Explore Hebrews 5:11-14. Why this much on Melchizedek? What is the warning in Chapter 6? Keep in mind the journey motif that continues to pervade the literary shape of the epistle. The journey language is used to describe Christian experiences. The wilderness generation is a lens used to describe the danger of apostasy. The imagery and analogy is thick. The lack of persevering faith is evidence for the lack of possessing God’s presence. In Hebrews 3:14 we read, “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end…” The warnings are a call to faith to believers. Hebrews defines “real Christians” as those who have persevering faith. Consider an introduction to Stephen Holmes’ essay Death in the Afternoon.