“We must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God, teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment” (6:1-2). The Pharisees had so burdened the people with all their rules and regulations. The Judaizers heaped up additional requirements to the gospel in order for one to be saved. Today, people are always declaring, “I’ll do my good works and let God judge.” Why would any, knowing their own hearts and inclinations, trust that their goodness might justify them before a holy God? “If perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood “ (7:11) . . . but, of course, it is not. However, of Jesus it is said, “You are a priest forever” (7:21), and “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (7:25). In Christ alone!
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand. --Edward Mote (1834)
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