Hebrews 13

The author of Hebrews closes with final exhortations for the community of believers to keep going on to perfection in Jesus. He crowns this with one of the most beautiful benedictions in the Bible.

In Hebrews the author has painted a stunning portrait of Jesus. He has helped us see that the Old Testament points to Jesus. The initial work of redemption begun by God in the Old Covenant was a beginning but was not complete. The OT scriptures point to the New Covenant, the future reality of God’s great act of salvation in Jesus. Finally, in Jesus, the issue of sin and death was dealt with for all time.

Hebrews offers Christ Jesus as a very present help in time of need. Hebrews offers Christ Jesus because he has inaugurated the New Covenant relationship between God and humans. Hebrews offers Christ Jesus because he is the final sacrifice. Jesus has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. He lived our life, he died our death and he lives now to make intercession for us.

In this portrait of Jesus the author invites us to partake of the sacrament of Holy Communion with a new understanding of the power of Jesus’ sacrifice: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (4:16)

In this portrait of Jesus we are encouraged to gladly follow Jesus wherever he leads us. “Let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2 Good News Translation)

Now may the God of peace—

who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,

the great Shepherd of the sheep,

and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—

may he equip you with all you need

for doing his will.

May he produce in you,

through the power of Jesus Christ,

every good thing that is pleasing to him.

All glory to him forever and ever!

Amen.

Hebrews 13: 20-21

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

1-Mar-12      John 1:1-18

Hebrews 12: 14-29

Is there really a Blessed Assurance? In Matthew 7:21 Jesus says not everyone will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In Hebrews the author has affirmed these words of Jesus three times: 6:4-8; 10:26-31; and 12:17. So, I ask again, is there really a Blessed Assurance for the followers of Jesus?

The Apostle Paul makes a strong case in Romans 5-8 that Christians do not drift in and out of a state of salvation. You are either covered by the blood of Jesus or you are not. Paul, in the entire body of his work, is absolutely convinced that God wants the Christian to rest in the assurance of their salvation. (As an example see Romans 8:31-39) So, how can be sure?

First, I receive without objection the author’s encouragement for me to pursue holiness. The author says that those who are resting in assurance have not only had their spirits cleansed by Jesus, they are also working cooperatively with the Holy Spirit to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up” (12:1) In short, pursuing scriptural holiness is the priority of those resting in Jesus.

The second point that evidences assurance is the sense of joy I experience as I read of my heavenly home. The Israelites had never experienced the presence of God with them until Moses went up on Mount Sinai. What they saw and heard scared the bejabbers out of them. The author of Hebrews describes this very same presence of God, but now Jesus has gone before us to prepare our entry into the heavenly places. The earthly sense of fear and foreboding are not present in the lives of those resting in Jesus. Every time I have traveled out of the USA I have had the same experience when I returned; my heart skips a beat, flutters, and rejoices, because I AM HOME. When I read the author’s description of heaven I have that same homecoming experience; times a gazillion.

Finally, my assurance rests on my belief that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. I worship God with awe and with holy fear or reverence. I know my God is a consuming fire, burning all the sin out of my life so that nothing impedes my sharing in the joy of the angels and saints that surround God’s throne. That consuming fire, for me, is like going to the dentist. Sometimes I am just having my teeth cleaned, which is not very comfortable while it is happening, but the result is worth the experience. Sometimes, though, it is for a root canal and that experience can be most uncomfortable. But again, the result is well worth the experience.

In summary, a Christian is resting in Godly assurance when they receive with joy God’s call to rest in His holiness.

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

29-Feb-12     Heb. 13

Hebrews 11: 32 - 12:13

Our passage for today includes some of the most compelling teaching in the Book of Hebrews. Three points stand out to me. First, I need to play close attention to the things in my life that may become obstacles to my living life in Christ. The motivation for this comes through recalling that to be a Christian is to be part of a Christian Community. This community, also known as the fellowship of believers and the family of God, can trace its roots all the back to Abraham. All the people the author identified as being in the Hall of Fame of those who lived by faith are in our family tree. That Hall of Fame includes those mentioned by the author and many more including John Wesley, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Mother Teresa. Remembering their examples of faithful living encourages me to do my very best for Christ. To do my best for Christ requires that I often pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

The second point is to remember the life in Christ is a marathon not a sprint. One of the essential qualities for a life being transformed by God to be like Christ is patience. I believe “God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13) But, God is working with his agenda, his time frame, not mine.

The third point is to keep ever before me the number one essential in the life in Christ; Fix your eyes on Jesus. For our reading of chapter eleven I noted that faith involves looking to the future promised by God and trusting God to bring that future to reality. Did you notice the author of Hebrews wrote that “Because of the joy awaiting him, (Jesus) endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (12:2b) Jesus kept his eye on the finish line, on God’s vision for the redemption of the world. Jesus is my model for life and faith and thus I am called to follow Jesus by ever keeping before me the glory of God’s coming Kingdom.

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

28-Feb-12     Heb. 12:14-29

Hebrews 11: 1-31

The author is bringing the entire letter together in chapters 11 and 12. Chapter 11 lays a foundation for the fulfillment of God’s purpose for his followers and the final redemption of all creation revealed in chapter 12. That foundation rests on the twin pillars of faith and hope.

In this foundation faith is understood as looking to God to meet all of our needs and trusting God for everything. Hope is looking to the future promised by God and trusting God to bring that future to reality. What makes such trust possible is the object of our faith and hope.

Faith is not hoping God can; it is knowing God will. Again, what makes such faith possible is the object of our faith.

Faith is not a force we can control by trying hard to believe. Faith comes through making a decision about whom we will trust with our life and with our future.

The writer then summarizes God’s history with humans and remembers the men and women who made decisions to trust God with their lives. The compelling characteristic they all share is that their faith, their trust in God, was active, not passive. Just believing is not enough to constitute Godly faith as James 2:19 makes clear: “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”

Godly faith is evidenced by the choices we make. The Hall of Fame identified by the author all made decisions to conform their life to the will of God because they trusted God for everything. They trusted God to provide for them. They especially trusted God for their hope of a future where sin and evil and death have been banished for all eternity. Because of their trust in God, because of their faith, they worshiped God ‘with holy fear and awe.’ (Hebrews 12:28-29)

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

27-Feb-12     Heb. 11:32-12:13

Hebrews 10:19-39

In the Temple worship of sacrifices under the Old Covenant the priest could make sin offerings for only two types of sins; violations of God’s law in ignorance or unintentional violations of God’s law. There was no sin offering for someone who intentionally, willfully violated God’s law. Within the Jewish culture such willful violations could result in capital punishment – death to the violator. Do you recall the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8? The woman was on the verge of execution for her willful sinfulness. (I think it should be noted that Jesus’ intervention – ‘let him without sin cast the first stone’ – is a compelling view of Jesus’ stand on capital punishment.)

The writer to Hebrews has reminded his readers of the extraordinarily Good News of the New Covenant. Jesus’ sacrifice of his life, his blood, is once and for all time a sin offering for our willful disobedience, our willful sins against God. Hallelujah.

Verses 22-23 are a summary of the qualities of life for those who have ‘entered heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.’ The writer describes hearts that have, in John Wesley’s words, ‘been strangely warmed.’ The gift of full assurance has been realized through our baptism into the life of Christ. (See Romans 6) And, we hold firm in our confession of faith, not because we are so strong, but because ‘God can be trusted to keep his promises.’

The writer also makes clear that Jesus has made the one and only sin offering that sets us free from our sin nature brought about by original sin. There is no other sin offering available. The writer is convinced that those who have entered into the Most Holy Place will not look for an exit. They will remain under the shelter of the Almighty.

However, for those who have heard about Jesus and have refused Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, those who have not entered heaven’s Most Holy Place, there is no other hope for forgiveness. Jesus is our only hope for being made right with the God of the New Covenant.

God, out of the purity of his love for humankind, will endorse whatever decision we make.

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

26-Feb-12     Heb. 11:1-31