Christ Is Our Hope!

Caution Helps Avoid Destruction

In verse 9 Paul says that he has given them caution not to fall back in to Judaism, but to fully embrace Jesus Christ. Paul wanted them to know the magnitude of their decision. If they chose to return to Judaism rather than place their faith in Jesus they would not be saved and would face eternal destruction.

The Letter to the Hebrews The Brighter Side (Hebrews 6:9–12)

The fourth-century scholar John Chrysostom paraphrases the thought this way: ‘It is better that I should scare you with words than that you should sorrow in deeds.’ The writer speaks the truth; but, however stern it may be, he speaks it in love.

Christians need to understand the plight of those who reject Jesus Christ as their savior. The decision they make has eternal consequences. Some people will say that Christians scare people into their faith. They are right and quite honestly I am unapologetic for it. It is for this reason that I came to know Christ. The reality of hell scared me. I know that I would end up there if I didn’t give my life to Christ.

There are certain things in life that we must instill fear. For example, we must instill fear in the lives of our children regarding putting things in electrical outlets. We must use scare tactics to our teenagers regarding drug and alcohol usage. We must use scare tactics in those areas of life that can bring harm or death. Life apart from Christ will lead to eternal death. If I must use a scare tactic to keep you from this, then I will!

The Love Of God Is Our Strength!

Amidst the persecution that the Christians were enduring they were faithful to ministering to the saints. When serving and ministering became difficult and hard they did not give up. Their love for God sustained them to endurance in ministering to others.

This is a principle that we must understand. A love for God will enable us to love others. Conversely, if we do not have a love for God, we will find it difficult to love others. If we can’t love someone who is perfect, then how can we love someone, that is imperfect? God gives us the ability to love others when they are not very lovable.

When things get tough it is going to be love that carries you through. Spiritually speaking, there will be times when the joy of ministry and worship subsides. There will be times when the messages preached don’t affect you the way they use to. There will be times where area’s of ministry lose there joy and your work becomes tedious and tiresome. Don’t stop coming to worship. Don’t stop serving. Be faithful to your first love. This is Jesus Christ. It is your faithfulness to him that will bring back your joy to worship and service.

The alternative is to walk away and stop going to church and stop serving. Unfortunately I have seen the result of this. People fall away from there walk from the Lord. They enter into a lifestyle of sin. Sin has its way with them and then they have a significant crisis in their life. Then they feel ashamed for ever walking away from the Lord. Some return and some don’t.

Be Diligent In The Work Of The Lord!

The Love Of God Is Our Strength! We are not to be lazy when it comes to the work of the Lord. We are to give it our very best. Don’t allow other things to take priority over your worship and service to the Lord. The Hebrews would have been tempted to be discouraged and half-hearted in the work of the Lord because they were giving it all they had and they were still being persecuted. Paul encourages them to be faithful to the purpose of God. He encourages them to be like those who were faithful before them. All of the pillars of the faith went through difficulty, but they were faithful to the Lord.

I feel that our temptation is just the opposite of the Hebrews. It is not persecution, but having too much. Let me give you a couple of examples. Today worship is secondary to most people. If something they want to do more on Sunday is available to them, they will forego worship to go do what they want to do. Another example is when you have a voluntary responsibility at the church it will be secondary. What I mean by this is, if it was your employer you would show up, but since it is volunteer you may not show up. We should be more intentional about our service for the Lord than our employment.

Paul is trying to make a point that worship and service are essential to the Christian walk. When they are not a priority in your life then don’t expect to grow in your faith. It is when things are hard and your worship seem s dull that you persevere. It is in your perseverance that you will mature . Tell story about getting the first down. Tell story about father encouraging his son not to quit (Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Douglas Mcarthur, Elom Mc Cringle)

Take Courage In The Promise Of God

God made a promise to Abraham.

“No longer shall your name be called [a]Abram, But your name shall be [b]Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.

This covenant was not conditional. It was purposeful. This was the will of God. He purposes to have a relationship with His creation. He chose Abraham to be the catalyst that would bring this forth. Abraham was kin to Seth (Noah’s Son). He grew up in a pagan family worshiping false gods. There was nothing special about Abraham that God would choose him. The only reason He did is because he wanted to. There was nothing that Abraham could do to nullify this covenant. God said it was going to happen and it did.

Why would God do this? If we look at the creation. Adam and eve fell to sin. Sin rapidly increased from them. Cain killed Abel. Soon every man’s heart was increasingly wicked. God flooded man out except for Noah and his family. After Noah came through the flood, the earth became populated and spoke the same language. The wanted to disregard God and make a name for themselves. So they started to build the tower of Babel. God confused their language and disbursed all the people. Sin had so affected humanity that it hampered His ability to have relationship with man. God chose to call a people that would not reject Him but serve as a lighthouse to the rest of the world what a relationship with God looked like. Abraham would be the beginning of this chosen people. Today God still saves people through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Jesu is of the lineage of Abraham. This promise is being fulfilled even today.

God has made a promise to us.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Once again this promise is not conditional. Once you believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and salvation you will not perish but have everlasting life. This is true. One may say I believe so I am saved. Fruit-bearing is a sign of salvation. One cannot be saved and not bear fruit

5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [d]prove to be My disciples.

God is fulfilling His promise to Abraham through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Is Our Hope

Jesus was the forerunner into the Holy of Holies. This was the most sacred place in the temple. Only the High priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year. This meant that very few people had access to God. When Jesus came, he tore the veil that separated God and man. Now man any man can enter into the presence of God thorugh the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the [z]veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.

Jesus has paid the sin debt for all who call upon his name. If you are His child, then you can enter the presence of God at any time!