Hebrews 6

“Therefore” transitions ch 5 to ch 6. Elementary=simple, not childish. “Let’s agree that we know this and move on” mindset. (I think The Message made this part clear. verses 1-8) The author, starting in vs 9, changes course. After issuing a warning, he gives them praise for what they’ve done right. He advises them to show the same serious intention to the end. No one is higher than God, so He swears by His own great Name, which is trustworthy. He guarantees it with a vow. God cannot lie. Jesus as the High Priest has access to the Holy of Holies, the inner place of the temple behind the curtain. Forever.

If we need to “hide” in Jesus, whether to hold to Him when we’re scared, or to live in Him and grow, we can because of the hope set before us. “Christian hope is a bold hope that looks back to a Risen Savior in order to look forward”. We should hold on to all we know to be TRUE of Jesus. And we know it’s true, because God can’t lie.

This chapter changes me mostly in verse 19. It is my favorite, and I even have a tattoo inspired by it. Our soul, the part that lives forever, is anchored in the unchanging promises of God, guaranteed by His own Great Name. Out of those promises, hope—not the fingers crossed kind, but the confident expectation—is born through Christ Jesus. He doesn’t just give us hope, He IS our hope. Once again, He is described as The Perfect High Priest, entering into the Holy of Holies (the sacred part of the temple where only the High Priest could enter) on our behalf and making himself the sacrifice for our sins. Following Jesus—it’s not easy, but it is simple.