernacle, not the temple. And while he anticipates that his readers are familiar with Scripture, they do not seem to be familiar with the contemporary worship practices in Jerusalem.

The Tabernacle was typical of the Spiritual Kingdom of God. However, when the elders screamed "Set a dominant preacher over us," the designed temple was LIKE THE NATIONS because they insisted on WORSHIPING LIKE THE NATIONS. God gave them kings (dominant pastors) in His anger and took them away in His anger when the nation had been sent into CAPTIVITY among the "denominations."

The S.U.N. gods in the Exodus Shelly wants to "BAPTIZE" OR "COLOR" with Christian colors was God's punishment for the musical idolatry at Mount Sina. Stephen got himself murdered for telling the clergy that their Shelly-like view of the Law was punishment.

Stephen also notes that the TABERNACLE stood until David separated the Ark of the Covenant and the Musical Levites from the Tabernacle and established His Own Tent at Jerusalem: a Jebusite High Place already prepared for the worship of idols.

All of that to say this: No one knows who wrote Hebrews, and we really don't know who the original audience was. We know that the author has great rhetorical skills as a writer and we know from reading the material that he has crafted it as a sermon.

Since the early church had little doubt that it was PAUL let's at least give the audience this option. If Paul as an inspired Apostle wrote the EPISTLE (not sermon) then the Shelly-York THESIS that even the presbyters at Ephesus helped John write his account is wrong, wrong, wrong.

And if this thesis is wrong then Shelly-York are wrong that some of those surplus words of Jesus left over from John's writing may STILL be available for John and Rubel to speak to you.

If the INSPIRED PAUL wrote then his PROOF-TEXTING is part of the Further-Expounding of Jesus and the Apostles. After the inspired writers, Peter OUTLAWS further expounding or private interpretation.

The word LOGOS means a rational dissertation. All of Paul's material is like a LAWYER'S BRIEF and not a sermon because Paul didn't SERMONIZE or write fluffy style: Paul was revealing the Mind of Christ which is the spirit.

The opening four verses are a single sentence in the original language, filled with alliteration and other stylistic devices designed to grab the audience's attention.

The writer carefully balances exposition of Scripture with exhortation to call his readers to faithfulness at a time when they are either openly discouraged or increasingly apathetic about their faith.

For John Mark, let's get off the maybe's and linguistic styles of which these men know nothing after 2,000 years. Let's just let the Spirit speak through Paul:

GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hebrews 1:1

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Hebrews 1:2

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews.1:3

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:4

The word "begotten" in relationship to the Spirit nature of the Word does not mean that He was created by natural means. God did not call Him a literal Son, and therefore younger and inferior. Rather, in the continuing language of a parable or symbolic language the invisible is explained by the visible. Jesus said that I will be to him a father:

For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again,
........... I will be to him a father, and
........... he shall be to me a son"? Hebrews.1:5

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. He 1:6

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits (winds NIV, NAS, RSV, LIV), and his ministers a flame of fire. Hebrews 1:7

But unto the Son he saith,
Thy throne, O God,
is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Heb 1:8

We have prepared a table below to see what Roles the Spirit of Christ Who is God performed in our visible world.

Paul knew that God became a Son by manifest ion and not by derivation from Deity:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God (Father who laid aside His rights) was manifest in the flesh (prepared for Him), justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1Ti.3:16  (The same glory He set aside to become man)

The body of Christ was not the second member of the Godhead acting as agent for the other two. Rather, God is invisible Spirit. In the image of the King James Version, we know that a ghost is not visible. However, when it materializes or becomes visible we do not say that there are two ghosts or that one is visible as the agent of the invisible.

"Lord is another way, to Paul, of saying the Spirit... It was Paul's concern through his Corinthian letters (as in Luke and Acts) to see the Spirit in the most intimate connection with the Lord and thus with God.  Paul will not have deity severed as though the Spirit of the Lord went beyond the Lord himself!  For as the Spirit's basic manifestation is the utterance Lord Jesus, so now we are told that what the Spirit does is exactly what the Lord does; the Spirit's work is not an additional or special work beyond the Lord's; the Spirit is the Lord at work.(Bruner, The Holy Spirit, p. 289)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Is.9:6

First, noted that "Son" and "Father" are offices and not names of Shellyite separated persons. Here is what Paul said elsewhere:

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col 2:9 .

Paul also explains that the term CHRIST is God in a visible form. Christ Jesus is the human designator for the TOTAL DEITY Who "laid aside" His full majesty and glory like "garments" and put them on the "chair." In Isaiah God speaks of his ARM which will come as the one INTERCESSOR because there is no man who can mediate between the finite and the infinite. Remembering that Paul in 1 Cor 2 identifies the MIND OF CHRIST with the SPIRIT OF GOD, here Paul say:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phil 2:5

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Phil 2:6KJV
who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, Phil 2:6LIV

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Phil 2:7NIV

but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. Phil 2:7LIV

That is, God sent Jesus the man in whom full Deity would dwell. God laid aside His full majesty and took on Jesus as "the body prepared for me" in Whom to dwell fully. Messiah would come as a child or man but He would be the only VISIBLE manifestation of the Invisible Deity which we will see in this life.

But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. John 7:29
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth (issued forth) and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. John 8:42

Therefore, the man Jesus of Nazareth did not PRESUME to take on the form of Deity. Therefore, He could say "the flesh counts for nothing, the WORDS I speak are SPIRIT and Life."

Nevertheless, there never was and will never again be such a VISIBLE MANIFESTATION of the invisible among preachers or latter day apostles.

This does not require a human PREACHER to understand or Paul would have gone to them personally.

Whether these Christians come from Judaism or from the Gentile world of pagan religions and political identities, the transformation from old identity to new has come at a very heavy cost in their surrounding environment. The author wants them to be aware that the Creator of the Universe is actively involved in their world and their lives,

contrary to what all of their detractors are telling them.

Specifically God has acted in Jesus Christ to bring about their ultimate salvation and they dare not consider the option of leaving this final revelation for any other temporary identity or quick fix to their suffering.

Is it final or isn't it final?

John York: From our shared point of view on this material, that is exactly why John and I have chosen to preach -- or "fluff," if you prefer -- Hebrews for you this fall.

We intend to preach it under the theme "Strength for the Journey." John has explained the situation of the first readers of this material -- I should probably say "hearers" rather than "readers," and we'll say more about that shortly. But is their situation essentially different from our own? Or that of believers from any time and place?

At one level, hardly any section of the New Testament seems more removed from a church in Nashville in its post-9/11 world of postmodernity, Wall Street gyrations, and geopolitical apprehensions. Why should we be reading a 2000-year old epistle that is so heavy and forbidding that it challenges the best of biblical scholars while we have so many down-and-dirty problems of real life in our faces?

No, people with A holy spirit will readily grasp that things like the Jubilee, tithing, musical worship teams are directly inherited from the Old Testament. Bruce White at Madison even claims what was uniquely promised to the LEVITES--the Tithe. Being so much higher than the Levites He even claims 10% of the CASH of everyone.

It is much less challenging if you remember that Paul was not PREACHING. Rather, Hebrews is COMMENTARY on the Old Testament. It is not difficult at all unless you let DOCTORS OF THE LAW get their pillow fluffing hands on it. Remember that Jesus fired the doctors of the Law because they "take away the key to knowledge."

Isn't there something more relevant to preach than an old piece of literature filled with allegorical interpretations of the furniture of the tabernacle? That tries to make something significant out of a mysterious figure named Melchizedek who had nothing more than a brief cameo appearance in the Old Testament? That depends on so many puns on Greek names and words that get lost in our English Bibles?

Obviously John and I don't think Hebrews is a waste of our time or yours.

Oh, goody: I'll betcha that there are numerous people not in the INNER CIRCLES who know Hebrews better than the for hires.

No, most of you don't read Greek and may initially be mystified by some of the book's literary flourish.

But John Mark will help you figure out their meaning. Be sure to get to his class early -- and sit near the front. All right, enough harassment of our dear brother! For all of us who are going to partner to teach this material from pulpit, in classes, and through small-group discussion agree with this view of the epistle:

Its fundamental description of Christian believers as a pilgrim people with a sure guide in Jesus Christ and a definite goal in the heavenly city, in need of faith for the journey they undertake, rings true in every generation where discouragement and distractions threaten such faithfulness.[1]

The original Christian teachers and preachers believed that theology mattered. That it was worth more than pop psychology. That it was a preferred alternative to the breeze of the day that was blowing through the philosopher's academy or across the theologian's writing table. Guess what. We believe the same thing still.

Maybe. Maybe. But I think that all of them thought that they were speaking as the Holy Spirit or Mind of Christ gave them utterance. I'll betcha that not a single INSPIRED writer in the Bible ever thought of the word THEOLOGY. Jesus knew about the Pharisees and their THEOLOGY. That is why He fired the Doctors of the Law because they TOOK AWAY THE KEY TO KNOWLEDGE--for a price, always for a price.

The shepherds of this church, our Counseling Center, our teachers of both children and adults, and these two preachers believe that the best thing we can do to help people weather the storms of life is to help them sink deep roots into the literature, theology, and relationships that can be gotten hold of only through a worldview controlled by Holy Scripture. What you believe about Jesus makes all the difference in how you see yourself and your prospects.

The preachers have usurped the role of the Shepherds of the flock. That is why it is THEOLOGY rather than seeing Church as it is always represented as SYNAGOGUE or school of th Bible. There was no praise service in the Tabernacle. There was no praise service in the synagogues which always existed by the direct command of God. There was no praise service in the more institutionalized synagogue. Not even a Pharisee would hold a PRAISE SERVICE singing erotic praise songs with the worship going to the team.

The PRAISE was during the killing and burning of animals. The praise word means to "make a fool of yourself" and the SERVICE of the instrumental noise makers was HARD BONDAGE: a word which sounds and means the same as Abaddon, Apollyon or Apollo who had his Seeker-Center which seduced "ministers" with instruments at Delphi.

John York: One of the reasons we're preaching through this material is that, by design, Hebrews was a sermon in the first place. Our author is a preacher, blending Scripture and exhortation to challenge his audience. But I think we read all of these Scripture references sometimes as though this preacher was

the first to string proof texts together to make a point.

I think there is a big difference, however, in his use of texts and what we sometimes have done. He does lift texts from different parts of the Old Testament and string them together. But he has a particular lens through which he reads them all.

To avoid the SOWING OF DISCORD between people with different "musical preferences" Paul insisted that the Romans glorify God with one voice. The material was "that which was written." Because the Word has been written FOR OUR LEARNING (doctrine) we use different passages of the Old Testament to explain the New Testament. Paul used the Hebrew to explain to the Christians whose PREACHERS (the many in Paul's letters) had perverted the message.

The big LENS Paul uses is NOT his knowledge of Jesus Christ. Rather, Jesus Christ the Spirit promised to guide Paul into ALL TRUTH just as He promised to the other Apostles. John and Rubel are not APOSTLES. Therefore, Paul has EXPOUNDED the Old Testament to those who were tempted, like Shelly, to see the Exodus as "a pattern for Christian worship and community."

But! But! Paul and Peter were hand picked and inspired by the Spirit Presence of Christ specificially to create a written EXPOUNDING and MEMORY for ALL future students. Rubel Shelly can minimize DOCTRINE because his DOCTRINE is that the New Testament writers belatedly remembered the old fragments and using the filter of PHILOSOPHY and for their own personal AGENDA composed their epistles. They "took liberties" and narrated the TRUE EVENTS using THEOLOGY.

However, that repudiates the Spirit as being able to preserve more than seven facts ABOUT Jesus and repudiates direct statements.

For instance, this is what Peter demanded:

Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things alway in remembrance. 2 Peter 1:15

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1: 16

It is blasphemy to call Jesus A son. Here is the prophecy and I don't believe that this allows for ANY OTHER SONS in the true sense.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:7

The IMAGE of the spirit was a dove or rock pigeon: not a little man person. And the DOVE repudiates all pagan religions based on the MOTHER of the gods: God is Father to Son and not Mother to Son as in Babylon and in the Catholic neo-trinity. The Pigeon signifies the SEVEN SPIRITS (Isa 11:1f) which would rest upon Jesus and not a "people" or tribe member of the god family.

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 2 Peter 1: 17

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 2 Peter 1: 18

If you GIVE HEED or worship the preacher and his words, the light of Christ will never shine in you again. See Revelation 18 and the Music and Light connection.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
........... whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, (that worship word)
........... as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
........... until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 2 Peter 1: 19

Now, if you are a doctor of the law you will never comprehend this:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1: 20

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1: 21

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11

Interpretation is the Greek:

Epilusis (g1955) ep-il'-oo-sis; from 1956; explanation, i.e. application: - interpretation.

Epiluo (g1956) ep-ee-loo'-o; from 1909 and 3089; to solve further, i.e. (fig.) to explain, decide: - determine, expound.

Jesus and the inspired apostles FURTHER EXPOUNDED the Old Testament as part of the INSPIRATION PROCESS.

But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mk.4:34

The Holy Spirit is Christ the Spirit. John and Rubel believe that John wasn't able to RECORD all of the surplus words of Jesus. Therefore, it MIGHT JUST BE, that John and Rubel are HEARING AUDIBLY those 2,000 year old worlds through their LATTER DAY NEW GLASSES.

Peter said that God spoke what God wanted to speak and YOU do not have authority from Jesus to FURTHER EXPOUND what He as Spirit has revealed ONCE FOR ALL.

The reason the book is sealed according to both Paul and Peter is that if you leave it open for latter day words finally spoken through John and Rubel, you will ALWAYS open it up to false prophets.

Worse of all, you REPUDIATE the power of Christ the Spirit to guard His Words in the way He wants them READ and not preached unless you are an evangelist with GO in your tank.

We have looked for the word PREACHER in the book and cannot find it. Maybe John Mark will help us.

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 2 Tim 1:11

A preacher is a Paul Revere: a herald.

Keruc (g2783) kay'-roox; from 2784; a herald, i.e. of divine truth (espec. of the gospel): - preacher.

Kerusso (g2784) kay-roos'-so; of uncert. affin.; to herald (as a public crier), espec. divine truth (the gospel): - preach (-er), proclaim, publish.

You cannot "camp out" in North Church and be a herald: a Paul Revere.

When Paul is said to preach in English, he "dialogued" in the Greek:

"DIALEGOMAI primarily denotes to ponder, resolve in one's mind; then, to converse, dispute, discuss, discourse with; most frequently, to reason or dispute with." In Acts 20:7 and 9 "the A.V. (KJV) translates it 'preached,' this the R.V. corrects to 'discoursed,' lit., 'dialogued,'

i.e. not by way of a sermon,
but by a discourse of a more conversational character." (Vine, p. 319).

Learning from a sermon or lecture is almost impossible.

When Paul went into an established church the assembly would be more like our Sunday Schools than our worship service which makes a deliberate effort to focus the congregation on the celebrative preacher.

"Although the sermon was not an essential part of the synagogue service, the translation and explanation of the Scripture lesson was a step in the direction of a preaching service. There is evidence that an exposition of the lesson formed a part of the Sabbath afternoon service. In earliest times the sermon seems to have been connected with the reading from the Prophets.

Anyone able to instruct might be asked to preach (Acts 13:15).

The preacher spoke from a sitting position on an elevated place (Luke 4:20). (Feiffer, Charles F., Between the Testaments, p. 63 Baker Book House).

The evangelist is the spreader of the news--he is not the author of the news. Robinson says,

"At its heart, this is a moral matter. In the ancient world the herald not only had to possess a powerful voice, but qualities of character as well. Hauch Friedrich observes":

"In many cases heralds are very garrulous and inclined to exaggerate. They are thus in danger of giving false news. It is demanded then that they deliver their message

as it is given to them.

The essential point about the report which they give is that it does not originate with them ...The herald does not express his own views.

He is the spokesman for his master... Being only the mouth of his master, he must not falsify the message entrusted to him by additions of his own." (Robinson, Homiletics, p. 804).

Paul insisted of the elders:

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Tit.1:9

Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied.

"But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." Num 22:37-38

When we talk about proof-texting today, it is almost always in a discussion about human activity or right ways of thinking. As likely as not, we think of a knock-down verse that lets us win an argument.

We would say that proof-texting is twisting a statement of Scripture to NARRATE the Bible to fit one's own agenda. Rubel Shelly charges John with filtering the Scriptures through philosophy and his own personal agenda.

But, John thought that he was an eye witness and that he was revealing what the Spirit spoke to Him.

Rubel Shelly says that John's Gospel account was by the SOLE INITIATIVE of the presbyters at Ephesus.

The quoted history says just the opposite. So, how can THEOLOGY come to the AID of God when it is careless with truth?

Now, John and Rubel are going to prove to you that you need a PREACHER and THEOLOGY to do for the historical record what JESUS CHRIST and INSPIRED APOSTLES have already done and recorded for our learning.

Hebrews is not written for our THEOLOGY GRAB BAG but for our "teaching as it has been taught." Jesus would say that doctors of the Law just FLUFF up the truth and need to get out of the way.

The writer of Hebrews reads texts through the lens of God's revelation of himself in Jesus.

All of the texts sooner or later are intended to point us to Jesus or are to be read and heard through the advent of Jesus.

Historical scholars always thought that Paul wrote because the Spirit Who called Himself "Jesus of Nazareth" guided him into all truth and promised to appear to him for future revelation.

John and Rubel cannot bear to admit that Paul wrote Hebrews because this permits someone JUST LIKE ME to do theology and write NEW SCRIPTURE. However, Jesus promised to cause Paul to REMEMBER what he had learned and to GUIDE HIM into all truth. Therefore the LENS is not Rubel's New Glasses to get a NEW VISION for the church. Rather, the LENS is the MIND of Christ which is the Holy Spirit guiding Paul into truth:

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. Acts 26:15

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose,
to make thee a minister and a witness

both of these things which thou hast seen,

and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Ac.26:16

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, Acts 26:17

The People
	To Whom I Send Thee
The Gentiles

Shelly - York: All of the texts sooner or later are intended to point us to Jesus or are to be read and heard through the advent of Jesus.

But the Lord or invisible Spirit whose name was Jesus said that the process was through evangelism:

Believe: To open their eyes,

Repentance: and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,

Forgiveness: that they may receive forgiveness of sins,

Gift of A holy spirit: and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26:18

Further, one of the PROOF of SONSHIP is that one speaks only what the FATHER has taught. Therefore, Jesus is not EGO-CENTRIC. One cannot POINT to the seven facts ABOUT Jesus and ignore the WORDS of DOCTRINE which Jesus taught without COMING INTO JUDGMENT:

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. Jn.12:47

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. Jn.12:48

If by pointing to Jesus rather than to HIS WORDS then you are pointing to a DIFFERENT LORD who challenged all carnal minds looking for supernatural approval by making HIS WORDS the test of whether you accept Him or some picture of Jesus created out of self-love.

If the book of Hebrews is the theological product of someone who now READS THE OLD TESTAMENT through NEW GLASSES then it is the product of a PREACHER and NOT inspired. Now, Rubel and John have their own new PAIR OF GLASSES and will undoubtedly DO THEOLOGY all over again to INTERPRET Paul's writings for OUR TIMES.

That's your point, Rubel, about the importance of theology.
........... The writer believes that what God has now revealed in Jesus
........... ........... changes everything in Scripture,
........... ........... just as it changes everything in our lives.

It is that theological foundation and that lens for reading Scripture that empowers his exhortations to faithfulness on the journey.

Again, Paul always affirmed just as JESUS demanded that there CAN BE no Theological LENS: One simply gives attendance to the READING of the words of Jesus and His apostles: ELSE the words will judge him daily even if he shouts "Jesus, Jesus" or "Lord, Lord" all day long: even with TEAMS.

This is high handed effort to convince YOU that Lord Jesus CANNOT speak to YOU without the preachers and their POSTMODERN or PostBiblical THEOLOGY.

Those who believe in inspiration believe that the SPIRIT OF CHRIST (1 Pet 1:11; Rev 19:10) was FULL DEITY as God manifested Himself in creation by ONE GOD and in many TYPES throughout the Old Testament. These were types and not as John York says of Jesus as the Water or Rock just "Jewish Legend."

What Jesus came to do was to FULFILL the Old Testament types but not to CHANGE EVERYTHING IN SCRIPTURE.

This is consistent with the Postmodern schemes oozing out of Education Fairy Land that truth got sucked up into a black hole and we don't have any truth in this post-Christendom era until the Holy Spirit "person" gives us those surplus words Jesus just couldn't get into the Bible at the time.

While this smacks of insanity, it is something sifted or sieved out of the Bible as they applied human philosophy and theology and narrated a NEW GOSPEL to "fit their own personal agenda."

Paul does not RENARRATE the Word to change everything in Scripture because there is total continuity of God working in the world from beginning to end.

Rubel Shelly: John and I have agreed that there are three central points we want to emphasize throughout this series that stand out in bold relief in the opening lines of this "word of exhortation" to Christians both ancient and modern.

Let me read the verses, and we'll name those three central certainties to faith that we believe tie Hebrews together.

"Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,

But Peter expounded this: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11

but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs (Heb. 1:1-4).

Isn't it amazing that the RSV is used this time.

Jehovah's Witnesses would call Jesus A son of God. You have to pick carefully to find the Shelly-York "lost coin".

but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Heb 1:2RSV

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, Heb 1:2 New American Bible Catholic

However, most versions, including the "usual" NIV reads:

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Heb 1:2NIV

God's Son shines out with God's glory, and all that God's Son is and does marks him as God. He regulates the universe by the mighty power of his command. He is the one who died to cleanse us and clear our record of all sin, and then sat down in highest honor beside the great God of heaven. Heb 1:3LIV

A son means one out of many. And this literal meaning of a son ignores the fact that a son of INFINITY has to be INFINITY. If you have an infinite number of sand pebbles and you take away ONE how many do you have left?

Why, of course you still have an infinite number because THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP between INFINITE and a large number.

Therefore, Jesus is the effulgence of the light of God and God making Himself visible in human form CANNOT be less than God because everyone pre Shelly and Lucado denies that you can cut the Godhead up like a pecan pie.

Scholars note:

Matthew Henry is even clearer in his comments. "He is the only begotten Son of God, and as such he must have the same nature...

Jesus Christ in his person is God manifest in the flesh.
The person of the Son is the true image and character of the person of the Father."

No one in early "theology" ever saw the Godhead as three fellows kinda like Rubel Shelly, John York and another donut dunker. Father is the thought as breath is the spirit as audible words are the SONS of the thought. All words are begotten in the mind before they are blown out past the lips or "double edged swords."

Adam Clarke, likewise noted this remarkable doctrine. "The hypostasis of God is

that which is essential to Him as God;
and the "character" or image is that by which all the likeness of the original becomes manifest, and is a perfect facsimile of the whole.

Clement of Alexandria noted that:

For the image of God is His Word, the genuine Son of Mind,
the Divine Word, the archetypal light of light; and the image of the Word is the true man,

the mind which is in man, who is therefore said to have been made "in the image and likeness of God,"

assimilated to the Divine Word in the affections of the soul, and therefore rational;

God put His spirit into ALL humans. Those who come to Crhist in baptism are given A Holy Spirit to replace their old UN-holy spirit. or mind.

God HAS SPOKEN in these latter days and we are still in these days until Jesus comes. Because He is God Incarnate, He lacked no short sightedness in that He could not forsee that OUR KIDS want to go pagan and we must provide a "venue for rock and roll." If God Incarnate could not reveal His message with lasting power, why should we expect that Shelly and York are gonna do it right this time? The KJV has a different twist than the NIV which is always used when one wants to teach false dogma.

GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Heb 1:1

Since there is only one God who is ONE SPIRIT and holy (wholly) Spirit, when we see God acting in the visible world it is through His Arm or some other personification.

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Heb 1:2

When God manifests Himself in "a body prepared for Me" then He is not a fire or wind or arm or mighty tower: He is the Son. But the Holy Spirit "person" didn't have sex with Mary.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Heb.1:3

You can never see ME. I am a being and my outward molecules have electrons which never allow light to penetrate me. Therefore, what you see is the play of light bouncing off my body.

As a human made of the same material, the LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT can be seen. The SOURCE is the FATHER and the REFLECTION is the Son. Yet, if you see the reflection you see the FATHER as well as you will ever see Him and live.

Charakter (g5481) khar-ak-tare'; from the same as 5482; a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by impl.) engraving (["character"], the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or [fig.] representation): - express image.

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Heb 1:4

Interpretations rather than translations gives a semblance of authority for people to blaspheme Christ by claiming later in this sermonette that:

John York: He isn't as good as God's other servants and messengers

but has inherited "the name" that is "more excellent than theirs."

If we can make John partially written and totally impulsed by the presbyters at Ephesus then WE have the same right to CERTIFY our own actions as having equal authority: that's what they say.

Now, if THAT preacher is just ANY old preacher then THESE preachers have the SAME authority as THAT preacher.

Rubel Shelly and John York:

First, hear that preacher then and
these preachers now affirm
........... that God is at work in this world --
........... appearances to the contrary notwithstanding!

Much like our own times,

the writer of Hebrews and his audience
are not accustomed to daily miraculous experiences
that make God's presence in our world glaringly obvious.

A MIRACLE is a mighty sign to validate the SPEAKER such as Jesus as speaking FOR God. These MIRACLES are usually associated with a change in how God is dealing with mankind.

Contrary to Shelly and York, the old Bible didn't get zapped at Y2K and we don't believe that we have come to the end of the Christendom age.

Therefore, the paying world stands ready for Shelly or York to demonstrate a MIRACLE.

The original apostles heard Jesus first hand: therefore, their writings are first person accounts. Paul received the same experience later on. The Word would be INVALIDATED if it needed to be CERTIFIED over and over by Shelly and York's experiences:

THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Heb 2:1

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just