The Epistle to the Hebrews part CCLI

Hebrews 10:32
"But (after realizing what an awful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God as a lost person) call to remembrance the former days in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;"
Remember what I said – when cult or religious people or “Christians” try to come out of that cult or false religion, what happens? All the pressure that family can put on them, all the pressure that their organization can put on them, all the pressure and the threats are so great, it just draws them back. And it’s, without the power of God, impossible for them not to be pulled back in. Well, Judaism had the same kind of a pull just as the religion of our day has that kind of hold on people. That big beautiful Temple complex and with all the activities surrounding it, the feast days, and boy, it was something to behold. And then to turn their back on all that and step into a life of separation, to become or to remain a Christ-centered one, it wasn’t easy then, but it's still required even now. For true Christianity is Christ! The next verse tells you how much harder it was even than we would think, because:

Hebrews 10:33
"Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while ye became companions of them that were so used,"
Just what is he talking about? That as soon as they made their break from Judaism, what did all their Jewish friends begin to do? Castigate and disown them. They still do to this day in degrees. My, if you’ve ever read the account of Jewish converts, not always, but many times, the family will disown them. In some instances they’ll actually hold a funeral for them, treat them as if they’re dead. Then of course, back in the first century you still had the persecuting power of the Romans. Until Constantine made “Christianity” a peoples religion under the Romans Catholic church throughout the Roman empire. How? By deception in that they changed the idols and paganism into a form of “Christian” images with “Christian” names and hid the true meanings and purposes of those names and idols. Even the men who did the translation of the ancient texts hid the truth through the use of words and phrases taken out of context, this was a common habit of the Hebrews with the Torah and the Pentateuch. Even to the point where the high-priest bought his position by way of a bidding for the prestigious position from the time of the Maccabees.

Let’s go back to Acts chapter 17, as Paul is making his first sojourn out amongst the Gentiles and he would always begin in the Synagogue of the Jews and consequently there were quite a few Hebrews in those early days of Paul’s ministry. And here Paul has just begun from Northern Greece; he’s been up at Philippi and you know what happened there. He ended up in the dungeon. But he keeps on proclaiming the Gospel of Grace as being solely in Christ and the revelation of being in Christ through His sufferings and ascension and he always starts in the Synagogue of the Jews.

Let’s start in chapter 17 verse 1, because this is exactly what this verse in Hebrews is referring to; how that when those Hebrews believed, the rest of the Jewish community came down on them hard.

Acts 17:1-2
"Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and (for) three Sabbath days (or for three weeks) reasoned with them out of the scriptures."
How much Scripture has been written by the time Paul is on his missionary journeys? Only the Old Testament. Nothing of the New. So whenever you speak of the Scriptures until Paul’s epistles started coming out, it’s Old Testament. They had no New Testament. So, he reasoned with (taught) them out of the Old Testament Scriptures, this was his modis of oporendi throughout his writings.

Acts 17:3-9
"Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus (of Nazareth) whom I preach unto you is Christ. (the Messiah and king) And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason and of the others, they let them go."
Well, this is just a brief picture that wherever Paul began his ministry, he would always start in the synagogue of the Hebrews because at least he had people who knew of a one God. They knew of the Old Testament Scriptures and it was the logical place to start. And some of them would believe. But, sadly the most of them would reject it and then he would turn to the Gentiles. But for those believing Hebrews, who had turned their back on Judaism, do you see what they were under? They were under the pressure of their fellow Jews and consequently suffered inexorably for their new-found trust in the Gospel of God's Grace activity through Christ. For its through Christ alone that we can find the functioning of Grace, Truth, Love, Eternal Life and resurrection power in the New Covenant. None of these or the fruit of the Spirit can ever be produced through religion as it opposes all that God is doing through His Son, Christ Jesus.

All right, back to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 33 as we read that, as these Hebrews who had solidly embraced Paul’s Gospel and had turned away from the sacrifices of Judaism, they "were made gazing-stock by reproach and afflictions and while you became companions of them that were so used. For you had compassion on me (Paul says, where?) in my bonds." When he was in prison. Now listen, to become a believer throughout most of the Hebrew-Christendom was a tough row to hoe. As both Judaism and Romans would kill them by the scores even after the Jewish Temple and holy city of Jerusalem were destroyed in 70 AD.

A Bible study is all about - comparing Scripture with Scripture and tying it all together. Now in Hebrews chapter 10 picking up in verse 34 to these Hebrew believers:

Hebrews 10:34
"For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance."