The Way of Faith is Open
The Book of Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
We have been looking at the incredible sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is both our great high priest and the sacrifice fulfilling all the requirements of the heavenly sanctuary.
Now we are looking at response to Christ’s death provides power to love others and to demonstrate endurance in the Christian life.
Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, he has produced in us a spiritual endurance and generous love.
Hebrews 10:19-39 but stop at 25
1. The Invitation to Advance
1. The Invitation to Advance
vv. 19-25
In these first several verses we’re going to see our response to what we’ve learned over the past several chapters.
The section begins with ‘Therefore’ and tells us that there should be some response we should have. Let’s look at four different ways we take this invitation to advance.
A. Let us Enter
A. Let us Enter
vv. 19-21
Boldly - this is confidence.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
This is boldness gained from our new freedom. We have no need of fear. Remember last week as we finished this focus on sacrifice, sanctuary and covenant we noted that our sin is gone - vv. 17-18.
Whereas before only priests could dare to approach God, we can every day, any time with complete confidence.
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Through Jesus
Not only to we enter boldly but we do so through the blood of Jesus Christ.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
His sacrifice is described as a veil - the veil of his flesh.
Whereas the veil used to keep people from the Holy of Holies, Jesus is now the way to the Holy of Holies.
When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn thus showing that the death of his body provided direct access to God. It’s kind of a reversal of it’s OT purpose which initially kept people out!
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
He is now a high priest over this new house of God.
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Jesus Christ as a High Priest of a new house - what a cool thought! You might say what’s the big deal? I picture it this way - I never knock on my own door. I go right in.
So we can boldly enter into God’ s throne room, through Jesus Christ our high priest.
B. Let us Draw Near
B. Let us Draw Near
v. 22
The next invitation to us is to draw near.
This relates to our personal devotion to God
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
We need to due this with a true heart - be genuine in our approach to God.
Full assurance of faith - no doubt. We are confident we can draw near - this new way is open to us.
Sprinkled from an evil conscience - related to the sprinkling of blood in the OT sacrificial system. Cleansing of our conscience through the blood of Jesus.
Bodies washed with pure water. As Jesus has cleansed the church.
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
C. Let us Hold Fast
C. Let us Hold Fast
v. 23
The next thing we’re invited to do is to hold fast - holding on to our confidence. We need to be consistent.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
There is no time in Christian living where our hope is firm at one moment and shaky the next.
We should have a consistent hope in Christ.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
Don’t fall away from the faith - there’s been multiple warnings in Hebrews already about this!
Three boys gave their definition of faith. One said, “Faith is taking hold of God.” The second said, “Faith is holding on to God.” A third said, “Faith is not letting go!” Each boy was right.
When we have our hope focused on Christ and on God’s faithfulness, we will never waver!
D. Let Us Consider One Another
D. Let Us Consider One Another
vv. 24-25
Lastly we’re invited to consider one another - noting our obligations to each other.
(Consider) - this means concentrated thought - focused on a certain goal.
he urges the readers to stimulate their Christian friends to produce love and good deeds - nudge fellow Christians along.
Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake of Jamaica made history when they finished first and second respectively in both the men’s 100-meter and 200-meter race in the 2012 London Olympics. Despite their rivalry on the track, Bolt paid tribute to Blake as a training partner: “Over the years, Yohan has made me a better athlete. He really pushed me and kept me on my toes.” It’s clear that the two spurred each other on to greatness on the track.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Loving one another doesn’t just happen - you have to work at it. You have to put thought and effort into it.
12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
It’s not your job to sit around and wait for someone to show you love, it’s your job to provoke it! (provoke) - spur on; to stir up.
Most people want to warm themselves by the fire, but God wants us to be the spark that lights it!
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
So we need to focus on stirring up love in the church. Some only stir up problems!
But there’s another social responsibility here - to fellowship!
Fellowship - you can’t stir each other up to love if you’re not in the fellowship. Thus we need to meet together. the idea here is definitely an official assembly.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
Yes many people stated at the COVID shutdowns that the church is not the building. What a totally useless thing to say. Of course the church is not a building, but the church must meet, it must gather, it must come together, and it must fellowship!
Close and regular fellowship is not just a cool idea, it is an absolute necessity.
But you say, times are really tough and dark - right - so the Bible says, ok, fellowship MORE!
Fear is winning the day in Christianity not faith.
Be careful of two things!
1. Indifference - being lukewarm with the things of God. We should be fired up about serving and worshiping Him.
2. Independence - thinking we can just rely on ourselves. We need to be totally dependent on God and we need the help of our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Part 1 CONCLUSION
A member of a church, who had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening and the pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and “dead as a doornail.”
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
The Way of Faith is open - we’ve learned about the great sacrifice of our Lord to open but the writer has reminded us that we have an obligation.
We should boldly enter
We should draw near
We should hold fast
We should consider one another
2. The Caution Ahead
2. The Caution Ahead
vv. 26-31
So we find that the way of faith is open and we’ve been invited to do a few things.
Now the writer will caution us about the way ahead.
A. Be Careful of Deliberate Sins
A. Be Careful of Deliberate Sins
v. 26
There is the possibility of Christians sinning knowing full well what they are doing.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Hebrews & James H. Deliberate Sinning (v. 26)
When New Testament saints sin deliberately before God, their sin does not break their legal standing before God (Rom. 8:1). Christ’s death for our sins paid for all our sins—past, present, and future (1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 6:23). Sinning Christians are still God’s children.
Sinning Christians break their fellowship with God (Eph. 4:30), and they experience God’s discipline in their lives (Heb. 12:10). Sinning Christians damage their usefulness in service for the Lord. They weaken their spiritual lives (John 15:4).
The reference to deliberate sinning in Hebrews probably describes a willful turning from Christ which could only lead to judgment and lostness. Those who returned to Judaism and abandoned Christ after having learned the truth of the gospel would find no forgiveness anywhere. They would show they had never made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
B. God Will Discipline His Children
B. God Will Discipline His Children
vv. 27-31
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
3. Persevere in the Way of Blessing
3. Persevere in the Way of Blessing
vv. 32-39
A. Remember the Past Victories
A. Remember the Past Victories
vv. 32-34
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
B. Press on in the Present
B. Press on in the Present
vv. 35-36
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
C. Be Encouraged by the Future
C. Be Encouraged by the Future
vv. 37-39
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
CONCLUSION
Hebrews & James III. Conclusion: Power in Sacrifice
Because Christ’s sacrifice had power to change people, three appeals were given (10:19–25). These believers were urged to draw near to God, to hold fast to their commitment, and to stir up fellow believers to love and unselfish deeds.
Some of these believers were considering turning away from Christ. They were reminded that abandoning Christ left them without any sacrifice for their sins. Those who left Jesus could expect judgment because they would turn away from the only solution to their sin, the death of Jesus (10:26–31).
The author of Hebrews had strong hope that his readers had made a commitment they would follow (10:32–39). They had faced public humiliation, imprisonment, and loss of property because they had followed Christ. They had endured in doing God’s will. God would honor their faithfulness. Only Jesus could provide struggling believers the grace and strength to move forward in stalwart service to him.
Jesus has secured our forgiveness once and for all. We are very privileged to be able to boldly enter into the presence of God.
We need to endure and stay committed to God’s will. We may even have to endure persecution!
Choose to obey God even if you suffer for it.
Have a genuine fear of God’s judgment if we willingly disobey.