Hebrews - Chapter 9

RITES & SACRIFICES ALL INFERIOR TO CHRIST

9:1-5 The Tabernacle:

The first covenant had regulations for worship & an earthly sanctuary. A Tabernacle was set up in whose first room was the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread, all called The Holy Place.

Behind the second curtain (the veil) was a room called The Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense, and the gold covered ark of the covenant. In the ark was a gold jar of the manna God supplied from Heaven to sustain the Jews in the wilderness, the rod of Aaron, and the stone tablets of the ten commandments, written by the finger of God.

9:6-7

Yom Kippur:

Under this arrangement the Levite priests entered the first room but only the high priest was allowed to enter the second room, and only once per year, and never without blood, a sacrifice for both his sins and the sins of the people.

Even today, the Jews celebrate the day of atonement but unlike the early days, they now have no tabernacle nor Levitical priests.

Under this arrangement we see a shadow of the perfect sacrifice to come of Jesus on the cross. Remember Jesus atoned for ALL sin, past, present & future.

1 John 2:2 “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins”.

Acts 13:39 “By Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses”.

It took a goat to carry away the sins of the Jews (Leviticus 16:21), the scapegoat, but Christ took our sins upon himself.

9:8-10

Ineffective Regulations:

The Holy Spirit shows that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle stood.

The gifts & sacrifices offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They were only a matter of food & drink & various ceremonial washings, all external ineffective regulations to exist until the arrival of the new covenant.

Note: Col 2:16-17

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ”.

Heb 13:9

“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them”.

The law is to a degree symbolic, and we MUST not confuse symbolism with substance.

That which is of the flesh is flesh, while we know that the Spirit gives birth to spirit. External regulations are ineffective and neither justify nor sanctify.

Only in the new covenant is found regeneration and the elect are justified by His work on the cross (JUST-AS-IF).

9:11

The New Covenant’s Sanctuary:

A greater & more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is not of this creation. Christ, our great high priest, IS our more perfect tabernacle.

9:12-15

The Effect of the Blood of Christ:

Not through the blood of bulls & goats, but through His own blood, given only once and providing redemption sufficient for all, effective for some.

He is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred to redeem all transgressions that were under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal life.

9:16-22

The Necessity of the Blood of Christ:

An inheritance can only be gained at the death of the one who does the giving. A will is only in force after death

Just as Moses took the blood of calves & goats and sprinkled the book itself and all the people saying “… this is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you”. Under the law, cleansing came only by blood.

We are taught that there is no remission without the shedding of blood.

9:23-24

The Sacrifice Must Be Ideal:

The Heavenly things, shadowed by the patterns of the first covenant, are a better sacrifice than all these things, being pure and spotless.

9:25-28

The Finality of the Blood of Christ:

He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Christ was offered ONCE to bear ALL sin. He shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

What should we make of this last verse?

Here the second coming is contrasted to the first. When Jesus became flesh, it was with the pure purpose of taking the sin of the world upon himself. Remember John the Baptist saying, “… behold the lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world…”.

Jesus taught us that it was for this purpose that he came.

When he returns for us, He will come in a very different manner, one of King of kings, Lord of Lords, conqueror of Satan and all his demons & followers. Human sin was settled at the cross. Glory & final redemption will come with Him when He returns and ALL things are put under Him, and every knee bows.

Hebrews 9: A Better Sanctuary

HEBREWS 9:1-12

Application: The student will discover that the spiritual tabernacle of the body of Christ is better than the Old Testament Tabernacle made with hands.

THERE WAS GIVEN TO THE HEBREW PEOPLE A TABERNACLE PLACE OF WORSHIP BUILT BY MOSES AND THOSE INSTRUCTED BY GOD TO ALLOW THE PLACE OF WORK BY LEVITICAL PRIESTS AND ALLOW A PLACE OF SACRIFICE OF ANIMALS TO COVER THE SIN OF BOTH THE PRIESTS AND THE HEBREW PEOPLE.

THE BLOOD OF INNOCENT ANIMALS AND THE USE OF A SCAPEGOAT AS A SYMBOL OF COVERING SIN WAS DIRECTED BY GOD AS A MEANS OF COVERING SIN BUT WAS NOT FULLY FORGIVING.

THAT SANCTUARY HAD TO BE CONSTANTLY WORKED ALONG WITH THE ONCE YEARLY APPROACH INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES BY THE HIGH PRIEST TO SPRINKLE SUCH BLOOD ON THE MERCY SEAT OF THE ARK OF COVENANT.

THIS BLOOD WAS REQUIRED EACH YEAR TO COVER THE SINS OF BOTH THE PRIESTS AND THE PEOPLE.

THIS COMMANDED PART OF THE LAW BROUGHT NO SALVATION NOR JUSTIFICATION.

IT WAS A TYPE GIVEN TO THE HEBREWS TO POINT FORWARD TO THE ONCE AND FOREVER SACRIFICE MADE BY THE REDEEMER TO COME WHICH DID NOT COVER SIN BUT REMOVED IT.

JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS CLEAR IN HIS TEACHING THAT THE LAMB OF GOD WALKING AMONG HIS PEOPLE “TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD”.

THE PROPHET ISAIAH TAUGHT US OF THE LACK OF GENUINE REPENTANCE OF THE HEBREW PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE RITUAL OF THE LAW AND NOT MOVING THEIR HEARTS CLOSER TO GOD.

THIS EARTHLY TABERNACLE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE SPIRIT OF MEN WHAT JESUS WOULD BRING WHEN HE BROUGHT THE NEW AND COMPLETE TABERNACLE BASED IN SPIRITUAL TRUTH.

JUST AS WE LEARNED IN HEBREWS ONE, GOD HAD DECIDED TO PROVIDE A NEW TABERNACLE FOR MANKIND, NO LONGER SPEAKING TO MAN IN PROPHET’S WORDS BUT ONLY IN THE WORD OF POWER OF HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.

HE DID SO IN A BETTER SANCTUARY WITH A BETTER HIGH PRIEST WHO WAS ABLE WITH HIS OWN BLOOD TO PROVIDE REDEMPTION TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.

THIS FINAL & BETTER GREAT HIGH PRIEST WAS GIVEN IN A FAR BETTER ORDER OF WHICH ONLY JESUS AND MELCHIDEZEK RESIDED.

ALL THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN BEFORE TO MANKIND WAS SHADOW OF THE REALITY ARRIVING LATER IN THE PERSON OF JESUS.

THE WRITER OF HEBREWS HAD SPENT MANY CHAPTERS BUILDING TOWARD THE UNDERSTANDING NOW GIVEN IN CHAPTER 9.

HE FIRST REVEALED GOD’S NEW DECISION TO REPLACE THE OLD MANNER OF COMMUNICATION TOWARD HIS PEOPLE WITH A NEW AND BETTER WAY IN HEBREWS 1:1-3.

HE THEN LEADS A STUDY JOURNEY TO REVEAL THAT THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT WAS BETTER IN CHRIST THAN HAD BEEN SEEN IN PROPHETS OR ANGELS OR MOSES OR AARON OR JOSHUA.

HE THEN LEADS THESE WAVERING BELIEVERS INTO FAR GREATER DEEP CONSIDERATION BY SHOWING THAT JESUS HIMSELF WAS FAR BETTER THAN THE ACTUAL SANCTUARY OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS OR THE TEMPLE OF STONE IN JERUSALEM.

GOD HAD REVEALED IN THE WORDS OF JEREMIAH THAT A NEW COVENANT WAS EVIDENT BY HIS COMMAND WHICH WROTE HIS WORD INTO HUMAN HEARTS, NOT IN STONE TABLETS OF THE OLD COVENANT.

GOD CLEARLY SAID THAT HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE HAD BROKEN THE OLD COVENANT.

GOD HAD DESIGNED AND DECREED THE LAW, OBLIGING THE HEBREW PEOPLE TO KEEP IT.

IT HAD NOT BEEN DESIGNED TO REDEEM BUT TO REVEAL SIN.

IT WOULD WITNESS THE NEED FOR A SAVIOR AND SHOULD THEREFORE LEAD MEN TO THAT ONE TO COME WHICH IS TAUGHT IN GALATIANS 3:24:

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

THE NEW COVENANT IN CHRIST WAS INITIATED IN AN OATH MADE BY GOD, SWEARING BY HIMSELF AS THERE IS NO HIGHER AUTHORITY.

NO DIVINE OATH STOOD BEHIND THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD AND IT WAS THEREFORE LESS THAN THE GREAT HIGH PRIESTHOOD NOW GIVEN TO MANKIND.

THIS NEW PRIESTHOOD AND NEW COVENANT PROVIDED ONE MAJESTIC DIFFERENCE FROM THE OLD AND THAT DIFFERENCE IS FOUND IN GALATIANS 4:4-5:

“But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons…”.

HERE IS THE CLEAR TEACHING THAT THIS NEW SANCTUARY IN JESUS IS BETTER THAN THE WORLDLY SANCTUARY GIVEN BEFORE.

VERSE 11 DESCRIBES IT AS A “MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE”.

IT IS HEAVENLY AND ETERNAL AS OPPOSED TO EARTHLY AND TEMPORARY.

IT HOUSES THE WORK OF THE NEW GREAT HIGHER PRIEST, JESUS CHRIST AND BRINGS TRUE SALVATION TO THE BELIEVER AS OPPOSED TO THE EARTHLY TABERNACLE AND ITS CEREMONY WHICH WAS NOT ABLE TO SAVE ANYONE.

THIS NEW AND BETTER WAY OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US BY HIS SACRIFICE OF HIS BLOOD WHICH FULLY ATONED FOR SIN

FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

POINT 11 IN OUR STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE INSIDE THE COVER OF EACH SUNDAY SCHOOL BOOK STATES THAT BLOOD HAS NO EFFECT ON THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE.

THE SATISFACTION OF THE SIN DEBT OF MANKIND, BRINGING ETERNAL REDEMPTION, IS PARTIAL IN THAT REGARD.

IT IS FULL FOR THOSE IN FAITH FOREVER BUT IS WITHHELD FROM ALL WHO DO NOT BELIEVE, AND JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT IN JOHN 3:18 THAT THOSE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM AND ARE CONDEMNED ALREADY.

ALL MAN MUST DO IS TO REPENT OF UNBELIEF AND TRUST IN CHRIST AFTER HE IS DRAWN BY THE FATHER.

NO MAN NOR WOMAN COMES BY THEIR OWN WILL BUT BY THE WILL OF GOD. (JOHN 1:13).

THE WORLDLY TABERNACLE PERFORMED A GREAT SERVICE IN THE PURPOSE AND PLAN OF GOD.

THROUGH THE CERMONIES AND SACRIFICES, THE LAW REVEALED TO MANKIND THE NEED FOR A SAVIOR.

THE LAW REVEALED ALSO THAT ONLY A SINLESS SACRIFICE COULD PAY THE SIN DEBT AND OBTAIN REDEMPTION FOR SINNERS.

THE SACRIFICES OF ANIMALS FOR CENTURIES COVERED SIN FOR THAT YEAR AND WERE NECESSARY TO BE REPEATED EVERY YEAR.

THE PERFECT PLAN OF GOD SENT A MESSIAH AMONG US WHO WAS SINLESS AND THEREBY ABLE TO BE MADE SIN FOR US AND RETIRE THAT DEBT THAT HAD CURSED US FROM THE GARDEN ONWARD.

WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT COMPLETE, CHRIST AS THE NEW AND GREATER HIGH PRIEST PERFECTED.

Hebrews 9-10: A Better Sacrifice

HEBREWS 9:13   -   10:37

Application: The student will differentiate between the many Old Testament animal sacrifices and the one superior sacrifice Jesus made for sin.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL WRITER, PASTOR CLEMENTS, PROVIDES SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL THOUGHTS OF THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT IN THIS STUDY STOP.

HE SHOWS US THAT IT IS THE INBORN PRIDEFULNESS OF EACH OF US AS FALLEN CREATURES THAT BRINGS DESIRE TO SECURE OUR OWN SALVATION.

WHAT MAN HAS CREATED THROUGHOUT HUMAN HISTORY IS A SERIES OF IDOLS TO WORSHIP WHICH FALSELY GIVE THE IDOL WORSHIPER A SENSE OF BEING MASTER OF HIS OWN FATE.

BECAUSE OF THAT KNOWN FACT, HE TEACHES US THAT ALL HUMANS FALL INTO ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES:

PEOPLE WHO TRUST IN THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS FOR SALVATION

OR

PEOPLE WHO TRUST IN THEIR OWN WORKS TO SAVE THEM.

GOD HAS DICTATED HOW WE ARE TO APPROACH HIM ON HIS TERMS.

AS WE HAVE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES IN OUR HEBREWS STUDY, NO EXPRESSION OF OUR FREE WILL IS ABLE TO BRING US INTO THE KINGDOM.

ONLY THOSE BORN AGAIN CAN SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

BORN AGAIN MEANS FULL SURRENDER AND TRUST IN THE ONE SENT FOR EXACTLY THIS PURPOSE.

ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT DEGREE OF FAITH BRINGS CONDEMNATION.

HEBREWS REVEALS SOME BELIEVERS SEEMED TO WISH TO WAVER IN FAITH AND REVERT TO THE OLD TESTAMENT SYSTEM OF SACRIFICE.

PAUL WROTE SO VERY CLEARLY ON THIS MATTER IN GALATIANS 2:21:

“… if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain…”

SALVATION COMES IN FULL FROM THE BETTER SACRIFICE MADE BY JESUS CHRIST OR IT DOES NOT EXIST BECAUSE THE LAW NEVER SAVED.

CHAPTER 10 VERSES 4-9 QUOTES KING DAVID IN PSALM 40:6-8 WHICH TAUGHT THAT GOD WAS MORE INTERESTED IN THE PENITENT HEART OF THE WORSHPER THAN IN THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES MADE BY HIM.

WE HAVE SEEN SUCH MISUNDERSTANDING IN BOTH THE SISTER OF LAZARUS & THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL BOTH OF WHOM TRIED TO EXPLAIN SALVATION IN THE LAW TO JESUS AS TAUGHT BY THE PHARISEES AND BOTH WERE CLEARLY TAUGHT BETTER BY JESUS HIMSELF A BETTER WAY HAD ARRIVED THAT DID BRING GOD’S KINGDOM TO EARTH IN HIMSELF.

Hebrews - Chapter 10

CHRIST’S SACRIFICE IS SUFFICIENT & PRESERVING FAITH

The 10th chapter of our study has two main divisions:

1. Verses 1-20 Setting forth the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice unto those who believe.

2. Verses 21-39 Making practical application of the lessons of the first division unto faith, obedience, and perseverance.

The method used in the first division is to once again set up the contrast between the former means of sacrifice found to be inadequate and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which was sufficient for all while effective for some (the elect). His work on the cross provided a perfect standing before God for those who believe on Him as well as opening the veil that had stood for centuries as a wall which allowed no direct access.

All the chapters until now reflected the fact that the sacrifices made by all the Levites were but shadows of the perfect sacrifice to come and by their needed repetition yearly were shown to be insufficient.

The closing verse of chapter 9 joined together the cross of Christ and His second coming. A good question for us to consider is what happens between these two events, that is what should we think of as the time between the events of Calvary and the actual entry into glory of those who were redeemed there, called to be His children, and reconciled to Him?

The answer is the Christian life on earth. It is this life that will be mainly the view of the chapters to come as we finish the study of Hebrews. We will see the present status, privileges, walk, discipline, and responsibilities of the saints who are here to further His kingdom by the fruits of our lives.

In chapter 10 we see clearly that the old covenant sacrifice was not sufficient to take away sin and that the necessity & power of Jesus did exactly that through His “once only” sacrifice. (verses 1-18).

We see an argument made for boldness of the believer by access to God directly through Christ, no longer separated by the curtain of the old way.

We also see the need for our faith to be steadfast and the mutual love & duty of the believer. (verses 19-25).

We see the danger of apostasy presented. (verses 26-31).

We see the sufferings of believers and the encouragement needed to maintain faith. (verses 32-39).

10:1-10

The tabernacle and many ordinances of the old covenant made at Sinai were only types & shadows of the gospel. 

The sacrifices of the high priests offered each year many times could not make worshippers perfect (meaning complete & finished, not sinless) with respect to pardon from sin and could not purify the conscience.

But we see that when “God in flesh” became the sacrifice He ransomed us by His death. The atonement was effective because He laid His life down for us through His power to lay it down (and to take it up again), placing himself in our place. He CHOSE to do so. No man took His life. He voluntarily gave it for us.

We know that He accepted the cup as the will of the Father and by doing so atoned for all sin, brought righteousness to man by His sacrifice imputing his righteousness to each believer for all time, making those called to Him more perfect through acceptance and then obedience to His gospel.

Are we to presume that all those who lived and died under the old covenant were perhaps without standing before God?  As Paul so well teaches us, God forbid! 

While the sacrifices of the Levites were not sufficient to secure the blessings found in the new covenant under Christ, we are taught clearly that there were many faithful who belonged to “…the remnant according to the election of grace…” (Rom 11:5) and that their faith had allowed them to see beyond the shadow to the reality of the substance of the Lord’s will.

Job 19:25      

Psalm 23:6     

Isaiah 12:2    

Daniel 12:2

10:11-18

Under the new covenant (based upon the gospel) full & final pardon are available. This is the supreme difference between the old and the new.

Under the old, repetitive sacrifices brought only temporary pardon, AND it was only for a time AND only for those there at the moment.

Under the new, one sacrifice was sufficient for all time, all ages, all nations, unto all believers and its spiritual pardon was to free us from punishment both here and in the life to come. (Remember we are taught that our sins are forgiven AND will be remembered no more).

Our opportunity to receive this freely given gift of grace is through faith and the sealing of it in our hearts by the continual work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, bringing us onward through obedience, as we are then a new creation and have been justified by the all sufficient sacrifice of Christ.

We must always remember that Jesus was the first fruit of the dead. While others arose, only He arose to glory.

Isaiah 42:1 teaches us that “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth”.

The church was chosen in Christ. (Eph 4:1)

The church was given to Christ. (Heb 2:13)

God the Son was appointed to be the Head of the whole election of grace and we to be members of His body. (Eph 1:22-23 & 5:30)

We did not choose Him, He chose us!

10:19-25

The argument of the early verses is now concluded. The teacher now turns to the results of the holy argument made to us. Now we turn to the practical application of all that came before.

We have boldness to enter into the holiest place, access provided by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way.

We have in the heavenly sanctuary a great high priest over the entire House of God & His true church, the body of Christ made up of all believers.

All difficulties have been removed forever.

Our access is He who is the way and is also our destination.

He is forever interceding for us as we strive here to become more obedient and less sinful while we still struggle with the carnal nature that remains a part of us while here.

He has given us in Himself an all sufficient mediator and has, through sending the Comforter, arranged a path for believers to be able to overcome the trials & tribulations evident in each believer’s life.

On this perfect foundation rests His exhortation in three parts:

1. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith.

2. Let us hold fast to the profession of hope without wavering.

3. Let us consider one another, encouraging one another unto love and good works.

Faith, hope, & love, the new covenant of divine grace.

10:26-31

“For if we sin willingly after we have received the knowledge of the truth…”

We now are under study of one of the most solemn and fear inspiring passages not only of Hebrews but of the entire Word of God. 

These verses are known as the “apostasy verses” of Hebrews. The word apostasy is defined as rejection of belief. 

It is imperative that each believer understand these verses as applied to those who share our time and those who fell under the influence of the most evil one now and before to reject the Word, the gospel, and its teachings AFTER it has been made available to them.

The true question each believer must address is whether he is a true branch of the one & only vine. 

Do we admit that alone we can do nothing? Are we ready to place our lives under the control of the Living God through His beloved Son? 

Will we deny ourselves the fruits & effects of the carnal nature, not yielding to the temptation which will never end? Are we ready to concede our lives to the teaching of 1 John 5:4:

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world…”

Apostasy is making a shipwreck of faith. I Timothy 1:9:

“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…”

It is a returning to and being overcome by the world after having understood the knowledge of the Lord & Savior. There are some specific steps which come before it:

Looking back: (Luke 9:62) “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”.

Remember Lot’s wife who could not obey and looked back at her city where her heart was, & found her destruction.

Drawing back: (Hebrews 10:38)  “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

The requirements of Christ are exacting and become no longer fixed in the heart.

Turning back: (John 6:66) “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.

The path the believer MUST walk is narrow and does not suit the way of the flesh.

Falling back: (Isaiah 28:13) “.. that they might go, and fall backward and be taken”.

NOTE: For if we sin willfully ------------

This use of the word “sin” is one of a peculiar sense. It is not describing sin generally but of a particular kind of sin, apostasy from the faith and truth.

The fallen angels are known as the “apostate angels” having known the truth and rejected it, then suffering the consequence of that rejection, a perfect example of Hebrews 10:31:

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.

The Lord has issued the warning through His scripture and we as believers must be attentive to His serious conversation with us on this most serious matter.

Let’s keep his thoughts from Isaiah 66:2 in our heart & mind:

“To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,  and trembleth at my word”.

10:32-39

The path of tribulation & salvation of the soul.

Many afflictions united against the early Christians, and they were in great conflict much of their lives.

All things here are but shadows, and the happiness of the saints in Heaven will be forever. No enemy can take it away as earthly goods might be stolen away. All that we sacrifice here will be made into rich amends in the eternal life with Him awaiting us.

However, the greatest part of the happiness is still in promise.

The trial for the Christian is to live His Word here, remain steadfast and in good faith until the call arrives for us to travel homeward.

By His grace, we will persevere, remaining faithful through all trials, and meet Him having lived by faith, dying by faith, receiving our crown to lay at His feet.

Now we travel onward to study the most precious words of faith given to us in the wonderful chapter on faith, Hebrews 11, which presents to us many examples of those whose faith pleased the Lord and whose good report likely was treasured in the words:

“Welcome home good & faithful servant” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Hebrews 10: Our Perfect Sacrifice

APPLICATION: Trust in Christ’s all-sufficient sacrifice and serve him by witnessing, assembling, and encouraging others.

THE 10TH CHAPTER OF HEBREWS HAS TWO MAIN DIVISIONS:

1. VERSES 1-20 SET FORTH THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE UNTO THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

2. VERSES 21-39 MAKING PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE LESSONS OF THE FIRST DIVISION UNTO FAITH, OBEDIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE.

WITHIN THESE LARGER DIVISIONS WE ALSO SEE SMALLER GROUPS OF VERSES THAT GUIDE US TO SEVERAL THEMES:

1. 1-4 THE SACRIFICE

2. 5-7 THE DIVINE INCARNATION

3. 7-10 CHRIST’S DEDICATION

4. 11-14  PERFECTING THE CHURCH

5. 15-18  SANCTIFICATION

6. 19-23  ACCESS TO GOD

7. 23-24  CHRISTIAN PERSEVERANCE

8. 25-27  APOSTASY

9. 28-31  DOOM OF THOSE IN APOSTASY

10.  32-34 THE PATH OF TRIBULATION

11. 35-39 SAVING THE SOUL

SO WE SEE IN THIS ONE CHAPTER MANY OF THE MAIN PORTIONS OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE AND LIFE.

THIS CHAPTER ONCE MORE SETS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FORMER MEANS OF SACRIFICE FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE AND TEMPORARY AND THE PERMANENT SACRIFICE OF OUR LORD WHICH WAS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL BUT EFFECTIVE ONLY FOR SOME (THE ELECT).

THE CLOSING VERSE OF CHAPTER 9 JOINED TOGETHER THE CROSS OF CHRIST AND HIS SECOND COMING.

THE BEST QUESTION WE MIGHT ASK IS WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN THESE TWO EVENTS, BETWEEN THE WORK AT CALVARY AND THE TAKING TO GLORY THOSE WHO WERE REDEEMED THERE?

THE ANSWER IS CHRISTIAN LIFE ON EARTH. THAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF OUR CHAPTER WE STUDY TODAY AND UNTIL THE END OF HEBREWS.

WE WILL SEE THE PRESENT STATUS, PRIVILEGES, WALK, DISCIPLINE, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD WHO REMAIN HERE TO FURTHER HIS KINGDOM.

1-10

THE TYPES AND SHADOWS & MANY ORDINANCES OF THE OLD COVENANT MADE AT SINAI WERE ONLY TYPES & SHADOWS OF THE GOSPEL TO COME.

THE SACRIFICES OF THE HIGH PRIESTS OFFERED EACH YEAR MANY TIMES COULD NOT MAKE WORSHIPPERS PERFECT (MEANING COMPLETE & FINISHED – NOT SINLESS) WITH RESPECT TO PARDON FROM SIN.

THERE WAS NO PURIFICATION OF THE CONSCIENCE OF THE BELIEVER.

BUT WHEN “GOD IN FLESH” BECAME THE SACRIFICE HE RANSOMED US BY HIS DEATH. THE ATONEMENT WAS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE HE CHOSE TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US (AND TOOK IT UP AGAIN) PLACING HIMSELF IN OUR PLACE.

NO MAN TOOK HIS LIFE. HE VOLUNTARILY GAVE IT FOR EACH OF US THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH IN HIM AND SHARE IN HIS VICTORY.

WE KNOW THAT HE ACCEPTED THE CUP AS THE WILL OF THE FATHER AND BY DOING SO ATONED FOR ALL SIN, MAKING THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO HIM MORE PERFECT THROUGH ACCEPTANCE AND THEN BY OBEDIENCE TO HIS GOSPEL.

NOW ARE WE TO PRESUME THAT ALL THOSE WHO LIVED AND DIED UNDER THE OLD COVENANT WERE PERHAPS WITHOUT STANDING BEFORE GOD?

AS PAUL TEACHES US SO WELL,  GOD FORBID !!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHILE THE SACRIFICES OF THE LEVITES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS FOUND IN THE NEW COVENANT UNDER CHRIST, WE ARE TAUGHT CLEARLY THAT THERE WERE MANY FAITHFUL WHO BELONG TO “… THE REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE” (ROMANS 11:5).

THEIR FAITH HAD ALLOWED THEM TO SEE BEYOND THE SHADOW TO THE REALITY OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE LORD’S WILL.

JOB 19:25   “FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, AND THAT HE SHALL STAND AT THE LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH”.

PSALM 23:6 “... I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER”.

DANIEL 12:1 & 2 “AND AT THAT TIME SHALL MICHAEL STAND UP... AND MANY OF THEM THAT SLEEP IN THE DUST OF THE EARTH SHALL AWAKE, SOME TO EVERLASTING LIFE,  AND SOME TO SHAME AND EVERLASTING CONTEMPT”.

(DANIEL'S PROPHECY IS ALMOST WORD FOR WORD THE TEACHING OF PAUL CONCERNING THE LAST DAY IN 1ST THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 4)

11-18

UNDER THE NEW COVENANT (BASED UPON THE GOSPEL) FULL & FINAL PARDON IS AVAILABLE. 

THIS IS THE SUPREME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO PROMISES.

UNDER THE OLD PROMISE, REPETITIVE SACRIFICES BROUGHT ONLY TEMPORARY PARDON, AND WAS ONLY FOR THAT TIME AND ONLY FOR THOSE PRESENT AT THAT MOMENT.

UNDER THE NEW PROMISE, ONE SACRIFICE WAS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL TIME, FOR ALL AGES, FOR ALL NATIONS, UNTO ALL BELIEVERS.

ITS SPIRITUAL PARDON FREED FROM PUNISHMENT HERE AND IN THE LIFE TO COME (REMEMBER WE ARE TAUGHT THAT OUR SINS ARE FORGVEN AND WILL BE REMEMBERED NO MORE). 

OUR OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THIS FREELY GIVEN GIFT OF GRACE IS THROUGH FAITH AND THE SEALING OF IT IN OUR HEARTS BY THE CONTINUAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES, BRINGING US ONWARD THROUGH OBEDIENCE.

WE ARE A NEW CREATION, JUSTIFIED BY THE EFFECTIVE SACRIFICE OF OUR LORD FOR EACH OF US.

WE MUST REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT JESUS WAS THE FIRSTFRUIT OF THE DEAD.

WHILE OTHERS AROSE BY HIS COMMAND AND THE COMMANDS OF HIS PROPHETS & APOSTLES, ONLY HE ROSE IN GLORY.

THE CHURCH WAS CHOSEN IN CHRIST. (EPHESIANS 4:1) (NOW EACH WHO BELIEVES IS THE PRISONER OF THE LORD).

THE CHURCH WAS GIVEN TO CHRIST. (HEBREWS 2:13) (WE ARE THE CHILDREN WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN HIM).

GOD THE SON WAS APPOINTED TO BE THE HEAD OF THE WHOLE ELECTION OF GRACE AND WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY. (EPHESIANS 1:22) ( ALL THINGS ARE UNDER HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH).

WE DID NOT CHOOSE HIM – HE CHOSE US. !!!!!!!!!!!!

19-25

THE ARGUMENT OF THE EARLY VERSES IS CONCLUDED NOW.

THE TEACHER TURNS TO THE RESULTS OF THE HOLY ARGUMENT MADE TO US.

NOW WE TURN TO THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF ALL THAT CAME BEFORE.

WE HAVE BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST PLACE, ACCESS PROVIDED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY.

WE HAVE IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY A GREAT HIGH PRIEST OVER THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF GOD & HIS TRUE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST MADE UP OF ALL BELIEVERS.

ALL DIFFICULTIES AND OBSTACLES ARE NOW REMOVED FOREVER.

CHRIST IS BOTH OUR ACCESS AND OUR DESTINATION.

HE CONTINUES TO INTERCEDE FOR US FOREVER AS WE STRIVE HERE TO BECOME MORE OBEDIENT AND LESS SINFUL WHILE WE STRUGGLE WITH THE CARNAL NATURE THAT REMAINS A PART OF US AS LONG AS WE LIVE HERE.

HE IS OUR ALL SUFFICIENT MEDIATOR AND HAS, THROUGH SENDING THE COMFORTER, ARRANGED A PATH FOR BELIEVERS TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THE TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS EVIDENT IN EACH LIFE.

ON THIS PERFECT FOUNDATION RESTS OUR CHALLENGE IN THREE PARTS:

1. LET US DRAW NEAR TO HIM WITH A TRUE HEART, IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH.

2. LET US HOLD FAST TO THE PROFESSION OF HOPE WITHOUT WAVERING.

3. LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER, ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER UNTO LOVE AND GOOD WORKS.

FAITH – HOPE –LOVE

THE NEW COVENANT OF DIVINE GRACE.

26-31

“FOR IF WE SIN WILLINGLY AFTER WE HAVE RECEIVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH…”

NOW WE VIEW ONE OF THE MOST SOLEMN AND FEAR INSPIRING PASSAGES NOT ONLY OF HEBREWS BUT OF THE ENTIRE WORD OF GOD.

THESE VERSES ARE KNOWN AS “THE APOSTASY VERSES” OF HEBREWS.

THE WORD APOSTASY IS DEFINED AS REJECTION OF BELIEF.

WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SECTION IS INTENDED TO FOCUS UPON THOSE, THEN & NOW, WHO HAVE HEARD AND ACCEPTED, AND HAVE NOW REJECTED THE GOSPEL.

THE TRUE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE BEIEVE WE ARE THE BRANCHES AND HE IS THE ONE & ONLY TRUE VINE.

DO WE ACCEPT & ADMIT THAT WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING?

ARE WE READY TO PLACE OUR LIVES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE LIVING GOD THOROUGH HIS BELOVED SON?

WILL WE DENY OURSELVES THE FRUITS & EFFECTS OF THE CARNAL NATURE, NOT YIELDING TO THE TEMPTATION THAT WILL NEVER END?

ARE WE READY TO CONCEDE OUR LIVES TO THE TEACHING OF 1 JOHN 5:4: “FOR WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD OVERCOMETH THE WORLD…”.

APOSTASY IS A RETURN TO AND BEING OVERCOME BY THE WORLD AFTER HAVING UNDERSTOOD THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR.

THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC STEPS WHICH COME BEFORE IT:

1. LOOKING BACK –      (LUKE 9:62) “NO MAN, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOW, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”          REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE WHO WAS CAREFULLY TOLD NOT TO LOOK BACK AT THE CITY WHERE HER HEART WAS & SHE FOUND HER DESTRUCTION BY HER DISOBEDIENCE.

2. DRAWING BACK -     (HEBREWS 10:38) “NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM”.     THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHRIST ARE EXACTING AND IF ONE DRAWS BACK, THEY ARE NO LONG FIXED IN THE HEART.

3. TURNING BACK – (JOHN 6:66) “ FROM THAT TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK AND WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM”.     THE PATH THE BELIEVER MUST WALK IS NARROW AND DOES NOT SUIT THE WAY OF THE FLESH.

4. FALLING BACK – (ISAIAH 28:13) “… THAT THEY MIGHT GO, AND FALL BACKWARD AND BE TAKEN.”

NOTE THIS PHRASE: FOR IF WE SIN WILLINGLY - THIS USE OF THE WORD SIN IS ONE OF A PARTICULAR SENSE. IT IS NOT DESCRIBING SIN GENERALLY BUT A PARTICULAR KIND OF SIN, APOSTASY FROM FAITH & TRUTH.

VERSE 29 CAREFULLY EXPLAINS THAT THERE IS GREATER PUNISHMENT FOR THESE WHO HAVE COMMITED THIS SIN.

JESUS HIMSELF IN TEACHES US IN LUKE 12:47-48 AND AGAIN IN JOHN 19:11 THAT THERE IS GREATER AND LESSER SIN AND THAT THERE IS THEREFORE GREATER AND LESSER PUNISHMENT.

WE ALSO REMEMBER THAT THOSE ANGELS WHO FELL WERE FOREVER TO BE KNOWN AS THE “APOSTATE ANGELS”, AS THEY KNEW AND REJECTED THE TRUTH.

IT IS UP TO US TO HEAR AND RECEIVE THIS WARNING AND TO REFLECT UPON HOW SERIOUS IT IS TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN FOR US.

32-39

THE PATH OF TRIBULATION & SALVATION OF THE SOUL.

MANY AFFLICTIONS UNITED AGAINST THE EARLY CHRISTIANS, AND THEY WERE IN GREAT CONFLICT MUCH OF THEIR LIVES.

ALL THINGS HERE ARE BUT SHADOWS AND THE HAPPINESS OF THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN WILL BE FOREVER.

NO ENEMY CAN TAKE IT AWAY AS EARTHLY GOODS MAY BE STOLEN FROM US.

ALL THAT WE SACRIFICE HERE WILL BE MADE INTO RICH AMENDS IN THE ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM THAT AWAITS US.

HOWEVER, THE GREATEST PART OF OUR HAPPINESS  IS STILL IN PROMISE.

THE TRIAL FOR THE BELIEVER IS TO LIVE IN HIS WORD HERE, REMAIN STEADFAST AND IN GOOD FAITH UNTIL THE CALL ARRIVES FOR US TO TRAVEL ONWARD.

BY HIS GRACE WE PERSEVERE, REMAINING FAITHFUL THROUGH ALL TRIALS, AND WISH TO MEET HIM FACE TO FACE BOTH LIVING AND DYING IN FAITH.

NOW WE TRAVEL ONWARD TO STUDY THE PRECIOUS WORDS OF HEBREWS 11, THAT WONDERFUL CHAPTER OF THE ROLL CALL OF FAITH, GIVING US MANY EXAMPLES  OF THOSE WHO LIVED FOR THE PROMISE AND RECEIVED A GOOD REPORT AND WERE LIKELY WELCOMED ABOVE WITH THE WORDS WE ALL WISH TO HEAR:

“WELCOME HOME, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”.

Hebrews - Chapter 11

THE FAITH CHAPTER

The text of the foundation for this chapter is to be found in Habakkuk 2:4

“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith”.

Hebrews 11 is the sermon given to us from this text.

The central design of this chapter is to provide the evidence of the patience of those who, in former times, endured in faith all things before & whether they received the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Faith is the belief of a testimony. In this chapter we study the belief in the testimony of God himself.

The teaching of this chapter is that faith provides firm ground on which to stand while we await the fulfillment of God’s promise to us.

The teaching furnishes our heart with the sure support during the wait.

The teaching anchors our heart and gives us the means to remain steadfast no matter how fierce the storm we suffer in this life and no matter how long the waiting may be.

Most of those we  view died in faith, not having received the fulfillment of the promise but having seen it far off, were persuaded toward faith’s sure path.  One verse, eleven, in this chapter may well be one of the most profound understandings a believer can treasure in our walk with Christ.

True faith allows us confidence in our expectation of future things.

One of the most convincing methods to bring understanding to any subject is the giving of specific examples to confirm the truth of the matter.

Hebrews 11 may be the finest chapter in our Bible of providing examples of the truth of the subject matter, in this case, the matter of faith.

Hebrews 11 contains three divisions:

• Verses 1-3: Introduction setting forth the excellency of faith.

• Verses 4-7: The life of faith.

• Verses 8-40: The achievements of faith.

11:1

“… faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.

Faith is having a future expectation of something which has not been seen. This does not mean faith is without substance or without evidence. But having sufficient evidence obtained within the heart of the believer, the belief should turn to conviction, assured and without doubt.

This is a common theme in scripture:

John 20:29 “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

2 Cor 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

However, we still see within our Christian community those who profess but insist upon a sign, or a personal physical thing, in order to believe. Some seek “baptism by spirit” or “speaking in tongues” or personal miracles within eyesight to become convinced of the truth.

Such efforts are NOT the faith that scripture describes as viewed in chapter 11. Certainly miracles have been seen by men & women, both in the days of the prophets and in the days of Jesus, and afterward when the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles. 

Perhaps belief can follow faith if that faith is based upon those signs & miracles already provided. Perhaps the evidence of faith given in Hebrews 11 best describes how faith should be implemented.

We must keep in our focus that biblical faith is not a slight feeling nor temporary intuition, but rather is certain & sure & unwavering AND the proof of that fact is the effect it has on the life of the believer.

11:2

“For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

Faith is what is commendable to God, and is demonstrated by our works.

11:3

“Through faith we understand…”

By faith we understand the worlds around us were framed by the Word. People without faith cannot understand this belief.

11:4

Able:

Able offered a more excellent sacrifice to God than Cain, through which came the testimony that he was righteous in the Lord’s eyes. God bore witness to this fact when after the death of Able, his blood still spoke the truth. (Gen 4:4 & 4:10)

11:5

Enoch:

By faith, Enoch found such favor with God that he was taken from this life into the next without tasting death. If the rapture came tonight, it would be by this same faith that we would be taken in like manner.

11:6

“… without faith it is impossible to please Him…”

Our faith must be certain, convicted, sure, and persevering to please Him.

Anything less is not pleasing to the Lord. We must assure that our faith is exhibited in our obedience to Him, and all He has taught us.

11:7

Noah:

Noah was warned about things not yet seen, and he was moved to action through faith, becoming heir to righteousness according to that faith. (Gen 6:22)

11:8-10    

Abraham:

Faith looks beyond this life and Abraham looked beyond the physical world and saw something spiritual & eternal. His focus was upon the future that was assured by the promise.

We should never forget that Abraham lived among idolatrous people and was called out of that place into a place he had not seen and called out of his old life into a new life away from and apart from his old life. What a mighty change overcame Abraham though his faith and obedience. Was this even not a perfect type of salvation to come for those who accept and believe and are called away into new life eternal?

11:11-12   

Sarah:

How wonderful it is when two life partners share abiding faith. It is true that Sarah showed some skepticism momentarily but let us consider the obstacles to her faith, all of which she overcame:

1. Her barrenness & old age stood in the way of having a child.

2. She must have become weaker as “she received strength to conceive”.

3. She had to find trust in God within her until her delivery.

She was indeed rewarded by the promise kept by a child at age 90.

11:13-16   

When does fruit arrive?

We may not see the total fruit of our faith while we live. 

Abraham saw one son, yet in Isaac he reckoned God’s promise filled.

It is good for us to remember that we are not creatures at home here, but rather are spiritual beings on this physical journey, just pilgrims.

John 17:16 “They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.”

Faith is in the promise of the Lord WHENEVER He in His wisdom fulfills it. Otherwise, our faith is not convicted but has become conditional.

11:17-19

Faith reasons and still believes:

The faith we should hold reasons and remains convicted. It is not blind or irrational.

When God told Abraham to kill Isaac, Abraham did not view this command as contradicting God’s love, but rather contradicting to the promise God had made of those to come as the children of Isaac. But reckoning God to be faithful to the promise given, Abraham steadfastly believed the promise and prepared to carry forward God’s command, believing the Lord could and would raise him from death. He was incorrect about the particular way that God would fulfill His promise, but that was not important. What WAS important is that he applied his faith and was obedient, even unto the death of the son in whom God has promised a glorious future.

We need to recall the faith of the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant but demonstrated such strength of faith in the Lordship of Jesus that he knew Jesus could heal him without being present where the servant lay in sickness. What was the response from the Lord after the healing? He said that He had not seen such faith in all of  Israel and it was shown from a pagan.

11:20-22

Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph all had hope in an unseen future and faith that the future would include the better life for those who came after them and would remain in conviction to the Lord.

11:23-28

Moses:

What did the parents see in Moses as a baby? They saw potential. The last sentence is a strong teaching that faith must be fearless.

Are we not taught in Rev 21:8 that the first people into the lake of fire will be those who are fearful? True faith is intolerant of cowardice in Christ.

How many stories do we have of those who GLADLY stepped into martyrdom rather than renounce their faith?

Moses went through a sort of conversion symbolically as he identified with God’s people, rejecting the pleasure of sin available to him, suffering persecution joyfully, fearlessly persevering in faith and how interestingly we are told, “… for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” By faith, the Passover with the sprinkling of blood, assured the Angel of Death would not touch God’s people. By faith Moses then led the exodus.

11:29

God’s Wrath:

Flood waters often represent God’s wrath as we saw with Noah. However, when the chosen people crossed the Red Sea, they did not get wet as they were spared from the wrath to come while the Egyptians were destroyed.

11:30-38

Faith is shown in application:

By faith the walls of Jericho fell. (Josh 6).

By faith, Rahab was not killed, nor her family, because she had received the spies of God’s people in peace.

By faith Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets all did the work of the Lord.

By faith, many remained strong in faith even in the faith of horrible persecutions and executions, becoming destitute, afflicted and tormented

11:39

These all, had the testimony of God given to them through their faith and thereby received a good report, but ALL (except Enoch) died having not received the promise fulfilled.

11:40

A Better Thing

God has provided a better thing for us in that we receive the Holy Spirit to dwell within us after we are saved, and that indwelling is permanent. The new covenant is explicit and is perfectly described in the last chapter we studied:

Heb 10:16-17: “ This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them; and their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.”

WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE AS CHRISTIANS CAN DO TODAY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR FAITH:

Rely on the better sacrifice than the animal sacrifices under the law.

Walk with God with Christ’s comforter within us.

Reckon ourselves to be citizens of heaven, not of this world.

Bear fruit in our lives, despite our sinfulness.

Be willing to give up all possessions here for the promise there.

Be watchful for the coming of our Lord.

Reckon every Christian to be precious in His sight.

Understand the life to come is so far better than passing pleasure of sin here.

Trust in God’s guidance in spite of circumstances in our lives here.

Endure all things for him in faith, even persecution, even unto death.

Fear (respect) God more than anything we find in this life.

OBEY!!!!!!!!!

Hebrews - Chapter 12

CHRIST – OUR FAULTLESS EXAMPLE

While Jesus is always our best example of the Christian life, we were blessed last week in the great lesson on the faith chapter to be given a roll call of those who truly lived in faith that was steadfast.

This chapter is a call to be constant in the Christian life which we all profess and is an exhortation to us to remain steadfast in our journey toward personal holiness.

It is a bell ringing reminder to each of us to return & dwell in our first works that began when we first felt the spiritual heat of His love & grace enter our hearts.

12:1-4

THROW OFF HINDERANCES

We are challenged in these first four verses to keep in mind the necessary applications of our faith and, as servants for Christ, consider & discard those things which hinder us from following in proper service.

We should avoid those things and not be satisfied with mediocre service, but should persist toward our most excellent service.

This is perserverance and is following the example set for us by Jesus and those who are described in Hebrews 11.

We should always recall that many of those in the roll call of the last chapter remained in faith to the end of life here WITHOUT seeing the promise filled.

2 Cor 5:15 “And that he died for all, and they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

We are given the metaphor of a race that is set before us as our lives for him. The figure of a race as the Godly path occurs numerous times in scripture:

• Psalm 119:32 : “I will run the way of thy commandments...”

• Song of Solomon 1:4: “Draw me, we will run after thee...”

• 1 Cor 9:24 “... so run the race that you may obtain the prize”

• Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize...'

• 2 Tim 4:7 : “...I have finished my course...”

• Gal 5:7 (“… ye did run well…”)

The race is far more than easy, it requires rigorous self-denial, discipline, hard exertion of will, & strong endurance.

The Christian race begins at new birth and continues every moment until we are called to leave this world.

It is not based upon idle talk nor on academic speculation but rather is fundamentally directing all energy into holy action while the flesh, the world, and the devil all provide headwinds to slow us, discourage us, or perhaps stop us.

The focus of this attention should be exclusively Christ and nothing else as we journey here, belonging to Him and Him alone.

Note the order of this scripture teaching, as it is a familiar one seen elsewhere, known as “from the lesser to the greater”:

We must lay aside the “hindering weights” before we can run the race.

We must turn from the world before we can turn to Him. (Isa 55:7)

Self must be denied before Christ can be followed. (Matt 16:24)

The old man must be put off, the new man put on. (Eph 4:22-24)

We must deny worldly lusts before we can live Godly. (Titus 3:12)

We must cleanse ourselves before holiness comes. (2 Cor 7:1)

We cannot be conformed to this world, before we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Rom 12:2)

If we are ministering correctly, we will face opposition. This fact is a sure part of our service to Christ.

Verse 4 teaches there had been no shedding of blood which likely indicates that there had not yet been persecution unto torture nor death among these readers for whom the message was written.

As we move forward it seems proper to think about what are the attributes that make up our walk with the Lord:

A life lived in complete dependence on the Lord.

Prov 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding…”

A life lived in communion with the Lord.

Psalm 16:8 – “I have set the Lord always before me…”

John 8:29 – “He that sent me is with me”

A life lived in obedience to the Lord.

Gal 5:6 – “Faith worketh by love…”  (and love delights to please).

Assured confidence in the unseen future (Heb 11:1)

Finally, we should be sure we remember the “great cloud of witnesses” in verse one. These were men like us, men with passions, difficulties, & discouragements, met by the same hinderances to cast aside and obstacles to overcome. 

They ran with patience and overcame by “looking away from difficulties” (Rom 4:19) and looking unto Jesus (Heb 11:26).

12:5-11 ENDURING DISCIPLINE

We should not take it too lightly when we find ourselves disciplined (chastened) by God.  His discipline may be either direct or indirectly through circumstances or other people brought into our lives. Fatherly discipline, properly given, is usually followed by greater respect. 

Proverbs 29:17 “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest…”

We also, however, should not take the Lord’s chastisement to ever mean our sonship or salvation is voided. Once adopted, we are an heir, once saved we are always saved.

12:12-28 LIVE A HOLY LIFE

12-13

We should try to make our Christian lifestyle easier to live both for ourselves and for others. We should remove things that are distractions and that lead us into sin. We should try to live in a way that builds up our happy obedience and should be wary of inappropriate relationships.

14-15

Although Christians will face opposition, we should not try to generate conflicts. Most times it is not necessary to break the law of man nor to be rude to our fellow man in order to serve the Lord by our witness.

Jesus provided our example in this important area. 

Bitterness is often a reaction to God’s discipline and often He will bring us into humility by His method of chastening. We should give thanks to the Lord for these instances as in each case, if we become more humble, we therefore become more Christlike.

Remember Paul’s affliction (“Lest I should be exalted… there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me…”)

16-17

Those who know right from wrong, and do the wrong anyway, will become corrupted in their hearts and will do shameful things without feeling shame.

18-24

God does not approach believers as He revealed himself to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai when he gave the law. This event represented a stage in the process of conversion of His chosen people. 

Gal 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith”.

It has done this by revealing to us God’s holiness and standard of justice, thus giving us conviction of sin and ultimately revealing our need for a Savior.

After the wilderness, and after Jesus lived, died, & arose, we are justified by His blood. Able’s blood cried out for justice, but the blood of Jesus provides justice.

25-28

We should make sure we have responded properly to the gospel and VERY IMPORTANT, we should remember it is not proper nor sufficient to accept Christ as Savior while refusing to accept Him as Lord.

Many nominal Christians (those who are in name only, not in life) make this mistake and it is a most serious one.

Sin, and its domain will be removed from the believers and be replaced by the new creation (those things which cannot be shaken).

29

OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

It sounds like we are reverting back to Mount Sinai and the OT but we are not. This verse is a positive one for us as believers, as it is the sin that will be burned up, not the believer who is burned.

Our lives are like a book, and the Lord burns up all the pages of sin that we have lived and what remains establishes our rewards so the losses of those pages have only gauged our place in glory.

1 Cor 3:11-15  “… If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire”.

Hebrews 12: A Better Love

HEBREWS 12:1-17

Application: The student will accept that God’s chastening has a greater purpose and demonstration of love than parental discipline.

AFTER OUR STUDY OF THE FAITH CHAPTER OF HEBREWS, PASTOR CLEMENTS, OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDY WRITER, DECIDES TO SPLIT CHAPTER 12 INTO TWO DIFFERENT STUDY STOPS

THE FIRST STOP ARRIVES IN VERSES 1-17 AND BRINGS US UNDERSTANDING OF THE BETTER LOVE OF THE LORD AND THE SECOND IN THE FINAL PORTION OF CHAPTER 12 BRINGS US TO A BETTER WORSHIP.

WITHIN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH WE ARE TAUGHT THAT TRUE LOVE IS NOT THAT WHICH NEVER CREATES DISCOMFORT.

IT IS THAT WHICH BRINGS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHICH MAY NOT BE IN COMFORT AT ALL.

EACH CHRISTIAN WHO HAS RAISED CHILDREN ALREADY KNOWS THIS LESSON FROM MANY EXAMPLES ALONG THAT PROCESS WHICH REQUIRE DISCIPLINE TO CORRECT OUR CHILDREN ASSURING THEY REMAIN GUIDED PROPERLY.

OUR FIRST CHAPTER OF HEBREWS BEGINS THE DISPLAY OF THE LOVE OF THE LORD TEACHING THAT GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, HAS DECIDED NO LONGER TO SPEAK THROUGH ANGELS OR PROPHETS, BUT ONLY THROUGH HIS SON.

THROUGHOUT THE REST OF HEBREWS WE ARE GIVEN SEVERAL TEACHINGS THAT SPEAK STRONGLY TO US ON HOW THE LORD IMPLEMENTS HIS WILL AMONG HIS SPIRITUAL CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY HIS CALL & HIS SALVATION WHICH ONLY FOLLOWS THAT CALL BY HIM.

THAT SALVATION MAY BE VERY SIMPLY DEFINED AS THOSE WHOSE HEARTS HAVE BEEN MOVED FROM BROKEN TO NOT.

THESE FIRST 17 VERSES GRANT US A SPECIAL VIEW INTO THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS OWN AND WHAT IT MEANS IN OUR LIVES:

• GOD’S LOVE MOTIVATES OUR OBEDIENCE

• GOD’S LOVE CONFIRMS OUR SONSHIP

• GOD’S LOVE ADVANCES OUR SANCTIFICATION

TOGETHER THESE THREE THINGS ARE THE MANNER IN WHICH GOD GROWS US SPIRITUALLY THROUGH HIS LOVE AND OVER OUR LIFETIME BENDS OUR HUMAN WILL CLOSER TO HIS DIVINE WILL.

THE HEBREWS WRITER ENCOURAGES THE BELIEVER TO RUN THE RACE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WITH FAITHFULNESS.

CHALLENGES ARE EVIDENT THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF FAITH AND THEY BESET US THROUGH OUR ORIGINAL HUMAN NATURE.

FOR HIS PURPOSE, THE LORD CHASTISES THOSE WHO ARE HIS TO ENCOURAGE SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

WE ARE TO PATIENTLY ENDURE THE CHASTISING BY RECOGNIZING IT COMES FROM A LOVING GOD WHO USES IT TO ACCOMPLISH HIS OWN GOOD PURPOSE WITHIN US.

INTO THIS LIFE RACE OF FAITHFULNESS ALSO ARRIVES HINDERANCES PLACED WITHIN OUR FAITH PATH BY SATAN AND HIS DOMAIN WHICH IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN UNTIL WE ARE CALLED HOME.

IN THIS REGARD IT MAKES SENSE TO RECALL THAT SATAN ACTUALLY ONLY HAS TWO PURPOSES:

• TO CAPTURE THE SOULS OF THE LOST

• TO DIMINISH THE SOULS OF THE SAVED

THE WRITER REMINDS US THAT JESUS IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH SO WE ARE TO LOOK TO HIM IN THESE TIMES OF HINDERANCE.

WITHOUT OUR FOCUS UPON HIM, WE FIND OURSELVES WEARY AND DISCOURAGED.

THE HEBREW BELIEVERS WERE CONSTANTLY STRUGGLING UNDER OPPOSITION AND TEMPTED TO WAVER UNDER THE SERVICE THAT FAITH REQUIRES.

IF THEY DRIFT INTO REBELLION CHASTISEMENT FROM THE LORD GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND CORRECTLY KNOWING SUCH THINGS ARE SYMPTOMS OF GOD’S HOLY LOVE.

VERSES 5-13 DISPLAY FOR US HOW TO ENDURE SUCH CHASTISING.

THESE BELIEVERS ARE REMINDED THAT SUCH EFFORT BY GOD IS AN EMBLEM OF HIS LOVE AND IS FOR THEIR PROFIT SPIRITUALLY.

THE PROPER REACTION IS TO RESPOND WITH REVERENCE RATHER THAN CONTINUED REBELLION.

IT MEANS TO YIELD TO THE CORRECTION OF GOD IN HUMBLE ACCEPTANCE AS THESE MOMENTS MAY NOT BE JOYOUS.

THE RESPONSE, IF PROPERLY DONE, WILL YIELD POSITIVE CHANGE UNDER GOD’S GUIDANCE.

BY THAT PROPER ACCEPTANCE AND RESPONSE, THE BELIEVER IS HEALED SPIRITUALLY AND FINDS ONCE MORE THE BEAUTY OF HIS FELLOWSHIP IS RESTORED.

THE STRENGTH TO UNDERSTAND CHASTISEMENT IS ALWAYS PROVIDED BY THE GRACE OF THE LORD.

VERSES 16-17 ALLOWS THE BIBLICAL EXAMPLE OF ESAU WHO SEEMED NEVER TO MOVE BEYOND THE WORKS OF FLESH.

THE REMINDER IS A WARNING TO RECALL THAT OUR OWN FLESHLY NATURES REMAIN WITH US EVEN AFTER SALVATION AND IT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAD AWAY FROM OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

GRANTED BY THE LORD IN OUR LIFETIME SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

KING DAVID ALLOWED HIS FLESHLY NATURE TO RULE AND LATER BEGGED GOD IN PSALM 51 TO RESTORE HIS JOY AFTER HE CONFESSED & REPENTED.

ALL OF US ARE UNDER THE CONTINUAL LOVING CARE OF A FAITHFUL & STEADFAST HEAVENLY FATHER WHO IS NEVER SLACK TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE HIS.

HE BRINGS HIS LOVING CHASTISEMENT INTO OUR LIVES TO REMIND US HE REMAINS IN LOVING CONTROL AND EXPECTS US TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR HIS CONTROL OVER OUR LIVES.

THE WRITER BEGAN THIS PORTION OF SCRIPTURE BY ADMONISHING THESE HEBREW BELIEVERS TO RUN THE RACE OF LIFE WITH FAITHFULNESS.

REALIZING ALL BELIEVERS REMAIN SINNERS BY NATURE, HE WARNED THEM OF CHATISEMENT FROM GOD AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO REMAIN PATIENT WHILE THE PURPOSE OF GOD WAS COMPLETED IN THEIR LIVES.

HE ALSO ENCOURAGED THEM TO LET GRACE WORK IN THEIR LIVES SO THAT THEY WOULD BE RENEWED SPIRITUALLY AND BE BETTER ABEL TO SERVE THE LORD FOR HIS GLORY.

Hebrews 12: A Better System of Worship

HEBREWS 12:18-29

Application: The student will recognize New Testament worship as superior to the system delivered to Israel at Mt. Sinai.

WORSHIP IS THE HIGHEST HONOR AND ESTEEM BELIEVERS RENDER TO GOD.

WORSHIP IS FAR MORE THAN A ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK MEETING TOGETHER.

IT IS OUR SERVICE WE GIVE TO THE LOVING GOD OF OUR SALVATION BY OUR SERVICE OF THOUGHT OR SPEECH OR ACTION, ALL OF WHICH SHOULD ONLY BE FOR HIS GLORY, NOT OURS.

THIS SECOND PORTION OF HEBREWS 12 EXPLAINS THE REASON FOR FAITHFULNESS TO GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AGE.

IT IS A CONTRAST GIVEN FROM WHAT WAS GIVEN TO GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE ON MT. SINAI VERSUS THE GIFT GIVEN BY HIM ON MT. ZION.

THESE VERSES BEGIN WITH THE PHRASE “YE ARE NOT COME” IN REFERENCE TO THEIR SALVATION AND COVENANT WITH THE LORD.

THEY HAD NOT COME TO GOD THROUGH THE WORSHIP BY THE LAW GIVEN TO MOSES FOR THE HEBREW PEOPLE.

THIS MEANS OF WORSHIP POINTED FORWARD TO A BETTER COVENANT TO COME AND IT NEVER SAVED THOSE UNDER IT.

THE PRICE PAID TO REMOVE SIN AT CALVARY IS FAR BETTER THAN THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES BEFORE THAT ONLY COVERED IT TERMPORARILY.

THE WORSHIP GIVEN AT SINAI WAS A WORKS WORSHIP WHILE THE NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP WAS ONE OF FAITH IN THE MESSIAH SENT.

OUR WRITER DESCRIBES THE WORSHIP OF SINAI IN FOUR WAYS:

FIRST, IT WAS A MOUNTAIN THEY COULD NOT TOUCH. GOD TOLD MOSES TO ASSURE THE PEOPLE KEPT THEIR DISTANCE FROM HIS PRESENCE ON THE MOUNTAIN. (EXODUS 19:12)

SECOND, IT WAS A MOUNTAIN THAT BURNED WITH FIRE. (HEBREWS 12:18). FIRE WAS THEN THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD, AS IN THE PILLAR OF FIRE AT NIGHT FOR LIGHT AND WARMTH AND GUIDANCE.

THIRD, IT WAS A MOUNTAIN OF BLACKNESS AND DARKNESS FOR SEPARATION OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE LORD. THEY, AS SINNERS, COULD NOT STAND NEAR THE LORD SO A BORDER WAS SET BY GOD AROUND THE MOUNTAIN TO KEEP THEM AWAY.

FOURTH, IT WAS A PLACE OF TEMPEST OR STORMINESS WITH GREAT WINDS, THUNDERS, AND LIGHTNINGS. (EXODUS 19:16), REMINDING THEM OF HIS AWESOME POWER.

THEY COULD NEVER APPROACH GOD WHILE IN THEIR SINFUL FLESH AND THEIR ONLY HOPE WAS TO BRING A PROPER SACRIFICE FOR SIN AS CONTRASTED TO THE ABILITY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP PROVIDING BOLD ACCESS DIRECTLY TO THE THRONE OF GOD.

THE VEIL WAS FOREVER SPLIT.

IN EXODUS THE PEOPLE HEARD THE VOICE AS A SOUND OF A TRUMPET AND THEY WERE IN GREAT FEAR FROM WHAT THEY HEARD, ASKING MOSES TO SPEAK TO GOD INSTEAD OF THEMSELVES.

THE GREEK WORD FOR THIS MOMENT WAS LITERALLY “DREADFUL & TERRIBLE”.

MOSES HIMSELF QUAKED IN THIS MOMENT. (HEBREWS 12:21)

ALL THESE THINGS SPOKE OF CONDEMNATION TOWARD THOSE WHO COULD NEVER KEEP THE LAW.

THE LAW OFFERED NO HOPE BUT WAS ONLY EFFECTIVE TO POINT OUT MAN’S FULLY DEPRAVED SIN AND HIS NEED FOR A REDEEMER.

NOW IN VERSE 22 HAVING AFFIRMED THAT THE BELIEVERS BEING ADDRESSED DID NOT COME FROM THOSE THINGS, THE WRITER REMINDED THEM THAT THEY HAD COME TO GOD IN TRUE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMING TO ANOTHER MOUNTAIN, ZION.

THE WORD “ZION” MEANS A FLAT PLACE OR PLAIN AND IT WAS THE FLAT TOP OF A HILL OUTSIDE THE WALLS WHERE CRUCIFIXIONS WERE DONE.

HERE WAS THE BEGINNING SYMBOL THAT THE GROUND AROUND THE CROSS IS LEVEL GROUND AND NONE ARE STANDING HIGHER THAN ANY OTHERS WHEN APPROACHING IN FAITH.

THE JOURNEY TO THE NEW MOUNTAIN IS PERFECTED BY JESUS CHRIST AND IS THE PATHWAY GIVEN BY GOD TO A NEW COVENANT WITH HIM.

IN FAITH, VERSES 22-23 FAITHFUL BELIEVERS HAVE NOW, UNDER THE NEW COVENANT, COME TO “HEAVENLY JERUSALEM”, REFERRING TO A FUTURE PLACE OF THE NEW EARTH.

THEY HAVE ALSO COME TO ASSOCIATE WITH AN “INNUMERABLE COMPANY OF ANGELS” WHO ARE THOSE THAT DID NOT REBEL  AGAINST GOD AS DID LUCIFER AND HIS FOLLOWERS.

IN JUDE 9 AND LUKE 1 WE ARE ACTUALLY GIVEN THE NAME OF TWO OF THOSE ANGELS WHICH ARE MICHAEL AND GABRIEL.

THESE NEW COVENANT HEBREW BELIEVERS ARE IN PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE GODLY ANGELS THROUGH THE NEW BIRTH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

ALL HAVE COME BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH AND THE SPIRITS OF THE JUST BELIEVERS WILL BE MADE PERFECT BY CHRIST.

THIS IS THE FAMILY OF “WHOSOEVERS” OF JOHN 3:16 AND THIS NEW COVENANT ASSEMBLY IS ETERNAL.

VERSE 24 IS CLEAR IN TEACHING THERE IS A NEW MEDIATOR OF THE COVENANT THAT WAS ARRANGED AT THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

THE FATHER DECREED IT AND THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON PAID FOR IT IN HIS OWN BLOOD.

IN VERSES 25-29 WE ARE GIVEN HOW WE ARE TO SERVE OUR LORD IN THIS NEW COVENANT:

• BY OBEDIENCE

• BY REVERENCE

• BY ASSURANCE

• BY ACCEPTANCE

AND ALSO BY PROPER FEAR OF THE CHASTENING HAND OF GOD WHO CORRECTS ALL WHO ARE HIS AND DETERMINES THE LEVEL OF HEAVENLY REWARDS FOR EACH WHO BELIEVE. (2ND COR 5:10)

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

FOR THE SAVED PERSON, THAT MOMENT AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT IS ONLY A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION OF REWARD FOR WE KNOW FROM ROMANS 8:1 THAT THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION OF THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS.

ALL SINS WERE ATONED AT THE MOMENT OF BELIEF AND WERE TO BE REMEMBERED NO MORE, MEANING NEVER.

ANY SINS AFTER THE MOMENT OF BELIEF ARE REMOVED FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP BY CONFESSION & REPENTANCE ALLOWED & ARRANGED BY THE ACCESS GRANTED WHEN THE VEIL WAS SPLIT.

NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS HAVE RECEIVED THE “FAITH” DESCRIBED IN JUDE 3 AS WELL AS A “KINGDOM” DESCRIBED IN VERSE 28 IN THIS STUDY STOP.

THEY SHOULD NOT SEEK TO SERVE GOD AGAIN THROUGH THE WORSHIP OF SINAI BUT LIVE AND WORSHIP IN HARMONY WITH THE KINGDOM JESUS HAS ESTABLISHED ON EARTH BEGINNING WITH THE NEW COVENANT HE ESTABLISHED AND LATER TO BE A RULE OF 1,000 YEARS ON EARTH WITH A RISEN DAVID TO ASSIST AND WITHOUT A PRESENCE OF SATAN OR HIS DEMONS.

JEREMIAH 30:9:

“But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.”

THIS IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST SERVING IN GLORY TO HIM THROUGHOUT ALL THE AGES DESCRIBED IN EPHESIANS 3:21.

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Hebrews - Chapter 13

CHRIST OUR UNCHANGING LORD

Application: Submit to God's will for your life in brotherly love, humility, faith, gratitude and service.

In the final chapter of Hebrews, we see the conclusion of the first 12 chapters brought together in the reminders of how we are to apply the lessons we have learned in our study of the epistle. 

The total sum of all these previous chapters seems to be that there are certain specific teachings that must rest within our hearts and guide our lives as Christians, and that primary among those is the answer Christ gave concerning the highest teaching of the gospel, to love the Lord with all our minds, our hearts and our spirits, and then to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Remember that these words were written to Hebrews who had been converted (or to those who would be converted) and the focus is directed to the love of the Jewish brethren. The best example had already been set out by Jesus who was reviled by these chosen people, rejected by and large by them, yet he continued to the end seeking their goodwill. 

Do we follow this example in our daily lives?

We must here take a moment to recall that perhaps the strongest lesson given us by the New Testament after the love for the Lord is brotherly love. Verse after verse pushes this teaching homeward to our hearts:

The fruit of the spirit is love. (Gal 5:22)

Everyone that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him. (1 John 5:1)

Love to the brethren is both the first indication and fruit of the Christian life. (Act 16:33)

Love is the final aim and result of Divine grace. (2 Peter 1:7)

By this shall ye be known as followers of me, the love that ye show one for another. (John 13:35)

13:1-3 LOVE OTHER CHRISTIANS

Brotherly love, hospitality and empathy. Loving other Christians is the primary mark of a true believer after the love of God.

Be one in love with those who are in bonds,  physically or in the bonds of Satan’s snare in spirit, for we are still in the body and are subject to the same bonds if we sin or are found in crime.

Loving hospitality may allow us to show our love to angels who have taken human form for a time to perform a work on earth for the Lord.

Note: We begin by hearing “…Let brotherly love continue”. 

We should consider that the verse does not teach to let love begin, but rather it is clear it has already begun and should continue in the daily lives of believers.

13:4-6 REMEMBER WE ARE COMMANDED NOT TO COVET

Coveting means to want what someone else has.  We must be always guarded in our everyday interaction with others as temptation resides close to us and prepares the snare of this sin for each of us. The issue is to find contentment within the Christian life.

Paul taught in Phil 4:11-12:

“… for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content…”.

We must rest in trust that Christ will sustain us.

“I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” (Deut 31:6)

“The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Ps 118:6)

13:7-9 FOCUS ON RIGHT TEACHING OF LEADERS

The leaders who are to be followed in terms of life teachings are the Lord, His Son our Savior, His holy apostles and prophets. We must be very careful in this modern age not to be caught up in thinking the institutions of man are where our focus should rest. 

Consider just for a moment how the world would be changed if we who are of the true church (not the church of brick & mortar) actually walked as Christ taught, or as Peter or Paul taught, or our lives were penitent lives as the prophets taught? His Kingdom would be at hand.

The strange doctrines mentioned in verse 9 remind us that it is our responsibility to trust in Christ, to hold to him, cleave unto him and not to be carried about or misled by doctrine that is NOT consistent with His gospel as given us in His scripture.

Not with meats is a reference to the Judaisers to graft ceremonial law on top of the gospel.  Remember Jesus told us that it is not what goes into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but rather what comes out of his mouth that will defile him.

13:10-15 THE CHRISTIAN’S ALTAR

In the past we have studied many times the types & shadows of the OT that are later fully revealed in the New. Here in these few verses we see what may be termed an “antitype” as the Lord Jesus himself is exactly that for believers. He is our sacred altar. No longer are we to bring bulls & goats for sin resolution. All human sin issues were settled at the cross.

From that moment onward, we are settled in heart & spirit in the holy altar that is Christ, which was at one time “outside of the camp” of the Jews.

Our best teaching for this belief may be Matthew 23:18:

“Ye fools and blind; for whither is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?”

Our altar, unlike the altar of the Jews, is one which provides us spiritual meat, which sustains us forever in sustenance for worship. Nothing more is necessary.

13:16-21 SHARE SUBMIT AND PRAY

We should be giving, doing good by the faith we hold, because it is the right thing to do, not to gain favor of man but to store treasure above by the fruit of our works while here in His service.

Strength in prayer is important to the believer. What can be more urgent in our walk than to communicate with the Lord, open hearted & humbly?

The obedience in these verses means to be subject to those who represent properly the office of Christ himself.

13:22-25 EXHORTATION & FINAL INSTRUCTIONS

Timothy has been freed, and hopefully soon will visit. 

This verse seems simple and basic. If we look closely at verse 22 we see the teaching that we become perfect (meaning complete) by doing the Lord's will. 

Here is one of the fundamental choices we must make. Do we follow our own will or man's will or do we choose to follow the will of the Lord as His holy scripture teaches?

If we choose the first, and follow our own will or man's will, we are subject to the life long prison of sin with no possibility of escape or freedom.

This bondage poisons life.

The true freedom that can be found in this life is found in serving the will of the Lord, remembering that we still carry our imperfect nature to the grave, but we have His Holy Spirit to guide us and to provide us the strength needed to say NO to temptation. Temptation is not sin, yielding is.

The fuller our obedience, the freer we become. This is the challenge of Christian life.

HEBREW CONCLUSIONS:

The basic nature of the differences between the old covenant and the new covenant is shown.

Through concept, teaching, actions seen as evidence, and applications of those things seen, unseen & learned, Jesus Christ is in all things a BETTER way. 

The old covenant was now to be seen as a temporary system given as the Lord’s will unfolded over time for His people. Now the permanent and everlasting order of things has been revealed as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. 

The opening thought of the book well teaches that “God hath in these last days spoken unto us in His Son”. We believe that this is the final event with none more to come. We see that “He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Heb 5:9).

Heb 6:2 offers us His description of “eternal judgment”, meaning just that, eternal. None more are coming to render judgment.

Heb 9:12 offers us “eternal spirit”.

Heb 9:15 offers us “eternal inheritance”.

Heb 13:20 offers us “the everlasting covenant”.

As we receive the unearned gift of His grace, and confess & believe, we are forever and eternally His, sharing in this better way of being in communion with the one true God, serving Him in faith (things not seen) until we are called home to join Him, welcomed as good servants who were steadfast through all things. 

Hebrews 13: A Better Service

Application: The student will be motivated by love, rather than fear, to serve Christ.

IN OUR FIRST MOMENT IN THIS FINAL STUDY STOP IN HEBREWS WE SHOULD TAKE A PAUSE TO REFLECT STRONGLY ON THE APPLICATION GIVEN US FOR OUR LAST VIEW OF THIS IMPORTANT BOOK.

THE SCRIPTURAL TEACHING TO CONFIRM THIS APPLICATION IS GIVEN TO US IN 2ND TIMOTHY 1:7:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

OUR KING JAMES EXTENDS THE COMMAND TO FEAR NOT 331 TIMES IN 144 SEPARATE VERSES.

WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COMMAND IS GIVEN TWICE AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER COMMAND, IT SEEMS MORE THAN STRANGE THAT SO MANY OF OUR BELOVED PREACHERS WORK SO HARD TO FRIGHTEN US.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GRASP WHY THIS IS SO WHEN ROMANS 8:1 SO CLEARLY TEACHES US THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS AND THE LORD CLEARLY TAUGHT US WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THE NEW COVENANT THAT HE WILL REMEMBER OUR SINS NO MORE.

TODAY’S APPLICATION CORRECTS ALL SAD ATTEMPTS TO BRING FEAR INTO THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS AND TEACHES US OUR MOTIVATION SHOULD BE BY LOVE, NOT FEAR.

INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE WRITER OF HEBREWS SPENT 12 CHAPTERS PERFECTLY AND POWERFULLY EXPLAINING THE CASE FOR THE SUPERIORITY OF JESUS CHRIST.

GOD HAS NOT SHIED AWAY FROM HAMMERING HOME HIS EXPECTATIONS OF BELIEVERS WHEN HE INSPIRED THE WRITER OF HEBREWS.

SINCE WE ARE SO CONVINCED BY HIM OF THE BETTER WAY OF JESUS ABOVE ALL ELSE, OUR LIVES SHOULD REFLECT THAT UNDERSTANDING.

HEBREWS 12 ADDRESSED THE WORSHIP OF BELIEVERS AND CONCLUDED THAT THE WORSHIP OF GOD IS A SPIRITUAL SERVICE.

GENUINE WORSHIP OF THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE LORD IS IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH, WHICH MEANS IT IS A MATTER OF THE HEART.

JESUS TAUGHT THIS VERY LESSON TO THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL, NEVER ONCE MENTIONING FEAR AND SHE AND MANY FROM HER CITY WERE SAVED BY THAT TEACHING.

HEBREWS 13 TEACHES US THAT WE ARE TO SERVE GOD WITH BROTHERLY LOVE, DEMONSTRATED BY HOSPITALITY AND CARE FOR THOSE OPPRESSED, AND FIDELITY IN HOLY MARRIAGE.

WE ARE TO SERVE GOD WITH PERSONAL HOLINESS, BEING CONTENT WITH GOD AND ALL HE HAS GIVEN AS WELL AS COMMITTED TO PERSONALLY FOLLOWING HIM, DEPENDENT UPON HIS GRACE ONLY TO GUIDE US THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT GIFTED BY JESUS.

WE ARE TO SERVE GOD WITH OUR OBEDIENCE.

THAT OBEDIENCE MEANS WE ARE TO CONSISTENTLY SERVE WHEN WE MAY NOT BE IN PERSONAL COMFORT, MUST STILL PRAISE HIS NAME AND GOODNESS, GIVING A PORTION OF HIS BLESSINGS BACK TO HIS KINGDOM IN OUR TITHES, AND SERVING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN HIS NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

THE BELIEVER CAN ONLY SERVE GOD AND OTHERS AS HE IS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF LOVE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE 9 ASPECTS OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT TAUGHT BY PAUL IN GALATIANS 5.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT CAN ONLY GROW WHEN THE BELIEVER IS WALKING IN SPIRIT AND THEREBY DISPLAYING THE SPIRIT IN HIS LIFE.

HEBREWS 13 IS TEACHING US THAT SUCH A LIFE IS TO BE GUIDED BY LOVE ABOVE ALL.

PAUL ISSUED A DIRECT COMMAND FOR THE HUSBAND TO LOVE HIS WIFE EVEN AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH. (EPH 5:25)

SO THE ADMONITION GIVEN IN VERSE 1 TO “LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE” APPLIES TO ALL AREAS OF LIFE.

WE ARE TO SERVE BY FAITH SHOWN IN VERSES 5-6, ESPECIALLY BY FAITH TO OVERCOME COVETOUSNESS, WHICH IS LUSTING AFTER SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS NOT GIVEN, THEREFORE IT IS OUT OF HIS WILL.

THIS INIQUITY USUALLY REFERS TO THE PATTERNS OF SIN IN THE WORLD. IT IS LAID BEFORE US BY OUR ADVERSARY BUT HE CANNOT COMMAND OUR BEHAVIOR AND THAT SIN IS FREELY CHOSEN BY US IN EVERY INSTANCE.

THE OPPOSITE OF COVETING IS SHOWN IN VERSE 5, WHICH IS TO BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS THAT WE HAVE, MEANING SUFFICIENCY OF ALL THAT IS GIVEN BY THE LORD.

VERSE 6 IS OUR CLEAR TEACHING TO HAVE FAITH NOT FEAR.

TO HAVE FAITH IS ONE THING, BUT TO HAVE COURAGE IN FAITH IS TO SHOW IT OUTWARDLY IN OUR DAILY LIVES, NOT ONLY LIVING IT BUT ALSO SPEAKING IT IN WITNESS WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES TO US.

CHAPTER 13 TEACHES US TO RESPECT OUR LEADERS ALSO IN BROTHERLY LOVE.

VERSE 8 FURTHER TEACHES US TO RESPECT CHRIST MEANING TO ACCEPT THE TEACHING OF HIS WORD, ESPECIALLY THE PROMISE GIVEN TO US OF HIS RETURN.

VERSE 9 TEACHES THAT OUR SERVICE SHOULD BE WITH GRACE, BEING CAREFUL TO REJECT FALSE TEACHING.

THIS WRITER IS WARNING THAT THESE BELIEVERS WERE FACED WITH MULTIPLE TEACHINGS WHICH MAY LEAD THEM TO WANDER FROM THE TRUTH OF FAITH IN THE BETTER WAY, WHICH IS CHRIST.

JESUS WARNED OF THIS SAME ISSUE IN MATTHEW 24 SPEAKING OF FALSE TEACHERS AND PETER ECHOED IT TEACHING OF FALSE PROPHETS AND FALSE TEACHERS BRINGING IN “DAMNABLE HERESIES”.

THE VALUE OF THIS TEACHING IN THIS LAST CHAPTER IS THAT GRACE IS SUPERIOR TO ANY OTHER TEACHING AND WILL STAND OVER ALL OTHERS.

AFTER 3 REQUESTS FROM PAUL TO REMOVE HIS THORN IN THE FLESH, JESUS REMINDED HIM HIS GRACE WAS SUFFICIENT FOR THIS WEAKNESS.

THIS SUPPLY OF GRACE GIVEN TO BELIEVERS STANDS IN OPPOSITION TO THE WORKS BASIS OF THE LAW WHICH NEVER JUSTIFIED ANYONE.

BECAUSE OF THAT FACT, VERSE 10-16 TEACH US TO REMEMBER THE REPROACH OF JESUS AND TO GO UNTO HIM, MEANING BY REPENTANCE OF UNBELIEF AS WE RESPOND TO THE CALL OF THE LORD FOR OUR SALVATION.

NONE CAN GO TO HIM ANY OTHER WAY AND WE MUST IDENTIFY WITH THE SHAME HE ENDURED FOR US SO THAT WE MAY SHARE HIS OWN GLORY ETERNALLY.

IN THE LAST VERSES OF CHAPTER 13 WE ARE SHOWN HOW WE WILL COME TO BE PERFECTED IN THE WILL OF GOD.

NONE MAY COME TO GOD THROUGH WORKS BUT WE ARE EXPECTED TO FILL OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES WITH WORKS FOR HIM AFTER WE ARE SAVED. NO WORKS BEFORE SALVATION BRINGS US INTO THE KINGDOM.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST FOR THE BELIEVER, NEVER A MOMENT OF CONDEMNING, IS THE REWARD OF JESUS FOR THOSE WORKS AFTER WE ARE SAVED AND IS HOW WE GAIN THE WELCOME WE ALL SEEK, “GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”.

OUR LAST FEW VERSES ALLOW FINAL CONSIDERATIONS IN WHICH WE ARE TO HEED HIS WORD, REST OUR HOPE IN HIS FELLOWSHIP, SALUTE THE BRETHREN, AND ASSURE THAT GRACE IS THE GUIDE FOR OUR LIVES AFTER SALVATION.

THIS LAST CHAPTER OF HEBREWS PRESENTS A BETTER SERVICE UNTO GOD THROUGH HIS NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH  RATHER THAN TRYING TO SERVE HIM THROUGH OLD TESTAMENT LAW.

THIS NEW WAY OF SERVING THE LORD INVOLVES SERVING WITH A GODLY LOVE FOR HIM, HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN ONE GIVEN AS OUR MESSIAH, AND FOR OTHERS.

AS OUR APPLICATION TAUGHT US TODAY, WE ARE TO BE MOTIVATED BY LOVE RATHER THAN FEAR, TO SERVE HIM.