Hebrews 1:1-2 - “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

We hear it preached that, since God spoke directly to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and even to Philip and Paul, that He speaks directly also to people today. It ought to be obvious that in no time period did God speak directly to everyone. Otherwise, why did Moses, Paul and others have to preach and write what God had said? Why send Philip to the Ethiopian? Even when He spoke directly to Paul He didn’t tell him everything, but sent Ananias to preach Christ’s invitation. The epistle to the Hebrew Christians teaches them fully and clearly that the law of Moses is no longer authoritative over anyone - and it begins by stating bluntly that there will be no more direct revelations to prophets in each generation, but that all men must now listen to and obey the words spoken by Jesus. These are the “last days”; God will never again introduce a new law or plan of salvation into the world. What Jesus preached - personally and through His apostles - is to be learned and heeded by everyone everywhere as long as the earth stands (Mark 16:15). When you hear someone preach something that isn’t preached in the New Testament you are listening to a false teacher (II Corinthians 11:12-15), and a liar (I John 2:4).

Hebrews 2:1 - “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”

Teachers for years have been telling students, “When you see the word ‘therefore,’ you should back up and find out what the word is there for.” Chapter 1 tells us that Jesus, who brought the gospel into the world, is better than the angels. He is given a seat at the right hand of God, and the angels worship Him. That is the motivation (the first of more than a dozen in this epistle) for the admonition to heed and hold fast the words of Jesus. Chapter 2 goes on to ask a very good follow-up question: seeing that the law of Moses, “spoken by angels” (2) meant what it said, and every transgression was severely punished, how can we expect to escape punishment “if we neglect so great salvation” (3), as that brought by the very Son of God? To strengthen the point (as if it needed strengthening) that obedience to the gospel is prerequisite to salvation, this second sentence with the reminder that God Himself gave His own testimony to the truthfulness and importance of the New Testament. This He did “both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost” (4). Everyone you know may mock you for professing Christ, but remember that people usually mock what they don’t understand. You know what they don’t, so “give the more earnest heed” to the facts you know, and don’t “let them slip.”

Hebrews 2:6 - “But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews was quoting from the book of Psalms (Psalm 8:4). In both of these references the writer was writing by the inspiration of God (II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16; I Corinthians 2:13), and was therefore not ignorant of the true nature of man. The writers were amazed that God would take special notice of man, who is so greatly inferior to the perfect God. Regarding the nature of man, however, the Bible is clear: he is created by God in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Man is exactly what God designed him to be and God is pleased with the design of man (Genesis 1:31). God is spirit (John 4:24), and so man is spirit but he is also flesh (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The earth was created as a home for man (Isaiah 45:18), and man was created to glorify God (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Man is the center of God’s eternal plan. God’s will is to bless every soul with a perfect home minus the suffering and death that plague this world (Revelation 21:4), but only those who follow the guidance of His word, giving up the evil that causes these, will realize that great blessing (II Peter 3:9). Here is a link to help and support you in living for God: http://ibtministries.org/pagevw.php?pgid=bcc.htm

Hebrews 10:25 - “...not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together...” This is only part of the verse, but it is a major part of the message of the chapter. It teaches us that we sin when we decide not to assemble with the church. Sometimes we have no choice in whether we assemble or not (i.e. if we are sick, etc.). When we know that it is time for the church to assemble, though, and we choose to be someplace else instead, our decision has said to God, to Christ and to the church, “You are not as important as this other thing I want to do.” If God is not more important to you than your friends, your pleasure, or your own wishes, then why should He allow you into His eternal home? Aren’t you in the church because the Lord put you into it when He saved you? Weren’t you saved because you wanted to be separated from sin so you could go to Heaven? Guilty again of the sin of putting worldly things ahead of God, haven’t you forfeited Heaven for temporary earthly pleasures? God will forget the past, and so will the faithful, if you will return to the love that brought you to Him in the first place.

Hebrews 12:14-15 - “ Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God”

The Spirit, continuing, tells the value of such a course: it will prevent the springing up of a root of bitterness which defiles saints. That defilement might include as much as fornication (both physical and spiritual), but may be something as seemingly simple as the carelessness Esau exhibited in selling his birthright for a bowl of beans (16). It’s in these “little” things that most of us sin “so easily” (1). Some even fail to label as sin the “normal” human decisions to comfort the flesh and will when the alternative might bring more glory to God. “Even Jesus took time off” is no justification to rest the greater portion of each day when there is service to give. “God knows how I’m made and what I need” is no rationale for gratification of every thought and feeling. We live today under a higher standard (18-24) that calls for disciplining the tendency to selfishness (Philippians 1:19-20; I Corinthians 9:27), and for serving God in our bodies (I Cor. 6:20). Because God knows that this is not as easy to do as to preach, He teaches us to “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24; see also II Peter 3:1-2). Today, give diligence to put God ahead of the ideas, thoughts and feelings that pop into your mind. Seek support in your commitment by encouraging a friend to join you in it.

Hebrews 13:5-6 - “ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

The “conversation” governed by this verse is the Christian’s “manner of life, character, deportment” (Thayer). Who we are and how we behave is to be “without covetousness” (not loving money, not avaricious). One of the hardest character traits for people to maintain in a materialistic society is contentment with such things as we have, but that is precisely what God requires. The sufficient reason given for the admonition is that God will never leave nor forsake the faithful, as He said to Joshua (Joshua 1:5). Assured that God will not forsake him, the child of God can be bold to stand fearless before the threats of man (Psalm 118:6). We may never know how many first-century Christians met death in bold faith, and how many might have given in to the persecutor, but the predominance of the record is the example of steadfastness, boldness and contentment. That is the picture of faith that God wants us to see, and to emulate. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it requires some significant changes in our lives. But “there is a God in Heaven,” and seeking and serving Him is the purpose of our existence. We have learned that in Jesus. Let us be true to our calling, and trust Him for everything.