Jesus Is Better Than Dead Works

I. Deeds That Lead to Death

I would like to be clear about something. God loved the Jews ! Hebrews seemingly takes so much time and care to instruct here. Again, Jews had a long history of walking away from God and seeking other Gods and methods. God loved them still. A father does not take time to instruct a child he does not love or care for. And if anything is evident throughout scripture everything from the Minor Prophets like Hosea to the Apostle Paul himself. God gives his chosen people instruction and chastises them when he deems it necessary. Harsh words and labels like that of Gomer the harlot when the Nation of Israel left the

HOSEA

1 The word of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

HOSEA’S MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN

2 When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him:

Go and marry a woman of promiscuity,

and have children of promiscuity,

for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuity

by abandoning the Lord.

But! In contrast listen here!

Hosea 2 :14-20 (CSB)

14 Therefore, I am going to persuade her,

lead her to the wilderness,

and speak tenderly to her.

15 There I will give her vineyards back to her

and make the Valley of Achor,

into a gateway of hope.

There she will respond as she did

in the days of her youth,

as in the day she came out of the land of Egypt.

16 In that day—

this is the Lord’s declaration—

you will call me, “My husband,”

and no longer call me, “My Baal.”

17 For I will remove the names of the Baals

from her mouth;

they will no longer be remembered by their names.

18 On that day I will make a covenant for them

with the wild animals, the birds of the sky,

and the creatures that crawl on the ground.

I will shatter bow, sword,

and weapons of war in the land,

and will enable the people to rest securely.

19 I will take you to be my wife forever.

I will take you to be my wife in righteousness,

justice, love, and compassion.

20 I will take you to be my wife in faithfulness,

and you will know the Lord.

Therefore!

Romans 2:3–5 (CSB)

Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ho 2:14–20.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ho.I know that we have spent a great deal of time speaking about the early Jews. I would like to say this that Our sin, when unchecked does and will eventually lead to death. Repentance is an important and key part of not only our justification but our everyday walk with the Lord. There is no depth of joy when we walk in unrepentant sin. All sins are corrosive to our exsistence. Some have higher rates or ability to destroy but, everything from jealousy to infidelity. Some sin will steal your peace and other sins will steal your life from you and those you love.

Repentance from Dead Works

Repentance here is different than we hear in James. Dead works in Hebrews Chapter 6 is in reference to evil deed or works.

a. Because we are prone to sin we must also be quick to clamor for forgiveness.

We and the Jews have that very much in common. Repentance is to be a part of our life because sin is a part of our life. For the believer in Jesus, this looks much like allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work of conviction and the call to repentance.

b. Repentance is better than modified behavior. Repentance is a posture of humility and acknowledgement of Christ as Lord and Redeemer. To the Jews, it brought about a relenting of disaster and judgement.

Repentance comes of age and completion in Jesus Christ. Repentance is rooted truth John the Baptist stated in Matthew 3:2

Matthew 3:2 CSB

and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

c. Repentance without faith in Jesus Christ is dead.

We have faith in Jesus so that we might attain Jesus. Jesus rejoices in your repentance as your advocate!

1 Corinthians 13:6 CSB

Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.

Luke 15:7 CSB

I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

You can see the affect your sin brings about and feel bad. This is not repentance. This is you seeing the affect of you actions and regretting the affects of your sin. Repentance is rooted in the truth. Therefore, seeing unrighteousness and turning away from that and running towards the truth of righteousness. For God delights in the truth because he is truth! Unlike a knife the truth becomes sharper and more useful with each use and application. This is a product of the Gospel. If it’s spoken, preached or lived out…it becomes sharper and more productive with each use. The truth of the Gospel never loses it effectiveness!