We take holidays because we need a break, because we are drained and tired and need to recharge the batteries. But what do you do if you feel like that spiritually?
Hebrews is a letter from a pastor to his church, (13:22)he tells us why he writes “Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly” **Why does he write? He writes to encourage them because they are in danger. The danger is not persecution or state sponsored opposition it is that they adopt a deformed Christianity, either by adding to it sacred rites and rituals from Judaism, or by losing their passion and becoming hard hearted, or simply by drifting gradually away from the gospel.
Hebrews functions as a clarion call to these believers and to us, it shows us dangers that face us and provides 5 warnings; the warning not to drift but to pay attention, not to become hard hearted but to be passionate, not to be lazy but to grow to maturity, not to turn away from God’s word but to treasure it, and lastly not to give up but to keep on living by faith.
But it isn’t just a book of warnings it is a book of hope and promise, it is a book to stir our hearts and reignite our wonder at our salvation. You see the pastor knows that you can’t just manufacture passion, faith, or perseverance and he doesn’t want his readers to but he seeks to stir it up in them as he unveils and unpacks the superiority and splendour of Jesus, God the Son made man. As he unpacks who he is, his work and what he has accomplished for his people. 1:1-4 give us an introduction into some of the themes that run through the letter.
Why do we need to study Hebrews? Because we need these warnings, we need to see afresh who Jesus is and the wonder of our salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment