Hebrews 4-7
Falling Away
or Following Faithfully
0 MIN READ
TMS Luke 9:23 Call To Discipleship
Take Up Your Cross
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.Observations
Jesus just finishes telling the disciples He is going to be rejected and murdered, and then asks if anyone wishes/desires to follow Him. It would be an absolutely crazy invitation were it not for the resurrection and glory piece. The reality is that we can't keep any of this life, and we can't lose the glory God gives in the next life. So the decision should be a no-brainer, except for the pain of the methodology of following. Self denial, just saying “No” to our desires and ambitions is a matter of daily death and self-crucifixion. See comments on Luke 9 for the context and what it meant to carry one's cross in that culture (an admission that the cross-bearer was wrong and worthy of death, and the governing authority was right). Those who wish or desire to follow Christ as His disciple to glory are not forced to do so. It is a free-will decision, but the wise one to make. Many don't make it.
To see how Jesus sells them on making the decision to follow, take a peek at the verses after the invite. What is the net gain to you if you succeed in all the trivial pursuits this life offers and forfeit the purpose for which God put you on earth? Pretty silly.
Application
Exchange the minutes of each day for something that has eternal value, by learning and doing God's will rather than your own.
Prayer
God, help me keep my focus on the purpose of life on this planet, and live it for Your and my glory in the next life; don't let me fall for any of Satan's lies and deceptions. Thanks. Amen.
Hebrews 4-7 Falling Away or Following Faithfully
Continuing his theme of the superiority of Christianity to Judaism, the author of Hebrews shows Christ's superiority to Moses and Aaron in an attempt to keep believers from going back to the way they were (Judaism for them). He first holds out the conditional promise of sharing in the glory of Christ in chapter 4, and then the certain promises of destruction for those who fall away from following Christ in the severe warning passage in chapter 6. Mystery man Melchizedek makes appearances in a couple of chapters, complementing Christ's triple roles as Prophet, King, and Priest. The author makes use of Psalms 95 and 110 to encourage believers not to harden their hearts to God's revelation, and to demonstrate the superiority of Christ's priesthood in being able to bring believers to perfection/glory. The author remonstrates his readers for being babies needing instruction, rather than being in a position to teach and serve others. May that not be said of any of those who read (and study) DailyTruthbase.
Hebrews 4 Rest and Reward
The Sabbath Rest
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,”
saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
The Living Word
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.Application
God will always provide all the grace we need to obey Him and reap the reward He has planned; the only thing that is lacking is our determination to learn and do what He's said.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thanks for Your example and desire to help me succeed in doing Your will; may I never shrink in shame from seeking forgiveness nor fail to depend on Your infinite grace to live victorious over temptation, as You did. Amen.
Hebrews 5 Melchizedek the Mystery Man
The Perfect High Priest
1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Milk and Solid Food
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.Application
If you don't own the 7PASSAGES (or ones like them) it might be time to grow up and make them part of your life, so you can minister to others with them.
Prayer
Hebrews 6 Falling Away
A Call to Maturity
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. 9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.God’s Unchangeable Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.Application
Going back to the way we were is a surefire way to be disillusioned and disinherited; going forward through the difficulties is a sure way to escape fiery judgment, and reap our eternal reward (the better choice).
Prayer
God, thanks for the encouragements and incentives You give to guide us to blessing; may I not be hard-hearted and rebellious, but one who by faith and loyal endurance inherits Your promises. Amen.
Hebrews 7 Once For All
Melchizedek and Abraham
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.A Superior Priesthood
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Application
God's goal is to perfect/glorify those who draw near to Him in union with Christ, so get moving.
Prayer
God, thanks for providing such a perfect Priest to help me experience the salvation You so graciously planned for me; may I enter it to the uttermost. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God promises glory to anchor our soul in His purposes for us. He made Christ an eternal priest to save us to the uttermost.
Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is a faithful eternal forever priest and Son. He lives to always help and make intercession for His followers.
Us in a nutshell: We will lose out if we harden our hearts towards God's word and go back to the way we were. We will not lose our justification, but we will lose our fellowship with God and future glory. Those who resist the temptations to quit and instead persevere will inherit the promised glory.
Where to go for more
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