The Law (first 5 books of our Old Testament) pointed to God but Jesus was God. Rituals were performed over and over again because they did not "stick." They did not stick because they were not God. Jesus "sticks" and permanently takes our sins away. It is like the difference between renting a car (it's not really yours and you must rent it over and over again) and owning the car. Jesus' sacrifice (the powerful and permanent one) overtakes the repeated sacrifice of animals that left us in the same prone-to-sin state.
The author encourages the faithful to keep meeting and doing the good of God. Realize that judgment will come (we don't like that part but it is Biblical) and you don't want to have insulted God by turning your back on his Son who died for your sins, would you? The author may have thought the Day of Judgment was near (because it was rough going for the faithful?)
The author reminds the faithful of the early days when the confessed Jesus. They were persecuted for it. They did it joyfully because they knew their final destination was assured. Don't forget that, the author says. Persevere.
No comments:
Post a Comment