Rsbc
January 11th 2004
Sunday Night
The Book of Hebrews
Subject: “The Christians Divine Duty”
Text: Hebrews 10:19-25
Intro: To say that a Christian does not have a duty or responsibility is deny an abundance of scripture. Paul said that we were ordain to do good works as much as we were ordain to be saved by grace ... Eph 2:8-10 Good works are to glorify the Lord and edify us..
The last part of this chapter have to do with a Christians divine obligations before the Lord. James said in his letter that good works establish the fact of true faith.
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
He went on to say that faith without works is dead, and if it is dead faith it is faith that is vain, empty and will not save you. Thousands of people are walking around with dead faith and holding on to some doctrine in religion that teaches them once saved always saved so they don’t have to produce any good works..
I. WE HAVE A BLESSED PRIVILEGE AS CHRISTIANS...VS 19-21
The word “boldness” does not mean to come with pride, but rather means to come with confidence in the saviour’s word. It means to come freely and speak to him.
It is evident from our own life that we need the help of the Lord to be able to do the things that he has commanded us to do. This is why he said back in Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1. Note where we are coming to: “the holiest”
What a privilege afforded to the children of the Lord.. We need not abuse it, forget about it, slight it.. We need to come to it.
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As you know are should know by now that the holiest of holiest was a place where only the High Priest could go, now we can go their. This is in the presence of the Lord’s dwelling place.
2. The how of our coming... “ the blood of Christ”
Paul said we who were once aliens now have great assurance in and through the Lord Jesus Christ...
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
3. That this is the new way: vs 20-21
It is called a new and living way..this is the door Christ spoke of, it is himself and none other..John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Christ our great high priest..
II... “ THE GREAT DIVINE DUTIES DECLARED TO US”...VS 22-24
Since we have these duties, since we have these privileges, we can look into his word and find it clearly what Christ expects us to do as his people. This is for all of here tonight that is saved...
1st. “ It is a drawing near”..vs 22
He tells us two ways in which we are to draw near to the Lord. Oh how I need to be close to the LORD..
(1.) With a true heart..
A true heart is a heart new heart that God has given us in regeneration. A true heart is a heart that is pure: Matthew 5:8 Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. A true heart is a good heart: Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
A true heart is a heart that has God’s word written on it..2 Corinthians 3:3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ
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ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. A true heart is a heart that makes melody to the Lord...Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; A true heart is a pure heart, 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
(2.) Do it with faith... vs 22
We know that the Bible teaches that it is impossible to please God without faith, therefore if it is impossible to please him with faith, it is impossible to draw nigh unto him.
Christ dwells in our hearts by faith: Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, We are to love by faith: Ephesians 6:23 Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to walk by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are to live by faith, Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
2nd. We are to hold our profession of faith: vs 23
The word “hold” has to do with restraining ourselves from going away, from not doing wanting to do the things of the Lord. It is a fight, it is battle ever day of our life.
The holding is rendered in fighting a good fight..1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
When Paul was near to the end of his life, he made this bold and profound statement, he looked back no doubt and his life of service for the Lord and was not afraid to claim his life now coming ot a close..
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2 Timothy 4:7‑8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
3rd. By considering one another...vs 24
Far to long the Lord’s people speaking generally have not considered one another. They have been more on the lines of you do your own thing and I will do mine. No concern, no love, no tenderness, no compassion what have we come to in the Kingdom of Christ.
Two things he tells us to do in this considering one another...
(1.) Provoke unto love...
The word “provoke means to entice them”. How many scriptures tell us to love... It starts with saying that we are to Love God with all our hearts and minds and souls, then our neighbor as ourselves... Jesus said these were the greatest and that on them hand all the law and the prophets...Matt 22:37-39
a. We are to love one another as Christ love us: John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
B. We owe each other love: Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
C. We are taught of God: 1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
D. It is sign that we know God: 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
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(2.) Provoke to good works: vs 24
We do this because it will glorify our Father: Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The good work of coming to church : vs 25
The good work of exhorting one another: vs 25
The good work of doing it faithfully: vs 25
Keep in mind: 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:
Again Paul said: Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Those in the kingdom of God and in his church that have a pure heart, that have trusted Christ, that have sincerity about their Christian walk, can be assured by these last verses I am going to use...
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.