We’ve been talking about sharing our faith. About taking the command of our King seriously: “go and make disciples of ALL nations,” (Matthew 28:19-20). We’ve talked about how we must be passionate and obedient about sharing the Good News with everyone. Then we said we need an attitude of acceptance and grace with nonbelievers, since the only difference between a believer and nonbeliever is we’ve trusted Jesus and they’ve yet to do so. Today, let’s think about being intentional about our growth as Christ followers and encouraging to new believers as they grow in following Jesus. (READ TEXT)
In verses 19-21, the writer speaks of salvation. Hebrews compares and contrasts the idea that a right standing with God is achieved by obeying the law, with the truth that it’s only by Jesus’ sacrifice we can be right with God and know we’ll one day enter His Most Holy Place - His very presence. By shedding His blood, Jesus provided a new and living way through faith in His finished work; as opposed to the old and dead way of trying in vain to measure up to God’s standard of righteousness by means of good works. The way Christ has provided is new.
“New” is the Greek word, “prophastos,” used only here in the New Testament. It’s original meaning is, “freshly slaughtered,” and refers to Christ’s death on the cross. It’s by means of His sacrifice - “through the curtain, that is, His body” that sin’s penalty was paid and God’s justice satisfied. And it’s a living way, referring to His resurrection - the proof that sin’s penalty - death - was fully paid. The message of the Gospel isn’t “Do” but “Done.” It’s the message we must believe to be saved and the message we must share if others are to be saved.
Salvation brings confidence about entering God’s presence one day; but it also brings confidence about entering His presence today. Jesus is our Great High Priest with whom we can commune with daily. So, in light of the salvation we’ve received through His finished work, there are four things we must be intentional about.
1. Let us Walk With God - v. 22
We draw nearer to God by making sure our hearts are sincere. But how do we maintain a sincere heart and draw nearer to God every day?
Two things:
A. Daily cleansing - “having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience”
I must be intentional about claiming the cleansing power of the cross.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
B. Daily commitment - “having our bodies washed with pure water”
The Old Testament priest went through ceremonial washing before serving in the temple. Likewise, we must present our bodies to God to be used by Him. Again, the cross inspires us. Since Jesus died for us, surely we can live for Him.
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” - Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)
By daily cleansing and commitment we draw near to God. And if our commitment fails, we claim our cleansing! But we must be intentional.
When cruise controls on vehicles first came out, a newly retired couple bought one of the finest motor homes on the market. It had cruise control. As they traveled, the husband got tired and asked his wife to drive while he napped. As she drove, she put the camper on cruise control. After an hour of straight highway driving she got up to go to the bathroom. She thought cruise control was the same as auto pilot, she told the Highway Patrol after the accident. The motor home was totaled, but neither partner was hurt.
That’s a true story that illustrates what happens when Christians put their lives on cruise control. Without intentionality about drawing near to God through daily cleansing and commitment, we’re on a collision course. Jesus died for us so that we might live for Him. Let’s honor His sacrifice and show gratitude for our salvation by walking with God.
2. Let us Witness For God - v. 23
We can profess our hope with bold confidence because Christ will not let us down. In fact, one of the surest ways to discover all the resources provided to us in Christ is to share Him with others.
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” - Philemon 6 (NIV)
A family brought their newborn to church the first time. A proud Grandpa said he couldn’t wait to take the child fishing with him. It was clear: if grandson was to follow grandpa, it meant some trips to the pond! And grandpa would provide everything needed for a successful fishing trip.
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” - Matthew 4:19 (NLT)
If we follow Jesus, one thing’s for sure - we’ll make some trips to the pond! If we’re not fishing; we’re not following. He sacrificed His life so we might know new life and share that life with others. Let’s honor His sacrifice by being intentional about witnessing for God.
3. Let us Work For God - v. 24
We’re saved to serve. So we should intentionally serve in some specific way and encourage others to serve. All service, great or small, is vital.
A worship center had been built. Everyone admired its windows, walls, carpet and new chairs. On the roof a two-penny nail held a shingle. The nail heard people praising everything else, but none mentioned the nail or seemed aware of its existence. The nail grew angry, saying, “If I’m that insignificant, no one will miss me if I quit.” So he pulled out, rolled down the roof and fell to the ground. That night, a rain came and the nail was buried in the mud. Before, the nail was obscure; but useful. Now, he was obscure; but useless. Before he was protected under dry shingles. Now he would soon be eaten up with rust. But the worst was yet to come. The shingle it held down was now loose; and without the nail, blew away, leaving a hole in the roof. The rain that buried the nail, leaked through the spot where the shingle had been, running into the worship center. The water ran down the walls and marred them. It leaked on the carpet and it was stained. All of this because one little nail, in a fit of jealousy, refused to do a little job he was capable of doing.
Sadly, it’s that way with too many today. But Paul said, “On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable.” - 1 Corinthians 12:22 (CSB). We’re all vital to the body of Christ. Jesus didn’t die because you were unimportant to Him. That God took on flesh to pay the price for your sin shows how valuable each of us are to God. So let’s honor His sacrifice and show gratitude for our salvation by working for God and encouraging one another to do the same.
4. Let us Worship Our God - v. 25
A. The imperative - v. 25a
Instead of making it a habit to not gather with God’s people; it should be a habit we develop. The dictionary defines a habit as, “a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.” That’s what gathering with God’s people should be for us - a settled practice. It’s not something to decide again each Sunday, but something I settle now and then follow through on every Sunday!
B. The incentive - v. 25b Why do we worship together?
1) Worship gatherings provide supernatural encouragement. We’re reminded who we serve when we gather together for worship.
2) Worship gatherings shadows eternity. Worshiping together is a foretaste of the eternal gathering, where every tribe, tongue, and nation will worship Jesus (Revelation 5:9-12). Sadly, many will experience “culture shock” when they go to heaven, because while on earth, they avoided gathering with God’s people to worship Him.
Due to a diving accident when she was seventeen. Joni Eareckson Tada hasn’t been able to walk or feel anything in her legs since. She’s now 68 years old. She tells a story of being at a conference where the speaker closed his message by calling everyone to kneel before God. She was the only one unable to kneel. But she tells of her prayer, which was, “Lord Jesus, I can’t wait for the day when I will rise up on resurrected legs. The first thing I am going to do is drop on grateful, glorified knees and worship you.”
Even sadder than a Christina who wants to kneel but can’t is one who can kneel but won’t. Because of the cross, we look to an eternity where we will perfectly honor God with our worship. So let’s honor His sacrifice and show gratitude for our salvation by gathering with one another to worship our God and encourage others to do the same.
