Moving On (Part 2) - Hebrews 6:1-6
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Memorial Day Observance
Today, we pause to remember, reflect upon, and memorialize those in our nation’s armed forces who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in defense of our freedom.
There are over 1.1 million soldiers who have given up their very lives in all of the wars of our nation’s history as they fought for our freedom.
As we often say, “All gave some. Some gave all.”
John 15:13 – Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
These men and women have exhibited this greatest love and given the greatest sacrifice.
No words can adequately express our thanks. Perhaps the best way we can show our appreciation for their sacrifice is by
Never taking our freedoms for granted. As we enjoy life here in America, breathing the air of freedom, pursuing our ambitions in life – to always be mindful and appreciative of every moment knowing that this life came at a very great cost.
Always being willing to take a stand and fight for what we know to be right as our nation continues to drift away from some of most treasured freedoms such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
Voting our biblical beliefs and convictions at every opportunity.
Please stand and remain standing if:
You have lost a loved one in your family in one of our nation’s wars.
You have served in any of our nation’s armed forces.
Now let’s all stand with them and say the pledge of allegiance to both flags:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag, and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands; one brotherhood uniting all [true] Christians, in service, and in love.
SERMON
Today, we will continue on our journey through the book of Hebrews.
TODAY WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE BOOK OF HEBREWS:
Remember:
It was written to believers of that day who were deeply rooted in Judaism. The writer is encouraging them not to fall back into their old ways, but instead to passionately follow…
Jesus who is far better, greater, superior than
angels (Chapters 1-2
Moses (Chapter 3)
Any other kind of rest (4:1-13)
Any other High Priest
Offered His own sinless, perfect blood ONCE FOR ALL that cleanses us from sin, not for a year, but forevermore!
Next, the writer of Hebrews calls all of us to “grow up.”
Move beyond milk, which is pre-digested and for babies to MEAT -
Getting into the meat of God’s Word means we are diving into His Word, digesting it, and applying it, obeying it, living it out in true discipleship - conforming to the image of Christ.
In our last time together, three weeks ago, we were examining three pairs of fundamental, FOUNDATIONAL truths that the writer of Hebrews gives as “the basics” or “milk.”
Repentance and faith
Baptism and prayer
Resurrection and judgment:
Let me expound on the last pair:
Resurrection and Judgment. (2b)
Resurrection and Judgment. (2b)
A. Resurrection
A. Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus was a central theme in the preaching of the early church.
The entire message of Christianity rests upon the truth of the resurrection of Jesus.
If He would have remained in the grave, we would have no hope for forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
We would have no reason to even meet this morning.
This doctrine of resurrection isn’t restricted to the resurrection of Jesus only.
The New Testament teaches that one day, we will receive new, resurrection bodies like that of Jesus.
Our earthly bodies that are decaying, deteriorating, folding up like a tent will be transformed to our new heavenly bodies!
Paul wrote these words to encourage the church.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Incorruptible…immortal - HALLELUJAH!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Won’t ever need another doctor, hospital, test - no more disease, aging, aches, pains - hallelujah!
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
We will have new heavenly bodies that are:
Incorruptible
Undefiled
Never fading
We are now living in the the land of the dying.
As believers, we are on our way to the land of the living!
Richard Baxter: I preached as never sure to preach again as a dying man preaching to dying people about a living Savior who gives eternal life!
B. Judgment
B. Judgment
The final elementary truth has to do with eternal judgment.
The Bible teaches that there will be at least two final judgments.
One will be for Christians at the judgment seat of Christ those of us who know the Lord will receive rewards based upon what we did with the gifts and abilities we were given.
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
“Bema” - judgment seat
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
For you are our glory and joy.
At the judgment seat of Christ (Bema)…
We will give an account for how well we managed the resources God gave us.
This is not a judgment of condemnation, but one of commendation.
But there will be a separate judgment for all the Lost of history.
According to
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Here we learn that all the spiritually dead will stand before a Great White Throne to be judged.
Those without Christ won’t be judged by how many good or bad deeds they did.
They will be judged on the basis of rejecting Jesus.
And the Bible says if their names were not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, they would be cast into the lake of fire.
So how do you have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
It’s elementary, my dear friends—by repentance from dead works and faith in God.
All of these are elementary, foundational doctrines.
Do you have them mastered?
Do you know for sure that your name is written in the Book of Life?
The writer of Hebrews is mentioning all of these foundational, elemental doctrines briefly in order to tell the readers…
It’s time to move on. It’s time to…
It’s time to move on. It’s time to…
GROW SPIRITUALLY -
GROW SPIRITUALLY -
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
MATURE
MATURE
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
The Greek word for mature is “teleios” (telescope) - it means “end.”
It carries the idea that we are walking with Christ with the end in sight - the goal - the purpose for which we are created.
What is the end game?
BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS EVERYDAY -
BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS EVERYDAY -
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Perhaps the most vivid word picture of our Christian life is the word “walk.”
SO, MY CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS CHURCH IS TO “MOVE ON” FROM WHERE YOU CURRENTLY ARE BY TAKING THE NEXT STEP.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
SOME HERE NEED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP
Repent of your sin and confess Jesus as Lord of your life.
The “walk” begins right there.
OTHERS HERE ARE SAVED AND STUCK:
You have trusted Christ but somewhere along the way you “derailed.”
To be “stuck” in your walk means you are not growing in Christ.
You are not reading your Bible.
You are not involved in ministry.
You are not exercising your spiritual gifts, or don’t even know what they are.
You never share your faith.
You have no passion or zeal for the Lord
THE FIRST STEP TOWARD ZEAL IS REPENTANCE.
OTHERS HERE ARE SAVED AND ARE SERVING THE LORD, BUT NEED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
IF THIS IS YOU, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:
Am I in a rut in my service to the Lord?
Am I progressing in my walk with the Lord?
Am I resisting the Lord at any point in my next step in my walk with Him because of fear or uncertainty?
There is an old hymn that captures so well the heart of what I am trying to say:
HIGHER GROUND
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev'ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
2 My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. [Refrain]
3 I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught a joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground. [Refrain]
4 I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
THAT IS “GOING ON TO PERFECTION!” GROWING AND MATURING IN CHRIST.
AS A CHURCH, IT IS TIME FOR US TO “MOVE ON.”
WE HAVE BEEN IN SUCH A GREAT SEASON IN THE LIFE OF OUR CHURCH.
IT WOULD BE SO EASY TO BECOME “AT EASE IN ZION” - COMFORTABLE - JUST TRY TO KEEP THINGS AS THEY ARE.
ONE PROBLEM: WE ARE HERE NOT FOR US, BUT FOR KINGDOM GROWTH
Invitation:
Are you 100% certain that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
The only way you can know for sure:
Have you truly repented of your sin and placed total faith in Jesus?
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Are you ready for Judgment Day?
Are you ready to stand before God?