By Faith, from the Law to the Promised Land - Hebrews 11:23-40

Creation, Abel, Enoch, and Noah taught us that faith is the reality of our hope even when it is unseen.

Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph taught us faith is the reality of the promise in a future promised land.

In this final section of Hebrews 11, our last group of faith heroes will teach us one more key point about living by faith. For them – and for us today – faith is the reality of our victory that defeats our fears.



Click picture for a printable handout for this section

Faith is the reality of our victory that defeats our fears. All of the people in this section faced some powerful fears – governmental powers, loss of loved ones, slavery, and deadly defeat. They never would have found victory in their own strength and power. But they experienced fullness and abundance of life when they each stepped out in faith thereby conquering their fears and experiencing God’s victory.

By Faith, from the Law to the Promised Land

I encourage you to start by reading Hebrews 11:23-40.

By Faith, Moses (11:23-28)
Moses’ parents – especially his mom – stepped out in amazing faith soon after Moses’ birth. Pharaoh decreed that all baby boys were to be killed but Moses’ mom saved his life. She put him in a basket in the reeds by the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter found him there, took him as her own son, and raised him in the Egyptian palace.

• Fear: Moses’ mom feared the loss of her son’s life.
• Victory: She found victory when Pharaoh’s daughter found him in the basket and raised him as her own son.

Moses grew to be a man who lived a life of faith. The opportunities given him as a prince of Egypt were far from what we might call a godly lifestyle. Even in the midst of pleasure and abundance, God called Moses unto Himself and began him on a journey that changed the world.

• Fear: Moses separated from the love of his Egyptian family along with the wealth and luxurious ease of a palace life.
• Victory: He found true riches as “he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egyptian, since his attention was on the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). Moses also apparently knew our second key point - faith is the reality of the promise in a future promised land.

After a violent outburst and a poor decision, Moses later faced the wrath of the Pharaoh. In response, he left Egypt and all he had ever known behind.

• Fear: Moses could have feared the anger of the Pharaoh.
• Victory: Instead of fear, he found victory in a new land where he found a wife, a peaceful lifestyle, and eventually a calling from God out of a burning bush. He lived as one "who sees Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). Moses also knew our second key point - faith is the reality of our hope even when it is unseen.

At God’s calling, Moses returned to Egypt to lead the Israelite people out of slavery. Pharaoh wasn’t too keen on letting his slave labor force leave, however. God sent a series of plagues that eventually persuaded Pharaoh to release his grasp on the slaves. The final plague was a violent attack on the lives of the firstborn sons in each household – Egyptian and Hebrew alike. The death angel passed over all of the homes on which the family had painted the blood of a lamb on the doorpost. That final plague initiated their journey out of slavery and into freedom.

• Fear: Moses and all of the people feared for the lives of their firstborn sons.
• Victory: In the blood of the lamb, the people found freedom from slavery.

By Faith, the Israelites (11:29-30)
Moses led the people away from Egypt with Pharaoh’s reluctant blessing. Pharaoh soon changed his mind, however, and the Israelites found themselves trapped between a raging Red Sea and Pharaoh’s armies. God didn’t view them as trapped; He saw a people about to experience freedom.

• Fear: The people feared they would have to choose between drowning in the sea and allowing their own slaughter at the hands of the army.
• Victory: The people experienced one of the greatest victories ever as God parted the Red Sea allowing them to walk through on dry land. Pharaoh’s army, on the other hand, drowned as walls of water came crashing down on top of them.

Moses didn’t make it to the Promised Land; Joshua instead led the people to the end of their journey. Along the way, they had to defeat the city of Jericho.

• Fear: The people could have feared the people of Jericho and the looming battle for control of the city.
• Victory: Instead, they trusted the words of God who promised them victory over the city through His power rather than the power of their swords.

I’ve written in the past about an interesting correlation between the parting of the Red Sea and the walls of Jericho. The two miracles are powerfully related so I’m not surprised to see them singled out and paired together in this significant historical chapter. Click here to read more.

By Faith, Rahab (11:31)
Joshua sent two spies into Jericho before they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. Some of Joshua’s confidence came from their report that the people lived in fear of the Israelites because of the miraculous things God had done for them. Read the article I mentioned in the last paragraph for more. Rahab, however, used her fear to her advantage. She recognized the power of the God of the Israelites; she responded by saving the lives of the spies who in turn saved her and her family.

• Fear: Rahab feared the God of the Israelites.
• Victory: She put her trust in Him rather than the false security of rock walls. She found victory in the salvation of both her physical and spiritual life.

The World was not Worthy of Them(11:32-40)

These verses form one of the most powerful passages in Scripture. Every time I read it, I approach it with a sense of respect and humility. It’s a verbal walk through the cemetery of war heroes who died that we might hear truth and find freedom. It’s a somber moment of reflection at the base of a monument inscribed with the names of those who gave all they had because they chose to live by faith.

The people entered the Promised Land but that didn’t mean life was perfect. Living life by faith – even in the Promised Land – was rough. So I have to ask myself, “Why should I think my life will be any better?”

Living our lives by faith may mean some pretty hard times during our life here on earth. Like the heroes of this chapter, we have to realize the Promised Land of this earth isn’t the end goal. Like them, we have to look “forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. … These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth” (Hebrews 11:10, 13). Like these heroes, we have to realize faith is living in a different reality where our hope isn’t seen, the promise awaits us in the future, and we have victory over our fears.

“All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised.” Each of these men and women still await the promise because “God had provided something better for us, so that they would not made perfect without us” (Hebrews 11:39-40). Here’s the deal, friend… they can’t receive the promise until we have done our part by faith. You and I each have a job to do – a calling to which we need to be faithful. The question then becomes, “Is your name on the list? Are you serving and living by faith? Are you living in a reality where your hope is unseen, your promised reward awaits, and you have victory over your fears?”

Those are important questions to consider because one day we will fully see our hope, God will give us what He has promised, and the victory will be ours. When that day comes, trust me, you’ll want to be a part of it.

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By Faith, from the Flood to the Law - Hebrews 11:8-22

We began a three part study of Hebrews 11 – “The Faith Chapter” – in the last section. In it, we considered the stories of creation, Abel, Enoch, and Noah. The stories all testified to the importance of our first key point… Faith is the reality of our hope even when it’s unseen.

In this section, we’ll study the lives of five more people. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all lived in the time period between the flood and the giving of the Law. Even more, these five heroes of the faith teach us our second key point on faith… Faith is the reality of the promise in a future promised land.

I encourage you to start by reading Hebrews 11:8-22.

Click picture for a printable handout for this section

Faith is the Reality of the Promise (11:13-16)

I’ve often wondered about the encounter between God and Abraham that prompted Abraham to live such an outstanding life of faith. Yes, he blew it sometimes, but overall, he was faithful at an incredible level. Regarding that encounter, was it a burning bush like Moses? Or was it a dream like Joseph? Did they wrestle as God did with Jacob? We don’t know the details but something significant must have happened because Abraham’s encounters with God transformed him for life.

The reality of a future city
Regardless of how the encounters between God and Abraham played out, Abraham knew that the promised land for which he waited wasn’t of this world. I believe he could have conquered the land and established a kingdom; we studied that here and here. But, Abraham wasn’t content with a kingdom of this world. He “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

The reality of a future homeland
A friend of mine is from Togo, Africa but he lives here in the United States. He may have a place to stay here but Togo is his homeland. Togo is his culture, his heritage, his family, and his language. Our homeland is where we come from. Remember, however, that faith sees things differently. Faith sees with spiritual eyes rather than physical ones; usually, the results are opposite of each other. For us, our homeland is where we come from. When we see with spiritual eyes of faith, however, our homeland is where we’re going. It’s the reality of a promised eternity in heaven. Our future home defines our culture, our heritage, our family, and our language. Think about that. “Those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland” (Hebrews 11:14).

The reality of a future promise
All of these people died without having seen the future promise – not just Abraham, but all of them (Hebrews 11:13). Faith faces death knowing the Promised Land which awaits is our reality. The author of Hebrews has taught us about this promise for several chapters now. We’ve learned the promise is…

• To enter His rest. Even more, it remains open to us even after we've wandered in our desert (4:1).
• For “those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance” (6:12).
• Confirmed with an oath by an unchangeable God (6:17).
• Passed down through Abraham (7:6).
• That on which Jesus Christ founded and mediated a new covenant (8:6).
• An eternal inheritance made possible by Jesus’ spilled blood and sacrificial death (9:15).
• For those who persevere in doing the will of God until the end (10:36-37).
• Passed down through Isaac and Jacob (11:9).
• Of a city built by God, of a country in heaven (11:10, 13-16).
• Of countless descendants through a sacrificed son (11:17).
• Not yet received by anyone. All recipients await the future inheritance (11:39-40).

Click here to read even more about that foundational promise made to Abraham.

By Faith, from the Flood to the Law

By Faith, Abraham (11:8-10, 17-19)
We’ve already discussed Abraham so much in this section. The section I referenced in the last paragraph goes into even more detail about his faith in the promise. He is the one who “believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Let’s consider a few more details here, though.

Because of faith, Abraham was able to go when God said go and wait when God said wait. God told him “Go out from your land… to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Like I said, that encounter must have been pretty significant because it was enough to prompt Abraham to go. How confusing… difficult… frustrating… it might have been, then, when Abraham got there and God said “Wait.” He didn’t give the Promised Land into Abraham’s hands; he allowed Abraham to die as a foreigner in the land (Genesis 23:4).

Faith helped Abraham to find victory in the hardest test of his life – God’s call to sacrifice the son of promise, Isaac. Again, I don’t know how Abraham knew what he knew, but he had some pretty difficult concepts figured out. In this case, he knew Isaac was the son of promise but he also knew that if God asked him to take Isaac’s life, then God would make a way for the promise to still be fulfilled. He realized, by faith, God had the power to give Isaac back to him again by raising him from the dead.

By Faith, Sarah (11:11-12)
By faith, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac even though she had been barren for decades and was long past the age to bear children. In their story, we see a reminder of our first key point – faith is the reality of our hope even when it is unseen. In a moment of intimacy between Abraham and Sarah – a man almost dead and a barren woman – God took what had been unseen until that moment and created something seen. He created the child of the future promise – Isaac.

By Faith, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (11:20-22)
Joel Rosenberg is one of my favorite authors. On September 11, 2001 – as Islamic radicals attacked our nation – he was already completing his first fictional novel which included an attack on our nation by Islamic radicals who flew an airplane into a building. He wrote in his subsequent books about America’s invasion of Iraq and the death of PLO Leader Yasser Arafat; in both cases, he predicted the events before they happened. This string of events led people to call him a prophet or a modern-day Nostradamus. In actuality though, Joel’s stories weren’t due to some type of prophetic vision. He looked at the geopolitical state of affairs prophesied by Scripture and compared it to the current geopolitical situation at the turn of the millennium. By faith, Joel knew the end events would occur; all he had to do was analyze what events would be required to bring the world from it’s then current situation to the situation necessary to usher in the end times. We were in point A; what would it take to get to point B? Faith helped him connect the dots.

I tell you this story because Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph’s faith stories are a similar situation. All three of them gave blessings over their children by faith in future events. They knew the words God had spoken and the promises God had made. They lived by faith that those words would come to pass. They were all in their own respective point A and they figured out how to get to point B.

By Faith, for Us

God gave us the stories of these five people to inspire us to live a life by faith as well. Our circumstances may look different but we can still learn from them what it means to live by faith.

By faith, we can go when God says go, even if He wants us to wait once we get there. We want to believe that a call to go somewhere means that grand and glorious work awaits us. Sometimes, however, the grand and glorious outcome isn’t seen on this side of eternity.

By faith, we follow when God calls us out of the place we've been and asks us to live set apart as a stranger in a hostile world. We follow because He's transformed us; we realize our new home is an eternal one in heaven - not that from which we came.

By faith, we find victory in the most difficult of tests. We realize we are totally dependent upon God, muster all of our courage because of His work in us, and struggle through the test. In the end, we look back and realize victory came because of our faith.

By faith, we realize God will make a way to accomplish His plan even when the way seems impossible to us. We don’t have to know all the details; He doesn’t have to follow our logic and work the way we think is right. We can let go of our urge to control and trust Him for the results.

By faith, we recognize God can take what we can’t see and create what we can see. I don’t know how it works – it’s beyond me. But that’s part of living by faith, as well.

By faith, we know the future God has prophesied and discern how we should live until we get there. The Promised Land isn’t here and now; faith realizes it’s then and there. It’s a future reality that will become sight when Christ returns. We’re in our point A; faith guides us until we reach our future point B.

← Previous Section: By Faith, from Creation to the Flood    

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By Faith, from Creation to the Flood - Hebrews 11:1-7

With this section we begin a three part look at a well-known chapter in the Bible. We could probably spend months here but three weeks will have to suffice for us. Christians often refer to Hebrews 11 as "The Faith Chapter" as it recaps the stories of 12 Old Testament heroes of the faith. The author even tells us he would like to tell us more stories but he knew himself that his room was limited. Maybe someday we’ll all sit down together in heaven, grab a cup of coffee, and laugh together as we celebrate everyone’s individual stories of what they accomplished by faith. By then, we won’t be limited by time; we’ll have all of eternity to celebrate the outcome of our faith.




Click picture for a printable handout for this section

The author of Hebrews uses the expression “by faith” 21 times in this chapter. The math is pretty simple to know that 3x7=21. In Scripture, three represents divine perfection as seen in the Triune God. Seven represents spiritual perfection or that which God has made complete or perfect. Faith, therefore, is the combination of God’s divine perfection working in us to make us spiritually complete or perfect. That’s already an amazing thought!

I encourage you to start by reading Hebrews 11:1-7.

Faith is the Reality of our Hope

“Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

I wrote one time, “Hope isn’t a distant, vague dream; through Jesus, hope is realized - completed - finished - fulfilled.” Faith realizes our hope isn’t some wishful possibility; hope is the reality in which we live. Hope is to see God glorified, to be set free from death and decay, to experience eternity in heaven, to live in the freedom of salvation, and more. Click here to read about the full picture of biblical hope along with Scripture references to support each aspect. Check it out – couldn’t we all live with a little more assurance of hope?

His Pleasure; Our Approval

“Our ancestors won God’s approval by it. … Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:2, 6).

Pleasing God begins when we come to Him by faith. We please God when we let go of our own desires, opinions, and self-interests and allow a radical transformation to occur in our minds. “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2, emphasis mine). Remember when we looked at this verse a few sections ago? We learned our spiritual worship is our latreia service as priests in the true temple of God. I encourage you to go back and read it; it’s too much to recap here. We also learn from these verses in Romans that pleasing God requires a renewing of our mind. We no longer think like the world thinks; we no longer prioritize like the world prioritizes. We no longer strive as the world strives. Instead, we come to Him by faith as we realize that the hope we have in Him is reality. Eternity is the reality – not the struggles, goals, priorities, and philosophies of this world.

Faith transforms our thinking to focus on the reality before the throne of God. Faith builds a foundation for pleasing God. Finally, faith allows God to look down upon us and say, “Yes, she is approved.” Faith allows God to bear witness to the fact that ours was a life transformed by Him and for Him.

On God's Side

“The one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

The last two sections compared two different reactions to Jesus sacrificial death. In the first one, those who believe He died as the Messiah draw near to Him, hold on to the confession of their hope, and are concerned for one another. In the second one, those who reject Him as the Messiah arrogantly decide His death was no more than a premeditated murder as they reject Him as the Word made Flesh. They trample on Him, consider Him ordinary, and insult the grace He offers. Their outcome is fire and judgment.

Those who live by faith have picked on which side of this comparison they want to be. Faith is the side of the one who draws near to God and finds rest in the hope of the unseen. God says, “My righteous one will live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38).

By Faith, from Creation to the Flood

Hebrews has helped us understand and visualize God’s plan for all of creation – from beginning until the end. God’s plan since the beginning has been for us to come to Him by faith regardless of the time era in which we live. That’s why the list in this chapter of those who live by faith begins at creation and ends, well, at the end when He brings us all together in one eternal kingdom.

Creation (11:3)
Read the story of creation in Genesis 1.

I don’t think we’ll ever scientifically prove the processes of creation. Scientists and theologians argue back and forth relentlessly. The final argument, however, comes down to an acceptance of God’s creation by faith. Notice this interesting correlation within these verses… Faith is “the proof of what is not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is required to understand that God took what was unseen and with it, created what we now see. With the power of His spoken word, “what is seen has been made from things that are not visible” (Hebrews 11:3). Faith realizes the reality of the spiritual, heavenly, unseen world. Faith then goes one step further and recognizes that God used what is unseen to create the universe.

Abel (11:4)
Read the story of Abel in Genesis 4:1-12.

God’s acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice and rejection of Cain’s had anything to do with what they brought. He based His response on the hearts of those who brought the sacrifice. Abel came before God by faith. This pleased God and God accepted Abel’s sacrifice. We don’t know Cain’s motive but it’s a safe implication that Cain didn’t come before God by faith.

Abel was the first person to die in faith of the coming Messiah. He was the first murdered, the first persecuted for obedience to God, and the first to die with hope in an unseen eternity. As the first murdered among men, his blood still cries out to us by faith today waiting for redemption and resurrection.

Enoch (11:5)
Read the story of Enoch in Genesis 5:18-24.

We don’t know much about Enoch. We do know, however, that he walked with God in a special understanding and relationship. Jude 14-15 refers to him as a prophet who knew judgment would come upon the earth because of man’s wickedness. Indeed, he named his son Methuselah which means “when he is dead, it shall come.” Methuselah lived longer than any other man in history because of God’s grace but when he eventually died, the flood came upon the earth. God brought judgment for man’s wickedness.

We know that Enoch lived by faith. By faith, He looked at the sin of the world and knew that God couldn’t allow it to continue that way unchecked. A righteous God would require judgment. The same faith that knew God would judge also motivated Enoch to walk closely with God. Enoch walked with God on this earth until one day when God said, “Yes, you are approved. Come walk with Me in heaven.” God took Enoch - who was seen - and suddenly "he was not there because God took him" (Genesis 5:24). Or, as another translation says, "one day he disappeared" (NLT).

Noah (11:7)
Read the story of Noah in Genesis 5:28-9:29.

Almost 700 years after God took Enoch into heaven, in the year of the death of his son Methuselah, God sent judgment upon the earth in the form of a worldwide flood. God warned Noah about the judgment to come; by faith in the surety of God’s warning, Noah was motivated to prepare. Noah had never seen rain because it had never fallen upon the earth at that point in history. Even though he'd never seen rain, Noah had faith in the unseen. He built an ark to save his family and the entire animal kingdom.

By Faith, for Us

These stories aren’t our stories but I still see points to inspire us as we walk with God by faith.

By faith, we understand that more exists than what we see with our physical eyes. Faith is living in the reality of that spiritual, eternal kingdom.

By faith, we understand God used what we can’t see to create what we do see. Science can’t prove it; we must humbly accept it as part of God’s plan.

By faith, God is pleased with us and approves us for entry into His kingdom.

By faith, we realize that death here isn’t the end. It’s only a pause until the end of the plan when God brings resurrection to all who follow Him.

By faith, we can be part of those who draw near to Him and not part of those who face judgment.

By faith, God can protect us from coming judgment.

By faith, we recognize a righteous God requires judgment for sin and this should motivate us to walk with Him.

By faith, we recognize that judgment will come and we give our lives to preparing ourselves and those we love for that judgment.

← Previous Section: The Other Option on that Day    

Next Section: By Faith, from the Flood to the Law →

 

As the Day Draws Near - Hebrews 10:19-25

I taught through today’s section the first time about five years ago. It created a desire in me to study the entire book of Hebrews in-depth but I didn't know it would be years before the opportunity presented itself. In those intervening years, I would occasionally read through the book knowing that treasures hid within its words. This study has not only encouraged me but I’ve also connected with it on a deep level. I’ve been thrilled to have this new method of sharing it with you as we progress through the chapters.

Click picture for a printable handout for this section.

I encourage you to start this section by reading Hebrews 10:19-25.

Therefore

We don’t use the word “therefore” in common language very much anymore. In the Bible, though, it’s such an important word. Never skip over it! When we see it, we need to back up because we’ll never fully understand what we’re about to read if we don’t first understand the previous section on which it’s based.

The book of Hebrews uses “therefore” more than any other New Testament book. The entire argument which the author presents builds upon itself throughout its chapters. The one that begins today’s section may be the most important of them all. It begins a conclusion of how we – you and I even today – are called to live and what we can expect in these last days.

Because of These…

The author is about to call us to action in three different areas. Before he does, however, he’ll give us two reasons why we need to step up in these three areas. He has explained these two cause statements throughout the last several chapters so watch for the links to take you to articles where we discussed them. I won’t go into much detail here.

Since We have Boldness (10:19-20)
We aren’t bold on our own – we have boldness. God has given it to us. We have confidence to enter the most holy sanctuary before God’s throne knowing the blood of Jesus atones for our sin permanently.

God split the curtain in the Jewish temple at the time of Jesus’ death. That's the parable. The power of His blood sprinkled on the mercy seat in the true heavenly sanctuary opened a new curtain for us. Through this new curtain – His body – we may enter the heavenly sanctuary in full boldness and confidence. This is our hope. This is reality.

Since We have a Great High Priest (10:21)
Every day the priests offered sacrifices and burned incense in the temple. Every year on the Day of Atonement they sacrificed for their sins and those of the people. They entered the Most Holy Place with burning incense and blood to sprinkle on the mercy seat. But it was never enough.

Jesus is a different kind of high priest from the order of Melchizedek. With Jesus’ final sacrifice, it was enough. The price was paid, sin atoned for, and Jesus sat down at the right hand of God as His work was finished. A new covenant was established. No other priest in the history of the Jewish people could say the work of atonement was done; only Jesus finished the job.

Let’s Do These…

We should live a certain way because Jesus opened the way for us to enter in and because He atoned for our sin once and for all. Our lives should be different as the reality of our position before God transforms us.

Let Us Draw Near (10:22)
Do you realize the significance of all Jesus did to make it possible for you to enter God’s presence? He has sprinkled His blood on our heart to purify the wickedness of our seared consciences. He has given us pure and living water to wash away our filth. All He asks in response is we accept it by faith. Jesus’ sacrifice was absolute; our faith should be so as well. The greatest step of faith is the one that takes you away from the call of the world and toward the presence of Holy God.

Fake faith isn’t going to cut it. A cheap knock-off of the real thing won’t enter God’s holy presence. Those who enter with a true and sincere heart can stand boldly in His presence.

What does it mean to draw near to God? I see two possibilities – a here and now and a then and there.

Here and now we can enter God’s presence spiritually through prayer. We can come before Him in devotion and reverence as we would before no other. We can make requests to help us as we strive to serve and love Him. We can intercede on behalf of those who struggle and despair. Finally, we can praise Him and offer up thanksgiving for the abundance of blessings He pours into our lives.

Then and there we can literally and physically enter into God’s presence after our time on earth is done. Some day we will each cease to breathe on this planet and we’ll take our first full breath of eternal life. Perhaps then we will finally start to comprehend the gravity of Jesus’ sacrifice as we literally and truly enter into God’s presence through the curtain of Jesus’ body and stand where Jesus’ sprinkled His own blood on the true mercy seat.

Let Us Hold On (10:23)
We don’t want to lose hope; it’s a desperate place in which to exist. Yet we have to make a conscience decision to hold on to it. We have to restrain it so we don’t lose it. We have to “hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope” (Hebrews 3:6). We have to “hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start” (Hebrews 3:14). And here we read, we have to “hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23).

Culture will continue to decline – both in America and around the world. In all honesty, we can’t stop it. The decline will leave us discouraged, despondent, and worn out. At times it seems tempting to just lay down and stop the fight; to give up on hope. God calls us to something different, though. We do all that we can to hold on to our hope without wavering. The idea here is to not lay down or recline. Don’t lean back and don’t give up. Hold on to that hope with which you first confessed your sin and faith in Jesus because that is what you’ll need to stand tall until the end.

Let Us Be Concerned (10:24-25)
Sometimes it’s easier to just not care; to lay back and decide it all doesn’t matter. Let whatever happens happen because people get what they deserve. That’s not the attitude for which Christ died, however. What if He had said that of us instead of leaving the glory of heaven to come to earth and offer Himself as the final sufficient sacrifice? Since He didn’t choose that attitude, we shouldn’t either.

We need to be concerned about one another. We need to think about others; doing so should elicit a three part response in us. None of those responses allow us to leave people to their own devices and not care what happens to them.

Considering one another should provoke us to love and good works. The author of Hebrews threw in a little sarcasm here, I think. I can appreciate that. He wrote that when we think about others, it should provoke us. The word means “an incitement or irritation.” We can relate to that, can’t we? After all, we all know people who the thought of them is a source of irritation in our lives. Here’s the twist, though. That irritation should prompt us to love and good works. It doesn’t lead to griping, complaining, backstabbing, or ignoring. When we think of others and the thought irritates us – God calls us to respond with love and good works. After all, that’s what He did for us even though our sin was more than just a little irritating to Him.

Considering one another should bring us together in worship. My pastor makes the same comment almost every Sunday, “I can think of no other reason except worshipping God that would bring together such a diverse group of people this morning.” And that’s a good thing. When we think about others, we should want to come together with them in the common cause of worshipping our mutual Savior. Jesus died for them as much as He died for you. They love Jesus as much as you do. Come together and celebrate those things.

Unfortunately, this is a primary area of attack for Satan. He loves it when he can regularly pull us away – to the lake, sleeping in, preparing lunch, getting ready for an upcoming week. Any excuse will do as long as it keeps us out of the church building and away from worshipping with like-minded believers. He has another source of victory when he uses pettiness and dissension to make our togetherness a time of griping rather than a time of worship. We complain about the color of the carpet, the number of songs, the time of the service, and any other little tidbit that makes no eternal difference. Thinking about one another should be an irresistible pull to come together in worship.

Jesus is an example to us of someone who understood this. He said during the Last Supper with His disciples, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). I don’t know if you’ve ever had a chance to celebrate a Messianic Passover but I guarantee it is a worship service. How much more would the Passover with the Messiah have been one? Jesus longed for it; He “fervently desired” it. In Hebrews, He asks us to feel the same way.

Considering one another should be a call to encourage. To encourage someone means to fill them with courage. Similarly, to discourage means to take away their courage. Your words and actions have the power to do either. You can either fill someone with the courage they need to face life’s battles, serve as God calls, and live a life honoring to Him. Or, your words and actions can take every bit of their courage to do those things and throw it in the trash. It’s up to you which way you choose.

As the day draws near

One day Jesus will return. Whereas He came as a baby in a humble manger the first time, the second time will be one of great power and authority as every eye will see Him and behold Him as King of all. That day is near. I don’t know when it will be; neither does anyone else. However, Jesus told us some things to watch for and those things are lining up in a way unparalleled in human history.

Life will be hard until that day. We may think it’s hard now but it’s going to get worse. That’s why these kind of passages are so important. Right here we have three simple reactions we should have to Jesus’ sacrifice. These reactions are the way God calls us to live as we see the day of His return approaching. He asks us, quite simply, to draw near to Him, not waver in the hope we possess, and consider one another in a way that leads to love and good works, worship, and encouragement.

I don’t think that’s too much to ask in a world gone crazy.

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Clean, Once and for All - Hebrews 10:1-18

The Old Testament sacrifices were the parable – the earthly example given to show us the reality of heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice was the real thing. The real thing has a whole different outcome than did the parable. Hebrews 10:1-18 will teach us more; I encourage you to read it now.

Click picture for a printable handout for this section.

Never Enough (10:1-4)

The old covenant, the priesthood, and the sacrifices – all based on the Law – are the parable. They were “a symbol for the present time” (Hebrews 9:9). However, cast on their pages was a shadow of the good things to come. The Law didn’t contain the good things – grace, forgiveness, eternity, and so on – in and of itself but the light of God cast a shadow of the reality in heaven onto the pages of the Old Testament Law or the Torah.

Since the Law didn’t contain the good things, it could “never perfect the worshipers” because “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1, 4). The sacrifices didn’t have the power to cleanse our conscience and purify our inner self; only the blood of Jesus could do that. Again, the Old Testament was a time when “gifts and sacrifices [were] offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience” (Hebrews 9:9). But, “how much more will the blood of the Messiah... cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14).

The sacrifices were necessary, though, because “in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year” (Hebrews 10:3). God gave the Law as a definition for sin and to reveal the regulations required to atone for sin. Consider this hypothetical situation with me… After revealing the nature of sin and the method of atonement, God could have left it at that until the time came for Jesus to come to earth. However, by having the people make the sacrifices day after day, their sins were ever before them. Year after year, as the high priest entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement, they were reminded of their sinful position before Holy God and their desperate need for salvation.

Jesus left a similar reminder for us today. The days of the Old Testament sacrifices are long behind us. And yet, Jesus called us to remember another sacrifice when He said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). With each Lord’s Supper, each cup reminds us of His poured out blood and every bit of bread remembers His broken body. We humbly remember Him in that moment as the weight of our own sin reveals the inadequacy of our works and our desperate need for salvation.

Jesus is Enough (10:5-10)

King David figured out a lot of stuff before his time; this is one of those times. The Spirit inspiring him to write as he did may have had something to do with it as well. Either way, Jesus – the Word made flesh – spoke through His ancestor David in Psalm 40. The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 40:6-8 here in chapter 10.

David knew the sacrifices and offerings didn’t satisfy a righteous God; they would never atone for sin. Only the Savior who came to do the will of the Father would satisfy the need for atonement for sin. Only the sacrifice of the Son would fully cleanse and forgive us from sin’s filth.

David figured this out long before Jesus was born. Even still, many of us today don’t get it. We may not offer animal sacrifices to atone for our sin but we still try to attain salvation through works. Even many who believe in salvation by faith fall into the trap of adding works to their salvation. They formulize…

• Grace plus right behavior will give me eternal life.
• Grace plus tithing a certain amount will lead to salvation.
• Grace plus not doing bad things will grant me God’s favor.
• Grace plus serving in ministries will earn me a spot in heaven.

No, no, no! Grace plus nothing. Period. We can’t add anything to it. The Messiah alone purifies us because that is the will of the Father which Jesus established when He took away the time of the sacrifices. “By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

His Victory is More than Enough (10:11-14)

The sacrifices served as a constant reminder. The priests sacrificed day after day, year after year, even though those sacrifices would never clean away the filth sin left upon our hearts and minds. Not so with Jesus, though. He sacrificed one time and the job was done. “‘It is finished!’ Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). And unlike any other priest in the history of the Jewish priesthood, He sat down after making the sacrifice because for the first time, the Priest completed the work of sin’s atonement.

“He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool” (Hebrews 10:13). Permit me a moment of humorous honesty here. The New Testament is full of references to Jesus completed sacrificial work leading to the establishment of His enemies as His footstool. I guess I always pictured this as a reference to Jesus kind of kicked back and relaxed with His feet propped up. The only mental picture I know in our current culture for a footstool is a piece of furniture also known as an ottoman. I started wondering this week, however, if the Old Testament used this phrase in a different way than how we use it today. After all, we should use the Old Testament to understand the New, not modern day culture.

My suspicions were correct. A footstool has nothing to do with furniture. The cultural idea is to stomp on something with the foot. Similar words mean to crush an item with the foot or to stomp it into pieces. Most commonly, a victor would place his foot upon the neck of the enemy after battle as a sign of triumph and defeat of the enemy.

The Old Testament refers to a footstool six times. At first glance, though, none of them seem to refer to placing one’s foot on the neck of the enemy as a sign of victory. They all refer to the Ark of the Covenant and/or the Most Holy Place as the Lord’s footstool. For example, look at the first time it’s used, “Then King David rose to his feet and said, ‘Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the Lord’s covenant and as a footstool for our God’” (1 Chronicles 28:2; for other uses read Psalm 99:5, 110:1, 132:7; Isaiah 66:1-2; and Lamentations 2:1).

Although possibly not evident at first, I see a gut-wrenching connection between the cultural use and the Scriptural use. A connection that fits right in with all we’ve learned through this study in Hebrews.

The temple… the Most Holy Place… the Ark of the Covenant… down to the mercy seat of God… is where God stamped His foot upon the neck of His enemy and declared His victory over sin and death. Satan was defeated when Jesus shed His blood upon the mercy seat of God in the true tabernacle before God’s presence.

Let’s bring this up to modern day. The temple is destroyed; we don’t know where the Ark is hidden away. Remember though, that our priestly service remains because our body is the temple of the Spirit of God (Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Friend, Jesus will stomp on the neck of sin and death in your life! He defeated them to no longer control you or have power over you. His blood purified you inside and out once and for all. In the end, He will – in all His power and majesty; Jesus is not a wimp! – stomp His foot on the neck of Satan and powerfully declare, “You are defeated. You have no power over this life anymore because she is Mine and is covered by My blood.”

“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

No More – Enough is Enough (10:15-18)

Whew. Ok, that last part was intense but we have to push on to the end.

The Holy Spirit confirms the testimony that all of this is true. The New Covenant, as presented in Jeremiah 31:33-34, contains five parts. We studied them in an earlier section. The last two parts of the covenant affirm that He will grant us mercy when we distort and twist His truth and He will grant us grace even though we mess up every time we try to live right. “Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18). Once and for all, God forgives and cleanses us from every type of sin because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Nothing we can offer, no sacrifice we can make, no work we can try to accomplish will ever add to that. The work is done.


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The Real Thing: Our new covenant purpose - Hebrews 9:11-28

Our last section taught us the priesthood and sacrifices of the old covenant were a parable meant to teach us about the reality of heaven. It’s important to remember a parable isn’t a made-up story used for teaching purposes. In its true definition, a parable is an earthly example used to teach a heavenly lesson. The earthly example may or may not have actually happened; in this case, it did.

Click picture for a printable handout for this section.

The passage for this section is long. We’ll break it up as we work through it verse by verse; however, I encourage you to read Hebrews 9:11-28 in its entirety before we start breaking it up.

The Real Thing

Reread Hebrews 9:11-12.

“But…” is an important word of transition. It shows us that what the author is about to write is contrary to what he just wrote. Jesus’ sacrifice was the real thing made in the real sanctuary before the real throne of the real God. His sacrifice wasn’t part of the parable. It wasn’t an earthly example to teach us about something heavenly. He literally and truly came before God in the Most Holy Place of heaven and sprinkled blood upon the altar to purify for sin; not His sin, though, but ours. Yours. And mine. The earthly high priest took the blood of an animal with him to purify for sin but not Jesus. He took His own blood from His sacrificed body. And finally, that was enough. He redeemed all mankind – from Genesis to Revelation.

This is the real thing so we better pay attention.

The Real Response

Reread Hebrews 9:13-14.

The blood of the animals sufficiently purified our flesh – our outer selves – although the high priest did have to repeat it on an annual basis. However, the blood of Jesus far supersedes that of goats and calves. We find real power in Jesus' blood – power to purify even our inner conscience.

Our consciences can become a messed up place. They are weak (1 Corinthians 8:7-12), seared (1 Timothy 1:4-5), and defiled (Titus 1:15). Jesus’ blood has the power, however, to redeem even the weakest among us; even those whose conscience is so cauterized that it feels no pain and so stained and contaminated that it no longer shows new filth.

The power that purifies us both inwardly and outwardly calls for a response on our part. Jesus’ shed blood before God’s holy throne empowers us to live a new covenant purpose – to serve the living God. We learned about this type of service in the last section. Latreuo service calls us into the Holy Place where we serve as priests of the Most High God in His kingdom. In that service, He calls us to continually shine our light out to the world, to regularly consume the bread of the word, and to daily stand before God in prayer and intercession. It’s all made possible by the power of the blood of Jesus.

The Real Covenant

Reread Hebrews 9:15.

Covenants involve a promise given, a time of hope, and a realization of the promise. We studied this earlier here and here.

Jesus mediated a new covenant; it was the seventh made between God and man. All seven covenants were part of one common goal which was the restoration of the relationship between God and man for all eternity. Adam and Eve severed that relationship when they sinned in the Garden of Eden. God’s whole plan and purpose since then has been to restore the relationship.

Adapted from The NIV Study Bible ©1985

The Real Death

Reread Hebrews 9:16-18.

When I first read these verses, I thought, “What on earth is this talking about? Why mention a will all of a sudden?” My research helped me answer the question, however, and the answer is powerful.

The author of Hebrews isn’t writing about wills all of a sudden. He’s been writing about them all along. The word used for covenant is the exact same word as the will mentioned in verses 16-17. In other words, a will and a covenant are the same thing.

A will goes into effect when the one who established the will has passed away. In the will, the deceased shares the inheritance each of their loved ones will receive. That is exactly what God did when He cut covenant with mankind – He made a will which would go into effect upon His death.

We’ve already studied that Jesus is completely God here and here. God cut covenant or established the will with mankind in an elaborate process to restore our relationship with Him and give us the inheritance He desires for us as His loved one. The problem, however, was He had to die for the will (covenant) to go into effect. Therefore, God became a man so He could die and we could receive our inheritance.

I don’t know about you, but to me that seems worthy of a response of priestly service on our part. A response of priestly service involves regularly shining our light, consuming His Word, and entering His presence in prayer.

The Real Blood

Reread Hebrews 9:19-23.

The earthly tabernacle required earthly blood but the heavenly tabernacle required something better – heavenly blood. Jesus couldn’t take the blood of goats and calves into the true holy sanctuary. He had to take His own blood as God who died to enact the will and bring the inheritance promised to mankind.

The Real Sacrifice in the Real Sanctuary

Reread Hebrews 9:24-28.

Jesus isn’t part of the parable. He died a real death to establish a real covenant. He shed real blood which He sprinkled before the throne in the real sanctuary. This is no earthly example; this is truth. This is reality. This is eternally, absolutely serious.

So real, so eternal, so absolute, and so serious, in fact, that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all mankind for all time – from Genesis through Revelation. In the parable, the high priest sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat year after year in order to atone for the sins of the people. With Jesus’ reality, His blood sprinkled on the mercy seat before God covers our sin once and for all.

People die once because of sin (Genesis 2:15-17). We don't die immediately and repeatedly after each individual sin. After our death, judgment comes based on our response to Jesus’ sacrifice. That’s the real point because Jesus also died once – not because He sinned but because of our sin. His death bore the weight of our sin once and for all. He doesn't need to die repeatedly after each of our individual sins. Therefore, when judgment comes, so will salvation for those who accepted Him.

The Real Truth

When you stand before God at some point, He won’t care about your excuses. “Oh, I would have done the whole Christian thing, but the church was full of hypocrites.” Or, perhaps yours is something like this, “I went to church but so-and-so made me mad and I left.” Maybe your excuses focus on the Word of God, “Yeah, I’d read the Bible except it’s all just made up by men who had no clue what life is like for me today.” You know what – God’s not going to care about your excuses.

He’ll look at you – the one for whom He lovingly gave His life – and say, “None of that matters. I sacrificed My blood so you could inherit eternity with Me. You let your excuses keep you from that very real truth. Depart from Me.”

Or, you have no excuse. You’ve realized you’re a sinner – your outer flesh is defiled, your inner conscience is seared. You’ll never live up to the level of perfection required by God’s holy law. Yet, you have also considered Jesus and realized the significance of His sacrifice and the grace He offers for those who accept Him. By faith, you’ve come to this moment before Him trusting only in the sufficiency of His blood to atone for your sin. And in that moment, He’ll look at you – the one for whom He lovingly gave His life – and say, “Your faith has made you well. Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 9:22, 25:34).

It’s a real choice and it’s all up to you at this point.

After writing this section, I came across this video produced by One for Israel. In it, they do a fantastic job presenting this very process...



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Jesus: Something Better - Hebrews 8:1-6

The Law gave us continuous sacrifice; Jesus gave us a completed sacrifice.

The Law gave us mercy; Jesus gave us grace.

Abraham’s covenant gave us a good hope; Jesus’ covenant gave us a better hope.

The oath made through King David introduced a better hope (Psalm 110:4). The oath – given even after the giving of the Law – promised that one of King David’s descendants would be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Jesus is the guarantee of that better covenant – the New Covenant.

We didn’t need a priesthood that was weak and unprofitable as was Aaron’s priesthood. We discussed the end goal of the perfection or completion of our hope in the last section. God’s plan all along had been to restore the relationship lost by Adam and Eve in the garden. In order to restore it, or reach completion, we needed a priesthood that is “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

Click picture for a printable handout for this section

Our church is excitedly working toward this summer’s Vacation Bible School. Jungle Jim recently visited during a children’s event to invite all the kids to come. His visit started building the excitement and intensity of the promised week. Ok, really it was my husband in a costume but the kids know that once he announces VBS that they have a week of fun and excitement in their future. One little boy asks his mom every time they come to church, “Is today VBS day?” No, not yet, little guy. I overheard some other kids after Sunday morning worship, “Dad…daaaaad, you have to sign us up for VBS! We don’t want to miss it!” You see, Jungle Jim made those kids a promise that VBS is coming; the kids are living in hope of the coming event. Their hope will come to perfection or completion when they come later this summer and enjoy all their jungle expeditions.

This is the same process we studied in the last section of our Hebrews study and we’ll continue it in this one. God made us promises through Abraham and David; through the Law and through the New Covenant. We now live in the hope of those promises. We’re the little kids who wake up each morning hoping that today is the day. We’re the ones who can’t wait to sign up because we don’t want to miss out. We live in eager excitement of the realization of our hope – a completed and perfected relationship in God’s presence for all eternity.

We’ve recapped a little from Hebrews 7:26-28. I encourage you to look over it again and then continue by reading the passage for this section, Hebrews 8:1-6. Psalm 110 is also critical reading to fully understand this section.

It was good; Now it’s better

A promise is given; hope is lived until completion comes.

A better promise gives us a better covenant.
“But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). God made a promise to Abraham which was a good promise. Later, He made a promise to King David which was a better promise. That better promise is the legal foundation for the better covenant – the New Covenant.

A better hope gives us a better covenant.
“A better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God… [verses containing an explanation of the promise] …So Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:19, 22). God gave us hope through Abraham which was a good hope. Later, though, He gave us hope through King David which was a better hope. That hope guarantees that one day we will draw near to God, into His very presence, through the better covenant – the New Covenant.

Three parts of a better covenant

The Old Testament priesthood which was based on the Law contained three parts: the who, the where, and the what. The priesthood of the New Covenant must contain these three parts as well. That’s not all, though. It must contain them in a better, more superior way. Otherwise, the New Covenant wouldn’t be better.

Who? (8:1-2)
We needed a priest like Melchizedek, not like Aaron. We needed a priest who was “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26), not one who was “weak and unprofitable” (Hebrews 7:18). Chapter eight starts out by telling us that we have what we need! We have in Jesus the high priest that we need sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

A priest of Levi and Aaron’s line never sat down while performing his duties. Their actual job description even indicates they were “to stand before Yahweh to serve Him” (Deuteronomy 10:8). And yet, twelve times in the New Testament we read that our High Priest Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He sits because He completed His work. His intercession is complete; His atonement for sin has been made. The priests of Levi and Aaron could never say this of their own work; intercession and atonement were never complete. Only through Jesus is the work of the high priest complete; therefore, He sat down at God’s right hand.

Where? (8:2-5)
The priests of Levi and Aaron served in the moveable tabernacle and later in the Jerusalem temple. The tabernacle and even the temple in all its glory, however, were only copies of the real thing. They were “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” built “according to a pattern that was shown to [Moses] on the mountain” (Hebrews 8:5).

Our High Priest Jesus, however, doesn’t serve in the copy. His location isn’t merely a shadow of what’s real. Jesus’ intercession and atonement took place in the real thing, in “the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man” (Hebrews 8:2). He’s not on earth and neither is the sanctuary in which He ministers; the real thing is in heaven. (Hebrews 8:4-5).

What? (8:3)
Here we get down to the heart of the matter. The key point on which all else hinges. Jesus is the holy, undefiled priest whom we all need so desperately. But that’s not all. He serves in the real, heavenly sanctuary, not the earthly copy. But that’s not all. He completed the third part of the priesthood – the sacrifice – with a superior sacrifice. He didn’t lay a goat, bull, or lamb on the altar, though. He laid Himself upon it. “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. … He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:12, 26 emphasis mine). But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Chapter nine will come soon enough.

Why do we care?

We care because we can never sacrifice enough. Our sacrifices don't look like goats and calves anymore but we still lay all kinds of things on the altar... chocolate, coffee, time, relationships, wants, needs. We sacrifice them as we try to restore our relationship on our own merit. None of those sacrifices offer the atonement found only in Jesus' complete sacrifice.

We care because we have a great and unrestrained need – the forgiveness of our sin. Our sin knows no bounds and no end. We have no limit to the depth of our depravity. The sacrifices made by the old priesthood in the earthly shadow of heaven were insufficient. They would never complete the task of our eternal forgiveness and allow us to reach the completion of our hope – eternity in heaven with God.

We needed something better. We needed Someone better.

And that’s what we have in Jesus the Messiah. “We do have such a high priest” (Hebrews 8:1).

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