HOLD FIRMLY TO THE FAITH WE PROFESS
HEBREWS 4:9—16 OCTOBER 20, 2002
HEBREWS 4:9-16
9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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Dearest Fellow-Redeemed and Saints in the Lord:
As time passes by in our lives, we sometimes feel that maybe we are losing our grip on the past. In fact, sometimes we like to hold firmly to the past and we wish that sometimes things would not change ever at all. And yet the world keeps going on and changes are inevitable. We find in our text again that as the writer to the Hebrews writes to these believers, he’s reminding them that they are not to hold on to their past so tightly that they cannot live in the present. You may remember as we’ve been talking in the last few weeks, that that is what had happened. The people hung so tightly to the Old Testament laws and regulations that they could not find the sacrifice of Christ as something, which was believable. He encourages them in our text today. There are three different places of blessing that we are going to see besides the one that is our theme. The one that is our theme tells us: Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. He wanted them not to be caught in the past but to live in the present and the future. To understand that Christ had died for their sins, they needed to hold firmly to that, to not give up that truth of scripture. In the letter that Peter wrote, he states: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed"(1 PETER 1:13). That’s what we do this morning. We turn to the word of the Lord and we set our minds on the grace that God is going to reveal to us through His Word. He does it as we consider that theme—
HOLD FIRMLY TO THE FAITH WE PROFESS
I. God’s Word is living and active
II. Jesus is our great High Priest
I. God’s Word is living and active
The writer here wanted the believers to understand and to remind them once again that the Bible was different than any other book. The Bible, which they had, included the Psalms, the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) was indeed different because it was alive. He says in verse twelve: For the word of God is living and active. Then he goes on to describe what he means by that. What did it mean that the word of God was living and active? He says it means that God’s word is ‘Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow’. He described that word of God as being a finely sharpened sword—so much so that he could divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow.
Even with all the advances in medicine today, the finest skill of the finest surgeon cannot divide soul and spirit, sometimes cannot even divide joint and marrow, but the word of God can! The word of God can because it is alive and active. It looks into the very hearts and thoughts of mankind. The writer goes on to say, ‘it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’ Those that think they would get away with sin are not. Those that were holding on to the Old Testament way of life were giving up the sacrifice of Christ. The word of God knew that because it judged the thoughts and attitudes of their hearts. It looked inside their soul we would say.
Then he gives them a warning…a warning because the word of God is living and active. It says, ‘‘Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.’ What had happened in the church at this time was that these Judaizers, the ones holding to the Old Testament ways, were stirring up trouble. They were trying to make others give up their faith in Christ. He says they would have to give an account of their lives to one who would demand an account, namely, Jesus. Nothing would be hidden from Him because He would know all things. Nothing would be hidden from God because His word would make everything known. There was the warning for those who were trying to take away the faith of some of the faithful.
That word of God is living and active and would cut off that which was sinful; would also encourage that which was good. At the beginning of our text we also read, ‘There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.’ The people probably thought back to the Old Testament where the Lord had established the Sabbath day, a day off, because the people needed that day off from all of their labors. The ‘Sabbath’ meant rest. Now in the New Testament times, things had changed because Christ was known as ‘the rest’—that Sabbath rest of fulfillment of God’s Old Testament law. It says, ‘There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Certainly these people thought, just as we did, about God who made the heavens and earth in six days and on the seventh day, rested. As God rested from His labors, so God’s people rest from their labors. Now He gives that encouragement, the encouragement He says, ‘Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.’ Remember, he’s writing to these people who are believers. They know the difference between right and wrong, so he says to them, ‘Don’t go down the path of disobedience but stay on the path of righteousness.’ He tells them this so they would enter into the rest that God has provided for them. That rest would be eternal life, wouldn’t it?
God’s word is alive and active. The writer here says ‘hold firmly to the faith we profess’. Make every effort to enter the Sabbath-rest of God. God’s word is alive and active; it accomplishes the purpose for which He sent it. That is the difference between all of the words that are written today. There are many words written today about many subjects, lots of words that are just opinions of other people. When it comes to God’s word, we find that His word is truth and that truth sets us free. When it comes to God’s word, we find that it is living and active. It is not just empty words, but words with a purpose.
From Isaiah, we read these familiar words. "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it"(ISAIAH 55:11). As you listen to our text, and hear the explanation of it, we find here that there are two different purposes, aren’t there? As a double-edged sword, it cuts off that which is evil and wicked, and it judges that which is sinful. God’s word serves as a warning for those opposed to Him. God’s word stands as a warning for those who would deny Him. God’s word stands as a judgment.
In John we’re told, "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day"(JOHN 12:48). Those who deny the power of God’s word will stand condemned by God’s word. Those who say they don’t want to believe God’s word will stand condemned by God’s word because God’s word is a double-edged sword. One purpose is judgment. Another purpose is mercy and encouragement. Just as the Lord told us about the Sabbath rest, it is meant for God’s people.
You and I in our busy lives realize how welcome rest is at night from the labors of the day. The Lord reminds us that at the end of our earthly life there is a rest that is eternal. The Lord invites us. He says make every effort to enter that rest, to add to your faith, wisdom and knowledge. From the gospel of Matthew He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"(MATTHEW 11:28). He tells us what kind of rest that is in verse 29. He says it is rest for your soul. God’s word achieves its purpose of providing us with rest. We bring to the Lord all of our burdens, all of our cares, all of our troubles and all of our sins. He takes them upon His shoulders. We no longer have to drag them around with us. They’re taken away from us and we are given rest from our burdens, rest from our troubles, rest from our sins.
No wonder He encourages us this morning in the midst of our text to say ‘hold firmly to the faith we profess.’ Jesus word is living and active and
II. Jesus is our great High Priest
Remember, the writer was trying to connect these people in their thinking. They already knew the Old Testament very well. In other words, they were too attached to the Old Testament. He was trying to connect Jesus with their knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament. Very bluntly, he says to them, ‘Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…’ Now, they knew the high priests of the Old Testament, Aaron, and the children of Levi. They had great respect for the high priests. The high priest was the only one who was allowed to go into the Most Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice. Now the writer says that we have a high priest. He calls him a great high priest. If they didn’t know who he was, the writer calls him Jesus, the very Son of God, our high priest. He is the one who offered up sacrifice, and not sacrifice after sacrifice, but one perfect sacrifice.
He describes this Jesus, the great high priest of every believer. ‘‘We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are…’ He reminded them that Jesus came and lived among them. He was born of the Virgin Mary. He grew up in Nazareth with His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph. He faced the same temptations that they did. Certainly, Satan probably tempted Him more than normal, knowing that this was the Son of God, knowing that this would be the perfect sacrifice for the world. The writer says, ‘This is our high priest, who realizes how we are tempted.’ There was a difference wasn’t there? He says ‘tempted as we are—yet was without sin.’ Jesus did not give into the temptations of Satan. When we see Satan coming against the Lord Jesus himself and tempting Him, we see the defense that Jesus uses. It’s not supernatural as we might picture supernatural, but it was supernatural in the sense that it was all-powerful. Jesus simply used God’s living and active word, told Satan to get behind Him. When Satan misquoted scripture, Jesus quoted it correctly. That living and active word was His defense against the temptations of Satan. Jesus is the high priest of every believer, this is our high priest. In the words of encouragement, the writer states, ‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence…’
Remember, the people of the Old Testament weren’t allowed into the most Holy of Holies; they had to stand outside the temple, outside the curtains, just bringing their sacrifice. The priest would take them, go inside and offer them on behalf of the people. Now the writer is saying, ‘Yes, as that was true, now the same is true that you can approach the throne of grace directly!’ They didn’t need a high priest as a go-between. They could approach the throne of grace with confidence for two reasons. He says, ‘so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ They will receive mercy (in other words, they will receive help for their troubles). They will receive grace (in other words, forgiveness for their sins.)
There is a great joy and blessing for us as believers today, in a sense to not have to go through all of the rig-a-ma-role of the Old Testament times; bringing all of the sacrifice and then standing outside of the temple and letting the priest do all the work. Today, you and I, as believers who have Jesus as our high priest, can also approach that throne of grace with confidence and boldness. Jesus, as our high priest, not only came to offer the sacrifice, but also offered Himself as the sacrifice.
Paul reminds us in Corinthians that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"(2 CORINTHIANS 5:21). Yes, our sins are taken away; they are paid for by the sacrifice of Christ, in whom was no sin at all. As individuals, we can come before God’s throne of grace. We don’t need high priests to plead our case; we don’t need the pastor to plead our case. You and I can speak to Him directly to find His mercy in our time of need. Mercy, to help us with our day-to-day living, mercy to remind us that God loves us with an everlasting love.
Listen to these beautiful words from Lamentations. "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness"(LAMENTATIONS 3:22,23). He reminds us that the Lord’s mercies for us are new every day, day after day. Even though at times our faith may go through peaks and valleys of being strong or weak, the Lord is always faithful to His promises because He loves us with an everlasting love. He invites us to approach the throne of grace with boldness and confidence. We do! We come before Him with all of our needs, with all of our wants, with all of our desires and ask Him to help. We ask him to hear and He does.
We’re told in scripture, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us"(1 JOHN 5:14). Not only do we know He hears us, He answers us to help us in our time of need as our text ends there. Hopefully we don’t wait to go to the Lord in our time of need, but that we have a life filled with prayer for times of thanksgiving, for times of rejoicing, in times of joy and praise, we can come before the Lord’s throne of grace.
Yes, no wonder in our text, the Lord says to us we are to hold firmly to the faith we profess…the faith He has worked in our hearts by His grace; a faith, which He has given us because He loves us. We do not deserve it and we have not earned it. It is a faith He has given us because of the living and active word. It is so powerful that it can change our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. That word of God, which is planted like a seed, grows up and produces fruit.
God’s word is living and active; it reminds us that Jesus is our high priest. Sometimes when we think we want to hold on to the past and not want anything to change in the future, we’re reminded to hold onto that which is good; hold onto the faith that we profess. With other encouragement he says to ‘make every effort to enter into the Sabbath-rest and approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.’
From Timothy, this concluding thought: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus"(2 TIMOTHY 3:14,15). He says, ‘Hold firmly to the faith you profess; the faith which knows and believes that God’s word is living and active; the faith which knows that Jesus is our great high priest.’ He says come before Him to that throne of grace that you would grow in your faith and continually be made wise for salvation. Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer
