What If I Don’t Draw Near? Or, Against Grace

Welcome

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Fire team

Back room for training

†CALL TO WORSHIP Hebrews 12:28-29

Paul Mulner, Elder

Minister: Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken,

Congregation: let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God acceptable service with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION

†OPENING PSALM OF PRAISE #121A

“I Lift My Eyes Up to the Hills”

†CONFESSION OF SIN based on Psalm 30

Minister: To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION

PASTORAL PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Minister: You have heard the prayers of your people. In Christ our sins are forgiven.

Congregation: You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

†ASSURANCE OF PARDON

CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Numbers 27:1-11 Pastor Austin Prince

Numbers 27:1–11 ESV

1 Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.” 5 Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6 And the Lord said to Moses, 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. 8 And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the people of Israel a statute and rule, as the Lord commanded Moses.’ ”

THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS

James 1:17 “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

We give in the knowledge that everything that we have has come from the hand of God. What we give back ins’t really ours.

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

†HYMN OF PREPARATION #172

“Speak, O Lord”

SERMON Hebrews 10:26-31 // Against Grace (or, When I Won’t Draw Near)

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Teach us, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and we shall observe it to the end. Give us understanding, that we may observe thy law and keep it with all our hearts. Amen

TEXT HEBREWS 10:26-31

Hebrews 10:26–31 ESV

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 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? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

AFTER SCRIPTURE

Teach me your way, O Lord and I will walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Intro

For the most part, we are not a people who spend much time in seriousness and gravity. We don’t have to be—we can distract ourselves and entertain ourselves for much of our lives.

We do not know the goodness and the necessity of sobriety. The kind that hurts. The kind of self reflection or self exposure that doesn’t flatter us but tells us the frank truth.

I remember reading ‘Sinners in The Hands of An Angry God’ by Jonathan Edward’s in school. Even though I was a Christian, I remember sort of laughing at the tone. Not a laughing to mock the sermon, but a the kind that comes from a person who is so unserious that I didn’t know what to do with such earnestness and passion. My flippancy made it foreign to me and dramatic.

Jonathan Edwards’ sermon is from Deuteronomy, but the title at least, ‘Sinners in The Hands of An Angry God’, comes from our text today.

And it’s a text that brings us to that often foreign seriousness.

It’s a text that confronts us with the judgment of God and why His perfect patience and long suffering can be turned to wrath.

It’s a warning. A wake up call. The kind of serious love that shoots an arrow of truth, one that gets past all the defenses of pride and flippancy and pins the heart down before the cross, making us look and respond to Jesus.

Why is there a warning about judgment here? Let’s look at three things.

Outline

Sinning deliberately

Trampling the Son Underfoot

Ignoring the Living God

I. Eyes Wide Open: Sinning Deliberately After Receiving The Truth

“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.” (Hebrews 10:26–27, ESV)

Christians sin, but not like this.

This deliberate sin, this willingness to sin, is a sign that someone isn’t a Christian at all. And, therefore, they are not under the mercy of the cross and forgiveness of Christ’s blood. The recompense that they should expect is judgment — a fierce one.

Romans 6:1–2 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

That is, when someone goes on sinning deliberately, they can’t do it because they believe that they will be forgiven.

They either do it from licentiousness—an unrestrained and embrace of sin that mocks God and flies its banner of so-called freedom and scorn before His face. Or someone goes on sinning in license, thinking that they can do whatever they please and grace will always abound. That they can always turn back to old gullible God who wouldn’t dare turn them away.

God: “to be thanked after a close call and questioned thoroughly after a tragedy” (Piper)

But Christians are not flippant with sin. Someone who is, or someone who begins to calculate that they are free to do as they please in anticipation of going back to God later for forgiveness, should expect judgment.

For them, there “no longer remains a sacrifice of sins”. That is, Jesus’ death on the cross does not apply to them. They have “received the knowledge of the truth” — they have heard the gospel, they have seen the Father’s love in the gift of the Son, but they are rejecting it. The gospel is the good news of the power of God for life and freedom from sin. It’s where perfect love and truth has come to us and served us - washed our feet - and then was mocked and scorned and killed, but resurrected and victorious. It is received, not with money or with works but with faith. It’s a gift that is handed out to you. But it is rejected and unwanted, treated with mockery and hardness of heart.

For those who treat the gospel this way, for those who treat Jesus this way, they become an adversary of God. They are God’s enemies.

Why? [Next Point]

II. Trampled Underfoot The Son of God

“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?” (Hebrews 10:28–29, ESV)

“Setting aside the Law of Moses” here is a shorthand for the whole covenant. They have set aside the commandments of God. Think of just the 1st commandment, to worship God and Him only - to have no other gods. There is a rejection of this, they refuse allegiance. This is wicked.

But how much worse, when they trample underfoot the Son of God? God so loves the world that He gives His begotten Son to redeem them, and they put their boot on His face.

This is like the parable of the wicked managers. When the owner of the vineyard sends His servants and they are treated wickedly He then sends His Son, and instead of treating Him with honor they kill Him.

The narrative thrust of Hebrews over and over again has been that greater insight comes with greater privilege. The more we see of Christ, the more we understand how He is better and far surpasses the prophets or the priesthood. But there is also a correlation to this greater insight. The more we see of Christ, the greater our judgment becomes in our rejection.

It’s not just a rejection of the covenant. It’s not a rejection of commandments. It’s the rejection of the blood of the covenant. And whose blood is that? It’s the rejection of the Son. And this outrages the Spirit of grace.

Think of that, grace outraged. But that’s what rejection of the gospel is — a rejection of grace. The gift of Christ unwanted. The gift of Christ untaken. You are against grace. The audacity to think that Christ unnecessary.

And we must remind ourselves of who is being spoken to here. It is the one who “was sanctified”.

Now, what does that mean? Is this talking about someone who was saved and then is in trouble of not being saved?

Have we been talking over and over again about confidence and perfection only to be now talking of insecurity and nervousness?

No. First, we should know that when someone is saved they cannot lose their salvation.

Jesus says in John 6:39 “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”

We know from the parable of the sower that there will be those who hear the word of God and they spring up, but the cares of the world or the deceit of the evil one will kill that seed. That it looks like it is growing, but it’s not real and it won’t last.

1 John 2:19 “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.”

So, who is primarily being addressed here? It’s people like us. People who are in church and among Christians. And yet, their relationship to God is superficial.

Sanctified here is like outward conformity. It has a proximity to the gospel and to the church that makes one feel secure or gives them benefits, but it is not real for them.

Illustration: Think of a marriage where there are all the blessings of a home — meals shared around the table, there are pictures of vacations and memories on the wall, there are children, but there is no love there between mom and dad. There are a thousand little graces under that roof, but the heart of the home is dead. There is no love there.

Such is it with those who are receiving this warning. They receive a thousand blessings in the church, and among community, and the teaching of their parents, and the shepherding of their elders, and the hearing of God’s word, and the community of those who love them and pray for them, but as for themselves, they do not love Christ.

Belief is not intellectual assent, but heart religion. The grace of God is not presumed upon — it is loved. The character of God is worshipped. Obedience to God becomes a joy — we want to find ways to do it more. “Search me and know me, o God, and reveal any wicked way among me — lead me!”

Sabbath and prayer and giving and missions and apologies and service and persecution and hospitality become a joy in light of Christ. We do not trample on the Son of God — we stand in awe of Him.

We need this warning. Those who wouldn’t give it because it is hard are cruel. That’s what God’s word says: the mercy of the wicked is cruel. There are so many areas in our lives where the hard word isn’t said because being afraid to offend is worse to us than the suffering and humility of others. But the kind of “mercy” that won’t confront a hardened heart is cruel. Jude calls ministers like this “waterless clouds” — they look like are coming to help but they offer you nothing.

You must not ignore the living God [our third point]

III. Sinners In The Hands - Ignoring The Living God

“For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:30–31, ESV)

Living God - not a relationship with an idol of wood or stone.

Look at the glory of our world, look at the glory of creation, look at the glory written on us, look at Jesus and the blazing center of all glory and sacrifice and defeat of death and fear and sin and hell and resurrection, now think of rejecting God and His son. You have become an enemy of God.

God upholds the universe by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3). Right now, He is holding you up. But if you are in this position, then heed this warning. God is sustaining you at this moment by His grace. It is flattery to yourself to think that you are the one that is doing it. It is flattery to think that this world and what He has reveled to you and written on your heart will be mocked. IF you are living in this rejection of Him or a love of sin, then you stand under the wrath of God right now. It is merely his pleasure to keep you from it for a time. As Edwards’ sermon said so vividly, you have not greater chance of stopping this judgment than a spider’s web does a falling rock.

Conclusion

What do we think of God when we encounter verses like this? Do we have a category for them? Do we still see these words as Holy and given in love?

What do you want from God? [paint that picture]

I want Him to give me the world and ask nothing of me.

I’m the judge and He has to answer to me.

Look at what He has given you in Christ! Look at how meticulous and relentless Hebrews has been on the glory and the cost of our redemption — the love of Christ.

He needs nothing from us. We benefit Him in no way, yet His love is free and given to us at great cost.

Answer this question: what more would you have Him do for you? Why isn’t it enough?

What other path are you planning to take to God? There isn’t one.

No intercessor. No mediator. No priest. Just you in your sin.

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.

†HYMN OF RESPONSE #533

“Have Thine Own Way, Lord”

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Minister: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

CONFESSION OF FAITH* Based on Matt 16:16; Mk. 16:9; Jn. 20:28; I Cor. 15:1-6; Rev. 22:13

Our confession of faith is printed in the bulletin

Minister: Christian, what do you believe?

Congregation: This is the good news that we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold it fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day, and that He appeared first to the women, then to Peter, and to the Twelve, and then to many faithful witnesses. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is our Lord and our God.

THE INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

Don’t come and merely take Bread and Wine — come and take of Christ.

The Lord invites you to this table if you love him and trust in him alone for salvation. It is for those who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and continuing union with his church. If you are truly sorry for your sins, sincerely believe in Jesus as your Savior, and desire to live in obedience to him as Lord, you are invited to come with gladness to the table of the Lord. “O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.”

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Congregation is seated.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND THE SHARING OF THE SUPPER

Minister: Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.”

Congregation: By your divine presence, by the holy sacraments, by all the merits of your life, sufferings, death, and resurrection, bless and comfort us, gracious Lord and God. Amen.

Minister: Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Drink from this, all of you. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Congregation: Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup together, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Minister: Christ, the Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

Congregation: Grant to us your peace. Amen.

[motion to eat and drink]

†OUR RESPONSE #248

Let all things their Creator bless,

and worship him in humbleness,

O praise him, alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,

and praise the Spirit, three in one,

O praise him, O praise him,

alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord makes His face to shine upon you and is gracious to you. The Lord lifts up His countenance upon you and gives you peace. Amen.