Philip Dampier's Blog

“…saying, ‘Surely I will bless you and multiply you.’” This phrase contains the seed of the promise God made to Abraham. It has two parts one having to do with Abraham’s family and the other having to do with Abraham’s own life. Over and over, we will see one part…

“For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself.” This is about the oath guarantee that God made to Abraham. We would consider the promise of God to be good without an oath. This promise is so…

“So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” More of the same really. Sluggish? Does he mean lazy or lackadaisical? Can the Christian lose his or her pep? Can the believers slow down and ease off? Sure, all those…

“And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.” Evidently, the writer has detected some easing off on the part of some of the believers he is addressing. While some or most are pursuing a course of…

“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints as you still do.” This verse helps us key in on several things. God is a just God. That, of course, is a two-way street.…

“Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” Having gone through a lot of negative stuff, the author is reminded of the good things the Hebrews are doing. Like most of us, the Hebrews had some credible…

“But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.” The analogy continues, and now we see the reverse side of the argument. Just as productive land receives a blessing, so the unproductive receives a curse. This is…

“For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated receives a blessing from God.” The writer changes his example somewhat. We now see the comparison of creation and mankind. The land that is faithful…

“…and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” Now we see the end of the writer’s argument. When a person has gone through the process of rebirth…

“…and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,…” Here are the remaining two categories that explain the ‘it is impossible’  of these three verses. All five are as one and are greatly connected together by the participation of the readers.…