We Are Not Those Who Shrink Back

Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 10:26-39. The author of Hebrews puts instruction and admonition together in this section as he warns his congregation against contined deliberate sin. He calls to their memories the consequences for those who set aside the Law of Moses under the old covenant in order to impress upon them the utter seriousness of rejecting Jesus as the once-for-all sacrifice for their sins. Instead of forsaking the gifts of Jesus, the author reminds his congregation of the way they suffered joyfully in the past, so that they would not throw away their confidence in Christ now. They are not those who shrink back; they are those who live by faith. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes on Him.