The writer of Hebrews delivers a powerful message to his
audience: it's time to wake up and mature in their faith. He makes it clear
that they can no longer afford to remain complacent in their walk with Christ.
Paul echoes this call to growth, stating, “When I was a child, I talked like a
child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an
adult, I set aside childish ways” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NET). The writer
emphasizes that a deeper, richer experience in Christ awaits them—full of love
that profoundly reveals the essence of God.
He is clearly urging his listeners, “Let’s seize this
opportunity to grow and uncover all that God has to offer.” Why this strong
correction? Why not allow the Hebrews to continue their slow burn in their
relationship with Christ? The writer's intent was to see the transformative
fruits of salvation flourishing in their lives, not merely engaging in
religious practices. He desired that Christ be revealed through their actions
in profound ways that reflected His character. This approach was driven by a
deep love for the brothers and sisters, moving beyond the outdated practices of
the Aaronic law.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul powerfully articulates that the
practices of God’s people—such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, faith, and
miracles—are rendered meaningless without genuine love for one another. These
acts, though impressive, become empty rituals if love is absent. The writer of
Hebrews echoes this message, reminding us that we can engage in faith-related
practices and still miss the fundamental purpose: fostering deep connections
with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is crucial to recognize Jesus in
each other, for when all external religious expressions ultimately fade, the
one thing that will endure is love.
The author presents a thought-provoking idea: for someone
who has genuinely experienced the profound spiritual gift of God's presence and
love, falling away makes it impossible to return to a state of repentance.
Think of a skilled equestrian; if they fall from their horse, retraining them
from the very beginning of their equestrian experience is not only impractical
but unnecessary. They simply need to mount up again and ride on, making only
minor adjustments along the way. In the same vein, when a believer strays from
Christ, they cannot revert to the foundational teachings of Jesus; rather, they
must pick up where they left off and continue their spiritual journey with
renewed strength and focus, which is practical and gives credence to our ability
to make mistakes.
Many commentaries address the issue of people losing their
salvation, yet they often miss a crucial point: we cannot lose what we did not
create. Salvation through Jesus is a gift from God to humanity; it is not
something we control but rather something we choose to believe in by our
believing loyalty. This enduring truth has been the cornerstone of God’s
salvation plan since the beginning of time. If someone strays from their faith,
we are called to pray for them and to gently guide them back, not to judge
their poor choices harshly. We all make mistakes, but Jesus offers God and His
mercy for them. It is often the difference between what a person knows in their
head, compassion rather than condemnation, even in our moments of pride. God's
mercy is boundless and extended to everyone.
The question often arises: how can someone turn away from
the love of Christ Jesus? Were they ever truly saved in the first place? This
dilemma frequently revolves around the teachings they've received and their
growth in understanding who Christ is. It’s essential to examine whether their
belief is firmly anchored in the reality that God loves them and extends His
mercy or is it something else. Many times, the difference lies between what
they know intellectually and what they truly believe in their heart. Our faith
shouldn’t be merely a logical construct; it must be grounded in a deep-seated
conviction that God will honor His promises and fulfill His word to us.
True maturity is firmly rooted in Christ's love for us and
for one another, inclusive of the stranger. The writer of Hebrews speaks to
Jews deeply entrenched in their cultural traditions, which have focused solely
on their works for God, and their elitism to their culture. They faced a
critical choice: to embrace a transformative new paradigm that challenged their
comfort zone or to cling to what they knew. These Jews had to decide whether to
follow Christ wholeheartedly or revert to their traditional temple worship;
there was no possible compromise. Jesus had to be their everything, or He would
become nothing to them at all.
Living a life of faith requires us to surrender everything.
God does not seek anything from us except our genuine loyalty and belief in
Him. His primary desire is for us to surrender our will in order to embrace His
will for our lives. God longs for a human family that knows His love and
expresses that love to Him through worship, as well as to others, By fully
surrendering our own will and aligning it with God’s purpose, we fulfill His
greatest wish for our lives, ultimately being transformed into His image once
again. This was evident in the Garden of Eden and remains true today.
Stephen Barnett
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