TEACHING NOTES Introduction In the last several weeks we’ve been learning about the devotion or faithfulness of the early church in the book of Acts. In this series we’ve learned that God expects the same kind of devotion for everyone who wants to be a disciple of Jesus. In the Bible, there is no such thing as casual faith. Faithfulness is not on a spectrum. We’re either faithful or unfaithful. Last week we learned the blessings of being devoted. Today, we’re going to learn the consequences of being unfaithful. ‌ Acts 2:42 ESV 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ‌ Devoted = Grk. proskarterountes - to stick close, be faithful, hold fast, continue. The book of Acts is the historical record, written by Luke, about the devotion or faithfulness of the first generation of Christians. ‌ Four Areas of Devotion: ‌1. Teaching - being students of God’s Word. ‌2. Fellowship - sharing resources, responsibility, accountability. ‌3. Communion - participation in Christ’s sacrifice. ‌4. Worship - gathering to meet with God. ‌ The Book of Hebrews: Most of the New Testament is made up of letters between the apostles and various churches. Hebrews is actually not a letter but a written sermon. Most modern scholars say that the author is unknown. The most ancient view is that Hebrews is a sermon from Paul that was written down by Luke. In the most ancient collections of Paul’s letters, Hebrews was always included. This means that the ancient church believed that Hebrews contained the words of Paul. This sermon contains some of the most rich insights into how Christ fulfills the Old Testament. Hebrews also contains some of the most stern warnings against being unfaithful. ‌ Hebrews 10:19–21 ESV 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ‌ Confidence to enter the holy places = In the Old Testament tabernacle/temple, only the high priest was allowed in the holy place, and he was only allowed in the most holy place (holy of holies) once a year. These “holy places” were where the presence of God dwelt. In the New Testament, Christ has become our high priest and invites us into the presence of God continually. ‌ By the blood of Jesus = In the tabernacle, blood represented life and was a symbol of purity. When a sacrifice was made, the tabernacle was purified by the blood. In the sacrifice of Jesus, His blood is now applied to the new tabernacle which is His people. ‌ The curtain = In the tabernacle, a curtain separated the people from the presence of God. This curtain kept people from walking into God’s powerful presence and being consumed. However, when Jesus was crucified the curtain in the temple, which was around 60 feet tall, was torn from the top to the bottom. God was showing that the separation between God and humanity had been removed. ‌ A great priest = The Greek says, “a mega priest.” Jesus is not just our high priest, He is the greatest priest to ever exist. Jesus sits at God’s right hand to mediate and intercede for His people. He has atoned for our sin “once for all” (Heb. 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:10) and continues advocate for us. ‌ The house of God = In the Old Testament, the tabernacle/temple was the house of God. In the New Testament, those who are faithful to Christ are the house of God. Hebrews 3:6 says, “but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” ‌ What should we do in light of all that Good News? ‌ Hebrews 10:22–23 ESV 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ‌ Draw near = Grk. proserchomai - This verb is in present tense, meaning we’re called to draw near or keep coming back to be with God continually. Drawing near to God is not a one time event, but an ongoing desire and action. ‌ With a true heart = Authentic or sincere motivation. ‌ Full assurance of faith = This can also be translated, “in the full assurance that faithfulness brings.” Faithfulness gives us assurance that we are accepted and in good relationship with God. Unfaithfulness leads us to feel far from God. ‌ The faithful draw near to God. The unfaithful avoid God. ‌ Sprinkled clean = The book of Hebrews is actually a sermon where the preacher/teacher is explaining Old Testament concepts and how they are fulfilled in Christ. Being “sprinkled” and “washed” is language from the tabernacle/temple. God’s house was purified with the blood of the sacrifice and those who were “drawing near” to God were cleansed with water. Our allegiance (faithfulness) to Christ purifies us by His own blood. Baptism is the visual symbol of this reality. ‌ Hold fast = Grk. katechomen - continue, remain, be faithful. ‌ The confession of our hope = The Greek word for “confession” (homologia) refers to allegiance expressed by action. Our hope is grounded in our faithfulness or allegiance to Jesus. This is not merely a verbal or mental allegiance, but action or good works. ‌ Without wavering = In our culture that is filled with distractions, many Christians waver in and out of their faith and the church. This is not an issue of convenience, but an issue of allegiance and commitment. Wavering is an indication that a person’s priorities are out of order. ‌ For he who promised is faithful = This is the motivation behind our faithfulness. We are not striving to be faithful for selfish reasons. We are striving to be faithful because it is the required response of God’s faithfulness toward us. Faithfulness is our way of showing God that we love Him and want to know Him more. ‌ Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 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. ‌ Stir up one another = Faithfulness is a family effort. We need each other in order to stay faithful. Because every believer faces temptations and pressures to waver, we need to be encouraged and even disciplined by our church family. A church that is unwilling to stir up one another will be plagued by casual faith or unfaithfulness. ‌ Not neglecting to meet together = Remember that in verse 22 the context of this paragraph is about drawing near to God. That is exactly what the church gathering should be all about. We gather to draw near to God together. Neglecting the gathering is neglecting to meet with God. ‌ The Day drawing near = As we get closer to the return of Christ every day, we must be more and more faithful. Why? Because the Bible clearly states that things are going to get worse before Christ returns. Staying faithful is going to get more difficult as the world around us gets worse. As “the Day” draws near we need to gather together to meet with God all the more. ‌ Hebrews 10:26–27 ESV 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ‌ Go on sinning deliberately = Grk. gar ego hekousios hamartano - Literally, “For if we keep on living in sin on purpose.” This is not referring to sins that you have repented of, but refers to sins you refuse to repent of. The Old Testament calls this “high-handed sins” or “intentional sins.” We must understand that God knows we will sin and has always provided a way to repent and be forgiven. Sin followed by repentance is forgiven, but unrepentant sin is a serious problem. ‌ After receiving knowledge of the truth = Going on living in sin when you know better is considered a deliberate rejection of God’s Word, which is a rejection of truth. Since Jesus called Himself “the Truth” unrepentant sin is a rejection of Christ. ‌ No more sacrifice for sins = In the Old Testament, God provided a way to repent and be forgiven through offering a sacrifice. The death of the animal symbolized the death of the sin the person had committed. It was a visible way to show your repentance by participating in the sacrifice. In the New Testament, Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for sin. He is the way of repentance, in which we participate when we repent and take Communion. Outside of repentance and our participation in Christ’s sacrifice, there is no other way of forgiveness. ‌ Fearful expectation of judgment = The Greek phrase is literally, “but fearful and certain expectation of judgment.” The author is portraying judgment as a certain fact. Fear of judgment is not always negative, because it can drive us to repentance. As Proverbs says, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7). A God who judges and disciplines evil is a good God. ‌ Fire to consume the adversaries = Jesus taught that the eternal fire was created for the devil and his demons (Matt. 25:41). But if we refuse to repent and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus, we are joining the devil’s team and will join in his punishment. ‌ Those who are faithful practice continual repentance. The common practice of “casual Christianity” is to take advantage of God’s grace. Instead of living a repentant life, they go on living in disobedience with the attitude that God’s grace will cover it. However, God’s grace and forgiveness is only offered to those who repent. Faithful followers of Jesus practice continual repentance. They will still sin, but they repent and refuse to live in sin. ‌ Hebrews 10:28–29 ESV 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 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? ‌ Anyone who set aside the law of Moses = The author is referring back to the penalty of rejecting the laws of the Torah about sin and repentance. We must remember that the Torah was given to Israel to give them a way to repent, be forgiven, and stay close to God. Any Israelite who rejected the Torah was rejecting the only way of forgiveness. To set aside the commands of God was to set aside your relationship with God. ‌ How much worse punishment = The author of Hebrews is crushing the modern idea that God changed how He deals with sin in the new covenant. Judgment for unrepentant sin was not diminished in the New Testament, but actually increased. Why? Because the old covenant was the for the nation of Israel. The new covenant is for the whole world. The old covenant was temporary, while the new covenant is eternal. The old covenant was meant to point to Christ. The new covenant makes us all accountable to Christ. The punishment for rejecting Christ is worse. ‌ Trampled the Son of God = To live in unrepentant sin is to trample the Son of God. This may seem harsh, but it is not an exaggeration. Jesus willingly put Himself on a cross to provide repentance and forgiveness to the world. If we reject His sacrifice by continuing in disobedience, we are spitting on the cross. ‌ Profaned the blood of the covenant = The Old Testament taught that life was in the blood. Jesus shed His blood to forgive our sin, save us from death, and cleanse us. His blood covers our sin and brings us into the new covenant. His blood is most holy and must never be profaned. The Greek phrase is koinos hegeomai, which literally means “to regard as common.” Common or regular is the opposite of holy. To live in unrepentant sin is to treat the blood of Christ as common. ‌ Outraged the Spirit of grace = Notice the irony here. The Spirit of grace is outraged. The Spirit wants to give us grace so that there will be no wrath. But when we live in disobedience, we grieve or outrage the Spirit of God who wants to forgive us. It is the Spirit that helps us realize our sin and lead us to repentance. If we refuse to repent, we are rejecting the Spirit of God. ‌ Hebrews 10:30–31 ESV 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ‌ Vengeance is mine = This is a quote from Deut. 32:35, where God is warning Israel that He will bring wrath on His people if they refuse to obey. ‌ The Lord will judge his people = Quoted from Deut. 32:36. Notice that the judgment is for God’s people, not unbelieving pagans. The Bible is clear that God holds His people accountable. If we claim to have a relationship with God, we must realize that we are His children. A good Father will discipline His children. The only way to avoid judgment is faithfulness. ‌ Fearful to fall into the hands of God = The hands of God are only fearful if we are disobedient. If we are faithful, the hands of God are our refuge and rest. ‌ Hebrews 10:35–36 ESV 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ‌ Confidence = The context of this passage is “confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19) and being faithful to “draw near.” When we’re unfaithful, we have no confidence to draw near to God. We shrink back and avoid our relationship with God when we know we’re unfaithful. ‌ Which has great reward = Faithfulness is greatly rewarded by God. In Revelation, Jesus promises repeatedly that those who are faithful to the end will be rewarded (Rev. 2:7, 10-11, 17, 25-28; 3:5, 11-12, 21). ‌ You have need of endurance = Why? Because life is tough and we live in a sin-filled world. Temptation is everywhere we look. We need confidence to draw near to God and the endurance to stay faithful. Why? Because faithful endurance keep us close to our heavenly Father. ‌ When you have done the will of God = We can only “receive what is promised” if we have done the will of God. The will of God, both in the old and new covenant, is to remain faithful. Only the faithful are promised to be rewarded. The unfaithful are promised judgment. ‌ Hebrews 10:37–38 ESV 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” ‌ Quote from Habakkuk = Habakkuk 2:3–4 “3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” ‌ The righteous one shall live by faith = Literally, “the righteous will live by faithfulness.” Faithfulness is righteousness. This principle is first taught in the story of Abraham whose faithfulness was considered righteousness (Gen. 15:6; James 2:21-24). ‌ If he shrinks back = Grk. hypostello - withdraw, avoid. This word is the opposite of apostello, which is the word for apostle (sent one). The apostles were close with Jesus during His earthly ministry and afterward through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The opposite of “drawing near” to God in close relationship is hypostello or drawing away from God. ‌ Hebrews 10:39 ESV 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. ‌ Not of those who shrink back = In the first few centuries of the church, persecution pressured believers to “shrink back” and stop following Jesus. The author of Hebrews is encouraging these persecuted believers to remain faithful. ‌ Those who have faith = Literally, “those who have faithfulness.” ‌ Preserve their souls = This could also be translated, “experience life” or “preserve life.” The soul is what makes us alive, so “soul” is often translated “life.” Eternal life is the result of faithfulness to Jesus. ‌ Conclusion ‌Today we respond with a time of confession, repentance, and celebration. After we repent, we draw near through Communion to participate in Christ’s sacrifice and celebrate our forgiveness. So let’s deal with our sin, celebrate our forgiveness, and pray that God will help us to remain faithful.