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Lesson 6: Christianity Has a Worthy Expectation: A Sustaining Faith (10:19-13:25)--Part 1. Admonitions and motivations (10:19-12:11) Admonition : Let us draw near to God with full assurance of faith. Motivation : Christ has opened the way and traveled it before us.
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Lesson 6: Christianity Has a Worthy Expectation: A Sustaining Faith(10:19-13:25)--Part 1 • Admonitions and motivations(10:19-12:11) • Admonition: Let us draw near to God with full assurance of faith. Motivation: Christ has opened the way and traveled it before us. • Admonition: Hold fast the profession of faith. Motivation: The object of our faith is faithful. • Admonition: Encourage one another to be faithful. Motivation: There is no other escape of punishment. • Admonition: Sustain your original confidence and persevere. Motivation: Your endurance will bring reward. • Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous. Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime.
Admonition: Let us draw near to God with full assurance of faith.Motivation: Christ has opened the way and traveled it before us. (Heb 10:19 NKJV) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Heb 10:20 NKJV) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, (Heb 10:21 NKJV) and havinga High Priest over the house of God, (Heb 10:22 NKJV) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. • Having what two things should motivate a Christian to feel confident approaching God? (10:19-21) • How do we have access to God to be able to “draw near” to Him? (10:20) • Who is already in the presence of God? (10:21, 4:14)
Admonition: Let us draw near to God with full assurance of faith.Motivation: Christ has opened the way and traveled it before us. (Cont’d) (Heb 10:19-20 NKJV) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, (Heb 10:21 NKJV) and havinga High Priest over the house of God, (Heb 10:22 NKJV) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. • Which “veil” was a barrier that prevented the people from drawing near to God? (Lev. 16, Matt. 27:51) • Which “veil” enabled people to draw near to God? (10:20) • To what do the “sprinkling” and “washing” refer? (10:22, Lev. 16)
Admonition: Hold fast the profession of faith.Motivation: The object of our faith is faithful. (Heb 10:23 NKJV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. • Why should Christians have an unwavering faith (in Christ)? (Heb. 6:18, 10:23) • How do Christians show that they are “holding fast” to their confession/profession?
Admonition: Encourage one another to be faithful.Motivation: There is no other escape of punishment. (Heb 10:26-27 NKJV) For if we sin willfully [go on sinning, NASB] after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. …. (Heb 10:30-31 NKJV) For we know Him who said, ” “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. • Can those who do not comply with the terms of forgiveness based on the sacrifice of Christ… • … return to the Law of Moses for forgiveness? (9:9, 10:1-4) • … expect another means of forgiveness? (Acts 4:12)
Admonition: Encourage one another to be faithful.Motivation: There is no other escape of punishment. (Cont’d) (Heb 10:24 NKJV) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (Heb 10:25 NKJV) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:26 NKJV) For if we sin willfully [go on sinning, NASB] after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins • If there is no alternative means of salvation for anyone, what should we do? (10:24) • What is one method we should use for doing that? (10:25)
Admonition: Encourage one another to be faithful.Motivation: There is no other escape of punishment. (Cont’d) (Heb 10:29 NKJV) Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? • How does a Christian trample Jesus underfoot? • How does a Christian show a lack of proper respect for the “blood of the covenant”? • How does a Christian fail to show the proper appreciation of God’s grace?
Admonition: Sustain your original confidence and persevere.Motivation: Your endurance will bring reward. (Heb 10:32-33 NKJV) But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; (Heb 10:34 NKJV) for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. • In what two ways had the Hebrew Christians shown faithfulness and courage right after conversion? (10:32-33, 10:34)
Admonition: Sustain your original confidence and persevere.Motivation: Your endurance will bring reward. (Cont’d) (Heb 10:34 NKJV) … knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. (Heb 10:35 NKJV) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. (Heb 10:36 NKJV) For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: • What was it that had motivated those to whom Hebrews is written to endure suffering? (10:34) • What should be their current motive to endure? (10:36)
Admonition: Sustain your original confidence and persevere.Motivation: Your endurance will bring reward. (Cont’d) (Heb 10:38 NKJV) Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." • What is the alternative to living by faith? (II Cor. 5:7) (2 Cor 5:7 NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight. Explain the difference. • When we walk by faith, what do we let direct our lives? (Rom. 10:17) (Note the emphasis in chapter 11 on believing in the unseen.)
Admonition: Sustain your original confidence and persevere.Motivation: Your endurance will bring reward. (Cont’d) (Heb 10:35 NKJV) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. (Heb 10:36 NKJV) For you have need ofendurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: …. (Heb 10:38 NKJV) Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." (Heb 10:39 NKJV) But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. • What admonition does the writer give them? (10:35-36) • Why was it important for them to heed this admonition? (10:35, 36, 38, 39) Verses 35-36 are the key theme of Hebrews.
Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous.Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime. (Heb 11:1 NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. • The Greek word for “substance” is translated “confidence” in 3:14. (Heb 3:14 NKJV) For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, • Several translations give “conviction” instead of “evidence.” (Heb 11:1 ASV) … a conviction of things not seen. (Heb 11:1 NASB) … the conviction of things not seen. • Hence a possible translation is: Faith is confidence in things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous.Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime. (Cont’d) Faith is confidence in things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. • In what way did each of the following have confidence in a hoped-for reward because they were able to be convicted (convinced) of something they had never seen? • Noah (11:7) • Abraham (11:8-10) • Abraham (11:17-19) • Joseph (11:22) • Moses (11:23-27) • Moses (11:28) • Joshua (11:30)
Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous.Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime. (Cont’d) (Heb 11:39 NKJV) And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, • From whom did the men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 obtain a good testimony? (11:39) • How did the Hebrews know about their approval? • What is especially remarkable about their faith? (11:39)
Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous.Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime. (Cont’d) (Heb 12:1 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, • How should the examples of faith from Hebrew history affect the Hebrews? (12:1)
Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous.Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime. (Cont’d) (Heb 12:2 NKJV) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:3 NKJV) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. • Who was a particularly good example of persevering even through the enduring of suffering? (12:2-3) Note: the joy for Jesus was beyond the suffering-- just like the reward had been for the Hebrew heroes and would be for the recipients of this letter and will be for us!
Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous.Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime. (Cont’d) (Heb 12:5 NKJV) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; (Heb 12:6 NKJV) For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." (Heb 12:7 NKJV) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (Heb 12:8 NKJV) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. • Whom does God chasten? (12:5-8)
Admonition: Endure tests and chastenings of God, which train you to be righteous.Motivation: Your Godly predecessors were faithful without receiving their promised reward in their lifetime. (Cont’d) (Heb 12:9 NKJV) Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? (Heb 12:10 NKJV) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. (Heb 12:11 NKJV) Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. • Are the chastenings of the Lord pleasant? (12:11) • What is the desired outcome of His chastenings? (12:10-11)