One of the most precious treasures possessed by the believer in Christ is the Book of Hebrews, yet often neglected. It's like a casket of jewels. Seven of the most prominent are:
(1) Chapter one details how Christ is eternally pre-existent, one with the Father, equal, the Source of all life, as is said, "original, unborrowed, underived."
(2) Chapter two details His real humanity, "made like unto His brethren," "in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin" 2:17, 18; 4:15).
(3) Chapter three introduces Him, in consequence of His identification with us in chapter 2, as our great High Priest, our attention to Him being invited ("consider Him").
(4) Chapters four to six detail the tragic results of hard-hearted unbelief (the terrible danger all of us face in this time of unprecedented worldly prosperity).
(5) Chapters seven and eight develop further the core idea of "Christian perfection of character" which like a silver thread runs throughout the Book of Hebrews. Ministering the Good News of such "perfection" is the work of the High Priest, who is "able to save to the uttermost (perfectly) those who come unto God by Him." Warnings are seen all through the book to us to cooperate with Him, but we cannot save or perfect ourselves. (Cleansing the Hebrew sanctuary was always the work of the high priest, never the work of the people; but they were to let him do it, to cooperate with him to gather around the sanctuary on the day of atonement.)
(6) Chapters nine and ten make clear that there are two phases of our great High Priest's heavenly ministry: (a) the antitypical ministry in the first apartment of the sanctuary (ta hagia in the Greek) where He began to minister at His ascension, and (b) His closing ministry in the second apartment, the Most Holy (hagia hagion, Greek) on the antitypical Day of Atonement. It seems obvious even to a child that Christ's ministry in the first apartment is to prepare His people to die--a wonderful work indeed; but His ministry in the second apartment is intended to prepare a people to meet the final tests of the mark of the beast, the seal of God, the final time of trouble, and translation at the second coming of Christ--all of which the Bible has much to say.
(7) Finally, Hebrews leaves us with the assurance that all the power of the Father who brought Jesus from the dead is directed now to the unprecedented work of preparing a people, to "make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight" (13:21). Good News!
Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
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