Hebrews 13: Love and Leadership

Hebrew 13: 1–9, 17–19

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

    What can mere mortals do to me?”

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.”

The final chapter

For 12 chapters of Hebrews, we have these lofty ideas about the supremacy and superiority of Jesus. He is better than anything that we might settle for. Chapter 13 contains practical instruction about how the Christian life is lived. It’s necessary instruction for us. 

These practical instructions in Chapter 13 are the way that we live a life of gratitude and worship. How I live my life—my actions and responses, how I treat people, the decisions I make—is an expression of worship.

Admittedly, chapter 13 seems disjointed with a handful of different two-line sermons. 

Love those inside the church

A word to our church; keep at it. Keep on loving one another. I am so impressed by the atmosphere of love and acceptance and care and compassion that has marked our church family for so many years.

We don’t take that for granted. We know it doesn’t happen by accident. That has consistently marked this church. Let’s keep at it.

Love those outside

The author says, “do not forget to entertain strangers.” Behind this idea of entertaining strangers is the concept of hospitality and offering them practical comfort. When it says to entertain strangers, we tend to think of entertaining as cleaning the house, putting out the fancy dishes, and serving an elaborate meal to some friends.

But the concept of hospitality in the Bible is very different. It’s much more about extending a hand of friendship, particularly to those who are in need. It implies a concern for social justice. It’s engaging with the disadvantaged and the under-resourced. Love starts inside and from a strong base of a loving church family it flows out into the community.

Love the Persecuted

“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” In a 2020 report, 260 million Christians faced persecution globally. 3711 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned. 

The writer says, “remember those in prison.” Become aware of persecuted Christians. Engage with organizations that work with the persecuted church. As we live our lives with significant freedoms, we remember those who are in prison for the gospel. The writer says, “as if you were their fellow prisoner.” When one suffers, we all suffer. 

Love your spouse

Marriage should be honoured by all.

Whether you are in a good marriage or a difficult one, whether you are single by choice or single in this moment, as followers of Jesus we affirm and honour Biblical marriage.

The marriage bed be kept pure.

God’s core purpose for sex is to bind husband and wife together in a one flesh relationship. Each partner will guard their lives sexually so that when they come together their intimacy will not be impeded by actions or attitudes or attachments to anyone or anything. 

God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

The word adulterer refers to a person who has sex with someone other than their spouse. The term sexually immoral refers to sex outside of the marriage relationship.

Don’t love money

“Keep your lives free from the love of money.” Money is not the problem—the problem is when a person loves money. Paul says it in 1 Tim 6:10, “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

Money has this deceptive way of drawing you into its grip. The writer tells us here to keep our lives free from the love of money. We shouldn’t underestimate just how difficult that is in a culture that loves money. As followers of Jesus, we understand that God has given us everything we have. God doesn’t want you to be stressed about money. 

He quotes from Psalm 118 and here’s the message: as an expression of my worship, I trust God to provide for me. He knows what I need, and I trust Him to provide for me in His way and in His time. As an expression of worship, I reject the love of money and I embrace contentment. I will be content with what God allows me to have and experience.

Spiritual leaders

In a 2017 Gallup poll done in the US found that the level of trust in pastors have dropped steadily since 2009. Thirty-five years ago, 67% of Americans put pastors in a category of being trustworthy. In 2017 it had dropped to 25%.  

There are a number of factors;  moral failure of high profile pastors, our penchant to value charisma over character so that leaders have gotten away with abusive behaviour because they could continue to draw a crowd, and many other factors.

Some of you know about spiritual abuse firsthand. You were part of a group or a church where a leader or group of leaders damaged people. Given all these realities, I’m aware of how sensitive this topic of leadership is. I know that when we come to a passage that contains words like, “obey” and “submit” that it’s terrifying.

And yet spiritual leadership is the provision of God for the church of Jesus to flourish. Jesus chose 12 men and trained them. One failed miserably and the other went on to lead the church. 

What is a spiritual leader?

In this passage we see seven things that describe a spiritual leader in the life of the church:

 They speak the word of God (verse 7)

Central to spiritual leadership is speaking God’s word. Leaders may have opinions on many things, but a spiritual leader’s task is not to share opinions. Our task is to bring God’s word to those who will hear it. And where God’s word doesn’t speak to an issue, we should leave the matter alone.

Live as an example of faith to be imitated. 

In spiritual leadership you conduct yourself in such a way that if people imitate your faith the result is that they look more like Jesus. Think of Paul’s words in 1 Cor 11:1, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”    

Keep watch over the people of God (verse 17)

Every one of us is responsible for the wellbeing of our own soul—our own relationship with God. But spiritual leaders keep watch and are attentive to the spiritual wellbeing of God’s people.  

They serve with joy.

In 1 Peter 5:2 the author writes, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be not pursuing dishonest gain but eager to serve.” 

Spiritual leaders find delight in serving. The author says in Hebrews 13:17 that when a pastor leads with a sense of joy it is to the advantage of the church. When a spiritual leader doesn’t lead from a place of joy the people suffer. 

They are accountable.

In verse 17 he writes of leaders that they must give an account. To be accountable is to understand that your life and ministry is an open book and that within your structure is a group of leaders who are given the responsibility to call you to account.

Brings advantage to those he/she leads.

In verse 17 he writes about the leader’s work and makes the point that it is for the advantage of those served. A spiritual leader is not in it for their own advancement. In the gospels you see Jesus’s disciples arguing over who was the greatest among them and who would get the positions of highest privilege & power when Jesus came to political power. And Jesus continually reminds them that in the kingdom He came to establish, whoever wants to be great must be servant of all.

Live Honourably (verse 18)

Let’s go back to 1 Peter 5 to the passage directed at spiritual leaders in the church. He says they are shepherds who care for sheep and watch over them. Then in verse 3 he writes, “not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” It’s a description of spiritual abuse and what leaders should not do.

What’s our response to spiritual leaders?

Remember them (verse 7)

Be mindful and appreciative of those who have taught you God’s word and modelled faith in Christ. Value your spiritual leaders.

Imitate the faith of faithful leaders.

Every leader is human and won’t be perfect or live out their faith perfectly but look for those Godly qualities in your leaders and imitate their faith.

Don’t get carried away by strange teaching (verse 9)

Don’t get drawn away from the simple gospel message of salvation by faith in Christ. Beware of leaders who come with a new truth that God has revealed only to them.

Obey your leaders (verse 17)

The word translated “obey” can mean “to comply” but it also carries the idea “trusting in” or “having confidence in.”  In the NIV it reads, “be confident in your leaders.”

As they are trustworthy, you trust them, and you give them the benefit of the doubt when you don’t understand or agree with them. Obedience is not absolute. 

Submit

The word translated “submit” is only used here in the N.T. Elsewhere it’s a different Greek word. Here, it carries the idea of willing compliance, or a disposition of yielding. 

There are limits and boundaries. It is not unquestioning and absolute compliance. When it comes to that leader’s words, he or she speaks authoritatively when they are speaking biblical truth.

Pray for your spiritual leaders (verse 18)

As you pray for spiritual leaders it sets your heart in a good place to support them in the work they are doing. Secondly, you pray for them because they are human and therefore need God’s help and protection. They have weaknesses, they are vulnerable to temptations, and they are prone to distractions and discouragement.

Thank God for them as ones He has appointed to care for and lead God’s people. Pray that they will have God’s wisdom. Pray that they would walk humbly and serve with joy.  

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermons on August 1st and 8th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 13 sermons on YouTube.

Hebrews 12: Peace

Hebrews 12:14–17

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.”

Deep divisions

In these last 16 months, we have gone through things as individuals and as a culture that have impacted us in ways that we have yet to realize. One of the things that this season has revealed is some deep divisions in our culture.

In the stresses and challenges of the pandemic, opinions have become more entrenched. Not surprisingly, as happens in families—that includes church families—is that there are brothers and sisters in Jesus who differ in their opinions and ideas. In fact, people who love Jesus have been on opposite sides on several issues relating to the pandemic.

While this was going on in the culture, it was being played out in the lives and relationships of our church family. Some of you have lost friendships. Some of you have seen your family divided and fragmented over these issues.

Hebrews was written to 1st century Christians who lived in a divided, polarized world. While their issues differ from ours, the issue of good human relationships is the same as in our setting.

To put this passage in its context, Hebrews 12 begins with the metaphor of the Christian life as a race where we throw off everything that can hinder us and the sin that so easily trips us up. If you’re running the race, how you process relationships with others and what you do when people hurt you will significantly affect how you run and how far you’ll go.

It’s noteworthy that the author begins with the issue of relationships. It points to the reality that some of them were struggling in their relationships, and it was affecting their progress.

In verses 14–17 there are two things to pursue, a warning, and an Old Testament character whose life serves as a warning for us.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone.

Another translation uses the phrase, “pursue peace with everyone”. To “pursue” or to “make every effort” means to expend energy in this quest for peace between me and another.

Before we get to what that looks like, I think it’s good to see what it’s not. To live in peace with everyone doesn’t mean:

- That I don’t have opinions or preferences.

- That I agree with everyone’s opinions.

- That I never engage in disagreement.

- That I avoid people with whom I disagree or have conflict.

So, what does “peace with everyone” looks like? In Romans 12:18 Paul writes, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Obviously, if someone doesn’t want a peaceful relationship you can’t make it happen. But you make every effort—you pursue it. At some point, you may have to relax your pursuit if there is an unwillingness on the part of the other person.

The goal is a robust peace, and that may look like this: “we disagree but our unity in Christ is bigger than any issue or opinion that will divide us.”

So how do I pursue peace? I’m grateful for the resources of Lifeway and their 5 Tactics that are useful for the pursuit of peace.

1. Deal with conflict early.

The pursuit of peace begins with the honesty and the courage to recognize that peace is being threatened in a relationship.

When you become aware of a lack of peace, make it both your business and your initiative to pursue peace. Deal with it early and don’t let it fester. Time doesn’t resolve it.

2. Practice restraint, especially with your tongue.

I love the practical counsel of James 1:19, “that every person be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.” Self-expression has been elevated to an unhealthy place in our culture. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that it’s ok to have opinions but sharing them when no one’s asking is often unhelpful.

3. Prepare for a long journey.

1 Peter 3:11, says, “Seek peace and pursue it.” When Peter instructs us to seek peace, it’s because sometimes it’s hard to find.

There are times when peace with another seems like it’ll be impossible to find. Peacemaking is at times a process that requires ongoing effort and humility and the work of the Spirit on both sides.

4. Take the first step.

In Romans 12:20 Paul writes, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he’s thirsty, give him something to drink.” Ask God to show you what simple first step you can take for the benefit of someone with whom you are in conflict.

5. Trust God to settle the injustice you’ve suffered.

All of us will be hurt or wounded by people along the way. Through others’ words, because of selfishness, every one of us will experience injustice. Of course, you confront it, and you hope for an apology and restitution. But if it doesn’t happen, entrust them to God.

In 1 Peter 2:23, he writes this of Jesus, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly.” When I’m hurt, retaliation and retribution are off the table. I give it to God. Pursuing peace takes courage and humility.

Make every effort…to be holy.

There’s a famous quote by theologian F.F. Bruce: “Christian holiness is not a matter of painstaking conformity to the individual precepts of an extended law code; it is rather a question of the Holy Spirit’s producing his fruit in the life. Reproducing those graces which were seen in perfection in the life of Christ.”

Holiness is not about focusing on avoiding bad things. It’s allowing the Spirit to work in your life to become more like Jesus. A good start is the nine qualities of the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22–23, “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” The Spirit will produce those in growing measure as you yield to the Spirit.

A warning

Verse 15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

As people who have experienced God’s grace, we are called to extend the same grace we’ve received, to others. Think about God’s grace. Grace means “unmerited favour.” It’s favour that God pours out on me that I didn’t earn, deserve, or work for.

To not fall short of God’s grace means in part, that I extend grace to those who hurt, offended, or disappointed me. It means a whole lot more than that but, in this context, it has to do with pursuing peace and rejecting bitterness.

Bitterness is a sin, but it seems to stand in a special category because he calls it a bitter root. Every plant starts with a single seed that develops roots and grows.

Bitterness always begins with small seeds. It usually starts with someone doing something that offends you. And it doesn’t matter if they intended it or not—you get angry.

What happens next is that you pull up the root through grace and forgiveness or you internalize the anger, and you allow it to fester. As the roots grow deeper you fertilize it with resentment, and it doesn’t take long, for that root to be well established.

All bitterness starts with hurt. So, when you are hurt by someone, here’s the warning, “see to it that you don’t miss the grace of God.” And if you don’t respond with grace, it will take root and the longer it grows, the deeper it grows.

You determine whether an offence takes root in your heart. You determine how long and how deep that root becomes.

It’s been said that bitterness is one of the hardest sins to see in the mirror. We feel justified in our bitterness, and in that justification, the roots grow and grow. And bitter roots always produce bitter fruits. Bitterness will always show up and when it does it causes trouble and defiles many.

An Old Testament example

In verses 16 and 17 the writer references Esau as an example of one who refused to live in peace—who turned away from holiness and who lived with a bitter root.

If you know the story of Esau and his twin brother Jacob, you know that Esau made some bad decisions and was taken advantage of by his mother and his twin brother. The pivotal event of his life was when he sold his birthright for a simple meal. In a moment of carelessness, he gave up something of great spiritual value to satisfy the momentary desire for a bowl of stew.

The writer here calls him godless—not because he didn’t believe in the existence of God but because he made light of spiritual values.

Later, he had huge regrets and lived with bitterness towards his brother. The warning from Esau’s life is “see to it that you don’t trade spiritual things for a moment of earthly pleasure.” Listen to the regret of Esau. Learn from his experience.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on July 25th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 12 (part 3) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 12: Discipline

Hebrews 12:4–13

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.”

When life is difficult

If your idea of a life of faith is less problems, less challenges, God answering every prayer in the way and time you want, this passage is going to make you uncomfortable.

How do you cope when life is difficult? How do you process the reality of suffering? How do you make sense of life when things come at you that seem to make no sense or have no purpose?

People respond to difficulty and suffering in one of these ways:

·      Some people resign themselves to it and accept it.

·      Some people are crushed by it. 

·      Some grow by it.

If you choose a posture of growth, it may not ease the suffering or stop the pain, but it will mean a move from being victimized by suffering to deriving value out of the suffering.

Suffering because of others

This passage is mostly about this suffering because of the actions of others. In verse 3, speaking of Jesus, he writes, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners…” For the original audience so much of what they were enduring was the result of the actions of people who were hostile and hurtful. 

Suffering because of the fall

When our first human parents sinned, the world changed. Paradise was ruined. The world as God intended it as a place of human flourishing became a place of struggle. All of us experience suffering because the world is out of alignment with God’s perfect design.

Suffering because of ourselves

My behavior has consequences. A person commits adultery and loses a marriage. A person steals and goes to jail. A person cheats and loses their job. All sin can be forgiven. All sin can be covered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. However, in this life we experience the consequences of our own mistakes and sins. 

How we process suffering

Regardless of whether you are a Christian or not, all of humanity experiences difficulties and suffering from these three sources. The difference is that for people who have embraced the Biblical faith we’ve been studying in Hebrews 11; we process suffering with an understanding and a perspective that turns it from something that works against us to something that works for our benefit.

For the believers who received this letter he writes in verses 5 that they had forgotten that for the Christian, hardships can be purposeful. If you forget that, it’s easy to grow weary and eventually to despair. 

A godly perspective 

As this passage unfolds the writer uses three metaphors to give us a godly perspective on suffering:

·      God as Father (verses 5–10)

·      God as Coach (verse 11)

·      God as Gardener (verse 11)

God as Father (verses 5–10)

The writer takes the reader back to the wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs 3 to remind them that the heart of God is the heart of a loving father.  

The word that is translated as “discipline” in these verses carries the idea of the whole training and education of a child and relates to the cultivation and development of the child’s mind and morals and character. 

It’s the actions of a loving parent who uses commands and admonition employed to form a child into a person of virtue and goodness and godly character. The concern and the goal of discipline is that the child flourishes. It’s never payback or retribution. It’s always for building them up. 

Good, loving parents will do what they think is best. However, they are not omniscient. They don’t know all the facts. They are limited in their understanding of what is of ultimate good for their child. With Father God he is a perfect father who knows me and knows precisely what is needed for me to become who He designed me to be.

Understanding that when hardship comes it informs my response. No longer is it “Why me?” but rather, “How can I cooperate with all that God wants to do in me?” 

When I know that a loving Father is watching over me, trouble and suffering have an entirely different meaning. Certainly, in our pain, it may seem like God is silent or absent. But the truth of God’s word assures me that God is very present and anything but indifferent. 

God as Coach (verse 11)

Chapter 12 starts with the idea that the Christian life is a race. It’s the picture of a well-trained athlete who has trained and continues to condition and stay in shape for the race. 

God is working in your life like an athletic coach. The way that an athlete becomes better and stronger is by way of training. The way you grow a muscle is by breaking it down. After you break it down what your body rebuilds is stronger.

For most of us the dilemma is that we want to have the body of an athlete but the price of getting there is too high. It hurts too much. Breaking down the muscle by pushing your physical limits is necessary but uncomfortable. 

It’s only after you’ve persisted and persevered and pushed through the pain that you see the benefits of what you put your body through.

Right now, you may be going through some things, and they don’t make sense and it seems like your prayers that God deliver you are falling on deaf ears—trust the coach. He’s working all things for your good. You’re being torn down not as a way to destroy you but as the only way to build strength and character and virtue in you.

God has a way of building your life through everything that comes into your life. Even the things that are done to you by people with evil intent—God won’t let that go to waste in your life. When He chooses not to heal or not to intervene, He’s still at work in ways that we may not understand amid of our discomfort.

God as Gardener (verse 11)

There’s a mixing of metaphors in verse 11. There’s the metaphor of an athlete. But there’s also the reference to “harvest.” Of course, a tree doesn’t experience pain like we do but there is physical damage, but there is some trauma to the tree. The cutting away is done for one reason: fruitfulness.

A fruit tree that’s never pruned eventually grows lots of leaves but not fruit. The gardener is looking for fruit.

3 thoughts on discipline

Tough times are not God’s punishment

Discipline is not punitive. As a follower of Jesus, your sins were dealt with when Jesus went to the cross. He paid the penalty in full. God doesn’t come back for more payment by inflicting pain on you. Paul says it so well in Romans 8:1 “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

As a believer, God is not paying you back for your sin in the hardships of life. You are no longer living under that curse. Jesus fully absorbed the curse for you.

Don’t waste tough times

Of course, we don’t wish for or welcome pain on ourselves or for others. But when it comes, realize that it’s not there to destroy you. God is at work through it to refine you and to polish off the rough edges and to form you more and more into the image of Jesus.

You are being trained. Lean into the growth.

Learn from Joseph

In Genesis chapters 37 through 50 we track Joseph’s life from age 17 to his death about 90 years later.  At 17, hated by his brothers, he’s sold into slavery. He’s purchased by an Egyptian official and ends up in jail on false charges.

Through a miracle he is released from prison and goes on to a high position in the Egyptian government. Years later his brothers come looking to buy food because of famine. They don’t recognize Joseph, but he inquires and finds out about his father and younger brother.

When he finally reveals his identity to his brothers, they are sure that he will use his position to punish them. Instead, he says this in Gen 50:20, “You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

There is never a moment where God is absent. There is never a moment when God has abandoned you. There is never a moment when God is indifferent. In and through all of the things you experience He is working all things for your good.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on July 18th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 12 (part 2) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 12: The Race

Hebrews 12:1–3

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

What to expect

Every follower of Jesus has ideas of what to expect. Often a person becomes interested in Jesus and they come to faith because they see the benefits of faith. I think at times preachers talk more about the great benefits than anything else. 

In Psalm 103:2 the Psalmist writes, “Praise the Lord o my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” And then for the next 20 verses he lists the benefits. 

If we sell the Christian life in terms of only benefits, we have told the truth but not the whole truth. Hebrews 12 is a reality check. The words of this chapter inform our expectations so we can navigate life in a better way. 

We have a couple of distorted ideas of Christianity that Hebrews 12 brings reality into focus. There’s the idea that the Christian life is supposed to be struggle free. And the other idea is that Christianity is a conversion experience that a person goes through that’s their ticket to heaven. While I absolutely affirm that for most people there is a moment of conversion, I can’t affirm biblically that that is the sum total of the Christian life. 

Let us run the race

Central to this passage is the phrase in verse 1: “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Central to this phrase is the word “race.” 

I don’t know what comes to mind when you hear the word “race”—likely the school track where you ran your heart out in the 100m dash. Or maybe you participated in a marathon and that’s how you think of a race. 

The word that is translated “race” is the word “agon” from which we also get the English word “agony.” 

For the writer to use this word he is referring to their national competition where athletes competed, but it also refers to any struggle or contest. Some commentators believe it is a reference to the pentathlon event, which was for high level athletes in the ancient Greek Olympics. An athlete competing in the pentathlon was considered more well-rounded than any other athlete.

That’s the Christian life—it’s a race. There is struggle and training. There are opponents who will do everything in their power to pin you down or get you to tap out. It’s a theme that shows up in Paul’s letters to the churches.

In Philippians 2 and then again in chapter 3 Paul refers to running the race and straining toward the finish line. He’s concerned for himself that he does not slack off as he saw the finish line ahead. In what would be his farewell words before his death, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” 

Paul speaks of the Christian life not as a walk in the park but as a fight. There is no coasting. It’s a race to the finish line.

In verses 1–3 we see three things about this race we’re in that’ll help us finish it:

The race can be won

Verse 1 begins with “therefore.” When this letter was written it wasn’t written in chapters and verses. Our chapter 12 is a continuation of the heroes of faith in Chapter 11. 

The message; you’re not the first one to experience the struggle. There is an impressive list of people who struggled and stayed in the race when they had reasons to quit. 

Every one of the Hebrews 11 heroes of faith pressed on and persevered and obeyed God and trusted God to the end. Surrounding us in our race are a whole list of people whose lives demonstrate that the race can be won. 

When you consider the 17 individuals and groups of named and unnamed heroes, their lives say to us that no matter what you are facing and no matter what is challenging you, God will bring you through it. Trusting Him and walking faithfully with Him is worth it. 

So, when the race gets difficult—when you are tempted to quit—consider that there are millions who have gone before you who faced the same stuff you’re facing, and they kept on going. Their faith leaves an amazing legacy for you that will strengthen and encourage those who come after you.

The race requires intentionality

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Not so many years ago a runner in a race would wear baggy shorts and a looser fitting shirt. You watch an Olympic running event today and the clothing is tight and minimal to cut off a millisecond of time.

There are two categories of things to put off: everything that hinders and sin that so easily entangles. That distinction is noteworthy. There are things that are weights that hinder us and slow us down.  Sometimes it’s a lifestyle choice, or something like regret, or aspects of your personality that hold you back. 

When evaluating your life choices, the question to ask is not, “What’s wrong with this?” A better question is “Will this help me run the race better?” There are weights that you are carrying that you can throw off. 

And then there are sins that so easily entangle. Sin is like a rope that is wrapped around my ankles fully intent on taking me out of the race. To hold on to sin is to set yourself up for a fall.

We lay aside sins as an act of the will. Saying “no” to sin is sometimes difficult but always necessary. It’ll trip you up. 

Fix your eyes on Jesus

The phrase that is translated as “fix your eyes” is one word in the original but it requires a phrase in English because it carries the idea of turning your eyes away from other things and fixing them on something. 

In a race you are focused on one thing. And that’s true for us in this race called the Christian life. For us, Jesus is the finish line. Rivet your attention on Him. 

We’ve all seen people who got their eyes off of Jesus. Some get their eyes on how others around them were running the race and got caught up with comparisons with other runners. Some get focused on someone who hurt them, and it got them off course.

Jesus is our fixed position of reference. Fixing your attention on Him anchors your faith and His example is the necessary motivation that’s needed to run the race with endurance. He’s the pioneer of our faith. He’s shown us what faith looks like. 

He endured the unspeakable shame and agony of the cross for us so that we could have life in Him. Look at verse 3 which says, “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you don’t grow weary and lose heart.” That’s the message for us. And particularly for those who are going through opposition for your faith, or you have taken your eyes off of Jesus, remember to “come on back.”

So don’t lose heart. Fix your eyes on the only One who will take you through to the other side.

 — Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on July 11th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 12 (part 1) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 11: Biblical Faith

Hebrews 11:1–6

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.  

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

The faith chapter

Hebrews 11 is called the “faith chapter” of the Bible for obvious reasons. The word “faith” appears over 20 times in this chapter and in the 40 verses that make up this chapter you have faith described here in the opening verses and then you have a grand demonstration of faith through the lives of Old Testament heroes of faith. 

Through the stories of seventeen heroic figures out of the pages of the Old Testament we come to understand what true biblical faith is and what it looks like as it’s lived out. On top of the seventeen Bible characters that are named, the writer mentions those nameless heroes of faith whose lives and faithfulness help us understand what Biblical faith is.

The subject of faith is a big subject, and the word “faith” is defined and understood differently by our culture. When the word “faith” is used in our culture some people think of religion or religion systems. 

Biblical faith is defined here in Hebrews 11.  Biblical faith is not trusting in something for which there is no evidence. It’s not a leap into uncertainty. 

The writer of this letter has finished off Hebrews 10 with a call to persevere. Now in chapter 11 he gives his readers reasons for endurance. He’s appealing to the stories of their faith heroes to show them both that it can be done, and that the outcome of persevering faith is worth it. 

What is faith?

Verse 1 has two descriptions for faith:

1. Confidence in what we hope for

2. Assurance about what we do not see

Faith is confidence in what we hope for

When you see the word “hope” in the Bible, it carries the idea of certainty. In our common usage we think of hope as wishful thinking.  “I hope things go my way” or “I hope to get a better job.” 

Biblical hope is not a wish. Biblical hope is about certainty. So, when we talk about “things hoped for,” it’s referring to the complete confidence I have that God will do what He’s promised to do. It’s based on His character. 

When I trusted in Christ for salvation, I experienced a measure of what is yet to come. Right now, I have peace of heart. I have His presence with me. I know there’s a whole lot more coming but right now I lay hold of what will one day be mine in fulness. My faith is not a leap into the unknown. I can move forward with confident expectation based on the character of God. 

Faith is being certain of what we do not see

The word “certain” carries the idea of “conviction.” There is a reality that extends beyond what we perceive with our five senses. There are unseen realities and faith is what enables me to receive the benefits of the unseen realm.

Another translation uses the word “evidence.” Faith is about evidence. God has left his fingerprints all over—in everything He’s made. Whether it’s the vastness of the universe or the intricacy of a spider web or the marvel of the human body, faith enables us to see the unseen. 

This God that I cannot see, feel, taste, or touch spoke a word and created everything out of nothing. All around us is evidence of God. Faith enables a certainty in the unseen reality of God.

Ephesians 2:8 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God.” Salvation is a gift. Faith is God’s gift. 

Heroes of faith

Later in the chapter, the writer fleshes out how faith operates by profiling this impressive list of Old Testament heroes of faith, starting with Abel and Enoch. What’s interesting is that in both their stories their faith is not referenced, and yet here it is. 

Abel is the second son of Adam and Eve. He and his older brother Cain bring sacrifices to God.

We’re not told the reason why God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s in the story in Genesis 4. What we understand from Hebrews 11 is that because of Abel’s sacrifice offered in faith he is commended as a righteous man. 

In jealousy, Cain kills his brother, but Abel stands as a man of faith because of his faith towards God that was communicated by his gift.

The other hero of faith here is Enoch. We don’t know much about Enoch except that he walked with God and one day, God took him. He didn’t die a natural death.  What’s said about him here is that he pleased God. 

We actually know quite a bit more about the others named later in this chapter. From their stories there are three things that all of these had in common in terms of faith:

1. A faith that’s active.

2. A faith that obeys God in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences.

3. A faith whose object is God.

Aspects of Biblical faith

A faith that’s active

Biblical faith is not just a knowledge of and an assent to facts or directives. In every case these heroes of faith acted based on what they knew God wanted of them.

Abel offered. Enoch walked. Noah built. Abraham left everything and went to the place God called him. Later he was willing to offer up his son. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. Moses’ parents hid him. Moses left Egypt. The people of Israel walked into the waters of the Red Sea before God parted them. Later they marched around the walls of Jericho. Rahab hid the Jewish spies. 

Faith always involves bold action in response to what a person knows God wants them to do. The author is describing the effects that faith has on a person. It’s not just static belief. Genuine faith spurs a person to act on God’s truth. They step forward, often with a tenacity and with great courage to do things for no other reason than obedience to God. 

A faith that obeys God in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences

All of these “heroes”  are ordinary people who experienced moments of doubt and complicated emotions. They all faced obstacles. In virtually every case they experienced difficult consequences for their obedience. 

They were misunderstood. They were rejected. Some were mocked. They were people whose belief in the invisible was so great they didn’t care what happened to them. To obey God was the difficult choice. To obey was to take the road less travelled.

If your faith has caused you to make unpopular decisions and at times resulted in conflict and difficulty, it’s a pretty good sign that it’s genuine faith. Faith is our response to God’s word and God’s directives. 

The object of faith is God

Every person has faith. All of us put our trust in something. All of us live and act based on a belief system. The difference between a Christian and someone who is not a follower of Jesus is not that one has faith, and the other doesn’t. The difference is that the Christian’s object of faith is God.

Our faith is never in vain. The reward of faith begins in this life and when this life comes to an end, faith continues, and the reward continues.

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on June 27th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 11 (part 1) sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 10: When You Want to Quit

Hebrews 10:19–25

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The desire to quit

To be human is to come to moments in our lives when we want to give up—to turn our back on something that we engaged with passion and enthusiasm at the beginning. Life goes in seasons. We often start something with excitement that is sustained through a season of enthusiasm and creativity and then it’s followed by discouragement and a desire to quit.

Whether we quit or not depends on the individual but the desire to give up is virtually universal. Those who study human behavior tell us that humans act on the pleasure principle, often called instant gratification. We are wired for immediate rewards. When there’s a delay in receiving benefits, we slow in our enthusiasm.

Wanting to give up is normal. Giving up is not. That’s true of so many things in life and it’s certainly true of faith. 

It is precisely this issue that the writer to the Hebrews is addressing in Hebrews 10:19–25. Up to this point in the letter there has not been a lot of practical application. This new section has its readers turn to some things to do. 

What we should do

The passage before us has four directives that begin with “let us”:

Let us draw near to God.

Let us hold unswervingly to hope.

Let us consider.

Let us not give up meeting together.

This is not a matter of picking one of four. These actions taken together puts us on the path to carrying on when others quit. 

Notice the language of community that’s used here. When saying “let us,” the author isn’t saying to individuals, “do this and this and this.” When discouragement comes, we pull together with one another. Together we bring one another along on the journey to become more like Jesus.

Let us draw near to God (verse 22)

From Moses until the crucifixion of Jesus there was a heavy curtain that separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. Sixty feet high and four inches thick, only the High Priest and only once a year could the Holy of Holies be entered by going behind that curtain. 

In the most radical way imaginable  (the tearing of the curtain) Jesus’s death provided access to God because His blood cleanses us and we are now able to come to God with full assurance of faith. 

There is nothing that prevents us from drawing near to God. What a privilege and ongoing opportunity. If you want to experience staying power when quitting seems like an option, draw near to God. 

Let us hold unswervingly to hope (verse 23)

The biblical definition of hope is a certainty that what God has promised will come to pass. Our hope is anchored to the unchanging, immovable reality of God’s faithfulness. He will not fail us. 

Don’t let your desire to give up deceive you or blind you to the unchanging reality of God’s faithfulness. Hold onto God with full assurance that He will accomplish all that He has promised.

Let us not give up meeting together

The habit

The gathering for Christians was meant to be habitual: it happens on a regular basis. Like all good habits, I keep doing it until it becomes the normal, regular way that my life is organized. The way I fight the urge to give up my faith is to keep habitually gathering with God’s people.

Meeting together

 What does that mean? Some have interpreted it strictly as attending a worship service. If your interpretation of this verse is narrowly defined as “get to a weekend gathering at church” then you’ll do whatever it takes to ensure the doors are open to everyone on a Sunday morning.

I contend that the writer to the Hebrews had much more in mind than attending a worship service on a weekend. In fact, the verse before and the phrase after helps us understand what the writer has in mind when he calls believers to gather. It’s not just about opening the doors and having a group of people attend a worship gathering. 

The context of this verse tells me that coming together is much more than attending a gathering. There is a vast difference between a congregation and an aggregation. It’s the difference between a cluster of grapes and a bag of marbles. Both are coming together.

We aren’t separate, disconnected marbles who happen to be gathered in the same bag/box. We are much more like a cluster of grapes that are attached to the vine. The Apostle Paul uses several metaphors to describe the church of Jesus. The most prominent picture of the church (used seven times in Paul’s letter) is the church as a body.

The most comprehensive passage is, 1 Cor 12:12–31. As parts of a body each member depends on the others. The life of Jesus flows to each member through the other parts of the body. Each member has a part to play. Some are more visible, and others are not as visible, but all are important. No member can say “I don’t need anyone else.” 

The New Testament knows nothing of solitary Christian faith. Our faith is personal but never private. Paul states it clearly that Jesus is the head of the body and the church is His body. So, when the writer directs us to not give up meeting together it’s way more than just showing up to the worship gathering.

It’s about lives being joined together. It carries the idea of knowing one another and being known. It’s rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. 

Historians tell us that most churches in the ancient world looked more like house churches. With no church buildings and with the ongoing reality of persecution, most churches were around 20 people. There were some that were larger, but the point is that an assembly of believers didn’t really allow for anonymity. Church was a community of believers where you knew others and were known by others. 

While the sizes of our gatherings have been restricted, there have been no restrictions on our ability to care for one another, or to encourage one another. How we’ve had to do that has changed but the church didn’t cease to be the church just because we couldn’t gather in large numbers.

Let us consider

The word “consider” carries the idea of pondering, thinking, reflecting. What are we pondering, thinking, and reflecting on? How to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

The Bible dictionary tells me that the Greek word carries the idea of irritation. Biblical community includes the posture where I invite you to irritate me and to confront me when you see that I’m heading in an unhealthy direction (and vice versa).

I can’t do that with a stranger. That kind of loving confrontation requires a good relationship and high trust and a certainty that I’m acting with the utmost concern for you. It might mean that I see a brother, or a sister who is drifting, and I reach out with urgent intentionality. It might mean that I see a brother or sister who is struggling, and I reach out to bring a word that will spur them on in a good direction.

Encourage one another

The word “encouragement” comes from a couple of old French words that literally means “put in courage.” Encouragement is more effective and goes deeper when it’s from someone who knows you and knows your situation and who can contribute in a more meaningful way.

To do that effectively you’re actively engaged with other members of the body. You’re coming alongside them. It’s what authentic community actively practices.

You can see that the directive to “not give up meeting together”, is about far more than filling a large auditorium with people. This is about what happens in the atrium after the large gathering. This is about serving side by side and knowing the other. Considering and spurring and encouraging can happen with a phone call or a text.

I need you and you need me. Left on our own we’re vulnerable and the likelihood of our demise is greater. Standing together, God pours His grace out on us in ways that enable and strengthen us to live out our faith to the end.

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on June 12th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 10 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 9: A Clear Conscience

Hebrews 9:1–14 

“Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 

Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 

Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 

But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 

This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God!”

Guilt and our conscience

Everyone experiences guilt. It’s universal. It transcends culture and race and ethnicity. It’s been experienced by everyone since our first parents sinned in the Garden of Eden.

So, how do we deal with guilt? The bottom line is that we can’t simply erase our guilt. We can ignore it and hope it goes away. Often, we will do things to lessen the guilt or to resolve the guilt.

We resolve never to repeat our bad actions. We might make amends. We might give to a charity or volunteer our time in an attempt to even the score. But how is guilt erased? What is the source of guilt? Where does it come from? Inside of us is a conscience. It’s that inner sense of right and wrong.  And when you violate that—when you do what your conscience tells you is wrong—you experience guilt. 

If your conscience is working as it should be then you’ll experience guilt when you’ve sinned. Guilt comes to us in a couple if ways: You do something wrong, and you feel guilt. The other way that guilt comes to us is through a general sense. You can’t put your finger on a specific wrong action, but you can’t shake the feeling that there is something wrong with you.

What the O.T. says

The first 10 verses take us through how human guilt was dealt with under the old covenant. Reading through it reminds us of the great chasm between God and humanity that sin created. 

The writer describes how people were forgiven and reconciled to God under the Old Covenant. When he says in verse 1 that the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary or tabernacle, that’s a bit of an understatement.

Those instructions are in the 27 chapters of the O.T. book of Leviticus. For 27 chapters there are intricate, detailed instructions for worshippers. The central message of Leviticus is that God, who is holy, requires His people to be holy and clearly lays out a pathway of forgiveness and reconciliation for people when they don’t live up to God’s holy standards.

Priests offering sacrifices

While the priests were in the Holy Place, the only one who was allowed into the Holy of Holies was the High Priest for only one day per year. On that day, the High Priest would go in and sprinkle the blood of an animal sacrifice on the top of the ark of the covenant. 

To prepare for those few minutes once a year in the Holy of Holies the high priest would go through an intense and elaborate process. A week before, the high priest would go into seclusion. He needed to ensure that he wouldn’t accidentally defile himself by touching anything deemed unclean.

No high priest would risk being sloppy because if he went into the Holy of Holies and he was defiled in any way or if he touched the ark of the covenant he would die. Tradition tells us that the High Priest had bells sewn into his tunic. If the bells were heard by the priests waiting outside, they knew he was still alive. A cord was tied to his leg so that if he was smitten dead his body could be pulled out. Access to God in the Holy of Holies was severely restricted.

The high priest knew that he might not survive. To enter God’s presence was an experience of fear and trembling. A holy God must not be treated casually, or with defilement. 

What Jesus does as high priest

What’s behind all this ritual? The cleansing and the purification were a symbol.  To come into God’s presence requires purity. God’s concern was not physical dirt, but it represents something greater. 

Physical defilement is a picture of the spiritual defilement of sin. God’s reaction to sin is like our reaction to someone who has extreme body odor or who hasn’t bathed for a month. To come into God’s presence smelling of moral filth—sinful defilement—is offensive. I can’t get rid of the filth. I can’t clean myself up to be acceptable to God.

I don’t have the right to go into God’s presence even to ask for His cleansing. I need a high priest. Look at verse 11, “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.” 

Jesus is my High Priest and in His sinless perfection He stands before a Holy God, and he brings His own blood—shed on the cross—and God extends forgiveness.

And here is the difference: under the Old Covenant the effectiveness of the blood of sacrificial animals was limited. The animal sacrifices covered over the sins of the people. They couldn’t cleanse the human heart. They couldn’t rid the person of guilt.  

In verse 14 we see the big difference that Christ’s blood makes. His blood cleanses our conscience. As our High Priest there are three things that we experience because of His sacrifice:

My guilt is cleansed

My guilt is not just covered over. Through Christ it’s done away with. My guilt is removed. My conscience is cleansed. 

How does Jesus’ blood do that? C.S. Lewis called it the “deeper magic” of the universe. I accept with gratitude that because of His blood I’m cleansed of my sin. Later in this chapter it says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Jesus shed His blood for me.

I’m free to serve

In verse 14 the writer refers to our conscience being cleansed from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God.

Very simply, I am free from the pressure to perform to earn my forgiveness. My forgiveness can’t be earned. Going to church more won’t save me. Feeding the poor won’t save me. Participating in religious rituals won’t buy my forgiveness. 

It’s only Jesus’ blood that cleanses me from sin. And that frees me to serve God from a place of gratitude and joy and God’s favour. 

I no longer live in fear of judgement

Look at verses 27–28, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Ultimate judgement for all the sin and injustice and cruelty in our world is coming. Death is certain and with death comes judgement. For the person who trusted in Christ for salvation, their sin has been taken away. Jesus has taken our judgement for us. That means that I’ve been reconciled to God. 

My relationship with Father God no longer is one of unhealthy fear. It is one of longing to be in His presence, completely confident of His favour. 

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on June 5th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 9 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 8: A New Covenant

Hebrews 8:1–13 

“Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

For if there had been no fault in that first covenant, no place would have been sought for a second.

But God found fault with the people and said:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,

    when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel

    and with the people of Judah.

It will not be like the covenant

    I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

    to lead them out of Egypt,

because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,

    and I turned away from them,

declares the Lord.

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel

    after that time, declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds

    and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.

No longer will they teach their neighbor,

    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

    from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will forgive their wickedness

    and will remember their sins no more.”

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one “old”; and what is old and aging will soon disappear.”

A better covenant

The author of Hebrews throughout has been commending Jesus as better—better than the angels, better than Moses, better than Melchizedek. In this central part of the letter the author is focused on Jesus as a better high priest. In chapter eight the author looks at the role of the high priest within the covenant between God and his people.

In chapter seven, just before this, the author spoke about the “better covenant” that Jesus guarantees (7:22). In this chapter he says that Jesus is the mediator of a “better covenant,” a “new covenant” (8:8). This term “new covenant” is significant in the New Testament. In fact, the very same words in the original language that are translated here as “new covenant” are translated in our Bibles as “New Testament.” This is where the phrase “New Testament” comes from. The New Testament—the collection of books in the Bible written after Jesus and about him—is about the new covenant that God has established through Jesus.

What is a covenant?           

So, what is a covenant? It’s not a word we use much. Today we live more by contracts than by covenants, and though there’s some similarities there’s some really important differences for us to understand. A contract is about an exchange. It binds two parties together around a very limited area of their lives. For example, I sign a contract with a publisher; I agree to write a book and deliver it on a certain timeline, and they agree to publish and market it under certain conditions. But my life isn’t connected to the publishing company any more than that. That’s the limit of our relationship.  

A covenant, however, is about a relationship: a covenant is an agreement that outlines the shape of a relationship between two parties that involves the whole of their lives. The closest thing we still have today is marriage. Though in our culture it’s seen more and more as a contract, it is intended to be an agreement, bound by vows spoken by both sides, that define the shape of both the man’s and woman’s entire life.

The Old Covenant

In the Old Testament—the books written about the “old covenant”—God enters into relationship with the people of Israel by making a covenant. Early in the story of the Bible, in the book of Exodus, we see God leading Israel to the foot of a mountain called Sinai. There he gives them what we call the Ten Commandments. And after that, and some more laws, it says this: “When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. . . Then he took the Book of the Covenant (in other words, the words Moses had just written down) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey” (Exodus 24:3-4, 7).

Because this covenant created a relationship with God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and not just another person or nation, the covenant at Sinai was meant to shape every area of their life without exception. Its laws were the conditions of relationship with God. And in relationship with God, the Creator of heaven and earth, Israel would experience the beauty of the life that only he could give. They were promised abundant blessing, long life, large families, and a beautiful land to live in in peace, free from the fear of any enemies.

This is what we now know as the “old covenant.” So, what’s wrong with that? As the author of Hebrews says, “For if there had been no fault in that first covenant, no place would have been sought for a second” (8:7). Why does the author of Hebrews say that Jesus is part of a “better covenant,” a “new covenant”?

Why a new covenant?

Why was a new covenant needed? There was nothing wrong with God, the partner who initiated the covenant and brought Israel into it. But there was something wrong with the other partner to the covenant, Israel. God says, in verse 9, the problem was that “they did not remain faithful to my covenant. From the history of Israel we read about in the Old Covenant/Old Testament, we know they rarely obeyed God—especially not fully—or kept his covenant. God had been a faithful husband to his one wife, Israel, but they kept sleeping around with other gods.

Jesus is better. Everything about Jesus is better—who he is and what he does, his person and his work. Everything about Jesus is better than what came before. This includes the new covenant relationship he mediates. The old covenant depended on Israel’s obedience, their continued faithfulness. The new covenant, by contrast, was made despite our unfaithfulness, precisely to overcome it.

Because it’s not that we’re any better than Israel—far from it. Just like them, we are unfaithful and fail to obey God. What’s different is Jesus, our better high priest. He has made a way, by “offering himself” in our place (7:27), to make amends for our unfaithfulness—for our sin.

“We do have such a high priest” (Hebrews 8:1): Jesus. A new covenant relationship with God through Jesus shapes the whole of our lives—now, and into eternity. God enters into every part of our lives—who we are, our identity, what we do, our behaviour, our relationships with others, our friendships, our families, our past and our future—and brings His salvation and His kingdom into all of it. In the new covenant, God has made and will make an end of all our sin, of disease, suffering, and of death. Jesus has overcome it all through his work as our better high priest. This is why the new covenant can really be an eternal, everlasting relationship: because it doesn’t depend on us; it all depends on what Jesus has already done.

If you would like to enter a relationship—into this new covenant—with God through Jesus, you can. Whereas the old covenant was just with one nation, Israel, this new covenant is for everyone and anyone. It’s for you, and for me. God calls us all to come home to him. Jesus has carved the path, he has blazed the trail, for us to come right into God’s presence.

— Notes from Pastor Steve Harris’s sermon on May 29th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 8 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 7: Never Alone

Hebrews 7: 11; 17–28 (NIV) 

“If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

“For it is declared: “You [Jesus] are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

“Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”

The history of Melchizedek

In science, there’s a common phrase that says, “we stand on the shoulders of giants.” It conveys a sense of humility that what a scientist discovers today is only made possible by the discoveries of those that have gone before him/her. Scientists often remark that even failures contribute to their body of knowledge because it shows them what doesn’t work. It’s through understanding previous work, its context, and worldview that researchers and academics can produce new and meaningful contributions for future generations. 

This is what we are doing when we read and study Hebrews 7 and Melchizedek. The author of Hebrews is trying to focus our attention on who this priest and king is so that we can better understand who this Jesus is. This portion of the New Testament offers us a unique understanding of Jesus that is more significant than you may have ever imagined. 

First, who is Melchizedek? Like we explored in Hebrews 5, Melchizedek makes two appearances in the Old Testament. In Genesis 14 Abraham returns from battle looking for a priest to give his tithe to from the plunder that he had reclaimed for his people. Then, about 1000 years later, in the book of Psalms, Melchizedek is used as the example of the type of priest that the prophesied Messiah will be like. What’s unique about this obscure man is that he was both a king and a priest. This was unheard of.  

According to the author of Hebrews, Melchizedek is more than just a king and priest. Let’s look at verse 3 again, He’s also one “Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” 

Then in Hebrews 7:4–10, the author is saying that Melchizedek is greater than Abraham and greater than all the Levitical priests. So how does Melchizedek help us understand Jesus? Well, the short story is that the author of Hebrews says that Jesus is the Messiah that will also be king and priest, except he’s perfect in every way and will never die. Jesus will be like Melchizedek but will also be so much more. 

While priests lived, they continued to offer the same sacrifices time and again because their work was temporary. These priests also died and needed to be replaced. But the author of Hebrews wants this Jewish audience to know that there is something so much better available to them. And it’s available to you and me. 

How Jesus compares

Hebrews 7:24–28 states that “because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.”

This portion of scripture offers us a deep well to draw truth from but let’s look at 3 things it communicates clearly. 

Jesus guarantees our relationship with God 

In verse 19 Jesus is described as “a better hope.” All of Hebrews points to the supremacy of Christ over anything else in all of creation. Then in verse 22, the author says that because of God’s word that was spoken over Jesus, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. Jesus didn’t come just for the individual; he came to establish a new covenant between God and anyone that would believe Jesus as the son of God that offered his life as a sacrifice for all. 

The word used in verse 22 in Hebrews 7 is NOT the same as “mediator” that is used elsewhere to describe Jesus. In this verse, the author of Hebrews uses the Greek word for someone who guarantees the work or commitments of another, even at the risk of losing property and even life itself. In other words, Jesus was making a way for God to eternally be in a new relationship with ANY person that joins this community of believers. 

Jesus is our eternal intercessor 

In verse 25 we find the central message of Hebrews 7, “therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them.” This idea of “complete” salvation is predicated on two affirmations about Jesus that are central to the Author of Hebrews’ theology. First, Jesus lives forever, and because he lives forever, he continues to do his priestly ministry for all eternity. 

In Matthew 26, Jesus was in the Jewish courts awaiting his death on the cross and in response to the High Priest’s interrogation of Jesus, Jesus boldly claims that “from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” [Matthew 26:64b]. Jesus was telling the world that he will sit on God’s right hand and continue to intercede on our behalf forever. 

The meaning behind this intercession is an image of “pleading on behalf of someone.” This doesn’t mean that Jesus needs to keep pleading for our salvation, that is done and complete. Instead, it is an image of Jesus, alive and in the Father’s presence, ministering on behalf of all believers that helps us answer the question of how the blessings of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection continue to mean something for us today. This means that you can be assured that you’re never alone. You don’t ever have to wonder if someone cares about what you’re facing. The entire world can be against you, but you have the promise that Jesus will always be with you and for you! 

Jesus offers himself for us

Throughout the New Testament, we are reminded time and again that Jesus gave himself for us. John covers this sufficiently in his writings, as does Paul. It’s only in Hebrews that the image of a high priest offering himself as a sacrifice for sin is portrayed. It is through the image of Melchizedek that Jesus is understood as a priest that not only intercedes on behalf of his people but is willing to stand in the gap “as the sacrifice” that abolishes the need for continued sacrifices. 

Just as Melchizedek is portrayed as a priest that is greater than the priests of their day, the Jewish audience would have been perplexed by the idea of a high priest giving himself up as a sacrifice on the altar. It’s one of the craziest things about the Christian faith. But it’s also one of the most compelling reasons to believe in this Jesus. Remember what Jesus said to his disciples in John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

So where does this leave us? Well, it means that we can know at least two things unequivocally. First, we are never alone. Jesus is always interceding on our behalf in this life and the next. Second, what keeps us from God is not our sin, it’s our pride. That piece of your life that is never fulfilled by anything that you can create, obtain, earn, or even be given will never compare to the gift of Jesus and his eternal intercession on your behalf. And if you’ve never made that decision to follow Jesus and trust in his promises, all it takes is a simple prayer either out loud or in your heart that accepts Jesus’ sacrifice and his place at the right hand of God and you’re in. So, let’s run to Jesus because he is our perfect priest, king, and saviour. 

— Notes from Pastor Luke Gordon’s sermon on May 22nd, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 7 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 6: A Faithful God

HEBREWS 6: 4–6, 13–20

“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

“When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 

“People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.

 “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

ETERNAL SECURITY?

Verses 4–8 of Hebrews 6 is one of the more difficult passages in the N.T. These verses have prompted significant theological debate over the years. Churches have divided over the question of the security of the believer. 

It’s often called “eternal security” and tends to put people into one of two camps: one camp says, “once saved, always saved” and the other camp uses the language of “losing one’s salvation.”

Someone who has experienced salvation

Verses 4–8 start with, “It is impossible.” The question is, “who is it referring to?” When you read the commentaries and consult scholars, you’ll find that there are about 5 different views on what the author is saying.

I won’t take the time to explore various views, but it’s worth looking at what’s here and hopefully coming to an understanding of the passage.

The writer describes the individual as having experienced salvation. There are five descriptors of people:

• They have once been enlightened (verse 4)

  • The light of gospel truth has shone into their lives. This is someone who heard the gospel and received it. 

• They have tasted the heavenly gift (verse 4)

  • It’s a person who didn’t just know about Jesus. They tasted. They took it in. They experienced Jesus for themselves.

• They have shared in the Holy Spirit (verse 4)

  • They have shared in and become partakers of the work of God’s Spirit. 

• They have tasted the goodness of the Word of God (verse 5)

  • This is one who didn’t just read the word of God, but they experienced the delight that comes when God’s word comes alive in your heart and mind.

• They have tasted of the powers of the coming age (verse 5) 

  • It’s a person who has experienced God’s power. Their experience of God not dry and/or academic. 

From the description, I conclude that this is a person who has had a genuine experience of salvation. 

Some hold to the idea that the writer is describing someone who has never been saved. They make the point that it’s possible that someone goes to a church and by all appearances is a Christian but has never made a genuine commitment to Christ.

It means that for a person who has had a true experience of salvation, if they fall away, it’s impossible for them to be brought back to repentance.

FALLING VS FALLING AWAY

The key to understanding this is the definition of “falling away.” There is a big difference between falling and falling away.

In our humanness, all of us who have experienced salvation have fallen or are going to fall, and likely it’ll be more than once or twice.

But when I fall—when I sin—I decide. Will I get up, draw on God’s grace, repent, make amends and move on OR will I decide that I’m not going to get up? 

Proverbs 24:16 says, “though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” He goes on in that verse to say, “but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”

When you value your salvation, you’re going to fall, but you’ll get up and do what you need to do to keep going. Falling does not mean falling away.

Peter and Judas

I think of the experience of two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and Judas. Both fell. Peter denied Christ 3 times. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Both were sorry. 

Peter fell; Judas fell away. Both had faith, but the faith that saves is the faith that endures to the end.

When the writer is describing someone who has had a genuine salvation experience but falls away, repentance and a return to faith are impossible not because God won’t accept them back. It’s because they refuse to come back.

Genuine faith is a faith that endures. Salvation is secure for those who keep trusting in Jesus to the very end. It’s the posture of believing in Christ and getting back up every time I fall. 

Genuine Faith

In verses 9–12 he describes what an enduring, persevering Christian life looks like. When someone has genuine faith in Jesus, it’s going to show.

The writer sums up what genuine saving faith looks like; an active, ongoing posture of service, and a faith that never quits believing in Jesus. Genuine faith is shown or demonstrated by my faithfulness to the end. 

In verses 12–20, the writer reminds us that our God is faithful—that He keeps all He has promised to us. You can trust Him. 

Perhaps you need that reminder today. Often, we fall away because we have forgotten how faithful God is, or we come to believe that God won’t come through or that He isn’t trustworthy. 

ABRAHAM’S STORY

It’s noteworthy that the writer uses the example of God’s dealings with Abraham. Abraham’s story unfolds in the pages of Genesis. It begins in Genesis 12 when God calls Abram to leave his family to go settle in the land God would lead him to.

The Call of Abram

The call of Abram comes with a promise that God would make of him a great nation. For the next 25 years, Abram’s faith in God’s promise is tested. There are times when Abraham messes up—when he takes matters into his own hands—when he trusts himself rather than God. His story lets us know that he went through seasons when he floundered in his faith.

At 100 years of age, the promise of an offspring comes to pass. His wife gives birth to their first son.   

One of the greatest detractors from faith is impatience. But we learn a couple of things about God from Abraham’s story:

• There is often a gap between when God makes a promise and when that promise is fulfilled.

• God always keeps His promise.

It’s often in the gap between God’s promise given and God’s promise fulfilled that God does His good work of growing our faith and our character.

There is something valuable that happens in me when I’m faithful to God in the waiting. God will deliver on His promises and timing is an important aspect of faith and trusting in God. 

The Oath with Abram

Verse 17 refers to the oath God makes to Abraham in Genesis 15. Abraham is waiting and trusting but he’s wondering about the fact that after years he still has no child with Sarah. 

God has Abraham bring some animals. He kills them and cuts them in half with a path between the pieces. As darkness falls, a smoking pot and a blazing torch appear and pass between these animal pieces. 

In those days when two parties made a contract, they would cut an animal in half and both parties would walk between the animal parts and repeat the terms of the agreement or covenant.

Both parties were saying that they were serious about their commitment and if the agreement was broken, they were saying “let this same bloodshed be poured out on my animals and me.”

And God walks through the animal parts without requiring Abraham to do the same. God was saying to Abraham, “I will keep my promises.” He did it without requiring Abraham to do the same. God was assuring Abraham that he would keep his promise. And He does.

What That Means for Us

And for us, God does it through the shedding of His Son’s blood. Look at verse 19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul.” God is faithful. God is trustworthy. You can anchor your soul to that when everything is shifting, and the currents want to carry you away. 

There is nothing more solid than the promises of a faithful God. Jesus secured it by His death on the cross. 

Like Abraham, I’ll fail, and I’ll fall, but I’m going to get up and in due time I’ll come into the fullness of God’s salvation.  

I’m going to fall but I’ve made the decision that I’ll never fall away.

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on May 15th, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 6 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 5: A High Priest

Hebrews 5: 1–10

“Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

“He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

“And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.”

“And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

in the order of Melchizedek.”

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

“Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

A better high priest

When we come to this large section about priests in Hebrews, it’s fair to ask the question “What’s this got to do with me?”

Often, we look to things or to someone to provide satisfaction and meaning. And when that happens, then like the original audience for this letter, I’m looking for a “Jesus substitute”—another priest.

I can hear you thinking, “I’ve never gone looking for another priest! All of the Old Testament rituals and sacrifices and priests have nothing to do with me today.”

The covenant that God makes with His ancient people includes a priesthood. The priesthood was established in that men from the Jewish tribe of Levi were appointed to serve as bridge builders to God. They were representatives of God to the people but primarily their function was to bring people to God.

When the priesthood and the system of sacrifices were established under Moses it was a foreshadowing of what was to come. It was an imperfect system that pointed to a perfect priest that would one day represent me before God. Jesus is that.

Here, in Hebrews 5, the writer lays out the qualifications for the Old Testament priests and lets us know that Jesus fully qualifies as a high priest and that He is superior to all previous high priests.

Implications for us

For the Jewish Christians seeing this letter, he’s reminding them that Jesus is uniquely qualified to bring them to God. He has all the Old Testament qualifications and more.

These are the three qualifications:

Every high priest is selected from among men

Within our evangelical tradition, much is made of the divinity of Jesus. That’s important. Jesus is fully God. In His earthly ministry, He laid aside His privileges and rights as God but is fully God in human form. But we must never understate that Jesus came as fully human in every way.

As our high priest, He is completely able to empathize with us. In the last verses of Hebrews 4, it says of him that as our high priest he has been tempted in every way and yet was without sin.

That means that whatever we're tempted with, Jesus experienced it. As a human, he comes alongside of me when I’m hurting, weak, when I’ve been overwhelmed. He doesn’t turn away from me when I’ve succumbed to temptation and I’m ashamed of my actions. He’s experienced those exact temptations. In His case, he never succumbed but He fully understands where I’m at and what I need in those moments of my failure.

The high priest and those in the priesthood were selected among humans. Not angels, not some super race of humans—ordinary humans who were able to sympathize and empathize with ordinary people. They were not above others.

They came alongside with one purpose: to bring people back to God. Look at verse 2, “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray.”

The priest was empathetic and understanding. It was easy to turn to them when you were at your lowest or your worst. As fully human, Jesus fully identifies with you.

Offers gifts and sacrifices for sin

For the Old Testament high priest his most important job was to make sacrifices for the people’s sins one day a year on the day of atonement. On that one day he would go through a cleansing ritual and then would enter what was called the Holy of Holies.

He accessed the Holy of Holies behind a heavy drape where he would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat to offer it to God. An innocent life of a sacrificial animal was taken to atone for the sins of the people. He was there to plead their case and to ask God for the forgiveness of sins.

In the story of Jesus’ crucifixion that when Jesus died—at that moment the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. That curtain was the one that the high priest went behind. It separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. Historians tell us that the curtain was about 60 feet high and four inches thick, made of twisted linen.

It’s clear that in the death of Jesus His death is the ultimate and final sacrifice that would be entirely sufficient for all sins to be covered. The curtain separating off the Holy of Holies was no longer needed. There would no longer be a need for a high priest to go behind that curtain to offer sacrifices ever again. Jesus is the sacrifice and Jesus is the high priest that erases the need for further sacrifices.

He’s appointed by God

Every priest under the Old Covenant was appointed based on heredity. The tribe of Levi was the God-appointed tribe, so a priest had to come from the tribe of Levi. For the high priest, you had to be a descendant of Moses’ brother, Aaron. Look at verse 4, “No one takes this honour upon himself; he must be called by God just as Aaron was.”

And here is a potential problem. Jesus is neither from the tribe of Levi nor is He a descendant of Aaron. Jesus is a descendant of the tribe of Judah. Judah is the kingly tribe and its members were excluded from the Jewish priesthood.

In verse 6 there is a quote from Psalm 110 about the Messiah, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” What is that about and who was Melchizedek?

Melchizedek makes two appearances in the Old Testament. Genesis 14:18–20 is the first reference to Melchizedek. 1000 years later, David mentions him in Psalm 110. That’s it. We don’t know where he came from, who appointed him, or who his people were. He’s the king of Salem which some scholars believe to be Jerusalem.

Here’s what’s unique about Melchizedek; He is both a king and a priest of God. There is no other king who is a priest or priest who is king in all of scripture. Those two roles are incompatible for the same person.

Kings rule through issuing laws and decrees. Kings are about truth and justice and punishing evildoers. Priests are all about coming alongside sinful people. A priest stood before God on your behalf to present the sacrifice to pay for your sins. Melchizedek is the only one who performed both roles.

The Messiah would be the other one who functions in both roles. In John’s gospel, he introduces Jesus in verse 14 as “full of grace and truth”. Jesus didn’t balance grace and truth. He was full of grace and full of truth. As our King, He’s our ruler. He is the standard of truth. As our priest, He is full of grace. As a king, He’s over me. As a priest, he’s beside me.

We need a priest and a king and Jesus is both of those. So why does this matter?

We need Jesus as both priest and king

He’s a perfect, eternal priest

Jewish priests had all kinds of limitations. They were imperfect. Think of the Old Testament character named Eli. He was a high priest but was deeply flawed. He allowed his sons to abuse people in the temple. Some priests were unsympathetic and uncaring. As humans, they were sometimes unavailable.

Jesus is available 24/7. You never have to wonder when you come to Him if He’s having an off day or if He has time for you. You never have to wonder if He’s had enough of your mistakes and failures and, maybe this time, He’ll refuse to represent you to God. You never have to wonder. He’s the perfect, eternal, always available priest.

He’s passionate about you

In verses 7–9 we are given a glimpse into Jesus’ agonizing prayer as He was facing the cross. He prays with loud cries and tears for the cup of suffering to be taken from Him. However, as the obedient son of Father God, He takes on my punishment and becomes the source of my eternal salvation.

If He had chosen to escape the cross, He could have. But He didn’t. He saw your salvation and He took it on. He’s passionate about you and your standing before God.

We come to a Throne of Grace

Have you ever needed something from someone, but were hesitant or afraid or ashamed to ask them? When you come before God’s throne to ask God for what you need, the invitation from 4:16 is to approach the throne of grace with confidence.

It’s a throne, so you are coming before the all-powerful king. That king has called it a throne of grace. He will, in every circumstance, respond with grace and favour that you didn’t earn.

Jesus purchased it. He paid for it in full. There is nothing you can do or be required to do to strengthen your case. It’s not a throne where you must prove that you’re good enough or have done enough. And when you come to the throne of grace, you will “receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.”

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on May 8, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 5 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 4: Rest

Hebrews 4: 1–11

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” And again in the passage above, he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

“Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

“For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”

where we first see rest

One of the significant themes in the Bible is rest. It shows up in the second verse of the second chapter of Genesis; “God rested”; and it closes off in the second last book of our Bible describing a new heaven and a new earth where we will be at rest—free from all the things that rob us from rest. And throughout the scriptures, we see the value, the reason, and the promise of rest.

This fourth chapter of Hebrews is all about rest. Hebrews 4 begins with a “therefore”. The “therefore” pulls you back into Hebrews 3 where the writer reminds them of what happened to their ancestors.

About 2 years into Israel’s exodus from Egypt, Moses appoints 12 men, a representative from each of the tribes of Israel, to go into the land that God had promised them. They were to spy out the land and bring back a report. They go in and what they discover is both promising and terrifying.

The Promised Land is more fruitful and abundant and prosperous than they imagined, and the obstacles are greater than they would have thought. The cities were more fortified and the armies are more powerful than they imagined. Two of them say, “Let’s go for it! God has promised it to us. God is with us. God will give it to us”. The other 10 said, “We’re like grasshoppers compared to them. They’ll crush us. Moses, why did you bring us out here? Let’s go back to Egypt. Slavery is better that dying out here.” Ten spies turned the people against Moses and grumbled against God. Because of their unbelief, those who grumbled did not enter the land of promise.

The land of promise was an expression of God’s rest for them. In Joshua 21:43¬–45 it says, “so the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

Those who trusted God—those who persevered entered into God’s blessing where God provided for them. God fought for them and protected them.

As we look at these 3 expressions of God’s rest it’ll take us on a little bit of a journey through the concept of the Sabbath.

God rested

Verse 4 says, “For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works. And again, in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” I’ve always been fascinated about why God rested on the seventh day. It certainly wasn’t because after six days of creating He was too tired to do anything else. God is God. He doesn’t run out of energy or out of ideas. If you go back to Genesis 2 you read that after 6 days of God working, creation was complete.

God’s rest was about God taking a day to enjoy all the good things He had made. As one commentator put it, “God entered into celebratory satisfaction over a job well done.” One preacher described it this way, “If you spent six days building a boat and you completed the project, you’d jump in the boat to enjoy sailing it.”

We are made in the image of the One who works and creates but who then rests and enjoys the work of his hands. Then God builds that into the rhythm of life for humankind. One day in every seven is set aside for rest. It’s written in the 10 Commandments.

Besides the practical benefit of resting from one’s work, behind the commandment are a couple of things:

a) Sabbath reminded them that God was the point of life. We are created for God, so on a regular basis, we pull away from our pursuits that make money and pays bills to rest and be replenished by God.

b) Sabbath reminded them that God was their provider. To pull away from work for one day in seven means that your earning capacity is cut by at least one-seventh.

So, as Christians are we mandated to observe the Sabbath? Strict observance of Saturday as a sabbath is not called for in the New Testament. Nine of the 10 Commandments are repeated in the New Testament. Commandment number 4 (sabbath) is not repeated in the New Testament as a commandment for us.

Gentiles were not to be compelled to observe a Jewish sabbath as a means of salvation. The Sabbath however was a shadow of a much greater rest that points to Jesus, which brings us back to Hebrews 4.

Spiritual Sabbath for those who trust in Christ

Hebrews 4:9–10 says that “there remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” For God’s ancient people the Sabbath was about mandating a day of rest to care for their physical wellbeing.

But it was a shadow of a deeper and more profound rest that can only be found in Jesus. When a person places their faith in Christ—when they trust in Him for salvation—it opens the way for an experience of sabbath rest that goes far beyond taking one day off every week.

When you trust in Christ you can rest in the amazing assurance that you are fully accepted by God. For the Christian, every day is a sabbath. Every day I don’t have to work for my salvation. Jesus has done all the necessary work. Jesus is our sabbath.

It doesn’t mean that I don’t work for God or that I cease doing good works. On the contrary, when I grasp that I’m loved and forgiven it motivates me to serve and do what’s right as an expression of gratitude to God.

In Matt 11:28 you have the words of Jesus, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” It’s this amazing invitation from Jesus to a life where your soul—your inner person experiences a joyful, inexpressible satisfaction in everything.

What would your life be like if you trusted God completely? What would happen if you took all your worries and anxieties, insecurities, and problems that were beyond your power to resolve, and put it all in God’s hands, and trusted Him to work it out for your good and His glory? If you can do that, you’re entering into the rest that Jesus invites you to.

What keeps you up at night? What is it that is consuming you with worry? Jesus’ invitation is to come to Him, and He will give rest to your soul. He’s already done the hard work of saving you. You can trust Him to work on your behalf to bring you through whatever you’re going through.

God’s eternal rest

In the final chapters of the Book of Revelation John records a vision of a new heaven and a new earth. God prepares it as the eternal dwelling for those who belong to the Lamb whose blood purchased the inhabitants of this new creation.

In Revelation 21 he describes it first by telling us what’s not there, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order has passed away.” The new city—the new Jerusalem—is the consummate expression of rest. It’s God’s gracious gift provided through Jesus. It’s eternity that is the fullest expression of God’s sabbath provision.

I remind you of Jesus’ invitation to “come to me…and I will give you rest.” It’s the invitation to the one who has not yet put their trust in Christ. It’s the invitation to the one who trusted in Christ for their salvation but who has not yet taken hold of the rest that your soul needs. Jesus invites us to rest.

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on May 1, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 4 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 3: Perseverance

Hebrews 3:1, 7–15

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

So, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion,

during the time of testing in the wilderness,

where your ancestors tested and tried me,

though for forty years they saw what I did.

That is why I was angry with that generation;

I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,

and they have not known my ways.’

So I declared on oath in my anger,

‘They shall never enter my rest.’” 

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion.” 

Perseverance

The dictionary definition of perseverance is “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition.” Another dictionary states it as “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.”

Hebrews 3 is directed to people who were thinking about quitting and going back to their old way of living. They were considering abandoning their commitment to Jesus.

For a Jewish Christian undergoing persecution for their faith in Jesus, it was tempting to go back to Moses. The writer is saying, “Yes, Moses was great, but Christ is better. Moses was called by God; Jesus was sent by God. Moses was a servant of God; Jesus is the Son of God.” 

Moses represents a system of laws and feasts and rituals that are types and shadows of Jesus. Jesus is the sum of the substance of all that Moses represents. Everything you see and read about in the Old Testament points to Jesus.

In Chapter 1, Jesus is superior to the prophets. In Chapter 2, Jesus is superior to angels. Now in Chapter 3, Jesus is superior to Moses. The message to the original audience is “don’t run back to Moses”. They needed to stay the course—to persevere—to press on in their commitment to Jesus.

Likely none of us are tempted to pursue Judaism but when the going gets tough and you are tempted to quit, there are four things you need to do:

• Remember who you are

• Learn from history

• Check your heart

• Engage deeply in a Christian community

 Remember who you are 

However you view yourself, God views you as holy and as a member of the family. That word “holy” simply means “separated’ or “set apart.” You may look at your life and see your faults and imperfections. You see areas where you need to grow. You may not feel holy, but God has chosen you and set you apart for His purposes. Don’t forget that.

And then, Jesus calls you a brother or a sister. He died for you and, through his death and resurrection, has adopted you into His forever family. 

You bear His name. You are His child. You share in the heavenly calling. You are heaven-bound.

What you are going through right now won’t last forever. There is coming an end to suffering and struggle. This world is not your ultimate destination. An eternity in heaven awaits you. 

Learn from history

To these Jewish Christians, the writer takes them back to the well-known story from their history as the people of God. After their miraculous deliverance from 430 years of slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel go on a journey to the land God had promised to Abraham. A journey that should have taken a few months turns into a 40-year exodus. 

There is a thread that runs through God’s redemptive purposes and it’s the idea that for us, our salvation is exodus number 2. 

The first exodus is a type or a shadow. As Israel was delivered out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt by the blood of the Passover Lamb, so we have been delivered out of the bondage of slavery to sin by the blood of Jesus—the final Passover lamb. The Christian life is the journey to the place of God’s promise and God’s rest.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul directly references the exodus of Israel and tells the Corinthian church to make sure to avoid making the mistakes that Israel made. That’s what the writer is saying here in Hebrews 3. Learn from the mistakes of your forefathers. Look at what happened to them and be warned by their failures. 

These were people who made a good start. They experienced God’s miraculous deliverance and provision but somewhere along the journey, their hearts turned against God and they were disqualified from entry into the promised land.

At some point, when someone says with their words and their actions that they want to go their way, when they refuse to trust God with their life, God lets them go. It happened in the first exodus. It’s a possibility in the second exodus. Learn from history. 

Check your heart 

The word “heart” comes up several times in Hebrews 3. It refers to our inner person—the real person you are. Your heart is the center and seat of your spiritual life. It’s the fountain of your thoughts and passions, your desires, and appetites. Pay attention to what’s going on there.

For the people of Israel, it wasn’t the challenges and the obstacles that kept them bound. It was their hearts. Where do grumbling and complaining and ingratitude come from? The heart. 

When it says, ‘Don’t harden your hearts,” it’s because we make the choice. In verse 13, he attributes the hardening of the heart to “sin’s deceitfulness.” 

There is always dishonesty or deceitfulness about sin. Sin will always mislead you into thinking that it will deliver more than it can. It will always downplay the consequences and conceal the hook that will surely entrap you and victimize you.

From the very beginning in the Garden when the serpent came to Eve, he lies to her about the consequences of violating God’s command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He convinced her that God was withholding something good that would benefit her.

Watch your heart. When it becomes convinced that God can’t be trusted and that sin has no consequences, there is a danger that you are not seeing. “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12

Engage deeply in a Christian community

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13

There is a powerful and effective tool that God has given us to help us keep from falling away and that is one another. It’s not the only means, but it’s a very important means. One thing that happens too often when we find ourselves slipping or we’re overwhelmed or fearful is that we pull away from others. When you’re struggling, one of the powerful tools God has designed is the community of faith—the people of God.

Notice the directive here, “Encourage one another DAILY.” That literally means “every day.” Don’t let a day go by where you miss dispensing encouragement.

Think of how hard and harsh our world has become. I’m still sometimes surprised by how caustic and harsh people are on social media. Tearing others down comes so naturally to us.

The loving, sustained encouragement you bring to another brother or sister is a means that God uses to keep them focused on Jesus. I think of Paul’s words in Eph 4:29: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” 

In 1 Cor 12–14, Paul takes three chapters to write about the supernatural gifts of the spirit and the “how” and the “why.” The gifts you and I have been given are for building up. Our lives as followers of Jesus are built up through community. Paul’s teaching on the body of Christ speaks to the reality that we belong to one another. I need you and you need me. We don’t go it alone.

If you are going it alone in a private faith, it’s a spiritual disaster waiting to happen. You won’t flourish in the absence of other believers who speak the truth and pray for you and who pick you up when you fall and call you to a higher place when you’re slipping. One of the greatest deceptions is that you don’t need others.

“But encourage one another daily.”

The warnings and the call to persevere in Hebrews 3 are serious. The example of Israel is a stark reminder that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint, and Jesus has gone before us to show us not only that it can be completed, but that He is cheering us on and providing strength through the ongoing gift of my fellow Christians around me.

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on April 24, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 3 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 2: Jesus' Humanity

Hebrews 2:5–11 and 14–18

“It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.

“In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present, we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

“In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

“For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” 

Jesus’ humanity

All of us who are followers of Jesus have likely had the experience of wondering if wholeheartedly following Jesus is worth it. Likely all of us have wrestled with doubts or questions about faith that we couldn’t resolve. And then for most of us, we’ve gone through disappointments, or we’ve become distracted, or we’ve experienced some pressure to throw in the towel on our faith. 

In the opening verses of Hebrews 2, there is a call to guard your life against drifting away. That’s followed by a warning about neglecting the great gift of salvation that is ours in and through Jesus. 

We continue in chapter 2 and the focus is on Jesus’ humanity. Jesus is fully God, and he is also fully human. That uniquely positions Him to do what needs to be done and makes Him uniquely suited to know exactly what we’re going through.

There are four things Jesus is for us in His humanity. He’s:

1. The pioneer of our salvation

2. Our brother who isn’t ashamed of us

3. The One who frees us from the fear of death

4. Our High Priest who fully identifies with us

 1. The pioneer of our salvation

The idea of a pioneer is someone who goes into an uninhabited territory and opens the way for others. He’s a trailblazer.

One commentator describes it as a person who fights as a representative of an army. In ancient times, two armies would choose their strongest warrior and their two would fight to the death. A victory for the warrior was a victory for the whole army. 

Jesus came as God in human flesh and through His suffering, He made the way for my salvation and yours. He was victorious over death and through that victory as our representative, we share in His victory. He’s my champion who will bring me through whatever it is that I’m going through.

2. A Brother who isn’t ashamed of me

Have you ever been embarrassed by a family member? Do you have a sibling, or an uncle, or a cousin that acts in ways that always have you on edge when you come to a family gathering? They’ll say things or tell you stories that make you cringe. You love them but you’re a little ashamed of them.

Jesus is my elder brother, and I know myself well enough to know that I’ve done things and I’ve acted in ways that have surely caused my older brother to be embarrassed that we are from the same family. As our perfect older brother, He is not ashamed of you. He’s proud of you. You are not fully formed and yet He embraces you as your brother. 

In the ancient world, when you wanted to let people know who you were you wouldn’t produce a resume with all your accomplishments.  You’d produce a genealogy that told of the family you came from and their accomplishments. Depending on who you were trying to impress, you might leave out some bad apples on your family tree. You might include a distant relative who had great status. That’s why it’s so interesting to read the genealogy of Jesus.

Matthew and Luke include the genealogy of Jesus in their gospels. What’s so remarkable about Jesus’s genealogy is that mixed in with great legends from Jewish history are the names of 5 women. 

To include women in one’s genealogy was unusual. And then, in looking at the women who were included, you have Rahab the prostitute whom God redeemed, and Tamar who poses as a prostitute. 

There is Ruth, a displaced widow. As well, you have Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, whose name brings to mind the shameful actions of King David at one of the worst seasons of his life. And finally, there is Mary, a peasant teenager who was looked down on as an unwed mother. 

Pastor and author Tim Keller observes that the genealogy of Jesus is filled with flawed people who Jesus is proud of. 

If you wanted to present an impressive genealogy, you may have left off some of these names. But here’s the message: God is able and willing to redeem all kinds of people, people with a good past, people with a complicated past, people who are highborn and lowborn, peasants and kings. Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 

3. The One who frees us from the fear of death 

Here the author uses the phrase, “and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death”. For so many, they view death as the ultimate end. And if it is, then life has very little meaning. If this life is all there is then people grab as much as they can before it’s over, only to find that accumulating stuff doesn’t satisfy. 

Jesus experienced death and then He defeated death by rising from the dead. And when He defeated death, He defeated it for me. Yes, you and I will physically die, but Jesus’ resurrection ensures my resurrection. I need not fear death.  

Jesus tasted death for me, and He did what I could not have done. He defeated it. In light of that, I don’t go looking for death, but neither am I a slave to the fear of death. For those early Christians who were being threatened with death for their faith in Christ, that was far less a threat than for someone who didn’t know Jesus. 

For the Christian, it’s a win-win. Life down here with Jesus is a win and when this life is over, I’m with Jesus. That’s a win.

4. High Priest who fully identifies with me

Under the old covenant, the high priest gave oversight to Temple worship in Jerusalem. His most important duty was to go into the Holy of Holies once a year on the day of atonement where he would make a sacrifice for himself and the sins of the people. He would take blood from a lamb and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. The sacrifice would make atonement, it would be a payment for the sins of the people. That sacrifice was for the high priest as well because he needed forgiveness as much as anyone else in Israel.

I love how the writer puts it here in verse 17, “For this reason, He had to be made like them fully human in every way in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.”

He’s one of us. As our high priest, He engages us with a full understanding of the human experience: temptation, hardships, hunger, weariness, grief, betrayal, rejection, disappointment—Jesus experienced it all. 

He experienced it all and that means that He understands me. He takes all of my failure and my sin on Himself on the cross. And as the sinless One, He stands before a Holy Righteous God and He presents Himself as the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. To a group of people who were going through stresses and persecution the writer wanted them to know two things: 

1. You don’t have to go back to Judaism with its high priest and sacrifices.

2. You have in Jesus a better high priest.

He knows you. He knows what you’re going through. He went through it. He’s not going to leave you or forsake you. He’s got you in His hands. 

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on April 17, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews 2 sermon on YouTube.

Hebrews 1: Introduction

Hebrews 1:1–4 and 2:1–4

“In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So, he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? 

This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders, and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

Who Were the Early Readers?

While the book of Acts and most of Paul’s letters are written to and about first-generation Christians, Hebrews is primarily written to followers of Jesus who were at least one generation away from the birth of the church in Acts 2. 

Those early apostles and leaders of the newly birthed church were eyewitnesses of Jesus. Some of them were with Him when He died and then actually talked with Him and touched Him and ate with Jesus after He rises from the dead. 

Some of them literally saw Him ascend into the clouds. Being an eyewitness left a powerful impression and they were passionate followers of Jesus through severe persecution and trials. 

This next generation was hearing the stories from the eyewitnesses but was a step removed. That’s all good until you encounter opposition—either the opposition of internal doubt or external opposition like persecution for your faith.

Hebrews is a letter to those who need encouragement to keep on following Jesus. This is a letter to Christians who are starting to lose their passion, who are drifting, who are entertaining thoughts of quitting, who see the appeal of an easier life.

So that’s the reason the letter was written and the context for this letter. The opening is all about Jesus.

Jesus is God’s Final Word

Hebrews 1:1 says, “In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways.” Think about all the ways that God has communicated. Almost from the beginning of God’s dealings with humankind, God has spoken His truth through prophets. They were God’s representatives who were the human mouthpiece for God. They were the primary way of communicating God’s message, but there were certainly other ways. 

God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush. He spoke to Balaam through a donkey. He spoke to a pagan king in Daniel’s time through a hand literally writing on a wall at a banquet. Often God spoke through angels and through dreams and visions. 

God’s message through these various means was always accurate but it was incomplete. God always had more to say. The coming of Jesus was not only the culmination of God’s expression, but Jesus’ coming to earth was the fullest and final expression of God to us.

The prophets were used by God to let us know certain things. As the full and final expression of God, He wants us to know Him. Through Jesus, God wants us to know who He is. 

The writer frames it this way, “In these last days”. From now to the end of human history, there is no fuller expression of God than Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of God. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. If you want to know God, enter into a relationship with Jesus. Jesus is God’s final word. 

Jesus is Superior to All Others

From verse 2 to the end of chapter 1, we have this impressive list of all that Jesus is and all He’s done that clearly establishes that Jesus is better, that He is superior to anyone or anything.

He is appointed by God as heir of all things

Everything that belongs to God belongs to Jesus. We’re not waiting for anyone greater than Jesus. When God spoke through prophets and angels and a donkey and dreams and visions, it all pointed to Christ. It was all focused on Him. When you’ve got Jesus, you have God’s best.

The writer goes on, “Through whom He made the universe.” Google tells me that the diameter of the universe is about 93 billion light-years. One light-year as a unit of length is equal to just under 10 trillion km. Run the numbers of 10 trillion times 93 billion and you’ll get the diameter of the observable universe. Scientists tell us that the universe never ends and that it is constantly expanding. 

According to NASA, if the solar system was shrunk down to the size of a football field. Our sun, the largest thing in our solar system, is the size of a dime on a football field. The inner planets including earth are the size of grains of sand. Mars would be the size of half a grain of sand. You get the point. It was all created through Him and by Him.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory

In Exodus 24, God calls Moses to come up to Mount Sinai. God wanted to speak with Him. As Moses goes to speak with God, a cloud settles over the mountain. The Israelites down below see what looks like a large fire burning on top of the mountain.  That glow is the radiance of God’s presence. 

In chapter 34 as Moses comes off the mountain with the stone tablets, it says that his face was radiant. It was so bright that he had to cover his face with a cloth just to be around others. The blinding glow coming off his face was just a reflection of the radiance of God’s presence. 

Jesus is that radiance. He is clothed in human flesh as the covering for the radiance—otherwise, when He came to earth, no one could have looked at Him or been around Him.

He is the exact representation of God’s being

Jesus is literally the precise reproduction of God’s being in every respect. The phrase used in Hebrews describes what happens when a signet ring is used. The impression the ring leaves is exactly what is on the ring.

He sustains all things by His powerful word

Not only was Jesus active in the creation of the universe, but He is also active in sustaining creation. Think about the delicate balance of nature. Our earth spinning at precisely the right speed, the sun, moon, stars precisely located to sustain life. Jesus holds it all in check. He sustains all things by the power of His word.

Get where the writer is going? Point after point, he’s saying that Jesus is God. Jesus is fundamentally different from any other prophet. He didn’t just give the Word of God He is the Word of God. He is the full expression of what God communicates to us.

If that isn’t enough, he adds in verse 4 and following that Jesus is superior to angels. Angels serve as messengers of God. It’s amazing when an angel is dispatched by God to speak to humans. We have Jesus who is superior to angels.

Why it Matters

In chapter 2 verse 1, a few words into the verse there is a “therefore”, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore to what we have heard”. What comes next is the “why” behind having an accurate understanding of who Jesus is. 

So that we do not drift away

Drifting is never a good thing. When your car drifts into oncoming traffic, or when a plane or a ship drift off course, there are going to be serious consequences. 

I have found that when it comes to a person’s spiritual life they usually don’t veer off the path—it’s usually a slow drift. They pursue some interest and start to lose focus on spiritual growth.  Or, as was probably the case for the original recipients of this letter, the persecution and the difficult circumstances of their lives were pushing them off course. They were drifting away from Christ.

Later on, in Hebrews 12, he’ll write, “Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” The antidote to drifting is to stay focused on this amazing, one-of-a-kind Jesus who he has described in 1:1–4. 

How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?

Our eternal salvation that is secured for us by Christ is of such great value that we dare not treat it lightly or cheaply. Jesus is superior to all things and I can have full confidence in Him and in the salvation that I have in and through Him. 

Don’t neglect it. Don’t toss it away for anything, because anything else will not and cannot satisfy. Because of who Jesus is, I won’t drift and I won’t neglect the salvation that was given to me.

— Notes from Pastor Marvin Wojda’s sermon on April 10, 2021

CLICK HERE to watch the Hebrews Intro sermon on YouTube.