Beyond the Gospels: Hebrews

Today's verses: Hebrews 10:28-39
[Open up your Bible today. Or choose BibleGateway.com by clicking the reference.]

Rejecting the Old Covenant, the law of Moses, resulted in unmerciful death -- stoning -- based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. The New Covenant, based on the blood of Christ, deserves even greater punishment when it is rejected. To reject God's law, either old or new, is an insult to His grace.

So how can anyone think all will go to heaven one day? With or without receiving Jesus as Lord?

Studying His love, we see His love for all His creation, His mercy poured out every day.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding

in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over

all he has made.

Psalm 147:8-9 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes

his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ..."

Matthew 5:43-45 ESV

However, if we reject Him, He will reject us. His love is for all, but the blessings of His love are conditional.

Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful

but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

Psalm 31:23 ESV

The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

Psalm 145:20 ESV

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

Jonah 2:8 ESV

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world

is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world

makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4 ESV

He died for all. Longs for all to be saved.
But we each have a choice to make.
His Way leads to eternal life...
All other ways lead to death... eternal separation from God and all that is good.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him

should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son

into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved

through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not

believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name

of the only Son of God. ..."

John 3:16-18 ESV

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God apart form the covering of Jesus's blood.

Pray for those who are lost. Love those who are lost.
He is. So should we.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are

in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly

and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight

of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come

to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one

mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony

given at the proper time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV

Father God, open my heart to Your undeniable truth.

Your great love is for all You've created, but Your blessings

of forgiveness and mercy only go to those who receive Your Son.

Fill me with Your compassion for the lost.

Guide me in praying for them and reaching out to them

in a way that they will receive the truth of Your love.

In Jesus's name. Let it be so.