These concluding remarks from the author of Hebrews remind the Church that they are to be 1) a loving community 2) in a hostile world 3) with a faithful God. Because God is faithful, we can give our lives for him, knowing that we won’t be forsaken or abandoned.

What would you expect a meeting with God to look and feel like? It all depends on whether grace is present. Three contrasts occur in this passage: between the earthly meeting and the heavenly meeting (reminding us of how grace enables us to draw near to God), between the earthly warning and the heavenly warning (reminding us to not let…

This passage shows us the high standard of sexual purity for the believer, and the sad example of Esau, who exemplifies sexual immorality and ungodliness. In order to honor marriage and live lives of purity, we should not delay marriage unnecessarily, not demand that it be more than God intended it to be, not demean…

In human relationships, conflict abounds because people are sinners. And so, peace doesn’t come easily but is something that we need to strive after. Relationships get messy, and confession and forgiveness are needed. The gospel enables us to own up to our own sin, and empowers us to extend forgiveness when we’ve been wronged. In fact,…

This passage challenges us to find God’s strength in a long race, and to see God’s hand in hard times. The Christian life is described as a long race, in which we need to strive with endurance; which we can only do as we look to Jesus for empowerment and strength. Further, it encourages us…

This famous chapter recounts the lives of God’s faithful people in the Old Testament. Here we learn the Core of faith, the Content of faith, and the Cost of faith. These heroes of faith trusted in God’s promises and took God at his word, such that they could live as though God’s promises were certain even…

This passage warns of God’s judgment towards those who forsake Christ, and of the world’s persecution towards those who remain faithful to Christ. The author of Hebrews encourages his audience to endure – to press on in faith, even when it is costly, by looking to God’s reward – the “better and abiding possession” than anything they could…

When we truly encounter the truth of the gospel, it always makes a practical difference in our lives. After finishing the main theological argument, the author of Hebrews gives 3 specific applications, each signaled by the phrase “let us”: let us draw near to God, let us hold fast our confession, and let us consider…

Most of us would say that we are forgiven before God through Christ’s sacrifice alone, yet it is easy to live as though we still need to pay for our sins and earn God’s favor. This passage teaches that, unlike the sacrifices under the Old Covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice of himself was acceptable and sufficient: perfectly acceptable…

This passage teaches us that Jesus brings a greater access to God through a greater cleansing of worshipers. The old covenant, with all its restrictions, taught that the way to fellowship and communion with God was not yet open, but rather, sin and guilt still separated God’s people from Him. Through faith in Jesus, all of…