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Many Christians wrongly believe that the only good motivation for obedience to Christ comes from hearing about grace, rather than hearing about judgment. These people allow this misinformed belief to distort their view of God, until there are no theological categories left to comprehend, let alone love, a God whose wrath against sinners “is a fury of fire.” The Scripture clearly teaches that God is not mildly upset about sin, but passionately furious. Hebrews 10:26-31 stands against the false assumption that the only motivating news is good news. For every true follower of Christ, there is both the promise of joy and the warnings of judgment. This is a message of God that our world today does not want to hear. And sadly, this message of God is even despised by many in the church.

Hebrews 3:12-13 says, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another... that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” So Hebrews 10:24-25, when properly placed in context with Hebrews 3:12-13, provides both a biblical and logical explanation for the tragedy of apostasy (how some individuals who once belonged to the “visible” church ultimately chose to abandon the faith). By way of implication, Hebrews 10:24-25 informs us that the weekly gathering of the saints is the primary context for “stir[ring] up one another to love and good works.” And Hebrews 3:12-13 informs us that “exhort[ing] one another” (the phrase “exhort one another” is synonymous with the phrase “stir one another up”) is one of the church’s most effective strategies for guarding its members against being “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” which eventually causes people “to fall away from the living God” (commit apostasy). In other words, Christians are commanded not to neglect the weekly gathering of the saints because this is the necessary environment for fulfilling their Christian duty of stirring one another up. And stirring one another up (or exhorting one another) serves as a powerful defense against the deceitfulness of sin which creates a hardened, unbelieving heart. And finally, an unbelieving heart is what ultimately leads people to fall away from the living God. In short, Christians (and especially pastors) were presented with a simple choice: Either forsake the gathering to minimize the physical threat of death to our bodies, or continue to gather to minimize the spiritual threat of damnation to our souls.

There are Three Spheres: Home, Church, & State

There are Two Kingdoms: Light & Darkness

There is One King: Jesus Christ

Understanding the theological implications to these simple categories will change the way you view everything.

Jesus has promised that he is sanctifying all those whom he has justified. And as he sanctifies the hearts of his people, he is also defeating his enemies in the world, one by one.

The “law” which the author references in the beginning of Hebrews 10:1, is not a reference to the Moral Law (the 10 Commandments). The Moral Law is not a shadow of future blessings, but an eternal system of perfect precepts; the holiness it requires is not figurative, but truly good and truly right. Furthermore, the principles of the Moral Law are not obscure, but plain and easily understood. And finally, the Moral Law is not fleeting and passing away, as a shadow, but lasting and durable. Therefore, it is not the Moral Law, but rather the Ceremonial Law, that is intended here. The Ceremonial Law was the "shadow" (a figure/type), a representation of something else that is actually true, real, and substantial. The Ceremonial Law was dark and obscure, yet there was some measure of light and ultimate reality contained in it. The Ceremonial Law ultimately pointed to Christ himself.

This week at Covenant Bible Church - Lay Elder Connor Hensley preaches from Hebrews 9:6-14.

For the last few decades, American Evangelicalism has been obsessed with all that is BIG, FAST, FLASHY, and FAMOUS. In contrast, 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” So Paul entrusted certain things to Timothy; Timothy was charged to entrust these things to faithful men; and those men needed to be able to entrust (teach) these things to others. Ministry is about multiplication, and therefore, faithful ministers must think in terms of multiple generations. In other words, faithful ministry is often slow.

For the last few decades, American Evangelicalism has been obsessed with all that is BIG, FAST, FLASY, and FAMOUS. In contrast, 2 Timothy 2:2 says, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” So Paul entrusted certain things to Timothy; Timothy was charged to entrust these things to faithful men; and those men needed to be able to entrust (teach) these things to others. Ministry is about multiplication, and therefore, faithful ministers must think in terms of multiple generations. In other words, faithful ministry is often slow.

The Tabernacle (and later the Temple) was constructed under the direction of Moses, according to the detailed instructions he received from God on Mount Sinia (or Mount Horeb). The “First Section” of the Tabernacle (the Holy Place), stands in distinction from the “Second Section” (the Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies). This is not meant to signify two tabernacles, but two “sections” of one Tabernacle. Therefore, under the “First Covenant” there was only ONE PLACE where the special presence of God could be found, there was only ONE PERSON who could enter that place (the High Priest), and this person could only enter that place ONE TIME each year (the “Day of Atonement,” or Yom Kippur). In contrast, under the “New Covenant,” Jesus eternally serves as our High Priest. Christ not only atoned for our sin once and for all, but he made a way for us to “come boldly before the Throne of Grace (the Mercy Seat).” In other words, the ministry of Christ does not merely achieve forgiveness for our sins, but the ability to commune with God. Justification, although the “heart” of the Gospel, is not the “end” of the Gospel. The end of the Gospel is communion with the God forever.

Under the New Covenant, the will of God is written not just on tablets of stone, but on the minds and hearts of all God's people. God not only replaces shadows with substance, but he also takes that substance and places it within his people. He writes it on our hearts. In other words, God does not merely lay his gift of salvation and transformation down at our feet for us to pick up in our own strength and determination. Rather, God picks it up for us and puts it in our hearts and minds, and by doing so he seals us as his children forever.