ICEA – “Church at Study”
There are two great themes in the book of Hebrews. The one and greatest theme is Jesus is far superior than any man, created being, or Old Testament system. The second theme is less known and deals with the dangers of the writer’s readers returning to their former lifestyles. It seems they desired to be enslaved again in futile practices of religion and not worship Christ. He also sets forth many strong warnings about some readers not continuing to follow Christ the way they did before.
Let’s pull out key scriptures found in this great book and explore the writer’s secondary intent given to the readers of the book of Hebrews. Here are a number of scriptures in Hebrews that show the seriousness of anyone who desires to return to their former lifestyle apart from Jesus being central.
HERE ARE THE WRITERS CONSTANT WARNINGS:
Heb. 2:1 We aught to give…heed…lest…we should let them slip
2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation
3:6 If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
3:7 Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts…when your fathers tempted me
3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God
3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it
4:11 Let us labor…to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief
4:14 Let us hold fast our profession
5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again….
6:1 Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection
6:8-9 That which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation
6:11-12 We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that you be not slothful…
10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering
10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward
10:38 Now…the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition…
12:1 Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…
12:3 Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
12:12 Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees
12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.
PCAFI Christian Ed. Aux. (ICEA) Articles 