Tag: Hebrews

Confidence to Endure

Hebrews – It is an unusual letter.

First, we are not told who is the author. We learn that he is in Italy and hopes to see the recipients since Timothy has been released. Also, we are not told who the original recipients are or where they live. Although, the author makes it clear he cared deeply for them (6:9) and is concerned about their staying strong in their faith (10:39).

Start Strong…Stay Strong

Towards the end of the letter, the author points out how difficult their life was when they first came to faith in Jesus. The sufferings they experienced…public ridicule and seizure of their property and how they cared for others who were imprisoned for their faith (10:32-34). Even at the time the author was writing, he commends them for their work and the love they show to God in ministering to the saints (6:10). Yet in all this, he is concerned that they would not stay strong in their faith…he is concerned for their souls…

Pay Much Closer Attention

The author wanted them to mature in their faith (5:11-14) so that they would have the strength to endure to the end (10:36). Throughout the letter he repeatedly warns the recipients of the dangers of falling away from God (6:4-8), of sinning willfully (10:26-31), or shrinking back in their faith (10:37-39). If they were going to have confidence to endure, they needed to pay much closer attention to what they had been taught about Jesus and the power of the new covenant.

Confidence to Endure

This makes me reevaluate my life…how do I handle it when I am mistreated for my faith…am I willing to stand with others who are unfairly treated for their faith? Do I have the spiritual maturity to endure to the end? Will I stand strong in my faith and endure preserving my soul?

As believers today, we, like the original recipients, need to pay much closer attention to what we have heard about Jesus. He is better…in every way. He brings about eternal changes that were not possible under the old covenant (or any other form of worship). Through Jesus’ offering of Himself on the cross, we can have confidence to come before God as never before.

The exhortation to the original recipients was to…draw near to God, hold fast their confession of hope and consider how to motivate one another to acts of love and good deeds (10:22-25). This exhortation is one that we need to take to heart. If we have accepted Jesus’ saving grace, we need to act on it in faith.

 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,  let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.   Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:19-25 nlt

Does it really say that??

A case for studying the bible inductively or the danger of isolation in interpretation.

Hebrews…what comes to your mind? Is it Hebrews 11 – the “hall of faith” chapter? Or maybe you think of it as the “by faith” chapter, as it lists many Old Testament examples of people who lived by faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

What you may not think of is who wrote this letter…why he wrote it or even to whom he originally wrote. When we only pick out a favorite verse from a book of the bible, or even a chapter, and ignore the reason for the verse, we run the danger of misunderstanding it and misusing it.

On the other hand…when we read the entire book or even an entire chapter of the book and look at the verse in the context is was written, we are more likely to understand the intended meaning of the verse from both the author’s perspective and more importantly from God’s perspective. Remember…

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.    Hebrews 4:12