INTRODUCTION
Outline:
1. Let Us Draw Near:
2. Let Us Hold Fast:
3. Let Us Consider:
Remarks:
1. Webster defines admonitions as, "to caution, advise, or encourage. To reprove or warn in a mild manner, to urge to duty, or remind of an obligation. When one admonishes he counsels, advises, or cautions." Each of us some time in our Christian life will require some admonitions. In our lesson today we will admonish the church.
2. First, let draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith unto God, because Christ has made this possible by cleansing the inner nature with his precious blood, and the washing of our bodies in pure water in the act of baptism. Thus, making us children of God and granting us access unto his throne in time of need. Each Christian must avail themselves of this help, "with a true heart, and full assurance of faith." In Christ we are wholly clean, thus gives us the liberty to approach God, to enjoy his help and comfort in our time of need.
3. Secondly, let us hold fast our profession of faith without wavering. That profession is the acceptance of ones part in the new covenant. "Whatever our hands find to do, we must do it with our might." Realizing again, "he is faithful that promised." We must stick to the job, we must go onward to the end. Never wavering in our faith or at His promises.
4. Then lastly, let us consider one another, even as we have been encouraged to consider our Lord Jesus. (3:1) Let us now concentrate on each other. We should keep our eye on one another to watch for any tendency toward failure. In so doing we provoke one another to love and to good work. To accomplish this all are encourage to assemble for public worship and unifying services. Which some have already become weakened by the neglect of their assembling together. The Christian cannot wilfully neglect the assembling of the saint. Like hot coals loose its glow and power to help warm things when separate from each other so is it with the Christian when he fails to assemble with the saints. Let us then "admonish one another as we see the day approaching."
BODY OF LESSON
LET US DRAW NEAR:
A. The writer suggest first of all that we draw near unto God. Here is our first Christian admonition. But something has been done by God and Christ, which makes this access possible. Let’s look at verse 15-21. Here we can see the sufficiency of their contributions which grants us access unto them and heirs to the promise.
1. The sufficiency of one sacrifice for sins. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God....” 10:10-13; 9:23-26. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Heb 1:3 He was the Lamb of God. Jn 1:29, John the Baptist said: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
2. The sufficiency of one offering for sins. “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” 10:14 “...but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” 9:12 And, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” 9:14, He was the perfect offering for sin.
3. The sufficiency of a new covenant. “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” 10:15-18; See also, Gen 15:9-10,17; Heb 8:10-13; And, 10:3-4 “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
4. The sufficiency of the new and living way. “Having therefore, brethren , boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil; that is to say his flesh;” 10:19-20 Also, “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:” 9:8
5. The sufficiency of our new high priest. “And having an high priest over the house of God.” 10:21 Let us come with the blood of Christ’s sacrifice, as priests to the throne of God, realizing he has consecrated a way for us through the veil that is to say his flesh. The veil of the holy of holiest has been rent. Mt 27:50-54 Christ’s work has brought about the believer’s complete and total access to God himself. "As kings and priests unto God." Rev 1:6, With this help, now we can come before the throne of God when we meet the human conditions of this promise. No wonder the writer could admonish by saying:
B. Let us draw near with a true heart. A right and genuine inward attitude towards God. Only with a true heart can enter the true sanctuary of God. The phrase means more than just sincerity. Its implies the right attitude toward God as revealed in our Great High Priest - gladness, freedom, enthusiasm, and a bold appropriation of all the rights and privileges of sonship. A true heart is like the pure heart Christ described in his sermon on the Mount. Mt 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." Also David in Psm 15:1-2, "Lord who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."
Also Psm 24:3-5, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” We are encouraged elsewhere: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." Jam 4:8
C. In full assurance of faith. Faith is the basis of all right relationships with God. Not doubting, or of a fearful heart. But full assurance, knowing that through Christ we have every right to ask, and to expect that God will give us those things we stand in need of and desire. Illustrate: Pharisee and sinners prayer. Lk 18:9-14 Not this type of assurance for it is false. Heb 4:16 "Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." And Eph 3:12 "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him."
D. Having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience. Without which we cannot approach the throne of God. As Christians we often sin. Without the blood of Jesus to cleanse our heart from sin and guilt, we cannot approach God with a pure conscience. Peter says in 1 Pet 1:2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." Also Heb 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." Illustrate: Ver 19-22 of chapter 9, Moses sprinkled the blood of calves and goats on all things.
E. Our bodies washed in purifying water. The body must be dipped or washed in purifying water to be forgiven of the sins of the soul. Acts 22:16 “Wash away thy sins.” By being “washed from our sins in his own blood.” Rev 1:4-5 The writer here talks about baptism, and its importance as one seeks to draw nigh unto God. Illustrate: Purifying water, 1 Pet 3:20-21; Tit 3:5; and Eph 5:25-27
II. LET US HOLD FAST:
A. Our second admonition is to hold fast our profession of faith. We have chosen to follow, we have determined to run in this Christian race. Now we must hold out. We must endure unto the end. This was a custom of the early church. Illustrate: Barnabas. Acts 11:22-24 "...who when he came, had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord." 1 Cor 15:58 "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know, that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Also Heb 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."
B. Our profession. Profession says Clark means: "the important articles of our faith and practices; particular their acknowledgment of the truth of the gospel, and Jesus Christ as the only victim for sins, and the only Savior from it." Not merely a confession but a profession; a manner of life. Not merely a belief in a system, but dedicated service to it; not to inherit salvation, but because we have obtained salvation through it, the gospel. Illustrate: Gospel, Rom 1:16, Paul charged the young evangelist Timothy, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life whereunto thou art called; and has professed a good profession before many witnesses." 1 Tim 6:12
C. Without doubting. Jam 1:5-8 One must be of a singleness of heart. Let us remember, Abraham a man whose faith did not waver. Notice: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Rom 4:20-21
D. For He is faithful. God is truly faithful. As in the case above with Abraham. He perform his promise. And he will perform his promise to us also if we just be faithful to him and trust his word. 1 Thes 5:24 "Faithful is he that calleth you, who shall also do it." Also, "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." 2 Thes 3:3 Illustrate: Gods faithfulness. 1 Cor 10:13; also 1 Jn 1:9
E. That promise. Every promise he makes, he is faithful to fulfill them. We can trust him in this promise of heaven over hell, good over evil, life over death, and peace over distress. But we must be faithful to him if we are to receive his promises. Notice Heb 10:35-39 Read and comment.
III. LET US CONSIDER:
A. Then lastly, the writer admonishes us to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good work." Clark says, Let us diligently and attentively consider each other’s trials, difficulties, and weaknesses; feel for each other, and excite each other to an increase of love to God and man; and; as the proof of it, to be fruitful in good works. The words ’to provoke’ are used in a good sense, and signify excitement, stirring up to do any laudable, useful, honorable, or necessary things. 1 Cor 12:26; Rom 12:15
B. Consider one another. 1 Thes 5:11 "Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." Also ver 14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patience towards all men." Also, Rom 15:1-2 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification." Also, Gal 6:1-2
C. To provoke unto love and good works. Let our admonitions be that which will provoke love and good work, not hatred or rebellion. "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Eph 6:4, They are encouraged to stir up one another’s religious affections and ministries.
D. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Faithfulness is contingent upon assembling with the saint. We cannot be faithful without assembling. There is strength in unity. Illustrate: Our worship attendance has decreased, bible class, ladies class, men’s training class, WHY? Jesus said "Where two or three are gather together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Acts 20:7 "Upon the first day of the week...." Can we have fellowship without attendance?
E. For if we sin willfully. The writer admonishes us not to sin, by willfully neglecting the worship. Apostasy is the danger we face when we fail to assemble. It become easier and easier to neglect the worship, until we have dessert the faith completely. This is the end of what the writer now mentions in the next verses. Ver 27-30. Let this not happen to us, for we have determined to continue on until the end. "For we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb 10:39; Also notice, Lk 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
CONCLUSION:
A. Summarize main points.
1. Let us draw near.
2. Let us hold fast.
3. Let us consider.
B. As Christians we may need at times some admonitions. We may need to be reminded that we have an access to God and we can go before him at any time if our hearts are clean in his sight, and our request according to his will. We need to remember also that we need to hold fast our profession amidst all trials and persecutions. Let not Satan have victory over you in your moment of weakness. Call upon the Lord, and he will deliver your soul. And lastly, let us remember our brothers and sister. Those who may not be as strong as you. Those who may need to be encourage rather than condemned. They may need words of comfort rather than rebuke. Remember, we too may need that kind of help one day ourselves. So let’s do unto other as we would others to do unto us.
C. Invitation, exhortation. Mt 11:28-30
D. Motivation, "today is the day of salvation." Now is the acceptable time.
E. Persuade to obey.
