Sermon Tone Analysis

The Tragedy of Neglect

Hebrews 3                   May 4, 1997

 

Scripture:         Unison Reading, Hebrews 3:1-6, page 1864, Pew Bible

 

Pastoral Prayer:

 

Introduction:

 

          Someone has written this very challenging description of an ever- present problem.

"I have never been guilty of wrong actions, but on my account lives have been lost, trains have been wrecked, ships have been sunk, cities have been burned, governments have failed, battles have been lost, and a few churches have closed their doors.

"I have never struck a blow nor spoken an unkind word, but because of me homes have been broken, friends have grown cold, the laughter of children has ceased, wives have shed bitter tears, brothers and sisters have been forgotten, and parents have gone broken-hearted to the grave.

"I have intended no evil, but because of me talents have come to naught, courtesy and kindness have failed, and the promise of success as well as happiness has yielded sorrow and disaster.

"I have no sound; just silence.

No cause for being myself.

I have no offering to make except grief and sorrow.

You may not in an instant call me by name, but surely you are personally acquainted with me.

"My name?...NEGLECT!"

Neglect is enough to ruin a man.

A man who is in business need not commit forgery or robbery to ruin himself: he has only to neglect his business, and his ruin is certain.

A man who is lying on a bed of sickness need not cut his throat to destroy himself: he has only to neglect the means of restoration, and he will be ruined.

A man floating in a skiff above Niagara need not move an oar, or make an effort, to destroy himself: he has only to neglect using the oar at the proper time, and he will certainly be carried over the cataract.

Most of the calamities of life are caused by simple neglect.------

Barnes.

He who neglects the present moment throws away all he has.

Johann Friedrich von Schiller (1759–1805)

 

*I.

The tragedy of neglecting the Person of Christ:  no home.*

/Christ is superior to Moses./  (vv.

1-6)

 

          /Notice the string of “therefores.”

The preacher of Heb. is building his case all upon what he first said about Christ.

Christ is significant, so man is significant, so don’t lose sight or focus upon eternal truth:  that because of the message, position, and relationship we have in Christ we should hold on tightly as one who has found a pearl or a treasure.

Here is Christ, so here is man, so here is warning, so here is reward.

Therefore if man’s significance is in only Christ, let man not return to insignificance by failing to believe his significance./

A.

Fix your attention on Jesus.

(v.

1)

                   1.

Because of who you are:  holy brothers (the eternal                                           significance of mankind - ch. 2).

a.

Hebrews is written to believers.

This is why we                                               speak of neglect.

Unbelievers have not yet received                                anything to neglect.

b.

Believers are partakers of the heavenly calling.

2.

Because of who Christ is: the Apostle and High Priest                                        (the eternal significance of Jesus - ch. 1).

a.

Not just an apostle but the Apostle we confess.

b.

Not just the Apostle as God’s true messenger,                                          but our High Priest as man’s true representative.

(1)     As God’s supreme representative he shows                                                        us exactly what God is like.

(2)     As God’s supreme messenger he tells us the                                                       truth about ourselves and the world.

(3)     With all authority and power he has control                                                       over all the world and over all of our life                                                   trials and circumstances.

/          Under the old covenant, Moses held the office of apostle as God’s representative and Aaron held the office of high priest, but under the new covenant, Jesus holds both offices.

(Under the O.C. it was God’s requirement for man’s effort which was proven ineffective in his own strength, but under the N.C. it was God’s initiative to enable man’s effort which was proven effective through Christ’s strength to become ours by faith.)

Jesus perfectly represents God before man because he perfectly knows God and he perfectly represents man before God because he perfectly knows man.

Jesus is the perfect bridge builder.

(Rom.

8:33-34)  Here now in Hebrews is Christ introduced as High Priest which the writer will greatly expand upon./

B.

He was faithful to God, even as Moses was faithful.

(v.

2)

                  

          /Moses was the great freedom leader, law giver, nation builder, and friend of God in the eyes of the Jews to which he had been faithful.

Since these Jewish Christians were being tempted to return to Moses, the writer gives Moses credibility but quickly moves on to the supremacy of Christ in comparison./

C.

He is the builder of the house; Moses was only a resident of the                         house.

(vv.

3-4)  /(Frank Lloyd Wright)/

                   1.       We have the house of the world or universe in v. 4.

                   2.       We have the house of God’s people or believers in v. 6.

                   3.       Every house must have a builder.

4.       Jesus is being declared as the builder.

5.       Jesus is being declared (found, or proved) God as much                                     as God the Father which we saw in ch.

1.

                   6.       Moses may have been the greatest man or leader or                                            religionist, but Jesus is greater because he is God himself                                   whereas Moses was just a man - one believer in the house                            of God which Jesus made.

(Jn.

1:3; Eph.

3:9)

 

          D.

He is the Son over God’s house; Moses was only a servant in                            God’s house.

(v.

5-6a)

                   1.       Everything Moses did pointed to the One greater than                                        himself in symbols and types and messages.

Even though                      he didn’t always completely understand, he was faithful                                to perform it.

2.       Moses knew a little about God, but Jesus is God.

3.       Moses was raised up by God, but Jesus raised up himself.

E.

He is building His house, but entrance into His house is                                     conditional.

(v.

6b)

                   1.

This thought of being conditional may trouble us.

After                                   all, we thought salvation was free didn’t we?

                             (Rom.

10:9-13)

                   2.

It is conditional upon remaining in our confidence upon                                     the message we believed - until the end.

It is conditional                                   upon persistent faith, hope and joy in salvation.

/(Martyrs)/

                             a.

If a ship doesn’t remain on course it never reaches                                             port.

b.

If I neglect a gift someone gives me to the point of                                              even forgetting where I placed it, do I still have it?

c.

In order to collect on a warranty, I have to retain                                               ownership.

d.

If we don’t stay firm in the message of salvation,                                               can we say that we ever truly received it?

Perhaps                                           it was just an attractive option at the time.

e.

Lot’s wife.