Continual Sacrifice

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15

“Through Him,” Jesus; the One sacrificed outside the camp for our sanctification by His own blood (v. 12). It is only through His sacrifice for us that we can know God. No one comes to the Father any other way (John 14:6). His blood sacrifice (spiritual death to pay for our sins, voluntary physical death because His work was finished) purchased our adoption as adult sons into the Royal Family of God. Being born-again believers IN CHRIST, we are priests who are qualified to offer a sacrifice to God. What do we have to sacrifice to God? The production of our continued faith: praise to Him. Acknowledgment of His name. That name which is above every name. That name which evokes anger and ridicule in unbelievers. That name that brings reproach upon those who love it. We who have gone out to Him and bear His reproach are honored to praise that name. We are privileged to do this continually, day in and day out, for He is the source of all life and all blessings in life. Indeed, there is no life He did not create and there is no soul for whom He did not die.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16

Being members of God’s Royal Family, we are a noble people who have compassion toward all mankind. Those of us who are materially comfortable can afford to share our belongings with those who are in need. But our greatest asset, always, is knowledge of the Word of God. That, combined with love for the brethren and the power of prayer can accomplish great things in our lives and ministries. Love is a decision that we make, based on Whose we are. Gracious giving is something we practice because we can, and because we know our Father is the God of all grace. It is He Whom we represent in the world, and not ourselves.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17

Our leaders in the Church are the pastors-teachers who are gifted to labor in the Word of God to study it, comprehend the meaning from the original languages, and bring the doctrine they have learned to their congregations. This equips the congregations for the work of evangelism and discipling new believers for the kingdom of God. The pastor-teacher is responsible for disseminating the basic and advanced doctrines we need to know in order to be obedient to God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Let’s not make his job harder. Let’s be ready to learn and grow up in grace as we assemble to study together and pray for him and for our Church.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.  I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Hebrews 13:18-19

We don’t know who this writer was, but the Hebrew believers did. His request for prayer in order that he might be restored to them sooner sounds like a situation Paul was in more than once, but this is not Paul. Why not? Because Paul, in all of the thirteen epistles he wrote to the New Testament Churches, opened the letter with that statement. “I, Paul, am writing this.” That introduction is found in Romans through Philemon. In many cases, he also signed off with the same declaration. Nowhere in the epistle to the Hebrews is the writer identified. 

This writer had much in common with Paul and may have also been a Pharisee, as Paul had been, evidenced by his superior knowledge of the law of Moses and his magnificent demonstration of the better things of Christianity, designed and completed by God the Son, Jesus Christ. I am thankful to God for whoever the writer of Hebrews was, because he has given us a complete model of our faith, from man’s original sin to the fulfillment of God’s promised salvation, all demonstrated for us through the history of His people, Israel.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

God the Father, the One who resurrected our Lord Jesus Christ, is the One who equips us for the Christian Way of Life. That is the life in which we do God’s will in all our endeavors because of our eternal relationship with Him IN CHRIST. Our reason for being.

Amen.