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The Letter to the Hebrews |
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a first century manual for church renewal
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1. In the past God spoke to men at different times and in all kinds of ways through prophets, but just recently he has spoken to us through a son whom he appointed overseer of everything and through whom God made history. He is a clear reflection of God, and he makes it easy to understand his character. Moreover, he supports it all with powerfully convincing evidence. 4. When he had made a clean sweep of wickedness, he assumed his place as leader, under God, of the powerful and exalted spiritual forces. He is far above the angels as his title, Son, indicates. For to what angel has God ever said, "You are my son, I myself sired you." And again, in bringing his first-born into the world, he says: "Let all God’s angels kneel before him." Regarding angels he says: "He makes his angels breezes, But about his son he says:
"Your divine throne is everlasting, He also says:
"You, O Lord, laid out the foundations of the world at
the beginning; Now to what angel has he ever said:
"You be my ‘right hand man’, Really, aren’t angels simply spiritual "altar boys" sent out to do what they can to help those sincerely seeking salvation?
1. Now please, let’s pay much more attention to what we’ve heard, and let’s not let our minds wander. For if the sermons of God’s messengers proved true, and every sin and crime denounced by them was justly punished, how do you think we’ll escape if we disregard the kind of salvation which, to begin with, was explained by the Lord and then confirmed to us by those who actually heard him? And especially since God himself backed it all up with signs and wonders and all kinds of miracles, and even the sending of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose. 5. Now God hasn’t put this whole new order that we’re discussing in the hands of angels. Somewhere there’s a Scripture like this:
"Who is man, that you should notice him, When we speak of "turning everything over," nothing is excluded. Of course, at present we don’t see this as an accomplished fact. But I do think that the sentence, "Only for a time you made him lower than the angels," refers to Jesus who, because he made the supreme sacrifice, was elevated to a position of honor and trust, so that he, by God’s grace, might taste of death for each of us. 10. For even though he has ultimate authority over everything and everybody, it was nothing but right that he, as the head of a remarkable deliverance movement, should take the lead among his many followers in going all the way in suffering the cause. For he who calls for commitment, and they who respond with commitment are all together in the same boat. That’s why he isn’t ashamed to identify himself with them as his brothers. To quote another Scripture:
"I will tell my brothers your name, And in another place: "I shall put the utmost confidence in him." And still again: "Here I am with the dedicated band which God has given me." 14. Since the "dedicated band" were frail mortals, he himself became one, too, so that by dying he might break the grip of the one who controls death – that is, the devil – and set free those people who, all their lives, have been dominated by a fear of death. It is as clear as day that his real concern is not with angels, but with plain ordinary human beings. That’s why he became just like one of "the brethren," and is such a gracious and dedicated spiritual leader. He is completely devoted to God’s work and able to deal effectively with the sins of his followers. Since he himself has been tempted and has suffered so deeply, he knows how to sympathize fully with those who also are being tempted.
1. So then, committed brothers, partners in the spiritual assignment, give careful consideration to Jesus, the founder and leader of our movement. For he was loyal to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was a loyal leader of his people. But Jesus is as much greater than Moses, as the architect is greater than the house he designs. While every house is designed by someone, God alone is the master architect. Now Moses was indeed a trustworthy leader of his people as a deputy, a symbol of the things to be explained later. On the other hand, Christ leads his people not as the King’s deputy but as his own son. And we Christians are his people, provided of course that to the very last detail, we diligently carry through on our courage and our confidence in our only hope. It’s just like the Holy Spirit says:
"If you would take him seriously today, 12. Take extreme care, brothers, to see that not a one of you might have such a wicked and untrustful attitude as to turn your back on the living God. Rather, remind each other every day during this period we call "today," or the present," not to let one’s soul get calloused by flimsy excuses. For we are Christ’s partners only if we steadfastly carry through on our commitment from beginning to end, just like it says:
"If you would take him seriously today, 16. Let me ask you, who were the ones who were still stubborn even after they heard the full report? Wasn’t it practically the whole gang that came out of Egypt under Moses? And with whom did God get fed up for those forty years? Wasn’t it with those who missed the mark and who died like flies in the wilderness? And wasn’t it to the distrustful that he swore that they would never arrive at his destination? So it is obvious that it was lack of faith that kept them from making the grade.
1. Therefore it should really frighten us to realize that we, like them, are given an opportunity to enter his "Promised Land," with the same possibility also that some of us might flub-the-dub. For we have had the good news (that God has a kingdom prepared for his people) to fall on our ears the same as they. The reason it didn’t do them one bit of good was because their hearing and their behavior didn’t connect. For only they who act on their convictions enter the "Sabbath," just as it says:
"While in this up-set condition I swore He speaks of his "rest" even though work has been continuing since creation. Somewhere there’s a reference to the seventh day like this: "And God entered on the seventh day into a state of rest from all his works." And then again, "They shall not enter my state of rest." Since it is implied that some will enter it, and since those who were originally told about the promised land didn’t make the grade because they didn’t live buy the Unseen, God has decided to provide another opportunity which he calls "Today" or "Now," just as he says later in one of David’s psalms:
"Today if you are serious about following
him 8. For if, under Joshua, they had achieved God’s rest, then God wouldn’t have spoken of still another day. You see, then, that a "Sabbatism" has been saved for God’s people. For he who finally achieves his "rest," or goal, need no longer struggle. It’s like God did when he wound up creation. 11. Therefore, let’s put everything we’ve got into entering that "rest," so that none of us will fall into the same trap as those who wouldn’t trust him. For God’s word is alive with energy, and sharper than any double-edged sword you ever saw; so sharp, in fact, that it can draw a line between the mental and the spiritual, like separating bones from marrow, and discern all our inner emotions and drives. For there isn’t a thing in the world he doesn’t notice. Before him, whose word searches us, everything stands naked and bare. 14. Since we have such a great, heaven-sent spiritual leader as Jesus, God’s son, let’s get on the ball. For we have a leader who isn’t coldly indifferent to our weaknesses, but who himself has been put through the mill like we have, yet without giving in. So let’s hold our heads high as we pass his "reviewing stand," having every assurance that we shall both find and be given all the mercy and inner strength we need for any situation.
1. One of the qualifications of a spiritual leader of men is his ability to interpret God to them and to help them have a sense of his presence and forgiveness. In addition, he has a tender spot in his heart for the uneducated and the fallen, since he knows that he himself is a weak human being. That’s why, in seeking God’s forgiveness for his people, he must also seek it for himself. And a man does not appoint himself to such a sacred task – it is a call from God, like Aaron’s. 5. So Christ didn’t just up and appoint himself a spiritual leader. God did it when he said to him: "You are my son; today I fathered you." And in another place he says: "You are an immortal spiritual leader, a sort of ‘Melchisedec.’" During those days when Jesus was a man, he agonized in prayer, sometimes with pained outcries and tears, pouring out his heart to the one who could have saved from such a death. And God listened to this kind of devout sincerity. Even though Jesus was a son, he learned his lesson the hard way. And when he had matured, he became an inspiring example of spiritual emancipation to those who come under his discipline, having been approved by God as "a spiritual leader, a sort of Melchisedec." There’s a lot I’d like to say about this, but it’s so hard to explain to people with limited understanding. You all have had plenty of time to be teachers by now, and yet you still need somebody to teach you the kindergarten stuff of the Gospel! In fact, you’re still on the bottle and can’t take solid food. The fellow who is still on the bottle isn’t a seasoned veteran in the good cause – he’s just a kid! Solid food is for adults who, by strenuous exercise, have sharpened their abilities to distinguish between good and bad.
1. So then let’s move on from the basic Christian teachings to the more mature things of the faith, For it shouldn’t necessary to discuss again such topics as "Turning Away From Empty Observances," "Faith in God," "The Doctrine of Baptism," "The Laying On of hands," "Resurrection of the Dead," and "Hellfire and Damnation." God permitting, we’ll go on to other matters. Once a man has seen the light and has had a good taste of truly spiritual food and has become one of the Holy Spirit’s partners and has chewed on God’s good word and has felt the vibrant power of the coming revolution, and then gives up the struggle, it is hopeless ever to get him to try again. Inwardly he re-crucifies the Son of God and holds him in contempt. For example, land which has drunk in the rains and has produced abundant crops for the farmer is highly cherished. But if it won’t grow anything but weeds and briars, it is unloved, cussed at, and burned over. 9. Even though we’re talking like this, we do have a high regard for you in the coming regime. For God is not so inconsiderate as to forget the good you’ve done and the love you have displayed for his cause as you have served – and are still serving – the members of the fellowship. We surely hope that each of you will show the same diligence carrying through on the goal to its full accomplishment. Don’t be spiritual morons; rather be imitators of those great souls who by creative and persistent effort achieved their dreams. 13. Take a man like Abraham, to whom God promised: "I’m going to bless you and make your family reunions crowded." He won this promise by his sheer tenacity. (Actually, it was more of a pledge, or oath, than promise, and since God had no one above him to administer an oath, he swore on his own. Men take their oaths under a higher authority, and in every dispute their oath becomes the point upon which truth is established. So when God wanted to make all the more clear to his followers that he wouldn’t let them down, he made it binding with an oath.) Because of two absolutely certain things – the oath, plus the fact that God can’t lie anyway – we "refugees" can find strong encouragement to take hold of the hope held out to us. Such hope is like an anchor for our souls, to steady us and keep us safe. And its roots lie deep in the beginnings of our faith when Jesus, like a pioneer, blazed a trail for us and became our spiritual leader, "a sort of Melchisedec."
1. Now this Melchisedec, King of Peace, was God Almighty’s preacher. He met Abraham coming back from the butchering of the royalty, and praised him. Whereupon, Abraham gave him a tenth of the loot. (When you translate this man’s title it means a "King of Righteousness," or more literally, "King of Peace," which more accurately translates King of "Salem.") Fatherless, motherless, without any kinfolk, having neither birth certificate nor record of his death, he is like the Son of God a timeless, eternally contemporary preacher. Just think of it! He was such a great guy that Abraham the Patriarch gave him a tenth of his very best loot! Now clergymen have a church rule to accept tithes, in God’s name, from their people, their own brothers and sisters even though there’s no distinction between clergy and laity. But Melchisedec, who is in no way related to the clergy, accepted tithes from Abraham and blessed him, a man himself of great spiritual maturity. Beyond any doubt the little man is always blessed by the one higher up. And on the one hand tithes are received by frail humans, while on the other they are received by one who is eternally alive. We might even say that in a sense the clergy themselves paid tithes though Abraham, since they were his unborn descendants at the time Melchisedec met him. 11. Now if one could become spiritually mature by entering the ministry (an honorable profession through which the people are spiritually nourished), why should there be a need for a radically different type of minister (the Melchisedec kind), rather than the average, typical parson? When a change is made in the kind of preacher, there will also of necessity be a change in the type of message. 13. The one we’re talking about is entirely different from the usual clergyman. He was no professional at all. For it is perfectly obvious that our Lord was a layman. He doesn’t therefore come under the usual "ordination" procedures. The difference is all the more obvious when there arises a radically different minister (the Melchisedec type), who doesn’t follow the traditional social patterns but whose power stems from his uncompromising stand. And this is true of Jesus, just as it says, "You are an eternally contemporary minister of the Melchisedec type." Clearly, then, there is a change in the traditional approach, which has always been weak and ineffective (custom never made a saint out of anybody), and a much better way has been ushered in. By it we come into God’s presence. So we can’t say that Jesus was without divine approval, like some self-styled preachers who have set themselves up in business. God himself "ordained" Jesus when he said to him, "The Lord, who never retracts, has pledged, ‘You are an eternally contemporary minister.’" This makes Jesus the founder of a vastly superior order. 23. Also, there is a continuous procession of human clergymen, because death prevents them from staying in office indefinitely. But he, the eternal contemporary, has an ageless ministry. That’s why he is forever able to save those who approach God through him – he’s always on the alert to assist them in every way possible. He’s the man for us – a qualified spiritual leader, dedicated, sincere, incorruptible, having no truck with hoodlums, a highminded man out of this world. It isn’t necessary for him, like other ministers, to go through all the rigamarole of daily masses, worship services, etc. He got all that over with once and for all when he offered up himself. By tradition, frail humans are ordained into the ministry, but God’s solemn vow, which supersedes tradition, has ordained the stalwart Son, the Eternal Contemporary.
1. In substance, what we’re saying is that we have an outstanding spiritual leader who is at the top of God Almighty’s list. He is pastor of the true church established by the Lord, not by man. Every minister is ordained to conduct worship services and take up offerings, so he himself certainly should set the example in these things. But if Jesus were on earth, he probably wouldn’t be a preacher at all since there are plenty of parsons to conduct traditional worship services. Their meetings are only a type or symbol of the true, spiritual gatherings. It’s somewhat like God’s warning when Moses was about to begin his building program: "See to it," he said, "that you build everything according to the model which was shown you on the mountain." Now Jesus has set up worship services which are deeply meaningful, since he is the author of a more vital commitment, or constitution, which is based upon vastly superior ideas. For if that first commitment, or constitution, had been successful, there would have been no need to draw up a second. But God brands the first a failure when he says, "The days are coming," says the Lord, "when I will draw up a new constitution for the Jewish nation – not the kind I made with their founding fathers when I took them buy the hand and led them out of Egypt. They wouldn’t live by that constitution, so I walked out on them," says the Lord. "This constitution which I shall propose for the future Jewish nation," says the Lord, "will be an inner one in which my principles will be imbedded in their minds and hearts. And I shall be ‘God-in-them’ and they shall be a ‘nation-in-me.’ And not a single one of them will need to teach his fellow citizen or his brother saying, ‘Here’s the way to know the Lord.’ For everybody, from the little fellow to the high brass, will already know me. And I will be patient with their shortcomings, and I won’t ever throw their sins in their faces." Note that when mention is made of the "new constitution" it makes the first constitution an old one. And anything that’s old and worn out is headed for the garbage can.
1. The first constitution spelled out the order of worship and the arrangement of the sanctuary. The outer room, which is called "Holy," was fixed up with a lampstand and a table and a place for receiving the bread. Beyond the second curtain was another sanctuary called "Holy of Holies," in which was a gold altar and the constitution’s gold-covered showcase. In the showcase were a gold jar containing a sample of the manna, and Aaron’s stick that sprouted, and the original copy of the constitution. Above this were the gorgeous cherubim hovering over the Forgiveness exhibit. There’s no need now to go into further detail about these things. When everything is in order, the priests are constantly on duty in the outer sanctuary performing their liturgical services. But only the high priest is allowed into the inner sanctuary, and he but once a year. On this occasion he must take blood to offer for the stupid acts of both himself and the people. This is sort of a parable or symbol pointing to the present situation buy which the Holy Spirit makes it clear that unimpeded access to the Holy of Holies is not possible so long as the outer sanctuary is still in existence with its gifts and sacrifices. These things cannot develop the inner life of the worshipper since they are externals – bread and wine and holy water – mere physical symbols pointing to spiritual truths. 11. When Christ came, however, he was a minister of more meaningful things in a vastly better and more advanced sanctuary which was not built by human hands and cannot, therefore, be claimed as a human achievement. Nor did he go through all that goat-and-calf-blood ritual. Instead he made himself expendable and entered once for all into the "Holy Place" and made the supreme sacrifice for our lasting welfare. For if you think that the ritual of sprinkling the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer has a cleansing effect on the bodies of those who consider themselves ceremonially defiled, how much more will Christ’s supreme sacrifice, which he made in a spiritual way by offering himself to God without reservation, effectively cleanse our consciences from dead rules so we can worship the living God. 15. Furthermore, he is the administrator of a new will. And now that a death has occurred and a release obtained from the excessive demands of the first will, the participants may share in the provisions of the spiritual inheritance. (In the case of a will, it is necessary, you know, to prove the death of the one making it.) A will is for the establishment of the rights of the dead, since it does not go into effect while the person is still living. This is why the previous will couldn’t have become effective without blood, a symbol of a death. You recall that when Moses had explained each commandment of the constitution, he took the blood of fattened calves and goats, mixed it with water and strands of red wool and spice, and then sprinkled it on both the document and the people. As he did so he said, "This is the blood of the will which God drew up for you." He also sprinkled the blood on the sanctuary and on all things used during the worship services. In fact, legally speaking, almost everything requires blood to clear it. So that without some kind of blood-shedding, there is no contract. If, then, it is necessary for the earthly symbols of spiritual things to be cleansed, the actual spiritual things themselves require a still more effective sacrifice. For Christ didn’t enter any humanly designed temples, which merely symbolize the real one. Rather he entered the spiritual realm, itself, where he now represents us before God. It isn’t necessary, either, that he repeat his sacrifice, like the high priest does each year when he enters the Temple with blood which is not his own, If this were required, then Jesus would have to go through his sufferings over and over again from the beginning of time. But now at this high point of history, he has come on the scene and nullified sin by his one complete sacrifice. And just as it is required that men die only once and then face the judgment, so Christ also, having been already offered in one final act to bear everybody’s sin, will hereafter be related to his eager associates not from the standpoint of sin but of spiritual growth.
1. At best, the old set of rules and regulations merely foreshadowed the coming Reality. It was never the genuine article itself. That’s why it was incapable of bringing spirituality to the congregation by its round of annual sacrifices. If it could have, the need for such sacrifices would have by now ceased to exist. For once you get a congregation genuinely forgiven of its sins, it no longer has a guilty conscience about them. Yet under the old system they are told, at the annual sacrifice, that they are guilty sinners. Evidently, the blood of cattle and goats just can’t take away sins! 5. So when He came into the world, he agreed with the Psalmist:
“You don’t want the outward sacrifice, the showy giving; 8.
When it says that “you neither wanted nor were pleased with the external
sacrifice, the showy giving, the elaborate displays and the shallow
confessions,” he was referring to the things laid down in the old set of rules
and regulations. Then he continues,
“I have come to do your will.” Thus
he abandons the former that he might concentrate on the latter.
And what is his will? That
we should be a people set apart by the one final offering of the Body of Jesus
Christ. 11. Another thing: Every minister gets up and in his liturgy for the day goes through the same thing over and over. All of which has no power to get people out of their sins. But this minister made one final sweep of sin by his supreme sacrifice and then took his place by God’s side as his “right arm,” with the confident expectation of ultimate victory. By this one act of self – giving he has fully outfitted for all time those who are dedicated to the cause. The Holy Spirit also confirms this when he says: “This constitution which I shall draw up for them – the time will come,” says the Lord, “when I will lay my laws on their hearts and I will burn them into their minds. Then I can forget all about their sinful conduct and lawless behavior.” So, where there is an effective handling of such sinful conduct, there need be no further means of eliminating it. 19. So then, brothers, let us draw courage, from Jesus’ supreme sacrifice, to enter the “sanctuary.” For by breaking through “this veil of clay,” he opened up for us a meaningful and vital way of life. And with a Great Spiritual Leader over God’s movement, let’s keep walking with a pure motive and an abundance of faith. Let’s cleanse our hearts from any unworthy feeling and let’s bathe our group in clean water. Let us hang on with tooth and toenail to our promising commitment, for he who maps our strategy can be completely trusted. And let’s think up ways to provoke everybody into “fits of love and kindness.” Don’t fail to meet together in cell groups, as some are beginning to do. Rather, keep everybody on his toes, especially as you see D-day approaching. For, if we keep on deliberately sinning after the truth has been clearly explained to us, there is no further means of dealing with our sin. Such a person can expect the awful judgment and the roaring flame which waits to consume the stubborn. When a man broke a law of Moses, and it was proved by as many as two or three witnesses, he was given the death sentence without mercy. Don’t you think a much worse punishment is deserved by the man who runs roughshod over the son of God, and who considers the bloodstained constitution, to which he owes his citizenship, a mere scrap of paper, and who pokes fun at the Spirit of self – giving? For we know who’s talking when it says: “Execution of the sentence is up to me; I will see that justice is done.” And again: “The Lord will have final say-so over his people.” How frightening it is to be delivered into the custody of God Almighty!! 32. Always remember the early days of your conversion when you went through a great struggle that caused you much suffering. Sometimes a mob would gather and cuss you out and beat you up. At other times you caught it because you stood up for those who were living this way. You all suffered together with those who went to jail, and you accepted with joy the seizure of your property. You knew that you had a more precious and lasting Possession. Just don’t squander your prize which can pay you handsome dividends. You need a lot of determination to carry through on the will of God and hit the jackpot.
“By and by, sooner than you think We are not cowards doomed to failure, but men of faith finding meaning to life! 1. Now faith is the turning of dreams into deeds; it is betting your life on the unseen realities. It was for such faith that men of old were martyred. And by so relating our lives, we become aware that history is woven to God’s design, so that the seen event is a projection of the Unseen Intent. Living by the Unseen, Abel brought to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. By so living he got the O.K. for being on the right track, as evidenced by the fact that God approved his gifts. Such a life, though snuffed out, is still speaking. Living by the Unseen, Enoch was transfigured so that he didn’t die. His corpse was never found, because God transfigured him. Without living by the Unseen, it’s impossible to get such approval. For anyone who is serious about the God – life, must stake everything on the fact that God is, and that he amply rewards those who make him their quest. Living by the Unseen, Abraham obeyed when he was called upon to depart for a country which was going to be his inheritance. And he set out without knowing where he was heading. Living by the Unseen, he homesteaded in the Promised Land like a foreigner, living in temporary shelters with Isaac and Jacob, who had inherited with him the same mission. For he had his heart set on a permanent city, whose architect and general contractor is God.
Living by the Unseen, Sarah herself had a full – term pregnancy, even
though she had passed her menopause. She
was sure all along that God would carry through on what he had promised.
So it was through her that one man, practically dead, sired descendants
as countless as the stars in the sky and as numberless as grains of sand on the
ocean beach. 13.
Holding fast to their life by the Unseen, these all died without
experiencing the final outcome. But
they did see it from a distance and cheered for it.
They frankly admitted that they themselves were aliens and transients in
society. (People who talk in this
way are actually referring to the fact that they have their heart set on a land
they can call “home.” If they
were really attached to their birthplace, they would have plenty of chances to
return to it. But as it is, they
are yearning for a better land – that is, a spiritual one.)
Therefore God was not embarrassed to have them call him God.
In fact, he had a community all ready for them. 17. Living by the Unseen, Abraham, when he was put to the test, offered up Isaac. The man who had been let in on the “Grand Design” laid on the altar his only son, the one to whom God referred when he said, “Your descendants will come through Isaac.” He was convinced that God could raise him from the dead if need be. So, figuratively speaking, Abraham did get him back from the dead. Living by the Unseen, Isaac gave Jacob and Esau blessings which were yet to be realized. Living by the Unseen, Jacob, on the day he died, blessed each of Joseph’s sons while he reverently leaned on the handle of his cane. Living by the Unseen, Joseph, before his death, saw the Exodus of the Israelites coming, and gave instructions about his remains.
Living by the Unseen, the parents of Moses hid him for three months after
he was born. They recognized that
he was an unusual child, and were not intimidated by the King’s decree.
Living by the Unseen, Moses himself, when he had become a great man,
refused to be called a son of the Emperor’s daughter.
Rather, he chose to identify himself with God’s people in their
oppression than to have the temporary comforts of a life of ease. He figured
that the hardship of the Christlike life was worth a lot more than the luxuries
of Egypt. He had an eye for real values. 27. Living by the Unseen, he walked out of Egypt; he didn’t run from the wrath of the king. Like a man who sees the Unseen, he pressed on. Living by the Unseen, he provided for the sprinkling of blood at the Passover so the Slayer of the First – Born might not harm the Israelites. Living by the Unseen, they went through the Red Sea like it was dry ground. When the Egyptians made a try at it they were swallowed up. Living by the Unseen; they toppled the walls of Jericho after seven days of marching around them. Living by the Unseen, the whore Rahab escaped the destruction of the wayward by befriending our intelligence agents.
And what more shall I say? Time
would run out on me if I told about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David,
Samuel and the prophets. Living by
the Unseen, all of these went to war against kingdoms, carried the banner of
civilization, obtained treaties, muzzled lions’ mouths, smothered fires,
escaped from death by the sword, got their second wind when they had given out,
became highly successful in war, and overcame foreign armies. Wives whose husbands were reported dead got them back alive.
Some people were tortured terribly when they refused bail in order to
make a better witness. Still others took a lot of abuse and beatings, and repeated
arrests and jailings. Rocks were
thrown at them, they were investigated, they were hacked apart and butchered
with swords, they wore rags and cast-off clothing – wretchedly poor, hounded,
treated disgracefully (people too honorable for the world), herded into slums
and tenements and hovels and even holes in the ground. 39. That all of these lived by the Unseen is well – documented. Yet they did not participate in the final outcome, because God had in mind something better which involved us, too, so that neither they nor us could be complete without each other. 1. Now here’s where we come in. Surrounded by such a cloud of veterans of the faith, let’s strip off all heavy and tight-fitting clothes 1 and run with endurance the race stretching out before us. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the founder and guiding spirit of our way of life. In place of joy that stretched out before him, he took on a cross, without hesitating one second to consider the disgrace involved. Now he is God’s “righthand man.” So take another look at him who put up with so much opposition from “the good-people-of-this-town.” It’ll keep you from getting blue and down in the dumps. After all, you haven’t stood up to the point of shedding any of your blood in the struggle against sin. Perhaps you should recall the passage which refers to you as “sons”:
“My son, don’t minimize the value of a celestial spanking, 7. Take your “spanking” like a man – it is evidence that God regards you as sons. For what son is there with a father who never spanks him? If you’re without your spanking, which all the other boys got, then you must be bastards and not true sons. Clearly we have great respect for our human fathers when they spank us. Then how much more should we put ourselves under the spiritual Father and prepare for life. For they spanked us for a limited period and at their own discretion, but he does it for our welfare to help us dare to be different for him. Indeed, every spanking, while it is going on, is not a joy but a grief. But afterwards it shows up in the peaceful and upright lives of those whose rear ends were so exercised. Therefore, get some pep into your sagging hands and shaking bones. Give your feet a good workout, so they’ll stay in good shape and not develop fallen arches.
Go all out for peace with everyone, and for the different life, without
which nobody can get to first base with the Lord.
Coach a member to keep him from flunking the course on God’s grace and
becoming a real stinker who’ll get a lot of others disgruntled.
Take good care of a brother, that he not be a whoring compromiser like
Esau, who for one good bellyful surrendered his whole inheritance.
For you know that later, when he wanted to be included in the family
estate, he lost out and never did find a way of changing the situation, even
though he tried to do so with tears in his eyes. 18.
Now you are all not faced with a physical Sinai, with its crackling
lightning and blackness and dense clouds and hurricane and blast of a siren and
a sound of talking that made those listening beg that not one more word be said.
They couldn’t take an order such as, “Even if an animal should touch
the mountain, it shall be stoned.” To
tell the truth, Moses himself was so afraid of the amazing sight that he
admitted, “I’m so scared I’m shaking all over.” 22. No, you all aren’t faced with Mt. Sinai, but with Mt. Zion, and the city of the ever-living God, the spiritual Jerusalem. You are members of a vast body of kindred spirits, of a Church of regenerated people who have been enrolled in the spiritual order. You stand before God, Judge of all, and a jury of upright souls who have reached maturity. You are facing Jesus, the initiator of a new constitution written in blood that speaks far more eloquently than that of Abel’s. 25. Be sure you don’t excuse yourselves from God’s sermons. For if those who excused themselves from the warnings of a human like Moses didn’t get by with it, how much less chance will we have begging off from him who speaks straight from Heaven? Once God’s voice rocked the earth, but now he has made this promise: “Once again I’ll rock not only earth but heaven.” It is obvious that the phrase “once again” implies a previous clearing away of all that fell as having served its day, so that the things which didn’t collapse might live on. Since we are the winners of a Kingdom unhurt by quakes, let’s have a sharing spirit by which we might worship God acceptably in sincerity and in prayerfulness. For our God is a refining fire. 1.
Let your love for the brotherhood be for keeps, and don’t you all ever
forget to love strangers too. For
by so doing some people entertain missionaries without knowing it.
Keep the prisoners in mind as though you wee in jail with them, and those
who have been beat up as though the blows fell on your body. 4. In every way consider your marriage a precious thing, and don’t let sexual intercourse be perverted. For God will pass judgment on those who go around tomcatting and having illicit relations. Don’t let the desire for money dominate your life. Make do with what’s on hand, for he himself has said, “Never will I abandon you or run off and leave you.” That’s why we say with calm assurance:
“The Lord is my provider; 7.
Remember your leaders who brought you the word of God.
Watch the results of their conduct, and imitate their living by the
Unseen. However, Jesus himself is
the Leader – past, present, and future. So
don’t get carried away by all kinds of crackpot ideas.
It is better to nourish your heart on grace than your body on “health
foods,” which bring little benefit to those who use them.
But speaking of foods, we have a table from which even preachers aren’t
allowed to eat. You recall that
when the blood of animals is brought into the sanctuary by the bishop for
cleansing of sin, the carcasses of these animals are burned up, uneaten, outside
the enclosure. So Jesus also, in
order to make the people different by his supreme sacrifice, suffered outside
the city gate. Therefore let’s go
out to him outside the restricting enclosure and accept his
“excommunication”. For right
now, we just don’t have a “city” to live in, but we’re working for one
that’s on the way. Through him,
then, let’s offer a sacrifice of continual praise to God.
I mean by this an unashamed public confession that we are Christians. And
of course you won’t forget to do good and to share all you have.
For these too are sacrifices acceptable to God. 17. Listen to your leaders and do what they tell you, for they lie awake at night because of their responsibility for your spiritual welfare. Make their task a joy, and not an agony that would bring you no gain. 18. Please pray for us. We are sure that our consciences are clear, because in everything we have tried to live an exemplary life. I especially urge you to do this: Pray that I may be returned to you real soon. 20.
Now may the God of peace, who lifted up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the
great shepherd of sheep and author of an eternal constitution written in blood
– may he outfit you with everything needed to do his will.
May he work out his purpose in you through Jesus Christ, to whom be the
credit for all time to come. Please
may it be so. 22. I urge you, my brothers, to bear with this sermon, for I really have made it short. Please know that our brother, Timothy has been released. If he gets by here soon, I’ll see you with him. Remember us to all your leaders and to all the devoted. The group from Italy send their regards to you. To all of you – grace! 1 The Greek words for “sin” and “cloak” are phonetically almost identical. I believe that the scribe who copied this manuscript mistakenly wrote “sin” (as in RSV) instead of “cloak,” as I have translated it. see Introduction by Edward A.
Mcdowell, Jr. ©1963 by Clarence
Jordan. Used by permission of Koinonia
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