Hebrews 6:13-20
Hebrews, for me, has always been a bit of a mystery – I was never ever able, as a student to get in to it. I don’t know what it was – possibly it was too subtle as it spoke about things that were secondary to my faith. Things have changed.
This passage ends with mention of the character Melchizedek, that obscure king mentioned in the Book of Genesis (chapter 14). Before mention of him the writer speaks of hope as a Christian virtue. God made various promises to Abraham but the one the writer is thinking of is the one from Genesis 22:16-18, the promise made after Abraham had been prepared to sacrifice his son (his posterity) because God had asked it of him. God bound Himself to give Abraham many descendants and in time this was realised – the Christian Community is ultimately part of that promise in Christ. Christ has gone before us (where no other can go except the High Priest on only one day in the year) and entered into the presence of God that we might follow. That is the hope: isn’t it wonderful? To dwell in the presence of God forever.
Hebrews, for me, has always been a bit of a mystery – I was never ever able, as a student to get in to it. I don’t know what it was – possibly it was too subtle as it spoke about things that were secondary to my faith. Things have changed.
This passage ends with mention of the character Melchizedek, that obscure king mentioned in the Book of Genesis (chapter 14). Before mention of him the writer speaks of hope as a Christian virtue. God made various promises to Abraham but the one the writer is thinking of is the one from Genesis 22:16-18, the promise made after Abraham had been prepared to sacrifice his son (his posterity) because God had asked it of him. God bound Himself to give Abraham many descendants and in time this was realised – the Christian Community is ultimately part of that promise in Christ. Christ has gone before us (where no other can go except the High Priest on only one day in the year) and entered into the presence of God that we might follow. That is the hope: isn’t it wonderful? To dwell in the presence of God forever.