What's Your 'Therefore'?

We're continuing in our study of Hebrews in our Sunday morning Bible study.  It's a fascinating study!  Yesterday our focus was on Hebrews 4:14-5:10......Jesus as our High Priest.

In any Bible study, not just in this study of Hebrews, there are some key principles to follow in order to come to an accurate understanding of the passage.  One such principle is to look for repeated words and phrases that can lead us to understand what the passage is about.  In this particular portion of Hebrews, high priest is a repeated phrase.  That's what these verses are all about.  Jesus is our High Priest.

Another principle of Bible study is to look for terms of conclusion.  Words like therefore.  And we look to see what the therefore is there for.  We try to understand what conclusion the author is leading us to.  And what conclusions we should draw concerning our own thinking or behavior or belief.

I shared with our group yesterday that, in many ways, this letter to the Hebrews reminds me of an attorney arguing his case in court.  Or of a doctoral dissertation.  The author of Hebrews begins with his opening statement, his thesis statement, his statement of who Jesus is. That is found in Hebrews 1:1-3: 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Then the writer begins making his case, drawing his conclusions.

Because it is true that Jesus is the Son of God, the radiance of God's glory,  and the exact imprint of God's nature, and that God has spoken to us through Jesus.....

"Therefore, we must pay much closer to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."  (Hebrews 2:1 ESV)

"Therefore, we must take care lest [we] have an evil, unbelieving heart."        (Hebrews 3:12 ESV)

"Therefore, we must consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession....."  (Hebrews 3:1 ESV)

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."  (Hebrews 4:14 ESV)

It was a duty of the high priest to enter the Holy of Holies once a year, to make atonement for the sins of the people and for his own sin.

Jesus, our great high priest, has made atonement for our sins.  There was no need for Him to atone for His own sin, since He was always without sin.  He became the sacrifice for our sin, making the sacrifice once for all.  For all sin.  For all people.  For all time.  And he opened the way for us into the very presence of God!  That's why Jesus is better!

And that's where the therefore becomes important for us.  It isn't enough just to know what the Scripture says.  Or even to understand what it means.  We must also apply it.  We must do something about what we have learned.  Otherwise we have only engaged in mental exercise.  What we learn needs to have an effect on how we think or how we behave.

Which brings us back to the title of this post.

Knowing who Jesus is, and knowing what He has done, what's your 'therefore'?

What are you going to do with what you know? 

How will it affect your attitudes and your actions?

Who do you know who needs to know this truth?

What difference does it make in your life today?

What's your therefore?

"Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  (Hebrews 4:16 NASB)