Things to Remember

Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 

The Book of Hebrews is obviously designed to be a very memorable book. The doctrine presented here is a full representation of the Christian faith, all the way from the beginning. The intricacies of the Book of Hebrews are quite amazing, demonstrating once and for all God had a plan all along, and His plan to bring a Redeemer in Christ had been announced even in his teaching to the Israelites, and in the ceremonies and demonstrations found in God’s Law.

Jesus is in every bit of that. Jesus is God, and the Law is God’s Law, and all of the Old Testament is not cast away, but foundational to the New. How incredibly important to our understanding all of this is…

But what can we take away? What are the life applications of such towering doctrine?

To conclude the Book of Hebrews the author turns not so much to ‘what we know’ as to ‘how we live,’ in the places we live, in light of the doctrine we have learned.

Last week we talked about life in relationships, and particularly marriage, which is intimate fellowship designed by God.

This week we see applicational instruction for life in the church, which is also intimate fellowship designed by God.

Marriage is intimate fellowship which is inescapable, as is life in the Church. We are not to cut and run, we are to live and learn…to be servants, and to be submissive to authority.

As much as we instinctively object to most notions of submissiveness, here we really need to pay attention, because we are learning to submit to Jesus.

-Pastor Bill