Have you gone out to Jesus, outside of the camp?
The writer of Hebrews continued his counsel to the Hebrews who were struggling to surrender fully to Jesus – “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no authority to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” (Hebrews 13: 7-13)
The writer of Hebrews reminded the Hebrew believers that they needed to imitate the faith of their leaders. He then reminded them that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. This is a reminder that Jesus does not change. The gospel is all about Jesus and at the time Hebrews was written, as well as today there has always been a threat of false teachers trying to take our focus off Jesus and who He is, and His sufficiency in our salvation and sanctification. False teachers often turn people away from Jesus toward something the person needs to do to have salvation. So many people have been turned toward following Old Testament or old covenant laws which Jesus already fulfilled. If we are not careful we will be led into bondage by following the ideas of some spiritual leader or ‘prophet’ who tell us we need to fulfill some dietary requirements, observe festivals, or perform certain rituals for salvation.
It is no different today than it was back in the time Hebrews was written, false teachers always want to bring us under their influence. During my thirty years as a Mormon, I was never taught that faith in Jesus Christ was all that was necessary for salvation. I was constantly led toward works and the need to be dedicated to the Mormon organization. The Mormon gospel is completely different from the New Testament gospel. It mixes works and grace.
The writer of Hebrews counseled the believers to not be carried away by varied and strange teachings. It is critical that we understand what the Bible teaches. This is where our protection from false teachers lies. We must hold every teaching and every philosophy of man in comparison to what the word of God teaches us. In our world today, a person can find every kind of teaching. Because of social media and the internet, various influences bombard us continually. Just as the Hebrew believers in 68 A.D., we need to remember not to be carried away by varied and strange teachings. If we do not know what the Bible teaches, we are very vulnerable to false teachers and false religions.
Our hearts should be strengthened by ‘grace.’ The following passages from Hebrews remind us of what we have in Christ – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
Our hearts cannot be strengthened by eating or not eating certain foods, as the Hebrew believers were accustomed to doing.
When the writer of Hebrews refers to the altar we have, the reference is to the sacrifice of Christ. The Hebrew believers were familiar with animals being sacrificed and often eaten under the old covenant of Moses. However, the animals that were offered on the Day of Atonement were not eaten but were taken outside of the camp and burned. Similarly, Jesus’ crucifixion took place outside the gates of Jerusalem.
If we are believers in Jesus, we should follow Him and bear the reproach He bore. Our identity should be in Christ. Luke taught of what Jesus said – “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9: 23-26)
Sometimes we must give up our ‘religion’ to gain Christ. Just like the Hebrew believers needed to reject the practices and teachings of Judaism, and turn to faith in Christ alone, we too may need to do the same.
If you are in a religion or following a teacher that is telling you that your salvation comes from mixing law and grace consider what Paul taught the Galatians – “O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things for nothing – if indeed it was for nothing? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” (Galatians 3: 1-8)
Paul also warned the Ephesians – “It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have fallen from grace!” Paul also taught the Romans – “But if it is by grace, it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” (Romans 11: 6)
If someone asked you what do you need to do to go to heaven, what would you say to them? Are you sure that you are going to heaven when you die? What do you think of Christ? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know Him? Jesus said – “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish – ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10: 27-28)
Whatever you are being taught, have you held it up to the word of God? We need to be careful what we believe, it is easier than we realize to be led astray.
