Explore the Bible Lesson Preview Nov. 5, 2006 "Exercise Confidence" Background: Hebrews 10:19-39 Lesson : Hebrews 10:19-36, 39 Motivation: We're entering a new section of Hebrews which is application oriented. Readers are exhorted to "do" based on what they "learned" in chapters 7:1-10:18. Doing results from being; confidence in God produces good works and a strong finish. Examination: I. Boldness in Christ (Heb. 10:19-25) A. Reasons for Finishing Well (19-21) 1. A Bold Confidence "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus." (19) Entering &q uot;the Holiest" (i.e. the presence of God) was previously restricted to one man at one time of the year. Because of Jesus Christ, we now have a new relationship with God that provides free access. 2. A Better Way "By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh." (20) The New Testament refers to the new covenant which is a "new and living way" (John 14:6). The old way featuring dead works was replaced through Christ's shed blood (19) and torn flesh (20). Just as the thick veil which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was torn to symbolize access (Matt. 27:51), so was Christ's body torn on the cross to grant free access to God. (Rom. 5:2) 3. The Best Leader "and having a High Priest over the house of God" (21) The performance of every organization rises or falls due to leadership. This new &qu ot;house of God" will be led by the best leader, our new High Priest, Jesus Christ. 1 / 7
B. Requirements for Finishing Well (22-25) 1. Go to God "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (22) A "true heart" results from genuine conversion ( assurance of faith ), a clear conscience ( hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience ) and obedience to God's will (beginning with baptism). Believer's Study Bible, p. 1749: 10:22 "The washing of the body in pure water is doubtless an allusion to baptism. However, there is no indication in the verse that baptism has saving efficacy. The sprinkling of the heart with the blood of Christ accomplishes spiritual cleansing. All true believers then bear testimony to that cleansing by following Christ in the public witness of baptism." (1 Cor. 12:13) 2. Get a Grip "let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (23) We can "hold fast" because "He who promised is faithful." a. He is faithful to grant eternal life. (John 1:12) b. He is faithful in times of testing. (I Cor. 10:13) c. He is faithful to provide strength. (Gal. 2:20) d. He is faithful to give victory. (1 Cor. 15:57) 3. Generate Goodwill "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." a. Know one another: One of the difficult parts of relating to the body of Christ is fully understanding that everyone else is not just like you. They have been created by God with various love languages, gifts, temperaments, talents, preferences and abilities. We're all different! Therefore, we must "consider one another." While our ultimate aim 2 / 7
is to develop into the image of Christ, our short term approach must be to learn to get along. b. Relate to one another: The result of relating rightly to one another should promote two goals: love and good works. Paul wrote of all the gifts and attributes of Christianity, "the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13). We know that salvation doesn't result from good works (Eph. 2:8-9); however, good works result from salvation (Eph. 2:10). Jesus outlined the work in His Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). He said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (John 4:34). Paul referred to the "work of the gospel" (Phil. 2:22) and the "work of Christ" (Phil 2:30). Paul's prayer for the Colossians was that they would be "fruitful in every good work" (1:10). He urged them "Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord..." (Col. 3:23). In his first letter to the Thessalonians he mentioned their "work of faith, labor of love" (1:3) Christians are truly saved to serve. (Luke 19:10, 13). 4. Gather Together "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some." (25) Believ er's Study Bible, p. 1749: 10:25 "Early Christians had a fellowship which drew them together for worship and preparation. The author of Hebrews asserts that this practice of assembling together ought to increase as the believing community sees the day of Christ approaching. This passage provides one of the strongest affirmations in the Bible of the crucial importance of the local church and the necessity thrust upon every Christian to be faithful to a local community of the saints." 5. Guard the Fellowship "but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (25b) As we see the Day of Christ's return draw closer, we are to encourage one another all the more. Why is such encouragement needed as we get closer to the return of Jesus? (1 Cor. 1:8; 2 Peter 3:12). 3 / 7
a. The World will be characterized by sin and selfishness (Days of Noah, Luke 17:26, 28 cf. Gen. 6:5, 11; 2 Pet. 3:4; 2 Tim. 3:1-9). b. World events will appear "out of control" (Matt. 24:7). c. Religious deception will be widespread (Matt. 24:5; Luke 17:23; 1 Tim. 4:1-3). II. Punishment for Sin (10:26-31) This is the Fourth warning passage, the strongest language yet. We've progressively gone from "drifting away" (2:1) to "trampling the Son of God underfoot" (10:29). A. Willful Rejection "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins." (26) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1749-50: 10:26 " Sin willfully' is similar to the rebellion against God that is described in the O. T. as sinning with a high hand' or presumptuously' (Num. 15:30, 31). This sin is a sin of premeditation committed only by those who have had the advantage of great light. In the rejecting of Christ's sacrifice, they discover that there is no other acceptable sacrifice for sin." (Ps. 19: 12-13) Once again, the writer of Hebrews uses an Old Testament antecedent to make a present day application. Since sinless perfection is not attainable (Rom. 3:23; 7:14-25; 1 John 1:8-10), and since all sin contains an element of willfulness, this present tense usage of "sin" ("keep on sinning") is better viewed as rejection of God's salvation through Christ. (Heb. 6:1-6). Even as that, it remains a stark reminder that God views sin as rebellion. Notice the three aspects of this rejection in verse 29: 1. "trampled the Son of God underfoot" 2. "counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing" 3. "insulted the Spirit of grace" B. Terrible Judgment "But a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries..." (27) (Heb. 9:28) 4 / 7
"For we know Him who said, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (30-31) The result of rejecting Christ's salvation is "a certain fearful expectation of judgment" (27). (Rom. 12:19-21) The Bible never dramatizes hell; but we are given a few terrible glimpses: 1. Jesus describes hell "where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48). 2. Paul called it "tribulation", "vengeance", and &q uot;everlasting destruction" (2 Thes. 1:6, 8, 9). 3. In the parable of Lazarus, the rich man calls hell a place of "agony& quot; (torment, suffering, anguish). Such glimpses of hell should remind us of the seriousness of sin and the urgent need for evangelism. III. Confidence from Past (10:32-39) A. Persecution: The Hebrew Christians had suffered much because of their new found relationship with Christ. In these few verses, we can find a suggestion of the perils they faced. 1. Afflicted - "A great struggle with sufferings" (32) 2. Ridiculed - "made a spectacle by reproaches & tribulations" (33) 3. Arrested - "compassion on me in my chains" (34) 4. Robbed - "the plundering of your goods" (34) B. Perseverance "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. (cf. Rev. 22:20) Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.' But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." (35-39) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1750: 5 / 7
10:37, 38 "This passage renders Hab. 2:3, 4 and adds the phrase a little while,' which is probably a recollection of some other statement in the LXX, introduced because it referred to the Messiah. By addition of that phrase, which is not found in any known manuscript of Hab. 2:3, it becomes clear that the Messiah is the deliverer who comes at the end of time. The phrase the just shall live by faith' (v. 38) expresses the essence of how one relates rightly to God. The nature of this life is given living expression in Ch. 11. So crucial is this verse to the Christian life that it is also quoted in Rom. 1:17 and Gal. 3:11." (Rom. 3:26-28; 5:1 ) Application 1. Our confidence results from access to God. 2. Our confidence result in good works. 3. Our confidence produces a strong finish. Teaching Packet: Item 14, Poster: Unit 3; Item 15, Handout: Experience Confidence Biblical Illustrator: p. 67 "Seizing Property"; p. 6 "The Veil" Notes/Dates: 9/21-3/22 - Men's Life, Thurs. 6-7:30 am; Nov. 10-11- INSPIRE Conference, Nov. 14 - Living Proof Event, Nov. 19 - Christmas Store donations, Nov. 24 - CSI Houston, Nov. 26 - Full Schedule (Thanksgiving), Dec. 2 - MTC Christmas Store, Dec. 8-9 - Christmas Presentation; Dec. 12 - Living Proof Event, Dec. 15 6 / 7
- CSI Houston, Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve - (both a.m./ss opt; 5 & 11 pm), Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve (Full Schedule). 7 / 7