Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And every priest stands every day serving and offering the same sacrifices many times, which are never able to take away sins. But this one, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, from now on waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will decree for them after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” He also says, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will never remember again.” Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:11-18)

Chapter ten is the joyful explanation of Jesus’ superior sacrifice which opened a superior way to God: Jesus’ covenant with the Father. Through Jesus (John 14:6), we have THE way to the Father. It also contains the serious warning not to let go of this revelation. When we got saved and accepted Jesus’ sacrifice, we were cleansed of sin. We are unable to sin without choosing to sin. It is no longer automatic. It is a choice every time. And to choose DELIBERATELY to be disobedient is VERY dangerous. It is the kind of choice that started the whole mess in the first place. All sin is disobedience to God. But DELIBERATE disobedience is even worse. It is the path to rejecting the salvation that Jesus wrought for us.

Chapter eleven focuses on our call. We are called to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, who was perfectly faithful. We are also called to walk in the positive footsteps of the faithful men and women who came before us. To learn from their mistakes and to learn from their successes. We are not called to walk an ordinary life, but to work to embody the same superior walk that Jesus walked. In Him we also can walk it – but we have to choose to rely on Him and choose to choose it at every opportunity.

Chapter twelve teaches that we can’t just start to walk. It is also important to grow the Fruit of faithfulness (Galatians 5:22-23) so that we can faithfully follow through with the walk we started with Jesus when we received salvation. Beginnings are good, but finishing is best. We can only do that when we don’t disregard correction. When we don’t disregard teaching. When we don’t disregard guidance and warnings. When we are faithful to keep our attention on the Lord and all that He says for us to do. When we are faithful in obedience to what we hear. We have an unshakeable Kingdom that is full of grace. Because of that, let’s be faithful in offering our service to our Lord.

Chapter thirteen are the author’s final notes, warnings, encouragements, and requests for prayer. The author closes with personal notes, news, and a blessing to the believers.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Paul

Key Verse(s): Hebrews 10:19-35; 11:1-6; 12:22-24; 13:6-10