Hebrews 13:7-17 - Follow the Leader
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
We live in a nation that prides itself in independence. My family recently went to Washington DC as well as Williamsburg, VA for an educational vacation to learn about our nation’s history. It was amazing to see the monuments, old buildings, the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution, colonial American architecture and ways of life, among many other interesting historical things.
Though our independence and the forming of the United States has led to us becoming one of - if not the - greatest free nation in the history of the world, there is a side effect to our blessed heritage.
Our hunger for independence makes us much harder to lead.
We celebrate incredible figures such as Patrick Henry who is noted as once saying, “Give me liberty or give me death!” Interestingly, this quote was given at the end of his speech that took place at St John’s Church in 1775.
Though I do absolutely agree that liberty is important and worth fighting for, we must watch for an overcorrection in our culture as well. Because of our independent American spirit, we can oftentimes refuse to be led at all. Many Americans struggle being led by a pastor, a parent, a teacher, or even Christ Himself.
Today’s message reminds us of the need for strong leadership within the Church as well as the need for us to rely on these leaders. And it also reminds us to not follow those leaders who are not following our ultimate leader - namely Jesus Christ.
Join me as we dive into this next to last sermon through the great book of Hebrews…
Read Full Scripture:
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
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.
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.
Prayer
Today we are going to see three important aspects of following leaders. The first is…
I. Believers Should Respect Godly Leadership (7,17)
I. Believers Should Respect Godly Leadership (7,17)
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 author will mention leaders some three times in this final chapter - verses 7, 17, and 24.
The way that this is phrased in verse 7, it appears that this remembering of leaders of old may have referred to leaders who had passed away or who were at least coming to the end of their lives. They were to remember those leaders who finished their races well. And they were to emulate their life and faith.
Consider leaders such as the Apostle Paul in the early church. He went so far as to say the following:
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
We can look upon the lives of strong leaders like Paul and admire and emulate their faith and way of living.
However, it is important to note 1 Corinthians 11:1 specifically. We don’t just blindly follow leaders of the past. We follow them as they have followed Christ. We are able to discern and understand their Christlike nature and actions by knowing and understanding God’s Word.
We have lost some strong men of the faith recently as well. Men such as John MacArthur and Voddie Baucham were incredible Bible teachers and strong leaders of the modern church. They spoke with conviction and authority. They lived their lives in the spotlight without blemish. Although they would have been the first to admit their sinfulness, they maintained holy living in the midst of a dark world.
Friends, we have much to learn from the generations that has gone before us.
Young people - look to those godly saints who have gone before you and learn from their righteous lives. Emulate their faith and service to the Lord.
Unfortunately, most so-called influencers on social media are not godly influences. Don’t spend your time learning from those who lead people away from God and His Word. Instead, be influenced by saints who have finished well.
We should remember and respect godly leaders of the past.
Fast-forwarding to verse 17 we see the following…
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.
Now we come to our current leaders - namely pastors. Paul commanded Titus to appoint elders in every city in Titus 1:5. Acts 14:23 tells us that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church they established. Pastors are called to feed and lead the flock of Christ. They are to protect the flock from false teachers. They are to teach the Word with all authority and rebuke and exhort when necessary (Titus 2:15).
The qualifications for elders/pastors/overseers/bishops - all referring to the same position within the church and the various roles they are to play - are clearly laid out in Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Pastors must be men who meet all of the criteria listed. And they must be men who are willing and able to perform the tasks they are called to.
One of the most terrifying verses for me as a pastor is verse 17 here. It states here that pastors will have to give an account for how they watched over the souls of their church. That is a difficult statement.
One day, I will stand before my Savior and have to give an account not only for my own life - but also for how I led CrossPointe Family Church. I will give an account for how I handled the Word of God - how I treated each of you - how I shepherded every one of you. Was I gentle? Did I speak the truth in love? Did I lead with courage and protect the flock against false teachings?
Please pray for your pastors, Church. These are heavy burdens to bear. The Lord is so gracious to carry each of us along. But the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Please pray for your leaders.
Looking at the beginning of this verse, we see that the author starts the sentence off with a charge to obey and submit to your leaders. He gives the reason for this at the end of his statement - let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
When church members pray for their pastors, seek to live godly lives, treat other church members with love and gentleness, humbly and graciously allow their pastors to lead them, and live godly lives within the church - pastors find their task much more enjoyable! And when pastors find their jobs enjoyable, church members will probably enjoy being around their pastors more as well!
When we live according to the Word of God, we will have a joyous church.
I do want to take a moment to thank you, Church. You all have made my work as Pastor here joyous. Your unified spirit, humility, and encouragement go a long way for me. I’m sure I can also speak on behalf of Pastor Adam saying thank you for being easy to lead!
Getting back to the charge here…
What does it mean that the church is to obey and submit to their leaders?
It means that the church should allow the pastors to lead with humble and godly authority. The church should never follow sinful leaders. But in matters of church decisions, direction, and vision - the Bible is clear that leaders are to lead and the church members are to follow. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t accountability for leaders - there most certainly needs to be that! In fact, at CrossPointe we are an elder-led, deacon-served, congregationally accountable church - meaning that accountability is extremely important.
This shows the incredible importance of vetting our pastors, however. We must always be sure that we choose godly men who are trustworthy to lead churches. Ungodly leaders have caused much hardship and pain within many churches over the centuries.
May we seek to glorify God by respecting our leaders and obeying the Word of God above all else.
This first point comes with a strong warning in the following verses however…
Scripture References: Philippians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Titus 1:5, Acts 14:13, Titus 2:15, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7
II. Believers Should Reject Ungodly Pretenders (9-10)
II. Believers Should Reject Ungodly Pretenders (9-10)
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.
In following leadership, it is important that we follow godly leaders who are following Christ as we mentioned before.
The author now gives a solemn warning. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings.
False teachers seek to lead other astray - away from the true teachings of the Scriptures. They are usually marked by using phrases like ‘that isn’t actually what this means’ or using culture to explain away clear doctrine that disagrees with their worldview. The teach things that seek to liberate them from their supposed confines of the Scriptures.
And in many situations regarding false teachers - as we see what appeared to be happening in this young church plant - they oftentimes can be found adding to or taking away from the Bible.
It appears that some false teachers had infiltrated the church and were giving strange teachings regarding foods. They were bringing a works-based righteousness along with them that sought to undercut the true Gospel. It appears that there were some Judaizers who were trying to bring the concept of the altar and sacrifices into the New Testament Church.
We could imagine that the Jews would have challenged these New Testament believers on their lack of an altar. Where were they going to offer their sacrifices?
The idea of an altar goes back to Noah who made the first altar recorded in the Bible after the flood (Genesis 8:20). Many altars were made by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This understanding became much more detailed under the Old Testament Mosaic Law that followed later.
They didn’t understand that Christ had given the one-time sacrifice for the sins of the world (Hebrews 10:12). They didn’t understand that Jesus had given His life on the cross as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world - namely all of those who would repent of their sins and place their faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation (John 1:29).
The author kicks back at this and reminds this young church that they do have an altar - a figurative altar nonetheless - where those who reject Christ have no place to eat.
They weren’t the ones who needed to change their ways - it was the Judaizers. This young church had a true altar. They had unbridled access to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As Hebrews 4:16 reminds us:
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
They had access to God 24-7! There was no further need to go to the Temple and sacrifice. Jesus fulfilled all of the sacrificial laws and believers were now able to approach God through Christ at all times!
Jesus had already clearly taught that it wasn’t what you ate that made you holy or not in Matthew 15:11. And in Mark 7:19 Jesus emphatically declared all foods clean.
This concept of works-based salvation still plagues many churches today. False teachers abound throughout the world refusing to teach that salvation is by grace alone and faith alone as Ephesians 2:8-9 so clearly states.
The false teachers of the prosperity and health and wellness false gospels peddle a works-based righteousness that measures everything on your faith. I was having breakfast this week with a friend, and we were talking about some of these charlatans. These false teachers proclaim blessings over their congregants and promise them money, stuff, and health if only the people will give money to the church. And when the congregants find themselves not being able to claim the falsely promised blessings, these pastors look at them and blame them. They state that they just didn’t have enough faith.
This type of spiritual abuse is rampant in our world. We must beware of false teachers who add to or take away from the Word of God.
Jesus didn’t promise an easy life. In fact, He seemed to say the opposite!
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
That doesn’t sound easy to me!
In John 15:20, Jesus makes it even more clear…
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Following Jesus leads one to an amazingly abundant life of love, joy, and peace. But it also brings with it times of persecution and difficulty. God’s will sometimes involves suffering and pain. But, even in the worst of the battles, you can always have that peace that surpasses all understanding that He provides (Philippians 4:7).
In summary, so far we have learned that we should respect godly leadership - reject ungodly pretenders. And lastly…
Scripture References: Genesis 8:20, Hebrews 10:12, John 1:29, Hebrews 4:16, Matthew 15:11, Mark 7:19, Ephesians 2:8-9, Luke 9:23-24, John 15:20, Philippians 4:7
III. Believers Should Revere the Risen Savior (8,11-16)
III. Believers Should Revere the Risen Savior (8,11-16)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
One thing that can always give us confidence is that our ultimate leader never changes. He doesn’t have certain days where He is kind and others that He is harsh. He doesn’t have certain days where something makes Him angry and other days that He doesn’t mind. He is perfectly kind and patient. He is perfectly good and just. He is perfectly righteous. And He is all of that every day.
The term that we place on this aspect and character of Jesus is called His immutability.
Immutability means that Jesus has absolute consistency. His knowledge, will, purpose, and truth never vary or change. He is always perfectly consistent.
This verse also reminds us that Jesus was the same in the Old Testament as well. He still demands holiness. Though our relationship with God has changed because of the cross - God’s desire for purity and holiness within us has not.
Why is this doctrinal understanding so important for us?
God’s immutability allows us to trust that He will be consistent. We can trust Him to never fail and never change. When He promises something, we know it will always stand.
Friends, Jesus is like the lighthouse for the sailor. Whenever the storms rage, the waves crash, and the sea is ever moving, the sailor can fix His eyes on the unchanging and never moving lighthouse.
I’m sure each of you have had seasons that have felt like a storm. Relationship difficulties, job changes, financial strains, among others. During these stormy periods of our lives, we can hold fast to our never-changing Savior. We can fix our eyes upon the founder and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
As this great picture reminds us:
He was faithful yesterday. He is faithful today. And He will be faithful forever.
We can trust our eternity with Him because He never changes.
Moving to verses 11-12, we are reminded further of the faithfulness of Jesus…
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.
The false teachers that were trying to get this young church to follow them forgot - or maybe more likely ignored - an important foreshadowing of Jesus.
We have mentioned The Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur, earlier in our study of Hebrews. It is found in Leviticus 16 and was a festival that involved a few sacrifices. In particular, there were two that were very symbolic of what was to come in Christ. The first was called the scapegoat.
Listen to Leviticus 16:21-22:
And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
In the same way, Jesus took our sins on Himself on the cross. He suffered and bore the reproach that we deserved.
But there was a second goat that was a part of this atonement. This second goat was sacrificed for the sins of the people and had some of its blood sprinkled in the Most Holy Place.
However, after its blood was sprinkled, we learn in Leviticus 16:27 that the rest of the animal was taken and burned outside the camp.
In the same way, Jesus suffered outside the camp. He did not die in Jerusalem. Instead, He was led to Golgotha - the place of the skull - also referred to as Calvary. It was there that He was brutally crucified on our behalf.
Why did Christ die? To sanctify the people through His own blood.
His death provided an eternal transaction that was taking place. He was dying in our place. The wrath of God for the sin of the world was being placed upon Him. He was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5).
Now when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and repent of our sins, we can have His righteousness imputed - or paced upon us. Listen to Isaiah 61:10 prophesy this beautiful transaction of imputed righteousness…
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Brothers and sisters, because Jesus suffered outside of the camp - because of His sacrificial death on the cross, we can be given this robe of righteousness. We can be viewed as holy because of Christ’s finished work on the cross.
I pray that each of you here have repented - or turned from your sin - and placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. May you humble yourself before our gracious and glorious Savior. If you need to talk after the service, I’d love to tell you how to become a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ.
Praise God for His amazing gift of salvation.
Moving forward, the author gives us a few charges in light of Christ’s sacrifice.
In other words, how should we follow Christ in light of His wondrous free gift?
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.
What should be our response to this magnificent work of our Savior?
We are given four charges from the author here. He doesn’t just desire for us to have a head knowledge of truth.
Friends:
Truths we firmly believe will always move us to act.
(repeat)
The first charge we get is…
1 - We Should Willingly Bear the Reproach of Our Lord
No amount of explanation could suffice for the reproach that Christ endured throughout His journey to the cross and while on the cross. He suffered 40-1 lashings, multiple beatings among false and illegal trials, humiliation, torture, emotional and physical abuse, and eventually probably the most tortuous way to die ever invented by man.
So how are we to walk in Jesus’s light in regard to this charge? There may be some of us who are called to suffer greatly for the Gospel. There are martyred saints in our world daily.
However, a true disciple is marked by a readiness to accept reproach and shame for the sake of their Savior.
This first century church would have known what following Christ meant. It meant being shunned by their Jewish families. It meant possibly losing your job, your home, and maybe even your family.
We must be willing to live unashamedly for Jesus. This might mean losing your job. This might mean getting left out of conversations, passed over for promotions, ignored in the workplace or school - however - we must stand firm for our Savior.
The more that you share your faith with others and live it out, the more you will likely bear reproach. But Christ is worth it all. Keep pressing on despite the reproach that might come your way.
Next we see that…
2 - We Should Constantly Desire to Be with Our Lord
Our lives should be focused on the end point - eternity with Christ. We should maintain a heavenward orientation. We should fix our mind on things above and not earthly things (Colossians 3:2).
We should be looking forward to the city that is to come. We live in no lasting city. Everything we see today will crumble and fall. Yet, heaven is forever.
Though we still live day to day in this world - working to advance the kingdom of God - in the world but not of the world - we do so with complete hope and peace - knowing that one day our Savior will right every wrong. Evil will be judged and Christ will rule and reign.
We also should…
3 - We Should Continually Offer Praise to Our Lord
Our lives should be a continual dripping of praise to our Savior for His wonderful mercy and grace.
What comes out of our mouths should be glorifying to Jesus.
The Psalmists use a similar phrase like ‘sacrifice of praise’ a couple of times - Psalm 107:22 and Psalm 116:17. In both of these, the word thanksgiving is stated instead of praise - seeming to equate the two.
We praise God through admiring His great attributes - such as His immutability we discussed earlier - His love, mercy, grace, sovereignty, among a whole host of others.
But we also praise God through thanksgiving.
Few things are more dishonoring to God than one who complains all of the time and has an ungrateful heart. Grumbling and complaining are an afront to God’s provision for us. When we are ungrateful we are, in essence, dishonoring God by acting like He has not come through for us in the way we thought that He should.
Our lives should be marked by joyous appreciation and thanks instead of grumbling and complaining.
God is honored when we continually lift up thankfulness in our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to…
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Live out your lives with a thankful heart of praise to the Lord.
And lastly, we are charged to…
4 - We Should Practically Live Out Our Faith for Our Lord
Whereas verse 15 told us to honor God with our lips, verse 16 has charged us to honor God with our limbs.
Yes, we should continually live out our lives in praise to God. But our actions should also bring Him glory.
God is not honored by lips alone. He calls us to do good and share what we have. We are to be a generous people. We are not building our kingdom. Instead, we are building the kingdom of God.
We are to walk the walk.
God is not pleased by a man who praises Him with his mouth but denies Him by his actions.
Nor is He pleased with a man who serves without ever praising Him.
He requires both of these, Church.
May each of us bring God glory with every part of our lives.
Scripture References: Hebrews 12:2, Leviticus 16, Leviticus 16:21-22, Leviticus 16:27, Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 61:10, Colossians 3:2, Psalm 107:22, Psalm 116:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Conclusion:
As we come to a close, we have received a very practical message from the Lord today. We have been charged to respect godly leaders among us. We have been charged to reject false teachers - namely ungodly pretenders. And finally, we have been charged to ultimately revere our risen Savior.
I pray that we are a church marked by humility, servant-leadership, and unity as we follow the ultimate of leaders - namely Jesus Christ.
