Barnes church of Christ

The letter entitled, Hebrews, was written to Christians who had been converted from the Jewish religion. These Christians were beginning to cast their eyes back toward Judaism, and away from Christianity. After all, heavenly angels had a hand in revealing Judaism; the incomparable Moses was its mediator; legendary Joshua conquered their land of rest; and honorable Aaron initiated the high priesthood. Yes, Judaism was certainly tempting—especially since it had long been their way of life. To them, Christianity was new, uncomfortable, unglamorous.
However, their problem was: they had either never heard, or had never understood, or had forgotten what the letter of Hebrews was about to tell them. True, angels helped in revealing Judaism (2:2), but they were only servants whereas Jesus was the Son of God (1:5-14). Thus, as a revealer of religion, Christ is superior (1:4). So why go back?! (2:1) . Yes, Moses was the great mediator of Judaism, but he too was only a servant in the house of Jesus (3:5-6). Thus, as a mediator, Jesus is superior (3:3). So why go back?! (3:12). Yes, Joshua conquered and delivered unto them their promised land of rest, but even Joshua spoke of a greater rest (4:8) that came by Jesus (4:3). Thus, as a provider of rest, Jesus is superior. So why go back?! (4:11). Yes, Aaron and his descendants served as high priests, but Jesus is the high priest with a better priestly order (7:1-28), a more excellent ministry (8:1-13), a greater and perfect tabernacle (9:1- 28), and a much better sacrifice (10:1-18). Thus, as a high priest, Jesus is superior. So why go back?! (4:14). Yes, why go back to that which was vastly inferior?!!
It is easy for us, is it not, to shake our heads in bewilderment at these Christians for leaving the inexhaustible riches and blessings of Christ for the death-inducing, unforgiving, miserable way of their former life. Yet. Does God shake His head in bewilderment when we miss the point and become those “Hebrew-like Christians” of today? Do we, in like manner, cast our eyes back to a former way of life: the world? denominationalism? philosophies? Have we never heard, or have we never understood, or have we forgotten that Jesus and the life that He offers now on earth as well as in eternity is far, far superior than that which we previously had? So why? Why ever go back?!
Brethren, “let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (10:23,39).
Gary Henson

We are told: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). This means that every single benefit to one’s soul is obtained and realized by being in Christ. What, then, are these spiritual blessings?

Those who are in Christ are REDEEMED. The Bible teaches that it is Jesus “In whom we have redemption” (Eph. 1:7). “Redemption” means “a releasing for (i.e., on payment of) a ransom” (Vine’s, vol. 3, p. 264). Thus, the one who is in Christ has been released from sin and the clutches of Satan because Jesus paid the ransom price with the crucifixion.

Those who are in Christ have become a NEW CREATURE. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). To be a “new creature” is to be a new person (Eph. 4:25) and to have a new life (Rom. 6:4)–no matter how evil a life one had been living.

Those who are in Christ have no CONDEMNATION. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). To be condemned is to be disapproved of God. It is to have His judgment pronounced against us. But, at Judgment Day, to those who are in Christ, there will be no condemnation.

Those who are in Christ have FORGIVENESS OF SINS. Colossians 1:14 reveals, “In whom we have forgiveness through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” “Forgive” literally means to send away. Thus, those who are in Christ have had their sins sent away from the mind of God–there is no sin on their record.

Those who are in Christ have SALVATION. The apostle Paul wanted others to “obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10). Awaiting each person is either God’s reward in heaven or God’s wrath in hell. Every human being is either saved from God’s wrath, or he is lost. The only way to be saved is to be in Christ.

HOW THEN DOES ONE GET IN CHRIST? Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:27 both state that one is “baptized into Jesus Christ.” It is clear then, one gets in Christ by being baptized for the purpose of getting into Him. Thus, if you were told that you were in Christ before you were baptized (such as, at the moment you believed), and then were later baptized for some other reason, then you were never baptized for the purpose of getting into Christ, and these blessings (which all occur in the mind of God, not ours) have never been obtained. We would that all men be in Christ and enjoy these spiritual blessings, but it can be achieved only by the means by which God has decreed.
Gary Henson

Since we are to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) to the extent that we do not teach nor practice error (Rev. 22:18-19), then we must correctly interpret the Bible. While there are many principles involved in proper interpretation, the following will certainly help.
FIRST: Who was the speaker? Was he inspired or not? The statement, “All that a man hath will he give for his life” occurs in the Bible (Job 2:4), but it is an inspired recording of the words of Satan. The statement was a falsehood. So determine who is speaking.
SECOND: Who was addressed? When God gave the Ten Commandments, He was giving them to those whom He brought out of the land of Egypt (Ex. 20:1-2)—not you or me (cf., Rom. 7:1-7). When Jesus promised the baptism of the Holy Spirit, He was speaking only to the apostles (Acts 1:1-5). To fail to consider who was addressed can easily lead to a serious misinterpretation.
THIRD: When was it spoken/written? Many people point to the thief on the cross as proof that one was saved without baptism. However, “Today shall thou be with me in paradise” was spoken before the Old Testament was replaced by the New (Heb. 9:16-17). Furthermore, while Jesus was still on earth, He had the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:10). So, consider when it was spoken.
FOURTH: Where was it spoken or written? To realize that the statements “I rejoice” and “I have all things” were written by Paul while he was in a Roman prison will make a deeper impression concerning true joy and true needs. So determine where it was spoken.
 
These four principles are small but significant considerations which help us to “rightly divide the word of truth.”
Gary Henson

Our life as a Christian is a plea to the world on behalf of Jesus Christ. We do so by our words (Phil. 2:16; Mark 16:16) and our manner of life (Mat. 5:1; 1 Pet. 3:15; 2 Cor. 3:2-3). What, then, is it we are to plea?
When we plea for Christ to the world, we are pleading for His DEITY. The apostles made this the central fact of their proclamation (Acts 2:36; 5:42; 17:2-3; etc.). We, too, are to plea that Jesus was God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1,14).
When we plea for Christ to the world, we are pleading for His WORD–THE BIBLE. We are to proclaim that the Bible is inspired by God: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Tim. 3:16). We are to proclaim that the Bible is all-sufficient (we do not need addition, man-made creed books): “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness…” (2 Pet. 1:3).
When we plea for Christ to the world, we plea for His AUTHORITY. We must proclaim that any other religion or any philosophy of life has no authority nor validity, for: “All authority is given unto me, in heaven and on earth” (Mat. 28:18) and “There is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
When we plea for Christ to the world, we plea for His NAME. A follower of Christ is a Christian–that’s all! God said He was going to name us (Isa. 62:2), and the name with which He named us is “Christian” (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). We plea to the world that God did not name us with all the various names which are used today.
When we plea for Christ to the world, we plea for His CHURCH. We plea for unity (singularity) because Jesus “pray[ed] that they all be one” (John 17:20) and division is condemned (1 Cor. 1:10). Such unity can be achieved only by (1) rejecting the divisive creed books, and (2) following precisely what the Bible authorizes (John 8:32; Rev. 22:18-19).
May each Christian, by his words and by his manner of life, plea to the world on behalf of the Deity, the Word, the Authority, the Name and the church of Christ.
Gary Henson

Of a truth, miracles were performed in the first century during the writing of the New Testament, but to claim that miracles are being performed today is to claim that which no longer occurs. God Himself told us there would come a time when miracles would cease–and He also told us when.
First Corinthians 13:8-13 gives us that information. Follow along with your Bible and with the chart as these verses are considered. Love never ends – – it continues on throughout eternity (:8). Miracles were to end (:8). Miracles were referred to as that which was in “part” (:9). Miracles (the partial) were to end when the perfect came (:10). The condition of immaturity (child; see darkly; know in part) will change to the condition of maturity (man; see clearly; know fully) when the perfect comes (:11-12). Faith abides (:13) but will end in sight when one is in heaven (2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1). Hope abides (:13) but will end when heaven is obtained (Rom. 8:24-25).
From this it is clear that miracles were to end when the perfect came. The crucial question is: What is the perfect? Could it be heaven or Christ when He comes the second time? No, because there is a time span between the arrival of the perfect and the second coming of Christ: the miracles were to cease, but faith and hope were to continue until heaven came; furthermore, Christians could become mature at a time before heaven (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
What, then, is the perfect? The perfect is the finalized and completed revelation of the 27 books of the New Testament. Romans 12:2 identifies it as the “perfect will of God,” and James 1:25 describes it as “the perfect law of liberty.”
Thus, miracles existed at the beginning of the church for the purpose of proving that God was speaking through the men (Mark 16:17-20; John 3:2; 1 Kings 18:36-39), and were to end when the revealing of God’s Will had been completed (the NT) which would enable man to become mature (v:11-12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Miracles? Not today!
Gary Henson

When General Sam Houston defeated the Mexican General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, the Texans were no longer under subjection to the laws of Mexico. Although, no doubt, copies of that law were still in their land, they were now to be under the new law of the Republic of Texas.
When Jesus defeated Satan by His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, coronation and establishment of His kingdom, no longer was any man to be in subjection to the law of Moses. Although copies of that law still exist, man is now under subjection to the new law of Christ.
Colossians 2:14 makes clear that the old law is no longer in effect. It states that Jesus blotted it out. In those days people would use a pointed tool to etch letters upon a heavily waxed board. If corrections were to be made, a spoon-shaped tool would rub out the letters. Such removal was “blotting out.” Thus, Jesus rubbed out the old law—it was removed. The verse also declares that Jesus took the old law “out of the way.” Thus, it is no longer an obstacle on man’s pathway—it is gone. Furthermore, the verse reveals that Jesus nailed the old law to the cross. Thus, just as Jesus died upon the cross, so did the old law. It was dead–ineffective. No, the old law is no longer in effect, and we do not obtain our religious laws nor authority from it.
Galatians 3:19 also teaches that the old testament law has ended. It states that the old covenant was to be in effect “till the seed should come.” Thus, when the seed came, the law ended. Who was that seed? That seed was Christ (v.16). And Christ has come.
Yes, the old law has been taken out of the way. However, some people have erroneously concluded that such verses teach that ALL religious law has been taken away. Thus, they claim, we are under grace, not law. They then proceed to do in religion whatever they want—after all, there’s no law. Yet, and quite contrary, the Bible teaches that we ARE under a law–the law of Christ. Notice these revealing phrases: “…fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2); “…under the law to Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21); “…the perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25); “… the law of the Spirit of life in Christ” (Rom. 8:2). Yes, the old law has been taken out of the way, and the new law is now in effect.
Someone might ask, “If this is so, then why do we still have the Old Testament in our Bibles?” The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 (see also: Rom. 15:4; Jude 5).
So, which law are we under today?–old law, new law, neither or both? Today, you and I are amenable and only amenable to the law of Christ–the New Testament.
Gary Henson