02 26-12 - the individual warning of salvation (for web)

The Individual Warning of Salvation

Heb 10:26-39

Parable of the Sower Matthew 13

PathwayRocky Soil

Thorny SoilGood Soil

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

The Word goes forth, but gets

snatched away and trodden underfoot

The Word is joyfully received, but finds no root, and withers as

soon as troubles arise

The Word is received, and growth is

apparent, but it “proves unfruitful”

when choked by cares of this world

The Word takes root and grows

to maturity, bringing forth fruit in varying

abundance

The book of Hebrews, written to a people outcast by two societies

(Jewish & Greco-Roman),is a call to affirm a new community –

those who routinely “draw near” in confidence to Godwhile awaiting the return of their Savior

& the revelation of their ultimate salvation.

Present Reality

Future Reality

Present Reality

Future Reality

a new communitywho routinely “draws near”

while waiting

The danger is that, instead of drawing near, they would– Drift away (2:1)– Go astray (3:10)– Fall away (3:12 / 6:6)– Turn away (12:25)– Be led away (13:9)– Throw away (10:35)– Shrink back (10:39)– Be defiled (12:15)– Consider God’s Word insignificant, and therefore,

incapable of bringing them to completion (4:1)– Fail to obtain God’s grace (12:15) – Fail to enter God’s rest (4:6, 11)

Instead, awaiting the future, they are encouraged to:

– Hold their original confidence firm to the end (3:14)– Hold fast their confession (4:14)– Have the full assurance of hope until the end (6:11)– Hold fast to the hope set before them (6:18)– Hold fast the confession of their hope (10:23)– Stir up one another (10:24)– Encourage one another (10:25)– Embrace endurance to accomplish God’s will and

receive God’s promise (10:36)– Run with endurance the race before them (12:2)– Bear the reproach Christ endured (13:13)

Instead, awaiting the future, they are encouraged to:

– Hold their original confidence firm to the end (3:14)– Hold fast their confession (4:14)– Have the full assurance of hope until the end (6:11)– Hold fast to the hope set before them (6:18)– Hold fast the confession of their hope (10:23)– Stir up one another (10:24)– Encourage one another (10:25)– Embrace endurance to accomplish God’s will and

receive God’s promise (10:36)– Run with endurance the race before them (12:2)– Bear the reproach Christ endured (13:13)

The author strategically moves the audience to see no middle ground between pressing on to the goal and falling away.

– DeSilva, 220

Warning Passages in HebrewsPassage Text Picture

2:1-4

3:7-18

6:4-8

10:26-31

12:25-39


2:1-4How shall we escape if we

neglect such a great salvation?

3:7-18

6:4-8

10:26-31

12:25-39




An anchorless ship that “drifts away”

3:7-18

6:4-8

10:26-31

12:25-39





3:7-18Take care, lest there be in any

of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away

from the living God

6:4-8

10:26-31

12:25-39







from the living God

Hard hearts the result in dead bodies that “fall away”

6:4-8

10:26-31

12:25-39







from the living God


6:4-8It is impossible, in the case of those once enlightened and then fallen away, to restore them again to repentance

10:26-31

12:25-39







from the living God



Thorn-bearing field, “near to being cursed,”

ready to be “burned”

10:26-31

12:25-39







from the living God





10:26-31If we go on sinning

deliberately…how much more punishment will be deserved

12:25-39







from the living God







A “fury of fire that consumes”

12:25-39







from the living God








12:25-39See that you do not refuse

Him who is speaking, for if they did not escape,

much less will we







from the living God








12:25-39See that you do not refuse

Him who is speaking, for if they did not escape,

much less will weA “consuming fire”

Review of 6:4-8

Flow of text

It is impossible . . .– In the case of those who have:

• Been enlightened• Tasted of the heavenly gift• Shared in the Holy Spirit• Tasted the goodness of the Word of God• Tasted the powers of the age to come• Fallen away

. . . to renew them (those in this case) unto repentance• Reason• Illustration

Flow of text


• Been enlightened• Tasted of the heavenly gift• Shared in the Holy Spirit• Tasted the goodness of the Word of God• Tasted the powers of the age to come• Fallen away (to abandon relationship/act faithlessly – 4x in Ezk)

. . . to renew them (those in this case) unto repentance• Reason• Illustration

To intentionally forsakeTo “sell out”

To “apostasize”

Two Examples

Peter• Denied Christ

amidst intense pressure

• “Fell away” – stumbled

• Went out & wept bitterly

• Reinstated & used greatly

Judas• Decided Christ

wasn’t worth the silver it afforded him to betray Him

• Walked away – “sold out”

• Went out & hanged himself

• Better never born

Both…• Were personally called

by Christ to be disciples• Experienced Christ’s

teaching/explaining• Experienced Christ’s

miracles/healings• Were sent to proclaim

Kingdom–preach/heal• Were with Him at Last

Supper (Kingdom meal)• Denied Christ

Flow of text


• Been enlightened (brought to the light, marks beginning – 10:32)• Tasted of the heavenly gift (experience fully – cf. 2:9)• Shared in the Holy Spirit (“partners” – cf. 1:9 / exper. His work)• Tasted the goodness of the Word of God (gospel, not judgment)• Tasted the powers of the age to come (cf. 2:4 – Cr. doing Θ’s will)• Fallen away (to abandon relationship/act faithlessly – 4x in Ezk)

. . . to renew them (those in this case) unto repentance• Reason – they themselves crucify Christ afresh• Illustration To personally display open contempt

To personally confirm ultimate rejection

Heb 10:26-31 – A Warning• Condition:

– We go on sinning deliberately– After receiving full-knowledge of the truth

• Consequence:– There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins– (What does remain is) a fearful expectation of judgment

• A fury of fire that will consume the adversaries

Heb 10:26-31 – A Warning• Illustration:

– “Setting aside” the Mosaic Law– Death without mercy– Lesser → Greater (How much more . . . !)

• Considerations:– They have spurned the Son of God

Heb 1:1-2

God . . . in these last days

has spoken to us in a Son . . .

Son of God

Son of Man

Son of David

Deity

Humanity

Supremacy

Son of God

Son of Man

Son of David

The One descended from

the Father

The One ascended to the Father

The glorificationof the carnal

The incarnation of the divine

Suffering

ExaltationDesignated High Priest

“Days of His flesh”Under the LawConfirmed w/ Oath

CompassionateForerunner(Like Us!)(Like Him!)

MediatorHigh Priest

Man

GodHoly

The use of hosios in Heb 7:26 is unique. It is used absolutely in the way in which elsewhere it can be used only of God. As high priest, Christ is completely hosios, completely sinless and utterly pure, so that his offering is sufficient, once for all. Acts 2:27 and 13:35 refer to God’s promise not to let His Holy one (hosios) see destruction – a promise not fulfilled in David but only in Christ. By virtue of the resurrection Jesus is the true Holy One.

– NIDNTT

The Holy One

Virtuous in Life

(1 Pet 2:22)

Virtuous in Death(Isa 53:11)

The Holy One of Israel

(Isa 54:5)

The Holy Oneof God(John 6:69)

Resurrected Incarnated

Rejected

MediatorHigh Priest

Man

GodHoly InnocentUnstainedSeparated from sinnersExalted above the heavensNot!

MediatorHigh Priest

Man

GodHoly InnocentUnstainedSeparatedExalted

Son of God

Son of Man

Son of David



• Considerations:– They have spurned the Son of God– They have profaned the blood of the covenant

Rev. 4



• Considerations:– They have spurned the Son of God– They have profaned the blood of the covenant– They have outraged the Spirit of grace

Heb 10:26-31 – A Warning• Condition: Continual deliberate rejection• Consequence: Fiery judgment• Illustration: Lesser → Greater• Considerations:

– Spurning the Son of God– Profaning the blood of the covenant– Outraging the Spirit of grace

• Conclusion:– Quote from Deut 32:36 (song of Moses – cf. 31:19-20)– It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God

“The Living God”The title “the Living God” is generally used throughout Scripture to remind God’s people of the reality greater than the realities we see:

Used in conjunction with . . . • God’s Revelation (Deu 5:25-26 / Jer 23:36)

• God’s Reputation (1 Sam 17:36 / 2 Kgs 19:16)• God’s Presence (Psa 42:1-2 / Psa 84:1-2)• God’s Mission (Mat 16:16 / 1 Tim 4:9-10)

“The Living God”While several books contain this title up to 2 times, the book of Hebrews is without equal in its use of the title 4 times – conveying a specific purpose, and doing so with powerful effect.

• (Heb 12:18-22) For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. . . . But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,

New Revelation = A New RealityIn Christ, man has been brought into God’s immediate Presence


• (Heb 9:14) How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.


This new reality equips us to be an active part of God’s Mission


• (Heb 3:12) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.



The new reality of enjoying God’s presence is not automatic, but requires faith


• (Heb 3:12) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.


• (Heb 10:31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.


An old reality is still in effect:God’s Judgment is still on all who reject Him

Heb 10:32-39 – An Encouragement

cf. 6:9

Yet in your case, beloved, we are sure of better things– things that belong to salvation.


• Reminder: – Actually, an imperative to “remember”– You’ve struggled successfully – v. 32– You’ve professed publically – v. 33– You’ve labored compassionately – v. 34– You’ve suffered joyfully – v. 35


• Reminder: You’ve come so far already!• Exhortation:

– Do not throw away (cast off) your boldness (cf. 10:19)• Reason:

– Endurance is required to arrive at your destination– Obedience is required to receive your reward– Those who truly belong to God operate in this life by faith– Those who abandon faith will be destroyed

• To “shrink back” is literally to let down or pull in the sails

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed,

but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

The justshall live

by faith.

Let faith fill your sail

to bring you safely home

Spiritual

02 26-12 - the individual warning of salvation (for web)