Hebrews

Hebrews

Background:

The book was apparently written to Jewish believers (3:1, 12,
14; 6:9) who were tempted to drop faith in (the invisible)
Christ and return to the (visible) OT system of worship.

Contents:

The entire book labors to prove Christ better than the OT
system of worship. To this end, Hebrews presents Him as a
superior prophet (1:1 - 14), priest (4:14 - 10:22), and prize
(10:23 - 13:25). Since He is a better prophet, we should heed
His word. Since He is a better priest, we should approach God
through Him alone. Since He is a better prize, we should
prefer Him to those things which can be shaken, and endure for
Him. The strong emphasis on holding "fast our confession of
faith" (3:6, 14; 4:14; 10:23) exhorts any believer who becomes
tempted to place their faith in that which can be seen or
"shaken" (11:26-29), rather than Christ.

Theme: Hold Faith In Christ

Outline:

1) Reasons
A) Because He's the best Prophet (1:1 - 4:13)
B) Because He's the best Priest (4:14 - 10:22)
C) Because He's the best Prize (10:23 - 13:25)

2) Ways
A) By heeding His word (1:1 - 4:13)
B) By approaching God (4:14 - 10:22)
C) By enduring discipline (10:23-29)
D) By loving the brethren (13:1-25)

Hebrews 1

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

1) Reasons
A) Because He is a better Person (1:1 - 4:13)
1) Than OT prophets (1:1-2)
2) Than Angels (1:3 - 2:18)

Christ is a better spokesman for God than OT prophets (1:1-2)
because He is God's Son (2a), "heir of all things" (2b),
creator [by the power of His word] (2c), "the radiance of His
[God's] glory" (3a), "the exact representation of His [God's]
nature" (3b), sustainer of all things (3c), purifier of sins
(3c), and seated "at the right hand of the Majesty on high".
The parable in Mark 12:1-11 shows how a steward should show
more regard for the words of a landlord's son (Christ), than
his servants (OT prophets).

Christ is a better messenger than Angels (1:3 - 14) because He
is God's Son (5), God in the flesh (6a), God (8a), the
righteous ruler (8b-9), eternal creator (10-12), seated at
God's right hand (13a), and ultimate victor (13b), whereas the
angels worship Christ (6b), and serve both Him and those who
will become saved (14). Galatians 3:19 indicates angels were
instrumental in revealing the OT Law to Moses. If those words
were to be respected, how much more revelation which comes
from the Son of God Himself?

The superiority of Christ to OT prophets and angels should
persuade us to heed His words and warnings.

Hebrews 2

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

1) Because He is a better person (1:1 - 4:13)
B) Than angels (1:3 - 2:18)

The OT Law was given to Moses through angels (Gal. 3:19), and
those who did not obey were disciplined severely (2; cf.,
e.g., Numbers 15:32-36). Since Christ is better than angels,
and His teaching was confirmed by signs, wonders, various
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit (4), believers today,
should "pay much closer attention to what [they] have heard"
from Him (1). Failure to heed Christ's words (regarding
salvation through Him) may result in spiritual drifting (1),
and severe discipline as children (3a; cf. 12:4-13; Acts
5:1-11).

Chapter one, and 2:6-8 say Christ is better than angels
because He is the ultimate victor over the world to come. This
may raise the objection that we do not now see Him in this
role. Verses 9 - 18 explain why Christ became "a little lower
than the angels" when He took the form of a man.

1) Because He had to pay for man's sin (9). The entire OT
sacrificial system typifies the fact that sin calls for the
death penalty, and that only a spotless substitute can take
man's place. Christ's death fulfilled this type by paying the
penalty for "every man" (9, 17b).

Philippians 2 explains that for such humility and obedience,
God crowned Christ with surpassing glory, and that every knee
will, therefore, ultimately bow to Christ. Christ had to
become man to pay for man's sin.

2) Because His death rendered the devil powerless (14-15). The
devil uses fear of death to enslave people to his will. Since
Christ rose from the dead, there is no sting in physical death
for the believer, as they too will be raised (1 Cor. 15).
Christ's death also frees the believer from obligation to the
death penalty of the Law and the compulsory sin it provokes in
his fallen nature (Rom. 6 - 8). The Holy Spirit's baptism of
the believer into Christ's resurrection empowers christians to
yield their members to God rather than sin.
Thus, Christ's death nullifies the devil's power over the
believer.

3) Because suffering made Him a merciful and faithful high
priest (17-18). Having been tested with the lust of the eyes,
flesh, and pride of life (cf. Mat. 4), Christ has the ability
"to come to the aid of those who are tempted" (18). Such
experience perfects Christ as our Captain, or Pioneer of
salvation.

Hebrews 3

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
1) Because He is a better person (1:1 - 4:13)
C) Than Moses (3)

Though both were faithful, Christ is worthy of more glory than
Moses (1-5) 1) because He is the builder of the house, whereas
Moses was part of the house (2-4); and 2) because He is a Son,
whereas Moses was a servant (5-6). Christ, as God and
creator, is the builder of "all things" ["house"] (4; cf. Col.
1:16-17), but specifically His assembly of believers (6; cf.
Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:10-15).

Since Christ is better than Moses, we should remain confident
in Him (6, 14) . The account of Israel failing to enter the
promised "rest" under Moses' leadership illustrates the
importance of believers entering it under Christ's. But what
is this "rest"?

For national Israel, "rest" was the promised land. Though God
delivered Israel from Egypt, most feared He would not save
them from the giants in Canaan when Moses led them to
Kadesh-Barnea. Some even wanted to go back into Egypt. As a
result, they did not enter the promised "rest" of the land,
and God chastened them with 40 years of wandering in the
wilderness.

For believers today, "rest" may refer to your gaining victory
over daily evil, trials, and sin because you remain confident
in Christ. Moses himself did not enter the promised land
described as "rest" (Deut. 34:4), yet Heb. 11:23-25 indicates
he was a believer and Matt. 17:1-4 shows he went to heaven
when he died.

Further, the promised land was a place where an ongoing battle
occurred with the enemies of God's people, even though it was
described as their inheritance "rest". Joshua and Caleb
entered the rest, by faith in God's ability to deliver them
from the giants in the land, and spent the rest of their life
fighting and gaining victory over them.

By contrast, the believer's eternal inheritance in heaven will
be without such conflict (Rom. 8; Rev. 21 - 22). Israel
entering the promised land or "rest", then, does not seem to
correspond to believers entering heaven, but to their being
delivered from daily evil, trials, and sin through faith in
Christ.

Since believers have been baptized into Christ's death to sin
and resurrection to newness of life, they are empowered, by
the indwelling Holy spirit, to gain victory over sin in their
daily life (Rom. 6:1-14). Although permanent peace _with_ God
comes at the moment one trusts Christ as Savior (Romans 5),
Philippians 4 describes an inner peace _of_ God which you only
experiences as you believe in and obey God.

Ephesians 6 also explains how to gain victory, by faith, over
spiritual attacks you face. It seems, then, that as you
remain confident in the power of Christ to deliver you from
evil and sin in your daily life, you experience the "rest" God
has promised.

B) Ways
2) "By encouraging one another day after day" (13).

The "deceitfulness of sin" can cause your heart to grow hard,
lead you to disobey, and make you doubt Christ. As believers,
you remain confident in Christ by daily encouraging other
believers endure trials and avoid sin through faith in Christ.
Hebrews 4

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
1) Because He is a better person (1:1 - 4:13)
4) Than Joshua (4:1-13)

Christ is better than Joshua, because He gives complete
inheritance "rest", whereas Joshua did not (8). Unbelief,
robbed many redeemed people of profiting from their promised
rest under Joshua. As a result, they wandered in sin as God
severely chastened them. God restated the promise of rest in
the time of David (Psalm 95:6-11), however, and no one should
suppose he has missed the possibility of entering it (1).

B) Ways

3) By resting from your works (10)

Relying on Christ for victory over sin and evil in your daily
life is directly contrasted with yielding your members to sin
(cf. Gal. 5:16-26), or attempting to achieve victory in the
strength of your flesh--something which is impossible, and
only results in more sin and frustration (Roman 7).

As a believer, you experience Christ's rest here on earth, as
you know you have died with Him to sin, been raised with Him
to newness of life, and as you yield your members as
instruments of righteousness to God through the power of the
indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-14).

Hope of glorious deliverance from the very presence of sin,
evil, and trials at the appearing of Christ motivates this
kind of living, and enables us to experience it's benefits
here on earth (Rom. 8; 1 Peter 1:3-25).

4) By seeing yourself through Scripture (13-14).

The word of God is able to discern between fleshly and
spiritual motives, and exposes our condition before God.
Viewing yourself through Scripture should enable you to rely
on Christ rather than your own works, and discourage sin and
unbelief.

Hebrews 5

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)

a) He is a heavenly priest (14). Earthly priests minister on
earth, but Christ ministers in heaven as the Son of God.
Following chapters explain this facet of Christ's priesthood.

b) He is a sympathetic priest (15a). Since Christ was tested
in all areas we are (with the lust of the eyes, lust of the
flesh, and boastful pride of life (Mt. 4; cf. 1 John 2:16), He
is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.

He is a sinless priest (15b). It has been observed that only
a person who endures the complete scope of testing without sin
knows the full extent of its power. Since Christ bore the
full duration of testing without sinning, He understands more
than anyone else, the temptation we face. Being sinless also
qualified Christ to offer Himself as our substitute offering
for sin--something discussed in more detail later.

He is an appointed priest (5:1-6). Christ was appointed by
God Himself, and designated a priest forever "according to the
order of Melchizedek). Melchizedek was the king priest of
Salem in Genesis 14:17-24). How He typifies the nature of
Christ's priesthood is explained in following chapters of
Hebrews.

He is a perfect priest (7-9). Christ gained experiential
knowledge of the sufferings we face when He Himself suffered.
This included death and separation from God, and makes Him
complete as the source of our eternal salvation.

He is an eternal priest (10). Earthly priests die, but Christ
is an eternal priest, as typified by Melchizedek, whose
beginning or ending genealogies are unknown.

B) Ways
4) By drawing near to God (16)

Since we have a heavenly High Priest who can sympathize with
our weaknesses, we should draw near to God's throne of grace
with confidence, for mercy and "grace to help in time of need"
(4:15, 16).

5) By pressing on to maturity (5:11 - 6:8)

Maturity requires a deeper knowledge of Christ. In this case,
the readers needed to understand Christ's superiority as a
priest, so they would remain confident in Him. With practice,
a mature believer is able to use this wisdom to discern
between good and evil.

Hebrews 6

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

B) Ways
5) By pressing on to maturity (con't)

Chapter 6 gives a solemn warning of the believer's need to
press on to a mature understanding of Christ, so they may
remain confident in His promise of rest (i.e. deliverance from
the power of sin in daily life, and presence of sin in glory).
There seem to be several reasons to press on to maturity.

1) Because God chastens fruitless believers (1-8). "For in
the case of those who have once been enlightened...and have
fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to
repentance...ground that drinks the rain...but..yields thorns
and thistles...ends up being burned...(4-8 NAS). This passage
has at least four possible interpretations, most of which can
be eliminated by the context or clear references in other
passages of Scripture:

1) A believer will loose his salvation if He falls away from
His profession of faith. This view is impossible, because
Romans 8:30ff. indicates everyone who ever becomes saved in
the first place (justified), will also be glorified (future),
and that nothing in time or space is able to separate the
believer from this love of God.

2) This refers to people who made professions, but were never
actually saved. Although possible, much of the context of
Hebrews seems to indicate that believers are in view. The
description of those who have "once been enlightened and have
tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of
the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the
powers of the age to come" (4-5), seems to best fit a
believer.

3) This describes a hypothetical situation which could never
really happen. Support for this view comes from the KJV
translation _"If"_ they shall fall away". It is argued that
it is only impossible to renew someone to repentance "if" they
fall away, and that it is impossible for a true believer to
fall away, therefore the warning is only hypothetical.
However, the word "if" ("kai") almost always means
"and". Thus, the text more accurately describes "those who
have once been enlightened...and have fallen away" (NAS), as
if such cases could occur.

4) This describes people who are truly saved, but who deviate
from the truth to the extent that they become fruitless and
severely chastened by God. This view seems to best fit the
context and language.

Those "who have once been enlightened" elsewhere seems to
refer to those who are truly saved (cf. 10:32; 2 Cor. 4:3-6).
Those "who have tasted the heavenly gift", also uses language
similar to that of believers when they first trust Christ
(John 4:10; Rom. 6:23; James 1:17-18). These were people who
"have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit". Hebrews 1:9
uses this word ("partaker") to refer to companions of Christ,
and "holy brethren" in 3:1 and 14.

Also, national Israel has been used as the example of people
who are truly redeemed (from Egypt, which typifies the
believer being redeemed from the slave market of sin), but
who fail to enter the rest of the promised inheritance (land)
because they don't believe God will also deliver them from its
giants. God chastened them to the point of physical death as
they wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of sin for 40 years.
Even Moses, whom we know was saved (cf. Heb. 11; Mt. 17:3),
did not enter the promised inheritance "rest" during life on
earth, being chastened by God because of disobedience (Num.
27:12-14; Deut. 3:21-29; 34:4).

Also, the illustration of people as land which drinks up rain,
but bears only thorns and thistles and ends up burned (7-8),
evokes ideas of hell, but may actually picture a common
farming practice. If land became useless because of weeds,
the field was burned, the growth consumed, and the land became
useful again.

1 Tim. 1:19-20 apparently describes a situation where those
who had suffered "shipwreck" with regard to their faith, would
benefit from chastening. Hebrews 12:4-13 calls on the
believer to endure the chastening process of God, noting it is
first sorrowful, then yields the peaceful fruit of
righteousness. 1 Peter 1:7 explains that full enjoyment of
our inheritance "rest" waits us in heaven, that the various
trials we experience now test and prove our faith like "fire"
purifies gold, and that we actually experience the joy of the
future aspects of our salvation while still here on earth as
we hope for it's completion at the appearing of Christ (cf.
Rom. 6-8).

This passage seems best understood as a warning believers to
remain confident in Christ so you don't become fruitless, and
severely chastened by God.

2) Because God remembers your good works (9-12). Sin and
unbelief do not accompany salvation in the sense that they are
fruit of God's saving work, yet they are present in the life
of every true believer till glory (Rom. 6-8; cf. 1 John
1:5-10). As an encouragement, this passage reminds the
readers that God is just, and remembers their love and
ministry to the saints--fruit which does accompany God's
saving work.

3) Because God's keeps His promises (13-20). First, God is
truth, and does not lie, therefore His promise of deliverance
from the power and presence of sin should assure us it will
come to pass on our behalf (Rom. 6 - 8). Second, the fact God
swore to fulfill this promise to Abraham, should assure us
that He who has begun a good work in us will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ (Gen. 22:17ff.; Philipp. 1:6). God's
promise to Abraham's seed is fulfilled in the person of
Christ, and therefore extended to every child of God through
faith in Him (see Gal. 3:7-29). Since there is no one greater
than God, this oath to Himself should assure us.

4) Because Christ has entered the Holy of Holies. Since
Christ is our High Priest and has entered the presence of God
in the heavenly holy of holies on our behalf, and since God
promised to deliver believers from the power and presence of
sin through faith in Christ, our hope of such salvation is
anchored securely in the presence of God. Therefore, we should
remain confident in Christ by pressing on to maturity, in the
hope of deliverance from the power and presence of sin by our
Great High Priest.

Hebrews 7

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)
A) Priest of a better order [Melchizedekian] (7)

The Hebrew believers to whom this letter was apparently
written, were in danger of dropping faith in Christ, and again
putting their faith in the Aaronic priesthood of the OT. To
keep them confident in Christ's priesthood, chapter seven
presses on to deeper spiritual truths, showing why Christ is
priest of a better order (Melchizedekian) than Aaron.

Jesus preached from "all" the OT Scriptures the things
regarding Himself (Lk. 24:27). He warned the Scribes and
Pharisees that the OT Bible they searched in hope of eternal
life pointed to Him (Jn. 5:39). Paul also used the OT to
convince Jewish people that Jesus is the Christ (Ac. 17:1-4).
As such, the account of Melchizedek (Gen. 14:17-24), although
historical, is also a picture which reveals spiritual truths
about Christ. There are several reasons why Christ, after the
order of Melchizedek, is a superior priest.

1) Because Abraham paid tithes to him (2-10). Since Levi was
in his loins at the time, the Levitical and Aaronic priesthood
demonstrated Melchizedek was a superior order of priest by
paying tithes to him through Abraham.

2) Because He is a King priest (2b). Melchizedek's name means
king of righteousness and king of peace. Christ fulfills this
type as He is a priest who is also king of righteousness and
peace (Ps. 45:6-7; 72:1-7; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6Jer. 33:16;
Rom. 3:26; Eph. 2:14-18).

3) Because He is an eternal priest (3, 23-25). The Levitical,
Aaronic priesthood was weak in that it consisted of men who
died. By contrast, there is no record of Melchizedek's
genealogy. As such, we are not able to trace his beginning or
ending, and he pictures an eternal priest. This type is
realized in Christ who holds His priesthood permanently, by
the "power of an indestructible life". He is therefore able
"to save forever those who draw near to God through Him" (25).

4) Because He is priest of a new covenant (11-22). In Psalm
110:4, God indicates He will institute a king priest forever,
"according to the order of Melchizedek". The kingly line came
through Judah, rather than Levi, and thus God introduces a
new order of priesthood to that of the OT system.

5) Because He was sworn in by God (20-22). Levitical priests
were not sworn into office by an oath of God. In Psalm 110:4,
however, God takes an oath that He will install Messiah as an
eternal king-priest. This makes Christ the "guarantee of a
better covenant" (NAS) to that of the OT priesthood.

6) Because He is a sinless priest (26-28). OT priests were
sinners, had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, and had
to repeatedly offer sacrifices for the sins of the people they
represented before God. Christ, on the other hand, was
sinless. This qualified Him to make a single sacrifice of
Himself as a once for all atonement for the sins of His
people. More is said about this later.

Hebrews 8

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
2) Because He is a better priest (4:14 - 10:39)
B) Priest of a better Covenant (8:1-13)

Verses 1-5 conclude Christ is a better priest because His work
is a finished work, and because He ministers in the heavenly
tabernacle rather than the one on earth (2-5). More will be
said about these facets of Christ's priesthood in the
following chapters. Verse 6 introduces the subject of chapter
8, i.e. Christ is priest of a better covenant.

In Genesis 12:1-3, God made a covenant with Abraham which
included the promise of land, seed, and blessing. Later,
these covenants were expanded in the Palestinian (Deut.
30:1-10), Davidic (2 Sam. 7:12-16), and New Covenants (Jer.
31:31-34). These covenants contain the framework for God's
dealing with literal, national Israel in the past and future,
but the New Covenant also explains spiritual promises which
extend to church age Gentiles through faith in Christ, the
seed of Abraham (Gal. 3). There are several reasons the
promise of this New Covenant is better than the old.

1) Because it changes your heart (8-11). Romans 7 indicates
the OT Law cannot incline you to obey God. When you hear
God's will in the Law, it compels your fallen nature to rebel.
This shows your inability to meet God's standard in the
strength of your flesh, and that you deserve condemnation. As
such, Galatians 3 says this Law was a tutor to lead us to
Christ so we could be justified by faith rather than personal
merit. Under the New Covenant, God imparts a new regenerate
nature (2 Cor. 5:17). When you trust Christ, the Holy Spirit
indwells you, and faith in Christ's death and resurrection
empowers you to yield your members as instruments of
righteousness to God (Rom. 6:1ff.)

2) Because it gives you understanding (11). 1 Cor. 2:6-16
says the Holy Spirit takes spiritual truths from the word of
God and reveals them to the understanding of those who trust
Christ. As such, every believer, under the New Covenant, has
"the mind of Christ" (16 NAS). This is better than the Old
Covenant, which required the people to "teach everyone his
fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, 'know the
Lord' (Heb. 8:11).

3) Because it removes guilt (12). The Law reminded people of
sin as the offerings had to be repeated day by day. As such,
you could not serve God with a conscience clear from guilt. By
contrast, the New Covenant includes a provision whereby God
"will remember their sins no more" (12 NAS). Christ's once
for all atonement satisfies all God's righteous demands
against all sin of all time (1 John 2:2), giving God a
righteous ground for forgetting one's sin altogether. To
forget sins does not mean that God has no recollection of
them, but that He no longer holds them against us, because
Christ's death satisfies all His righteous demands against
them. As such, the New Covenant enables you to serve God with
a clear conscience.

God has declared the Old Covenant obsolete by introducing the
New Covenant, which changes the heart, imparts understanding,
and removes guilt. Christ is a better priest because He is
priest of this better covenant.

Hebrews 9

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)
C) Priest of a better Sanctuary (9)

We should remain confident in Christ, because He is the priest
of a better sanctuary. His blood brings us into the presence
of God with confidence, having cleansed our conscience from
guilt once for all, and insures us of an eternal hope of
inheritance.

1-10: The OT sanctuary excluded men from the Holy presence of
God. Priests of the earthly sanctuary could only enter this
Holy of Holies once a year. Their animal blood only made
people ceremonially clean, but could not cleanse the
conscience.

11-28: Christ entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, offering
His own blood once for all, removing all guilt, obtaining an
eternal redemption. Therefore His blood cleanses our
conscience, brings us into the presence of God, inaugurates
the New Covenant, and assures His return for our salvation
rather than judgment for sin.

We should remain confident in Christ, because He is the priest
of a better sanctuary.

Hebrews 10

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)
d) Priest of a better sacrifice (10:1-39)

This passage shows several reasons Christ's sacrifice is
better than that of the Levitical priests, and several ways to
apply this truth.

1) Because it is the form (1a). Animal sacrifices were only
a shadow, or type of Christ. They pictured a sinless
substitute bearing man's guilt for sin. Christ, however, is
the form. He is the substance which casts the shadow. The
sacrifice of His own body for man's sin is the substantive
payment which the OT sacrifices pointed to.

2) Because it removes guilt (1-4). That animal sacrifices were
unable to cleanse a believers' conscience is evident from the
fact that they had to be offered repeatedly (2). Rather than
remove sin, they only reminded the believer of it (3). In
fact, "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to
take away sins." (4 NAS). Since Christ's sacrifice removes
sin once for all, it cleanses the believer's conscience.

3) Because it pleases God (5-9). God said He was not pleased
with the animal sacrifices and offerings (5-6; cf. Ps.
40:6ff.). God was, however, pleased with the human body
Christ took on and offered as a sacrifice for man's sin (7-9).
1 John 2:2 and Romans 3:25 say Christ's death satisfied all
God's righteous demands against sin.

4) Because it sanctifies forever (10-18). The animal
sacrifices had to be offered again and again, but Christ's
death removes sin once and for all. This is evident from the
fact that after He rose, He ascended into heaven and sat down
at the right hand of God. Christ's sacrifice of His own body
for our sin, permanently cleanses believers of sin with regard
to their positional standing before God.

5) Because there is no other sacrifice (26-31)

The statement in verse 26 that "if we go on sinning willfully"
seems to refer to those who "throw away" their confidence in
Christ. For these, "there no longer remains a sacrifice for
sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment". This
seems to mean there is no other sacrifice, than that which
Christ has already made, which can pay for sin. To reject
this sacrifice would expose the believer to the fury of God.

As stated in previous chapters, though, this letter is written
to believers, and believers cannot loose their salvation. The
only interpretation which seems to survive cross examination
from other passages of Scripture and the context of Hebrews is
that this apostasy refers to those who were saved but departed
from their confidence in Christ to the extent that God
severely chastened them.

B) Ways
6) By drawing near to God (19-22)

Guilt made Adam shrink away from God and hide (Gen. 3:8-11)
Knowing Christ has effectively cleansed you from guilt once
for all, should give you confidence to enter God's presence
and wait for Christ's appearing.

7) By holding fast our confession (23)

God is faithful. After He saves you from the penalty of sin,
He also saves from the power of sin (including guilt) in your
daily life, and then from the very presence of sin in glory.
The believer should remain confident in Christ the High Priest
for deliverance from daily sin, in hope of final deliverance
from the presence of sin in his inheritance rest in glory (cf.
Rom. 8).

8) By provoking love in others (24-25)

The word "stimulate" (24), comes from roots which mean to be
sharp, irritate, or provoke. This word is used to describe
the "sharp" contention between Paul and Apollos (Acts 15:39).
Believers should consider how to provoke one another to love
and good deeds.

9) By assembling with other believers (25)

Simply showing up at worship meetings is a way to be
encouraged and encourage others in the faith.

10) By exhorting one another (25b)

This word means to "call to one's side". It involves speaking
to them in such a way as to comfort, instruct, and encourage
them.

11) By remembering former good works (32-34)

Hebrews 6:10 says God remembers the past good works He has
wrought in us (cf. Eph. 2:8-10). Verse 32 refers to the
Hebrews' "former days", when they endured great conflicts,
sufferings, reproaches, and tribulations for their faith in
Christ, as well as their sympathy for those who endured the
same. Remembering God's past fruit and deliverance in our
lives should also encourage us to endure in hope of Christ's
appearing (37-39).

Hebrews 11

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
3) Because He is a Better Prize (11-13)

Faith is an assurance of things we hope for, and a conviction
about things we have not seen (1). For example, by faith we
understand that God made the world out of nothing. Hebrews 11
shows our need to remain confident in Christ as our hope of
future inheritance, rather than those things we can see and
handle. The reason for this is because He is a better
prize...

Than worldly praise (11:1-6)

Faith in Christ is Better than worldly praise, because God
commends those who believe in Him. God commended Abel for
offering a better sacrifice, by faith, than his brother Cain
(4). This may picture that faith in Christ's sacrifice
results in God's testimony that we are righteous
(justification), while faith in the fruit of our own labors
(such as offered by Cain), do not merit God's approval.

Enoch also pictures someone God approves of. Because he lived
by faith in God's promises, he "obtained the witness that...he
was pleasing to God." God took Enoch into heaven alive, and
this pictures the believer's hope that he will be taken to
heaven by Christ, to receive the fulfillment of the promised
inheritance of eternal life with God.

Than worldly possessions (11:8-22)

Faith in Christ is better than worldly possessions, because He
promises eternal life in a heavenly city for those who wait
for Him (Rev. 21-22). Faith in God's promises motivated
humble and obedient living in Abraham and Sarah.

For example, Abraham believed God's promise of a seed, and was
therefore willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, because he
believed God would have to raise him from the dead to keep his
word. Belief in the resurrection of Christ and God's promise
to raise all believers with a glorious body (1 Cor. 15),
enables us to obey Christ even in the face of death, in the
hope of resurrection.

Even though Jacob was in the most prosperous nation on earth,
he blessed his children in hope of God's promises instead, and
Joseph, requested his bones to be buried in the promised land.

Than worldly pleasures (11:23-29)

Christ is better than worldly pleasures, because worldly
pleasures are only "passing", but Christ is a permanent
reward. Moses could have had all the pleasures of Egypt, but
endured ill treatment with his people instead. He also did
not fear what Pharaoh would do to him because of faith in
Christ. This should motivate believers to choose the
permanent possession of Christ over the passing pleasures of
sin, and to endure ill treatment for their faith in Christ.

Than worldly power (11:30-35)

Christ is better than worldly power, because He gives present
and future victory over sin, evil, and death. Many who
believed God's promise to give them the land of Canaan fought
bravely and gained victory over the enemies of God. Those who
did not believe in God's promise to give them victory and an
inheritance, wandered in the wilderness of sin and died.
Christ corresponds to the believers promised inheritance land,
and by faith in His death and resurrection we gain victory
over guilt, sin and evil in this present life, and receive an
eternal inheritance in glory (cf. Rom. 6 - 8).

Than worldly peace (11:36 - 12:3)

Christ is better than worldly peace, because He alone provides
resurrection from the dead (cf. 1 Cor. 15). Such hope
motivated people of God to endure reproach, torture, and
poverty for their faith.

Hebrews 12

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

B) Ways
11) By enduring trials

Chapter 12 gives several reasons to endure trials for our
faith in Christ.

Because witnesses surround us (1).

All the examples of faith in chapter 11 refer to believers who
endured trials in hope of a better inheritance than the world
has to offer. Such faith motivated them to brave obedience,
and resulted in a better reward.

Because Jesus endured the cross (2-3).

By focusing on Jesus, the starter and finisher of our faith,
we may remain confident of our inheritance. Jesus endured
great hostility, shame, and death to secure the benefits of
our salvation, and this should motivate us to endure trials
for hope in Him.

Because chastening proves sonship (4-8).

One of the reasons we face hardships and testing is because we
are children of God. God disciplines believers like a father
corrects his children. The fact that we can't get away with
sin proves we are children of God, and this should encourage
us to endure His painful corrections.

Because discipline yields fruit (9-17).

Like the discipline a child receives from his father, God's
chastening is first sorrowful to us, but then bears the fruit
of righteous living in our lives. Knowing this should make
hardship easier to endure. Although in our standing, we are
separated from sin and consecrated to God once for all in
Christ, God continues to conform us more and more to the image
of His son in our daily experience. This grace calls for holy
living. Esau rejected the hope of his inheritance to escape
the pressure of daily trials, and was then unable to
experience the benefits of his inheritance during life on
earth.

Because inheritance awaits us (18-24).

A heavenly city and the fellowship of believers and God await
those who remain confident in Christ as their inheritance (cf.
Rev. 21-22). These benefits are better than anything which
can be gained on earth, because material things have been
shaken in the past and will be shaken in the future, so that
only God's eternal inheritance will remain.

Because God is consuming fire (25-29).

Those who refused God's promised inheritance under the OT
covenant did not escape the severe discipline of God. Since
God will shake away all those material things in which we
might be tempted to place our hope, and since God now warns us
from heaven instead of earth, we should be grateful for His
promised inheritance, and stand in awe of God.

Hebrews 13

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

B) Ways
12) By offering grateful service

Chapter 12 closed with the instruction to "show gratitude, by
which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence
and awe..." (28 NAS). Chapter 13 seems to immediately follow
with several ways to offer grateful service.

1) By loving the brethren (1); 2) by showing hospitality to
strangers (2); 3) by sympathizing with christian prisoners
(3); 4) by keeping marriage pure (from fornication and
adultery); 5) by staying content (because God is present); 6)
by imitating faithful leaders (7); 7) by standing firm in
doctrine (8-10); 8) by separating from false teachers
(11-14); 9) by giving thanks to God (15); 10) by sharing with
others (16); 11) by obeying your leaders (17); 12) by praying
for missionaries (18-19); 13) by relying on God's grace
(20-21).

Verses 20-21 again seem to confirm that these instructions
explain how to serve God acceptably. We have already been
told that without faith it is impossible to serve God, and
here we are told that God is the one who equips and works in
us to serve Him in a pleasing way (cf. Eph. 2:8-10; Php.
2:13). Romans 6 explains it is faith in the death and
resurrection of Christ, and the fact the indwelling Holy
Spirit has placed us into this work which empowers us to yield
our members as instruments of righteousness to God.

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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