Bible Matters 260: Gospel to the Hebrews

The Hebrews had been driven down the road of a work-based religion.  The works gave no glory to God.  Saul, the Pharisee converted and born again as Paul, had his hands full, trying to convince the Hebrews to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Being saved in the Old Testament referred to God providing protection from your enemies.  Paul taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Hebrews. Jesus is the High Priest of our profession of faith.  As you can imagine, he spent quite a few verses explaining that Jesus is a high priest, that was sent down to provide salvation to the lost.    

Hebrews 3:1 – Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Paul tells the Hebrews to use two or three witness to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:18 – That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

There are many witnesses presented in Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews.  By faith, these witnesses all gave of themselves for the glory of God.  Each living a righteous life by faith, offering a testimony that pleased God.  God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.  These witnesses lived by faith and received not the promise offered to you by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews 11:6,39-40 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Paul’s gospel to the Hebrews is identical to the other gospels that the apostles, James and Jude wrote.  As you can imagine, he spent quite a few verses explaining that Jesus is a high priest, that was sent down to provide salvation to the lost.  Let’s look at his gospel.   Jesus sent his Son, made in the image of God, to purge you of your sins.  He was crucified, died and rose again, sitting on the right hand of the Father.  By the grace of God, Jesus has given you victory over death.

Hebrews 1:1-3 – God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Hebrews 2:9 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus became the author of eternal salvation unto those that obey him.  Not by repentance by dead works or sacrifice of animals and blood.

Hebrews 5:8-9 – Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

By faith, when you accept his offer of eternal salvation, you repent of your sins, accept the guidance of the Holy Ghost when you are converted from a lover of self to a lover of God and others, living a righteous life unto the Lord.  Once you start your walk with the Lord, by faith, maintain your walk, with hope until the end.  Your inequities he will remember no more.  Through patience and faith, you will inherit the promise. 

Hebrews 8:12 – For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Hebrews 6:1-6 – Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit.  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:10-12 – For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 9:14-15 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 9:26-28 – For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Once you accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and offer of eternal salvation and with a pure heart, Paul warns you not to sin willfully.  Hold fast to your profession of faith. 

Hebrews 10:10,12,14,16-19,22-24,26,28-31 – By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 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 will I write them;  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

With patience, run the race that God has placed before you, serving God with reverence.  Refrain from the sins of the flesh, being made perfect in every good work, done to please the Lord.   Avoid false doctrine.  Letting brotherly love continue. 

Hebrews 12:1-2,12-14,16,24,28-29 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 13:1-2,4-6,8-9,15-16,20-21 –  Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

To God be the glory in all you do. Amen.