Our Peculiar Obligation-2

OUR PECULIAR OBLIGATION-II—Hebrews 10:19-25

Attention:

Forklift Economy:

After being laid off from three jobs in the past year, Don was hired to work in a warehouse.

Unfortunately, one day he lost control of the forklift & drove it off the loading dock. Surveying the damage, the owner shook his head & said, "I'm sorry, Don, but I'm going to have to withhold 10% of each of your paychecks until we get back the damage."

"How much will it cost?" Don asked.

"About $5,000," the owner replied.

"Finally!" Don exclaimed. "Job security!"

Don had a Peculiar Obligation as did his boss!

Need:

I’m afraid to die. I don’t seem to have the confidence about my future that a lot of people in the church have.

I don’t enjoy Sunday School or worship attendance! There are other things I would rather do.

I don’t think church stuff is so important...but people get flustered & act like I’ve done something horrible if I don’t show. Or when I miss a Sunday or Wednesday or special event they act like they really missed me when I return.

The author exhorted his audience to join him in living out/confirming the obligations peculiar to their faith.

Given their benefits(from Christ’s ministry), Christians are under peculiar obligation.

What obligations are peculiar to the Christian?

Last time in Hebrews we found that one of the obligations peculiar to the Christian was

1—An obligation peculiar to the Christian is...

A BOLD ENTRANCE(:19-22)

2—An obligation peculiar to the Christian is...

An UNFLINCHING CONFESSION/Hope(:23)

Explanation: (:23)

:23—“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

We are exhorted to “hold fast” or lock down our “confession” of Christ. Our “confession” is an internal & thus external declaration of personal “hope” in Jesus’ cleansing & atoning blood. We are not to lean away from the center of that “hope” to which we “hold fast.”

Persistence in one’s confession is based on the fact that God is ultimately “faithful” to His “promise.” Commitment to that in which one hopes is testimony to God’s “faithfulness” to His “promise.”

*“Hold fast”—katecw—1) To hold back, detain, retain—1a) From going away, 1b) To restrain, hinder (the course or progress of)—1b1) That which hinders, Antichrist from making his appearance, 1b2) To check a ship's headway i.e. to hold or head the ship, 1c) To hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of; 2) To get possession of, take. Strong—To hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively).

“Confession/Profession/Profess”—omologia—1) profession—1a) subjectively: Whom we profess to be ours, 1b) objectively: Profession [confession] i.e. what one professes [confesses]. Strong—Acknowledgment. Used 6X.

“Hope”—elpiv—1) Expectation of evil, fear; 2) Expectation of good, hope; 3) On hope, in hope, having hope. Strong—from a primary elpw (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence.

*“Without Wavering/Unswervingly”—aklinhv—Adj.—1) Not inclining, firm, unmoved. Strong—Not leaning, i.e. (figuratively) firm. Used 1X.

Negation of—klinw—To lean, incline, fall back or recline.

“Promised”—epaggellw—1) To announce that one is about to do or furnish something—1a) To promise (of one's own accord) to engage voluntarily; 2) To profess—2a) in art, To profess one's skill in something. Strong—To announce upon (reflexively), i.e. (by implication) To engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself. Used 15X.

“Faithful”—pistov—Adj.—1) Trusty, faithful—1a) Of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties, 1b) One who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust, 1c) That can be relied on; 2) Easily persuaded. Strong—objectively, Trustworthy; subjectively, Trustful.

Argumentation:

Deut. 5:32-33—““Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live & that it may be well with you, & that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”

Deut. 28:14—““So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.”

Joshua 1:7—““Only be strong & very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”

Prov. 4:25-27—“Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”

Js. 1:2-8—“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect & complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally & without reproach, & it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven & tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”