Don't Lose Hope
Hebrews: A Story Worth Sharing • Sermon • Submitted
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Good morning!
Last week we looked at Hebrews 10:19-25 where the author speaks of the boldness with which we can approach God.
Not as a result of our works, but because of what Jesus has done.
We took a walk back through the book to see the path that the author took the church down to help them understand why and how we are able to have this boldness.
He reveals this path in increments through the book culminating with the passage we read last week.
Jesus went through the curtain, into the presence of God, and pulled the curtain down so that we could join him.
Through his life, death, and Resurrection, Jesus permanently changed the relationship between God and people.
He completed the work that God sent him to do.
This permanent change is the single best thing that has happened for mankind since our creation.
Because of Jesus, we can approach the throne with boldness and we can stay the course with the knowledge that God is unchanging.
In addition, God has given us a community of fellow believers to enjoy and encourage one another.
In today’s passage, we are going to see yet another warning and I would say the harshest warning of the book.
As a quick reminder before we dive in, remember that the purpose of this book was to encourage those that were being persecuted.
The goal for those that were pressuring these followers of Christ was for them to return to their former religion.
That is specifically what the author is addressing, turning away from their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
In this passage, we see a teaching technique that we have seen before from the author to Hebrews.
He is comparing something lesser with something greater.
If it is true with the lesser thing, then it is also true and more impactful with the greater.
In this passage, he compares the consequences of disregarding the Law and the consequences of hearing the truth of the gospel and disregarding it.
So, let’s break this passage down and then make some applications.
We will start with the first two verses.
26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.
I want to point out right off the bat that the author isn’t talking about sin in general, but something very specific.
I alluded to this a few moments ago.
There is a temptation to walk away from the faith for the sake of an easier lifestyle and relational comfort.
If we forfeit the forgiveness offered through Jesus, there is nothing to replace it.
If we forfeit the forgiveness offered through Jesus, there is nothing to replace it.
The very specific scenario that is being described is a person who hears the gospel (which is the truth about who Jesus is) and knowingly denies or rejects it, there is nothing left for God to do.
It does not say that they are unforgivable or that they cannot be reconciled.
If a person understands what Jesus has done and rejects it, there is no other way for them to receive forgiveness or to be reconciled to God.
This is why Jesus said this in John 14:6
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you recall, this conversation with the disciples happens after Jesus tells them that he is going away to be with the father.
Thomas asked Jesus where he was going and how they can know the way to the father.
Jesus tells them that He is the way.
Do you know what is significant about something being THE way?
That means that there is no other way.
Jesus is God’s plan, his only plan, to redeem people.
If Jesus is rejected, all that is left is judgment.
Look at verse 27 again.
27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.
All people will face judgment.
Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died to redeem them will join Him with The Father.
Those who choose not to believe will face judgment alone.
The author then brings this back to something from their past that they can understand.
He reminds them of the results of disregarding the law.
28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
This is that lesser and greater thing I was telling you about.
These people are well versed in the requirements of the law.
It is what they grew up in.
They were being encouraged by their families and former friends to reject Jesus and come back to their Jewish faith.
Now watch this because I want to show you something really cool.
The people that were encouraging them to leave their faith in Jesus, were those that claimed to be religious.
The religious were trying to convince these church members that their faith was wrong and the one they were teaching was correct.
Now, watch this.
If you have your bible with you or are looking at this on your phone, there should be a reference at the end of verse 31 that points you to Luke 12:5
5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!
When I read that cross-reference, I needed more context.
So let’s back up to verse one and read through five.
1 Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known.
3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.
5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!
Jesus is warning the disciples about the religious leaders.
Who made it their goal to try and disrupt what Jesus was doing.
Here is what God was showing us through these two verses.
In both cases, there is a group of religious people who are dissuading others from following Jesus.
In both cases, the believers are told to ignore the religious and pursue God.
In both cases, the believers are warned about what they will face if they choose to reject God’s plan for their salvation.
They will experience the judgment and justice of God.
5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
One of the authors I was reading this week made a comment about how uncomfortable it is to talk about God’s judgment on people.
His theory is that it is uncomfortable because we never take the time to consider our sins.
When we do think of our sin, we compare it to that of “other people” and figure we are doing pretty good compared to them.
But that isn’t how it works.
27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.
Outside of Jesus, there is no forgiveness for sin.
God doesn’t want us to see his fury, He wants us to know his love.
God doesn’t want us to see his fury, He wants us to know his love.
This week Wes Renard sent me a text that said if you want to see a great example of God being gentle and lowly go read Ezekiel 18.
I got so excited when I read this because it helps us get a better picture of this passage in Hebrews.
Look at these two exerts. I thought they were extremely applicable to what we are talking about today.
They remind us of the character of God and that he doesn’t want us to experience judgment apart from Jesus.
23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?
32 For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!
God’s desire has never been for us to encounter his wrath.
His desire is to know him personally.
Because of sin, the world is broken.
That is the very reason why Jesus came was to fix what sin broke.
Look at what God said his plan is for his people.
22 “Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you profaned among the nations where you went.
23 I will honor the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord—this is the declaration of the Lord God—when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.
24 “ ‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.
28 You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine on you.
This is God’s desire for his people!
Our redemption, bringing all people back to himself is what he desires.
This is who he is.
Listen to what Dane Ortlund says about God in chapter sixteen.
“This is why the Old Testament speaks of God being “provoked to anger” by his people dozens of times (especially in Deuteronomy; 1–2 Kings; and Jeremiah). But not once are we told that God is “provoked to love” or “provoked to mercy.” His anger requires provocation; his mercy is pent up, ready to gush forth.” - Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
God’s natural state is love, not anger.
He goes on to say that the Bible is one long attempt to deconstruct our natural vision of Gowhat d actually is.
So many have lost hope because they don’t know who God actually is!
For those of us that have chosen to believe that Jesus is who he says he is and have come to know him by experience, we have faith.
That faith began as hope and was built by God as we grew in our relationship with him.
As we enter the Christmas season, we see all the things that people try to use to fill the hole they feel in their hearts.
They hope, but don’t yet have faith.
Hope is a feeling of expectation, but faith is complete trust.
Hope is the precursor of faith.
The Christmas season has become a symbol of hope for all the world.
It was hope for God’s people when they began to hear of his birth and it is still hope today for those that find themselves longing for something that is better than this world has to offer.
It is God’s goal for all people to be moved from a place of hope to a place of faith.
From wishing for joy to knowing fully the joy that is found in Jesus.
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross.
There are people all around us, neighbors, family, friends, workmates, shoppers that we bump into.
Some know Christ in a way that their hope has been turned into faith.
Many of them though, are still hoping.
Perhaps even teetering on the edge like those that the author of Hebrews is writing to.
They are still looking for anything that will bring them joy.
During Christmas, we try to fill that void with all the holiday offers except Jesus.
Whether those people have heard the truth and turned away or they have never heard the truth of the gospel, God’s desire is the same for them.
God wants people to know how much he loves them.
He wants them to understand why we celebrate.
What the whole world longed for has happened.
Jesus, the Messiah, has been born!
Jesus is the hope that God promised.
18 Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick, until he has led justice to victory.
21 The nations will put their hope in his name.
Father, so many of us are hoping for something better. Please work in our hearts to see that you are what we are longing for. Jesus, make our hearts believe that you are better.