Hebrews: Cares and Confidence
/Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. Hebrews 10:35 NKJV
It is God’s will that I should castOn Him my care each day;He also bids me not to castMy confidence away.
But oh, I am so foolishThat when taken unawares,I cast away my confidenceAnd carry all my cares. T. Baird*
...His concern here is...for the children of Abraham. He had to become as human as His sisters and brothers so that when the time came, He could become a merciful and faithful high priest of God, called to reconcile a sinful people. Since He has also been tested by suffering, He can help us when we are tested... ...For Jesus is not some high priest who has no sympathy for our weaknesses and flaws. He has already been tested in every way that we are tested; but He emerged victorious, without failing God. So let us step boldly to the throne of grace, where we can find mercy and grace to help when we need it most. Hebrews 2:16-18; 4:15-16 The Voice
...we who come to God for refuge [are] encouraged to seize that hope that is set before us. That hope is real and true, an ANCHOR to steady our restless souls, a hope that leads us back behind the curtain to where God is and back into the place where Jesus, who went ahead on our behalf, has entered since He has become a High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:18-20 The Voice
Sometimes Step by Step Rich Mullins
Sometimes the night was beautiful| Sometimes the sky was so far away Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close You could touch it but your heart would break Sometimes the morning came too soon Sometimes the day could be so hot There was so much work left to do But so much You'd already done
Oh God, You are my God And I will ever praise You Oh God, You are my God And I will ever praise You I will seek You in the morning And I will learn to walk in Your ways And step by step You'll lead me And I will follow You all of my days
Sometimes I think of Abraham How one star he saw had been lit for me (Gal 3:6-14) He was a stranger in this land And I am that, no less than he And on this road to righteousness Sometimes the climb can be so steep I may falter in my steps But never beyond Your reach
Oh God, You are my God And I will ever praise You Oh God, You are my God And I will ever praise You I will seek You in the morning And I will learn to walk in Your ways And step by step You'll lead me And I will follow You all of my days
And I will follow You all of my days And I will follow You all of my days And step by step You'll lead me And I will follow You all of my days And I will follow You all of my days
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Importance of the Warnings to Believers: [based on notes from a sermon by Rob Turner, Apex Community Church c2008]
- Believers should never be casual about God's grace.
- Believers should never separate works from God's grace [as the result/fruit of grace through faith, not the cause]. Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:17
- Believers can never have any assurance in Christ if they are taking part in [willful] sin. Hebrews 10:26-29
- Believers should see these warnings as a means toward final salvation: perseverance in Christ.
Links for further exploration of Hebrews 6:
Hebrew 6 Warning -- ESV Study Bible notes The Voice -- look at Hebrews 6 in this paraphrase Hebews 5-6, ray stedman -- Ray Stedman commentary When is Saving Repentance Impossible? -- John Piper...this is GOOD!
Class notes:MELCHISEDEK WHO? The Basics and Beyond, Hebrews 5:11-6:20
Homework: Read Hebrews 8:1-10:18 Answer questions in Hoping for Something Better, p. 197-198 Read chapter 6, Hoping…
*My thanks to my friend Durinda, who slipped me this little treasure when we were studying the letter to the Hebrews…many years ago.
