Ever have someone use Hebrews 12:14 and state that “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” and then go on teaching that you must live holy or lose salvation?

Well, I will tell you right now, that is such a twisting of that verse that it is unbelievable anyone could teach such a thing. Only a false gospel teacher would do this. A false teacher who adds works to be saved which is completely false. Jesus gave stern warning about such false teachers relying on works for salvation in Matthew 7:21-23. Apostle Paul taught eternally against works for salvation as well in Galatians 3, 5:4-5, Ephesians 2:8-9.

So what does Hebrews 12:14 really mean?

First, the context of all of Hebrews as a general whole is that Hebrews is written specifically to the early church of Jewish believers. They had enormous pressure to go back to the Law for righteousness and animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10) from their unsaved family members and friends and neighbours. Hebrews 12 is explaining that part of being saved in this environment of hardship and persecution is looking at this as a training in righteousness.

If we look at the entire chapter 12 and previous verses to verse 14, we can clearly see what the ACTUALLY CONTEXT is about starting at the very first couple of verses,

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:-12 KJV)

The Cloud Of Witnesses

Who are these cloud of witnesses? I have heard preachers teach they are angels or those believers who died before us. Is that correct interpretation? This great cloud of witnesses is the unbelieving Jewish people who watch every move a believer made to try and catch them in a sin and try to have them revert back to following The Law of Moses for righteousness. We see this as the text continues.

Enduring Persecution For Their Faith

The writer goes on to say to live Godly lives. That the Father will chastise believers for not doing so just as a human parent chastises /punishes a son or daughter, out of a love for them.

“If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” (Hebrews 12:7-10 KJV)

Hebrews 12 highlights that holiness is not about personal perfection but is linked to the sanctification that comes through faith in Christ. The other aspect of this is that “great cloud of witnesses” to consider and that is what verse 14 is all about. The writer is explaining to the Jewish believers that how they live outwardly matters for themselves, but also as a witness to the, as of yet, unbelieving Jewish people they are in contact with everyday. Falling into grievous sins can ruin a believers witness to the unsaved (same goes for today).

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD:” (Hebrews 12:14 KJV)

Who are they that “no man shall see the Lord” ? The born again Jewish believer? No! They are eternally saved by belief on Christ for righteousness, Christ’s “…once for all…” blood sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10-14)  which made their Spirit eternally perfect. But, a believer can still sin as our body and mind are not yet fully redeemed (1 Cor. 15:50, Romans 12). Verse 14 is saying that the unbelieving Jews need to see the Lord in the lives of Jewish saved people, to draw them closer to the truth and the Gospel. That they should be living as an examples to those persecuting them and who are pressing them back to rituals of The Law. Keeping the faith in Cjrist and salvation, thru their persecution.

A Truth For Us Today As Well

This applies to us today as well. A born again believer is saved eternally in the Spirit, and so we should live Godly in our outward Earthly life as well (James 2). First, because we SHOULD (Ephesians 2:10) having a new Spirit of God and the Holy Spirit indwelling us (Eph. 1:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:21, Colossians 2). And Second as a witness to unbelievers to help them come to Christ for righteousness and not their ‘goodness’ or ‘good deeds’ which cannot save a person or make them righteous with God (Eph . 2:8-9, Galatians 3, Galatians 5:4-5).

So verse 14 in summary by proper context is the writer also stating that if you live carnally or going back to even some of the Law rituals, it will ruin the witness to unbelievers. If they see mostly carnality, or rituals of the Law continuing, in born again believers, will those who are sticking to the Law in unbelief see the truth about the Lord and true salvation?