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(Hebrews 11:6) The first element of faith is belief in God's existence. Why is the second element just as essential to true faith? What does it mean to "seek" God? What difference does it make whether or not you believe God will reward seekers? God calls each of His elect, those He foreknew; We're unable to decide to seek Him of our own initiative as we afre first "in the world," from birth. God's word clearly provides many promises for those who seek Him with their whole heart,... not out of curiosity

Using Hebrews 11:1-3 as your source, how would you put in your own words what faith is and does? Faith requires trusting God's word, especially about receiving the grace of faith in Christ. Things we see re earthly and will fail eventually. Faith in the unseen is for things eternal, through the love of God.

Why can't the blood of bulls and goats actually take away sin? What happened then to the sins the Old Testament saints thought were atoned for under the Old Covenant? Animal blood from blemish-less doves, sheep, etc. can't permanently remove all sin, it had to be redone every year. These OT saints were waiting in Sheol for Jesus to save them when He died on the cross.

(Hebrews 9:28) How did the purpose of Christ's First Coming differ from his Second Coming? The Jews didn't expect a suffering servant; they wanted the Messiah, like David, who would remove the Romans, to set them free. The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 fits Christ's 1st coming. For he will punish the non-believers at the rapture and some will hopefully be saved. We as human disciples are charged to share the good news and make disciples along the way.

How did the purpose of Christ's First Coming differ from his Second Coming? Which did the Jews expect? How does the mission of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 fit here?

In what way does Christ's sacrifice of himself cleanse the conscience in a way that the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant could not? Jesus' willing, holy sacrifice, His love of the Father to love obey Him, no matter the price, no matter the pain, it be innocent, but not foolish. His loving sacrifice leads some to witness for Him as martyrs until death. There is no comparison with an Old Testament animal sacrifice . This is the perfect eternal love of God calling us to purity, sacrifice of self and service in this fallen world

Jesus is my perfect high priest, tempted in everyway, but remained sinless. He was the pure Holy offering to pay for the sins of humanity. No other sacrifice would work. And this was/is God's plan, He foreknew all humans who would believe and would/will be saved, and Jesus is the only High Priest who is capable of shedding Him own blood and the propitiation for all human sin. All Glory to the Lamb that was slain. Jesus as a high priest meets our needs, truly holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not offer sacrifices, for our sins daily, or weekly. He sacrificed His Holy life for all our sins, once for all, when he offered himself. The law imperfect appointed human high priests; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who was/is/and will be perfect forever."

Jesus is my perfect high priest, tempted in everyway, but remained sinless. He was the pure Holy offering to pay for the sins of humanity. No other sacrifice would work. And this was/is God's plan, He foreknew all humans who would believe and would/will be saved, and Jesus is the only High Priest who is capable of shedding Him own blood and the propitiation for all human sin. All Glory to the Lamb that was slain.

Why is Jesus able to save people "completely" -- "to the uttermost" according to verse 25? What is the essential function of a priest? Why is intercession the essence of being a priest? 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." What a superior Convenant, with the Son of God as intercessor and guarantor! IT can get any better than that, and yet we need this desperately, in this fallen world!

(Hebrews 7:22) What is a guarantee or surety? In what sense is Jesus the guarantor of the New Covenant? The Levitical or Aaronic priesthood of Judaism was valid in the old testament, which also predicted the arrival of a Messiah, Emanuel, God with us, Jesus our savior. Jesus' priesthood has a greater validity and eternal longevity, not the limited Levitical/Aaronic priesthood of Judaism, based upon human priests. Jesus IS the New Covenant.

(Hebrews 6:18b-20) In what sense have we "fled to a place of refuge"? Why are we to "take hold of" this hope actively? How does Christian hope differ from hoping that something is true? In what ways does an anchor illustrate the idea of hope? We (the anchor for our souls) need a true totally secure refuge which we can depend upon. Christ crucified in our only hope, the payment for our sins by His holy blood. An anchor helps keep a boat from drifting into trouble. Jesus, our great High Priest is our anchor; He intercedes continually for each of us. We must reamin grateful in this fallen world to have such wonderful and continual support along with the hope of the promises in His word.

(Hebrews 6:12) If we take seriously the writer's exhortation to exercise both faith and patience for the long haul, what effect does that have on our Christian life? On our perspective? How can we resist the subtle temptation to think that our salvation depends upon our endurance rather than Christ's atonement and the grace of God? We pray to not become lazy, but to imitate those who love God and through faith and patience truly inherit the promises of His Word Our endurance needs to be based of the faith we have from the grace of God. Our hearts will love God's will as we imitate Christ, who was a perfect follower of the Father's will.

What is apostasy? Is it impossible to restore apostates to Christian faith and practice? What point was Jesus making in his Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)? What is Jesus' point of the Parable of the Tares or Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)? Some were never really Christians, the wiles of the world appealed to them, and their true colors came about. This includes not believing in a hell and eternal damnation. We can continue to pray, patiently and be expectant that they will return to Christ. We're unable to know the truth deep in their hearts. It is hard enough in 2022 to attempt to evangelize the average person in your path. But God is able to make all grace abound in them and us.

(Hebrews 6:4-5) What difference, if any, would you find between the description in verses 4-5 and a Spirit-filled Christian today? What is the writer's point in forming this description? All rebuking is good if it is reasonable. If someone falls "far away" and stops going to church, stops communicating, we can only pray for that person, and they will eventually return to Christ. We must believe this. But we must not adopt any sinful activities they have begun to practice, like strong drinking, anger about anything, or out of the lines of the fruit of the Spirit.

Q1. (Hebrews 5:14) How does a person become mature in God's Word according to verse 14? What can you do to grow in maturity? Through the sincere belief in Jesus as the son of God, and His sacrifice, and then our evolving love of God's word and a disciplined mind that is led by the Spirit. We can't do this on our own, but we can humbly submit to Him and patiently the old man will fade away and the new man will renew stronger, day by day