HEBREWS: A BULWARK AGAINST ERROR

Gary McDade

For years we have encouraged people in and out of the church of Christ to study the book of Hebrews. And, the leading reason is the theme of the book, which is a divine encouragement to avoid unbelief by remaining faithful to God through His inspired Word. Thirteen times Paul admonishes the readers with the phrase “let us.” For example, “let us therefore fear” (4:1); “let us labor” (4:11); “let us hold fast” (4:14 and 10:23); “let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace” (4:16); “let us go on unto perfection” (6:1); “let us draw near” (10:22); “let us consider one another” (10:24); “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (12:1); “let us run with patience” (12:1); “let us have grace” (12:28); “let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach” (13:13); and “let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually” (13:15). A reading and study of each of these charges instructs the Christian and inspires unwavering faithfulness that combats unbelief that ultimately condemns the soul.

Many passages within the book constitute a bulwark or defense against error. It is needful not only to know the text of the Bible but also to know how to properly and Scripturally apply each text in order to defend the truth against error. It has correctly been observed that God who knows all (Psalm 139) and knows “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10), anticipated every error the infernal regions could attack the truth with and answered it in advance the Bible. Truly, as wise Solomon observed “there is no new thing under the sun” from God’s perspective (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Therefore, the divine affirmation found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is sustained which says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Examples of the defense Hebrews provides against error include the following:

• The direct operation of the Holy Spirit is refuted in chapter 1:2.
• The doctrine of premillennialism is refuted in chapter 1:3.
• The doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is refuted in chapter 1:8.
• The teaching of evolution is refuted in chapter 1:10.
• The doctrine of continuing revelation is refuted in chapter 2:3-4.
• The doctrine of limited atonement is refuted in chapter 2:9.
• The use of instrumental music in the worship is refuted in chapter 2:12.
• The ancient doctrine of Docetism is refuted in chapter 2:14-16.
• The doctrine of the big bang theory is refuted in chapter 3:4.
• The doctrine of one church is as good as another is refuted in chapter 3:6.
• The doctrine of once-saved-always-saved is refuted in chapter 3:12, et.al.
• The doctrine of unconditional election is refuted in chapter 4:2.
• The doctrine of unconditional promises to Israel is refuted in chapter 4:6.
• The doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy is refuted in chapter 4:11.
• The teaching that there is nothing for us to do is refuted in chapter 5:9.
• Again, the doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy is refuted in chapter 6:4-6.
• The doctrine of the council of God being changeable with the times is refuted in chapter 6:17.
• The teaching that the Old Testament remains unchanged and is binding on people today is refuted in chapter 7:12.
• The teaching that the silence of the Scriptures is not binding is refuted in chapter 7:13-14.
• The teaching that Christ is not now a king is refuted in chapter 8:1-3.
• The teaching that Christ will one day return to set up His kingdom on the earth is refuted in chapter 8:4. (Remember He is king and high priest at the same time forever—not a thousand years--being of the order of Melchisedec).
• The teaching against God having a pattern for His worship is refuted in chapter 8:5.
• Again, the teaching that the Old Testament remains unchanged and is binding on people today is refuted in chapter 8:13.
• Again, the teaching against God having a pattern is refuted in chapter 9:23.
• The Catholic doctrine of the Mass (Transubstantiation) is refuted in chapter 9:28 and 10:10.
• The teaching that baptism is not necessary to salvation is refuted in chapter 10:22.
• The teaching that attendance in worship is not essential to salvation is refuted in chapter 10:25-26.
• The teaching that faith is what one believes in his heart is refuted in chapter 11:1.
• Again, the teaching that Jesus is not now reigning is refuted in chapter 12:2.
• The teaching the kingdom has not already come is refuted in chapter 12:28.
• The teaching that marriage is optional is refuted in chapter 13:4.
• The use of instrumental music in worship is refuted in chapter 13:15.

Think of the error people could avoid and the strides that could be made toward the beautiful unity for which Christ prayed (John 17) if only they would study the wonderful book of Hebrews. The book may be viewed as a “bulwark against error.”