Challenge To Discipleship
Notes
Transcript
Text: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23 NIV).
Scripture Reading:Hebrews 10:19–39
Introduction
Guy H. King, in a provocative book titled A Belief That Behaves: An Expositional Study of the Epistle of James, quoted an old preacher: “My brethren, there are two sides to the Gospel; there’s the believing side, and there’s the behaving side.”
These are two important sides of the gospel. The New Testament epistles commonly consist of two parts—the doctrinal and the practical.
The first sets forth Christian truth. The second applies the truth to life.
In the opening chapters of Hebrews, we have seen the believing side of the doctrine of the atoning work of Christ under the types of the Old Testament priesthood (1:1– 10:18).
The closing chapters of Hebrews contain challenges to discipleship.
The challenges have been given by the author to those who have accepted the salvation provided by Christ. Let’s notice these challenges so that we may see how God’s people are to behave in reference to the gospel.
Point I. The challenge for worship.
1. Look at the challenge for worship.
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22 NIV).
a. “Let us draw near” is the first of three exhortations.
i.”Let us hold fast the confession” Vs 23
ii. “Let us consider how to stir up” Vs. 24
b. The challenge “Let us draw near” refers to the believer’s worship.
A. The basis of the believer’s worship is.
a. Christians responding to Jesus because of what he has done for us.
b. Two primary actions of the Master are described.
i. First, there is the action of sprinkling hearts “from a guilty conscience.” vs. 22. This refers to Christ’s cleansing the person’s attitudes.
ii. Second, there is the action of washing bodies “with pure water.” This expression refers to Christ’s cleansing the person’s actions.
c. Christ has done a marvelous work for his people.
d. Because of who Christ is and what he has done, he is worthy of worship.
B. The response of the believer’s worship is.
a. In view of what Christ has done by his atoning death and by his transforming power, Christians are exhorted to draw near to God.
b. The expression “draw near” means to get close to the Lord in worship and in service.
c. When a Christian thinks of what Christ has done, the response is to adore and thank Jesus Christ for his marvelous work.
Point II. The challenge to keep the faith.
1. Another challenge came for the believer’s orthodoxy:
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23 NIV).
a. The challenge “Let us hold fast” refers to the spirit of the believers.
i. In the midst of antagonism, the believers needed to hold fast.
ii. They needed to keep the faith.
A. The threat to a believer’s faith.
a. Judging by the author’s words in Hebrews 10, various matters threatened the believer’s faith.
i. Evidently myriad teachings and actions bombarded the believers.
ii. In the face of all these mysteries, discouragements, doubts, ridicule, and unbelief, times were tough.
iii. The mocking and cynical voices were trying to eradicate the believers’ faith.
iv. Some were wavering.
B. The disclosure of the believer’s hope.
a. The writer speaks of the believer’s hope.
b. In light of the hope of better times, Christians were exhorted to endure.
c. The Christian hope is not wishful thinking.
d. Union with God is a fixed reality.
i. Because of this, believers have a real reason to persevere even in difficult times.
Point III. The challenge of togetherness.
1. A third challenge the writer gave to the Hebrew Christians was to encourage one another:
“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24 ESV).
A. The promotion of fellowship.
a. One of the great truths of Christianity is that Christians belong to each other.
“Let us consider how to stir one another on.”
b. They are brothers and sisters in the same family, partners in the same mission, and members of the same household.
c. Not only should Christians consider the reality that they belong to one another, but they need “to spur (NIV) one another on toward love and good deeds.”
d. Christians need to watch over each other in the same way committed family members look after each other.
B. The regularity of worship.
a. The author of Hebrews acknowledged that regular attendance at worship was an opportunity for togetherness.
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25 NIV).
b. The meeting of believers affords times of mutual help in “exhorting one another.” Being a Christian means living in unity with God’s people.
Point IV. The challenge of hope.
1. Beginning in Hebrews 10:19, the author gives one challenge after another.
a. We have looked at three challenges.
b. Now we will look at still another—the challenge to hope in the future.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Heb. 10:35 NIV).
A. The hope of the Lord’s return.
a. The basis for the Christian’s optimism about the future is the Lord’s return.
b. The author of Hebrews gives the guarantee of the Lord’s return.
“For in just a very little while, ‘He who is coming will come and will not delay’ ” (Heb. 10:37 NIV).
c. Other New Testament writers viewed the Lord’s coming as an imminent matter.
d. It was to be close at hand.
e. The Lord’s return should always be regarded as being near.
f. The Lord’s promise to return should challenge God’s people to remain faithful to his commands and to his mission.
B. The Christian’s response to the Lord’s return is.
a. In light of the promise of the Lord’s return, the Christian can make various responses.
i. One response is not to relinquish the idea of reward:
“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Heb. 10:35 NIV).
ii. Another response is to exercise patience:
“You need to persevere” (v. 36 NIV).
iii. A third response is to continue to live by faith:
“My righteous one will live by faith” (v. 38 NIV).
b. One who gives up does not please the Lord. The challenge to discipleship is one of confident hope.
Conclusion
Whenever we see a “therefore” in the New Testament, we ought to examine what it is “there for.” In Hebrews 10:19, the first verse of our Scripture reading for this morning, the writer says, “Therefore, brothers . . . ,” referring to the work Christ has done to make a way for believers to draw near to God. He then proceeds to challenge believers to commitment. Why are you a Christian? You are a Christian to follow the Christ. Follow him!
Crabtree, T. T.. The Zondervan 2026 Pastor's Annual: An Idea and Resource Book (p. 169). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
