14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe-----------------
I think this verse sums up a lot of this chapter. There is a lot mentioned in this chapter and a lot of verses that everyone has heard and should memorize. This one stuck out to me because the rest are talking about entering God's rest by obeying God...The only way that we can obey God and enter his rest is by abiding under the blood of Jesus Christ and truly believing that he is the High Priest who has entered heaven, who gave up his life for us, and whom we owe our entire lives to! Let us hold firmly to what we believe guys and continue to get into the word so that we may walk in His light!
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
ReplyDeleteWe, who are truly in Christ Jesus, can draw near the throne of God with confidence. Not a confidence in ourselves, or our ability but confidence in the work of Christ on the cross. We approach the throne with humility fully aware of our weakness but confident in Christ's strength.
Notice too that for us in Christ, the throne of God is a throne of grace not a throne of judgement. It is not that there are multiple thrones, there is one throne but for the followers of Christ it is a throne of grace that we can approach in confidence and without trembling. How awesome is that?
God is ready, willing, and able to grant his children grace and mercy in our time of need. Therefore, let us trust God to be our sustainer and supplier in the hour of our greatest need. Let us go to God first and not last for he sits upon the throne of grace waiting for us to approach him.
6 "It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience."
ReplyDeleteThis passage scares me so much because I know that there are brothers, not only in Christ, but in this fraternity who this may apply to. It says that those who are disobedient will not enter God's rest. That is really harsh. For those who have accepted Christ as their savior, but do not live for Him and disobey Him will not enter God's rest!? I pray for those who are struggling to live a gospel centered life as well as for myself when I slip away. I also pray that those who have turned away from God and disobey Him will come to the light so that one day they will be able to enter God's rest. I love you guys.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
ReplyDeleteJesus is our example on how to be a follower of him. In our lives yes we can look up to certain people for knowledge but Jesus is in control of our church ultimately. He is our High Priest.
2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
ReplyDeleteMany of our predecessors, everyone in the old testament, had a chance to hear the story. But in the same way many today hear the story of God's love but do not know why they need it or suggest that it is just a great story. The unbelief stems from a lack of understanding of the need for the gospel. This is iterated that in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Also in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. Many understand the first part but do not accept the necessary change. We must be radically different from those around us, made new, since we have been washed with living water.
Many can understand that God offers love, but many can't understand the implication of change that God can give us. This comes through faith. By faith we are saved, but we must live a life that portrays us as being made new, just not a heart change, but a mindset. We cannot fully worship God without spirit and truth. We cannot understand the law withought faith. This is what the passage I believe is iterating. By faith the law is written on our hearts through the holy spirit, that we may know him. Without faith, there is not belief and the gospel ceases to be of value to a person. It obviously is the most important thing ever, but withoug chosing to be different, made new, cleansed by our faith, doing something radically different, then the story of God's love is just a story and foolishness to those around us. So in order to make disciples we must first show that we have been made completely different from what we have been. Our hearts are different by faith in the Spirit and in the power of Christ. But we must remember that by faith we are saved by the power of Christ's pure and righteous blood.
12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome verse! It's hard to imagine something that's sharp enough to divide soul and spirit or joints and marrow, but here we are presented with that very thing and its just the word of God! It's strange to think that mere words could have such an effect, but they are just any words....they are the words of God. It makes me glad to know that I've got someone whose mere voice can do such a thing. Beyond that, I want to focus on the idea that the rod of God can divide us from the rest of the world. We are called, by God's word, to live in the world but not of the world. This calling effectively "cuts" us in two....separating our earthly desires from God's holy desires and allowing us to cast aside our earthly desires like a lock of hair. I feel that this is important because it shows us the necessity of being in God's word. Using God's word as a tool helps us to more fully fulfill our call towards sanctification.
-DA
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
ReplyDeleteHere's yet another verse on how awesome the word of God is. It is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. Plain and simple.
I also like this verse in the context of a chapter on entering the rest of God. The author makes it clear how we can see the rest of God: faith in the word and obedience to all its precepts.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord knows everything!! We think that we can hide our sin from the lord but we cannot. He knows where we are broken and works in our lives to fix those areas and use them to grow us closer to him. The Lord knows all and we will be judged for all on unless we follow the way. We must follow Christ who is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Without Jesus we are separated from God FOREVER, we will never have rest for we are without the Lord.
All is Good in the Student Center
Hebrews 4:9-10
ReplyDeleteSo then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
____
The Lord will provide rest to those who have believed in him. This is really encouraging in times of stress and business, knowing that God is a source of rest. Not only can he provide us rest here and now when we trust in him, but we will rest eternally in his presence upon death.