Living Faithfully as Citizens of Zion

Introduction

Well, here we are—just two Sundays left in our journey through Hebrews. Since January 5, we’ve gone word-for-word through this great book because we believe the best way to honor God’s Word is to preach it faithfully.

Hebrews was written to believers tempted to turn back—to walk away from Jesus because following Him came at a cost. But the author pleads, “Don’t quit! Jesus is greater. Jesus is worth it.”

That’s the heartbeat of the whole letter and of today’s passage: Living as citizens of Zion requires a persevering faith—faith that endures, faith that stays true, faith that refuses to give in to the world.

And all throughout history, God’s people have shown us what that kind of persevering faith looks like—men and women who stood firm when the world pushed back.

When Adoniram Judson sailed from America to Burma in 1812, he knew he was called and sent by God to reach an unreached people with the gospel. But instead of quick success, he faced heartbreak—his wife and children died, he was imprisoned in filthy conditions, and for years he saw almost no converts. At one point he dug his own grave behind his house, wondering if his life had been wasted. Yet Judson refused to quit. He said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” That’s what persevering faith looks like. By the time he died, there were churches, converts, and a Burmese Bible.

How do we live with a persevering faith when our flesh is ready to quit?

The author gives us 3 ways.

Let’s begin in verse 7 of Hebrews chapter 13.

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

The first way we live with persevering faith is by…

1) Honoring the faithful who have gone before you.

The author calls on these believers to remember the leaders who had taught them and discipled them in the word of God. The leaders he is referring to have finished their race of faith and have passed on to glory and have joined the great cloud of witnesses he talked about in chapter 12. And, he says to these Christians…

A) Look back with gratitude on their persevering faith.

As I was writing this message, I thought back on all of the men and women who were in my life long ago, who modeled true biblical faith to me and I just thanked God for them.

These are men and women the world will never know. They didn’t write books. They didn’t have social media followings or “platforms.” They were my Sunday school teachers when I was a kid. They were my youth ministers. My grandparents.

I bet you’re thinking of people in your life right now, too. These people who were normal, ordinary, people…pastors in small rural churches…but who were giants of the faith that poured into you. Men and women in this church!

Van Segars, Ann Collister, Jerry Kyser—just to name a few.

If we are going to have persevering faith we need to look back with gratitude on those who have run the race of faith before us.

Second, he says…

B) Look closely at their persevering faith.

The command, here is not to just “remember” them but to “consider the outcome of their way of life.”

Look closely at these men and women of integrity. What made them godly? What made them prayer warriors. How did they persevere through trials and troubles? How did they deal with spiritual conflict?

And, then…

C) Look to imitate their persevering faith.

One of my favorite pictures in the world is a picture taken just a few minutes after Sadie, our daughter, was born. I was standing in the hospital nursery behind a window and I held Sadie up to the window so our family could see her. Well, in the picture, the only reflection you can see is that of my grandfather. He is one of my heroes…one of the godliest men of faith to ever walk this earth. The crazy thing about the picture, though, is the reflection of his face is on MY face. I look at it often and I think…I hope there is so much of his godliness and character and his integrity that others can see in me.

We stand on the shoulders of giants. We’re the “now” generation in a long line of believers who have run the race, stayed faithful, endured persecution.

They have left us a great legacy of faith. The torch has been passed.

Challenge: We need leaders to be raised up here in our family of faith. Maybe one of the ways you can imitate the faith of those who have come before is by stepping into leadership roles in the church. The children and youth in our church—do you know what they need? They need life group leaders who will pour into them and whose faith they can imitate.

TRANSITION: The author tells us that one way we can have persevering faith is by honoring the faithful who have gone before you…look back in gratitude at their example of faith…looking closely at their faith...looking to imitate their persevering faith.

Let’s keep reading…look at verse 8.

Hebrews 13:8–16 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

As citizens of Mt. Zion, if we’re going to have a persevering faith, we must…

2) Hold fast to Jesus who never changes.

Vs. 8 is one of the greatest verses and promises in the Bible…but, in its context, here, it serves as a transition statement. It ties together verse 7 and verses 9-16. Leaders of the faith have come and gone. World leaders/political leaders have come and gone.

But, the one constant is that Jesus has never changed. He is the same yesterday as He is today and as He will be forever. He is unchanging in all of who He is—all of His attributes.

The author shows us, here, that Jesus’ gospel is unchanging, his work of redemption is unchanging, and his purpose is unchanging.

A) His gospel is unchanging.

(vs. 9)

The author warns the believers against being led away by diverse and strange teachings.

Let me tell you—false teaching doesn’t always present itself in obvious ways. Many times it’s subtle. It’s just a little off from the truth of God’s word…it goes a little further. It sells books. It gets a lot of followers.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Theology has nothing new in it except that which is false.”

We need discernment. Yes, persecution can cause our faith to waver. Yes, trials, troubles…but Satan also has another weapon—getting us to abandon the true gospel and chase after a false gospel. There are so many wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. There is no “new word” no “new revelation” from God. Mixing new age philosophy/self-help work, etc. with the gospel makes it anti-gospel. It may be “new” it may be “intriguing” it may be a new insight into something biblical…but it better line up with the totality of God’s Word.

Then he makes this statement that it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Jewish ceremonial foods // the gospel is not Jesus + _____________. The gospel is Jesus + nothing.

Grace is not found in rites or rituals or any religious works.

>>Listen to me…if you have never been born again, the Bible says that it’s God’s grace through faith that saves us. Not works. Saving faith is this—confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, turn away from your sin, and turn to Christ for salvation. Surrender your life to His Lordship and authority. Religion can’t save you. Good works can’t save you. No amount of good deeds can ever erase your record of sin guilt before God. Only Jesus.<<

Hold fast to the unchanging Jesus and His unchanging gospel. The author also tells us that…

B) His work is unchanging.

(vv. 10-12)

The author says, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.” That means we have a new access to God that religion can’t give—only Jesus can. Just as the sin offering on the Day of Atonement was taken outside the camp and burned, Jesus suffered, on the cross of condemnation, outside the gate—rejected, condemned as a criminal, cast out so that sinners like us could be brought in. We are brought in by his “own blood,” His own death—His personal, perfect sacrifice. And here’s the good news: that work never changes. His cross doesn’t need to be updated or repeated. The same blood that sanctified believers two thousand years ago still saves and sanctifies today. His work is finished—and it’s forever.

The author tells us that if we are to receive this salvation, we must come to Jesus outside the camp—renounce the world.

C) His purpose is unchanging.

(vv. 14-16)

What is God’s purpose? To have a kingdom of worshippers. Those whose lives reflect his glory through our praise, through our giving, through our life of good works. To fill this earth with the glory of His praise.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That means his gospel is unchanging, his work is unchanging, and his purpose is unchanging. Your world changes. Some of you got news this week—and I’ve talked with you as you’ve gone through it—that changed your world in an instant. Jesus never changes. His love and his grace and his redemption never change. His purpose for you—to use you for his glory and to bring you into his kingdom—is unchanging.

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Persevering faith also…

3) Humbly submits to godly leadership.

The writer shifts from remembering past leaders (v.7) to responding to present ones. These “leaders” are the pastors, elders, shepherds who care for the flock of God. And the command is simple, though not easy: “Obey them and submit to them.”

Now, that doesn’t mean blind allegiance or unthinking loyalty. This isn’t a call to worship men—it’s a call to recognize God’s authority through the men He’s placed to lead His church. The reason is given: “They keep watch over your souls.”

That phrase means they are sleepless on your behalf. True shepherds bear a constant spiritual burden for the people of God—they pray, they teach, they guard, they grieve, and they’ll answer to God for how they’ve cared for His flock.

That’s weighty. As a pastor, I can tell you—there’s hardly a more sobering thought in all of Scripture than this: one day, I will stand before the Chief Shepherd and give an account for how I led you.

Years ago, Charles Spurgeon was asked how he bore the pressures of leading such a large church. He said, “I have learned to carry my people on my heart before I ever carry them to the pulpit.”

That’s what godly leadership looks like—carrying souls on your heart, praying for them, watching for their spiritual good, longing for their perseverance in the faith.

But it’s also a reminder for the church: those who lead you in the Word are not your adversaries—they’re your allies in the fight of faith.

That’s why the author says, “Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

When the church resists godly leadership, everyone loses. Division, distrust, and bitterness only weaken the body and grieve the Spirit. But when the people of God follow the Word of God under the shepherds God has given, there is joy—and that joy multiplies.

We live in an anti-authority age. Everybody wants to be their own authority, to call their own shots, to do what’s right in their own eyes. But persevering faith looks different. It humbly says, “Lord, I trust Your design. I trust the leaders You’ve placed over me. I’ll follow as they follow Christ.”

To submit to godly leadership is not weakness—it’s worship. Because in honoring your spiritual shepherds, you’re ultimately honoring the Chief Shepherd.

What does this have to do with persevering faith? Well, go read Ephesians 4. God has given a measure of His grace to the church by giving spiritual leadership/oversight for the purpose of equipping the saints—you—for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ (you) until we all reach maturity in Christ. My role is to walk alongside the sheep of the flock and urge you on to greater and more mature faith… A PERSEVERING FAITH

Conclusion

LET ME ASK YOU, THIS MORNING…DO YOU HAVE A FAITH THAT PERSEVERES? The pull of this world is so strong. The temptation to compromise is great…to walk away from faithfulness to King Jesus. We need a persevering faith. A faith that doesn’t cower a faith that doesn’t throw in the towel. A faith that doesn’t slip into apathy.

Church, the call of Hebrews 13 is clear: keep the faith, because Jesus is worth it. The world will try to pull you back into comfort, into compromise, into silence—but we are citizens of Zion. This world is not our home.

And friend, if you’ve never trusted in Christ, hear this—Jesus went outside the camp for you. He bore your shame, your sin, and your judgment so you could be brought into the city of God. You can’t save yourself. Religion can’t save you. Only Jesus can.

So come to Him today. Lay down your pride, your guilt, your striving. Come to the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will forgive you, cleanse you, and make you His own.

And believer, don’t quit now. Look back at those who’ve gone before you, hold fast to the unchanging Christ, and keep walking faithfully with those who lead you. Let’s run the race with persevering faith—until the day we see our unchanging Savior face to face.