I invite you to take out your copy of God's Word and turn to Hebrews chapter 6.
We're going to continue our verse-by-verse study of the book of Hebrews.
!
With today's text, which is Hebrews chapter 6, verses 9-12.
Before I read it, I remind you, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.
It was written for His glory and our good.
And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
Hebrews chapter 6, verse 9 and following.
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things.
Things that belong to salvation.
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.
So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
This morning, as we look at these verses, I want to first draw your attention to the word that the author of Hebrews uses in addressing the church that this letter is written to.
He gives them the title, beloved.
Beloved.
Which means loved ones or loved.
It sounds so very churchy to say beloved.
It's not a word I ever use, at least rarely outside of this room.
But it just simply means loved ones.
And He does this.
He gives them this title.
He addresses them in this way after saying in the beginning of verse 9, though we speak in this way.
So just prior to this, verses 4 through 8, He has issued to them a warning.
And it's a similar warning.
It's been carrying all throughout the text so far.
However, it is the large reason this letter was written that they would be careful to be sure that they are, in fact, in the faith.
Remember that this little church had suffered much and they were being tempted to go back to Judaism.
To forsake the following of Christ for the sake of avoiding discomfort.
Avoiding the trial that was coming their way.
And so just previously, by way of reminder, verses 4 through 8 of chapter 6, the author of Hebrews has written,
For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come,
and then have fallen away to restore them again to repentance.
Since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt.
For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated,
receives a blessing from God.
But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed,
and its end is to be burned.
He has rebuked these Christians for being dull of hearing in chapter 5 and verse 11.
And has spoken of the need to go on to maturity in chapter 6 verse 1.
And then issued this very grave warning concerning land that has received the water of God's grace,
and then produced only thorns and thistles.
And what he says of it is that this land will be burned.
This pastor, out of concern for those who may leave the faith,
has warned them in chapter 2 and verse 1,
to pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
What is he referring to?
The gospel of Jesus Christ.
That we can only be justified before God by grace alone,
through faith alone,
in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
He is concerned that these he's writing to would be apostate.
That they would leave the faith and show themselves to have never been Christians at all.
He shares Paul's sentiment when Paul writes in 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 18 and following,
where Paul exhorts Timothy,
wage the good warfare,
holding faith and a good conscience.
By rejecting this,
referring to faith and a good conscience,
some have made shipwreck of their faith.
The author of Hebrews will go on in this chapter to say,
in verses 19 and the beginning of verse 20,
we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.
A hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain
where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.
Jesus Christ is the anchor for the soul that is storm-tossed.
So he has spoken strongly about those who did not make Jesus the steadfast anchor of their souls.
Who have drifted and shipwrecked their faith.
And he is warning these Christians not to be deceived by false conversion.
To not put too much credit in their religious experience.
To not find themselves among the drifted and shipwrecked.
And it is with this in mind,
as he's completing that portion of his case,
that he calls them beloved.
It is significant.
I hope that if it doesn't already arrest on this word,
that after this morning, as you're reading your scripture,
when you see the word beloved,
it will cause you to pause and think about all that that term means for you in Christ.
I believe for the author of Hebrews that there are two senses to this address.
Reasons that he uses this term.
I think first, he is simply saying,
you are loved by me.
I am penning this letter for your sake.
I care deeply about you.
It's a familial term.
He is relating to them as their brother.
He is saying to them,
you are my brothers and you are my sisters.
You are my beloved.
Much like the apostle John does in 1 John 3,
verse 1 and following where he writes,
see what kind of love the Father has given to us,
that we should be called children of God.
And so we are.
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
So the apostle John is saying to these Christians,
we are brothers and sisters.
And then at the beginning of verse 2,
he says, beloved, we are God's children now.
He is expressing to them a great affection for them.
Secondly, and more importantly,
he is saying you are loved by God.
You are loved by God.
In fact, the author's ability to call them beloved
has its beginning in God's adoption of them.
God's familial terminology.
His inclusion of these people into his family.
The author belongs to him and they to him
because they all belong to God.
Just after Jesus was baptized,
Matthew 3, verse 17 tells us,
and behold, a voice from heaven said,
this is my beloved son
with whom I am well pleased.
And so if we are in Jesus,
if we have been adopted in him,
his righteousness given to us,
our sin given to him,
this term transfers to us.
No longer enemies,
but beloved children.
And I hope this word prompts that in you.
A contemplation about who you are in Christ.
Have you noticed my use of this same term
as I address you?
I also mean it in both sentences.
Have you noticed that I most regularly use it
when I'm about to say something particularly difficult
or when I'm trying to bring a particular comfort
or draw your attention?
I've already done it once this morning
and I do that every Sunday morning.
Beloved,
this is God's word to us.
I'm founding that in.
My great love for you
because of God's great love for us.
He's written us this good book
so we should pay attention to it
is what I'm saying to you.
God loves you
and he's written you a word.
Pay attention this morning.
I'm saying I love you
and more importantly,
God loves you.
And that is what the author of Hebrews
is doing here
for his original audience
and for us.
He has just said
a particularly difficult thing
and he is now bringing
a particular comfort.
He has warned them
not to neglect such a great salvation
by going on to maturity.
And now he gives to them
his confidence
that they are in fact Christians
and that they will persevere
to the end.
He is convinced
of the sincerity
of their love for Christ.
And had they
not separated by time
and been friends,
he would have agreed
with the Puritan theologian
William Pink.
This is on your bulletin
who said,
God presently gives
an everlasting assurance
of salvation
to all who love Christ
sincerely.
He is writing now
at this point in the text
as he has been warning
and warning
and rebuking
and warning
some comfort to them.
He is offering to them
his confidence
and he is hoping for
and wanting them
to have
this confidence.
And so that is a general outline
for today's study.
Number one,
the author has confidence
that they are Christians.
Christians.
And number two,
the author wants them
to have confidence
that they are Christians.
So first,
he expresses
this confidence.
He says,
yet in your case,
beloved,
he's just talked about
people who appeared
to be Christians
and showed themselves
not to be.
Those who had drifted.
Those who had make
shipwreck of their faith.
Those who did not
go on to maturity.
Those who rejected Jesus
as the Christ.
Yet in your case,
beloved,
we feel sure
of better things.
Things that belong
to salvation.
These were things
that he could see
and observe
and been told of
that existed
with this little church.
What are these things
that belong to salvation?
salvation.
The Christian life
will give evidence
to its faithfulness.
Good trees
will bear
good fruit.
Now,
there are certainly
external evidences
and we want to consider
and we want to talk
about those.
But before we do,
I want to talk
just briefly
this morning
about internal
evidences.
A thing that cannot
be measured
from the outside.
A thing that the author
of Hebrews
could not look
upon them
and know
with great confidence.
Because if you are
in fact in Christ,
if He has made you new,
He has made you new
by His Spirit.
He has given to you
the gift
of a Spirit
that indwells you,
makes you new,
causes you to walk
in His ways.
Right?
Replaces that heart of stone
with the heart of flesh.
Paul writes about this
in Romans 8,
verse 15-16,
where he writes,
For you did not receive
the spirit of slavery
to fall back into fear,
but you have received
the spirit of adoption
as sons
by whom we cry,
Abba,
Father,
Daddy,
Father.
And then verse 16 says,
The Spirit Himself
bears witness
with our spirit
that we are children
of God.
Right?
We have the spirit
that testifies to this,
is a seal of this,
that communicates to us
that we belong
to God.
No longer a spirit
of fear,
but a spirit of adoption
as sons.
Right?
An internal knowing
that we belong
to God.
This is a precious reality
that the spirit of God
speaks to us
in this way
if we have Him.
J.I. Packer
in his wonderful work
Knowing God,
which I commend to you,
wrote this,
If you want to judge
how well a person
understands Christianity,
find out how much
he makes
of the thought
of being God's child
and having God
as his Father.
If this is not
the thought
that prompts
and controls
his worship
and prayers
and his whole outlook
on life,
it means that
he does not
understand Christianity
very well at all.
For everything
that Christ taught,
everything that makes
the New Testament new
and better than the old,
everything that is
distinctively Christian
as opposed to
merely Jewish,
is summed up
in the knowledge
of the fatherhood
of God.
Father is the
Christian name
for God.
This internal testimony
works for our assurance.
Jesus said in John 14
in verse 27,
Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give to you,
not as the world gives
do I give to you.
Let not your hearts
be troubled,
neither let them
be afraid.
Now, beloved,
if you are in Christ,
there are times
in your life
you may doubt
your salvation.
I am not saying
that if you ever
doubt your salvation,
you are not in fact
in Christ.
But through prayer
and fellowship
and the study of the word,
if you have the spirit,
the spirit will
give you this
adoptive status,
this understanding,
right,
will not make you
in fear,
but will grant you
peace.
So there's this internal,
a bit subjective
evidencing,
but more specifically,
I think what our author
is writing about
is external evidencing,
right,
again,
things he could see
and hear about,
could report on.
In verse 10,
he expresses this,
for God is not unjust
so as to overlook
your work,
activity,
outward sign,
and the love
that you have shown
for his name
in serving the saints,
right,
you once did it,
and he goes on to say
at the end of verse 10,
as you still do.
Not just past work
and love,
but also present work
and love.
Later on in the book
of Hebrews,
he writes in chapter 10,
32 and following,
but recall the former days
when after you were enlightened,
you endured a hard struggle
with sufferings,
sometimes being publicly exposed
to reproach and affliction,
and sometimes being partners
with those so treated.
For you had compassion
on those in prison,
and you joyfully accepted
the plundering of your property,
since you knew
that you yourselves
had a better possession
and an abiding one.
There's one example
in our text,
in this book,
of what the author of Hebrews
here is talking about.
This work and the love
that you have shown
for his name
in serving the saints,
as you still do.
So, what's happening here
is that people are being
publicly mocked,
in some cases imprisoned,
and for the church,
right,
who's bearing the name
of Christ,
to identify
with those in prison,
to come to them
and bring aid to them,
because they weren't being
taken care of in prison,
they were just simply
locked up.
They were to be fed,
they were to be fed
by family.
They were also then
taking on
the name
of Christ.
Christ
had become
most precious
to them,
a better possession
and an abiding one,
verse 34
of chapter 10
says,
that they were willing
to bear up
under this reproach
and this affliction,
right,
to love
those
who were being
mistreated.
And this is because
they understood
the commands
of Christ.
John chapter 13,
verse 34,
and verse 35,
Jesus says,
a new commandment
I give to you
that you love
one another.
Just as I have loved you,
you also
are to love
one another.
By this,
all people will know
that you are my disciples
if you have love
for one another.
And as a mental exercise,
it is
helpful
to think about
John 13,
35
and replace
in there
all of the things
we tend
to think
will make us
known as Jesus'
disciples.
disciples
and there is
any measure
of them.
Going to church
on Sunday morning
does not necessarily
mean you're a disciple
of Jesus Christ.
Claiming to be
an evangelical
does not necessarily
make you a disciple
of Jesus Christ.
Voting for a particular
party does not
necessarily make you
a disciple
of Jesus Christ.
Going on a mission trip
every spring break
does not necessarily
make you
a disciple
of Jesus Christ.
Jesus brings it down
to this one thing.
By this
all people will know
that you are my disciples
if you have
love
for one another.
And this bears
itself out
in so many ways
which may include
going to church
on Sundays
and going on
mission trips.
All types of things
are
loving.
But just before that
he has said
just as I
have loved you
you also
are to love
one another.
And so something
we can be sure of
is that the type
of love
he's talking about
is a sacrificial
love.
It's a love
that gives
of yourself
for the sake
of
for the highest
good
of
another.
The author
of Hebrews
is doing
that very
thing here.
We live
in a culture
that defines
love
by the way
in which
the person
receives
the love.
So if we
say something
to someone
that they don't
particularly like
and it doesn't
feel loving
to them
then our culture
is very quick
to dismiss
the action
as unloving.
It's aimed
at how
the object
feels
about
what's done.
The author
of Hebrews
has just
called them
beloved.
He just
said you
are loved
ones.
I love
you.
And he's
been so
very hard
on them.
He has
just
finished
this
harsh
rebuke
to now
go on
to be
an
encouragement.
So love
takes on
all kinds
of forms.
But we
know
that the
Christian
life
is a
life
of
sacrificial
love.
And they
had
expressed
this.
And this
was giving
this
pastor
a
confidence
in their
salvation.
Secondly,
the author
wants them
to have
confidence
that they
are
Christians.
He doesn't
want it
to end
just with
his
confidence.
He also
wants
them
to be
confident.
Verse 11
he writes,
and we
desire
each
one of
you
to show
the same
earnestness
to have
the full
assurance
of hope
until the
end.
Not
some
assurance,
not a
little
measure
of
assurance,
but full
assurance,
the full
measure,
complete
assurance,
an unshakable
confidence is
what he's
talking about
here.
And not
just today,
but today
and tomorrow
and the
next until
the end.
He wants
them to
persevere.
He wants
them to
press on
in knowing
God and
doing so
to the
end.
And he
gives us
some ideas
about how
it is
that we
can have
this
assurance.
So how
is it
that we
can have
full
assurance?
Number
one,
don't
be
lazy.
Number
one,
don't
be
lazy.
The first
part of
verse 12,
he writes
so that
you may
not be
sluggish.
I think
that this
particular
challenge,
we would
not be
sluggish,
plagues
the American
church.
I think
many of
us would
find that
we are
far too
often,
far too
apathetic,
sitting
back,
seems
that so
often,
comfort
is our
very
worst
enemy.
We don't
see that
the stakes
are high.
We kind
of float
through
life.
And here
he's saying
the opposite.
Don't
be
sluggish.
Don't
be
lazy.
Put
yourself
to
the
task.
This
word
here
translated
in the
ESV
sluggish
is the
very
same
word
translated
in
chapter
5
and
verse
11
as
dull.
When he
rebukes
them
that they're
being
dull
of hearing,
you could
also say
sluggish
of hearing,
lazy
of hearing.
The author
of Hebrews
has rebuked
them for
being sluggish
in their
hearing and
does not
also want
them to
become
sluggish
in their
acting.
And there's
a connection
between the
two,
between our
hearing and
our
obedience.
And I
would suggest
to you,
although not
in the
text today,
that there's
also a
connection
between our
obedience
and our
hearing.
That God
doesn't
entrust us
with more
until we're
obedient with
what he's
already
taught us.
That part
of the
growing up
process
is that when
God gives
you something
to obey,
you obey
that thing
and he
continues to
give you
more to
obey and
grows you
up into
Christ.
James,
in James
chapter 1
verse 22
through 25,
most of the
book of James
is about this
very issue.
He writes,
but be
doers of
the word
and not
hearers only
deceiving
yourselves.
Do not
deceive
yourself.
What he's
saying
essentially
is that
you're
not
hearing
it
if
you're
not
doing
it.
Verse 23,
for if
anyone is
a hearer
of the
word
and not
a doer,
he is
like a
man who
looks
intently
at his
natural
face
in a
mirror.
For
he looks
at himself
and goes
away
and at
once
forgets
what
he was
like.
He's
merely
saying
you're
not
using
the
mirror
for
the
purpose
of
the
mirror.
You
don't
get
what
it's
for
verse 25,
but the
one who
looks
into the
perfect
law,
the
law
of
liberty
and
perseveres,
presses
on to
the
end
in
his
doing,
being
no
hearer
who
forgets,
but a
doer
who
acts,
he
will be
blessed
in his
doing.
Be
doers
and not
hearers
only.
Do not
be
lazy
in your
pursuit
of God.
So that's
to say it
in the
negative,
but I
think it's
also very
important
that we
say it
in the
positive.
So
secondly,
how can
you have
assurance?
Work.
Work
to have
assurance.
The last
part of
verse 11,
he says,
show the
same
earnestness
to have
full
assurance
and
hope
until
the
end.
This
idea of
earnestness
means a
serious
devotion
to,
to pick
up the
task of
having
full
assurance
of hope
until
the
end.
Beloved,
we are
far too
informed
by our
feelings.
I think
way too
often,
we wait
to be
obedient
until it
feels
good
to be
obedient.
We are
waiting
for a
feeling
of
assurance
and we
want
to have
feelings
and we
are not
stoics.
Feelings
can be
good
and they
can be
helpful.
They can
be informative
for us.
We want
our feelings
to coincide
with.
We want
them to
catch up
to the
truth.
So,
here he's
not saying
feel
assured.
He's
saying
have
earnestness.
Show
devotion
to.
Right?
Work
to have
assurance
of hope
until the
end.
Be a
doer
and let
the feeling
of it
catch up.
No one
can be
saved
by their
works.
The
gospel of
Jesus Christ
says this
to us
again
and again
and again.
We needed
Jesus'
righteousness,
his perfect
law
keeping.
Right?
No one
can be
saved
by their
works.
But
saving
faith
does
work.
Evidences
the
faith.
Again,
James,
he's
helpful
to us
in this
chapter 2
and verse
14.
He says,
What good
is it,
my brothers,
if someone
says he
has faith
but does
not have
works?
Can that
faith
save him?
James is
making the
case that
he's merely
this person
he's referring
to,
just has
some
mental
assent.
says,
like my
children
say,
I believe
in Jesus
but they
don't know
him,
they have
not been
changed
by him,
they're not
being granted
the spirit
of Christ
and this
is the
great issue
of our
day.
I say it
over and
over again,
I feel like
a broken
record at
times.
The gospel
of Jesus
Christ
is that we
are saved
by grace
alone,
through faith
alone,
in Christ
alone.
God saves
those who
are his.
He moves
in them
to repentance
and faith.
He causes
them to turn
from sin
and to believe
in Christ.
To place
all of their
confidence
in who
Jesus
is.
And this
is a great
work of
God.
This is a
monergistic
work.
God saves,
God keeps.
It's in
that salvation
that we
now walk,
that we
evidence
it.
Just because
you have
raised your
hand or
walked down
an aisle
does not
necessarily
mean you're
a Christian.
What
evidences
your faith?
And remember
that he's
being encouraging
to this end.
Right?
He's being
encouraging to
this end.
I have a
confidence.
I want you
to have a
confidence.
Right?
I'm
observing.
You continue
to do
this work.
Be earnest
in your
working.
Paul writes
in Ephesians
chapter 2
verses 4
through 10.
Some of
this will
sound familiar
from our
time with
the children.
But God
being rich
in mercy
because of
the great
love with
which he
loved us
even when
we were
dead in
our
trespasses.
Dead.
Inactive.
Unable.
He made
us alive
together
with
Christ.
By grace
you have
been saved
and raises
up with
him and
seated us
with him
in the
heavenly
places
in
Christ
Jesus.
So that
in the
coming
ages
he might
show
the
immeasurable
riches
of his
grace
and kindness
toward us
in Christ
Jesus.
Right?
In order
to put
on display
his
greatness
he has
saved
a people.
Verse
8.
For by
grace you
have been
saved
through
faith.
And this
is not
your own
doing.
It is
the gift
of God
not a
result of
works
so that
no one
may boast.
And then
verse 10.
For we
are his
workmanship
created in
Christ
Jesus
for good
works.
He saved
us
for good
works
which
evidence
this saving
power in
our lives
which
God
prepared
beforehand
that we
should walk
in them.
So do
you want
to have
assurance?
Do you
want to
feel
assured?
Then get
to work.
Pick up
the scripture
and read
the commands.
How is it
that God
would have
me walk?
Learn
to love
righteousness.
Put off
old habits
by putting
on new
habits.
And you
will find
in doing
this if
you are
in Christ
your trajectory
will be
towards
holiness.
You will
find that
it gets
easier and
easier to
do these
things.
We never
become perfect
beside of
heaven but
we progress
toward it.
Always
making
progress
bit by
bit.
One
degree
of glory
to another
degree
of glory
as the
spirit of
Christ
powerfully
works
within us.
We are
meant to be
a people.
That is
why we are
left here.
We are
We still
carry the
baggage of
our flesh
around.
We have
a great
deal of
sympathy with
those who
are not
in Christ
because we
still feel
we still
experience
the effect
of a
fallen
nature.
But we have
been set
free from
sin.
We have
been delivered
from it.
We no
longer have
to sin
because we
have the
spirit of
Christ.
We can
be obedient
to him
and we're
meant to
be moving
ever
heavenward.
And this
is how we
exalt Christ
on the
earth.
This is
why as a
people,
as a church,
we're meant
to be drawn
together and
distinct in
that way.
That our
community would
look at us
and go,
what is it
with those
people?
They're
improving
people.
They're so
humble as
they walk
before their
God.
They're putting
off sin
and they're
putting on
righteousness.
What an
odd people.
And to
some that'll
be attractive
and to
some it'll
be repulsive.
So,
don't be
lazy.
Secondly,
work.
Third,
imitate.
Last part
of verse
12,
the author
says,
but imitators
of those
who through
faith and
patience
inherit the
promises.
This life
is not
long.
We are
here but
a moment,
right?
A vapor
in the
wind.
The older
I get,
the more
I feel
that.
The life
seems to
be accelerating.
I've asked
people older
than me,
does it ever
slow down?
And I say,
nope,
it keeps
right on.
I turned
39 at the
end of
January
and already
was dreading
40,
like,
approaching
it.
I was
already
dreading
it.
And we
are almost
halfway there
already.
It felt
like yesterday
I was
going,
oh,
39,
and I'm
going to
blink again,
and I'm
going to
be 40.
Life does
not last
that long,
but in
our struggle
with sin,
it feels
like forever.
God,
deliver me
from this
body of
death.
Every day
as I set
my face
towards him
just seems
like such
a struggle.
And to
walk in a
world that
is hostile
toward us,
as we're
following the
way of
God,
we are
bound to
get tired.
Just as
the Christians
of this
church that
this author
is writing
to were
getting
tired,
right?
They were
beleaguered,
right?
They were
worn out.
They had
suffered and
they would
suffer.
The author of
Hebrews was
writing to
them and
us to
tell us
and them
to imitate
those who
went before
us.
Look to
those who
finished well,
who already
finished and
who finished
well.
And the
author of
Hebrews is
likely setting
them and
us up for
the hall of
faith that
is chapter
11.
If you're
familiar with
the book
of Hebrews,
chapter 11
lays out a
series of
people who
by faith
and patience
inherited
the promises.
And so I
would like for
us to go
there together.
So turn over
a few pages
if you will
to Hebrews
chapter 11.
As we
think about
being
imitators,
now this
phrase,
through faith
and patience,
in extra
biblical Hebrew
writing,
was most
often attributed
to Abraham.
And it's
very possible
at this
point in
the Hebrew
listener's
mind,
that's where
the brain
goes immediately.
Oh,
Abraham,
faith and
patience.
And he
is talked
about most
extensively in
Hebrews chapter
11.
But I think
the author of
Hebrews also
means to
gather others
into that
number.
So yes,
Abraham,
but also
to add to
that.
And we
now have,
as I'm
going to
add to
Hebrews
chapter 11,
not in
an inspired
sense,
but we
now have
many who
have gone
before us.
So I
commend
biography
to you
to read
about the
faith and
patience of
others as
well.
Verse 1 of
Hebrews 11
says,
now faith
is the
assurance
of things
hoped for,
the conviction
of things
not seen.
So as
we're tired,
as we're
beat down,
as we're
beleaguered,
as this
church was,
faith is
believing in
the promises
of God
that are out
there.
We're not
there yet,
right?
But we're
believing we
will get
there.
It's
believing
that.
And so
you can
see as
he goes
through this
text talking
about the
faith of
these people
that this
was a
patient
faith.
So faith
is the
assurance of
things hoped
for,
the conviction
of things
not seen.
For by it
the people
of old
received
their
commendation.
By faith
we understand
that the
universe was
created by
the word
of God
so that
what is
seen
was not
made
out of
things
that are
visible.
By faith
Abel
offered to
God a
more acceptable
sacrifice
than Cain
through which
he was
commended as
righteous,
God commending
him by
accepting
his gifts.
And through
his faith
though he
died he
still speaks.
To who?
To us.
By faith
Enoch was
taken up so
that he
should not
see death
and he
was not
found because
God had
taken him.
Now before
he was
taken he
was commended
as having
pleased
God.
And without
faith it is
impossible to
please him
for whoever
would draw
near to
God must
believe that
he exists
and that
he rewards
those who
seek him.
By faith
Noah being
warned by
God concerning
events as
yet unseen
in reverent
fear constructed
an ark for
the saving of
his household.
By this he
condemned the
world and
became an
heir of the
righteousness
that comes
by faith.
By faith
Abraham
obeyed when
he was called
to go out
to a place
that he was
to receive
as an
inheritance
and he
went out
not knowing
where he
was going.
By faith
he went to
live in
the land
of promise
as in
a foreign
land living
in tents
with Isaac
and Jacob
heirs with
him of
the same
promise.
For he
was looking
forward to
the city
that has
foundations
whose
designer and
builder
is God.
By faith
Sarah
herself received
power to
conceive even
when she was
past the age
since she
considered him
faithful who
had promised.
therefore
from one
man
and him
as good
as dead
were born
descendants
as many
as the
stars of
heaven
and as
many
as the
innumerable
grains of
sand
by the
seashore.
I just love
that he
calls Abraham
as good
as dead.
Verse 13
These all
died in
faith
not having
received
the things
promised
but having
seen them
and greeted
them from
afar
and having
acknowledged
that they
were strangers
and exiles
on the
earth.
They all
recognized
that there
was a
greater
promise
for them
and they
did not
know exactly
how the
greater
promise
would come
to pass.
We now
know it
comes to
pass in
Christ.
Verse 14
For people
who speak
thus make
it clear
that they
are seeking
a homeland.
If they
had been
thinking of
that land
from which
they had
gone out
they would
have had
opportunity
to return.
But as
it is
they desire
a better
country
that is
a heavenly
one.
Therefore
God is
not ashamed
to be
called
their
God
for he
has
prepared
for them
a city.
By
faith
Abraham
when he
was tested
offered
up
Isaac
and he
who had
received
the promises
was in
the act
of offering
up his
only son
of whom
it was
said
through
Isaac
shall
your
offspring
be
named.
He
considered
that God
was able
even to
raise him
from the
dead
from which
figuratively
speaking
he did
receive him
back.
By faith
Isaac
invoked
future
blessings
on Jacob
and Esau.
By faith
Jacob
when dying
blessed
each
of the
sons
of
Joseph
bowing
in
worship
over
the
head
of
his
staff.
By
faith
Joseph
at the
end
of
his
life
made
mention
of
the
exodus
of
the
Israelites
and
gave
directions
concerning
his
bones.
By
faith
Moses
when he
was born
was hidden
for three
months
by his
parents
because
they
saw
that
the
child
was
beautiful
and
they
were
not
afraid
of
the
king's
edict.
By
faith
Moses
when he
was
grown
up
refused
to be
called
the
son
of
Pharaoh's
daughter
choosing
rather
to be
mistreated
with
the
people
of
God
than
to
enjoy
the
fleeting
pleasures
of
sin.
He
considered
the
reproach
of
Christ
greater
wealth
than
the
treasures
of
Egypt
for
he
was
looking
to
the
reward.
By
faith
he
kept
the
Passover
and
sprinkled
the
blood
so
that
the
destroyer
of
the
firstborn
may
not
touch
them.
By
faith
the
people
crossed
the
Red
Sea
as
on
dry
land
but
the
Egyptians
when
they
attempted
to
do
the
same
were
drowned.
By
faith
the
walls
of
Jericho
fell
down
after
they
had
been
circled
for
seven
days.
By
faith
Rahab
the
prostitute
did
not
perish
with
those
who
were
disobedient
because
she
had
given
a
friendly
welcome
to
the
spies.
And
what
more
shall
I
say?
For
time
would
fail
me
to
tell
of
Gideon,
Barak,
Samson,
Jephthah,
of David
and Samuel
and the
prophets
who
through
faith
conquered
kingdoms,
enforced
justice,
obtained
promises,
stopped
the mouths
of lions,
quenched
the power
of fire,
escaped
the edge
of the
sword,
were made
strong
out of
weakness,
became
mighty,
foreign
armies
to
flight.
He's
going
through
the
entire
Old
Testament
telling
us
and them
pay
attention
to
the
faith
and
patience
of
those
who
have
gone
before
you.
Be
imitators
of
them.
This
by the
way
is the
text
that
makes
a lot
of
people
think
this
was
originally
a
sermon
that
was
recorded
because
he
says
he
doesn't
have
time
and
he's
writing
a
letter.
But
verse
35
women
received
back
their
dead
by
resurrection.
Some
were
tortured
refusing
to
accept
release
so they
might
rise
again
to
a
better
life.
Others
suffered
mocking
and flogging
and even
chains
and
imprisonment.
They
were stoned.
They
were sawn
in two.
They
were killed
with a
sword.
They
went
about
in skins
of
sheep
and goats
destitute,
afflicted,
mistreated,
of whom
the world
was not
worthy,
wandering
about in
deserts and
mountains and
in dens
and caves
of the
earth.
You
were not
alone
in your
suffering.
Verse 39
And all
these,
though commended
through their
faith,
did not
receive
what was
promised,
since God
had provided
something better
for us,
that apart
from us,
they should
not be
made
perfect.
He's talking
about the
coming of
Christ and
the saving
of the
church.
Chapter
12
Therefore,
since we
are surrounded
by so great
a cloud of
witnesses,
let us
also lay
aside every
weight and
sin which
clings so
closely,
and let
us run
with endurance
the race
that is set
before us.
Run with
endurance,
not lazily,
not lackadaisically,
not sluggish,
but competing,
running,
being earnest
in this,
and doing
so with
endurance,
with
patience.
Verse 2,
looking to
Jesus,
the founder
and perfecter
of our faith,
who for the
joy that was
set before him
endured the
cross,
despising the
shame and
acceded at
the right
hand of the
throne of
God.
Consider him
who endured
from sinners
such hostility
against himself,
so that you
may not
grow weary
or faint-hearted.
So as we
look to be
imitators
of those who
have gone
before us
in this
life,
we are also
meant to
look to
Christ,
who suffered
for our
sake.
Only
undeserving
sufferer who
has ever
existed,
who had no
fault in him
whatsoever,
but took
on our
fault and
suffered in
our stead.
Took away
God's wrath
due us,
and he
drank it
to its
end.
It's an
astounding
thing,
beloved,
that if you
are in fact
in Christ,
you have
been changed.
It's
doctrine of
regeneration.
You're not
the same
old you.
You're a
new
creation,
and you're
being given
by the
spirit
new
impulse.
So just
as the
author of
Hebrews is
looking at
this little
faithful church,
just as I
can look out
on so many
of you,
some of you I
don't know that
well,
but many of you
I can look at
and say,
I have a
confidence.
We also
want to have
our own
confidence.
I want you
to have
a confidence
that you're
in Christ
because if
you don't,
you may
not be
in Christ.
I don't
mean that
to cause
fear in
you unless
you need
to be
fearful.
Maybe
your end
is destruction
and your
eternity
is torment
and separation
from our
Most High
God.
These are
the loving,
kind words
of God
for us
this morning
that we
would repent
and believe,
that we
would press
on,
that we
would work
to have
assurance.
And so
in summary,
some application.
First,
be part
of a
faithful church
if you
are not
already.
Be part
of a
biblical
church.
For the
sake of
time,
I can't
explain
everything
I mean
by that.
Be part
of a
church.
Beloved,
the church
is not
an
afterthought.
You're
not the
center
of the
gospel
and then
God
says,
oh,
sure,
and also
gather,
that could
be good
for you.
God
saved a
people,
he saved
a church,
and these
local expressions
of it are
given tools
to help
us in
this way,
to help
you have
assurance.
you need
followers of
Jesus Christ
to have a
confidence in
you,
and you
need opportunity
to love
what God
loves,
to give
that evidence.
I love
God's
people,
and I
serve
God's
people.
Christianity
is not a
solo sport.
Secondly,
be confident.
press on
to have
assurance.
Assurance
is such
a blessing.
I still
sin.
I have
times where
I do
things that
would say
to God,
I am not
your son.
I'm going
to act
in total
contradiction
to the
reality that
you love
me and
you've
given me
good
commands.
But it
is a
wonderful
thing when
that happens
to get
to go to
the cross
of Christ
and rejoice
that I
am
his.
That he
accomplished
a work
in me
and that
is
unshakable
because
it's
his
doing.
I sit
and counsel
so many
that sin
and they
just don't
know.
I want
you to
know.
It's a
good thing
to know.
So be
confident,
but be
confident by
not being
lazy,
by working,
pressing on,
being earnest
and knowing,
and by
imitating
those who
have gone
before you,
faith and
patience
receive the
promise,
and especially
by imitating
Christ.
Let's pray
together.