Sermon Tone Analysis

lass=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'>1) 12-28-08…AM…SBC     2)“A Gold Mine for 2009”

Hebrews 10:19-25

Introduction:  

 

Ø      What are we to do with Jesus now that Christmas has passed for another year?

Ø      What are we to do now when facing the end of another year and the beginning of a new one?

Ø      What was God’s intention in all of these events taking place – Incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection

Ø      Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection took make it possible for us to draw near to God.

Ø      In light of this …

 

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*Proposition:  *We must evidence our salvation with a life of faith, hope and love.

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Context:

1-      contrast of Law and Grace, of the Levitical sacrifices and the sacrifice of Christ as a once for all sacrifice

2-      Hebrews expounds on the high priestly role and service of Jesus Christ[1]

3-      it gathers up the implications of these truths and drives them home with full force.[2]

v19-21

 

“therefore”: (oun) introduces the logical result of the previous discussion on the unique sacrifice of Christ

 

1-      the blood of Jesus gave everyone access to approach God directly and not through a human intercessor

2-      deliberate word choice in “holy places” – sprinkled blood on ark to atone for the sin of the people

3-      In New Testament times we have access to God because Jesus shed his blood for our sins and because at his death “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matt.

27:51).[3]

4-      We can have confidence to approach God because of the shed blood of Christ, but also because Jesus Christ is High Priest over the house of God

 

Summary:                    It is based on the results of Christ work on the cross that we can draw near to God

 

Salvation Application:

 

1-      Salvation:  If a person tries to go into God’s presence based on his own character, his own works, or his own religious affiliation, he will find no access.[4]

·         He will certainly not have access on the basis of a mere verbal profession of Christ.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ ” (Matt.

7:21–23).

All the things that Jesus mentioned were seemingly good.

But they were not /really/ in His name, because they were not done through faith in Him and by His power.

These professors, Jesus said, did not know Him personally.

Obviously they knew His name, in the sense of His title and position.

They recognized Him as being “Lord.”

But they had not received Him as their own Lord and their own Savior, and everything else counted for nothing.[5]

·         The blood of Jesus Christ, however, counts for everything, and the person who trusts in His atoning work can come with complete boldness before God, claiming all the blessings and promises in His Son.[6]

 

Transition:  The text gives three binding duties because of the spiritual privileges we possess

1) Let us be Sincere         *v22            *(Faith)

* *

A-    We must prepare ourselves spiritually in order to fellowship with God

 

1-      purity in heart – sincere motives (attending church out of duty and not delight)

2-      assurance of faith – complete confidence in God’s plan for everything (food, money, government)

3-      personal confession – the material body can be cleansed from sin if the immaterial heart is right

before God.

Summary: Drawing near to God is a heart issue.

You can’t just go through the motions because God knows the heart.

He knows the intentions and motivations of your heart.

This purity of heart comes when we discern our own unworthiness and sinfulness and draw near to God in confession and affirm complete trust in Him.

Anything less than complete confidence is an insult to His glory and grace.

Transition:  Let us be a church that is not only sincere, but also…

2) Let us Adhere              v23                (Hope)

 

A-    The content of this confession is the expectation that Christ will fulfill all the promises he has made and that all those who profess the name of Christ possess these promises.

[7]

 

B-    A person who genuinely trusts, cannot help being hopeful.

A hopeless believer is a contradiction in terms.[8]

Confession = that Jesus is all that He revealed Himself to be and will do all He said He will do

Hope = a confident expectation

 

Summary:        We are told to keep on voicing our hope and to do so in surety for God himself has unfailingly honored his promises.[9]

*Illustration:  *Dad left boy downtown on the corner while he went away for ½ an hour – the boy didn’t panic but told the father that the wasn’t worried because “you said you were coming back.”

(Mac NT Commentary p267)

 

Transition:  Lastly…

3) Let us Endear              v24-25         (Love)

 

A-    Since we do not own exclusive rights to the high-priestly work of Christ, we are to endear (bind) ourselves to one another

 

1-      Negative: by choosing to not be together with other believers at specified meeting times

2-      Positive: by encouraging one another as time brings us closer to “that day” – (call or invite)

 

 

Summary:  The practical outworking of Christ’s sacrifice for you is seen in your love for others.

You can’t stir someone else up to love and good works by not being with them or by only talking about surface level issues.

You were made for God and for others, not for yourself.

Application:    How about you today? 

 

1-      Sincere            (postmodernism, defining God, losing God’s transcendence)

 

-          How often do you draw near to God (prayer, bible study) and why do you do it?

-          Are you drawing near to God or are you drawing God near to you? (postmodernism)

-          Is your relationship with God one of duty or one of delight?

(going through the motions)

 

2-      Adhere-

 

-          Continuing is a mark both of faith and of hope.

Holding on does not keep us saved, any more than good works will make us saved.

But both are evidence that we /are/ saved.

Many people who have confessed Christ continue to give evidence, by their lives, that they have never known Him.[10]

-          If you are hopeless today you need Christ – He came to give hope to the hopeless

-          The reason we can hold fast to our hope without wavering is that *He who promised is faithful*.[11]

3-      Endear- our love for one another cannot be passive, it must be active (borrowing a tool or helping build)

 

Do you have a vital relationship with Christ that not only changes your life but also the lives of those around you?

 

Ø      The main platform that God has provided for this to be accomplished is the church and it’s membership

 

Have you covenanted together to love those in this congregation and do you give yourself to that?

 

·         church membership is an opportunity to grasp hold of each other in responsibility and love

·         *God is not only concerned about the length and regularity of personal relationship, but also how you treat others – even those that you have nothing in common with except for Jesus Christ*

·         You cannot stir one up or be stirred up to love and good works if you are not a known by the people of this church

·         You cannot fulfill your responsibility to God and others if you are a member that doesn’t come to church

·         Active love is not insulating yourself from other people, it is more than just giving money to a need, active love is getting your hands dirty in the lives of other people and allowing other people to get their hands dirty in your life (reciprocal relationship)

 

 

Summary:

Ø      The events of Christmas act as a catalyst for our drawing near to God

Ø      Do you need to make some changes this New Year?

Ø      Why not start by being born again – repent, have faith, and grow in obedience

Ø      Attender:  Can you be completely in God’s will and not be a member of a church?

Ø      Member:  Are we surface dwelling members or are we actively engaged in loving one another?

Most teachers are judged on the basis of the response of their followers.

Christ was a teacher of truth, but  it is not He who will be judged by our discipleship but us.

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[1]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, /The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures/ (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:804.

[2]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, /The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures/ (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:804.

[3]Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, vol.

15, /New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Hebrews/, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 286.

[4]John MacArthur, /Hebrews/, Includes Index.

(Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1983), 260.

[5]John MacArthur, /Hebrews/, Includes Index.