Complete Part 3

Introduction: Finishing Well

A couple years ago our girls signed up to do one of the races downtown. It was a race just for kids

Watching Naomi round the corner and finishing strong

The Christian life is not measured by how passionately you begin.

It is measured by how faithfully you finish.

That has been the heartbeat of Hebrews.

Don't drift.

Don't harden your heart.

Don't fall away.

Run with endurance.

Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Go outside the camp.

Remain faithful.

Now, in these final verses, the writer gives us one last picture of what a life that endures to the end actually looks like.

He leaves us with no new theology.

Instead...

he leaves us with worship.

Prayer.

Grace.

Hope.

The letter that began with,

"Long ago, God spoke..."

ends with,

"Grace be with all of you."

That isn't accidental.

The Christian life begins with grace.

It continues by grace.

It finishes by grace.

Setting the Context

Throughout this series we have watched the author build one glorious truth upon another.

Jesus is greater.

His priesthood is greater.

His covenant is greater.

His sacrifice is greater.

His promises are greater.

His kingdom cannot be shaken.

Last week...

we were called to remain faithful outside the camp. and finished with the anticipation of the city that is to come.

Today...

the writer shows us how faithful Christians live while waiting for the city to come.

I. A Complete Life Is a Life of Continual Worship (vv.15–16)

Hebrews 13:15–25 ESV

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 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. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.

So now the author is going to show us 4 ways to a complete life. And then a little extra at the end.

I. A Complete Life Is a Life of Continual Worship (vv.15–16)

"Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God..."

Notice the first two words.

Through Him.

Everything in Hebrews comes back to Jesus.

We worship...

through Him.

We pray...

through Him.

We serve...

through Him.

We approach God...

through Him.

Without Christ...

none of our worship reaches the Father.

Worship Looks Different Under the New Covenant

Under the Old Covenant...

people brought bulls.

Lambs.

Goats.

Doves.

The altar constantly flowed with blood.

But Jesus cried,

"It is finished."

The final sacrifice has already been offered.

But there is a sacrifice that remains according to Hebrews 13:15….

So what sacrifice remains?

Praise.

The sacrifice has changed.

The worship has not.

Worship Is More Than Singing

The writer explains.

"The fruit of lips that acknowledge His name."

Praise is not confined to Sunday morning.

Praise is every public confession that Jesus is Lord.

Every conversation.

Every testimony.

Every prayer.

Every song.

Every declaration that Christ alone saves.

Romans 10 reminds us,

We believe with the heart...

and confess with the mouth.

Our lips reveal what fills our hearts.

Illustration

An apple tree doesn't strain to produce apples.

Healthy trees naturally bear fruit.

Likewise...

healthy Christians naturally speak about Jesus.

Praise is simply the fruit of a heart transformed by grace.

Worship Has Hands

Verse 16 immediately moves from lips...

to lives.

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have."

God is pleased by generous people.

Notice...

sharing isn't merely charity.

It is worship.

Helping someone is worship

Taking someone a meal.

Buying groceries.

Visiting the lonely.

Encouraging the discouraged.

The writer says...

Those are sacrifices God delights in.

Now I don’t know about you but that’s where I want to be.

Rick with the Arkansas duck lease

Like if I want ole Rick to delight in me because he’s got a nice place I can shoot at some ducks

How much more should I want the owner of Heaven and everything else to delight in me

You want God to delight in you, you worship Him. By sacrificing, by your lips declaring His name, by living out the gospel

Our worship in the sanctuary is not complete until it leaves the sanctuary.

II. A Complete Life Humbly Receives Spiritual Leadership (v.17)

This is one of the most misunderstood verses in Hebrews.

"Obey your leaders and submit to them..."

A COMPLETE LIFE HUMBLY RECEIVES SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

This is not blind loyalty.

This is biblical shepherding.

The authority belongs to God's Word.

Pastors simply proclaim it.

Why Submit?

Because...

"They are keeping watch over your souls."

No greater responsibility exists.

Pastors answer to God.

James says,

Teachers will receive stricter judgment.

Every sermon.

Every counseling conversation.

Every decision.

Every soul.

One day...

every shepherd stands before the Chief Shepherd.

Personal Pastoral Moment

"One day I will stand before Christ and answer for how I shepherded Cornerstone Community Church.

That reality both humbles me...

and terrifies me."

Invite them to pray for their pastors and elders

Not because we are perfect...

but because we desperately need God's grace.

So my responsibility is to watch over your soul as someone who will give an account for the way that I shepherd you in all accounts

And you’re responsibility is obey and submit do so without groaning so that you are a joy.

Whether you’re here at Cornerstone or just visiting from another church the implication is, if all you do is groan and complain then it does you no good. it is not to your advantage. So, be a joy to lead.

III. (vv.18–19)

After thirteen chapters...

the author makes a simple request.

"Pray for us."

What humility.

The man who wrote Hebrews...

asks ordinary believers...

to pray for him.

No Christian...

regardless of maturity...

graduates beyond needing prayer.

Why Pray?

The author desired:

A clear conscience.

Faithful ministry.

Restoration.

Notice...

he doesn't ask for comfort.

He asks for usefulness.

That should shape our own prayers.

Not merely,

"Lord, make life easier."

But,

"Lord, make me faithful."

A COMPLETE LIFE IS A PRAYING LIFE

Application

Imagine what would happen if every one of you committed to praying daily for:

Their pastors.

Their elders.

Their leaders.

Missionaries.

Church staff.

One another

Our community

Prayer has power that we don’t really understand but if we did I’m pretty sure that’s about all we would do

IV. (vv.20–21)

Many scholars consider this one of the greatest benedictions in Scripture.

Everything Hebrews has taught...

comes together here.

The God of Peace

Think about that phrase.

The God...

who once thundered from Sinai...

is now called...

the God of peace.

Not because He changed.

Because Christ reconciled us.

Romans 5 says,

"We have peace with God."

Not someday.

Now.

The Great Shepherd

Only here in Hebrews is Jesus called:

"The Great Shepherd."

What a beautiful conclusion.

Throughout Hebrews...

Jesus has been:

The Son.

The Priest.

The Mediator.

The Sacrifice.

Now...

He is our Shepherd.

The Shepherd who knows every sheep by name.

Who laid down His life.

Who rose again.

Who never loses one entrusted to Him.

So, as chapter 13 has gotten personal in it’s quest to teach us how to live, the author has also made Christ personal

Psalm 23 ends with,

"I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Hebrews ends in a similar way. On the heels of “we seek the city that is to come” the author reminds us...

the Shepherd is bringing us there.

Equipped to Please Him

Notice something remarkable.

The prayer isn't merely that God forgives us.

It is that God equips us.

God never calls us to obedience...

without supplying the grace to obey.

Philippians 2 says,

"It is God who works in you."

The Christian life is impossible...

apart from the power of God.

Everything pleasing to Him...

He first produces in us.

That's Hebrews.

God enables what He requires.

A COMPLETE LIFE DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON GOD’S POWER

V. (vv.22–25)

The author closes with ordinary matters.

Timothy.

Greetings.

Friends.

Travel plans.

Then...

one final word.

Grace.

Not law.

Not fear.

Not performance.

Grace.

THE FINAL WORD IS GRACE

Think about the entire journey.

Hebrews began by lifting our eyes to Christ.

It ends by reminding us that every step of the journey depends upon grace.

We are saved by grace.

Strengthened by grace.

Sanctified by grace.

Preserved by grace.

And one day...

welcomed home by grace.

Bringing the Entire Book Together

For a year now we've walked through Hebrews together.

We've stood in the throne room where angels worship the Son.

We've watched Jesus become our greater High Priest.

We've seen the superiority of the New Covenant.

We've entered the Holy of Holies through His blood.

We've walked alongside Abraham.

Sarah.

Moses.

Rahab.

David.

We've been called to endure.

To fix our eyes on Jesus.

To leave Sinai for Zion.

To go outside the camp.

To live complete lives.

Now the author reminds us of something beautiful.

The Christian life doesn't end with our effort.

It ends with God's grace.

Conclusion

Church...

Hebrews has been one long invitation.

Don't settle for shadows...

when you have the substance.

Don't return to the old...

when you have the new.

Don't drift...

when Christ has anchored your soul.

Don’t stand on that which is unstable

When you’ve been given an unshakeable kingdom

Don't quit...

because Jesus has already finished the work.

The Jesus introduced in chapter one...

is the same Jesus who closes chapter thirteen.

The eternal Son.

The Great High Priest.

The once-for-all sacrifice.

The Mediator of a better covenant.

The Author and Perfecter of our faith.

The Great Shepherd who has promised never to lose one of His sheep.

The God of peace who has provided everything necessary for your salvation.

The grace that called you...

will sustain you.

The power that saved you...

will sanctify you.

And the Savior who began the good work...

will complete it.

The message of Hebrews has never been,

"Look how strong your faith must be."

The message has always been,

"Look how great your Savior is."

Final Call to Response

So today I want to ask you one final question as we close this journey through Hebrews.

When your story is finished...

When your race is over...

When your children tell stories about your life...

What will they remember?

Will they remember success?

Possessions?

Achievements?

Or will they say...

"They finished well."

"They trusted Jesus to the very end."

"They endured."

Final Benediction (Invite the Church to Stand)

Slowly read Hebrews 13:20–21 over the congregation as your closing blessing:

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."