Some Things You Will Need to Continue In - To Endure Unto the End and Finish Well (Hebrews 13:22-25)

22 But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all.

Here at the end of the book of Hebrews, the author reminds us to hold fast to the testimony we have in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:1 indicates that we are in a race, which we entered the moment we came to Christ. We are determined to cross the finish line. However, it is not a race to determine how fast you run, or how you do relative to others. Its simply to cross the goal.

We need to think of the Christian life as a foot race, kind of like a cross-country race. We must finish the race, run the race well, despite all obstacles.

Here in the end of Chapter 13 the author of Hebrews gives us a final exhortation.

There are 3 things you will need to continue in so that you can run to the end and finish the race well.

1. You have a continuing need to bear with this word of exhortation. (Hebtrews 13:22)
   • The imperative is "bear with." We're instructed to not only read the word of God but to pay attention to the details of it. The question is: What has changed in your life since hearing the Word of God?
2. You have a continuing need to take notice of and greeting fellow believers (Hebrews 13:23-24)
   • Timothy was probably in jail at this point because he was preaching the gospel.
   • We ought to take notice even of those who are imprisoned for their own sin. Because if the church does not take notice of them, no one will. Remember Hebrews 12:8, which says that God disciplines his children in order to restore them.
   • Don't look down on people our society would consider "human trash." Psalms 14:3 Reminds us that there is no one who does good, not even one. We must remind ourselves that we are no better than the vilest offenders.
   • Don't just live for yourself in your own little world.
   • You ought to greet your leaders, show kind affection to those who bear an office in the church (Hebrews 13:24). The attitude you should have for them is a welcoming attitude, praying for them.
   • You should also greet all the people of God (Hebrews 13:24), the true members of the visible church, whoever and wherever they are.
   • There are no cultural barriers in Christ! Italians are like Hebrews are like every other culture and race, social or political class, bonded together in Christ. In Christ, all prejudices should be broken down.
3. We have a continuing need for thinking of and practicing God's grace. (Hebrrews 13:25)
   • Divine grace is commonly used in beginning and end of Christian letters. But why is grace so important?
   • We must always be thinking about and understanding God's grace if we are to finish this race.
   • We need to understand God's grace, so that we could hedge against the temptation to be "grace abusers" (antinomianism, takes liberty to an extreme) or "grace killers " (legalism, emphasize works over grace)
   • Justification means that even though i still periodically sin, and find myself unable to stop sinning on a permanent basis, God declares me righteous when I believe.
   • The progressive maturity of a believer after this point is called sanctification
   • Here are 7 occurances of "grace" in Hebrews: Hebrews 2:9, Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 12:15, Hebrews 12:28 (the word "gratitude" in NASB is the same word as "grace"), Hebrews 13:9, Hebrews 13:25.