We have, for the last three months, been working our way through the book of Hebrews. This final chapters begins to show the the desired results of walking in grace.
Ramifications of Grace Reigning
Hebrews 12 closed out with Jesus' blood still speaking and the strength and power it speaks with. The covenant of grace and truth is more powerful than the law of Moses in this regard, the covenant of grace and truth has better results!
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
One of the ramifications of walking in grace is it allows for brotherly love to continue! Remember all through Hebrews we have compared and contrasted Jesus and His house and what it brings to Moses as a servant over the household of law. Love rules in grace. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the children of God. Let love continue…
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Hebrews 1 brings such great revelation about Jesus and how by Himself purged us from our sin. Jesus came with a scepter of righteousness to rule in His kingdom. However at the end of chapter 1 we see Jesus has given angels assignment over the inheritors of the kingdom. Have you ever wonder if someone you met was actually an angel on assignment? The angels of God are encamped around about those who fear God.
Hebrews 13:3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them; those who are mistreated; since you yourselves are in the body also.
Grace tells us to remember the prisoners, those who are mistreated. God’s grace has abounded to us in such degree that we can reach out to the hurting and unlovely.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Grace causes us to walk honorable. The marriage bed is undefiled; however, the fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Grace has not been given so that we can use it as a cloak of unrighteousness. We must learn to possess our vessel in sanctification.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
It seems the writer of Hebrews was trying to make a case for what living in the covenant of grace should look like. In grace we can rest in God. We can be content with what we have and with where we are at. In grace we have been promised God will never leave us or forsake us. Make a bold proclamation! “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Children put the word of God in your mouth. You can trust your God to bring it to pass.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Grace brings us balanced leadership who love and care for the sheep. The sheep can gladly submit to godly leadership and follow them, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
This is an often quoted verse! It is a truth about Jesus Christ. Look at Him in His earthly ministry… did He heal the sick? He still is a healing Jesus today! Did He seek and save the lost? He is still seeking and saving the lost today. Did He go about setting captives free from their bondages? He still setting free today. Did His blood speak on the cross of Calvary bringing a converted thief into paradise? He is still bringing sinners to Himself today. Did He pray for forgiveness for the ones who put Him on the cross? He is still the intercessor today. Oh the ramifications of grace!
Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
It is good that the heart be established by the word of grace. Not by some practice of tradition or practices of the law, but by the grace found in Jesus Christ alone we can be saved. Any doctrine that takes you away from trusting in Jesus Christ and Him crucified is a strange doctrine. We must come and live by the covenant of grace by which we have been birthed.
Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
We are still comparing and contrasting between the law of Moses and the covenant of grace and truth. We must eat from the correct alter the alter of grace and truth. The alter that Jesus Christ Himself made us partakers.
Hebrews 13:11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
This was done outside the gate so that we might be partakers of the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 13:13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Don’t try to get to Jesus by going inside the camp of the law. Our hope is in the new covenant. Not in the earthly covenant but the heavenly covenant where we are looking for the city whose builder and maker is God. We don’t want to go to the alter of the covenant of the law but to the alter of grace and truth that speaks greater things based upon heavenly eternal promises.
Partakers of the greater alter, the eternal alter, give us the opportunity, by Jesus Christ, to continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God. The eternal alter is fruit bearing putting a praise on our lips, giving thanks to His name!
Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Walking in the greater covenant brings us to overflow doing good and sharing with all. God is well pleased when we are walking from the strength of the alter of grace.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Obeying godly leadership is possible when you are walking in the fullness of grace. It is commanded for us to submit and obey those who are looking out for our soul. Who is the godly leadership you are submitted to? Divine order is at work here; if you are not submitted to godly leadership it is time to come into divine order. Those lone guns without submission are not walking in grace.
Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
One of the greatest ramifications to walking in grace is the Father Himself begins a work in us and desires to carry it to completion. This work is done through the blood of the everlasting covenant! He will continue to work in you until you bring Him great pleasure! What a great God!
Hebrews 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
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