Hebrews Sermon Series
“The Christian Love Life”
Hebrews 13.1-6
10/26/14 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A We can get the impression that the author of Hebrews had several items he wanted to relate to his reader yet he saved them till the very end.
1 In chapter 11, he showcased people who had exemplarily lived their life of faith; In chapter 12, we were rejoicing at Zion, talking about heaven, celebrating grace, encouraging our faith.
a In chapter 13, we go to everyday life, stuff as common as an ol’shoe. (Evidence off faith)
aa Hospitality, marriage, church officers, and who was the last one to be released from jail.
bb Which is more important? Doctrine or duty, revelation or responsibility? (In Scripture there is no division, they always go together.)
b The author has emphasized in chapter 13 that certain evidences of faith should be manifesting in our lives if we are walking by faith and not by sight.
aa Chapter 13 is not an afterthought or junk folder.
bb True faith demands true living.
2 Being different than the world is a non-negotiable thing for Christians.
a 1 Peter 2:15 (NASB) 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Titus 2:7-8 (NASB) 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
b Hebrews 13 gives the essential practical ethics of Christian living. (Ethics have to do with standards of behavior/conduct/moral judgement. There can be no ethics without doctrine for doctrine is the foundation on which any practical ethic must be based.)
aa Alexander Maclaren wrote, “The world takes it notion of God most of all from those who say they belong to God’s family. They read us a great deal more than they read the Bible. They see us; they only hear about Jesus Christ.”
bb Matthew 5:16 (NASB) 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
B How we live our lives is a reflection of the Lord we serve.
1 Critics of the gospel usually pick out the most obvious examples of Christians/churches behaving badly to support their reasons to be against God.
a For example, Bertrand Russell famous philosopher/atheist said:
aa He was an atheist but he still followed the teachings of Jesus more than most Christians did.
bb He writes, “There is the idea that we should all be wicked, if we did not hold to the Christian religion. It seems to me that the people who have held to it have been, for the most part, extremely wicked. The Spaniards, for example, in Mexico and peru, used to baptize infants of the Indians, and immediately dash their brains out, by this means securing for them a place in heaven.”
cc Russell gives several examples like this to argue against Christianity.
b Unfortunately, throughout history the church has shown the mean, prejudiced, and immoral lives of professed Christians and have given the world an excuse not to be attracted to the claims of Christ.
aa We have a responsibility as Christians to be good & do good works.
bb IL. D.L. Moody was at a conference were some of the young people stayed up all night prayer, the next morning, “We have just come from a wonderful all-night prayer meeting. See how our faces shine!” Moody replied, “Moses knew not that his face shone.”
cc Good works that are self-conscious/hypocritical are not hard to spot AND they don’t impress God or Unbelievers.
2 What standard is used for us to examine our works/responsibilities/duties?
a We need doctrine in order to live out holiness.
aa “All you need is love.” Wrong/foolish.
bb IL. If a man desires my wife, it may appear to be love to him, but to me it would be something quite different because of doctrine.
b Trying to throw away doctrine while keeping ethics is like trying to keep your house intact while taking out the foundation.
aa Every responsibility/duty/call to holiness in the NT requires a relationship with God in order to live up to them.
bb You cannot live up to God’s standards without God.
c When we love the right things in the right way, our lives will be richer/fuller.
aa Love the things Jesus loved.
bb I’ve got a tie-tack from my great grandfather. Not worth $3, but it’s of great worth to me because he loved it. . . love the things Jesus loved.
I Love gives vitality to the church (13.1)
Hebrews 13:1 (NASB) 1 Let love of the brethren continue.
A The author uses the word “phileo” in v. 1 for “love of the brethren.”
1 Phileo, different than agape (God’s love, 1 Cor. 13 love) for it speaks of human affection, fondness.
a It means “brotherly love, brotherly kindness.”
aa “brethren” here means from the same womb.
bb The reason why there is a fondness, affection, love for each other is that we all come from the same daddy.
b In a time when several Christians had stopped attending worship, the author says go to church and love one another.
2 Hebrews 6:10 (NASB) 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.
a This church honored the name of Jesus by loving/caring for each other.
b They were to continue in loving their fellow brothers & sisters in Christ.
aa It already existed because it naturally occurs/flows out of a life that is under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
bb We’re not told to make it happen, we’re told to let it continue.
cc One of the by-products of falling in love with Jesus is having a love for His people.
B 1 Peter 1:22-23 (NASB) 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 We’re given brotherly love when we were given spiritual life.
a We don’t have to ask God to help us love our fellow brother/sister in Christ, . . . it’s already in us; we just have to use it.
b Brotherly love is simple to understand/explain (Rom. 12.10).
Romans 12:10 (NASB) 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
aa Basic form it is caring for fellow Christians more than we care for ourselves.
bb Brotherly love grows out of a heart that’s soil is rich in humility, and humility grows out of right spiritual knowledge (doctrine).
cc We must measure ourselves against Jesus, not other Christians. He’s our standard for our ethics.
2 IL. The fictional story goes like this . . .
a A spaceship abducts 10 people, chains them seated in their chair at a table with food at the center. One arm is affixed to their side, and they have a 10 foot spoon to feed themselves.
aa They discovered if they didn’t feed each other, they’d starve.
bb They had to look out for one another to survive.
b We Christians need to assume our responsibility to care for one another seriously. (We are our brothers/sisters keeper.)
T.S.: Love for our brother is manifested in hospitality.
II Love Displays Hospitality to the Stranger (13.2)
Hebrews 13:2 (NASB) 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
A Hospitality was a ministry (an important ministry) in the early church.
1 Due to Christians being persecuted for their faith, there was a glut of homeless Christians. (Hospitality was important)
a Also, there was a need for traveling/itinerant preachers to have places to stay.
3 John 1:5-8 (NASB) 5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
aa Not every town had/nor every believer afford an inn for the night. (Since the church met in homes “Romans 16.5", it would have been natural for the guests to stay at the house they were worshiping at. (Hospitality was important)
Romans 16:5 (NASB) 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
bb Pastor/church are to be lovers of hospitality (Titus 1.8); but so should all the saints (Rom. 12.13).
Titus 1:8 (NASB) 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,
Romans 12:13 (NASB) 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
cc Among Jews/Mideast, showing hospitality is a great virtue (IL. The ending of “Lone Survivor”), Christians were certainly not to be any less hospitable than Jews, Unbelievers, Pagans.
b Moses (Gen 18) gives the account of Abraham showing hospitality to a preincarnate Jesus and two of His angels.
aa He didn’t know immediately who they were, he just showed hospitality.
bb Ministering to angels was not the basis for his motivation for hospitality . . . it came out of “brotherly love” for the sake of those he could help and for God’s glory.
cc God is pleased when Believers show hospitality.
2 Strangers can refer to unbelievers as well as believers.
a The first responsibility we have is show love to our fellow Christian but the our responsibility doesn’t end there (Gal. 6.10).
aa 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NASB) 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
bb “all men” includes even our enemies, reflects Jesus’ teaching in Matt. 5.43-44, 46.
Matthew 5:43-44, 46 (NASB) 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
b Many times, Christians/Churches worry about who they help/give “help to” for fear of “being taken advantage of.” MacCarthur writes, “The danger of being taken is no excuse for not helping someone in need.”
aa It’s easy to be deceived by a “stranger” that we don’t know: they ask for $10 for food to feed his family and he may spend it on drugs/alcohol/tobacco.
bb We should use our common sense when deciding how best to help someone, but our primary concern should be for helping, not for avoiding being taken advantage of. . . and if we help in good faith, God honors our effort.
cc Love is often taken advantage of, but this is a cost that it doesn’t count.
B This idea comes quick on the heals of showing brotherly love, which lends itself to the idea, if you want your brothers/sisters to know your need/hurts then go to church.
1 As incredible as the opportunity to possibly be ministering to angels may be, why is ministering to our fellow saints considered not as awesome as ministering to angels?
a In the narrative of Abraham offering help to three strangers who passed by his tent, we learn some things that can help our hospitality skills.
aa He didn’t wait to be asked to help, he volunteered.
bb He considered it a great blessing/honor to be given the opportunity to show hospitality to the three walking outside his tent (Gen 18.3).
Genesis 18:3 (NASB) 3 and said, "My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.
cc Abraham had no idea that two of the men were angels and one was the Lord Jesus Himself (18.1; 19.1).
Genesis 18:1 (NASB) 1 Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.
Genesis 19:1 (NASB) 1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.
dd If Abraham would have known, he wouldn’t have changed a single action on his part.
b In a way, we always minister to the Lord when we are hospitable . . . especially to fellow believers.
aa Matthew 25:40 (NASB) 40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
bb To feed the hungry, help with rent/clothing, expenses, visit the imprisoned in the name of Jesus is to serve Jesus.
cc Matthew 25:45 (NASB) 45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
2 Hospitality is opening your home to someone who doesn’t normally belong there.
a Isn’t that the essence of coming into the God’s family?
aa We don’t belong, deserve, haven’t earned a place at the table.
bb Because has shown us great hospitality, we should show hospitality in kind.
b In other words, hospitality – inviting into your home people who don’t normally belong there – is a sign of genuine faith.
aa That’s kind of sobering, isn’t it? Especially if we’ve been neglecting it.
bb Again, there is no division between doctrine & duty/revelation and responsibility in Scripture.
III Love Demonstrates Sensitivity to the Hurting (13.3).
Hebrews 13:3 (NASB) 3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
A In the first-century, Jews who had professed faith in Jesus were enduring persecution from their fellow Jews who had not left Sinai/Old Covenant.
1 The writer encourages the church to remember those fellow believers who have came upon hard times for their faith.
a “. . . since you yourselves also are in the body” (13.3b).
aa Any idea what the author is getting at?
bb If you’re alive, breathing . . . it might be you down at the jail this time tomorrow.
cc It’s easier to help others when we ourselves have needed help; easier to appreciate hunger when you’ve been hungry/loneliness when you’ve been lonely/persecution when you’ve been persecuted.
b The point is that we should do our best to identify with those in need, to try to put ourselves in their place, walk a mile in their shoes. (You don’t have to have been homeless, lonely, imprisoned to help those who are hurting . . . be empathetic.)
aa If you were hungry, you’d want someone to feed you; Jail you’d want someone to come visit you; lacked medical care you want some to help tend to your illness.
bb We should do for them what we’d want done for us.
cc Matthew 7:12 (NASB) 12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
2 One of the overlooked teachings of this verse is that fact that while heaven is our home, we’re on earth/ “in the body” right now until we go home.
a We still get hungry, lonely, hurt physically/psychologically.
aa It’s our own pains/struggles/hurts that should make us be sensitive to the pain/struggle/hurt of other people.
bb Instead of seeing our own struggles as an excuse not to help folks, we should see them as an incentive for being more helpful, more hospitable.
b There are at least three ways we can help those in trouble:
aa “Be there”: sometimes just the presence of a friend is enough, a friends encouragement/strength.
bb Giving direct help (Phil. 4.14-16)
Philippians 4:14-16 (NASB) 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
cc Prayer: Again, Paul’s in prison (Col. 4.18) and he asks them not for money, or a visit . . . remember me (implication is in their prayers).
Colossians 4:18 (NASB) 18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.
B If a stranger (v.2) shows up unexpectedly we were told to show hospitality, but prisoners must be actively sought out to show compassion to.
1 Hebrews 10.34, we find the Believers receiving the letter had shown sympathy to the prisoners (Paul was imprisoned at least 3 times, John was imprisoned on Patmos)
Hebrews 10:34 (NASB) 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
a Across the last two millennium, thousands upon thousands of believers have known imprisonment, persecution, martyrdom.
b In our day, there are thousands being killed, burned out of home, evacuated from their villages, cultures/communities being destroyed because of their faith.
aa Two ministers in Idaho are facing steep fines/jail time for refusing to perform same-sex marriages at their privately owned wedding chapel.
bb Boko Haram kidnapping girls in Nigeria (Majority are Christians).
cc In Houston, Texas, pastors were asked to hand over their sermon notes of their messages that had to do with homosexuality/gay marriage/lesbian mayor. (Twitter blocked a campaign that was showing support to the pastors!!!)
dd A Christian owned t-shirt company was FORCED to print Gay Pride t-shirts.
2 We are all connected as a part of the body of Christ.
a As believers living in a free country we don’t think about religious persecution much, but we are surrounded by brothers/sisters who are prisoners.
aa Prisoners of age, isolated in nursing homes.
bb Prisoners of disease, difficult circumstances.
b Whatever the cause of imprisonment, our love must who compassion to the hurting.
IV Christian Love Brings Sanctity to the Marriage Vow (13.4).
Hebrews 13:4 (NASB) 4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
A What the world calls a swingers, God calls a whoremonger or fornicators; What the world calls an affair, God calls adultery.
1 The author goes from how believers should treat those who are hurting, suffering, prison and then how we should behave in our homes & a Christian home begins with a Christian marriage.
a Heb. 13.4, we are told that the home is the first place where Christian love is practiced.
aa honor means “held as of great price, esteemed, especially dear.” & the object/relationship being “honored” is the institution of “marriage.”
bb Marriage isn’t just to be honored by “married” people, but also by “single” folks too.
cc Marriage bed is used as an euphemism for sexual intercourse, and the fact is, the author is putting importance on the pure & physical side of marriage. (Not a bad thing!)
dd Sex has its place, it is a gift from the Father, and the place for sex is in the marriage between one man and one woman.
b Honoring marriage means loyalty/purity with our bodies.
aa Sex outside of marriage is sinful/destructive.
bb Sex outside of marriage will be judged by God.
2 How does God judge sexual sin?
a Rom. 1.24-27; Sometimes they are judged in their own body (STD, AIDS, etc.)
Romans 1:24-27 (NASB) 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
aa Rev. 21.8; 22.15, certainly at the final judgement.
Revelation 21:8 (NASB) 8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Revelation 22:15 (NASB) 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
bb When believers sin sexually, those sins may be forgiven, but they will lose rewards in heaven (Eph. 5.5).
Ephesians 5:5 (NASB) 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
b The O.T. patriarch David (Heb. 11.32) engaged in sinful sexual practices but he sure suffered the consequences of his adultery for years to come; and he suffered in the hardest way: through his own children.
Hebrews 11:32 (NASB) 32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,
B In our world today, when sexual sin is paraded as entertainment on TV/Movies/Media, it is the church’s responsibility to take a stand for the purity of marriage.
1 One of the church’s biggest jobs is to strengthen marriage/homes.
a Many church’s build “family life” buildings (but I think this is wishful thinking.)
b I’m saying recreation isn’t a valid ministry (it is), but when recreation/activities divide families instead of uniting them, we’ve dropped the ball.
aa Church is a place for families to come and as soon as they get on campus we separate them as many times as we can.
bb Sunday School, Worship service, Children’s Church, Student Ministries, etc.
2 The Christian home can be the only legitimate “family life center.”
a We must give families time to be together.
aa One of the reasons we cancel services on holidays.
bb No kingdom kids the first Sunday of the month.
cc More can be done.
b Marriage partners are to keep their vows to each other and the church is help strengthen those marriage/homes.
V Christian Love Gives True Prosperity to the Individual (13.5,6).
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NASB) 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," 6 so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"
A True prosperity is not found in material wealth.
1 Luke 12:15 (NASB) 15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
a If we love God & others the way we should, then we will have a right relationship to material things (stuff.)
aa Without being in right relationship with God/others we’ll look to “stuff” as a way to satisfy us/give us worth.
bb Stuff leaves us wanting more . . . spirit of covetousness.
cc The only One who can give truly satisfy/give us worth/value is the Almighty.
b The secret to prosperity is unlocked with one word in this text, “content” and “Content” means “to be possessed by unfailing strength, to be strong, to suffice, to be enough, to be satisfied, contended.”
c If we are content/satisfied with what we have, the spirit of covetousness is broken.
2 The use of “content” brings to mind the thought that we should be satisfied when our needs our satisfied & not desire stuff just for the sake of stuff - or being mad because we don’t have what our brother has.
a Paul wrote in Phil. 4:11-13 about being content.
Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB) 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
aa Paul sounds self-sufficient & he pulled it off because he was Christ-dependable.
bb Being content/satisfied by being dependant upon the Holy Spirit & independent of circumstances.
b The reason the believe should take these words to heart is all based upon a promise found in Deut. 31:6,8 & Ps. 118:6
Deuteronomy 31:6,8 (NASB) 6 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." 8 "The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
Psalm 118:6 (NASB) 6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
aa “Desert” is not the common word for “desert.”
bb It means “to send back, to relax, to loosen, not to uphold, to let sink.”
cc It’s preceded by a double negative in the Greek. (Two negatives in our language make a positive - in Greek it only strengthens the negative. “I will not, I will not desert...”
3 “Forsake” is a work preceded by 3 negatives in the Greek.
a “Forsake” means to “abandon, desert, leave when the going gets tough, leave helpless.”
b I will never, I will never, I will never let you down, desert, leave when the going gets tough, leave you when you’re helpless.
c Our God will come to our rescue when we are going through the dark times.
B The by product of trusting God’s promises is realigned in v. 6
1 The first word is “Lord” and the last word is “me.”
a The idea that if we are trusting in Him, He will take care of us.
b If God is on our side, what’s the worst thing that can happen to us?
2 D.L. Moody was approached by a woman who said, “I have found a promise that helps me when I am afraid. It is Ps. 56.3 - ‘What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.’”
a Moody replied, “I have a better promise than that! Is. 12.2 - ‘I will trust & not be afraid.’”
b Both promises are true, each have their own application.
aa The important thing is that we know Jesus Christ as our Lord/helper.
bb Content Christians are satisfied with pleasing Him.
c Our true treasure is His presence in our lives, peace & hope we have on the inside.
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