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.”
1Cor. 10:12-14—“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
Eph. 4:11-16—“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, & some pastors & teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith & of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to & fro & carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined & knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
Heb. 3:5-6, 14—“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence & the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”.....“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,”
Rev. 3:7-12—““And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens & no one shuts, & shuts & no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, & no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, & have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews & are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come & worship before your feet, & to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, & he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God & the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”
Crowns of: Righteousness, Life, Glory...all are Imperishable!
Illustration:
Over our dresser is a mirror which I hung when we moved in our house/I had neither the tools nor the expertise to hang it properly/To this day(years later) it is still uneven/Thus I maintain that I am not ‘mechanically inclined’ or rather, I am ‘mechanically challenged’/UNFLINCHING CONFESSION
Plumb-Bob on a house foundation/Move to either direction off-center & the entire structure will be off & dangerous!/If centered correctly, the entire house can be unquestionably firm/An UNFLINCHING CONFESSION
The importance of spiritual doctrinal— ‘I think I believe this but not that...’ Pretty soon the whole structure of my belief is in shambles...anything but Christian, & I become a fool!
Application:
?Is the Peculiar Christian Obligation of An UNFLINCHING CONFESSION/Hope fulfilled in You?
?The Peculiar Obligations as a Christian fulfilled in you?
3—An obligation peculiar to the Christian is...
A MUTUAL CONSIDERATION(:24-25)
Explanation: (:24-25)
:24—“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love & good works,”
Because of the above facts We are also receive exhortation to “consider” something of grave importance.
We are to “consider” each other in the family of God. It is appointed for the Church to stimulate each other to accomplish both “love & good works” in their lives. We must personally ponder our part in assisting other Christians’ growth.
Our goal should be to 1)facilitate/bring out/nurture “love” in other Christians. Our goal should also be to 2)facilitate/bring out/nurture “good works” in other Christians. We must keep the pot stirred(in a positive sense).
In regard to “stirring up”—An oyster produces a pearl for the simple reason that a grain of sand unintentionally gets lodged in its flesh, becoming an irritant. The irritant is removed made smooth(so it no longer irritates) with multiple layers of mother-of-pearl. It becomes a beautiful & precious commodity.
Mat. 22:36-40—““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, & with all your mind.’ “This is the first & great commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments hang all the Law & the Prophets.””
*Rom. 15:1-3—“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, & not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.””
1Thes. 5:11—“Therefore comfort each other & edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
2Cor. 8:6-8—“So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, & in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.”
Gal. 5:13-14—“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
Gal. 5:22-23—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
There is no law because laws are made to protect people from detrimental behaviors.
1Thess. 3:12-13—“And may the Lord make you increase & abound in love to one another & to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God & Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
Titus 3:8—“This is a faithful saying, & these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good & profitable to men.”
*1Jn. 3:18-19—“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed & in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, & shall assure our hearts before Him.”
*“Consider”—katanoew—1) To perceive, remark, observe, understand; 2) To consider attentively, fix one's eyes or mind upon. Strong—to observe fully. Used 14X.
From—noiew—To exercise the mind (observe), i.e. (figuratively) To comprehend, heed.
“One another”—allhlwn—1) One another, reciprocally, mutually.
*“Stir up”—paroxusmov—1) An inciting, incitement; 2) Irritation. Strong—Incitement (to good), or Dispute (in anger). Used 2X.
From—paroxunw—To sharpen alongside, i.e. (figuratively) To exasperate.
“Love”—agaph—Love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast.
*“Good”—kalov—Adj.—1) beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable. Strong—properly, Beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) Good (literally or morally), i.e. Valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use.
“Works”—ergon—1) Business, employment, that which any one is occupied—1a) That which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking; 2) Any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; 3) An act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opposition to that which is less than work. Strong—Toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, An act.
:25—“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, & so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
When Christians rightly “consider” one another(:24), they will not “forsake”/abandon/desert their “assembling” “together” for worship.
A major means of diffusing Christian stimulation/encouragement is abandonment. Christians need constant encouragement.
How can we stimulate one another when we’re not with one another in mutual worship? It is impossible.
Some, claiming Christ, have made a habit(“manner”) of forsaking worship with their brothers & sisters. The opposite of forsaking is encouraging.
This exhortation is even more pertinent as time marches on, for in the passing of time we cannot escape the fact that the Day(of the Lord) steadily draws closer.
The Day is that time when things as we know them now will reach an end. God will begin the process of preparation for the new heaven & new earth without sin’s presence. Will you be ready?
*“Forsaking”—egkataleipw—1) Abandon, desert—1a) Leave in straits, leave helpless, 1b) Totally abandoned, utterly forsaken; 2) To leave behind among, to leave surviving. Strong–To leave behind in some place, i.e. (in a good sense) Let remain over, or (in a bad sense) To desert. Used 9X.
“Assembling...together/Meeting together”—episunagwgh—N. f.—1) A gathering together in one place; 2) The (religious) assembly (of Christians). Strong— A complete collection; especially A Christian meeting (for worship). Used 2X.
*“Manner/Habit”—eyov—N. n.—1) Custom; 2) Usage prescribed by law, institute, prescription, rite. Strong—a usage (prescribed by habit or law). Used 12X.
“Some”—tiv—Pronoun—1) A certain, a certain one; 2) Some, some time, a while. Strong—Some or any person or object.
*“Exhorting/Encouraging”—parakalew—1) To call to one's side, call for, summon; 2) To address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way. Strong—To call near, i.e. Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation).
“So much more/All the more”—tosoutov—1) of quantity: So great, so many; 2) of time: So long. Strong—So vast as this, i.e. Such (in quantity, amount, number of space).
“See”—blepw—1) To see, discern, of the bodily eye; 2) metaph. To see with the mind's eye; 3) In a geographical sense of places, mountains, buildings, etc. turning towards any quarter, as it were, facing it. Strong—a primary verb; To look at (literally or figuratively).
“Approaching”—eggizw—1) To bring near, to join one thing to another; 2) To draw or come near to, to approach.
Argumentation:
Rom. 12:15-16—“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”
Rom. 15:1-6—“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1Cor. 8:11-12—“And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”
1Cor. 10:32-33—“Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
Ga 5:25-26; 6:1-2—“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Col. 3:15-16—“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Gal. 5:13-14—“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
1Thess. 3:12-13—“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
1Jn. 3:18-19—“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.”
Mat. 18:18-20—““Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
You want to experience Christ in your midst!?....Then join your brothers & sisters in Christ for Bible Study & worship!
Acts 2:1—“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
1Cor. 11:16-19—“But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”
Heb. 3:12-13—“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Rom. 14:7-10—“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
Illustration:
For a marriage to last, there must be MUTUAL CONSIDERATION
My Dad & Mr. Wilson/Neighbors kept their yards up nicely/Neither wanted the other to look bad/Each wanted & expected the other to look good/Both wanted the other’s property to be appealing to others & to the neighborhood as a whole/They helped one another/A MUTUAL CONSIDERATION
My Daddy & Mr. Loflin/Dad was a died-in-the-wool Carolina basketball fan & Mr. Loflin was a died-in-the-wool Clemson fan/They taunted & insulted each other’s teams mercilessly during basketball season/They phoned each other during games—Post signs in each other’s yards—Mail condolences &/or victory celebration cards to each other/MUTUAL CONSIDERATION
Application:
?Is the Peculiar Christian Obligation of A MUTUAL CONSIDERATION fulfilled in You?
?The Peculiar Obligations as a Christian fulfilled in you?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Action:
Obligations peculiar to the Christian are...
2. An UNFLINCHING CONFESSION/Hope(:23)
3. A MUTUAL CONSIDERATION(:24-25)
1. A BOLD ENTRANCE(:19-22)
Presented 11/27/2011am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
