A BETTER POSSESSION
Hebrews 10:32-39
A tune in your head . . .
Yesterday I had a Spanish children’s chorus on my mind that wouldn’t go away.
“With Christ in your boat, everything goes along happily!”
. . . therefore, “I won’t be afraid!”
Ask Peter about that!
For Peter, at times Christ was literally in his boat–but they WEREN’T happy!
Ask some of the people in our church about this past week.
They knew God was with them–but it wasn’t a “happy” time!
Ask the early Hebrew Christians–their times of suffering weren’t happy!
They were ready to throw in the towel!–Everything doesn’t always go along happily!
All of these witnesses would affirm that we don’t have to be afraid. We can trust God in the dark
BUT times AREN’T always HAPPY! –even when we know Christ is with us in the boat!
Some of you issued me a warning this week.
I’ve been instructed to stop telling you that the coming week may bring unexpected events.
Last week we considered one of the most difficult passages in Hebrews (in the whole Bible!)
Misunderstanding this passage causes many to fear the loss of salvation;
to take our focus off what Christ has done for us and to focus on our own efforts.
We demonstrated that the issue in Heb. 10:26-31 is NOT salvation. He assumes they’re saved!
The issue is God’s judgment on the generation of Israel that rejected and killed Messiah.
It’s a physical judgment resulting in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70
It has nothing to do with salvation from sin–that’s a gift from God to those who trust Christ.
We can’t add anything to that–nor can we take anything away and lose it!
Hebrews speaks to believers who are about to give up and go back to Judaism.
Because of their previous faithfulness in the face of persecution,
he’s confident they’ll continue to trust God and remain faithful.
Appropriate response for God’s people
based on Christ’s superiority 10:19-13:25
Trust God and remain faithful to Him.
Basis for trusting God 10:19-21
A better High Priest, Whose ministry is better, is the basis for our faith.
Call to faith 10:22-25 [ Since that’s true, . . . ]
Let us draw near to God. Let us hang on to our hope. Let us spur one another on.
WARNING CONCERNING APOSTASY 10:26-31
Verses 26-31 explain the reason they should trust God and remain faithful.
The writer is addressing believers on the verge of giving in under the weight of persecution and returning to Judaism.
He exhorts them to endure by faith, for God is able to deliver them;
Judaism can’t help them.
Disobedience in the light of God’s revelation will bring worse judgment.
This sin parallels the deliberate sin of Israel in the wilderness
when they refused to trust God and disobeyed His voice.
For such sin there’s no sacrifice; it results in physical death (Num. 15:30-31).
That generation of Israel is under God’s judgment.
They rejected their Messiah and crucified Him
Unbelief in the present situation, followed by throwing over their profession and returning to Judaism, will subject them to God’s judgment on that generation,
when the Romans destroy the city and wipe out the people in A.D. 70.
Therefore, God’s people should hang in there
and watch God work on their behalf.
Facing this affliction, they have TWO ALTERNATIVES:
1. Faith They can trust God to deliver them in this situation
They can keep going in spite of the suffering.
2. Retreat (Unbelief) They can decide that so much suffering costs too much.
They can decide it’s better to escape and return to Judaism.
10:26-31—he warns them of the danger of unbelief.
10:32-12:27 —he shows them the importance of trusting God.
He affirms his confidence that they’ll make the right choice:
[His] EXPECTATION OF [their] FAITH 10:32-39
They have already suffered greatly for Christ 10:32-34
God remembers, and wants them to remember
how they have already stood firm in the past.
As a result of having seen the light, they stood their ground in the face of suffering.
At times they were publicly ridiculed and persecuted.
At times they identified with others who were being persecuted.
They showed sympathy to people in prison for the gospel.
They joyfully accepted confiscation of possessions for His sake.
They accepted such suffering
because they looked ahead to their reward.
They knew we’re waiting for a better, and lasting, possession.
Their previous faithfulness in persecution
is evidence that they have the real thing.
The author is confident they will trust God and remain faithful now.
They don’t buy their reward by remaining faithful.
They have already demonstrated that they are trusting Christ for salvation.
However, their past faithfulness leads to confidence for the future.
They ought to keep going with faith and patience 10:35-39
Do not throw away your confidence. 35
That confidence is connected to the reward we’re waiting for.
You ought to endure –bear up under the load of the affliction. Hang in there! 36
The goal: to receive what God promised to His people.
His purpose: to remind us, help us see God’s perspective, and encourage us.
Two alternatives: the way of faith versus the way of retreat. 37-38
The righteous–who live by faith–trust in the certainty of His coming.
He will certainly come. He won’t be late.
But the righteous live by faith until He comes.
Those who shrink back can’t please God, because of unbelief.
He wants us to see our affliction from the perspective of eternity, and stand firm.
How significant will our present affliction seem
when we look back from the perspective of eternity?
He affirms his own personal commitment, like Joshua:
“You decide today whom you are going to serve,
but as for me and my house, WE will serve the Lord.”
He is committed to take the way of faith: 39
“We’re not part of the group that shrinks back and is destroyed.”
“We’re making OUR choice! We won’t retreat! We’re going to trust Him!”
“We’re choosing the way of faith, which leads to victory–to preservation!”
The context indicates that he believes they’re on the same side!
The issue here isn’t salvation.
He has stated repeatedly: they have already demonstrated
that they have the real thing–they have trusted Christ.
Now the question is: Which alternative will they choose?
Will they take a stand, willing to suffer physically
to identify publicly with Christ, even in the midst of the affliction.
Or, will they shrink back to protect themselves
and suffer physically in the judgment about to come on that generation.
WHAT LESSONS SHOULD WE LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE?
Which alternative will WE choose?
Like them, we trust Christ for salvation–but not just for salvation.
Our salvation is secure, because we have trusted Christ and His work on our behalf.
We also must trust Him daily, especially for help in hard times, times of suffering.
People who refuse to trust God can expect severe consequences.
God disciplines His children when we don’t obey.
You can’t play games with God and walk away unharmed.
That’s as true for us today as it was for the readers in that day.
We could suffer physically.
We could even die physically. 1 Cor 11; Ananias & Sapphira, Acts 5; 1 Jn 5.
People who take God’s Word lightly and bring His name into disrepute
can expect severe consequences, even physical judgment and death.
Trust Him and obey the exhortations He addresses to us as God’s children (12:5): “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.” 12:7
God wants us to trust Him, even when we can’t see where we’re going!
Hang in there, even when we walk in the dark!
What kind of adverse circumstances are you facing this week?
God tells us to trust Him in the dark.
The darkness may seem long and hard. But He is trustworthy.
We can trust Him in the dark! Hang in there! Don’t throw in the towel!
When we trust Him, and wait for Him to accomplish His will in us,
we can expect victory in the end! (Daniel’s theme; Revelation)
God calls us to trust Him and patiently endure, while we wait to watch God work.
When God’s people trust God–even in the hard times
–we will experience victory in the end!