The book of Hebrews is often considered one of the scariest books in the New Testament. Many Christians avoid the book altogether due to the warning passages contained in it (2:1-4, 4:12-13, 6:4-8, 10:26-31, 12:25-29). However, did you know the book was actually written to be an encouragement to its readers? The author of Hebrews says so in the closing of the letter, writing:
“And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.” 13:22
To exhort, means to appeal, urge, or encourage. Rather than a book meant to scare, and incite fear, the book of Hebrews should be seen as a source of encouragement. The book is written to believers who are struggling. They are being persecuted and need to be reminded of the promises of God (10:32-34). Specifically, the book discusses the promises of His coming Kingdom, and the rewards believers can earn by being faithful to Him in times of trouble. They are being reminded of the Lord’s goodness. Yes, there is a warning to believers who drift away from the faith (Heb 2:1). The warning, however, is not that they will lose their salvation. Once a person believes in Jesus for eternal life, they can never lose their salvation (John 4:10, 14, 5:24, 6:47). However, believers can experience the loss of rewards at the Judgement Seat of Christ if they fall away (2 Cor 5:10, 2 Tim 2:12-13).
The author of Hebrews wished to encourage the readers, by reminding of them of those who had come before them and walked by faith not by sight. This is what we find in Hebrews chapter 11, often referred to as the “Hall of Faith.” Here, the reader is introduced to many infamous figures of the Old Testament, upon whom we are to look at and imitate. It should be noted that these men and women are not meant to be imitated because they simply came to faith in the Lord for eternal life. These men and women are not our examples because they were saved. They are examples of men and women who faced great persecution, endured times of trouble, and sacrificed much in order to walk with the Lord in discipleship. They are examples of men and women who exhibited great faith. These are people who not only believed in the Lord for eternal life, but also believed in the eternal rewards He offers those who followed Him (11:6, 26). They believed in things they could not see. For example, some were even willing to die for their faith. We are not saved from hell because we endure persecution or because we follow the Lord in discipleship. Salvation is a free gift, not by works (Eph 2:8-9). Even if we drift away, the Lord is faithful to His promises. Nothing can take us out of His hand, even if we fail (John 10:28). However, following the Lord is still important, not for our salvation but for our rewards in the Kingdom to come. Those who suffer for the Lord will be rewarded for their faithfulness in the Kingdom to come. The book of Hebrews teaches us that our suffering has eternal value. This is the encouragement you will find in this letter.
Over the next few months, Free Grace Women will be exploring this passage in more detail and discussing the different figures in individual blogs. We want to answer the question:
“Why did the author of Hebrews choose these people?”
If you have ever wondered about the book of Hebrews and would like to find further material on the subject, we would like to recommend this commentary by Dr. Ken Yates. We hope you join us as we strive to divide the word of truth together (2 Tim 2:15).
Kathryn has a master’s degree in Christian Studies from Luther Rice Seminary, and serves as the missions coordinates for the Grace Evangelical Society. She is a teacher, speaker, and a regular contributor to our blogs. She and her husband Dewey live in Columbia, SC.
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