Some Things to Do Until Christ Comes Again

It is marvelous to be a Christian. What joy we have from the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22), to serve the true and living God (Jer 10:10; 1 Thess 1:9). Our King and Great High Priest (Ps 110), the Lord Jesus Christ, has made the way for us to serve and worship God, by His perfect life and atoning death (Jn 14:6; 2 Cor 5:21). Jesus is the way of righteousness that permits the forgiven sinner permanent access to God (Eph 2:18; 3:12). One’s approach to God is an anytime, anywhere experience for every believer in Jesus.

The book of Hebrews is a sermon to Jewish Christians. It is a word of exhortation (13:22). Chapter 13 is the final chapter. The exhortation here is to serve and worship God in response to who Jesus Christ is and what He has done to secure access to God for all the saints. We boldly go before the throne of grace through the one Mediator of the new covenant — cut with His precious blood (Heb 9:15; 12:24; 1 Pet 1:19).

Jesus suffered shame in His death (Heb 12:2). He was charged as a blasphemer and a Sabbath breaker. He died outside the gates of the holy city (Heb 13:10–14). From God’s perspective, Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29), our Passover sacrifice, is the only acceptable sacrifice for both atonement and propitiation for sin (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). He, alone, can reconcile a guilty sinner to God (2 Cor 5:18–20); and in Him we have peace with God (Rom 5:1). Our faith is in Him because God raised Him from the dead, a clear indication of Jesus’ fully accepted sacrifice of Himself (Acts 17:31; Heb 7:27; 9:26).

Our right response to all that God in Christ has done for us is to serve and worship. We must live as royal priests in the one holy nation of God’s chosen people (1 Pet 2:9). We must walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col 1:10).

In Hebrews 13:15–19, the author adds to his list of things Christians should do as we wait on and wait for the Lord Jesus Christ:

First, with permanent access to God in the Spirit, we should ever be praising Him (13:15). Christians sing praises to our God both on earth and before the throne of God in heaven. Our songs glorify God and give us joy in our hearts. Consider one example of how King David, the great Psalm writer, praised Yahweh in public…

10 So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

Second, when we speak, it is right for beneficiaries of so many blessings to give thanks (13:15). Because God is causing all things to work together for good for His beloved, who give thanks in everything (1 Thess 5:18). Consider how this sounds in heaven…

16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

Third, the writer encourages the persevering ones to do good (13:16); and not grow weary in doing so (Gal 6:9; 2 Thess 3:13; Heb 12:3; Rev 2:3). It is God who does all our works for us (Is 26:12; Phil 2:13), even as He prepared them beforehand for us to walk in, by His grace (Eph 2:10). This includes sharing what we have from our abundance. In this, we demonstrate the same love Christ displayed in laying down His life for the brethren (1 Jn 3:16–17).

When the children of God give generously, it shows our faith is in God and not in the things of the world (1 Jn 2:15–17). God created it all (Gen 1–2); and He owns it all (Ps 24); and He liberally distributes everything we need for life and ministry (2 Cor 9:11–13). He is pleased when we give like Him, from a heart filled with faith in His provision (2 Cor 8–9).

Fourth, not only are we to imitate the faith of those who have faithfully preached the Gospel to us (13:7); but we submit to those who care for our souls (13:16). This is the pastoral role of the elders in each local church. These men of God are called by God (Is 49:1; Gal 1:15), appointed by God (Acts 20:28), and they are accountable to God (Rom 14:12; Heb 13:17). They keep watch as they shepherd the flock of God (1 Tim 3; Titus 1) — feeding and protecting those entrusted to them by the Holy Spirt (1 Pet 5:1–5). Joy or grief result for them, depending on the behavior of those under their care. There is no profit for the wayward Christian to wander away from the sheepfold and the under-shepherd.

Fifth, those in the office of elder or deacon need prayer (13:18), to perform the work of an entrusted steward. Those called to the offices cannot do the work of the ministry in their own wisdom or strength. In praying for those who care for us, we demonstrate our love for them and for God, who has given them to us (Rom 15:30; Philemon 1:22).

In the case of the author, himself, it is evident that he has been separated from the flock of God to whom he writes his letter/sermon (13:19). He appears to be at Italy in his closing salutation (13:24). We are unsure of the location of his Jewish-Christian audience; but we know he knows them well. He obviously cares for their well-being, especially in light of the temptations to fall back into Judaism and away from Jesus Christ, who is superior to everyone and everything. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8).

Our small sample of exhortations here follow the encouragement to enter God’s Sabbath rest (Heb 4:11); to hold fast our Christian confession (Heb 4:14); to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace (4:16); to press on to spiritual maturity (6:1); to draw near to God with a sincere heart, full of faith and assurance (10:22); and to hold fast the confession of our hope in Christ without wavering (10:23); along with stimulating one another to love and good deeds (10:24). We are exhorted to lay aside every encumbrance and sin; so that we may run the race of faith set before us (Heb 12:1), by God, with endurance that we may finish the race with the welcome, “Well done, good and faithful slave…enter the joy of the Lord.”

Loving Christ with the words of our witness; we must also love one another in deed and truth (1 Jn 3:18). Others will know us by our love for one another, which together (Word and deed), will also tell them we are Christ’s church (Jn 13:35; 1 Jn 4:7). It is God loving us that is the source of all love flowing through us to others (1 Jn 3:1). We must be sure to acknowledge God, privately and publicly, so to ensure the ascribing of all honor, praise, and glory to our God. Truly, He has done great things; and He is coming again, which compels us to labor in these ways as unto the Lord…a labor of love.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

July 16, 2024

Hebrews 13:15–19