My Response to the Cross
Hebrews 10:19–26
INTRODUCTION
Everything that needed to be done for man to be right with God, to stand before him justified, was accomplished through the work of Christ on the Cross. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6–8
The entire book of Hebrews reminds us of this fact. It reminds us of the sacrifice Christ made for us and also what God expects from us in response.
Hebrews 10 is a reminder of the fact that Christ shed blood is the source of our Salvation. “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Heb. 10:10
It is because of the cross that we are assembled here today. It is because of the cross that we can have the assurance of eternal life. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Cor. 1:18
This is the mind set of the Hebrew writer when he says, READ Heb. 10:19–26
Let us look at three things the Hebrew writer says is the proper or expected response to the cross.
MAIN BODY
I. Let us Draw Near to God. Heb. 10:22
A. With a Sincere Heart.
1. No insincere person or hypocrite can draw near to God.
2. Deut. 4:29
B. With a Full Assurance of Faith
1. Hearts Sprinkled - willingness to accept what Christ has provided. Heb. 9:14
2. Bodies Washed - an unquestionable reference to baptism. Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16
Our initial response to the Cross is drawing near to God by becoming a Christian according to His will.
II. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope of eternal life. Heb. 10:23
A. Definition: Hope - Confident expectation and anticipation.
B. We can trust in, know and anticipate eternal life based simply on the fact of God’s promise. Heb. 3:6
C. This confidence does not come from our own merit or achievement, it rests in the faithfulness of God. Eph. 2:4–10
After our initial response to the Cross of drawing near to God the Hebrew writer says our continued response is unswerving faith.
III. Let us consider how we may spur one another on. Heb. 10:24
A. Definition: Spur or Provoke - the act of inspiring or stirring something up. The promotion of a specific action.
B. The Hebrew writers emphasis is not on what a believer GETS FROM the assembly, but rather on what he CONTRIBUTES TO the assembly.
1. The emphasis is on your presence.
2. 1 Cor. 12:27
C. The Psalm of Summer
Now it came to pass that spring turned to summer again. God’s people raised their voices and said: Recreation is my shepherd, I shall not stay at home; He maketh me to lie down in a sleeping bag; He leadeth me down the interstate each weekend. He restoreth my suntan. He leadeth me to State Parks for comforts sake. Even though I stray on the Lord’s Day, I will fear no reprimand, for thou art with me; My rod and my reel they comfort me. I anointest my skin with oil, my gas tank runneth dry; Surely my trailer shall follow me all the weekends this summer, and I shall return to the house of the Lord this fall.
Illustration from Jonathan McLeod at sermoncentral.com
D. The proper attitude toward worship. Psalm 122:1
E. When we miss an assembly of the church we are willingly ignoring God’s commands.
1. We are giving up meeting together.
2. We are discouraging rather than encouraging.
CONCLUSION
What is your response to the Cross? Is it an attitude of indifference displayed by a lack of hop or a lack of concern for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?
Or is your attitude one of humility as you respond to the Cross imitating Christ? Philippians 2:1–13
Mitchell Skelton, Minister–Midway church of Christ
