Real Discipleship: A Call to Godliness

It’s a Saturday morning. The kids are all sitting around the kitchen table after breakfast. Dad comes down the stairs and gathers his things. On his way out the door to go run some errands, he walks in and says to the children:

I’m going to be out running errands for a few hours. While I am gone, I want you all to clean your rooms.

A couple of hours passes, dad returns home to find the kids gathered around the kitchen table. The children are all huddled around a particular piece of paper with an intricate oultine drawn in crayon. When they look up and see their father, they get excited and say:

Oh, dad, you’re going to be so proud of us. Since the moment you left, we’ve been sitting here planning out the best way to clean our rooms. We’ve written some articles on 5 easy methods for picking up your toys, and we’ve even started planning a conference for other children so they will know how to clean their rooms effectively as well. We’re currently working on our website for it.

Confused, dad looks at his children and says, “That’s all good… but, did you actually clean your rooms?”

There’s a difference between talking about doing something and actually doing something, right? Well, there’s a difference between talking about how to be a disciple, and actually being a real disciple.

For this sermon today to make any sense, there is one simple but important concept you have to grasp. Here it goes:

Faith is not the same as belief.

Now, let me add a couple of qualifiers. When I say faith, I am talking about the way the Bible uses that word, and the Bible’s definition of faith is pretty important if we’re going to understand the gospel at all.

And when I say belief, I mean the way we tend to define it in our own culture here in America. We’ve got a peculiar definition of that word today. It’s a fluffy word that just means you admit that something is true. For instance, the vast majority Americans say they believe in God. However, for the overwhelming majority of Americans, this “belief” makes no actual difference in their lives.

So, the Bible’s definition of faith is not even close to our culture’s definition of belief. And if we ever want to understand the real meaning of discipleship, then we have to get this one straight.

Main idea: Since we have such a Great High Priest, true disciples journey in godliness by exercising real faith.

Open in prayer

Our text today is a call to action from the author of Hebrews. In it we find a practical summary of what it means to live like a Christian.

And I think there are two questions you need to come to this text asking today:

Are you a real disciple?

If so, how can you journey in Godliness by faith?

An Exhortation to Godliness

To give you a quick outline of our passage for today, the author begins with a call to action that includes three exhortations to godliness. He then gives a warning and a call to remember. Let’s begin with his call to action:

Read this whole section of text.

The author of Hebrews gets right to it and begins with a call to action:

Hebrews 10:19–25 CSB

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Read this whole section of text.

Hebrews 10:19–25 CSB

Hebrews 10:19–25 ESVTherefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The Preconditions of Godliness

The first verse starts with a “therefore.” A “therefore” connects two ideas and makes the second idea conditional upon the first. Here’s what I mean.

A couple of years ago, the Astros won the World Series; therefore, a million people flooded downtown for a parade and subsequent pandamonium. Now, if the Astros had not won the series, would there have been a parade? No, of course not. How about this: Since the Astros did win, then that kind of celebration seems like the only fitting response.

The Astros win was a precondition for the celebration.

True discipleship has a precondition. Living in godliness, living by faith, has a precondition. Today’s text summarizes that precondition with two statements:

Today’s text summarizes that precondition with two statements:

since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus — & — and since we have a great high priest over the house of God

These two conditional statements are actually a summary of the previous section of the letter. In chapter 9 and the first half of chapter 10, the author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant.

Hebrews 9:26b–28 CSB

Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Since Jesus has accomplished the perfect sacrficie, once and for all. Since his shed blood on the cross atones for our sins, purifies us. Since our priest, or mediator between God and man, is no mere human priest. He is the Great High Priest. This once and for all act by Jesus has given us confidence to enter the holy places by his blood and given us a Great High Priest of the house of God, that is over the church. Since these things are true; therefore, we can do what is asked of us in the exhortations that follow.

Of course, the reverse is also true. If Christ’s sacrfice and atonement has not been applied to you, if you have not crossed the line of faith, then you are no more capable to obey these exhortations than a tree strump.

Christ’s salvation is a precondition to godliness. It is a precondition to being a real disciple.

Three Exhortations to Godliness

Now let’s look at those exhortations. There are three:

let us draw near - to the presence of God

let us hold fast - to the confession of our hope

let us watch out - for one another

Let us draw near to the presence of God

Now that we have unbelievable access to God himself, let’s draw near to him. If we’ve crossed that line of faith, we have close, personal access to the one who carved out the mountains and scattered the stars. The only one who is sovereign over history. He holds your past and your future in his hand. He knows you better than you know you, and here’s the crazy part, He desires that you know him. God wants you to come into his presence. He wants to know your concerns, and he wants your worship.

You say you’re a disciple, but do you draw near to the presence of God? Total access, freely available to you, paid for by the very blood of Jesus. This is a gift worth more than gold. Do you reach out and take it? Do you value it enough to use it?

One commentator on this passage says it this way,

As the wick of a lamp continually draws oil for the light, so let us continually draw from God the strength and grace we need to function.

Since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, let us draw near to him.

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope

Today, we usually use that word confession in the context of someone messing up and coming clean, right?

I was pilfering around in the fridge looking for something to eat this past week, and I made a discovery. Right there in the freezer was a half-eaten 6-pack of Klondike bars. Somehow, these had made their way into my feezer days prior without my knowledge. So, I did what any self-respecting husband would do, I marched upstairs and told my wife I’d discovered her stash and that she’d been caught hiding them from me! Of course, she fessed up to her diablolical plan. And now I get to throw her under the bus in front of a room full of people.

When we think of confession, we may be tempted to interpret it that way. But that’s not it.

Your confession is what you say you believe.

It’s not just what you believe. It’s what you say you believe. It’s what you confess to be true. For it to be your confession, it has to be coming out of your mouth. It’s not a confession until others hear you say it.

And in this passage, the writer has a specific confession in mind.

It’s real common today for us take a “you do you” approach to people’s beliefs. Our world around us tells us it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe it with all your heart, then it must be right for you.

But the writer of Hebrews says otherwise. He tells us there is one confession that is right and true. It’s in the section right before our passage today.

Hebrews 10:11–14 CSB

Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

Listen, whatever the religion, be it Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam. Be it materialism, consumerism, or nationalism (Because those are all religions too.). The priests of that religion stand daily offering their sacrifices… but they can never take away sins. But Christ has offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins. He has perfected for all time those being sanctified.

Is that your confession? Do you say to others that is what you believe?

If so, hold fast to your confession. Don’t give in to the idea of pluralism. Don’t back down from confessing what is true, even as it becomes unpopular.

True disciples confess the good news of the perfect sacrfice by Jesus to others.

Since we have a great high priest, let us hold fast to that confession.

Let us watch out for one another

Last exhortation: let us watch out for one another. This exhortation has the idea of us having each other’s backs.

There’s no such thing as Lone Ranger Christianity.

Discipleship is not an individual enterprise, and real disciples watch out for one another. The writer provides two means of watching out.

not neglecting to meet together

encouraging one another

Folks, church matters. And your presence at church matters. Gathering together for corporate worship on Sundays has to be a priority, but it doesn’t stop there. This is talking about those more personal close gatherings. It’s talking about small group gatherings or spending time in each other’s homes. We can’t watch out for one another if we’re not in each other’s lives.

And watching out for each other means encouraging one another. Encouragement has a positive and negative side. It’s celebrating and correcting. Celebrating the good and correcting the bad.

How often do you see others from church each week after you walk out those doors on Sunday? How often do other priorities keep you from gathering with your church?

Since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us watch out for one another.

Thee exhortations. Three challenges that summarize what it means to be a true disciple.

let us draw near - to the presence of God

let us hold fast - to the confession of our hope

let us watch out - for one another

A Warning Against Apostacy

Now that the writer has given his call to action, he cautions his readers with a warning, and it’s a serious one.

Hebrews 10:26–27 CSB

Hebrews 10:26–27 ESVFor if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:26–31 CSB

For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This is one of those passages we really want to explain away in the Bible. Surely it can’t mean what it says. It doesn’t sound like grace or mercy at all. But — hear this — is it not mercy if I scream at you that the ice beneath your feet is cracking? Is it not grace that I shout at you in urgency that your speeding toward a blind curve just down the road.

We can’t minimize this passage. It means every word of what it says, and it is every bit as serious as it sounds. It’s called a warning for a reason.

If we go on deliberately sinning after receiving knowledge of the perfect sacrifice, then there is no longer a sacrifice for us, only judgment and the fury of fire.

Don’t hear what the passage is not saying. It is not saying you can lose your salvation. Your actions do not, cannot, undo what Christ has done on the cross. But they provide evidence of whether or not that redemption has actually been applied to your life.

The warning in this passage makes the statement: Redemption has been accomplished. But it asks the question: Has it been applied to you? If not, judgment does await.

Are you walking in Godliness as the author urged above, or do you go on sinning even after receiving the knowledge of Christ’s perfect sacrifice?

"It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

A Call to Remember

After the author gives us his exhortations, he provides a strong warning about the consequences of not heeding his exhortations. But the author doesn’t stop at fear of judgment. He continues on with a word of hope.

Hebrews 10:32–36 CSB

Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.

Hebrews 10:32–36 ESVBut recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Hebrews 10:32–38 CSB

I can’t read this passage without thinking about a dear friend of mine from my time as a missionary in Africa. Hawa was a single mother of two children. I was in a Muslim country and her husband left her when she became a Christian, and in the country where I lived, women’s right to property and land are severly limited. Hawa had to move back in with her family, but they also deeply resented her Christianity because of the shame it brought upon the family in their village. They would frequently pressure her to renounce Christ and return to Islam. Often, she would come home from working in the market to find that all of her posessions had been tossed out into the yard and set on fire. Finally, her family kicked her and her children out as well.

But that’s where the story gets good. In their society Hawa had nowhere to go. Except God, through his church, was faithful to Hawa. I watched the small church of about 15 people in Hawa’s village, most of them as poor as she was, struggle together to provide her with a roof and eventually her own small hut. They held her up, helped her get established, and became more of a family than she ever had at home.

Ground your hope in God’s prior faithfulness and provision. Remember what he has promised and remember what he has already provided.

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

Do not throw away your confidence.

You have need of endurance.

“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Conclusion

We have heard the author’s exhortations. We have considered his warning, and we have heard his call to remember God’s faithfulness.

To close, I want us to go back to those two questions:

Are you a real disciple?

Is your faith demonstrated in obedience to those three exhortations? Do you draw near to God regularly? Do you hold fast to your confession? Are you quick to speak the gospel to others and stand firm on it when it’s unpopular? Do you watch out for your church? Are you gathered enough to encourage one another? If not, heed the warning, do not continue sinning now that you know about his perfect sacrifice for you. You may realize you’ve not truly trusted in that sacrfice for you, that Christ’s redemption hasn’t been applied. If that’s true, I urge you to trust in him today. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

How do you walk in godliness by faith?

If you are a real disciple. If you’ve heard this today and your life looks like the one described by the author of Hebrews, then what are the specific ways you can live out those three exhortations in your life? Do you have time and place where you regularly draw near to God? How can you reorder your priorities in life to make sure you can watch out for others in you church? What has to change in your life for you to be the kind of person who holds fast to your confession?

Faith is not the same as belief.

There is a difference between faith and belief. Talking about obedience is not the same as obeying. We have been warned today and we have been encouraged to remember God’s faithfulness to us. The author of Hebrews closes this chapter with these words, and I believe they are a fitting conclusion for us today as well”

Hebrews 10:39 CSB

But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.

To give you a quick outline of our passage for today, the author begins with a call to action that includes three exhortations to godliness. He then gives a warning and a call to remember.

Real Discipleship: A Call to Godliness

Introduction

Faith is not the same as belief.

An Exhortation to Godliness

The author of Hebrews gets right to it and begins with a call to action:

The Preconditions of Godliness

since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus — ​& — and since we have a great high priest over the house of God

Three Exhortations to Godliness

Three Exhortations to Godliness

Let us draw near to the presence of God

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope

Let us watch out for one another

A Warning Against Apostacy

A Call to Remember

Conclusion

To close, I want us to go back to those two questions:

Are you a real disciple?

How do you walk in godliness by faith?

Faith is not the same as belief.

​

since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus — & — and since we have a great high priest over the house of God