Better Together

When we look at the New Testament, it always connects our doctrine, what we believe with our deeds, what we do. What we believe has to impact how we behave and what we do. Faith without deeds is dead. Paul spends the first 3 chapters of Ephesians laying out many glorious theological truths before he applies it in chapters 4-6. He does the same thing in Romans 1-11, before the practical instructions in chapter 12. So, it is vitally important that we understand who God is, who we are, and what God has done for us in Christ as the foundation for how we are to live as Christians. Understanding our Position in Christ is the basis for our Practice of our faith in our daily lives.

The author of Hebrews follows this pattern of what we believe impacts how we behave. In the first 4 chapters, he demonstrated how Jesus Christ is superior to all in His person. From chapter 5 through 10:18, he shows how Christ is superior to all in His priesthood. But from 10:19 and going to the end of the book, based on the truths that he has presented, he shows how Christ’s superiority should spur us on to enduring faith and fellowship, even in the face of trials.

He shows us here how to put our new position in Christ into our practice of living out our faith. Because of our new position in Christ, we should draw near to God in faith, hold fast the confession of our hope, and consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

In Hebrews 10:19 – 21, the author of Hebrews briefly summarizes our position in Christ with two vital truths: 1) We are able to enter the Holy of Holies 2) We have a great High Priest. Then in v22-25, he shows how this position should affect our daily practice of how to live out our faith. We see that there are 5 imperatives or exhortations commanding us to stay connected to the body or Church.

These 5 “Let Us” statements show us the way.

1)    v22 “Let us draw near to God, with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” Hebrews devotes the chapter 11 to this theme of Faith. He says there, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” in Hebrews11:6. Faith is both God’s gift and our responsibility. Faith rests on the promises of God. We are saved through faith and we are to walk by faith.

2)    v23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” We need to take God’s Word to heart and stand firm on its truths and its promises. Let’s Live it out daily.

3)     v24 “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” We need to push one another, to spur one another so that others can see our love for one another and see our works pointing people to God.

4)    v25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” which would be the act of those who are discouraged. In some places today, church attendance has been on a serious decline and it has been exacerbated by the pandemic with people being disengaged with the church due to lack of attendance or connection.  

5)    V25 “Let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” This verse is telling us to encourage one another as in one body in preparation and expectation of the Day of the Lord’s coming. Our present gathering is a foreshadowing and celebration of the Ultimate Day when Christ will come to gather up all His people when He comes in glory.

What does it mean to be part of a Church? Because the Church is where contact between Heaven and earth, between God and us, and Us with one another comes together in a divine way.

We are Better Together. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: ¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 – 10)