Hebrews 12:1-29
I. The New Covenant Has A Superior Person: Christ (1-6)
A. \\#Heb 1:1-3\\ Christ is superior to the prophets.
B. \\#Heb 1:4-14\\ Christ is superior to the angels.
C. \\#Heb 2:1-18\\ Explanation and Emphasis
D. \\#Heb 3:1-6\\ Christ is superior to Moses.
E. \\#Heb 3:7-4:16\\ Explanation and Emphasis
F. \\#Heb 4:14-5:10\\ Christ is superior to the High Priest
G. \\#Heb 5:11-6:20\\ Explanation and Emphasis
II. The New Covenant Has A Superior Priesthood: Christ over Melchizedek (7-10)
A. \\#Heb 7:1-11\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is of A Superior Origin
B. \\#Heb 7:12-14\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is by A Superior Covenant
C. \\#Heb 7:15-23\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is by A Superior Promise
D. \\#Heb 7:23-28\\ Christ’s Priesthood Has A Superior Nature
E. \\#Heb 8:1-5\\ Christ’s Priesthood Has A Superior Tabernacle
F. \\#Heb 8:6-10:18\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is A Superior Ministry
G. \\#Heb 10:19-39\\ Explanation and Emphasis
III. The New Covenant Has A Superior Principle: Faith (11-13)
A. \\#Heb 11:1-40\\ The examples of faith
B. \\#Heb 12:1-29\\ Finish your race!
1. \\#Heb 12:1-3\\ Consider what Jesus endured
2. \\#Heb 12:4\\ Prepare to pay the ultimate price
3. \\#Heb 12:5-11\\ Suffering is but a form of training
4. \\#Heb 12:12-17\\ Keep the right attitude while you suffer
5. \\#Heb 12:18-29\\ Understand what your decision means
I. \\#Heb 12:1-29\\ Finish your race!
A. \\#Heb 12:1-3\\ Consider what Jesus endured
1. \\#1\\ Look Around.
a. "Wherefore seeing we are also compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses"
(1) Without doubt, the writer is referring to those already
mentioned in the last chapter as a challenge for the readers
to finish their race.
(2) Where there is no doubt who the writer is referring to, there
is some question as to whether he meant that they are
literally watching the living and cheering us on as
spectators might.
(3) Many take the verse to mean that the lives of those who have
gone before us generate a message, or testimony, or witness
to those who come behind that to walk by faith is the only
way to please God and to see His presence in this world.
(4) Regardless, there is some indication that the departed saved
are at least somewhat aware of what takes place on earth.
(a) \\#1Sam 28:15-19\\ If King Saul spoke to the true Samuel,
he had some awareness of what was going on in Israel.
(b) \\#Rev 6:9-10\\ The saints slain during the tribulation
had some awareness of what was going on in the world.
(c) \\#Luke 15:10\\ Jesus declared there was rejoicing in the
presence of the angels when a sinner is saved. That
would either mean God rejoices (which would seem an
inappropriate way to refer to God) or the departed saints
rejoice (which would indicate the departed have some
awareness of what is going on in earth).
b. "let us"-Based on the witness left by our predecessors, we should…
(1) "lay aside… the sin which doth so easily beset us"
(a) While mentioned second in the text, I list this action
first.
(b) Seeing how others have lived and died in the service of
God, we should remove sin from our lives.
(c) No specific sin is given so the writer is speaking in
general terms of any and all sin.
(d) Why? Not just because sin displeases God and hurts the
saved, but also because it will hinder the completion
of the believer’s race.
(e) Sin to a Christian is like a heavy weight to a runner.
(f) No matter what the sin be, it will always have the same
effect.
(g) At best, it will slow the Christian down, making his
or her life less effective for Christ than it should be.
(h) At its worse, sin will knock the Christian out of the
Christian race all together.
(2) "lay aside every weight… which doth so easily beset us"
(a) The writer not only compares sin to a weight. He
specifically mentions that the Christian needs to rid
himself of any and all weights.
(b) While all sin is like a weight, all weights are not
necessarily sinful.
(c) The writer’s challenge to the Christian is to put away
everything that in any way might impede the outcome of
their ordained life for Christ.
(3) "run with patience the race that is set before us"
(a) Once all hindrances are removed, the believer is
encouraged to stay in and to complete the race.
(b) The obvious implication is that if these Hebrews are
thinking about quitting the race, they need to deal
with whatever is hindering them and get back into the
mindset of completing the race.
(c) "with patience"-The race needs to be finished without
without anxiety, frustration, or aggravation.
(d) Bill Gothard once said that the key to such patience is
giving up your expectations.
i. His thought is that our impatient traits come by
having an expectation of something that is not meet.
ii. Since our goal is to serve God and not to expect Him
to serve us, it stands to reason that He should be
the holder of expectations, not us.
2. \\#2\\ Look up. Not only can we look around for motivation, we should
also look to Jesus for it.
a. Notice WHO HE IS - "Jesus the author and finisher of our faith"
(1) The Bible makes several references to Jesus as being both
the Beginning and the End.
Re 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
(2) This is because everything that has to do with our redemption
both started with the Godhead and was completed by Them.
(a) God created us, but even before He did, He knew we would
sin, and He provided a means to redeem us back to
Himself.
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you,
(b) Hence, God is the author of our faith.
(c) But the members of the Godhead also did all the work to
produce salvation in us.
i. Jesus became the Sacrifice, making the payment.
ii. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Guide, and Convictor,
bringing us to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
iii. The Father is the grand Architect and Master of
all that is.
(d) Hence, God is also the finisher of our faith.
(e) The modest role of the covert is to believe what the
Godhead has done and to accept it.
i. Believers do not add to the work of salvation.
ii. We simply accept a finished product by the means God
has specified.
b. Notice WHAT HE DID - "who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross"
(1) The Hebrews to whom this book is addressed are no doubt
fearful of what the public acceptance of Jesus as Christ
would mean to them.
(2) Their future would hold excommunication from the Jewish
temple, abandonment by some family members, persecutions from
both Jews and Rome, and maybe even death.
(3) Such a gloomy outlook would not be easy to accept, so the
writer encourages them to look at what Jesus "endured" on
the cross and, like Jesus, to fix their attention on "the joy
that was" to follow the cross.
(4) "despising the shame" - It is good and necessary that
Christian learn to gaze beyond the shameful acts inflicted
upon us by this world to see the glory that will follow.
c. Notice WHERE HE IS - "and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God"
(1) By looking beyond the suffering, Jesus has completed His
suffering and now entered into God’s glory.
(2) The writer is indicating that those who suffer for Christ
on this plane will share in God’s glory as well.
3. \\#3\\ Now consider. After looking around and up, we should be
motivated to continue on!
a. "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners"
(1) The writer challenges us to consider the contradictions Jesus
endured.
(a) He is God, yet He was treated worse than a human
criminal.
(b) He came to help us, but we killed Him.
(c) He was all powerful, but He allowed us to inflict pain
and suffering upon Him.
(d) He had all that is, yet He gave it all up for a people
who did not appreciate it.
(e) He could have stopped His suffering, but He willing
endured it for our sakes.
(2) The list could be almost endless.
b. "lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds"
(1) As we think on all the ironies and contradictions of Jesus’
time on this earth, we should be able to look at our own
suffering as little of nothing!
(2) Looking at Jesus then becomes the believers’ motivation to
continue the race of life faithfully.
B. \\#Heb 12:4\\ Prepare to pay the ultimate price
1. "Ye have not resisted unto blood"
a. It would be difficult to miss what the writer is saying.
b. He has listed an entire chapter of those who were willing to die
for their faith (Hebrews 11) and has now turned the readers’
attention to Jesus, who died for our sins.
c. Yet these Hebrews are contemplating a rejection of Jesus without
having "yet" shed blood for Him.
d. The writer is indicating that it is a weak devotion that quits
before the battle even begins.
2. "striving against sin"
a. The sin that we must strive against is that of abandoning Christ.
b. Every Christian is born into the family of God with the potential
of having to pay the ultimate price to follow Jesus.
C. \\#Heb 12:5-11\\ Remember, suffering is but a form of training.
1. \\#5-8\\ "chastening… chasteneth… chastisement" - The word means
more than simply to discipline or to correct.
a. Strong’s Concordance defines it as "the whole training and
education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind
and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and
admonitions, now reproof and punishment). It also includes the
training and care of the body."
b. The writer speaks here of suffering as part of the training
program that God uses to nurture and shape His children.
2. \\#5-6\\ This chastisement proves the Father loves us.
a. Hebrews 12:5-6 are quotes from Proverbs 3.
Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of
his correction:
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he
delighteth.
b. As children, the Father does train us.
(1) \\#5\\ "And ye have forgotten the exhortation… unto
children" - Both of these texts point out that God does
correct and train us; and that we must determine we are not
going to quit when difficulty comes.
(2) "despise not… nor faint when thou art rebuked of him"
(a) The writer is connecting the coming persecutions and
their fear of it, as being part of God’s overall
training program for them.
(b) His challenge is "do not despise" that part of the
training any more than you would despise any other
part of God’s training program.
(c) Don’t let the persecutions cause you to quit!
c. \\#6\\ "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" - God takes
us through the training not because He hates us, but because
He loves us.
d. "and scourgeth"
(1) And, yes, God—for the same reason—disciplines us when
it is needed.
(2) The "scourge" is a whip used to discipline. While God
does not literally take a whip to His children, He does
use circumstances in such a way that they are AS a whip
accomplishing the same purpose.
(3) In our culture, the scourge would be equivalent to
disciplining a child with a belt.
(4) While that may seem harsh to many in this day, spanking
and whipping a child is NOT child abuse. It is one of
many tools that a good parent may use to bring an unruly
child into obedience.
(5) However, it should also be noted that God has given us
many other tools to use in accomplishing that purpose.
(6) Inflicting physical pain to correct a child is not the
first or the only means to train up a child, but it is
one of the God-given tools.
(7) A parent who rejects it out-of-hand is rejecting the
Word of God itself.
3. \\#7-8\\ This chastisement proves that we are the Father’s children.
a. \\#7-8\\ "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with
sons… but if ye be without chastisement, then are ye… not
sons"
(1) We need to see the bigger picture in these verses.
(2) The big picture is that going through the training process—
and that includes being disciplined when we have done wrong—
proves that we are God’s children.
(3) In fact, this is so important of a truth that the writer
states the truth \\#7\\ and then states the INVERSE of the
truth \\#8\\.
(4) He does that to make sure that we do not misunderstand it.
(5) And the truth is EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN WILL EXPERIENCE
CHASTISEMENT.
b. \\#8\\ "bastards"
(1) This word has been used in such a vulgar way today that it is
considered in inappropriate word to use in decent company.
(2) The word means "an illegitimate child, one born out of
wedlock."
(3) By using it here, the writer is saying that without
chastisement, you do not have God as your Father.
(4) Many act like God is their Father; but if He is, they will go
through the training process.
(5) That process includes two aspects:
(a) Training to be made like Jesus.
(b) Discipline when we do wrong.
c. \\#7\\ "If ye ENDURE chastening, God dealeth with you as with
sons"
(1) The demonstration of sonship is not just going through
suffering. The lost suffer.
(2) It is ENDURING the suffering and having it accomplish the
maturing process in your life.
(3) Someone might wonder how can I know that what I am going
through is part of God’s training program?"
(4) The short answer is that everything God’s child goes through
is part of that training program. Letting those situations
perfect us is the proof that you are God’s child.
4. \\#9-11\\ This chastisement produces holiness.
a. The writer compares between our heavenly Father and our earthly
fathers.
(1) \\#9\\ "we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us"
(2) "we gave them reverence" - We respected our earthly father
when they trained us.
(3) "shall we not rather be in subjection unto the Father of
spirits" - The word "rather" indicates that it is a
better choice to give reverence to our heavenly Father.
(4) "and live" - Disobedience in a child of God may bring the
ultimate correction \\#1Cor 11:30\\.
b. Our heavenly Father has a much better purpose for chastening us.
(1) \\#10\\ "after their own pleasure" - Our earthly fathers
chastened us according to their own desires for our lives.
(2) "but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his
holiness"
(a) God chastens us for an eternal purpose, to produce
holiness within us.
(b) This is for "our profit."
(c) All that God does for and to us is for our eternal
betterment.
c. \\#11\\ Chastening is difficult.
(1) "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but
grievous" - Whether we are children being trained or adults,
the human reaction is the same—we do not like it.
(2) "nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness" - However, it produces right behavior
(righteousness).
(3) "unto them which are exercised thereby" - Chastening can only
work on those who receive it.
D. \\#Heb 12:12-17\\ Keep the right attitude while you suffer
1. \\#12\\ Rejoice—"lift up the hands which hang down"
a. Body language speaks volumes.
b. A sign of excitement and happiness are hands and arms which are
moving (i.e. waving, clapping).
c. A sign of praise is the uplifted hand.
d. The writer challenges his readers to rejoice in the midst of their
potential persecution.
2. Be courageous—"and the feeble knees"
a. A common sign of fear are knees that are shaking.
b. In our culture, we describe it as "knees knocking together" or
"knees about to buckle."
c. The writer is encouraging his readers to be courageous.
3. \\#13\\ Be determined—"And make straight paths for your feet"
a. When our feet meander, it is usually because we have no place to be
or no determination to get there.
b. The whole scope of this epistle is to convince the readers that
they have a race to run and a destination to reach, so the writer
is now encouraging them to be determined in reaching that
destination.
c. "lest that which is lame be turned out of the way" - The cause of
runner’s wandering is now revealed.
(1) It is due to a physical fault in the runner, as in his foot
is injured.
(2) Some of the Hebrews that this letter is addressed to have a
spiritual fault. They lack faith.
(3) In both the physical and spiritual race, the corresponding
faults can cause one to fail in reaching the destination.
d. "but let it rather be healed" - As a coach would desire a runner’s
injured foot get well, so the writer desires these Hebrews be
spiritually healed that they might finish their race.
4. \\#12:14\\ Seek peace—"Follow peace with all men"
a. Although the world is hostile toward the Christian, the Christian
is not to be hostile toward the world.
b. As much as is possible, Christians are to be peaceable.
5. Seek holiness—"and holiness"
a. And while Christians are purposing to seek for certain things on
this earth, let them seek after God’s holiness.
b. Although mankind will never achieve holiness on his own merit (it
must be imputed to him), he is to make it a life goal to develop
the gift, thus imitating God’s pure and righteous nature.
c. "without which no man shall see the Lord" - The imputed gift of
holiness is a characteristic that comes with salvation.
d. If you have salvation, you have had the seed of holiness implanted
within you. If you do not have holiness, you do not have
salvation.
6. \\#12:15-17\\ If you do not do these things, you will fail.
a. The writer has been encouraging these Hebrews to change their
attitude to finish the race.
(1) The readers were fearful of the trouble trusting Christ would
bring.
(2) If they do not change their attitude, their fearful and
negative disposition will cause them to fail.
(3) They are being told that their suffering is part of God’s
training program; hence, if we have a negative attitude
toward the suffering we must endure, we are repeating the
attitudes of these Hebrews and are likewise in danger of
failing.
(4) Let us not forget that attitude shapes actions and determines
success.
(5) These Hebrews were going to "discourage" themselves from doing
what God wanted them to do.
b. \\#15\\ "Looking diligently" - The writer warns the Hebrews to
stay alert and on guard concerning their attitudes or they will
face dire consequences.
(1) "lest any man fail of the grace of God"
(a) If vigilance is not practiced against these negative
attitudes, the Hebrews will not finish their race.
(b) And "the grace of God" that had been bestowed on them
\\#Heb 6:4-5\\ would be in vain.
(2) "lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you"
(a) Negative attitudes are the seeds which can spring into
bitterness
(b) Being angry over problems is just a step from being
angry with God.
(c) Such an attitude can not only "trouble you," it can also
"defile" those around us.
(d) Negative attitudes are contagious.
(3) \\#16\\ "let there be any fornicator, or profane person"
(a) A fornicator is one who gives his love to another.
(b) A profane person is one who thinks something of great
worth is unimportant.
(c) "as Esau" - Esau is an example of both of these.
i. "who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright" -
For a bowl of pottage, he sold his birthright.
aa. Esau loved the pottage and his full stomach
more than he loved the things of God.
bb. He considered the pottage to be of more value
than his birthright.
cc. When one gives up Jesus for peace or even for
his life, he has loved another and considered
salvation to be of a lesser value.
ii. \\#17\\ "For ye know how that afterward" - Every
action brings consequences. What were Esau’s?
aa. "when he would have inherited the blessings,
he was rejected" - Because he surrendered his
reward, he did not receive his blessing. For
Esau, the blessing was a mere inheritance. For
these Hebrews, it is salvation.
bb. "for he found no place of repentance, though he
sought it carefully with tears" - And when he
desired to repent, he could not.
cc. Sadly, there comes a time when even brokenness of
spirit can not undo the choices we have made.
iii. The message is obvious.
aa. To these Hebrews and to us, the writer warns us
not to give up what we have in Jesus.
bb. If we do, there will come a day when we will
regret it.
cc. If we do, we may never get it back.
E. \\#Heb 12:18-29\\ Understand what your decision means
1. \\#12:18-21\\ You are not come to another earthly kingdom. These
verses point the Hebrews back to Mt Sinai and the opportunity the
ancient Jews had to enter into a covenant with God.
a. \\#18\\ "For you are not come unto the mount that might be
touched"
(1) That would be Mt. Sinai \\#Ex 19:9-25\\.
(2) The mountain could be touched in that it was a physical
mountain; however, while God manifested His presence on the
mountain, it was holy and could not be touched.
b. Several supernatural signs occurred there.
(1) It "burned with fire."
(2) A cloud produced a "blackness, and darkness, and tempest"
(3) \\#19\\ There was "the sound of a trumpet."
(4) And "the voice of words."
c. "they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to
them anymore" - These signs caused fear to fall upon the people
so that they wanted Moses to hear the words of God and they
promised to obey \\#Ex 20:18-21\\.
d. \\#20\\ "(For they could not endure that which was commanded" -
(1) Not only were the sights and sounds too much for the people,
but the commandments which God gave were difficult for them.
(2) Perhaps, the many commands changing so much of their life
and culture seemed too hard for the people to absorb at once.
(3) Although they were committed to doing them, they wanted Moses
to receive them and to teach them to them a little at a
time.
e. "And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned,
or thrust through with a dart" - Because God’s presence was there,
the mountain was holy.
f. \\#21\\ "And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I
exceedingly fear and quake."
(1) "terrible" in the sense that it was awesome and spectacular.
(2) We have no record of Moses saying this, but the Holy Spirit
told this writer that he did.
(3) If we accept any of the book as being inspired, we must
accept it all. If we reject any of the book as not being
inspired, we must reject it all.
g. \\#18\\ "For you are NOT come unto the mount that might be touched" -
(1) It is not the purpose of the writer to in any way speak
disparagingly of the Jews’ old covenant opportunity.
(2) However, compared to what they were being offered in the new
covenant, the old paled.
(3) Hence, as he compares the two covenants, the new covenant is
demonstrated as far more glorious than the old.
2. \\#12:22-29\\ You are come to the heavenly kingdom of God.
a. \\#22-24\\ "But ye are come unto mount Sion" - The writer here
speaks of the New Jerusalem for Mt. Zion as the name is used
loosely of Jerusalem. That he is speaking of the heavenly New
Jerusalem is seem from the other phrases used to describe the
city.
(1) "the city of the living God" - That is, the city where God
lives.
(2) "the heavenly Jerusalem" - With this phrase, we are plainly
told the writer speaks of the spiritual Jerusalem not the
earthly one.
(3) "to an innumerable company of angels" - This city hosts the
angels of God.
(4) \\#23\\ "To the general assembly and the church of the
firstborn"
(a) "general assembly" and "church" both refer to the body
of believers through the New Covenant.
(b) These believers belong to the "firstborn," a term used
several times in the New Testament to refer to Jesus.
Ro 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
(c) This phrase does not mean that others were "born" to the
Father after Jesus.
i. Firstborn is a title.
aa. God exalted King David to be His firstborn over
Israel.
Psalm 89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
bb. The one bearing that title is given a double
portion and becomes leader over the father’s
house.
ii. Jesus is also the first to experience a permanent
resurrection. This makes Jesus the first of many
in the resurrection.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
(5) "and to the spirits of just men made perfect"
(a) A specific reference to that part of the body of
believers who are now with the Lord, awaiting the
resurrection of their glorified bodies.
(b) Although they have no body, they are still mentioned as
abiding in this heavenly city.
(6) \\#24\\ "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant" - Not
only is this heavenly city the residence of the saved, it is
also the residence of the Savior.
(7) "to the blood of sprinkling"
(a) A reference to the blood that has been applied on the
holy altar for the atonement of the saints\\#He 10:22\\.
(b) This is yet another verse which argues for a literal
application of the blood of Christ.
(c) "that speaketh better things than that of Abel" - Abel
was one of the first to offer an animal sacrifice; but
the blood which is in this heavenly city is far
superior to what Abel offered.
b. \\#25-26\\ You face an eternal choice.
(1) \\#25\\ A renewed choice
(a) "See that ye refuse not him" - Some of these Hebrews
had probably convinced themselves that their decision
to abandon Jesus was just an issue of religion. Not so
says this writer. They were making the choice to
either accept or reject God.
(b) "For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on
earth" - Those who refused to trust and follow God under
the old covenant died.
(c) "much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him
that speaketh from heaven" - A grander offer demands a
grander consequence if rejected. As far as the new
covenant outshines the old, so the severity of rejecting
God’s Christ has resulted in more suffering for the
Hebrew people.
(d) \\#26\\ "Whose voice then shook the earth" - God’s
might was seen when giving the old covenant. It should
not be doubted as He offers the new.
(2) A renewed promise
(a) "now he hath promised"
i. This promise was given in the Old Testament.
Haggai 2:21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the
heavens and the earth;
Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of
her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
ii. This was a promised to be fulfilled in the future.
That time is drawing near.
(b) "I shake not the earth only, but also heaven" - When
giving the old covenant, God shook the earth (the
earthquake), but He has now promised to soon shake all
of creation, even the heavens.
(c) \\#27\\ "Yet once more. signifieth the removing of those
things that are shaken"
i. There does not seem to be an Old Testament passage
that places the word "once" into this prophecy.
Hence, the writer is giving additional revelation
for this judgment.
ii. The writer teaches that God’s use of the word "once"
means God plans to give His physical creation a shake
from which it will not recover.
iii. "that those things which cannot be shaken may remain"
Once done, all that will be left is the eternal.
(3) \\#28\\ A last chance (to take the grace that God is offering)
(a) "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved"
The Hebrew nation specifically, but all humanity in
general, has been given an opportunity to accept the
eternal kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.
(b) "let us have grace" - God’s grace is His power working
in and through us to do His will. We need His grace
to do what He desires. The writer pleads for more of
the needed grace.
(c) "whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear" - God give us the grace to serve You!
(4) \\#29\\ A final warning
(a) "For our God is a consuming fire."
(b) Fire is a picture of judgment. While our God is the
God of mercy, He is also the God of justice. To reject
His Son leaves no other sacrifice and no other hope.
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