Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13
Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Recently I was speaking to a minister who told me that most of the reformed churches in his area, which is relatively large, have caved in to cultural pressures to
be woke. When I asked what he meant by that, he said they have given in to cultural pressures to embrace white fragility and critical race theory so as to be thought of as loving and relevant.
Another godly man commented that in the reformed church they visited the pastor and leadership seemed to spend much time apologizing for doing what they do. For example,
there was an infant baptism and the homily was a 10-minute apology for doing so.
One more tidbit: While driving home and flipping stations on the radio, I caught a call-in radio show where the caller asked the host what can be done so that the
government does not co-op the church and conservative radio? The host first addressed the issue of the church and he said: The call to the churches is to their ministers and simply put ministers need to grow a spine and quickly. That, from a talk show host.
One of the things that ministers are tempted to do is to qualify their messages to death. What I mean is that a text teaches a certain doctrine, truth or command and
the minister spends half of the sermon apologizing for the truth or speaking to the other side of the truth so as to water it down to the point of meaninglessness…He qualifies his sermon to death a temptation that must be avoided so that what is said is actually
what the Lord said! The admonitions in this the conclusion of Hebrews continue in verse 7 by calling the congregation to remember their leaders and follow their example and their way of life.
Now I could write about all the requirements FOR LEADERS, after all the Bible speaks in both the negative and the positive about the requirements placed on teachers
and leaders in the Christian community; What is required of those who teach and lead God’s people. But that is not what this text mentions.
This text is a call to the congregation to honor, respect, that is what is meant by remember and imitate, their leaders. More than likely these leaders are not the
present leadership of the Jewish Christian community to which Hebrews was sent, it might include them, but this is probably a reference to those who first brought the good news of Jesus Christ to this community and established it as a Christian church.
They were mentioned briefly in 2:3. They had adorned their teaching with the holiness of their lives and had proved that doctrine’s power.
The preacher is asking his readers to remember the example they set and to remember what it had meant to them at the time. Remember their work and their faithfulness
to the Lord and to them and imitate their faith, be like them. This is more than just remembering these Biblical men and women with feelings of fondness; this remembering is for the purposes of being like them…because the Lord Jesus was so at work in and through
them…that they are to be imitated.
Hebrews does that as well as we saw at length in chapter 11…setting forth many examples and telling us, be like these folks! We all know Christians who have lived
in such a manner that their lives have recommended and commended what we call true Christian living.
When we read “outcome of their way of life” it is probably a reference to those that suffered martyrdom but also to those whose Christianity was impressive in and
through enduring godliness.
The problem of course with all our heroes, all of those who have taught us, loved us, and set an example for us is that they, just like us are men and women…But usually
with those who we admire…whose Christianity is such that we follow them, seek to imitate them…they are all too aware of their own brokenness and fragility…and that is part of the reason for our admiration.
Recently someone was telling me about a Christian by saying that she is very bold and outspoken and sometimes goes too far. But when corrected, when another Christian
says, you have stepped over the line, her response is, “Thank you…that is why you are my friend, because you speak the truth to me.”
If that is the character of a brother or sister I think we would agree that we would want to align ourselves with that Christian brother any day of the week…anyone
who is bold for the Lord and yet humble to embrace correction that they might honor the Lord more diligently…that is someone I want to live life with.
We find those people in our lives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, whose lives go against the flow of the world, who, despite the rhetoric, do not fear what
man can do to them, who stand boldly against the spirit of the age…And do so with courage, bravery, humility and grace…look to them…give thanks for them…walk with them.
*Paul makes a comment in Corinthians, “Nevertheless, God who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.” The comfort of God came to the servant
of God, through another servant of God. God brought relief and showed himself to love Paul by sending to him a brother.
That is often how the Lord comforts us…by and through one another, by and through those who faithfully live the word of God before our eyes. And Scripture does not
shrink back from telling us to follow their faith. Christians who live in isolation from the church will wither and die. They have no one like this in their lives…they are too busy see the faults, the sins and so live unto themselves.
To be continued…
Prayer: Father, give me grace to live with the reality of the end of all things but also grace to endure. Help me to see what Christ has won for me and for His
church, for the virtues that accompany salvation and the preaching of Jesus Christ as the world’s only hope. I also pray that you would help me to endure the onslaught of sin that daily reproaches me and seeks to convince me that I belong to transgression
and the ways of death. Help me see clearly and give me gospel courage to stand my ground in holiness for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ in whose name I pray. Amen.
Hymn: Christian Dost Thou See Them