We either advance, like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, or we turn around in apostasy. We are to remember our confidence and persevere to the end to claim the prize.
Scripture: Hebrews 10:25-39
Sermon Notes:
- Biblical truth in the abstract is not enough; we need to apply it and live it.
- The alternative to living faithfully is apostasy: a deliberate and sustained turning away from the truth.
- The Christian faces the constant temptation to turn back and abandon the covenant ratified by the blood of Christ.
- Apostasy is a settled lack of desire to live out the Christian life, a contemptuous and deliberate attitude of hostility to God.
- There is no possibility of neutrality with respect to our response to God and Christ.
- The law of apostasy the writers referred to applied to knowingly and contemptuously rebelling against God’s rule over Israel (Deut.17:2-7).
- Apostasy is not the struggle with sin common to tender-hearted believers. It is a high-handed sin, proudly, deliberately, and continually rejecting the blood of Christ.
- Hebrews 10 emphasizes the privilege and significance of the covenant we have entered into with God in Christ.
- Every covenant involves a law and the shedding of blood.
- In Adam we have all rebelled against God’s covenant; Christ has now shed His blood to restore us to God.
- Having broken covenant with God, we require the blood of Christ which pays the penalty so we might be reconciled.
- Our contemporary culture prefers to see ourselves not as rebels, but as victims under the reign of death.
- If the penalty for apostasy was so severe under the old covenant, how much greater the penalty for trampling under foot the Son of God.
- While being shown grace, we spit in the face of Christ, insulting the Person of the Holy Spirit.
- Full and final rejection of the grace of God is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. To promote lawlessness and evil is to reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit (cf. Rev. 11:8).
- God judges apostasy; it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- We are called to be faithful, remembering the kindness and the grace of God, who has sustained us in suffering.
- The Hebrews had endured suffering, imprisonment, and seizure of their property.
- We are to retain our confidence in the certain promises of God in Christ. He will deliver us from sin and evil, and He will return and reward His faithful servants.
- To be great in the kingdom of heaven, we are to be strong and to endure steadfastly in self-discipline (1 Cor. 9:23-25)
- We either advance, like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, or we turn around in apostasy. We are to remember our confidence and persevere to the end to claim the prize.
Application Questions:
- What are the consequences of willful and deliberate hostility or indifference toward God?
- What lessons can we apply to our lives from Pilgrim’s Progress and Christian’s response to temptations?
- Are we ready to press on and endure under trial? Under imprisonment? Under seizure of our property?
- Are we willing to associate with those facing suffering?
- How do biblical truths inspire us to look upon our Redeemer with joy?
- How is God calling us to be faithful this week?