Proverbs from Hebrews 12 & 13

The Bible is replete with practical instructions for walking as children of light in this wicked world.

Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.

keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith

consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons.

strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees

make straight paths for your feet

Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up

make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau

Make sure that you do not reject the One who speaks.

Let brotherly love continue.

Don’t neglect to show hospitality

Remember the prisoners

Respect marriage

Be satisfied with what you have

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings

Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Pray for us

receive this message of exhortation

Helpful Observations

The Old Testament is not the same as the Old Covenant; the New Testament is not the same as the New Covenant. While the Greek word for testament is the same as for covenant, that does not make these the same. The Bible does not refer to the “Old Testament” or “New Testament” – these are handy labels man developed.

Genesis and Job are Old Testament books which show the lives of people that are not in the Old Covenant. Much of the gospels describe life in the Old Covenant and much of the other New Testament books describe life during transition from old to new covenant.

The Old Covenant is life under the Mosaic Law.

The New Covenant is life in Christ, by grace through faith in the Son of God.

The whole Bible shows us the futility of trying to live apart from faith in Jesus, pointing us to eternal life that He gives through faith, not the works of our hands.

Problems with Law Preaching

Many men say we must emphasize sin folks before the gospel preached, because the glory of Christ is better seen against the darkness of sin. So show people their sin and they can see Christ better. Many say that the way to show people their sin is to preach law to sinners, because the law brings knowledge of sin – citing Romans 7:7.

Two things need to be considered to understand the problems with this approach.

1.       To say that a person needs to understand their sin before they can rightly see the glory of Christ is actually backwards. Unregenerate people cannot be brought to spiritual life by showing them their sin. Unregenerate people cannot see the kingdom of God, much less have a right view of Christ and His glory. In fact, one must come to faith in Christ before he can have a proper view of his sin and Christ. Sin is no big deal to one who is at enmity with God; holiness is a foreign concept to these. Sin will be a serious problem for one who is at peace with God; personal holiness will be a growing desire for these.

 

2.       To say law must be preached to show people their sin fails. Romans 7:7 recounts a Jew living under the Mosaic Law coming to realize he could not keep that law and that failing to do so was sin. The law put names to the sins this man loved. In the next chapter, Paul says this: “For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so.” (Rom 8:7) Unregenerate people are in the flesh with a mindset of death (Rom 8:6) and are unable to submit to God’s law (any of His laws). Showing unregenerate people their sin by preaching law is futile, according to the Scripture. In Romans 5:20 we read that the (Mosaic) law was given to increase the trespasses; it was not given to prepare people to be saved.

In conclusion, we have Scripture that tells us the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16); I am unaware of any Scripture that say the Holy Spirit or gospel preaching needs help from the law.

I’ve said it before, I think men preach law for the same reason others ask for decisions: men want to see results of their work. The Spirit will what man cannot – give spiritual life to those who are dead in their sins. The law cannot prepare a soul for the Spirit’s work anymore than walking an aisle can.