061 - Confidence! (25 Sept 2021)

Bible one. Is there something here for me. I mean it's just words printed on paper right it may look like just print on the page but it's more than Inc. join us for the next half hour, as we explore God's word together as we learn how to explore it on our as we ask God to meet us there in its pages welcome to more than Inc. yourself as a confident person confident well because I know something is going to happen.

It changes my actions, the Scripture says the same thing with confidence in Christ that affects how we exactly will see that today and 10 one more than Inc. yet you study with this. We just saw a live performance of the beast a couple weeks ago and that amazing performance be asked where everything is dancing around the dining room which is just what I sent so that comes to mind. We say common joy sitting at the table with us and feasting on the good things that God has to say. Hope you feel like our guest because that's how we think all these promises of the good things that come to us in Christ, which is really what what the writer of Hebrews is been talking about. So that's what we are or in the letter to the Hebrews. We are now in chapter 10 were coming the second half of the chapter 10 this morning. And so here we go.

He turned the corner here because we've been IME for weeks we've been talking about Moses and his law, Christ is superior to Moses. Although Montesinos identified with the first coming of Jesus and covenant, but still there. Both you and talk about that the connections between the sacrifices and the high priests and coming near to God always imagery about the temple about life with God and God living in our midst, and all I can stuff what that was but we just keep going. Strange sounds and we are all so he's going to all the cells imagery the temple in front and after his finishes arguments last week about superior to this new sacrifice in Christ before that he finishes. Talk about the superior of Christ in terms of our high priest to me all these years and now today today he ties it all up ties all that discussion up and who Christ is, in the context of what the Old Testament was trying to teach it right because we been talking about shadow reality. Reality right and therefore because the shadow has been completely fulfilled. Now we have the reality yeah and and he's been talking in shadow terms as I know, the shadow really well. So if you picture it should be pointing you to Christ in rainmaking that last connection for you to the reality. So today in verse 19 and chapter 10 he does his conclusion about this long discussion. 11.

Alex points us to Christ, therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God. Last draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts been clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water will hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near their ego is big. Conclusion paragraph because I left all things are true, things are true lasts respond in these three ways one and see he did. He took us back to the temple. He does so, you know, having confidence to enter the holy places right. That's the pictures of the places in the temple with a lot of the sacrifice of blood is Pfizer's is what brings you into the presence of God. But now through superior sacrifice. The blood taking you through the curtain that cited you from a holy holy which you talked about back in chapter 6 and seven right so that was a big deal and that pathway the way through the curtain through the veil is Jesus himself in the blood of Jesus. Jesus said in John 14. The way right in the life that's the way the way into the presence of God. So that's clearly pictured in the Old Testament.

As you saw the blood dripped into the presence of God dwelling said back in chapter 3. He's the architect and builder of everything and we are the house of God and the high priest over this great house of God, salaries because that's the reality. Yes SSS so so with all that behind us with that without the understanding that so now we can draw near with a true heart. Not again. Not a damaged conscience, remorse in your stomach before but a true heart in full assurance and here's a key word of faith. Faith in them to be of that that faith is largely a big issue in just a moment here so he's going to segue that next week but but yeah so now we can with full assurance. No doubts now wondering like you know Aaron's sons are done right right yet because I'm not doing what he should write it. I sacrifice enough one right you didn't sacrifice enough. Jesus sacrificed enough for us and so full assurance, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. Finally, in our bodies washed with pure water.

So, so, yes, now that's open to us. But now he's canopy starting to move us to look forward here so so let's hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. And because he who promised is faithful. Okay you talk about that yet, but this is where he turned to look, you were looking forward now, right, and we have when we know we are hypocrites we have this assurance because of a crisis done for us.

But now, as we look for something changes in our attitudes and our actions so so let's consider how to stir up one another to reward love and and a life that exhibits that love right in a life that looks forward to what he'd talked about so much before the promised rest of God, and remember he told us remember when the Israelites left Egypt they are going to the promised land. They didn't get in because he didn't believe the got good I should take them so they are in this process going from point A to point B, but in the end they decided that maybe God can't wait to believe God could do it but the people who got in. Eventually, the next generation and also Joshua and Caleb. They were the ones who stayed faithful lately held the faith about what kind prompts and sent him to stand on what he says, putting my trust there and because God had demonstrated to them all their lives, that he was able to provide stress to write that generation actually walked into the land were the ones who had grown up eating man every day right they had grown up drinking water that came to them out of a rock. They had grown up seeing the glory the Shekinah glory of God move over the tabernacle was an informal faith.

Yes, they do it with their faith is resting on evidence that this God is present is providing yet but at this point here is that he's Fine with the Christian community and in the Jewish Christian because there are going to some trouble hard times and so do we persist or we hold out to the end that God will bring us into this promise rest because he says they're still there still exists a Sabbath rest for the people of God and that that comes at the end of life basically. So fix here on the fact that the four teaching people how to study this on their own. It struck me as I was looking over this this half chapter that there are places in this chapter where the writer puts things in groups of three. Yet this is the first one where he says SSS let us draw near, let us hold fast and let us consider rights and those are actions he's encouraging us to take on the basis of the reality of who Christ is and what is done for us twice erection. Looking forward here another week of writing spaces put them in them, let us do that you saw was white as he strongly encouraging us to do. Draw near, in the full assurance of faith, understanding what Christ is time and believing.

Let us hold that confession of our hope well to hold fast to something means you cling to it right away.

The confession that's speaking our hope right saying the same thing God has said about us because he promised is faithful will do what he said and that's what I mean about this promised rest.

That's that hope right in the confession of that promised rest that that hope.

We need to hold onto that and then in exhibit faith in clinging to the end one way we do that is by gathering together as a body mutual confession he says let's consider, let's think about this less. Think about ways to stir one another up to act on what is true yes and is best when we are in fellowship when we were gathered together and encourage one another, especially as things get harder and darker in the day dressing us the context of this meeting together thing. Here in verse 24 and 25 is time to get tough and encourage one another. This is particularly important for us. I think right now coming out of this season of isolation from covert right, and many of you who are listening, perhaps still have not returned to an in person corporate worship with your church body and that is something perhaps you want to start considering right right you need the physical presence of the rest of the body of Christ. What H you and you may have something to offer to brass like to encourage them toward endurance and toward a promised glass restroom got all those things that God promises that I think you know the onslaught of all the bad things going around us.

You need someone who with a clear head is saying to you, but you know God is faithful. His promises are sound.

We can rest on his hope the confession of our hope. These things are, these things are realities they are eager realities, then these things that threaten yes because when only remaining isolation. The only voice were hearing is around is our own. And please determine echo chamber rightly. Yes, God still speak yes his word, still speaking, and yes, he is still nourishing and sustaining you you need. We all need the voice of the body of Christ to encourage us.

Yes, so do you realize people encourage you when you come presence, and do you realize that God is exam and the degree to which you stay apart from them you're withholding a voice channel know that God will use for you. You know, the writer of Hebrews opens the idea here that might even be sin just to be staying apart because he says in verse 26 for if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth. Well, you know that the idea of not believing God is sent right so that's really what he's talking about here, but it may be connected with lightning elected and acting on the truth that God has revealed and you know again I keep coming back this promise of Restasis promise of abundant life God mentions and that's that's connected in the end of 25 to this day drawing me right us the day that you enter into that rest. That's the date of the Israelites walked in the promised land but even for them. That was only a shadow of this reality which is coming into God's promise rest so we going deliberately sinning. If after knowing at that exist. We keep kind of investing in our life here right and that's what he's talking about and 25.

Oh, I likely put that investing in our life here instead of hoping for returns letting go of our life here which he's going to get into minute we met press on and I might mention to it. So it's a dominant thing we get the Chapter 11 so writes a big deal to really really ideal.

So God did promise, don't get discouraged if is not coming quick enough for you, but his promise and that hope is still valid and it's quite operable.

It's going to happen going to 26.

Yet I can read so if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth will there's no longer there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and in a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who is set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

But how much worse punishment, do you think will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace. Can we stop everything yeah that's a whole bunch well because again there's a group of three. Yeah, there is this hysterectomy says there are three things how much worse punishment will God do we deserve when we trampled underfoot the son of God sent me deem him worthless. Yeah like valuables gravel on the ground right Jesus said see you know that salt is lost that saltiness is good for not halfway and who has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified regarding what is holy is not right and then who has I like this translation outraged the Spirit of grace insulted, belittled, been rude to his face yet. Not just the spirit of power, the spirit of grace and strength to an understanding of the reality of who Christ is and what he's done and that we act as though he's worthless.

It's nothing.

He's not holy and what he's done is nothing and I can just ignore him or I can bidding his face right right will act and is harkening back to some earlier argument Marie compared Moses and Jesus is Moses and Jesus again because we we know that the Jews they honored Moses right when I say look hundred Moses and if you deliberately and against Moses. That was a bad deal thing greater than I know this is this is like where ice which is which is that was the underlying thought to an Hebrews to research and also how how shall we escape right if we neglect so great a salvation. Did you guys needs just that.

We know this is a big deal.

So if the punishment was bad when you denied the laws of Moses. Think of what it's like when you actually deny an outrage, the spirit of grace and I like how he uses that phrase spirit of great grace is something he gives you that you don't deserve desire never desires. Here's here's the spirit trying to give something that you probably would enjoy more than anything else in the universe. All you do is throw it out on the road and people walking all man so it's he's being he's really emptied operator and also end and 30 verse 30 is worse.well, then he quotes the Old Testament from LEM who said vengeance is mine, I will repay, and again the Lord will judge his people. It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God being the only one who can rightly pay back rightly judge and sort out, to whom what is owed. That's a big idea is mine. That's I the Lord says don't you don't you be taking vengeance into your own hands because it belongs to me. I am the righteous judge I will sort out as right. This is his very sobering conclusion. In talking about this new covenant. This is an optional think this is this is this is the corporate this is the way and don't don't ignore it.

Don't trample on it.

Don't set aside to what might be good for you but is not good for me know. You know, and God is going to follow up on exactly where you stand relative to the new covenant, which is relative to who Jesus is.

Is he your new high priest.

The reality of the high priest is he the sacrifice who sacrifice for you is all those things to you.

If not, if you just throw aside vengeance is mine's God will man God will pay back so so in effect, I think, includes a section starts in 25 know if we go on sinning deliberately right doesn't mean when you fall from time to time to smoke Christians wine less, but if you embracing that life of sin. That's my talk about investing in the hearing that she talked about this in chapter 3, did very much to sell you all who are listening go back and read that ship he talks about what it is to as as believers. He works that don't be turning your back on this truth.

Let me turn to it here for as well. And when you're going. It's really the difference. We talk about sin between us sinning when we lie we do come to stuff writings that even as believers, we regret and we grieve over but is different than like you know if you are Al Capone and you took out machine. The guy meditated you actually follow your employee's wife for you. Okay so here's the passage I was looking for its 312 and 13. Take care, brethren, lest it should be in anyone. If you unbelieving heart and falling away from the living God. See, this is not something that happens by accident.

This is a deliberate turning away but encourage one another, day after day as long as it still called today Lester being anyone. If you anyone of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sector. See flash that we allow ourselves to be deceived by sin. Olson is offering me better deal right that's the investment in the here and now I which is fulfilled I will sort that out for you. Believe me, because I always do what I say I will do okay so that was his morning behavior and then he tried to encourage you to come to harken back to first came to know him and 32 and also recall the four days when after you were enlightened right you came to know you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.

It was tough sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction sometimes being partners with those so treated for you had compassion on those in prison, you joyfully accepted the plundering of your properties, how she knew that you yourselves have better possession and an abiding what do we really believe that.

Well, there's the investment in here now verse that I hope in the future and then 35 therefore, don't throw away your confidence, don't throw away your confidence, which has great reward for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God. You may receive what is promised again were still pushing to write a goal. The promises of God that promised rest that that Hebrews 4.

There remains a Sabbath rest for the people for observing carefully. I saw here. Another set of three things go says therefore, because of all of this because God is a God of vengeance. He will sort it out and remember who you are, therefore, don't throw away your confidence, memory, what is our confidence to enter the holy place, the very presence of dressing got sprung that's right and and then you have need of endurance, so that when you've done the will of God hold fast the confession of your help, which he said right at the beginning of the chapter, which is the point of us getting together right because God is faithful and he will do what he said he would do, you will receive the promise still hold fast, don't throw away your confidence based on surface suffering or surface fuchsia sound like they were having a tough time right and a tough time holding out, you know, for the promise of God has a come when will it come with sufferings come to an end and and that's the reality of the time do I in that I think that's actually that's the trade-off will make all the time in our present life struggles is can I really trust God that is promised for Monday lunch going to happen. Should I still stick with that is easy faithful to that but it ran. That's exactly what the Israelites were questioning as he came up to the right of the promised land.

Can I really trust in God's promise that this is going to work it will find abundant life there or should be to control situation. Go back to where we came from and he stuck about the exactly the same thing right here. Should I go back to the things in this world that are icky and horrible, but I think I've got a better shot at finding abundant life synthesis when gathering together, not neglecting gathering together and confessing our hope to one another is hugely helpful. In strengthening one another to for the endurance required to get through the days. I think that's very true because like you said it's it's awfully true that when you're in the depths of a pit of horrible stuff going on right you can't hardly see anything.

That's right so it is such a wonderful welcome thing with someone comes in and say look God's promises are trustable right and let's confess together what we know is true of what Jesus has done for us and what God is going to finish well for us will endure because he will bring us through. And that takes place best in fellowship.

Yup, that's the context of the work soon and so with that in mind terms of encouraging one another. No, he says, and 37 writers for yet a little while little long time because he was a little while little while in the coming one will come and will not delay this is what checks you tell one another but my righteous one shall live by faith, that you don't trust him… And if he shrinks back, my soul is no pleasure in them, but many but is he close a series of but were not as those who shrink back no and and are destroyed but all of those who have faith and preserve their souls. We're the ones who are taking God at his word and God promises us rest and pastor like existence. Psalm 23. He's promise us abundant life, and I'm going to put my trust by faith in what he says because he's trustable. My faith has a resting place and it's who he is and what he said and I'm sticking there well and as in the next couple weeks. In the next couple chapters rent talk about the reality of what faith really is.

Yet it's important here.

It's a resting on a concrete reality that we can't always see physical eyes yet. It's a key it's a key pivot he's putting right here and we already have the example of going the promise land. My faith is like there.

And so what so what really is faith.

How do I know from action living by faith, living in constant expectation of God's promises coming true. Even though all my circumstances sending anyone down. No downhole but what how to why how we actually live by faith. And so I think that issues brought up noise. Mention the word faith a couple times right here in verse 39 I think this is what speaking people's thinking right so what is faith and how I actually live in faith on God's promise is so fasten your seatbelt so fast is give us a concrete definition and then some very concrete examples for Chapter 11 that's coming up in Chapter 11 I bought.

I recommend you read ahead. I'm so excited. So I'm so excited about this that I actually have chosen this fall to embark on a 10 week study of faith right. The local women that I lead and so I am really excited yet refreshing women in their understanding of what it means is live according to an unseen reality of people's understanding of faith can become screwy yeah and so I think the preeminent passage. Almost everyone goes to defined faith is coming up next week In Hebrews and again the context is we have a promise from God. It seems like I've been slow, bring the mission and were going through a lot of hard times. Can I still cling to this promise, and I never for the Israelites. There were four years in the desert tonight can I cling to this promise that God indeed will come good on his promises to me of life right in the midst of hard times at the hard thing to do well and they were those children of Israel wandering the desert where the children of Abraham, whom God had said he is righteous man because he believes me right.

That's what Genesis says that Abraham Genesis 15 six Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

Right, so faith look at examples of faith. That's what is going to do is get again. He's gonna harken back to the common Jewish background. Everyone here and say let me illustrate to you right all these guys you know about in the Old Testament right. Let me illustrate to faith in their lives. Because faith is not just a new covenant thing right.

It's all covenant thinking from the very beginning and remember in Hebrews Hebrews 4 he said you know they had good news preached to them in the desert but the message area didn't benefit them because it was not united by faith didn't connect in their hearts with leaving the God would do what he said so that's run to pick up next week.

So what is faith and how to why live a life of faith something else on this question question is that mean for us and it is often messed up today so to be just a great time as we look at sampling Old Testament trying fun with that conflict looks like.

So I'm Jim and I'm doing faith and then I'm enjoying that all next week.

This will come back next week is jumping 11 in more than