Hebrews 10 The End

An indicative is a simple statement of fact; it’s something that is simply true. Indicatives tell us: This is true!

An imperative, on the other hand, is an authoritative command; it tells us something crucial that we must do.

Imperatives tell us: So go and do the only reasonable thing in light of this truth!

Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis ("faith") for the believer is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).

We go from Words of Exhortation to Words of Warning (Consequence):

What we face if we choose not to follow through on the “imperative”

The argument he is making: Therefore, in light of how Jesus has loved you and brought you to God, stir one another up to love and to good works.

1) “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” -John 14:15

2) “…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16

3) “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” -2 Corinthians 9:8

4) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:10

5) “…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” -Colossians 1:10

6) “All Scripture is created out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” -2 Timothy 3:16–17

7) “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works.” -Titus 2:7

8) “[Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” -Titus 2:14

9) “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” -Titus 3:8a

10) “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” -Titus 3:14

The New Testament knows nothing of salvation by our good works. And it equally knows nothing of a salvation that doesn’t free us from slavery to sin to do good works.

Do not neglect

Pursue and encourage good works

Strategize

We do not like to be interfered with!! BUT… Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

You must not give in to the cultural forces that are working to keep you alone, ineffective, and disconnected from the local church. You must be here, with us, singing, worshiping together, in the Word.

Encourage each other! As churches, as Christians, we are not in competition, we are in cooperation! Build each other up in love! Our world is tremendously bad at this.

Bear one another’s burdens.

We are Christians, and so we can do this. We have new hearts, God’s law inscribed on them. We have a new Spirit in our chests, the Holy Spirit of God.

Consequences are not necessarily immediate - we get fooled into believing that there aren’t any.

The writer’s message for the people of his time (and for us) is, remember who you are! You belong to Jesus Christ and you live under the New Covenant!!!

magnify the Lord declare the superiority of Jesus and His sufficient atonement

declare the people’s standing under the New Covenant, and

cause them to let go of the old and cling to the new.