Continuing In Confidence: Part I; Draw Near and Go Far
Continuing In Confidence: Part I
Draw Near and Go Far
Hebrews 10:19-25 June 8, 1997
Scripture: Unison Reading, Heb. 10:19-25, page 1873-1874, Pew Bible
Introduction:
This passage continues the confidence theme in connection with Heb. 6:19-20.
This passage gives us the enablement and then the exhortation.
“Since” and “Let Us” x 4.
Based on the explanation of the priesthood of Christ in the order of Melchizedek in Ch. 7-10.
Part I. Continue in confidence by drawing near to God: the new and living way. (vv. 19-25)
A. Our confidence before God continues through the new and living way of the blood of Jesus. (v. 19) {See Heb. 9:11-28}
The blood of Jesus sums up all that he did for us in the offering up of himself.
The holy place is no longer sealed off for the continual performance of sacrifices.
It is wide open on the strength of the perfect offering already made.
It is available only to those who are called brothers, those who share in the heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1).
Those who discover a new approach to God through Jesus also discover a new relationship to each other.
B. Our confidence before God continues through the new and living way of the body of Jesus. (v. 20) {See Heb. 10:1-18}
The words for “new and living way” imply a freshly slain or recent sacrifice.
Jesus became a living sacrifice, immediately effective for every person, in every time, for every sin. (Rom. 12:1)
Jesus is the “way” that would be provided to gain access to God, Heb. 9:8.
Early Christians were known as the Way, Acts 9:1,2; 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22.
But more correctly in this passage, Jesus is the way through his atoning sacrifice, the way to God through the curtain by his flesh.
Just as the curtain could be seen as a hindrance in our access to God, it can also be seen as the way of access. {See Mt. 27:51}
Faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross is the way of access to God.
The holy of holies is wide open through Jesus.
Just as in life, it is who you know that makes a difference in where you can go. Just like a top secret security clearance that finds no objection to your access to the most important people, places and information.
C. Our confidence before God continues through the superior priesthood of Jesus. (v. 21) {See Heb. 7:11- 28}
The greatness of his priesthood has to do with his unique effectiveness in opening up a new and living way, Heb 4:14-16.
His priesthood over the house of God is both in heaven and on earth, Heb. 3:6.
D. Therefore we can draw near to God through Jesus (personal devotion) - four conditions of approach that are met in Jesus. (v. 22)
1. With a sincere heart (with true devotion).
A true heart is genuine, sincere, honest, meaningful, and without hypocrisy.
A true heart involves and attitude of gladness, freedom, and enthusiasm.
A true heart knows what Jesus Christ has done -- the great impact and meaning of what he has done.
A true heart knows that it can really draw near God -- that it can know God and commune and fellowship with him.
It knows that it can walk in praise and thanksgiving to God all day -- that it can have the presence and power of God looking after and caring for it all day -- that God will deliver from all trials and temptations and give victory and triumph over all.
The true heart knows what it is to draw near God -- what it is to live in an unbroken communion and fellowship with him.
2. With full assurance of faith (with no reason to doubt).
Full assurance means unqualified assurance in Christ, that he is the one person who can and does give us access into God’s presence -- that Christ and Christ alone makes us acceptable to God.
It means to be absolutely convinced that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is the only perfect sacrifice -- that his sacrificial death is the only sacrifice that God accepts.
3. With our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience (with moral purity).
4. With our bodies washed with pure water (outward as well as inward purity).
We must have hearts and bodies perfectly cleansed and washed.
This is a picture of the High Priest cleansing and washing himself before he entered God’s presence in the holy of holies, the inner sanctuary of the Jewish tabernacle.
He sprinkled himself with the blood of the sacrificial animal and washed himself.
This symbolized that his own sins were being forgiven.
His own evil conscience was being cleansed and the sins of his body were being washed away.
The point is this: before we approach God, we must be cleansed of sin and its guilt-- cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
We have to approach God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ alone is the perfect sacrifice for sins; he alone has made the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Therefore, the only way we can be cleansed of sin is to trust Jesus Christ.
If we really trust his sacrifice, then God accepts his sacrifice for us.
God cleanses us of sin.
He gives us a clean conscience and washed body -- a conscience cleansed of evil and guilt and a body washed from sin.
E. Therefore we can have hope in God through Jesus (consistency). (v. 23)
1. Our hope begins with our profession of faith in Jesus.
2. Our hope continues to enable us to be unwavering about our faith in Jesus.
(not inclining from true perpendicular)
3. Our hope is founded upon God’s faithfulness to us.
4. Our hope in God’s faithfulness is secured by God’s promises to us.
F. Therefore we can be an inspiration to others in service through Jesus (social obligations). (v. 24)
1. The consideration of God’s love to us in Jesus inspires us to promote love in ourselves and others.
2. The consideration of God’s good deed to us in Jesus inspires us to promote good deeds in ourselves and others.
a. These are corporate actions that must be worked at individually.
b. It emphasizes that love must have a practical outcome.
G. Therefore we can be an inspiration to others in worship through Jesus (worship obligations). (v. 25)
1. The promotion of love and good deeds takes place in the context of mutual fellowship and worship.
2. The promotion of love and good deeds does not take place in the context of isolation from other believers.
a. The church drifter or lone Christian has minimal effectiveness on others in the body of Christ.
b. The church drifter or lone Christian gains minimal effect from others in the body of Christ.
3. Mutual effectiveness in and through the body of Christ must be paramount considering the approaching Day.
a. The fact of this approaching Day is evident.
b. That Day will call us to account.
c. That Day will call others to account.
d. We must live as if it were Today, Heb 3:13-14.
Timeless Truth: Our confidence in Christ is contagious. Spread it around. The closer we get to God, the closer we can get to one another.
Part II. Continue in confidence by refraining from sin: another warning. (vv. 26-31)
Part III. Continue in confidence by enduring: the value of past experience. (vv. 32-39)
Continuing In Confidence: Part I
Draw Near and Go Far
Hebrews 10:19-39 June 8, 1997
Part I. Continue in confidence by drawing near to God: the new and living way. (vv. 19-25)
A. Our confidence before God continues through the new and living way of the b _ _ _ _ of Jesus. (v. 19) {See Heb. 9:11- 28}
B. Our confidence before God continues through the new and living way of the b _ _ _ of Jesus. (v. 20) {See Heb. 10:1-18}
C. Our confidence before God continues through the superior p _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of Jesus. (v. 21) {See Heb. 7:11- 28}
D. Therefore we can draw near to God through Jesus
(p _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ) - four conditions of approach that are met in Jesus. (v. 22)
1. With a sincere heart (with true d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ).
2. With full assurance of faith (with no reason to d _ _ _ _ ).
3. With our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience (with m _ _ _ _ p _ _ _ _ _ ).
4. With our bodies washed with pure water (o _ _ _ _ _ _ as well as i _ _ _ _ _ purity).
E. Therefore we can have hope in God through Jesus
(c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ). (v. 23)
1. Our hope b _ _ _ _ _ with our profession of faith in Jesus.
2. Our hope c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to enable us to be unwavering about our faith in Jesus.
3. Our hope is f _ _ _ _ _ _ upon God’s faithfulness to us.
4. Our hope in God’s faithfulness is s _ _ _ _ _ _ by God’s promises to us.
F. Therefore we can be an inspiration to others in service through Jesus (s _ _ _ _ _ o _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ). (v. 24)
1. The consideration of God’s love to us in Jesus inspires us to promote love in ourselves and others.
2. The consideration of God’s good deed to us in Jesus inspires us to promote good deeds in ourselves and others.
a. These are corporate actions that must be worked at i _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
b. It emphasizes that love must have a
p _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ outcome.
G. Therefore we can be an inspiration to others in worship through Jesus (w _ _ _ _ _ _ o _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ). (v. 25)
1. The promotion of love and good deeds takes place in the context of m _ _ _ _ _ fellowship and worship.
2. The promotion of love and good deeds does not take place in the context of i _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ from other believers.
a. The church drifter or lone Christian has minimal effectiveness on others in the body of Christ.
b. The church drifter or lone Christian gains minimal effect from others in the body of Christ.
3. Mutual effectiveness in and through the body of Christ must be p _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ considering the approaching Day.
a. The fact of this approaching Day is e _ _ _ _ _ _ .
b. That Day will call us to account.
c. That Day will call others to account.
d. We must live as if it were T _ _ _ _ , Heb 3:13.
Timeless Truth: Our confidence in Christ is c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . Spread it around. The closer we get to God, the closer we can get to one another.
Part II. Continue in confidence by refraining from sin: another warning. (vv. 26-31)
Part III. Continue in confidence by enduring: the value of past experience. (vv. 32-39)
Continuing In Confidence: Part II & III
A Crash Course On Sin
Hebrews 10:26-39 June 15, 1997
Scripture: Unison Reading, Heb. 10:26-39, page 1874, Pew Bible
Introduction:
We already covered -----
Part I. Continue in confidence by drawing near to God: the new and living way. (vv. 19-25)
We found that we can have confidence because the fruits of our salvation are evident, that God stands by his promises, and that our hope in Christ is like an anchor for our souls. The atoning work of the body and blood of Jesus and his resulting high priesthood are explained as the basis for continuing in confidence to draw near to God with a pure heart, a pure faith, a pure conscience and a pure body. These are seen as the new and living way not only to draw near to God, but to draw near to each other in service and in worship. The closer we draw unto God as individuals in Christ, the farther we can go with God as the church in Christ.
Our confidence theme progresses still farther in today’s passage with a severe warning not to continue in sin and to remember past accomplishments. Just as we can gain confidence by drawing near to God through Christ, we can lose confidence by continuing in deliberate sin. Even though this comes as a warning, I believe it can also be taken as an encouragement because sins have been overcome, and the past has yielded victories as this passage reminds us to remember. By remembering what we have in Christ and that we can always draw near to him, we can continue in victory together with him even over sin. Our confidence is in Christ!
If we ever fall from Christ, we fall from confidence. It is then that we fall further into sin because we have forgotten the past and lost our vision of the future. And even though the future is still there for those who are truly saved, dare I chance losing my assurance of it? By God’s grace I will hang on to Christ Jesus with a death grip! There can be no confidence for us if we willingly continue in sin once we know truth. Can we say we are saved if there is no difference in us? We continue in confidence when we refrain from willful sin.
This confidence must first of all be upheld by those in authority in the church and in the home. The responsibility is to the fathers. This is Father’s Day and so I address this message primarily to us. But that doesn’t let the rest of us off the hook. A godly example compounds the responsibility of the followers. And that is where we all fall under Christ. Time permitting, I will end this message with my personal testimony or experience regarding this passage and what it tells us.
Part II. Continue in confidence by refraining from sin: another warning. (vv. 26-31)
A. Deliberate sin rejects the effectiveness of truth (v. 26). (Jn. 9:41; 15:22-24)
1. The truth is the person and work of Christ (who said he spoke the truth and was the truth - the only saving truth).
(Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12)
2. Deliberate sin rejects the truth of Christ’s atonement.
3. Deliberate sin has no other recourse for truth
(S. 10:14, 18).
4. Truth still calls even to the deliberate sinner, but will he hear it? This is the danger of apostasy.
1) voluntarily, willingly, of one's own accord
1a) to sin willfully as opposed to sins committed inconsiderately,
and from ignorance or from weakness
See Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8 - what is deliberate. It is habitual sin, we look for it, we place ourselves in its way. To de-liberate, to be unliberated or bound again in sin.
Examples of those who sinned deliberately: Pharaoh, Saul, Balaam, Judas.
This passage warns of the dangers of apostasy much the same way as 6:4-8.
It is sparked off by the mention of the day of reckoning in v. 25.
The emphasis here is on responsible sin entered into with your eyes open.
It highlights deliberate sin because an intelligent understanding of the truth had been acquired.
This type of sin therefore becomes a rejection of the truth which is the unique sacrifice of Christ for sin.
Nothing else then remains to deal with sin because the sacrifice of Christ is all there is, and this is all that is necessary.
There may be other sacrifice, but none effective for sins.
a. Effective truth is saving truth.
b. Truth changes behavior as we understand error and how to correct it.
c. Truth then is effective only as we conform to it.
d. If we do not conform to truth, we then reject truth.
e. Rejecting truth is worse than never having received it.
f. The knowledge of the truth is then replaced by doubly compounded ignorance.
g. In fact, salvation has been rejected and destruction has been chosen.
B. Deliberate sin displaces confidence with fear of judgment (v. 27).
1. This judgment from God is a raging fire (not a refining fire).
2. A raging fire consumes and destroys (2Pet. 3:10-12).
3. God destroys his enemies.
4. God’s enemies reject the sacrifice of Christ for sin.
5. We reject Christ’s sacrifice for sin when we willingly continue to live in sin (6:6).
6. Deliberate sin displaces God’s friendship with opposition.
Without an atoning sacrifice in which to trust, all that remains is judgment and fury.
Judgment relates to man’s fears and fury is God’s provision for those fears, making those fears well founded.
The degree to which thoughts of judgment strike terror into offenders depends on the character of the judge.
God’s judgment is not to be trifled with (S. v. 31)
C. Deliberate sin against God’s Law rejects God and invites death (v. 28).
1. Rejecting God invites others to reject us (witnesses).
2. Rejecting God leaves no recourse for mercy.
3. God’s mercy is all that keeps us from death.
This account is given as a parallel for similar judgment under the new covenant.
It speaks of one who refuses to accept the authority of the Mosaic law.
The context quoted regards the sin of idolatry resulting in capital punishment.
D. Deliberate sin against God’s Son is even greater rejection of God and deserves more punishment than sin against the Law (v. 29).
The argument proceeds from the lesser to the greater.
“How much worse,” applies to the most serious offense under the new covenant.
Serious thought is urged, “do you think”.
Three ways of offense are explained to show the contrast between those who enter into the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice and those who resolutely refuse to do so.
1. Deliberate sin against God’s Son defames his name of excellence. (Num. 14:13-16; Dt. 9:25-29; Jos. 7:6-12)
This is to insult, spurn, neglect and step on the Son of God.
It is to reject the Christian position, to be antagonistic against Christ, the extreme case of apostasy.
If you can understand how you feel when you get stepped on, you can imagine the Person of God and his wrath against those who reject his mercy.
2. Deliberate sin against God’s Son blasphemes his work of holiness.
This is to treat the blood of Christ as no different than any other man’s blood.
This destroys the whole basis of agreement of the new covenant, since blood was the means of ratifying a covenant, both old and new (9:22).
This is to despise the work of Christ.
“In which you were sanctified,” brings out the holy results of that sacrifice for the believer.
3. Deliberate sin against God’s Son insults his character of grace. (Mt. 12:31; Rom. 3:23-24; Jn. 16:8-11)
This is outrageous insolence against the Holy Spirit who calls us to Christ.
It is an arrogant rejection of the agency of grace.
Grace sums up the full benefits of what the Spirit has brought to us through the blood of Christ.
E. Deliberate sin invites retribution and judgment (v. 30).
We are invited to understand the character of the judge.
The character of the judge is a guarantee that the judgment will be just.
“For we know him,” calls our attention to God.
Vengeance and judgment are God’s prerogative.
He both vindicates his people and judges his enemies.
F. Deliberate sin is a dreadful (terrifying, fearful) thing before the living God (v. 31).
a. Wherever deliberate sin takes you serves that which is dead rather than living.
b. Since God is not dead but living we should fear his active but effective discipline (S. Acts 9:1-16; 2Cor. 11:24-29).
c. The ‘hand’ of God is at the end of a long arm - there is nowhere you can go outside his reach (Ps. 139).
d. The hand of God is raised against those who place themselves outside of his mercy, but lifts up those who humble themselves (1Pet. 5:6; Lam. 3:1-33).
De 5:26 For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?
1Sa 17:26 David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
2Ki 19:16 Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.
Jer 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.
Heb 3:12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.
Timeless Truth: To cash in on sin is to crash in to God. God is immovable. There are no exit ramps once you pull on to God’s freeway. This road of righteousness has only one on-ramp at Calvary and only one destination at the throne of God. The retaining walls protect us and give us confidence where we are going. The other option is to crash and burn on those same retaining walls. Do you want to come into God’s presence in one piece or dragged in by the tow truck of wrecked faith?
Part III. Continue in confidence by enduring: the value of past experience. (vv. 32-39)
Heb. 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Continuing In Confidence: Part II & III
A Crash Course On Sin
Hebrews 10:26-39 June 15, 1997
Part II. Continue in confidence by refraining from sin: another warning. (vv. 26-31)
A. Deliberate sin rejects the e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of t _ _ _ _ (v. 26).
B. Deliberate sin displaces c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with fear of j _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (v. 27).
C. Deliberate sin against God’s Law r _ _ _ _ _ _ God and invites d _ _ _ _ (v. 28).
D. Deliberate sin against God’s Son is even g _ _ _ _ _ _ rejection of God and deserves more p _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ than sin against the Law (v. 29).
1. Deliberate sin against God’s Son defames his n _ _ _ of e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
2. Deliberate sin against God’s Son blasphemes his w _ _ _ of h _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
3. Deliberate sin against God’s Son insults his c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of g _ _ _ _ .
E. Deliberate sin invites r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and j _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (v. 30).
F. Deliberate sin is a d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ thing before the l _ _ _ _ _ God (v. 31).
Timeless Truth: To c _ _ _ in on sin is to c _ _ _ _ in to God.
Part III. Continue in confidence by enduring: the value of past experience. (vv. 32-39)
Heb. 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.