Let us hold fast to Jesus
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Hebrews 10:19-39
1. Introduction:
Well, I am not someone who likes to sit down and slowly reads manuals. I don’t really like theory. I just jump in and do stuff. I think i get it from my mum. she’s a very industrious woman. i wish i was half as industrious. but I don’t really like to think before I do. i wonder if you are like me. It’s certainly led to some very hard lessons. When we first found out my Joy was pregnant. we umm bought a baby seat those baby capsules as you do. Man there really is such thing as a baby tax. Well we bought this maxi cosi capsule from baby bunting. Before installing it, my wife Joy asked have you read the manual? I’m like nah forget it. I’ll just vibe it. How hard can it be? What a big mistake. It took me like 1 whole hour to install the seat and it wasn’t even secured tightly! like i reckon i spent 30 minutes trying to figure out why an infant seat was at such a weird angle. it wasn’t sitting snug, it was like at weird angles! I’m looking at it thinking, what does this plastic bit do? how do i lock in this seat belt? why is it so loose? why are the straps not tightening. how do i lock the capsule in? bahhhh! i should’ve listened to Joy. i needed the manual. i need to study it properly. i needed to understand how the babycapsule works. Friends, it’s all good, i’ve got 4 kids we’ve had about 10 baby/toddler seats I’ve read the manual i get how it works. I can do it for you if you need.
Here’s the thing friends, we won’t know how to live out the Chrsitian life without understanding how it works. a little bit like the manual, the few chapters in Hebrews God tells us how Christianity works. We need to understand how it works, the theory before we live out the Christian life. Otherwise it just won’t work.
Now we are in a new section. And you know this because of the key word there. Verse 19 ‘therefore’ did you notice it?
Hebrews 10:19 (ESV)
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
Because of all that you have learnt about Jesus in the last 4 chapters. Now. here’s how to live. Today’s passage is the climax of the Book.
the first thing the author does is again remind is of the most wonderful truth. That’s my first point.
2. The Gospel is the most wonderful truth (10:19-21)
The author summarises one more time how wonderful Jesus is.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
The key point here is this; we can approach God with boldness through Jesus. that’s the point. isn’t Jesus wonderful? because of Jesus, we can approach God with complete boldness. complete confidence. why? our sins have been completely forgiven and forgotten. we learnt this last week. But why is this so wonderful? Well most Aussies, they think of course you can approach God. he’s just an fluffy old man in the clouds. They are not afraid of him. They think I’m doing you a favour God if I rock up to Church for Easter and Christmas. I’m doing you a favour God if I think about you. He’s not important. that’s how the world thinks. But the reality is, without Jesus we cannot approach God. He is holy. He is righteous. He is pure. He is without sin. we are sinners. In fact we are stained with sin. we fail to love God with our heart, soul and mind and strength. We think we love others but we fail to really love our neighbours like God intends. Let’s get serious, I can’t even live up to my own expectations. I’m going to read the Bible in a year and follow this plan. I’ve failed myself, let alone God’s standards. The fact is, Hebrews shows us before Jesus no one can approach God.
If you remember before Jesus, the Israelites had a tabernacle. It was a model of heaven. It was where God symbolically dwelt. But you could not just waltz in. you needed a priest to stand between you and God. he had to offer sacrifices, for him and for the people. The tabernacle actually had this big thick curtain that stopped anyone from entering the room. The most holy place. It separated us from God. no one could go into God’s presence. The High priest could. And only once a year. He had to make sacrifices. The Old Testament system showed us that God is holy. He is set apart. We are not. We have a problem. There is curtain that separated us. There was no way in. But Jesus is wonderful. Why? Jesus has died on the cross and paid the death for sin once and for all. once and for all. The curtain has permanently been torn apart. We can have complete access to God. by faith in Jesus. That’s what we have learnt in Hebrews. That’s how it works.
So the therefore says ‘because of everything Jesus has done for us we can now boldly enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. He represents us. The Gospel is the most wonderful truth. Friends, if you know that. If you trust in Jesus, then here’s how to live for Jesus. 3 things to do. And we see it in the 3 ‘let us’ phrases. Verse 22, verse 23 and verse 24
Let’s look at them one by one
First
2. Let us draw near to God (10:22)
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
This is not just talking about praying to God. although praying is part of it. it’s not just saying when you die you draw near to God in heaven. It’s saying for your whole life you live with God as your heavenly father. draw near to God with your whole life. He’s not your enemy anymore. You have been forgiven by Jesus. he’s your loving father. So He welcomes you into his presence. What’s better than that? So live it out. Listen to him speak in his Word everyday. Dwell in God’s Word. Meditate on the Word. Think about the things of God. Talk to him the highs and lows of life everyday. When you are joyful turn to God and praise him. When you fall in sin, don’t hide from God. that’s the worst thing to do. You and I both know we want to wallow in guilt. Oh I can’t speak to God. I’m too deep in sin. Don’t think like that. When you sin, draw near to God. Confess and know you are forgiven. Remember what Christ has done. Friends, when you have doubts and struggles, do not drift along and keep quiet. Draw near to God. Ask for help by speaking to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Draw near. Not because you deserve it because you have a clean heart. It’s Jesus who has cleaned our hearts. We know that truth. So draw near fully confident. with full assurance.
Secondly.
3. Let us hold onto our confession (10:23, 26-31)
Come to verse 23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
If you know the wonderful truth about Jesus, then keep trusting in him. Don’t give up. Don’t wander away. Don’t look for another path. Don’t get distracted. it’s so easy to be distracted in this tim we live in. Hold on to what you believe with everything you have. Because if we stick with Jesus to the end, we will enjoy eternity with Jesus. But if we give up on Jesus, then there is no hope for us. And that’s the big warning of this passage. I wonder if you felt that discomfort reading that section from verse 26 – this whole section expands on this verse. verse 23
come down to verse 26
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Friends I don’t think there are two scarier verses than these two. fearful expectation of judgment, fury of fire… do you hear that? Listen here. What’s the author saying? If we go on sinning deliberately. That settled intentional sin – this is turning away from Jesus. Why? When you know the truth about Jesus. but you say I’m walking away. I don’t care. I don’t care how he wants me to live. If you do that, there’s nothing left for you. It’s not saying Jesus death can’t still pay for your sin. and by God’s grace, some walk away and then return and God will forgive. He will. But it is saying if you reject Jesus, then there’s nothing for you. God has nothing for you. There’s no other way to know God. there is no hope. All that awaits is God’s judgment.
To hammer the point home, he compares rejecting Jesus to an Israelite rejecting Moses. Hebrews has spoken about how great Jesus is. Jesus is greater than the Old Testament. He is greater than angels. He is certainly greater than Moses, the law, the tabernacle. The Old testament is shadow pointing to Jesus. Jesus is the reality. And what happened when the Israelites rejected the shadow? The old testament law? They died without mercy, verse 28. That’s the shadow. So how much worse would it be if we reject the reality. How much worse is it if we reject Jesus? look at verse 29 let it sink in
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
If we reject Jesus, we are walking on the blood of Jesus. Can you imagine someone spitting on your loved ones grave? How would you feel? disgusted? angered? injustice? That’s what he says here if you reject Jesus. it’s horrible to reject Jesus after you have come to know him. Friends it’s that serious. It’s not just a fun fact. like I like Hawthorn, Luke likes Brisbane. No big deal. No this is a very big deal. the biggest deal. God sent his son Jesus. Jesus willingly died for your sins. He paid for it completely. God the Son died! You can’t know that and say I don’t care. That’s to trample on the blood of Jesus.
You know I can’t help but think of a mate. Really he’s my wife’s good high school mate in Sydney. He is a nice bloke. Really conscientious. Served at church on the music team, did AV, welcomed new people into church. He was in my bible study when I doing an apprenticeship in Sydney. He was at church for at least 5 years. I think he even shared the Gospel with his mates. You see this guy and think wow he is a believer, he loved the Lord. But lurking underneath was a struggle. He struggled with same sex attraction. And he didn’t like the Bible’s teaching on this topic. In fact, this wrestle with God got too much for him. One day he said I’m done. I’m leaving. He spoke to the Pastor, and one day that was it. I never saw him at church again. I asked him what’s the go let’s call him Peter. What do you think about Jesus? What’s happened to your thoughts about Jesus? He said, it’s not that I don’t believe in Jesus, his death and resurrection. it just doesn’t work for me. I just don’t care.
Look my wife and I think and pray for him to come back. That reality of judgment is frightening. So it’s our constant prayer he would come back. he would come to his senses. He will come back to his loving heavenly father. You may have friends in that situation. Keep praying, keep chipping away. There will be moments you can speak into.
Friends, God loves you. He longs to forgive you. He wants you in his presence. He’s done it all. So trust in Jesus. Don’t turn your back on Jesus. Don’t do it. It’s a serious warning. Look at verse 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Whatever we do. Hold fast to our confession.
So how do we do that? keep remembering the wonderful truth of Jesus. the truth of the Gospel. Keep that fresh in your mind. Keep Jesus in the forefront of everything you do. Secondly, draw near to God. don’t pull away hold onto the Gospel. and there’s two more. Verse 32
4. Remember the zeal you had at first (10:32-39)
Come to verse 32: this is very challenging
hebrews 10:32-34
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Remember the zeal you had at first. What these verses say is what people are like when they first come to know Jesus. These Jewish Christians were persecuted. They were mocked, teased, harassed, but it didn’t worry them. why? What does it matter when you know the creator of the world. they didn’t even care if others stole their possessions. What does it matter? They have treasures in heaven. They had sins forgiven. The writer is saying; you have done it before, why would you give it up now?
For whatever reason, the Jewish Christians had lost their zeal. Their zeal had gone cold. Maybe persecution had taken its toll. Maybe they looked at other unbelievers, life looks better. Maybe they struggled in sin. But they were wavering. So he says remember the zeal you had at first. Remember what you were like when you first understood the Gospel. When you first understand what Jesus did for you. That joy, that amazement. Don’t throw it away Now.
I don’t know you but maybe you have gone cold. Remember what you were like when you first came to know Jesus? Remember your zeal? Where’s it gone? I remember after I first became a Christian, I’d go to Christian camps. I’d go conferences even at the expense of family holidays. No worries. I came to know the Lord! that’s nothing better. I’d go Youth group. I’d meet up with others to read the Bible. I’d be at church 100%. I’m there early. I leave late. I’d be at bible study. I’d want to serve. I didn’t care. That’s just what i did. But the thing is, zeal goes up and down over the Christian life. We go through seasons of ups and downs. But don’t let that zeal, that amazement, that joy of the Gospel become a thing of the past. the glory days. no. Remember it. cultivate it again by remembering the Gospel. Keep going. Persevere.
But there’s one final key to Christian perseverance. I think it’s really important.
It’s the third let us.
5. Let us keep encouraging one another (10:24-25)
hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Friends, we are individuals in western culture. It’s me, myself and I. I’m saved. It’s me persevering. But God does not think that way. He wants us to be other person centered. We want our brothers and sisters to persevere. We need one another if we are to persevere in the faith. Make no mistake we are bombarded by the sermons of the world. The Internet, social media, the Television ads, TV shows. The world teaches us life is about us. Our happiness. Live however you want. It preaches a world without God. Live for the now. Just do it. When you have that in your ears day in day out, we need our brothers and sisters in Christ don’t we? To be a follower of Jesus means we are part of God’s church. We don’t neglect to meet together verse 25. To say I love and follow Jesus but I don’t meet with brothers and sisters, I heard that this week that’s absurd. It’s not true. God does not think like this. we’re not saved to live on an island on our own. we’re save to be part of the fellowship. The way we keep following Jesus is to encourage our brothers and sisters we meet with. And be encouraged by our brothers and sisters. We think about how to stir one another up to love and good works. Together have our eyes fixed on Jesus. We think about Jesus and how to live for him in his word together.
And you can only do this if you are here. Physically. If you are not here, you can’t encourage anyone. I would say, even if you don’t say a word, the fact that you are here is encouraging. It is. we don’t come only if we have it all together. we come burdened knowing that Jesus has saved us. We don’t need to have it all together. just come and be served. So you are encouraging even if you don’t think so. Why? Well others look around and go, yeah I’m not alone. Now hopefully you will share some words and work at encouraging others. And when the Lord gives you a season of life when you are going well, you can serve someone else struggling. friends there are two challenges this passage gives us.
First
5.1 Prioritise meeting together
In verse 25
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
there are those who do not prioritize meeting together. We see it right there in the early church. It’s not a new thing for us. But get this, there is nothing more important than meeting with brothers and sisters in Christ. At church first and foremost. Make the effort to keep meeting with brothers and sisters in Christ. There’s really no good excuse for regularly missing fellowship. You need it. your brothers and sisters need you. And if you are in a bad habit of missing it, or you have never been in a good habit, today is the day to change. Make the change. Of course, there are weeks when you are sick, you’re on holidays. but Church – I’m there. that’s my regular fixture. i’m not moving it. Prioritise meeting together.
And secondly
5.2 Come to encourage others
Again verse 25 see there second half
hebrews 10:25
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Notice the key element of church is to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to come with an attitude of ‘how can I be an encouragement to others.’ The best advice I ever got, pray before you come to church. Pray that God would help me to encourage someone today. And, when you come in, don’t sit on your own. Church is not like going to the cinemas. You know when you choose a seat, where do you choose? Best view, away from everyone else. I’m sure its not just me. No no, don’t think like that. Come right at the front, come sit next to those who you don’t know. Come use your gifts to encourage. Be curious about others, speak to others. Love others. Sing loudly to encourage others around you. You see we are here to encourage each other as we wait for Jesus’ return. We are here to point each other to our Saviour Jesus Christ. The day is drawing near. Jesus will return, and we want to look around and see others you encouraged, others that encouraged you to be there with the Lord forever.
Friends, let’s hold fast to Jesus. remember the wonderful truth of the Gospel. So let us draw near to God, give our whole lives to him let us hold onto the Gospel, don’t waver be firm in your convictions don’t lose your zeal for Jesus, be amazed that Christ would love a sinner like you and let us keep encouraging each other as we prioritise meeting together. Jesus is coming back soon.
Let’s pray