Rsbc
January 18, 2004
Sunday Night
The Book of Hebrews
Subject: “Consider, The Living God”
Text: Hebrews 10:26-39
Intro: It is clear at least to me that this whole text is speaking of the people of God. It is the same as in chapter 6 were we spoke about it is impossible for once who was once enlightened and have tasted the good word of God to fall away to renew them again.
The reason being “no more sacrifice”. All the commentary that I read on this passage believe that this text is speaking of apostates, who have left Christ for their old religion.
I find that hard to accept and believe for a number of reasons. I wish to point them out to you because they fit the context.
1. It speaks of a people who has access to the holiest of holies ..vs 19
2. It speaks of a people who can draw near to God..vs 22
3. It tells a people to hold fast..vs 23
4. It tells a people to provoke one another to good works..vs 24
5. It tells a people to not slack the assembling of themselves..vs 25
6. That he includes himself in vs 26
7. It tells of a people that has been sanctified by the blood..vs 27
8. It tells that God will judge his people..vs 28
9. It tells of a people that has been illuminated..vs 32
10. It tells them of a better substance in heaven waiting them..vs 34
11. It tells a people not to cast away...vs 35
12. It tells a people that has done the will of God with patience...vs 36
13. It tells of a people that does not draw back...vs 38-39
When you look at all these verses it is impossible for one to fall away from Christ successfully. It does not mean that we want sin, it does not mean that we want skip church, it does not mean we want have all manner of sins in our hearts, it does not mean that we want be ashamed of Christ at some time or other in our life...
It is my firm conviction that it is talking about the LORD dealing with his people is discipline... So why should we consider the living GOD?
I... ESTABLISH THAT HE IS THE LIVING GOD...
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1st. Moses proclaims it: Deuteronomy 5:26 For who [is there of] all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we [have], and lived?
2nd. Joshua encourages his people with the truth of the living God: Joshua 3:10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God [is] among you, and [that] he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
3rd. David before the men just before he kills the giant ..1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
Again David said..
Psalm 84:2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
4th. The great preacher Jeremiah said...Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
5th. Simeon Peter professed his faith in this living God: John 6:68‑69 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
6th. The church is the living Gods : 1Tim3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
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II.. Why Consider This Living God?
1st. Because of his fiery indignation...vs 27
Note the severity of it...Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Once the fiery anger of the Lord is kindled against his people for disobedience or some other sins nothing will cause him to show mercy only his judgement..
2nd. Because of his vengeance..vs 30
Paul is quoting from the writings of Moses...
Deuteronomy 32:35‑36 To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. 36 For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left.
David said: Psalm 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
3rd. Because it is fearful thing to fall into his hand...vs 31
Jesus said we were in the Fathers hand...John 10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand. Meaning we can not fall out of his hand and no one can take us out, but we can fall into his hand of discipline.
4th. Because of what he has done for them and us...
(1.) He has illuminated us..vs 32
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The word illuminated means: to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge..this is what the Lord has done for us his people.
About ourselves...sinners like the publican be merciful to me a sinner. About our saviour...he is the life and the light of our souls.. About his grace and kindness.. For by his grace we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves. About his word.. he has given us the Bible to instruct us, the guide us, to enlighten us, to build us up in the most holy faith, correct us, to discipline us, to give us hope, to assure us and a thousand more things...
(2.) He has given us companions in difficulty...vs 33
This my friends is the fellowship of the brethren and the sisters. It is a company of faithful believers in Christ in his work and in his church..what blessing it is to have such a fine group of people to call companions comrades we are..
Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
(3.) He has given us better and enduring substance in heaven..vs 34
1 Peter 1:3‑5 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
It is an inheritance...that cannot corrupt, that can be defiled, that can not fade away, that cannot be canceled. What is this inheritance, Jesus said it was a mansion, Peter further said...
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
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Paul said that we were heirs and joint heirs with Christ.. So whatever that is , it is ours by divine inspired promise from the Lord. Vs 35-36 It is great reward...
Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
What great privileges we have as the children of God, and we should never consider giving up, looking back, going back, after all that the Lord has done for you and I.
All is this is done...
Vs 38 “by faith’
vs 39 “ be enduring”