The book of Hebrews has a series of warnings to those professing Christ, but drawn to the safety of the past. The epistle is an enigma at times, but also a key to a treasure trove of understanding the Old Testament .
It is also a book of worship as it emphasizes the superiority of Jesus and is the only place in Scripture where Jesus is called our High Priest. I would suggest that besides the Epistle to the Romans, the Epistle to the Hebrews has some of the most theologically concentrated, complex, and challenging concepts in the Bible. Hebrews also contains several passages that engender some of the most intense debate among Christians.
It is generally well accepted that the book was written, perhaps as a sermon, to some number of professing Christians in a church in or near the city of Rome, a portion of whom were suffering persecution for their Christian faith. These recipients were likely Jews very familiar with the Old Testament , and were either tempted to turn or had turned back to the relative safety of Judaism in order to escape persecution meted out to those claiming to be followers of Christ, or were drifting from their faith. Perhaps the key theme of the book is the exhortation to hold fast to their faith, to persevere, to endure.
As modern readers of Hebrews we are challenged to discern the relevance of a book written for a people with whom virtually all of us have little to nothing in common-at least at first glance. But as we face the continuing decline of our culture and marginalization of Christians, persecution in the West becomes more and more possible, if not likely.
Whether or not we face persecution, apathy and laziness are constant dangers, and the warnings contained in the text are most relevant and worthy of attention.
Two presuppositions form the foundation for consideration of the warnings:
- Eternal security (“once saved, always saved”) is the teaching of Scripture. There are, however, “professing” Christians who may not be “possessing” Professors are those who claim belief in the tenets of the gospel as outlined in I Corinthians 15:3-4, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and resurrected.
Possessors voice the same belief as professors but also possess the gift of eternal life. The difficulty arises when professors assume they are possessors.
All possessors are professors, but not all professors are possessors (Matthew 7:21-23).
- Assurance of salvation is not certainty. No one has certainty this side of the grave. God wants us to have legitimate assurance (derived from a heart for obedience) but not certainty.
To have certainty excludes faith and faith is how we please the Father (Hebrews 11:6).
Professors and possessors alike may have assurance (whether legitimate or illegitimate) but neither have certainty in this life. Both will have certainty in the next, one of eternal damnation (professors-only), one of eternal presence with the Lord.
Are you a “professor” or a “possessor?”
How do you know?
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