College-Age Sunday School

The college-age Sunday school class has spent the summer studying the wonderful book of Hebrews, a book with no dull moments! We've looked at the many features of this book that make it unique in the New Testament. It's not exactly a letter, not exactly a sermon, the author and audience are never identified, and yet it unpacks the Old Testament in a way that no other New Testament book attempts, showing one unified story: Jesus of Nazareth is superior to angels, Moses, Joshua, the high priests, the covenant sacrifices, and everything else! In Hebrews, we learn as much about the Old Testament as the New, with each chapter unpacking wonderful OT texts in light of Jesus. We have discussed how the sinless Jesus, the only one who never needed a high priest to atone for his sins, would pay it all in the ultimate act of obedience. And how, like us, he suffered when tempted, and therefore is able to help us when we are tempted, and to sympathize with our weaknesses. The good news is clearly explained in Hebrews, with a resounding and profound message in chapter ten: "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (10:19-22). If that doesn't deserve an "Amen," I don't know what does! We are clean, and invited to draw near the throne of grace with assurance, confidence, and hope. We have discussed what it looks like for us to enter Christ's rest, and to hold fast to the sure and steadfast anchor of our souls.

As we work our way into the second half of the book in coming weeks, the author will give us lots of practical, life advice, and tell us to imitate the great, historic models of faith in community with each other. Also scattered throughout the book are many warnings for us. It seems that these Jewish Christians were walking away from the faith, and not going on to maturity in Christ. Jesus demands a response!

The message is clear: the Lord has done for us what we could never do for ourselves, and he longs for us to draw near to him through Christ, and to sit at the foot of the cross, worshipping with reverence and awe, resting in his love. This is the best news we can ever hear.