Joy & Justice
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Quote from Dr. King
Quote from Dr. King
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that.” (Strength to Love, 1963.)
The book of Hebrews
The Bible Knowledge Commentary Background and Setting
The identity of the first readers of Hebrews, like the author, is unknown.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary Background and Setting
Nevertheless they were evidently part of a particular community. This appears from several considerations. The readers had a definite history and the writer referred to their “earlier days” (Heb. 10:32–34); he knew about their past and present generosity to other Christians (6:10); and he was able to be specific about their current spiritual condition (5:11–14). Moreover, the author had definite links with them and expressed his intention to visit them, perhaps with Timothy (13:19, 23). He also requested their prayers (13:18).
In all probability the readers were chiefly of Jewish background
Faith is a major theme in the book Hebrews
Faith is the foundation of our salvation
For,
“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
The writer of Hebrews reassured the readers that the coming one will come and will not delay.
The writer quotes from Habakuk that “my righteous one shall live by faith”
“And if he shrinks back”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 10:37–38
that is, if the “righteous one” commits apostasy, denouncing his Christian profession, God’s favor cannot rest on his life.
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
We are those who have faith!
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith is....
Assurance title (deed) n. — a legal document to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it.
Conviction: Convicting evidence.
Faith tells me that He hasn’t come yet and I don’t see him physically.... But faith tells me…
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Hebrews gives a list of some heroes of faith… In chapter 11
The Bible Knowledge Commentary A. The Life of Faith (Chap. 11)
Since these people experienced faith, so could his readers.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Lay aside every weight...
“And sin which clings so closely”
Clings: besetting adj. — skillfully encircling on all sides
The sin of faithlessness or unbelief is truly a root to a sinful life…
“Let us run with endurance The race that is set before us”
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking: to look to (undistractedly) v. — to look to something without having one’s attention diverted.
The founder and perfecter of our faith!
The race is connected to our Journey of Faith - The race has been set before us...
Looking unto Jesus....
“Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross”
Joy (emotion) n. — the emotion of great happiness and pleasure.
Endured: to endure (withstand) v. — to face and withstand with courage.
The Cross
A cross was a humiliating thing. It was for criminals, for those whom society regarded as the low life of humanity—and yet he accepted it.
The Joy of the Cross - That was set before Him (John 17)
The Joy that was set before Him - Created a domino affect…
It brought Him Joy to bring glory to the Father
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
It brought Him Joy accomplishing the work the Father gave him to do
I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
It brought him Joy to be restored with the Glory that He had before the world existed…
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
It brought Him Joy to be seated at the right Hand…
It brought Him Joy that we would be liberated
I would be free from the curse of Sin!
(Example)
All this could on be accomplished by death…
The Joy - Is Death
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Will: to delight (take) v. — to take a high degree of pleasure or mental satisfaction in.
The Joy of Justice… The Joy of me being declared justified…
Jesus brought justice through death and it was His Joy
This Justice is for a purpose....
Dr. King
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: Only love can do that.” (Strength to Love, 1963.)
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
I have been justified to shine!