OUTLINE of HEBREWS.
ENDURE. Heb 12.
Overview of Hebrews.
The statement above is one of the most significant realizations a person can make. (John 6:68)
Before we look at some take aways, let’s first notice an implication.
For there to be an ‘eternal life’ there stands to reason there is also an eternal DEATH. This should bother people much more than it does.
“But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” (Mark 3:29)
That’s the warning. Now let’s see what we might do to have ETERNAL LIFE.
There are some 30 specific references in the New Testament to “ETERNAL LIFE.” It seems to this writer that this holds some significance.
Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and LEARN OF ME; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt 11:29) The context of our opening verse is about learning. “HEARING” is another way the Bible says the same thing. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” (Mat 7:24-29). These verses clearly teach there is individual responsibility to Hear & LEARN. Some would have you believe that you’re unable to do either except miraculously. UNTRUE! We are all called by the Gospel message. “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Thess 2:14)
The beginning of attaining Eternal Life is LEARNING.
Matthew 7:24-29 is a link in the chain connecting the first action with the next; we must be INVOLVED in doing the things that we’ve LEARNED. We’re involved by obeying the commands of God. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
The clear teaching by Jesus here, and in other places (cf. Phil 2:12), is that the INDIVIDUAL is responsible to LEARN & get INVOLVED in his own salvation. “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:40b). In the immediate context of this verse, they LEARNED to be baptized in the name of Jesus. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)
Eternal Life is for those INVOLVED people that obey.
When we write articles like this some will often decry “LEGALISM” or say that we’re working our way into heaven. Nothing of the sort is being said. Obedience to the will of God is FAITH (Heb 11:6). We trust that God will do what He promises for those that obey Him. God works through our faith. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:12). Eternal Life is for those who are emotionally engaged.
Therefore, that the person striving for Eternal Life must have FAITH from the heart and is not just checking boxes on a list. Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Mat 22:37). He said in another place, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). And also, “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mark 7:6)
Eternal Life is for those that have FAITH.
It then stands to reason that as a person LEARNS, is INVOLVED, this person must FINISH what he began. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” (Luke 14:28) The clear teaching here, and other places (cf. John 15:1-6; Rom 11:21; Rev 2:10), is that there’s no such thing as “once saved, always saved.”
Eternal Life is for those that ENDURE to the end.
“Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
— spencer
Spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper St church of Christ in Borger Texas. If you live in the Borger area and would like a personal bible study, please reach out & let us know how we can help.
The seventh of Seven Musts of Salvation: ENDURE
Life as a Christian is not overly difficult in practice [1John 5:3], but it can be incredibly hard due to the world’s hatred of the teachings of Christ. You know, the stuff about love, kindness, and honesty.
We don’t often talk about it as one of the parts of going to heaven, but the scriptures do. It makes sense. The Christian needs endurance (patience in the KJV) lest they turn away from walking in Christ. [Mark 4:17]
Let us examine how to ENDURE.
#7, we must ENDURE until the end:
All quotations are from the ASV or KJV
1] “Mt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
2] “Mt 24:13 But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13
3] Mr 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:13
4] “Heb 3:6 but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.” Hebrews 3:6
5] “for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:” Hebrews 3:14
6] “And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: 12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:11
7] “And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:” Revelations 2:26
The above verses are just seven of several about endurance. There are examples of endurance [Job] and passages about developing endurance. Then there are passages warning about failing to endure.
The conclusion; we must endure, hardships, persecutions, hatred, unfairness, etc. etc. The good new is this, when we endure God will reward us and it will be worth it! “He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.” [Rev 3:21]
6 Lessons to help us to…
ENDURE? 2Peter 1:6
The best… EXAMPLE of endurance is JOB.
James 5:11 Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful. [Read Job chapters 1 & 2]
The scriptures are teaching us to… NEVER give up during difficult times.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [Php 3:13-14; 2Cor 11:22-33]
When going through tough times keep… DOING the Will of God.
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Endurance is built when we… UNDERGO trials or temptations.
James 1:2-3 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. [cr. 1Cor 10:13]
Since there are so many examples of endurance in Hebrews 11, let us… RUN with patience.
Hebrews 12:1-2 lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
IF we will ENDURE unto the end… ETERNAL LIFE awaits us.
Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Spencer
The disciples of Christ asked Him to increase their faith. (Luke 17:5-10) His answer is very strange to me. First He tells them that true faith has no size, but then He teaches them about a servant that serves his master. At the end He says, “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.”
I looked into faith to learn more and found this passage about Moses in Heb 11:24-29
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
As I read this passage, I noticed a formula of faith and it relates perfectly to our Luke passage. The faith formula is this……
F=(R+ C + E) – (F, F) + (S + K + P)
FAITH = (REFUSING + CHOOSING + ESTEEMING) – (FORSAKING, FEARING) + (SEEING + KEEPING + PASSING)
Using Moses as our example, let’s see how his story line is very similar to our own…….By faith, Moses……
Refused to be called son of the devil?
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. (Joh 8:44)
He that committeth sin is of the devil;(1Jo 3:8)
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”( Joh 10:27)
Choosing to suffer for a time than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin?
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,(2Co 4:17)
Esteeming the reproach of Christ as greater riches. The reproach that Christ had to bear in his own person and also in the person of every true believer.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.(2Co 11:23)
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (2Ti 1:8)
Forsaking our lives of ease and waste. Not Fearing the culture around us
the popular opinions.
In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.(1Pe 4:4)
Seeing Jesus, with our eyes of faith. Knowing that He will come to get us.
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(Joh 20:29)
Keeping the faith
But without faith it is impossible to please Him.(Heb 11:6)
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”(Ac 4:20)
Passing through the trials set before us
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;(1Pe 4:12)
Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.(2Ti 2:10)
Do you see how this can help you endure, can increase your faith? Let me say it this way……
Is your faith low? Is your faith weak? Are you sad? Is your faith in man gone? Then let the formula of faith help you…
Serve God
Refuse sin
Choose Christ
Esteem Christ
Forsake this world
Fear God
Look to Christ
Keep the faith
Pass through this life and Endure til the end
Let’s remember one more thing about Moses…….
…having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.(Heb 11:39-40)
spencer
Borger, Tx
806/274-5021
Ask me how to make your calling and election sure. 2Pet 1:10
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 