[Ben]

Replying Paulpraise.

Oh Hallelujah! Adding to what you shared especially when you talked about God adapting to man in order for him to fulfill his purpose. Yes, God’s change of mind in his dealings with man doesn’t contradict who he is- his essential character from whence we can say that he is unchanging.

The ways of man are like shifting shadows. The strength of man outside God can fail. And so God takes the position of one who wants to relate. However, this would be on his plane and through the sacrifice of Jesus, he got down to our plane( the God who cannot behold iniquity). He took upon himself the sins of men for the purpose of making man his friend. And now, instead of death being the wages of sin… God’s judgment becomes forgiveness and the revelation of his unchanging nature (love) to that man ( who was a terrible sinner) who has now repented and has put faith in Jesus.

This is all about being able to still relate with the changing man yet being unchanging in his nature.

[Ben]

God doesn’t change. He is Omniscient (all knowing) and immutable (unchanging). God is perfect. He cannot get better or worse. He said to Moses about Himself, “I am who I am”. That means he cannot change as to his essential character. He cannot gain or lose his attributes as God. Malachi 3:6 says, ” I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob”. God will never be wiser, more loving or more holy than he has ever been. However, there are a number of scriptures to site as an example of God having a change of mind concerning something he planned to do or had done.

These scriptures are as follows:
Exodus 32:14 “So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people. ”

Jeremiah 26:19
“Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and the Lord changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves.”

Amos 7:3
“The Lord changed His mind about this.
“It shall not be,” said the Lord.”

Jonah 3:10
“When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.”

Jeremiah 42:10
“If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I will relent concerning the calamity that I have inflicted on you.”

These scriptures seems to show a God who changes his mind and that is a function of the changing nature of men. God’s desire is for fellowship with man and he becomes relatable not static in his relationship with man. When people sin or repent of sin, God “changes” his mind- for the purpose of relationship with changing men yet he is unchanging.

With the case study of the people of Nineveh, God was not pleased with their sinful way of life and the consequences of their sins was to come upon them except they change. Eventually they repented and God changed his mind towards them unto forgiveness. This provoked Jonah who knew that God will change his mind towards the people once they repented even though he wanted God to punish them.

What do we see in this?

God is unchanging in his nature but will change his mind ( there will be changes and development) in his relationship with his repentant creation (changing men). Thus, we who were once enemies of God, are now his own people. He changed his mind to relate with us when we yielded to his will.

[Ben]

Ways in which Jesus operates as the High Priest for the believer today are as follows:

1. He stands before the Father as our High Priest to grant us constant access to the Father and to deliver unto us grace needed for our walk in the faith. Hebrews 4:15-16, ” For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
As believers who through the blood of Jesus, got redeemed and have access to God’s presence. We are always assured of that same access to the Father even when we sin or make a mistake. Jesus, stands to defend us with his blood of eternal redemption and so we must not allow the enemy fill us up with guilt or a sense of unworthiness. When we sin, we should come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain (receive) mercy…where we confess that sin committed and receive forgiveness instead of condemnation and wrath.

B. In receiving the mercy of God, we have access to God’s help in the grace of God to live above our shortcomings. Asides that, we have access to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to help us in times of need( for whatever situation). So, we are not left all by ourselves to figure out our lives after being saved but we have a high priest who has made provisions in his mercy and grace for us.

2. He as our high priest has obtained for us a more excellent ministry. Whereby we have access to better promises and the blessings of God.

Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. ”

Hebrews 6:19-20, ” Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
Jesus as our high priest and in being our mediator, ensures that what he purchased for us( the blessing without any curse (the blessing only) , is what we get. So now, we can be healed, be prosperous, be blessed, be full of peace, be victorious and assured of a good future. Now, we can have life to the fullest until it overflows. We can be assured of having the true righteousness ( declared justified) and much more. All better promises which we can lay claims on because our high priest have offered up the sacrifice for them.

3. Jesus in being our high priest, is the guarantee of the eternal life we have and he makes intercession for us before the Father.
Hebrews 7:25, ” Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Many people have fears of the rapture, some are unsure of their stand with God even as believers and there are yet others who say that salvation can be lost. However, Jesus as our high priest carries out the role of an Intercessor ( standing on our behalf) before God to “preserve” the work of redemption he carried out especially for the believer. To keep the believer saved till the end. Like he said while on earth, “the ones the Father has given to me, no one shall be able to take them out from my hands” and also, like Paul said, ” being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the end.” He will perform and keep us till the end. He holds us up so we don’t loose our salvation and eternal life.

In summary, as our high priest Jesus plays a vital role of ensuring that all he purchased for us. We get to receive and experience, even to the very end.

[Ben]

An instance of the conviction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the new testament and three things that proves are as follows:

First, the word conviction means, to confute, admonish, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.
Then, an instance of the conviction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the new testament can be seen in the experience of Lydia as recorded in Acts 16:14-15, ” And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she….”

Worthy of note, Lydia was called a worshipper of God- a “religious ” fellow but at the point she heard the teachings of salvation by Paul, the Holy Spirit convicted her heart. Which lead to

1. The conviction of sin in her life hence the need for a Saviour. The scripture doesn’t tell us that she was caught in any sinful act but that she was a worshipper of God. So the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon her heart was to turn her away from unbelief in the Lordship of Jesus Christ( whom she had not known possibly), to believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ unto her salvation. This goes to prove that it is only the Holy Spirit that can make men believe on Jesus and be saved, even through His ministry of “conviction “.

2. The conviction of righteousness. This woman the bible described as a worshipper of God; which is safe to say, was a “self righteous” woman. Could only be declared truly righteous and accepted by God through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Upon what the Holy Spirit did to her heart, she had faith in the righteous One, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, having peace with God. So this proves that true righteousness comes as a result of the conviction of the Holy Spirit unto faith in Jesus. This demarcates self righteousness by works from true righteousness by faith.

3. Conviction brings Judgment. This woman who was once under the domain of the enemy walked into freedom and victory by yielding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in her heart. This goes to prove that upon the defeat of Satan through the vicarious work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we come into the experience of freedom and victory by the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

In summary, the conviction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit will always reprove men of sin, righteousness and judgment unto their salvation.

[Ben]

Replying Wechie

Your claims is that the book of Hebrew is part of the general epistles with the reasons you have given which is good enough. However, you also alluded to the fact that some thoughts expressed or revelations given in Hebrews share likeness with some of the revelations of Christ in some of the Pauline epistles. I totally agree, however, you concluded that that wasn’t enough to prove that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews but, that the similarity of revelation could be based on same doctrinal stand of both Paul and the writer of Hebrew.

Not disregarding your stand but drawing on further similarities or traits in Paul’s writings, I would like to suggest even as some scholars assume to be the case. That the book of Hebrews could have been authored by Paul. Now, the writer might have not been Paul but anyone. However,the thoughts conveyed or the message communicated might have been Paul’s.

Now, even in these present times we have what is known as ghost writing. An author of a book can contract a ghost writer to pen down his thoughts. At the end of the day, the author of the book wouldn’t be the ghost writer but the author of the ideas. Because the ideas form the text.

Now, those traits or possible pointers to be considered for Paul to be seen as the author are:

1. The same greeting or nature of benediction with Paul is what we see closing the epistle of Hebrew, “Grace be with you all. Amen” Hebrews 13:25. And Paul had said in 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18, ” I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine,it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.”

2. The author of that work said in Hebrews 13:24, ” …they of Italy salute you.” Paul was at Italy at some point in his ministry and could it be that was when he authored the epistle to the Hebrews? Possibly.

3. The epistle to the Hebrews made mention of Timothy who was Paul’s son and companion in most of his ministry journey. Which again could be indictive of Paul writing or authoring the epistle of Hebrews.

Although, the epistle didn’t start with Paul’s normal way of greeting but it ended with how Paul said he will always acknowledge his letters. So where the usual introduction of the Pauline epistles could show that Paul wrote them, it is safe to say that the way he said he would indicate ownership of his letters in closing, should also hint us strongly that he wrote or authored the book of Hebrews.

[Ben]

REPLY TO ONYEMACHIKA
Absolutely, as you have listed, those things happened to man and that led man into depravity. To add more to what you have said:
– The fall brought about Sin
– The fall brought about the break from fellowship between God and man.
– The fall brought about spiritual death and physical death.

1. The introduction of sin. The fall of man brought about sin which is a deviation from God. The appearance of sin, automatically meant that a different reign had been set up and that was the reign of sin and death. Man eventually lost his place with God and his place of dominion over the earth realm. The enemy gained that lost dominion over the earth through the presence of sin. That was the implication of what God told man- that in eating the forbidden fruit, he would die. As part of that death which is Spiritual death, man lost the nature of God and took on a new nature; the nature of sin. His life got corrupted and hence could do evil. Man became alive to sin and dead to God. Hence, he became a sinner.

2. Spiritual death and physical death. Still as a result of sin, man died spiritually which meant that he got disconnected from God- his source. When man was connected to God, his life was an offshoot of God’s life, filled with goodness. But upon losing that connection, he became susceptible to all that thrived in the kingdom of Satan (John 10:10…Satan who is a thief on a mission to steal, kill and destroy). Sickness, poverty, shame, fear, disease and failure could now affect man. Hence, the possibility of decay, break down of his systems and eventual death physically. As well as eternal death.

3. Man lost fellowship with God. Fellowship implies partnership, communication, communion, oneness, a sharing together and a rubbing of minds. Fellowship is possible where there’s an equal relationship. A slave can not have fellowship with his master. Neither can there be fellowship where there is inferiority or superiority complex. There must be an equal ground for fellowship to be. Man had sinned and lost connection with God and his original nature. Now he felt inferiority and unholy before God. Hence this separation and “unequal” ground prevented man from accessing God or God from accessing man.

[Ben]

The classification of the Epistle of Hebrews is a bit controversial as many believe the author is anonymous. Hence, neither a classification under the Pauline Epistles or the general Epistles. However, few comparisons to the Pauline Epistles could be found in the Epistles of Paul to which I would classify it as one of Paul’s letters. Such comparisons or similarities are as follows:

1. Similarly of Phraseology.
The style is notably different from the rest of Paul’s epistles, a characteristic noted by Clement of Alexandria (c. 210), who argued, according to Eusebius, that the original letter had a Hebrew audience and so was written in Hebrew and later translated into Greek, “some say the evangelist Luke, others had written the letter to the Hebrews but the thoughts were that of Paul [by Clement of Rome]. Reason being that, in view of the similarity of phraseology shown throughout the Epistle to the Hebrews, and in absence of any great difference between the work in the underlying thought.” He concluded that “as a result of this translation, the same complexion of style is found in this Epistle and in the Acts: but that the [words] ‘Paul an apostle’ were naturally not prefixed. For, he says, ‘in writing to Hebrews who had conceived a prejudice against him and were suspicious of him, he very wisely did not repel them at the beginning by putting his name.” So possibly, Luke the writer of Acts must have written the letter but conveying the thoughts of the Apostle Paul. Other points following, will indicate more why the thoughts of the Epistle was of Paul.

2. The mention of Timothy as a companion and the location Italy.
Some theologians and groups, who continue to maintain Pauline authorship, repeat the opinion of Eusebius that Paul omitted his name because he, the Apostle to the Gentiles, was writing to the Jews. They conjecture that Jews would have likely dismissed the letter if they had known Paul to be the source. They theorize that the stylistic differences from Paul’s other letters are attributed to his writing in Hebrew to the Hebrews, and that the letter was translated into Greek by Luke.

Now, in the 13th chapter of Hebrews, Timothy is referred to as a companion of the writer or person whose thoughts were being communicated. Timothy was Paul’s missionary companion in the same way Jesus sent disciples out in pairs. He was also a loyal son of Paul, 1 Timothy 1:2, ” To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith…”

Also, the writer states that he wrote the letter from “Italy”, which also at the time fits Paul, Hebrews 13:24, “…they of Italy salute you”. The difference in style is explained as simply an adjustment to a more specific audience, to the Jewish Christians who were being persecuted and pressured to go back to old Judaism.

3.Stylistic similarities to Paul’s greetings.
The epistle contains Paul’s classic closing greeting, “Grace… be with you…” as he stated explicitly in 2 Thessalonians 3:17–18, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.” And as implied in 1 Corinthians 16:21–23, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” and Colossians 4:18, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

This closing greeting is included at the end of each of Paul’s letters. And the same we see in Hebrews 13:25, “Grace be with you all. Amen.”

Although the writing style varies from Paul in a number of ways, some similarities in wordings to some of the Pauline epistles have been noted. In antiquity, some began to ascribe it to Paul in an attempt to provide the anonymous work an explicit apostolic pedigree.

[Ben]

Yes, to add to John’s declaration of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), to show his deity. It is clear that Jesus is God because no ordinary man, born through the natural birth could take away the sins of the world. Hence, the saviour of the world must be a man who would pay with his blood(life) by the justice of God(the soul that sins shall die and the wages of sin is death).

Now, the lamb of God was one without sin and Jesus could only fit in as that lamp because his life was incorruptible- the life of God which became seed in Mary through the power of the Holy Ghost. Bringing God in flesh. Hence, the claim of Jesus as the lamb of God declares Jesus as one with God because only God could save the world.

John 3:16, reveals that Jesus- the Son of God is equal with God the Father. For it tells us that those who believe in Jesus, will have their human life supplanted by the divine life- eternal life; life as God has it. Such depth! Jesus was the only one in possession of that life and is the only one who can “rebirth” men, bring them into a changed and new root. To the same roots with the living God. So even though we as believers and as sons of God can give life to men, it is based only on the revelation of the Lord Jesus. Hence, we point men to Him till date. Like it is said, “you can’t give what you don’t have”…we have today because He gave us that life. He has it because it is His life and that life is the very life of God. Jesus is God. The Son of God who reveals God and His life to all men.

[Ben]

Five people in the old testament who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and what they achieved are as follows:
1. Bezalel
2. Gideon
3. Daniel
4. Samson
5. Saul

1. Bezalel- Exodus 31:3(NASB), ” I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship “. Bezalel was inspired by the Spirit of God to carryout several kinds of crafts. He was filled with wisdom and was enabled to be a skilled craftsman for the tabernacle.

2. Gideon- Judges 6:34, “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.” The Spirit of the Lord inspired Gideon into battle. Through the Spirit, he gained courage and strength from where he was (a place of weakness and fear). He was strategic in battle and could triumph over the Medianites by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

3. Daniel- Daniel 5:11, ” There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods…” Daniel was inspired by the Holy Spirit to possess and display uncommon/supernatural intelligence, wisdom and insight in all his dealings and he ended up being recognized by king Nebuchadnezzar to whom he interpreted mysteries. Hence, he was made an overseer by the king.

4. Samson- Judges 15:14, ” And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bonds loosed from off his hands.” Samson was enabled by the Holy Spirit to defeat his enemies and the enemies of Isreal. Through the Spirit, he was full of strength and power.

5. Saul- 1 Samuel 19:23, “So Saul went to Naoith at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth.” The Spirit of God came upon Saul and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Saul was given utterance to speak. This he did all that day and all that night. So much that people asked if he was among the Prophets.”

[Ben]

1. John 1:18. This tells that Jesus proceeds from the Father. Implying closest intimacy and his origin.
2. John 1:34. At the baptism of Jesus, God gave John a sign to identify the Son of God and John bore witness to that. Jesus was confirmed by God through the Holy Spirit as his Son- being equal with him.
3. John 5:19. This describes the oneness between the Father and the Son. Like Father, like Son.

[Ben]

1. Romans 5:12. The fall of man brought about the reign of sin and death. Man became a slave to sin and death.
2. Romans 8:20-21. The fall of man brought about the corruption of the world and creation in essence. There became a deviation from the goodness God made.
3. The fall of man brought about the displacement of man from the realm he was to exert authority over. Man ended up becoming a slave to Satan. John 12:31, Hebrews 2:14-15.

[Author]

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