140-107 Resolved To Be Transformed
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Hebrews 4:12-13
Hebrews 4:12-13
The most difficult thing I find about beginning a new year is remembering to write the correct date (22 is now 23). Of course, New Year’s resolutions can be just as difficult to stay with them persistently. It takes about 32 days for the average person to break their resolution(s). Some fare better than others but only about 10% keep them for the year.
Now, really at the heart of every new year’s resolution is transformation. People are seeking to improve themselves in a variety of ways: physical, mental, spiritual, etc…I think most people have feelings of regret and guilt over the past months and year and determine to change how they live.
Resolutions can be very helpful, particularly for the believer who desires to progress in personal holiness.
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
The path that leads to heaven will 1st lead to holiness in this earthly life. This pursuit requires self-discipline. Jonathan Edwards (the greatest pastor, preacher, philosopher, theologian, and author that America has ever produced) made great strides toward personal holiness. He was converted at the age of 17. Before that, at 13 he began higher education at what would become Yale University. Hardly one man has had greater influence in this country than him: 300 clergymen, missionaries and theological professors; 120 college professors; 110 lawyers; 60+ physicians; 60+ authors of good books; 30 judges; 14 university presidents; many industrial giants; 80 holders of public office; 3 mayors; 3 state governors; 3 US senators; 1 comptroller of US Treasury; 1 VPOTUS.
1 year after his conversion Edwards began to write 70 resolutions over the next year. There were purpose statements that expressed his intentional pursuit of holy things—striving to do all that would magnify God’s glory, putting away sin from himself, holding fast to faith and growing in love toward others.
Resolutions that would promote personal growth in holiness are good things. And we should recognize that transformation is the purpose and design of God for all who have called upon the Lord by faith. We are constantly challenged to grow in the grace and knowledge of our LJC. As that knowledge of Christ increases in us, there will be transformation that results in our lives—that transformation never takes place apart from Christ or from the workings of His grace.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
The word of God is powerful and effective and what begins with renewal of the mind will one day translate into the transformation of our bodies
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
God has given us His Word which is sufficient to accomplish His perfect will in each one of us.
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
God’s Word proves to be profitable because of what it is. Scripture describes itself by a number of images:
Mirror—for purpose of self-examination (Jas 1:22-25)
Its value is compared to precious metals—Gold and silver—Ps 12:6; 19:10; 119:27
Fire—speaks of judgment Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD,
Water—brings forth cleansing of the spirit—Eph 5:23-27; Rev 21:6; 22:17
Seed—inherent to the seed is the principle of life—capable of producing new life: Mt 13:10-23; 1 Pt 1:23; Jas 1:18
Hammer—Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?—God’s Word is powerful
Food the nourishes the soul: Job 23:12 "I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Milk—1 Pt 2:1-3
Bread—Dt 8:3; Mt 4:4
Meat—Heb 5:12-14
Honey—Ps 19:10
Lamp—gives light for direction—Ps 119:105; Prov 6:23
Plumb line—God sets before us the standard of His righteousness—Amos 7:8
Sword—the only weapon a believer carries into spiritual battle which equips us for victory—serves both defensive (defends against Satan’s schemes) offensive to defeat falsehood—Eph 6:17;
God’s Word is transformational. In light of the warning against unbelief and overconfidence, the writer of Hebrews identifies 4 characteristics of the Word, specifically focusing on its ability to move us toward God’s purposes (namely, Christlikeness). These 4 characteristics stand against the backdrop of the warning not to disregard the Word of God as the nation of Israel was guilty of.
Num13-14
Israel was on the verge of entering the Promised Land having been released from Egyptian slavery for 430 yrs. They sent a group of men into the land to spy it out and those men brought back a report that stirred rebellion among the congregation. Joshua and Caleb reminded them of God’s promise but they rejected their leadership.
So God’s anger was kindled against the nation and in His judgment He told them that no one over 20 yrs would enter the land. At this point the nation had a turning of their hearts:
14:39-45
In the context of the sword of the Amalekites and Canaanites and from which many perished, the writer of Hebrews says:
Heb 4:12-13;
1) The Word Is Living
1) The Word Is Living
“For” is an explanation of what has just been said (diligent to enter rest—by not being disobedient)
“word of God” has been debated as to whether it refers to the LJC (the Living word—Jn 1:1) or to the spoken, revealed Word of God. I believe this is a reference to revelation not LJC. Jesus is not considered to be a sword but to wield a sword (Rev 1:16; 2:12).
It is “Living”—b/c the God who speaks it is “living” (3:12). Emphatic—1st word in Gk sentence. It is a living word
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.
This speaks not only of its enduring nature but that there is within it the principle of life. In Stephen’s speech (Acts 7:38) he indicates the Moses carried off the Mtn—“living oracles of God that were passed on” to the people. Peter says the Word is living and abiding: 1 Peter 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God. It is capable of producing life which is what Jesus taught in His parable of the seed in Mk 4:26-29—life inherent in the seed (Word of God). Revelation which is living has constant application in the lives of those who submit to it.
It is effective in carrying out this life: “Active” Gk word energes we get the English word “energy.” Scripture is effective in producing the purpose of God.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
God’s Word is effectually powerful which serves as both a promise and warning. It is a promise in that the Word produces life/salvation in those who believe:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
It saves, it is transformational as the HS uses Scripture as the means to perfect our righteousness. But the living and active Word stands also as a warning against those who disbelieve. Countless examples of the peril/tragedy of unbelief exists in Scripture. It only proves that God is serious about the consequences of sin and disobedience which will always be judged.
2) The Word Is Penetrating
2) The Word Is Penetrating
“shaper than…” The sword of truth—word of God is capable of penetrating to the innermost depths of the human personality.
Some have used this vv to suggest that man is made up of 3 parts (trichotomist). There is the thought that man is composed of body, soul and spirit. Another view believes man consists of 2 parts (dichotomist)—material (flesh & blood) and immaterial (soul/spirit). The writer of Heb is not attempting to define the makeup of man but showing the penetrating ability of the word of God.
I believe the Scriptures speak of man as 2 parts: He has a body and he has a spirit/soul (2 terms which are not completely synonymous but used interchangeably in a number of passages). When the body (material aspect) dies, the immaterial separates and is translated into the presence of the Lord or condemned to eternal hell (corresponding to belief or unbelief).
“sword” in the Gk is used for a short sword or dagger, used for cutting or stabbing. It is roughly equivalent to knife and some have even thought it meant scalpel. The point is that the sword pierces to the point of dividing the soul and dividing the spirit (not soul from spirit). It can do this b/c it is sharper than any 2-edged sword. Some believe the 2 edges are the OT & NT. Others believe it refers to its ability to judge unbelievers and save believers or to cut both ways. It stands above every other sword in its efficacy to do what God designed His Word to do.
Philip Hughes “The point is…that no separation could be more intimate than that between soul and spirit or between joints and marrow… ‘there is nothing so hard or firm in a man, nothing so deeply hidden that the efficacy of the word does not penetrate through to it.’”
George Whitfield was a great 18th Century evangelist. He was preaching once to a group of people while several individuals who called themselves the “hell-fire club” hounded him, derided his message and mocked him. One man whose name was Thorpe was mimicking him to his buddies, delivering the sermon with brilliant accuracy, perfectly imitating Whitefield’s tone and facial expressions, when at once, he himself was so pierced by the message he was mimicking that he sat down and was converted on the spot. Mr Thorpe went on to become a prominent Xn leader in Bristol.
In his interaction with the penetrating word of God, he was cut thru to the innermost place in his life and was saved. Many of you have encountered this same piercing.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
3) The Word Is Discerning
3) The Word Is Discerning
“able to judge…” judge comes Gk kriticos Eng. Critic. Word has the capacity to judge, render decisions, to discern attitudes and thoughts that are found deep in the heart of a person.
The heart is the mission control center within man. It is the seat of personality, volition, emotions, decisions and thoughts. It is the place where a person plans and purposes his actions and all of this is hidden from sight.
When Samuel was tasked by God to anoint the new king of Israel from the sons of Jesse, Eliab the oldest walks in an Samuel thinks he is surely the new king. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
We really do a good job of concealing the contents of our hearts:
Robert Murray McCheyn “If all the secret sins of this congregation were brought to light instantaneously, even now the secret lust and thoughts of the hearts, the house of God would look more like the gates of hell than the gates of heaven.”
Spurgeon “Certain I am there are none of us who would like to have all our secrets read, especially our secret thoughts. If I should select out of this congregation the most holy man, should bring him forward and say, "Now, sir, I know all your thoughts, and am about to tell them," I am sure he would offer me the largest bribe that he could gather if I would be pleased to conceal at least some of them. "Tell," He would say, "of my acts; of them I am not ashamed; but do not tell my thoughts and imaginations—of them I must ever stand ashamed before God."
The heart is hidden but God’s Word, b/c it penetrates, sifts thru the very thought, intentions, the attitudes and motives that are found concealed in the heart.
The word accurately tells us what is in our hearts. If we truly want to understand ourselves, we must internalize God’s Word thru reading, meditation, memory and prayer.
Kent Hughes “the gift of self-knowledge is no small grace because when we grasp something of the serpentine ways of our hearts, we are disposed to cast ourselves even more on God’s grace. And that is no small grace!”
As God’s Word discerns what is in our hearts, it also brings judgment upon us. Here is the warning against disobedience. We don’t even know what is truly in our hearts so we ought to pray with David
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
4) The Word Is Reckoning
4) The Word Is Reckoning
Vs 13… the relationship b/t vs 12 & 13 should be apparent, there is no separation b/t God and His Word. As the word penetrates into the innermost recesses of the human heart and discerns what is truly in it, we come to know that nothing is hidden from God—not a single creature.
God sees everything. Scripture is filled with such references:
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.
17 “For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes.
24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
8 You have placed our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
Tozer comments on the vs “God knows instantly and effortlessly all matter and all matters, all mind and every mind, all spirit and all spirits, all being and every being, all creaturehood and all creatures, every plurality and all pluralities, all law and every law, all relations, all causes, all thoughts, all mysteries, all enigmas, all feeling, all desires, every unuttered secret, all thrones and dominions, all personalities, all things visible and invisible in heaven and in earth, motion, space, time, life, death, good, evil, heaven, and hell”
The account is told about some boys who were stealing apples. As they were in the act—the great American astronomer Samuel Alfred Mitchell was observing the sun through his telescope as it descended. As it was setting, there came into view the crest of an orchard-covered hill some 7 miles away where Dr Mitchell watched 2 boys, one picking apples and the other standing guard making sure there weren’t seen.
Everything that takes place is under the gaze of the all-seeing, all-knowing God. By Him we are held accountable. But for those who think they can escape the gaze of God, this is a terrifying truth.
“all things open, laid bare”—lit “naked and laid bare”. 2nd word has the idea of seizing someone by the throat, to bend the neck in order to expose the throat. This renders him helpless.
Writer of Heb wants his readers to know that to stand before God, people are completely exposed, helpless and having nothing to stand behind—not even clothing.
Some people say “when I get to heaven, I’m going to give God a piece of my mind.” No you won’t, you’re going to be naked, exposed to the living and powerful God who will hold you accountable for your life. The standard of reckoning will be the Word of God. This is the divine standard of righteousness He has placed before every soul.
The Word of God is a sword of judgment but it is also the sword of sanctification—the means by which God’s people are transformed into the glorious image of our Lord.
This sword becomes your greatest weapon against the temptation and falsehood, exposes your true motives and thoughts and purifies you that you might become holy and blameless before God.
Jonathan Edwards
Resolution 28: Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
May this year find you growing in personal holiness as you study God’s Word!