Enduring Faith… (4 points)

• 1^st – Do not keep sinning… vs. 26
  • The FOURTH of FIVE warnings in the book of Hebrews…
    • FIRST warning – was the DANGER of not listening – lest we DRIFT AWAY – Hebrews 2:1-4
    • SECOND warning – was about the DANGER of a HARD HEART – Hebrews 3:7-19
    • THIRD warning – was the DANGER of not MATURING – Hebrews 6:4-8
    • Now we come to the FOURTH warning – do NOT keep sinning!
  • 1^st – If we WILLFULLY sin… vs. 26
    • If we sin willful after we have received the knowledge of the truth… 
    • What happens to those who WILLFULLY sin…
    • WILLFUL – voluntary – meaning no one is making us do it – it is a CHOICE…
    • SIN – [present / active] – continual / habitual SINNING – a lifestyle of SIN!
    • Galatians 5:19-21 – “When you follow [CHOOSE] the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality… jealousy – outbursts of anger – selfish ambition… drunkenness… and other sins LIKE these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.” [NLT]
  • 2^nd – A WARNING to UNBELIEVERS…
    • A CONTROVERSIAL verse – WHO is the author is talking about…
    • The FIRST view is that it is a WARNING to UNBELIEVERS!
    • There are those who believe ONCE saved ALWAYS saved…
    • They point to the verses – No man can take you out of My hand – John 10:28
    • Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus – Romans 8:39
    • Arguing that we are BORN again – and there is no way to be UNBORN – John 3:3
    • Therefore – this WARNING is written to UNBELIEVERS!
    • Which there is no DOUBT – UNBELIEVERS – will NOT go to heaven!
    • John 3:18 – “He who does not BELIEVE is condemned already, because he has NOT believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
  • 3^rd – A WARNING to BELIEVERS…
    • RECEIVED – [aorist / active] – suggesting someone has not just HEARD – they BELIEVED…
      • KNOWLEDGE – [ἐπίγνωσις] – COMPLETE knowledge of THE truth!
      • This would seem to indicate this is a WARNING to those who are SAVED!
      • If we CALL ourselves Christians – but are CONTINUALLY sinning – are we really saved…
      • Our lives after we believe in Jesus should be different – changed…
      • If we are still acting like (or worse) than the world around us – where is Jesus…
      • Do we live in WILLFUL sin – ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives…
      • Or are we running to Jesus – not overcome by sin – but seeking His Grace to transform us!
      • If we are wondering where our walk with the Lord is – we should examine ourselves!
      • II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you.”
    • It is important to NOTE – we all SIN – we make mistakes…
      • That is NOT what this is talking about – it means CHOOSING to LIVE in SIN!
      • I John 3:9 – “Whoever has been born of God does not [continue to] sin…”
      • As believers – if we sin – there should be remorse / confession / repentance…
      • If there is NO remorse – NO repentance for sin – there is good reason for concern…
      • We CANNOT say we are saved and CONTINUE to live in unrepentant sin!
  • 4^th – NO more sacrifice…
    • There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…
    • REMAINS [present / passive / indicative] – there is NOTHING left to PAY for our sin!
    • Matthew 12:31 – “Every sin… will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will NOT be forgiven men.”
    • All sins can be FORGIVEN – with the exception the BLASPHEMY of the Holy Spirit…
    • This verse has caused a LOT of confusion / questions – what is the UNFORGIVABLE sin!
    • If we WILLFULLY sin- continually ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit – John 16:8
    • HARDENING our hearts and refusing to receive the SALVATION offered by Jesus…
    • Then there is NO HOPE of salvation for us – there is only ONE way to heaven…
    • The unforgivable sin is to die without knowing Jesus as our personal Savior!

• 2^nd – Expect JUDGEMENT… vs. 27-31
  • 1^st – CERTAIN judgement… vs. 27
    • Since there NO longer remains a sacrifice to pay for their SINS…
    • All that is left is the certain JUDGEMENT – standing before Jesus – John 5:22
    • For those who are NOT forgiven – all that is left is the JUDGEMENT – Romans 6:23
  • 2^nd – FEARFUL judgment… vs. 27
    • FEARFUL [φοβερὰ] – 3x in NT (all in Hebrews) – TERRIFYING expectation…
    • The last thing they ever see will be God on His throne – Revelation 20:11
    • Then cast into the Lake of Fire – created for satan and his angels – Matthew 25:41
    • Revelation 20:10 – “The lake of fire and brimstone… tormented day and night forever…”
    • This is the Second Death – ETERNAL separation from God…
    • There is NO purgatory – there are NO second chances – NO hope of release…
    • They are left to weep and gnash for ETERNITY with NO hope – NO salvation!
    • Matthew 8:12 – “Outer darkness… weeping [sorrow] and gnashing of teeth [angry].”
  • 3^rd – FIERY judgement… vs. 27
    • A fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries…
    • ADVERSARIES – 2x in NT – to be opposed to – in CONTEXT opposed to God…
    • God will DEVOUR [eat] all who are OPPOSED to Him in FIRE [hell]!
    • But that DOES not have to be our FATE – we do not have to be OPPOSED to God…
    • Instead God can DEVOUR our sin – that is OPPOSED to us!
    • The answer to the FEARFUL judgement – NAIL our SINS to the cross! 
    • Colossians 2:14 – “[Jesus] canceled the record of the charges AGAINST US [same word] and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” [NLT]
  • 4^th – SEVERE judgement… vs. 28-29
    • Anyone who has rejected Moses law dies without mercy…
      • Law of Moses – referring to the 613 commands given to Israel…
      • If any REJECTS [aorist] those LAWS – meaning breaking even ONE law – James 2:10
      • They are [present] – up to this very time – worthy to be put to death without MERCY!
      • And all that takes is the TESTIMONY of two or three witnesses!
      • Deuteronomy 17:6 – “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses…”
    • Of how much WORSE punishment…
      • Those who broke the OLD covenant were judged – without MERCY…
      • How much WORSE a punishment is deserved – for those who break the NEW covenant!
      • Emphasizing just how BAD this is – and why it DEMANDS a more SEVERE judgment…
      • The Author gives us THREE descriptions of what happens when we WILLFULLY sin!
    • Trampled underfoot the Son of God…
      • God wants EVERYONE to be saved – ALL to go to heaven – II Peter 3:9
      • Therefore Jesus placed Himself between us and the JUDGEMENT…
      • The ONLY way to get to HELL – is to walk over Jesus!
    • [Count] the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing…
      • SANCTIFIED [aorist / passive] – to have been SET apart for God…
      • Again emphasizing that this is addressing BELIEVERS…
      • COMMON – [κοινός] – ordinary – nothing special…
      • If someone gave us a priceless vase – worth billions – and we used it mop our floors…
      • What does that say about the VALUABLE gift we had been given!
      • The ONLY way for our SINS to be forgiven – through the BLOOD of Jesus – I Peter 1:19
      • If we continue WILLFULLY sinning – we are saying His BLOOD was NOT very special…
      • Making light of the HUGE price it took to PAY for the debt of our sin!
    • Insulted the Spirit of grace…
      • No matter how much we sin – no matter what sin – Grace covers it – Romans 5:20
      • Why not go ahead and sin a lot – we will still get to heaven – covered by grace…
      • The reason is because in doing so we INSULT the Holy Spirit within us…
      • Who is working to constantly to convict us – lead us to live a Godly life!
      • Romans 6:1 – “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound… God forbid.”
  • 5^th – KNOWN judgement… vs. 30-31
    • For we KNOW [to see] Him who said…
      • Vengeance is mine says the Lord – Deuteronomy 32:35
      • God will judge His people – Deuteronomy 32:36
      • Meaning the judgement of God does NOT come as a SURPRISE…
      • From the OLD Testament – all the way through the NEW – we have been WARNED!
    • It is a FEARFUL [φοβερὰ] thing to FALL into the hands of a LIVING God…
      • FALL – [ἐμπίπτω] – to fall among robbers…
      • Same root word used in – Luke 10:30 – good Samaritan fell among thieves…
      • The word carries the idea of coming upon something unpredictably!
      • We do NOT know when the DAY will come – when we will have to stand BEFORE God!
      • If we gamble with our ETERNITY – and chose to live in WILLFUL sin…
      • We run the risk of coming unexpectedly to that FEARFUL DAY!
      • Because there are only two kinds of people when it comes to God…
      • Wise sinners who feared the Lord and saw their need for Jesus – and those who did not…
      • For those who reject Jesus – they will FALL into the hands of a LIVING God!

• 3^rd – Looking back … vs. 32-34
  • RECALL the former days…
    • RECALL – [present / imperative] – we are COMMANDED to CONSTANTLY remember…
    • Seeing how IMPORTANT it is for us to NOT live in WILLFUL sin…
    • We are COMMANDED to LOOK back and REMEMBER the PAST [former days] …
    • When we look BACK – we see FOUR things that can help us OVERCOME sin!
  • 1^st – Life is NOT meant to be easy… vs. 32
    • After you were illuminated – you endured a great struggle with sufferings… 
    • ILLUMINATED – [φωτίζω] – to see the LIGHT – AFTER we were SAVED…
    • Life was NOT easy – we went through a GREAT FIGHT with sufferings!
    • ENDURE – [ὑπομένω] – to be PATIENT – from the root word ABIDE – John 15:4
    • We often assume bad things only happen to bad people – you get what you deserve…
    • But the truth is God lets BAD things happen to GOOD people – those whom He LOVES…
    • Because it is in the hard times of life we cry out – and learn to ABIDE in Jesus!
  • 2^nd – The world hates us… vs. 33
    • Partly – while you were made a SPECTACLE both by reproaches and tribulations… 
    • SPECTACLE – [θεατρίζω] – only here NT – to be put on a STAGE / THEATRE…
    • We are put to SHAME [reproaches] and are CRUSHED [tribulations] …
    • Because the World HATES the one who is in us – John 15:18
    • If we did the things the world does – they would embrace us / love us…
    • If we got drunk with them / if we joined in the gambling / passed on the latest gossip…
    • The world would embrace us – because are joining in with them – justifying them…
    • As we desire to live and stand for Jesus – we will feel the brunt of the hate of the world…
    • But no attack – no comment – nothing here can compare with what is to come!
  • 3^rd – We are NOT alone… vs. 33-34
    • Partly while you became companions of those who were so treated…
    • You had compassion on me in my chains… 
    • Even if we are not PERSONALLY suffering – at the moment – we see others who are…
    • The reference to CHAINS here – may show the author of this book was PAUL!
    • So often in life we think our problems are the WORSE than everyone else…
    • No one could possibly be going through anything more difficult…
    • But it turns out challenges we face in life – are things we ALL go through!
    • I Corinthians 10:13 – “The temptations in your life are no different from others.”
  • 4^th – Our rewards is in heaven… vs. 34
    • Joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods – knowing that you have a better…
    • And an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven…
    • There is NOTHING on this earth that can be compares to heaven!
    • Our faith – is also not about a better life here and now…
    • If we are looking for temporal rewards in return for our obedience to Christ…
    • We might very well be disappointed – God promises us tribulation here – John 16:33
    • Our FAITH is about a BETTER eternal life – we are looking to heaven!
    • II Corinthians 4:17-18 – “Our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!”

We will also continue ENDURING – waiting for the PROMISE of heaven!

4^th – Looking forward … vs. 35-39

Therefore – do NOT cast away your confidence…

CAST AWAY – [subjunctive] – to throw away – in CONTEXT to abandon our SALVATION…

Seeing how IMPORTANT it is for us to NOT live in WILLFUL sin…

We are ENCOURAGED to LOOK FORWARD to the FUTURE…

When we look FORWARD – we see TWO things that can keep us from ABANDONING the Lord!

1^st – GREAT reward… vs. 35-37

Which has great reward – for you have need of endurance…

So that after you have done the will of God…

ENDURANCE – [ὑπομένω] – we need to be PATIENT – waiting for our great REWARD…

To do the WILL of God – what is the will of God…

I Peter 3:7 – “It is the will of God, to suffer for doing good…”

[So we] may receive the promise…

RECEIVE – [subjunctive] – if we are PATIENT – we will RECEIVE the PROMISE!

How many of us have worked hard – suffered – only to get paid a small wage…

And the money we did receive did not even last very long – we had to work again!

How much better to suffer for a little while – but get an everlasting reward!

I Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard… what God has prepared…”

2^nd – Pleasing the Lord… vs. 38-39

What is the PROMISE God has given – Habakkuk 2:3-4

For yet a little while – and [Jesus] who is coming will come and will not tarry…

The just shall live by faith – But if anyone draws back – My soul has no pleasure in him…

Jesus is COMING in a LITTLE [μικρόν] while – He will NOT take much time!

But when He comes what will He find us doing – LIVING by FAITH…

Or DRAWING back – hesitate to STAND up for Jesus – He has no PLEASURE in them!

There are many who will not endure – many who will walk away…

They fall away – stop coming to church / stop reading the Bible / give up on Jesus…

Because their focus was not on the eternal – they will not receive the Promise!

Luke 18:8 – “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

But we are [indicative] NOT those who DRAW back…

We are those who have FAITH – to the saving of our SOUL!

Having given the FOURTH warning – the author shared his assurance…

We are NOT those who will DRAW back – because we have FAITH in Jesus…

FAITH – that just as we have ENDURED in the past – looking to Jesus…