[:en]CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS (vs. 1-23)
Love each other as brothers. Be hospitable to strangers. Sympathize those in prison and especially to Christians being imprisoned for their faith, and those who are mistreated. Respect your marriage vows by keeping your marriage bed pure. Do not love money but be content with what you have. Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. Strengthen your hearts by grace not by ceremonial foods. Continue to offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name. Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. Obey them so that their work will be a joy not a burden. Pray for others and live honorably in every way. Let us grow in maturity and center our life on Christ, who is sufficient and superior. He promises: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” (v. 4). Keep in mind the following assurances: 1, “The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (v. 6) 2. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (v. 8)
Strive to live with less rather than desiring for more. Give any out of your abundance rather than accumulating more. Remember that money and posessions will all pass away. Trust God to meet all your needs. Continue to follow the good examples of Christian leaders who have invested their lives in you and imitate their faith. Invest your life through evangelism, service and Christian education. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings especially the teachings of Old Testament ceremonial laws and rituals. Those laws are useless because they can only influence conduct but they can not change the heart from evil thoughts and desires. Lasting change in conduct is only possible if the Holy Spirit lives in that person. Jesus suffered humiliation outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. So, we must declare our complete loyalty to Christ and follow the Messiah. Remember that all that we are and have are temporay. Only our relationship with God and our service to Him wil last.[:]