Sermon Tone Analysis

! TEXT: Heb 4:1-16 (ESV)                        TITLE: “Beware of Unbelief”

                1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

5 And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.

9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

            11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 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.

(ESV)

* *

*INTRODUCTION**:  Chaplain’s Conference*

Ø  Rabbi Zucker – “Jewish View of Atonement”

Ø  Christians => Jesus = Redeemer, procurer of     forgiveness, sacrifice

Ø  Jews => No reconciliation or original sin

§  OT = Sacrifice, NOW = No Temple = Prayer

§  Redeem themselves

§  Atonement = “right relationship w~/ God”

§  3 Steps = Repent, Prayer, Good deeds

§  Intent gains credit, God knows we’re not perfect

§  He will accept the honest intent over deeds

Ø  My Response: I came away in absolute grief…

Ø  His knowledge is very dangerous

Ø  Quoted…John Stott and other solid theologians

Ø  Knows the Gospel…does not believe it!

Ø  My Realization: Does this not describe our typical communities?

People know Jesus’ story...don’t believe it!

*PROPOSITION**:* Warning: God will not tolerate those who harden their hearts against His word anymore than than those who are ignorant of it.

*TRANSITION**:*  This text presents 4 aspects that are crucial to our eternal well being…Fear, Hope, Diligence, and Dependence.

/ /

*  I.

YOU ARE TO  MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE OF FEAR (1-5)*

*            A.

Command: Be Afraid of God’s Wrath (1)*

                        1. Context: “Therefore” points back to Chap 3

                                    a.

Exposition of Psalm 95

                                                1) 1-6 -> Comparison of Jesus & Moses

                                                            (Jewish readers)

                                                2) 7-11 -> Appeal to Psalm 95

                                                3) 12-15 -> Application: Don’t turn away

                                                4) 16-19 -> Summary: Unbelief = eternal                                                             death

                                    b.

Point: Don’t be like them!

                                                1) They were not allowed to enter the

land

                                                2) They disbelieved the promises of God

                        2. Response: “Let us fear”

                                    a.

“Fear” = be afraid (1st in the text)

                                            1) pass => put to flight, become frightened

                                            2) not the sense of awe or reverence

                                            3) but in the sense of watching yourself

                                    b.

“while the promise…still stands”

                                                1) GK = “to leave behind, to reserve”

                                    2) which indicates an end to come

                                    c.

Promise?....”entering His rest”

                                                1) “rest” = cessation of activity

                                                2) land = picture of heaven

                                                3) end of hostilities, beginning of peace

                        3. Reason for fear?: Be sure of your position

                                    a.

difficult phrase

                                                - “lest” = freq.

used as an emphatic form

        after verbs of fearing (“NOT”)

                                                - “seem” = to think, hold an opinion

                                                - “failed to reach it” = fail to reach the                                                                 goal thru one’s own fault

                                    b.

Lit = “/lest any one of you think he has come                                                    too late for it/.”

                                                - sometimes we don’t feel like Christians

                                                - sometimes we are caught in sin

                                                - our confidence becomes shaky

                                    c.

Pastor would have us examine ourselves

Heb 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

(NAS)

 

2 Pet 1:10  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

(NAS)

*            B.

Example: Be Warned Concerning His Wrath (2)*

                        1. Undeniable Fact: We have heard the same Gospel

                                    a.

we had the gospel preached

                                    b.

as did they

                        c. OT & NT have the same message

                        2. Unfortunate Result: They didn’t profit from it

                                    a.

“benefit” = help, aid, benefit, be of use

                                    b. the good news was heard, but was of no use

                                    c.

they weren’t really listening

                        3. Regrettable Reason: They had no faith