Our Foundation Jesus Christ Covenant of Grace

[Christ4Ever]

"The last Adam." — 1 Corinthians 15:45


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Jesus is the federal head of His elect. As in Adam, every heir of flesh and blood has a personal interest, because he is the covenant head and representative of the race as considered under the law of works; so under the law of grace, every redeemed soul is one with the Lord from heaven, since He is the Second Adam, the Sponsor and Substitute of the elect in the new covenant of love.

The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Melchizedek met him: it is a certain truth that the believer was in the loins of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, when in old eternity the covenant settlements of grace were decreed, ratified, and made sure for ever. Thus, whatever Christ hath done, He hath wrought for the whole body of His Church.

We were crucified in Him and buried with Him (read Col. 2:10-13), and to make it still more wonderful, we are risen with Him and even ascended with Him to the seats on high (Eph. 2:6). It is thus that the Church has fulfilled the law, and is "accepted in the beloved." It is thus that she is regarded with complacency by the just Jehovah, for He views her in Jesus, and does not look upon her as separate from her covenant head.

As the Anointed Redeemer of Israel, Christ Jesus has nothing distinct from His Church, but all that He has He holds for her. Adam's righteousness was ours so long as he maintained it, and his sin was ours the moment that he committed it; and in the same manner, all that the Second Adam is or does, is ours as well as His, seeing that He is our representative.

Here is the foundation of the covenant of grace. This gracious system of representation and substitution, which moved Justin Martyr to cry out, "O blessed change, O sweet permutation!" this is the very groundwork of the gospel of our salvation, and is to be received with strong faith and rapturous joy.

Charles Spurgeon

 

[B-A-C]

The apostle Paul declares that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Melchizedek met him:

If it was Paul who wrote Hebrews.

 

[Christ4Ever]

For Spurgeon, in the 1800's it probably wasn't a question bantered about much.

 

[B-A-C]

For Spurgeon, in the 1800's it probably wasn't a question bantered about much.

There is an interesting article about this of Wikipedia under "Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews".
I tend to side with Scofield and Ryrie on this. Mostly because Paul said he wasn't an apostle to the Hebrews, but he was to the Gentiles. ( Rom 11:13; 1 Tim 2:7; Gal 2:7; etc.. )

 

[Christ4Ever]

Thanks for sharing BAC.

Though it would not surprise me if Paul was given authorship either. Romans 1:16 and Acts 13:46 can easily provide a basis that Paul would present the Gospel to the Jew first and then the Greek after being rejected. Following in line of Christ who came to the Jewish people (Matthew 15:24). You could also use Matthew 10:5-6

Since that only touches on why Paul might have written Hebrews. Securing authorship in many ways, provides more questions than answers (sigh).

Makes for a great study!

Thank-you once again brother for sharing.
YBIC
C4E

 

[Travis]

There is an interesting article about this of Wikipedia under "Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews".
I tend to side with Scofield and Ryrie on this. Mostly because Paul said he wasn't an apostle to the Hebrews, but he was to the Gentiles. ( Rom 11:13; 1 Tim 2:7; Gal 2:7; etc.. )

I tend to think Paul wrote it. Wouldn't ruin my day if he didn't though.

The fact that Scofield suggests it was Paul does concern me though. As a general rule I try not to side with Scofield if at all possible, something was terribly wrong with that man and his theology.

 

[RJ]

If it was Paul who wrote Hebrews.

The writting sure sounds like him and I agree but there is no solid evidence that it was Paul.
Either Paul wrote the epistle, or the writer was trained by Paul. Although it is a small detail, this epistle makes mention of Timothy (Hebrews 13:23), and Paul is the only apostle known to have ever done that in any letter. In many of Paul's writtings, he introduces himself in the very first sentence as in Romans and both Corinthians. In hebrews this was not the case. Since the third century this has been questioned, and the consensus among most modern scholars is that the author is unknown.
Regardless it is the word of God and one of my favorites!