The Book of Hebrews, in addition to giving us insight into the blood atonement made by Christ on the cross of Calvary, contains many warnings to experienced Christians. It appears that these Jewish believers, who had received the atonement, who had been filled with God's Spirit, who had suffered persecution, were settling back at ease in Zion, so to speak. They were not pursuing Christ fervently.

The warnings begin with the above verse and then continue throughout the book.

In the first chapter we are told how Christ is much greater than any of the angels because He is God's Son.

But the superiority of the Lord Jesus Christ is not the theme of Hebrews. Rather, the theme of Hebrews is that our salvation extends far beyond the blood atonement and being filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are not to cease pursuing Christ after we have been saved and filled with the Spirit.

Therefore, the writer begins to get to the point, with the following verse:

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14)

We are passing now from the superiority of the Son of God to "those who will inherit salvation."

Next, in accordance with the theme of reproving careless Christians, the question is raised:

But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Hebrews 2:6)

The writer raises the eternal question: "What is man?"

His answer is: "Man is God throne. Man is God's lord and judge of the creation. To man has been given rulership over all the works of God's hands." The idea is, it is not enough for a person to be forgiven through the blood and then to be filled with God's Spirit. These are elementary aspects of salvation. Because man was created to be God's throne, God's kings, God's judges, his salvation is only beginning when he is forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit.

In addition, there are solemn warnings concerning those who have started on the path of salvation and then have grown careless, who have not pursued the destiny spoken concerning them from the beginning of the world..

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. (Hebrews 6:7-9)

In the second chapter of the Book of Hebrews the Lord Jesus is shown to be the first man to appear on earth who truly fulfills the Divine edict that man be in the image of God. The thread of the argument is that the Lord is the first, and majestically the greatest, of a company of sons whom God intends to bring forth.

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Hebrews 2:10,11)

This Greatest of the sons had to experience much suffering in order that He might make His new brothers holy.

The Lord is not ashamed to call us brothers because His Father is our Father.

To be continued.