Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 6): Covenant Failure, Written Prophecy, and the Witness of the Law

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 6): Covenant Failure, Written Prophecy, and the Witness of the Law

The Covenant Blueprint and the Five Courses of Punishment

To properly understand the unfolding of God’s plan across the pages of Scripture, a reader must have a solid foundation in the historical framework of the Old Testament. The national story of Israel does not begin in a vacuum; it takes shape back in the twelfth chapter of Genesis with the calling out of Abraham. That historical line runs steadily through the books of the law, through the historical narratives, and all the way up to the book of Esther before resuming in the four Gospels. Along this path, God established a conditional covenant with the nation he brought out of Egyptian bondage. The terms were laid out with complete clarity: if the people would obey the voice of the Lord, they would be a peculiar treasure unto him, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.

Yet when one turns to the very first prophetic book in the Bible, the prophet Isaiah does not address a holy nation. Instead, he opens his vision by declaring them to be a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, and a seed of evildoers. How does a nation called out by God to demonstrate his righteousness on the earth end up in such a degraded condition? The answer is found by looking back into the law of Moses, specifically at the solemn warnings recorded in Leviticus 26. God did not leave his people in the dark regarding the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. He laid out five distinct courses of punishment; a sequence of corrective chastisements designed to bring a rebellious people back to their knees.

If Israel would walk in his statutes, the rain would fall in due season, the land would yield her increase, and peace would reign within their borders. But if they refused to hearken and chose instead to despise his statutes, God promised to bring upon them terror, consumption, and the burning ague. Should they continue in their rebellion, God declared that he would punish them seven times more for their sins. The historical books from Joshua through Second Kings record the tragic realization of these warnings. Over a period of roughly one thousand years, God exercised immense patience and long-suffering toward Israel. He brought the first course of punishment, yet they revolted. He brought the second, third, and fourth courses, yet they hardened their hearts.

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 5): Leviticus 26 and the Five Courses of Punishment

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 5): Leviticus 26 and the Five Courses of Punishment

The Neglected Foundation of Old Testament History

Leviticus is easily one of those books that believers dread coming across as they read through their Bibles. It feels like a rough, tedious read filled with measurements, sacrifices, and ritual details that seem far removed from modern life. Yet tucked away within this neglected book lies crucial information that acts as the key to understanding the rest of Scripture. When readers skip or ignore Leviticus, they end up completely lost when they arrive at Judges, Kings, and the Prophets.

Without this foundational knowledge, people even misunderstand the Gospels. Many assume that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John mark the sudden birth of Christianity, entirely detached from what came before. But when John the Baptist appears announcing One who will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire, he is speaking directly to a nation formed under God’s law. The fire he speaks of is not a spiritual blessing to be begged for in a modern service; it refers to divine purging and judgment upon a nation that failed its covenant. The axe was laid to the root of the tree, and every tree bringing not forth good fruit would be cast into the fire. To understand why such warnings were declared, one must return to the structural foundation laid down in Leviticus 26.

Leviticus 26 outlines what is known as the five courses of punishment. These chastisements formed a direct part of the Mosaic covenant established between God and Israel. If Israel refused to keep the covenant and obey God's law, five distinct periods of divine correction would follow to chasten and reform them. Understanding these five periods provides the historical blueprint for everything that unfolds from Joshua through Esther. The entire history of Israel’s kingdom and their temporary blinding can be mapped precisely according to these five warnings.

God’s Blueprint for an Earthly Kingdom

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 4): Divine Government and the Two Created Realms

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 4): Divine Government and the Two Created Realms

The Stated Reality: God's Communication in Time Past

To understand any passage of Scripture, the student of the Word must first establish who is speaking, to whom the words are directed, and the specific historical context governing the statement. The opening lines of the Epistle to the Hebrews present a clear, stated reality regarding how the Creator chose to communicate with mankind. God spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, and hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son (Heb.1:1-2).

This distinction between "the fathers" and "us" forms the foundational line of division. The fathers mentioned here are not the universal ancestors of all humanity, nor do they represent the Gentile nations. They are the patriarchs and ancestral leaders of the nation of Israel. When the text speaks of God addressing "us," it refers directly to the immediate descendants of those same fathers—the children of Israel. A quick look back at the historical record reveals why this focus exists. In Genesis chapter eleven, mankind collectively rejected the knowledge of God at the Tower of Babel. In response, God gave the Gentile nations up (Rom.1:24-28), scattering them across the face of the earth and suffering them to walk in their own self-chosen ways (Acts14:16).

From that point forward, divine revelation was narrowed to a single channel. God called Abraham out of heathendom to build a distinct nation, establishing a prophetic line that would communicate His direct words. This order was formally established under Moses, through whom the Law was given, and continued through the period of the judges for four hundred and fifty years until Samuel the prophet. Samuel marked a definitive turning point in Israel's history. Before his ministry, the word of God was rare and precious, with no open vision (1Sam.3:1). From Samuel onward, God maintained an active prophetic voice in Israel. All the law and the prophets prophesied until John the Baptist (Matt.11:13), who marked the absolute end of that Old Testament prophetic era.

When Jesus Christ walked the earth during His earthly ministry, He operated entirely within this national framework. His own testimony declared that He was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt.15:24). When a Canaanite woman approached Him pleading for mercy on behalf of her daughter, Christ initially answered her not a word (Matt.15:23). When He did speak, He stated that it was not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs (Matt.15:26). In the divine economy, Gentiles were categorized as dogs—outsiders who had no legal claim to the covenant promises made to the fathers. The prophetic order mandated that Israel had to be blessed first, filled with the bread of God's kingdom, so that His blessings could subsequently overflow through them to the rest of the world.

The 70 Weeks and the Unprophesied Interruption

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 3): The Historical Background of Hebrews

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 3): The Historical Background of Hebrews

The Need for Context in Scripture

When we approach any specific portion of Scripture without first understanding its historical and dispensational background, confusion follows very quickly. Hebrews is one of the clearest examples of this. It stands as the fifty-eighth book of the Bible, and it leans on the foundation already laid in the fifty-seven books before it. If isolated passages from Hebrews are lifted out of that larger line of revelation, it becomes easy to misread truths that are plainly established elsewhere in the Word of God.

To read Scripture accurately, a believer needs to recognize that God speaks across different time periods and to different groups of people. Every word of God is pure, plain, and right to those who seek truth, but spiritual clarity also requires us to respect the distinct settings in which God revealed His plan (Ps.12:6; Prov.8:8-9). That is why a faithful study of Hebrews must trace the movement of Scripture from creation through the calling of Israel, observing how God’s dealings develop across time. Without that context, someone could easily take a handful of verses from Hebrews and use them to challenge clear doctrines given to us for the present age of grace.

Two Realms, Man's Creation, and Earthly Dominion

The story of Bible history begins at the very start of creation. When God brought the universe into existence, He established two primary realms: the heaven and the earth (Gen.1:1). Scripture identifies the heaven as the location of God’s supreme throne, while the earth was fashioned to be His footstool (Isa.66:1). These were not empty spaces without meaning. They were filled with order, authority, government, and purpose.

Within these two realms, God established a complete system of rule. All things in heaven and on earth—visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers—were created by Jesus Christ and for Him (Col.1:16). Every authority structure was originally designed to carry out the divine will and reflect the absolute glory of the Creator (Rev.4:11). This is also where the repeated biblical pattern of the number twelve becomes significant, as it appears in connection with governmental perfection: the twelve constellations, the twelve months of the year, the twelve tribes of Israel, and the twelve apostles who will sit on twelve thrones (Gen.49:28; Matt.19:28; Rev.21:12-14).

So from the beginning, Scripture presents creation not merely as a physical environment, but as a governed order under God’s throne.

The War of the Gospel: Our Doctrine Through the Eyes of Paul

The War of the Gospel: Our Doctrine Through the Eyes of Paul

See links to book and library here:

• https://books2read.com/RudiSteenhuis/
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HDGZNJYY

Book Overview:

The greatest threat to the Gospel was never outside the church. It was waiting inside its walls.

The frontier has been won. The Gentiles have heard the message of Grace. But now a far more dangerous battle begins.

Step once more into the sandals of the Apostle Paul and enter the most explosive doctrinal conflict of the first century. As legalistic teachers spread through the churches of Galatia, insisting that faith in Christ is not enough, Paul finds himself fighting for the very survival of the Gospel itself. A single compromise could place generations of believers back under the crushing weight of religious performance.

From the tense confrontation in Antioch, where Paul publicly withstands Peter, to the sleepless night in which he pens the fiery Epistle to the Galatians, and finally to the high-stakes council in Jerusalem where the future of Gentile believers hangs in the balance, this volume plunges you into a story of courage, controversy, heartbreak, and triumph.

Walk the dusty roads south to Jerusalem. Feel the pressure as Pharisaic believers demand circumcision for salvation. Stand beside Titus as he becomes a living test case before the leaders of the early church. Listen as Peter delivers a testimony that silences a room and watch as James issues a decree that changes the course of Christian history.

Inside these pages you will discover:

• Immersive Narrative: Twelve vivid chapters that transport you into the tension, emotion, and physical realities of Paul's most critical doctrinal battle.
• The Birth of Galatians: Experience the frantic circumstances that gave rise to one of Paul's most powerful letters as he wages war with ink before confronting his opponents in person.
• The Jerusalem Showdown: Witness the historic council where Grace and Law collide, and where the future liberty of Gentile believers hangs in the balance.
• Deep Doctrinal Insight: Follow detailed post-chapter studies that connect every event to Paul's epistles and the revelation of the Mystery.
• The Memory Challenge: A comprehensive review designed to reinforce the lessons and truths of the journey.

As the third volume in this sweeping series following Paul's life from conversion to execution, The War for the Gospel moves from missionary expansion to doctrinal preservation. Here the battlefield is no longer the pagan marketplace or hostile wilderness. It is the church itself.

The roads to Jerusalem are crowded. The council chamber is full. The verdict will echo through the centuries.

The Gospel is on trial. Paul is prepared to stand alone. Will Grace prevail?

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 2): Heaven, Earth, and the Heir of All Things

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 2):
Heaven, Earth, and the Heir of All Things

To grasp the depth of the Book of Hebrews, one must begin with the foundational blueprint of divine history established from the very beginning of Holy Scripture. The Word of God is not a disconnected collection of isolated books, nor can any single treatise be understood by human intellect alone. Truth is revealed when Scripture is compared with Scripture, allowing the full scope of God’s unfolding plan to illuminate each individual part.

As the fifty-eighth book of the Bible, Hebrews rests upon fifty-seven preceding books of divine revelation. Without a clear comprehension of the historical and covenantal backdrop leading up to this epistle, its contents remain obscure. The opening chapters of Hebrews rely heavily on the Old Testament, drawing extensively from the Psalms and the Prophets. Proper biblical interpretation requires examining not merely isolated verses or quotations, but reading several Psalms before and after to establish the complete context surrounding every statement.

Across the centuries, God operates as an eternal God dealing with mortal men who appear for a short time and vanish away. To execute His eternal work, He reveals His plan progressively across successive generations:

• Abraham: God delivers a specific portion of the divine promise to Abraham, who lives out his calling and dies in faith.
• Isaac and Jacob: The covenantal line continues as God deals directly with Isaac, and upon Isaac’s death, moves onward to Jacob.
• The Twelve Patriarchs and Israel: Following Jacob, God carries His purpose through the twelve patriarchs, growing them from seventy souls into a distinct nation brought out of Egypt.
• Moses and Joshua: God raises up Moses to lead the nation, and upon Moses’ death, hands the leadership mantle to Joshua.

Through these key historical highlights, God weaves together His overarching plan across time. This divine blueprint does not depend on human capability or spiritual performance, but on the absolute faithfulness of God. The unconditional promises made to Abraham regarding his seed stand unalterable, guaranteed entirely by the character of God regardless of Israel's historical failures.

The Fundamental Architecture of Creation

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 1): Israel’s Doctrine and Our Understanding

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 1):
Israel’s Doctrine and Our Understanding

God Spoke in Time Past

The book of Hebrews opens with a declaration that sets its foundation: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” (Heb.1:1-2). This opening statement establishes that Hebrews does not introduce something disconnected or new. It builds directly upon what God has already spoken through the prophets in time past and through His Son during His earthly ministry.

The Bible is its own interpreter, built upon the principle of comparing scripture with scripture (Isa.28:10; 1Cor.2:13). It provides an all-sufficient, complete revelation that does not rely on human commentaries, encyclopedias, or private imaginations to be understood. As the fifty-eighth book of the Bible, Hebrews is preceded by fifty-seven books of divine revelation. It was not birthed out of thin air, nor can it be comprehended by jumping into its pages without a firm grasp of the scriptures that came before it. Understanding the word spoken in time past is mandatory to prevent the twisting of its contents.

The very first chapter of Hebrews bombards the reader with Old Testament passages, drawing directly from Israel’s sacred writings:

• Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 in Hebrews 1:5
• Psalm 97:7 in Hebrews 1:6
• Psalm 104:4 in Hebrews 1:7
• Psalm 45:6-7 in Hebrews 1:8-9
• Psalm 102:25-27 in Hebrews 1:10-12
• Psalm 110:1 in Hebrews 1:13

These continuous citations demonstrate that Hebrews is saturated with Israel’s scripture. It addresses a people steeped in covenant history, pointing them toward the culmination of those promises in Christ. For those living under the dispensation of grace, recognizing this contextual framework is vital. Hebrews is Israel’s doctrine. It represents the continuation and fulfillment of their covenants and prophetic timeline. While Paul’s epistles reveal the distinct mystery doctrine given to the Body of Christ, studying Israel’s doctrine allows believers to rightly divide the word of truth (2Tim.2:15) and appreciate the structural harmony of God’s complete plan.

The Law and the Prophets