NEWS

Summary global message from the book of Hebrews

We have just finished the preaching series on Hebrews. Although couched in rich Jewish tradition, the book is very relevant to us, Christians some 2000 years later. The eight sermons in the series were based on selected passages along the writer’s argument in the book, each representing a significant progression in the argument in addressing the issue confronting the Hebrew Christians at the time. They are like the diamonds on a necklace, each one has its particular beauty worthy of appreciation. However, it is also important to see the necklace as a whole, which is the designer’s work of creation. For that reason, I would like to present a summary of the global (overall) message of the book, which would tie together what you have heard from the different preachers in the series.

It is understood that the book was written to Jewish Christians under persecution for their faith because Christianity was outlawed. There was great temptation for them to abandon their Christian identity and return to Judaism, which was legal at that time. Judaism was their culture, was familiar to them and emotionally close to their hearts. It worshiped the same God, although not recognizing Christ as Saviour. They might ask: Is it really worthwhile to be so dogmatic as to insist on the centrality of Christ in their lives, and suffer very real hardship as a consequence? A seemingly small adjustment in their outward expression of their faith would spare them a lot of heartache and suffering.

The message of the epistle is: We must not forsake Christ, even in suffering, because:

1. Christ is God’s supreme revelation. It is through Him that we understand God’s truth, His amazing plan of salvation for us through Christ, that by Christ’s blood the New Covenant has been inaugurated, and that Christ is now our Great High Priest under that better Covenant. By His death Christ has become the new and living way by which we can come before God’s throne of grace. All the religious activities in Judaism were just symbols or “shadows” of what Christ has come to achieve, which is the promised reality. That being the case, a faith that excludes Christ is worthless. If we forsake Christ, we do not have a saving faith, and will miss out on salvation and God’s eternal rest.

2. The adversities around us are very real. We are perhaps facing hunger, beatings, discrimination and fear of mortal danger every day. At the same time, God’s promise of eternal blessing cannot be seen among the prevailing suffering. It is difficult to hold onto hope when there is no discernible evidence of fulfillment of God’s promises.  But note that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”, and without faith it is not possible to please God. Just look at the great people of faith in the past, how they held onto their hope firmly despite adversities, even though they did not see the promised outcome at all. They were able to do that because they had faith in the faithful God whom they knew. We too must exercise that faith, and not just live by sight.

3. The fact that we are suffering does not mean that God is out of control or does not care. It could be His way of training and disciplining us as His beloved children. Discipline is for our good and sanctification.

4. For the above reasons, “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Many of us are suffering in one way or another; for the sake of Christ or as a result of the fallenness of selves and/or the world. In the former case, the message of Hebrews is clearly directly relevant. In the latter case, we may be facing physical or mental sicknesses, disabilities, ailments of old age, broken relationships, singleness, parenting difficulties, financial hardship, isolation, loneliness, spiritual depression, rejection, emotional wounds and/or struggling against disparate worldly temptations.  We may get totally absorbed in our troubles. Christ may seem so far away, His promises so far-removed from our immediate troubles. There is the temptation to find relief and solutions from other quarters, even if they are clearly not biblical. In that situation, the book of Hebrews says to us: Consider who Christ is. He is the worthy object of your faith. Live by faith and not by sight, because without faith it is not possible to please God. The heavenly Father knows your plight. He allows suffering for the purpose of disciplining you, His beloved children. He will see you through these hard times, because He is the one who has initiated and will perfect your faith. Persevere with faith in Him! Stand firm in Him!

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