Church Matters: Attention to the Body of Christ

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV

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, 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. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 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.

Today in the modern church, we have an epidemic.

The epidemic is Christians who do not believe they need to be a part of the church to be a Christian.

This would’ve been unthinkable in the first century and subsequent centuries.

One ancient church father once wrote,

“No one can have God as Father who does not have the church as Mother.”

But not so in our own day.

What are we to think of this?

How are we to consider those who think the church is obsolete?

But more importantly, how should we think of the body of believers?

My hope in this series is to address some of these important questions about the body of Christ.

Today I want to consider a warning from Hebrews for us here today.

Hebrews 10:19 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

Anytime a text begins with therefore, you need to figure out what it’s there for.

The Old Testament law was a shadow.

Now a shadow isn’t the true form of the thing itself.

But the substance or the shadow is cast from Christ.

He told us that the shadow of the law could never perfect sinners.

Hebrews 10:4 ESV

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

It was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin.

Then it is necessary for God to send a better sacrifice to cleanse those whom He promised to redeem.

The Temple

There were three main elements of the temple.

Porch

Holy Place (Sanctuary)

Holy of Holies - God dwelt in the Holy of Holies and the people were unable to enter lest they should die.

The holy of holies was to be entered once a year by only the high priest.

This is commonly referred to as Yom Kippur or the day of atonement.

The high priest was to make atonement first for himself and then also for the people.

All of the sins of the people would be laid upon the lamb.

When the priest was offering sacrifices he would never sit down.

This was to show the continual need for sacrifice needed for the people.

Hebrews 10:12 ESV

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

When Christ sat down at the right hand of His Father He show the sacrifical system completed.

Hebrews 10:14 ESV

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

By that “singular offering” God has made perfect all those who are in the process of being set apart for His name sake.

He has made perfect everyone who is set apart as His people.

Hebrews 10:19 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

We NOW have confidence to enter the MOST holy places because of the blood of Jesus offered for sinners.

Christ has died

Christ has been risen

Because He has we can enter into the most holy places through the means of the blood of Jesus.

Christ’s Sacrifice Invites Sinners to Come in Faith

Hebrews 10:19–20 ESV

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,

The OLD way would have been the OLD system.

The NEW and LIVING way is the WAY that Jesus has opened to us.

The new and living way has been opened through the curtain of Christ’s flesh.

Jesus Tore the Veil

The curtain that vailed the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle was used to separate the people from the place that God dwelt.

But Hebrews says here that the new and living way has actually allowed us to dwell with God.

We no longer enter the Holy of Holies through a mediator of the High Priest once a year.

The veil which once acted as a barrier, to keep people out.

Now acts as a door through Jesus’s flesh.

Hebrews 10:21–22 ESV

and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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.

Again the imagery here is of Jesus as our great high priest.

Jesus, Our great High Priest

The High priest was the one who would go behind the curtain on the day of atonement and offer sacrifices on behalf of the people.

But now the writer of the Hebrews says that Jesus is that GREAT HIGH priest over God’s house.

We are no longer held out from the Holy of Holies but we are invited into the very presence of God.

Hebrews 10:22 ESV

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.

Our great high priest has sprinkled and cleansed our evil consciences and our bodies with pure water.

“The phrase our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience combines the OT imagery of the sprinkling with blood to give ritual purity with the emphasis on the interior cleansing provided by the new covenant:

It is the heart that is cleansed and the conscience made perfect (cf. Heb 8:10; 9:9, 14; 10:2, 16).” The NET Bible (Second Edition)

Now sinners are now cleansed by our Great High Priest.

We don’t have full assurance to produce faith.

Rather, our faith produces FULL ASSURANCE

Hebrews 10:22 (NET 2nd ed.)

let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings,

Faith brings us the assurance that we will be received for Jesus’ sake.

Christ’s Sacrifice Invites Sinners to Come in Faith

Application

Great CONFIDENCE for coming to Christ.

We know we will be received.

We trust we will be received.

NOT because we have tried hard enough.

NOT because we have cleaned ourselves up.

NOT because of anything else than that we have TURNED and TRUSTED.

“Tell your children of the duty and privilege of going to Church, and joining in the prayers of the congregation.

Tell them that wherever the Lord’s people are gathered together, there the Lord Jesus is present in a special way, and that those who are absent must expect, like the Apostle Thomas, to miss out on a blessing.

Tell them of the importance of hearing the Word of God preached, and that it is God’s ordained way of converting, sanctifying, and building up the souls of men.”

-J. C. Ryle

The writer of Hebrews then can write a command for the people.

Hebrews 10:23 NET 2nd ed.

And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.

Our confession is our hope.

To confess our faith is to tell of the hope.

“the content of the confession and of the hope are the same” (Harris, Dana M. Hebrews)

Now notice the ground that he gives for why we should do this.

Christ’s Sacrifice Gives a Sure Hope

Hebrews 6:19–20 ESV

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Confession Without Wavering

When the Christian confesses his faith.

He does NOT confess him/her self.

Hebrews 10:23 NET 2nd ed.

And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.

When the Christian confesses their faith, they confess Christ’s redemption of them.

Grounded in Christ’s Faithfulness

It’s not because we are faithful.

That would not be good news, or hope filled.

We confess that He who promised is faithful or trustworthy.

We confess the hope filled reality of the faithful God who has promised to receive sinners on the basis of His Son.

Application

Do not allow them to grow up with a habit of making vain excuses for not coming. Make them clearly understand, that so long as they are under your roof, it is the rule of your house for every one in good health to honor the Lord on the Lord’s day, and that you believe that the healthy person who refuses to go to church on the Lord’s Day brings great harm to his soul.

Do not be discouraged because your children do not see the full value of church and the Lord’s Supper now. Just train them to have a habit of regular attendance. Set it before their minds as a high, holy, and solemn duty, and believe me, the day will very likely come when they will bless you for your efforts.

-J.C. Ryle

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

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.

Christ’s Sacrifice Demands Our Fellowship in Love

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)

And let us consider how...

He is calling all of us to “be concerned about” (BDAG).

Notice what he doesn’t say,

“It’s the pastors job to make sure everyone is at church week to week.”

“It’s the pastors job to make sure everyone is attending.”

“I need the pastor to tell me to get my butt in church.”

He commands that all of us are to consider how to stir up or provoke each other to love and good works.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

In other contexts that word for provoke is used to describe “sharp argument, sharp difference of opinion” (Louw & Nida).

Pay mind to the fact that the kind of love that he commands here is NOT easy.

If you are expecting that being a part of a church community is easy, you should probably go find something easy to do.

Being part of a community REQUIRES us to provoke in each other a kind of Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Stirring Up to Love

It is necessary that we love one another with the kind of tenacious love that says,

“I love you so much, I am going to stir you up to love others!”

“I love you so much, I am going to work hard at making you love God more and others more!”

This doesn’t mean that we are rough with each other.

It means that we are utterly committed to each other.

Not just our well being but also our love and good works before God.

Stirring Up to Good Works

“provoke not to anger but good deeds” (Harris, Dana M. Hebrews)

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs: Notes Chapter 10

Congregations in which believers encourage and stimulate one another to love and good works will have little difficulty with members forsaking the fellowship.

Application

When a person says, “I want to be a member at GLBC!”

They’re saying, “I am committed!”

“I am so committed to this local body that I want you all to provoke me to love other people!”

“I am so committed to this local body that I give you permission to come after me!”

It’s the difference of playing ZONE DEFENSE vs. MAN DEFENSE.

ZONE Defense says...

“You do you”

“I’ll cover my place and you cover yours!”

“We will cover one another well enough!”

BUT MAN Defense says...

“You’re my man, and you have to go through me!”

The phrase is often used, “GET YOUR GUY!”

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

If you find that you have been playing too much ZONE defense with your brothers and sisters.

We run back to the cross and seek Christ afresh.

We run back to Him and our faith family.

We seek their forgiveness and we love.

Acts 2:44–47 ESV

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Then comes the negative command.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

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.

Prioritizing the Gathering

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

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.

That words for neglecting can also mean, “abandoning” “forsaking” “deserting”.

All of these are meant to express the force behind the fact that a person has walked away from their family.

In the first century, the pressures on a believer would be the persecutions associated with being a part of a church.

Often people would “abandon” their church family because of pressures from others.

They would maybe lose their jobs because they were going to a church.

They would maybe be looked down on by family members.

In our day it is a little different.

People don’t typically leave church because of persecution.

Inconvenience

Irrelevant

Unnecessary

What does a person who has forsaken a gathering so of that person?

Arrogance.

Utter arrogance.

Arrogance in thinking that they don’t need the body like “other Christians”.

Arrogance in ASSUMING that Jesus will receive them because they are NICE enough.

Arrogance in PRESUMING that because they said a prayer or walked an isle, that they will be received.

Instead of having a confident profession of the HOPE that is within them.

Instead of coming near by faith in the Son of God.

The person who FIRST drifts from the WORD of GOD.

They will then begin to DOUBT the WORD of GOD.

Which will lead them to be DULL toward the WORD of GOD.

And this leads to DESPISING the WORD of GOD.

(Referenced loosely from Weirsbe Commentary)

These warnings represent people who have made false professions of faith within the visible body of believers!

Hebrews 10:26–29 ESV

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. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 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?

How shall we think of those who have abandoned the gathering?

Even after we have pleaded with them to return....

1 John 2:19 ESV

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Rather than forsaking one another, we are to encourage one another.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

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.

Encouraging One Another

The same root word “παρακαλέω” which is the same word we use to describe the Holy Spirit.

We are to paraclete one another.

We are to comfort one another.

We are to encourage one another.

And that encouragement should actually increase when we see the Day drawing near.

Now the phrase there, “the Day” refers to the Day of the Lord which will come when Jesus returns.

Matthew 24:12 ESV

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

This is the opposite of what Hebrews is saying.

Hebrews is saying..

“Because lawlessness will be increased, encourage one another all the more for obedience!”

“Because lawlessness will be increased, comfort one another in your afflictions!”

“Because lawlessness will be increased, you should pour more and more into each others lives!”

Do you hear how contrary that is to us?

Can you just look around and see the kind of flaky, half-hearted commitment we see to the people of God?

We need to hear the admonition of the writer of the Hebrews that says,

“As you see the Day of the Lord drawing near, press into each other!”

Revelation 2:2–4 ESV

“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

PROVOKE One another to love.

PROVOKE each other to good works.

PROVOKE each other to love each other.

Christ’s sacrifice has opened the way for sinners to come in faith, with the hope of full forgiveness. The outworking of this redemption is the call to love one another by prioritizing the gathering and stirring one another to obedience.