Evidence of Faith Pt. 2

Today we finally land this plane on Hebrews…please turn to Hebrews 13.

We want to continue where Matthew left off last week…we’re picking up in verse 9.

We have a lot of ground to cover, so we’re going to jump right in and open the fire hydrant and let you take a drink!

Main Point: Believers Actively Engage In Living Out Their Faith

Point to Christ:

As we walk through this text this morning, the writer wants us to see that Jesus is the ultimate example of faithfulness and obedience.

He connects the teachings of the Old Testament sacrificial system to the completed work of Christ, once again affirming His position as the perfect high priest who then calls us to live faithfully.

Hebrews 11 — Examples of Faith

Hebrews 12 — Endurance of Faith

Hebrews 13 — Evidences of Faith

This week we want to add four evidences that we should strive to display in our life of faith.

1. Established by Grace (9-14)

Read Hebrews 13:9–14…(it is good for the heart to be strengthened by what?…Grace)

heart = decision making center of who we are…

Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”

Deuteronomy 6:5 ““You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Strengthened = established, confirmed…talking about things that provide for greater spiritual health…for them to endure, they needed a greater spiritual health (remember they were questioning whether it was worth following Christ…their hearts were weak...

He provides three insights to how we can be strengthened by grace.

Don’t Be Carried Away by Strange Doctrines

Read v. 9…

Greek present tense…meaning “Stop being carried away”… implying they were buying into false teaching.

The verb used for carried away refers to being carried or borne along away from the right path and thus in the wrong direction.

A similar word is used by Paul in Ephesians 4:14 “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;”

Listen to the strong words of Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

What standard do we apply to know what is varied and strange?

Go back just one verse…Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

The standard is the unchanging character and message of Jesus!

False teaching comes in multiple ways and in every area of doctrine, but most of the errors concern the person and work of Jesus.

When people go wrong in their understanding of Jesus, they then proceed to go wrong elsewhere.

He warns them about buying into that which sets itself up against Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”

We have an advantage the Hebrews did not…we have the complete revelation of God in His Word…the message of the gospel has never and will never change.

is it fitting with the whole of Scripture,

does it adhere to sound doctrine,

does it stand with the unified message of the gospel?

In the church we can have variety and creativity with regard to methods and procedures, but there is no room for variety in content.

For us, the Scripture is our only source of doctrine and practice, not man-made philosophies or societal pressures.

God’s revelation of himself is completed in Christ and His Word…we should never expect anything new that doesn’t measure up to Christ and His Word...

There are far too many strange and varied doctrines being espoused today that we don’t have time to to identify them by name so let me give you a few guiding principles...

I cannot stress enough the importance of all of us to “know our stuff” (Explain)…if it doesn’t sound right, it most likely isn’t…if you’re not sure, ask before you allow that teaching to impact your thinking and choices.

Beware the teachings that are attractive due to their unusual nature.

Don’t look for something NEW that no one ever thought of before.

Beware the teaching that centers on man and his “felt needs”.

If it contradicts the gospel of grace, it is to be completely rejected.

Focus on Your Heart, Not Externals.

The writer points to a specific doctrine he had in mind that was drawing them away…the legalism of dietary laws.

God gave all of the Law to distinguish Israel from the rest of the world…that included the foods they were to eat and not eat.

The writer is addressing the dangerous tendency of the Hebrews to return to Old Testament ways away from the finality and fulness of Jesus.

Instead of being drawn into a ritualistic externalism focused on what we do, the writer challenges them towards a focus on the internal reality of who they are!

Strengthened by grace not foods...

The internal grace of God can do what external adherence to laws can never do…transform us...

There are no ceremonies we can conduct or traditions we can uphold that have the power to change our heart.

Change of the heart only happens when we become new creations in Christ and the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us and then uses His Word to renew our thinking and behavior.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Ephesians 3:16–19 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

Those so occupied were not benefited from this...

“so occupied” is one word in the Greek and literally means those that walk…

Pleasing God is not about being focused on producing external results…it is about focusing on having a heart that pursues righteousness.

Romans 14:16–17 “Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The writer makes a point to tell them and us a focus on externals accomplishes nothing.

Bottom line is this…your dependence on God rests on grace, not external adherence to traditions and ritualistic ceremonies.

Finding Your Identity in Christ.

Read v. 10 ...We have an altar...

There is much symbolism in this verse to contrast the privileges of Jewish believers with Jewish non-believers.

Faith in Jesus provides access to God that unbelief does not.

Jews who believed (and all believers) have access to a special altar.

We do not have an Old Testament style altar where sacrifices were made continually...

We do have an altar in the sense that we look to Calvary, to the cross where Jesus died once and for all…the final atonement.

To that extent, it is proper to say that Jesus himself is our altar.

Believing Jews had eternal access to all the spiritual blessings Jesus could provide for them. Unbelieving Jews minister at the tabernacle . These Jews had no access to the benefits Christ made available.

Unbelieving Jews may have eaten the material food of the Jewish altar, but they enjoyed no link with Christ.

Believers have contact with Christ himself and live with a daily experience of his benefits.

This subtle warning urged the readers not to turn away from Christ to the meaningless rituals of Judaism and so lose the privilege of access to Jesus.

Read V. 11…

He reinforces that thought with an illustration from the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement.

This verse focuses on the offering of the blood of animals to God and the burning of the bodies of the animals outside the camp.

Jewish high priests who brought sin offerings to God did not eat from the altar.

The sacrifices were burned.

The actions of the high priests symbolized the actions of unbelievers, for the priest was among those who ministered at the tabernacle.

Again we see unbelievers do not have any real contact with Christ and the benefits he offers.

Believers have spiritual access to the great sin offering Jesus presented.

This offering is our food, nourishing and refreshing our souls as we feed on Christ by faith.

Read v. 12, 13…

These verses build on the knowledge that Jesus died outside the walls of Jerusalem (John 19:20).

Jesus died to make the people holy.

He wanted to produce followers with pure consciences.

Jesus’ death outside Jerusalem represented his rejection by religious Jerusalem.

Unbelieving Jews attached a stigma to Jesus’ exclusion from Jerusalem and his crucifixion.

So instead of complaining about their circumstances, the writer wants them to commit themselves to Christ.

He is urging them (and us) to go outside the camp of Judaism (which represents legalism)

We are to reject the fellowship and rituals of Judaism and cling only to Jesus.

Identifying with Jesus means we surrender the security of going with the world, and bring on a willingness to endure the disgrace and ridicule of being a follower of Him.

Verse 14 provides the motivation for identifying with Christ.

We live for the future, not the present.

No matter how appealing life in the present is, we look for the city to come…our reward lies ahead

We also see in this verse the motivation of doing it together.

Our walk of faith is not a solo journey…believers find encouragement from other believers who share their commitment and enthusiasm.

2. Engaged in Adoration (15-16)

Read Hebrews 13:15–16.

Using priestly imagery once again, the writer provides us with a responsibility linked to our priestly function.

Jesus offered Himself

We offer sacrifices of praise.

Notice they are continual (in contrast to the once for all sacrifice of Christ)

Also notice they are through Him.

What does it look like to offer a sacrifice of praise?

Fruit of our lips that confess his name.

Give thanks = homolegeo…to say the same thing…CONFESS…same word used in 1 John 1:9 when we are told to confess our sins…also used in Romans 10:9-10, Phil 2:9; Romans 14:11

The idea of fruit reveals the character of its source…for example…if a tree bears apples, we don’t call it an orange tree…why? Because its fruit is the apple.

…so Lips accustomed to acknowledging God will be constantly singing His praises.

Do not neglect to do good.

This is the practical side of a heart that confesses the goodness of God...

God is pleased with those who do what is right and meet the material needs of others, especially of those in the church…sharing is the word koinonia…fellowship, participation...

Because of God’s grace being given to us in abundance, we are to cultivate a desire to share which moves us to display a kindness that cares for one another.

3. Exhibiting Harmony through Humility (17-19)

Read Hebrews 13:17

Once again the writer appeals to the responsibility of the believer to church leaders…he would refer to leaders 3x in chapter 13.

He provides two areas for the believer to show humility in the life of the church.

Obey & Submit to Godly Leadership

Leaders = participle…the ones leading…not doing their own thing…are themselves led by Christ

Obey & Submit…this does not mean unqualified blanket obedience—

Remember Jim Jones…cult leader murdered 800 of his followers by ordering them to drink poisoned Kool-Aid.

This also means we are not to blindly obey authoritarian churches...

There are some contemporary house-churches whose members submit virtually every decision of their lives to the elders.

I read in one book this week where the author knew of church when the leader ordered all members of the church to cease wearing any modern blend of fabrics, such as dacron and cotton or wool and rayon, because Leviticus 19:19 ordered the Israelites, “Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”

This call for obedience and submission is not a call that contradicts Biblical morality or individual conscience....It was, instead, a call to an obedient heart.

Why should believers obey?

God-appointed leaders are fulfilling the high charge of watching over souls entrusted to them.

Keep watch literally means “to keep oneself awake”.

The idea very well may mean that some of the leaders had lost sleep over certain people in the church.

Yes there are times in ministry when pastors and elders lose sleep wrestling with thoughts and offering up prayers concerning those entrusted to them…that would include this body known as Open Door...

Thoughts of how we can continually provide care for you…prayers for your spiritual health...

Sometimes Saturday nights are restless because our hearts are burdened by the desire to teach and communicate truths that may be difficult…because of what he says next...

God-appointed leaders must answer to God at the Bema for their work.

Spiritual leadership brings with it a higher level of accountability.

James 3:1 “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”

We who deliver God’s Word to you, must first be transformed ourselves...

We want to be able to give God a good account for what we teach, how we teach, and how we live that out…but we also know that we must give an account for how well we hold you accountable to it!

Believer’s obedience will bring joy instead of pain.

Pastor and writer Kent Hughes says it this way… “The fact is, leadership can be a pain. The words “not a burden” literally read, “not a groaning.” All leaders know this pain. But along with the pain comes joy from obedient charges.”

“Obey them so that their work will be a joy.”

The call to ‘Obey’ and ‘submit’ together convey the sense of responding trustingly, confidently and yieldingly.

Yet this is not to be performed in a grudging manner, through clenched teeth, with a cold heart.

The grudging attitude would be profitless because a ‘groaning’ and unresponsive congregation is no encouragement to those who lead it, (remember Moses) and consequently will not issue in benefit to those who are cared for by them.

Sometimes leaders make mistakes, all of us are fallible and in need of grace…even when we make mistakes, the congregation that continues to love and show grace to those leaders brings joy to them.

Let me give you a word of encouragement here…I think the elders would agree with me in this…it is a genuine joy to lead you thank you for trusting us to lead you.

In no way do we see you being a church that violates this text.

Your desire to know and live out the truth speaks volumes to that!

Your love and prayers for us demonstrate your willingness to follow the Lord as we follow the Lord.

THANK YOU…IT IS A TRUE JOY TO SERVE GOD WITH YOU!

That being said, I will just say this…allow this text to be something that motivates us to keep going that direction.

Pray for Your Leaders

Read Hebrews 13:18–19.

Again, I can speak confidently for all of us in leadership, we earnestly desire your prayers for us…especially in light of what we just examined!

If we desire power in our lives and in our church, we must bathe one another and our church in prayer. (talk about prayer card and Wednesday night)

Pray for all who teach and preach the Word of God here at ODBC that we would have the clarity of insight and power of the Spirit to proclaim the truth.

Clear conscience...indicates that in all his dealings with them the author has the assurance that whatever anyone either says of him or thinks of him, his conscience is clear concerning the truth and sincerity of all that he has written and the spirit in which he has written it.

Act honorably…he desires that he and those with him would be like the leaders of old whose way of life and faith was worth considering and imitating.

Restored…he wants to be reunited with them.

4. Equipped by the God of Peace (20-25)

Read Hebrews 13:20–25.

This is a theologically packed benediction with statements about both the Father and the Son.

He identified God as the God of peace seeking to promote peace among the readers.

God’s dynamic actions caused the resurrection of Jesus. (This is the only clear reference to the resurrection in Hebrews.)

The resurrection presents clear evidence that God has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice and that he has established a new covenant on that basis.

Jesus is presented as that great Shepherd of the sheep.

He will lead us through any circumstances which threaten our peace with God.

The writer prays that God would bring out the full potential of each believer.

This might reconcile factions in the church, or it might produce individual believers who were fully developed and mature.

The supreme desire of the prayer was that God would provide the readers with everything good for doing his will and to produce in their lives only what is pleasing to him.

The work of God is necessary to make man’s work a reality. If God produces in us what is pleasing to him, we will be supremely equipped to do his will.

Wrap up chapter 13…

The writer intends for his letter to be both encouragement and exhortation.

He does not write this church merely to inform them theologically.

Though doing so is important, his main purpose is to exhort them to persevere in the faith, thus the appeal to bear with his word of exhortation.

He closes his letter with “grace.”

The whole letter has really been about the grace established in the new covenant God has made with his people through the blood of Jesus Christ.

We have been saved by grace, and we will endure until the end by grace. Grace be with all of us, indeed.

Lesson for Life: Prioritize Faithfulness to God in A World of Distractions.

The whole argument of Hebrews is the superiority of Jesus…because Jesus is superior than everything else, he is worthy of our allegiance and obedience.

Choose to stand firm in your faith by refusing to compromise your values, even if it means facing criticism or rejection from those around you.

Let your actions demonstrate that your commitment to Jesus will not allow to compromise the truth.

It is a real threat that you might encounter situations where your faith in Jesus is challenged or mocked.

This can be disheartening and isolating.

Make a commitment to speak up for what you believe, even in casual conversations or social media posts.

Use scripture to remind yourself of Jesus' authority and superiority over any worldly views.

Share your experiences or testimonies with friends who might feel similarly, supporting one another in faith.

Teenagers, you might feel overwhelmed by peer pressure to dismiss faith or conform to secular beliefs.

Remember that Jesus surpasses all societal standards and offers you a profound identity.

I encourage you to talk openly about your faith and its differences from what you see in popular culture.

Your willingness to talk about your faith, can not only strengthen your faith, but also encourage others who might feel similarly isolated,

For all of us I ask this final question.

What steps do you need to take to make the superiority of Jesus a central theme in your daily life?