1. Title: Get In. Hang On. Don’t Fall Off.
2. Text: Hebrews 10
3. Audience: Villa Heights Christian Church, AM worship crowd, September 3, 2006, in the series “Nothing Better Than the Best”
4. Type: textual
5. Objectives:
For the people to understand the necessity of remaining faithful and the deadly danger of falling away; to understand what we have to help us not to fall into apostasy
For the people to feel concern over persistent sin in their life and to feel resolve to put an end to it
For the people to measure their level of maturity and resistance to sin; to help each other where there is a tendency to stumble; to put away sin that they have found acceptable over long-tem
6. Dominant Thought: God’s plan is to bring us home, clean us up, and keep us there.
7. When I’m finished with my sermon, I want my audience to take a careful look at themselves, make sure that they are not persisting in sin, and honestly work at putting it away from their lives
8. Outline:
Intro: The story is one you won’t hear very often. Their marriage was really shaky from the start. She already had a bad reputation. They had a child. Then came 2 others, but we’re not sure if they were his or not. Finally, she completely left him and her home. Prompted by God, he went after her. He found her with some other guy, living as a prostitute, and he bought back his own wife. Talk about going the 2nd mile! So, he brings her back home. And what terrible, unreasonable thing does he tell her? He tells her she’s going to stay with him, and that she’s not to be unfaithful any more. Seems logical for him to expect that, doesn’t it? We’d expect when someone like her has been forgiven of so much and been shown so much grace that she should remain faithful. Now, that’s not a made-up story. It’s the true story of the prophet Hosea.
God had Hosea go through that because that was Judah’s story, and He wanted them to do what was reasonable. Like an unfaithful wife, the nation had wandered off from God, and He brought them back, along with the command to not run off again. Seems reasonable, doesn’t it, when the nation was forgiven of so much and shown so much grace, that they should remain faithful to God then?
Here’s the fun part: That story is our story too. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way. And God has come after us, and bought us back. And as He brings us home it’s with the order to change – to not be unfaithful again. Seems reasonable, doesn’t it? Yet, there’s an enemy who wants every one of us to crash, to turn our backs on God again, and he’s working hard to make it happen.
Most everyone here can name someone who did crash – someone who used to be a believer and then deliberately decided to walk away from it. The technical word for that is “apostasy.” Not only does that just not make any sense in light of all that God has done for us, but it’s also a fatal move.
So, this 10th chapter of Hebrews has some vital things to tell us today. It’s relevant if you’re not a Christ-follower, and it’s important if you already are.
It summarizes itself:
Hebrews 10:19-24
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
I’ve tried to summarize that in 7 words: Get in. Hang on. Don’t fall off.
I. Get In (Draw Near To God)
The first part of this is to get in – to draw near to God. Remember, we’re the wife who has wandered away. We’re the lost sheep. We’re the Prodigal Son. It started with the sin of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, and we’ve managed to maintain that legacy ever since.
God set His Old Covenant in place to begin to address the distance we created between ourselves and Him, but there was always the promise of something better:
The author of Hebrews mentions it a second time now…
Hebrews 10:16-18
"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
You can draw near to God. It’s not by sacrifices that you or I or some other person makes. Jesus is the only sacrifice that can make that happen, because you need to be washed.
Ill – Good parents teach us this. It’s appropriate to be proper in your appearance before you enter into a situation. “You kids, wash your hands. It’s time to ____” A girl is going to be picked up for a date. She’s going to come down the staircase to the front door when the boy arrives. Does she do anything about the way she’ll look? HA! All day, she does.
We’re talking about being in the very presence of God. There’s a certain appropriate condition we need to be in order to draw near to God. Here it is…
Hebrews 10:22
…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
The ceremonial cleansing of the OT involved sprinkling with blood and washing with water. Remember, it was all outward ceremony, and it was only a shadow of what was coming. What was coming was the blood of Jesus. When we sing about being “washed in the blood of the lamb,” that’s what we’re talking about. Every animal that was bled to death to be sacrificed was foreshadowing the blood of Jesus that really does pay the price and make us clean. And water? There was a lot of water washing in the OT too. What did it foreshadow? We already know water cleans things – on the outside. But there’s a water today that’s involved in the real cleaning we need on the inside – the change that happens to us when we’re baptized. Peter is talking about the water of the flood, and how 8 people were saved. He says,
1 Peter 3:21
…and corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience…
I want to be washed, don’t you? I want a clean conscience, don’t you? I want to draw near to God, don’t you? You can. Baptism is us coming to God and appealing to Him to wash us inside.
This morning, if you haven’t ever done that, we’re going to invite you to draw near to God. You don’t have to clean yourself up in order to do that. He has what it takes. He does the cleaning! But He’s not going to force it on you. You want heaven, you have to come into that relationship with Him. You have to get in.
II. Hang On Tightly
It’s interesting to me that, though this is written to Christians, it still tells us to “draw near” to God. It’s an on-going necessity in our relationship with Him. It starts it, and it has to keep going. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” So what is it that helps us make sure we’re not only “in” but that we keep our grip too? The answer is in v.22. It’s our faith.
Hebrews 10:22a
…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…
In fact, in the next chapter we read…
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Living in the times we’re in, this is a challenge. We’re constantly confronted with the wrong idea that there’s no such thing as absolute truth. One person believes on thing, and someone else believes another. That’s just how it goes, and everyone can believe what they want to. It won’t matter, really. But that’s not true.
Listen, God’s invitation is to a system of belief in objective truths – not a just really strong feeling, not a way to have my needs met, not something you do to fit in as a member of society – but belief in truth that God has revealed about Himself and His plan. Your faith means you accept that what God says is true. There’s no other way to come into this relationship.
So, what do you believe is true? Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. If your faith is weak, your grip is too loose!
Your relationship with God has to be founded on truth. The early church devoted themselves to “the Apostles’ teaching, the breaking of bread, to fellowship, and to prayer.” The basis of their new life in Jesus was their belief in the truths about Jesus. If you’re not hanging on tightly to faith based on truth, you’re in danger.
Ill - A little girl had been taught the verse: Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven. Her mom explained to her, "Well, it means that when you’re good and kind and thoughtful and obedient, you’re letting Christ’s light shine in your life before all who know you." The next Sunday, in SS, the same little girl got into an argument with another student. It got so bad that the teacher had to go get the girl’s mother to settle her down. She got there and asked her daughter “Don’t you remember about letting your light shine for the Lord before men?" The girl said, "Mom, I have blowed myself out."
I fear for some, whose grip seems loose. Their grip of the truth of God’s word is loose. Their convictions about right and wrong seem loose. They need to hang on more tightly. Get a better grip. When the load is heavy, you’ll need it.
III. Don’t Fall Off
v.23-24 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Story – Debra Johnson says her 7-yr-old daughter wanted to take violin lessons, so she took her to a music store to rent an instrument. She wanted her to understand the importance of practicing and not giving up when it wasn’t fun. She said, "There may be times when you feel like giving up, but I want you to hang in there and keep on trying." She nodded and then in her most serious voice said, "It will be just like marriage, right Mommy?"
Well, just like marriage, sometimes the challenge of being faithful in our relationship with God can make us feel like giving up. Others have. Is it really that big of a deal?
Hebrews 10:26-31
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Maybe you’re thinking – “He’s preaching to the choir. We’re here. What about the people who aren’t here? First of all, there’s a good chance that someone here this morning is needing to be reminded of this. You’re not here by accident. I want you to know that your regular presence here is important. We need to be around each other. What’s at stake is no less than your soul and where you’ll spend forever! Walking away from the faith is fatal. Am I making this up, or is that what we’re reading in this chapter?
Second, there are some of you who are already going to be here, week after week, no matter what. I hope you leave here with a lot more concern, a lot greater sense of urgency, about the empty spots around you. Someone is missing this morning, and they could have been here. Who is it? Who’s on the phone talking to that person? Who’s showing up at that person’s door? Who’s sending a card that says “I sure missed you”? Who’s pleading with that person to be serious, to hang on?
By the way, this was written to people who were being imprisoned and having their property seized because they were openly serving Jesus. It hadn’t gotten to the point where they were being killed for it…yet. For them, getting together with the Church could easily have meant being harassed or even jailed. How many of you have missed an opportunity to worship with the Church lately because if you did you might be thrown into prison or have your house taken away from you? Makes the reasons we resort to for neglecting it seem pretty shallow, doesn’t it? Don’t fall off!
We’re not just thrown out into the desert on this. There are 2 helps that we’ve been given. If you want to call them a crutch, fine. Broken people need crutches, don’t they? At least someone on crutches can get around! We’re still being fixed, and we need to be able to not fall off, so what is there to help us?
1. The Encouragement of Each other
Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
We’re here for each other. I could just worship all alone – just me and God. In fact, we need to do that, and I hope that’s a regular practice for you. But it’s not all about you. I’m not here this morning just for me. God put us together to help each other in this. Our lifestyle must be a reflection of the family name we wear. Love and good deeds. It matters! I need to do what I can to spur you on to that, and you need to do what you can to spur one another on to that. We can’t do that very effectively if we don’t see one another or if we’re not actively involved in each other’s lives. So, in some time of self-evaluation this morning, ask yourself if you’re doing it. Are you encouraging your brother or sister in Christ to a life of love? To good deeds? We’re supposed to spend some think time on that – to consider how we can get that done. Are you?
2. The Encouragement of Past Growth
We’re celebrating 100 years of existence as VHCC. Wow. That’s a long time! So, we’re directing a lot of attention to the past. That’s OK. The Scriptures tell us to look into the past and to learn from it. In fact, that’s what this chapter does too. It tells us to consider the past as one of the ways to help us remain strong for the present and the future. But I want you to notice something…it doesn’t tell us to try to relive the past. Neither does it say that the past was all that great.
The past. Remember it? Some of you have less of it than others. Some of you can’t remember a lot of it because it was so long ago! Remember the past? Remember…
• When the only internet access was dial up?
• When phones all had cords?
• When diapers weren’t disposable?
• When keeping in touch meant mailing a letter?
• When there was no such thing as air-conditioning, and heat came from a wood stove?
• When going to high school might mean you had to leave home for a couple of years?
• When a disease would hit a community, and lots of people would die?
• When the bathroom was outside?
• When cataracts meant you were blind?
• When babies were born at home…on purpose?
• When there were whole areas of the country that people abandoned because there was no work?
• When your only vehicle was one-horse power, because that’s what it was?
Oh, life was simpler – in a lot of ways. You got seriously ill, you simply died. The country faced a depression, you simply did without lots of things. You wanted to get somewhere, you simply couldn’t. Not everything about the past is glorious and desirable.
When the writer of this letter encouraged believers to remember the past, it wasn’t because of how great it was. It was because it was hard and they’d grown from it. They’d been through some storms, and it had made them stronger.
Hebrews 10:32-35
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
How wrong it would be to make it this far and then throw it all away. The tough things we’ve been through serve a purpose: they make us more able to face even tougher things now.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Wait a minute. I’m kind of liking this not-growing-thing. In fact, not going through all that sounds a lot easier to me! Sure it does. For the moment. Weight lifting isn’t easy, but if you’re going to face a 250lb linebacker, you’d better pump some iron! 6 weeks of basic training is hard – beyond hard – but if you’re going into combat, that training may save your life. Do you want to be strong in the faith? Go through a storm. Have your faith stretched and tested.
The alternative is to stay weak; to not be able to handle the storm; to just get by, and when things get tough, have your faith crumble out from underneath you.
Hebrews 10:36-39
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Are you? Is that where your convictions lie this morning?
“He who is coming will come and will not delay.” He’s about to show up, so don’t you give up!
Conclusion:
Fred Craddock - "To give my life for Christ appears glorious…To pour myself out for others ... to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom--I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.
We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table--’Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.’
But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, ’Get lost.’ Go to a committee meeting. Give up a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home.
Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul."
So, what will it be? Are you ready to give your life to Jesus over the long haul, day to day?
If so, get in, hang on, don’t fall off…
