Watch out for Worldliness!!
Notes
Transcript
introduction
Hebrews 12 began with the image of running the race with endurance, setting our sights on Jesus and shedding the encumbrances.
We spoke about the sometimes intense and difficult training that God puts us through to get us through the marathon of the Christian life.
Once we start running the race without the stitches pain, these last few verses describe what that healed, sanctified life looks like. We have a clear view that describes our salvation in Christ and our new position in his kingdom.
The message is simple: As we run the race of faith, we need to watch out for worldliness.
This doesn’t only mean indulging in the lusts of the flesh.
It is also an attitude that prioritizes the things of this world over the things of Christ.
The position made to the early readers is a contrast of making Christ Lord alone or discount and deny Him by going back to the system that was rendered obsolete.
Legalism, too, can be a form of worldliness, masquerading as spiritual maturity.
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.
Worldliness can set us back pretty far if we allow it. In these verses we find 2 positive commands, 3 negative warnings and consequences that result from a failure to overcome the temptation to become worldly.
The first thing said is to pursue peace with everyone.
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.
In a world that is flooded with hatred and division between people; racism, divorce, open warfare, terrorist attacks, the pursuit of peace can seem like an impossible task.
Even within our personal lives we experience division. Families, churches, schools or at work, peaceful relationships are hard to maintain.
But in God’s system we need to be at peace with everyone.
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
The second positive command is to pursue sanctification.
Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.
The worldly system lures us into its patterns and priorities. What are these? Luxury, indulgence, accumulation of things, pleasures. (Talk about the guy on the plane ride home).
God’s system says something different.
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
The word sanctification is used here to convey the idea of separation from the world. We should have different priorities and pursuits. With this in mind, we will see God more clearly.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Then the warnings come.
Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.
Don’t let anyone fall short of grace. We live in a world of legalism and karma. But Christians operate in the realm of grace.
When we fail to model grace, to encourage grace, to believe in grace, to live with grace and to share grace with others, we’ll fall on our faces and backslide into worldliness.
(parable of the unforgiving servant)
Matthew 18:21-35
The second warning is to not let bitterness take root.
Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.
Think of a plant whose roots are planted in the dirt. It draws its nutrients from the soil. The same can be said of us who are drawing our opinions and positions from the world instead of the Word.
The third warning is to not tolerate the Esau syndrome.
And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.
Esau is a great representation of worldliness. He valued temporary, fleeting lusts of the flesh more than the blessings of God’s covenant.
The story that he came home so hungry and gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew.
Now the consequences. Once Esau’s belly was full, what happened?
He realized the deal he made and couldn’t undo what he did. He plead with tears, but
For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.
He gave up everything for nothing, and when he realized what happened it was too late.
The message is clear: If we fail to press on in peace and purity and become entangled by worldliness, we can eventually end up like the seeds that were eaten up by the birds in Jesus’ parable of the sower.
For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.
This marathon of faith can be pretty exhausting. There are trials and challenges that strengthen us and grow us throughout the journey.
But, just as in real races, there are rules and warnings for participants in the spiritual race.
During this race, the author takes us past two mountains-Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.
Although these are real locations, the author is using them two contrast two competing systems. One, Sinai, is temporary, earthly and obsolete. The other, Zion, is eternal, heavenly and absolute.
The first represents the worldly approach to the spiritual life-laws and regulations.
The second represents the heavenly approach-grace, faith, hope and love.
Sinai represents the Law and all its rigid requirements. This uses frightening sounds and imagery like fire and gloom, darkness and death.
For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.
This was the heart-stopping fear that was experienced when the Law was delivered. This was such an event that Moses cried out, “I am full of fear and trembling!”
Falling back to the worldly, fleshly living will bring fear and trembling that comes with conviction of sin and loss of blessings.
We look towards Zion. This represents the personal, loving presence of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.-His city and our city.
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,
In this city, we will mingle with angels and fellowship with the saints. We will also have a face to face encounter with Jesus Himself
to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.
We won’t be standing with our knees knocking and paralyzing fear. We will stand with confidence because we have been made clean with the blood of Jesus.
This is another point towards the superiority of the new covenant.
See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Here comes the fifth and final warning of Hebrews.
What have we had so far?
First, Pay attention lest you drift! Hebrews 2:1-4
Second, Beware of a hard heart! Hebrews 3:7-4:13
Third, Don’t stray from the path of spiritual growth! Hebrews 5:11-6:20
Fourth, Stand firm in the faith or be judged by God! Hebrews 10:19-39
Now the fifth:
Don’t turn away from Him!
The author declares to not refuse God.
See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.
Those who refused to listen to God under the old covenant did not escape judgment. We are reminded of Israel’s destruction as they rebelled time and time again.
Now we are listening to words directly from God through the Son and through the apostles whose message was given directly from the Holy Spirit.
We should remember what the author said earlier:
For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.
When we neglect the salvation spoken by Jesus and confirmed by the apostles, we should know that judgement is coming. This also serves as a warning about the absolute waste of placing our hopes in worldliness.
His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.
This is referencing the final judgment of all creation. Created things will be shaken and removed; but some things can never be shaken. These are the things we should place our hopes in.
The positive side of the warning is in 28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
This is the opposite of refusing Him who is speaking.
Instead of neglecting the free gift of salvation, we respond with joyful, grace-oriented worship. We never forget that God is our consuming fire
for our God is a consuming fire.
We have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken.