Hebrews 13:9

Hebrews 13:9 says, Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.  This is already a warning about false doctrines.  It did not take years for false doctrines to appear about the teachings of Christ, but they appeared almost immediately.    Our relationship with God is established not by the law, or the old sacrificial system, but by our relationship with Jesus Christ.  There were, are, and always will be those who attempt to add to or take away from the gospel.  There are people today who say that they are Christians but do not consider themselves to be a born-again Christian, for example.  God's word is very clear on this concept, though.  If we are to be a Christian, a follower of Christ, then we must be born again through faith in Christ.  There are those who preach earthly success as a sign of faith, but we are told to not lay up treasures in this world, but to expect persecution and suffering when we stand for Christ.  Verse ten adds, We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.  Matthew Henry says that early Christians who worshipped outside the tabernacle were accused of not having an altar to worship or sacrifice at, but we know that Christ is our altar.  We do not have to come to a particular place at a particular time to worship God.  Verse eleven continues, For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.  This reminds us that the blood of the sacrificial animal was brought into the sanctuary by the high priest, but the body was burned, or destroyed, outside the tabernacle.  The blood offered on the altar in the tabernacle was seen as having the power to represent the forgiveness of the people.  When Christ came, He offered His blood, once and for all time, for the atonement of the sins of all who believe in Him.  This was not done on a altar in the tabernacle, but on a cross on a hill outside the city.  Verse twelve states, Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  As just discussed, Jesus did not die within the tabernacle, or established religious practices, but He died to fulfill the need for all these practices.  Verse thirteen adds, Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.  I believe that this is a call for us to go into the world with the message of Christ.  When we go, we may not be well received, or even bear reproach from those we go to, but so did Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  This world, wherever we live in it, will never be our permanent city, or home.  We are simply passing through on our way to that heavenly city, or home, to come.  Yet, we often put more time and effort into the things of this world than we we into the things related to our heavenly home.  Verse fifteen says, By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.  Unlike the old sacrifices, which were meant to bring forgiveness from God, we are to offer a sacrifice of praise to God for the everlasting forgiveness of God through faith in Christ.  Still, instead of speaking words of praise to God, we often offer words of complaint because everything is not going as we want it to.  Verse sixteen adds, But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.  We are told to do good and to communicate the word of God.  In order to truly do good and communicate the word of God, we must follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse seventeen continues, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.  I believe this refers to religious leaders, those placed over the church by the call of God.  The rulers of the world often do not even acknowledge the existence of our souls, much less watch out for them.  Those religious leaders, those placed in power over us, have a responsibility to do what is best for us in the eyes of God.  When they do, they will experience joy and we will be lifted up in our relationship to God.