1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,520 Hello and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church podcast 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,480 where we are proclaiming the truth to the world. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,720 My name is Pastor Josh and I want to thank you for listening to 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:10,480 this podcast. 5 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,680 I hope that this podcast can be a blessing to you and strengthen 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:16,080 you in the word of God. 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,160 Now come along, let's look into the Bible and see what God has 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:21,440 for us here today. 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,160 We'll take your Bibles and we'll be in Hebrews chapter 10 tonight. 10 00:00:26,390 --> 00:00:27,430 Hebrews chapter 10. 11 00:00:28,390 --> 00:00:29,990 Tonight we're going to talk about Jesus. 12 00:00:30,790 --> 00:00:34,390 We're going to talk about his blood, talk about how we are bought, 13 00:00:34,710 --> 00:00:38,190 how we are cleansed, and how we are called with a special calling 14 00:00:38,190 --> 00:00:40,230 according to his purpose for us. 15 00:00:40,950 --> 00:00:43,750 In Hebrews chapter one, it gives a really. 16 00:00:43,910 --> 00:00:44,950 A really neat picture. 17 00:00:44,950 --> 00:00:46,870 It describes Jesus Christ. 18 00:00:47,830 --> 00:00:51,670 Hebrews chapter one and verse one, it says, God, who at sundry 19 00:00:51,670 --> 00:00:54,830 times and in diverse manner spake in time passed unto the fathers 20 00:00:54,830 --> 00:00:58,080 by the prophets, and hath in these last days spoken unto us by 21 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,960 his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by 22 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,520 whom also he made the worlds, who being the brightness of his glory 23 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,560 and the express image of his person, upholding all things by the 24 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,320 word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down 25 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:13,560 on the right hand of the majesty on high. 26 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:19,400 And so we see Jesus Christ the Son is the express image, the brightness 27 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:20,920 of God's glory. 28 00:01:21,730 --> 00:01:24,730 Just a wonderful picture we see of how Jesus Christ is so much 29 00:01:24,730 --> 00:01:25,970 better than anything else. 30 00:01:26,130 --> 00:01:27,490 He's better than the angels. 31 00:01:27,570 --> 00:01:29,850 He's better than the prophet Moses in the Old Testament. 32 00:01:29,850 --> 00:01:33,690 He's better than any other man, any other person, any angelic 33 00:01:33,690 --> 00:01:33,970 being. 34 00:01:34,850 --> 00:01:37,770 And tonight we're going to see that this big idea that because Christ 35 00:01:37,770 --> 00:01:42,290 shed his blood to redeem us fully and finally we must respond 36 00:01:42,530 --> 00:01:46,210 with a life of total surrender, continual cleansing and 37 00:01:46,210 --> 00:01:48,130 active service to the living God. 38 00:01:49,100 --> 00:01:51,300 Now, I'm not sure if you guys ever heard that story before where 39 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:53,220 there was this deadly disease going around the world. 40 00:01:53,220 --> 00:01:55,100 Not Covid, there's Delhi. 41 00:01:55,100 --> 00:01:56,140 This is going around the world. 42 00:01:56,380 --> 00:01:57,500 And people are. 43 00:01:57,580 --> 00:02:00,100 It was almost like the black, Black death, black plague, where 44 00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:01,820 people are just dying all around the world. 45 00:02:02,620 --> 00:02:05,060 And they're going all through different countries, around the world, 46 00:02:05,060 --> 00:02:07,980 different continents, different people groups trying to 47 00:02:07,980 --> 00:02:08,860 find this cure. 48 00:02:09,420 --> 00:02:09,820 And. 49 00:02:09,980 --> 00:02:13,580 And there was one antidote, but it was with this one family that 50 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:15,010 had one boy. 51 00:02:16,450 --> 00:02:20,010 And part of this antidote was that required this family to give 52 00:02:20,010 --> 00:02:23,730 their only son take the entirety of the blood of his body 53 00:02:24,210 --> 00:02:28,530 to be able to make this vaccine, to save a bunch of a bunch 54 00:02:28,530 --> 00:02:29,570 of lives around the world. 55 00:02:30,530 --> 00:02:34,450 This family was a small village in Africa, remote village, 56 00:02:34,530 --> 00:02:36,370 and in this family said, you know what? 57 00:02:36,370 --> 00:02:39,090 We're going to give our son to make this antidote. 58 00:02:39,090 --> 00:02:42,270 And he sacrifices their son's life to make this antidote. 59 00:02:42,270 --> 00:02:46,790 And it rescued a lot of lives from this deadly disease. 60 00:02:48,550 --> 00:02:51,390 And as these weeks go on, these months went on, the years went 61 00:02:51,390 --> 00:02:54,430 on, everyone might have forgot about the sacrifice of this boy. 62 00:02:54,430 --> 00:02:58,870 But I guarantee you, the two people who never forgot about that 63 00:02:58,870 --> 00:03:03,310 sacrifice was his two parents that gave their only son to be able 64 00:03:03,310 --> 00:03:05,670 to rescue lives all around the world. 65 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,040 So we take that example to see what Christ has done for us. 66 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,640 Have you remembered or have you forgotten the significance and 67 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:19,840 the power of what Christ has done for you by his blood, by his 68 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:20,960 sacrifice for us? 69 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,400 Well, here in the book of Hebrews, it doesn't specify a clear 70 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,920 geographical audience, but the early church tradition and some clues 71 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:31,880 you see in the book suggest that it was likely written to Jewish 72 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,440 Christians in Rome, who or some other urban center within the 73 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:35,240 Roman Empire. 74 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,400 Hebrews 13:24 states, they of Italy salute you. 75 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,320 Possibly indicating that the author was in Italy writing outward, 76 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,520 or that there were Italian believers that were sending greetings 77 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:46,360 from outside of Rome. 78 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,999 But regardless, the recipients who are part of a church that are 79 00:03:48,999 --> 00:03:53,200 facing pressure, they were facing this pressure in or near the 80 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,960 heart of the Roman power during this time. 81 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,700 The day of the writing of this book was before AD 70, as the destruction 82 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:02,980 of the Jerusalem temple was never mentioned. 83 00:04:03,620 --> 00:04:06,140 Now, once again, the primary audience is the Jewish Christians 84 00:04:06,140 --> 00:04:09,420 who are familiar with the Old Testament sacrificial system, priesthood 85 00:04:09,420 --> 00:04:09,980 and covenants. 86 00:04:09,980 --> 00:04:12,220 So this ties in with what Pastor Josh is preaching about from 87 00:04:12,220 --> 00:04:15,060 the book of Romans, talking about Abraham, how he believed God 88 00:04:15,060 --> 00:04:16,260 and accounted him for righteousness. 89 00:04:16,260 --> 00:04:19,620 The same kind of ideas you find through the book of Hebrews 90 00:04:20,260 --> 00:04:22,780 and Abraham's actually mentioned in chapter 11 with the 91 00:04:22,780 --> 00:04:24,420 hall of faith of the chapter of faith. 92 00:04:25,950 --> 00:04:28,710 These believers that are being written to here, they were facing 93 00:04:28,710 --> 00:04:31,470 persecution and they were also facing discouragement. 94 00:04:31,870 --> 00:04:33,910 They were going through hardships in their life. 95 00:04:33,910 --> 00:04:38,230 Some were tempted to return back to Judaism to forsake their 96 00:04:38,230 --> 00:04:41,390 identity with Christ, to go back to where they were comfortable, 97 00:04:41,630 --> 00:04:42,990 where they had come from. 98 00:04:44,750 --> 00:04:47,630 This letter was also both a pastoral encouragement, but also 99 00:04:47,630 --> 00:04:48,990 a theological warning. 100 00:04:49,230 --> 00:04:50,430 Do not turn back. 101 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:55,160 Don't forsake the sacrifice of what Jesus Christ has done. 102 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,320 As far as the author for Hebrews, church tradition says, and 103 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,440 apparently with church history, the old church history documents 104 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,800 said it was the Apostle Paul, but then those documents got misplaced. 105 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,160 So today we officially say we don't know who the official author 106 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,920 is, but that's the rumor is he said that people believe it's the 107 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,560 Apostle Paul, but today we don't know who that exact author 108 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:15,960 is. 109 00:05:16,770 --> 00:05:19,930 Now, some of the theology you kind of find through Hebrews, it 110 00:05:19,930 --> 00:05:22,690 presents Jesus as a final fulfillment of a bunch of different 111 00:05:22,690 --> 00:05:23,810 shadows and types. 112 00:05:24,210 --> 00:05:27,410 Some themes we see is the superiority of Christ right over 113 00:05:27,410 --> 00:05:29,010 angels, Moses and the priests. 114 00:05:29,170 --> 00:05:33,010 He is the once for all sufficiency, sufficient sacrifice 115 00:05:33,010 --> 00:05:34,930 for us, He's a better and new covenant. 116 00:05:35,090 --> 00:05:37,330 There's perseverance and faith under trial. 117 00:05:37,570 --> 00:05:40,810 And then we see towards the end that God's discipline is as an 118 00:05:40,810 --> 00:05:42,830 evidence of sonship, right? 119 00:05:42,830 --> 00:05:46,950 As a father chastens his son, he loves his son to bring him back, 120 00:05:47,350 --> 00:05:47,750 right? 121 00:05:47,830 --> 00:05:49,430 And so you can kind of see that towards the end. 122 00:05:49,510 --> 00:05:53,230 Now, the key verse in the book of Hebrews is Hebrews 12:2, where 123 00:05:53,230 --> 00:05:56,430 it says, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our 124 00:05:56,430 --> 00:05:56,870 faith. 125 00:05:58,870 --> 00:06:00,230 So why is this book written? 126 00:06:00,390 --> 00:06:03,630 It is written to warn Jewish believers against drifting from the 127 00:06:03,630 --> 00:06:07,270 faith and encouraging them to endure by showing that Jesus Christ 128 00:06:07,270 --> 00:06:11,250 is superior in every way as prophet, priest and king, and that 129 00:06:11,250 --> 00:06:13,410 faith in him is worth every cost of your life. 130 00:06:14,210 --> 00:06:16,770 The book of Hebrews is broken down in chapters one through four 131 00:06:16,930 --> 00:06:18,850 talk about the supremacy of Christ's person. 132 00:06:19,250 --> 00:06:22,250 Chapters five through seven to talk about the superiority of Christ's 133 00:06:22,250 --> 00:06:22,770 priesthood. 134 00:06:23,170 --> 00:06:24,849 Chapters eight through ten will be there tonight. 135 00:06:24,849 --> 00:06:28,690 In chapter ten is how Christ is superior in his covenant and sacrifice. 136 00:06:28,930 --> 00:06:32,450 And then chapters 11 through 13 is the call to live by faith. 137 00:06:32,690 --> 00:06:36,130 And so we're coming here in chapter 10 where it's kind of summarizing 138 00:06:36,810 --> 00:06:38,170 Christ's covenant and sacrifice. 139 00:06:38,170 --> 00:06:40,970 And it goes into chapter 11 talking about how there are different 140 00:06:40,970 --> 00:06:45,130 portraits of faith that people who trusted in God and literally 141 00:06:45,130 --> 00:06:46,810 lived out faith before God. 142 00:06:47,530 --> 00:06:50,330 And so we're here tonight right in this chapter, this niche, 143 00:06:50,890 --> 00:06:54,370 where it's talking about us remembering Christ's sacrifice for 144 00:06:54,370 --> 00:06:54,650 us. 145 00:06:55,770 --> 00:06:58,450 And so our first point tonight we're going to see is that you must 146 00:06:58,450 --> 00:07:00,330 be bold in Christ. 147 00:07:01,130 --> 00:07:05,550 We're here in Hebrews, chapter 10 and we're going to start, just 148 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:07,630 give you some context, we're going to start in verse 14. 149 00:07:07,630 --> 00:07:12,070 It says, for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that 150 00:07:12,070 --> 00:07:15,070 are sanctified whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us. 151 00:07:15,310 --> 00:07:18,070 For after that he had said before, this is a covenant that I 152 00:07:18,070 --> 00:07:20,870 will make with him after those days, saith the Lord, I will put 153 00:07:20,870 --> 00:07:22,430 my laws into their hearts and their minds. 154 00:07:22,430 --> 00:07:24,830 Will I write them and their sins and iniquities. 155 00:07:24,830 --> 00:07:25,950 I remember no more. 156 00:07:26,110 --> 00:07:29,950 Now the remission of these is there is no more offering for sin. 157 00:07:29,950 --> 00:07:32,630 So a couple of explanations there you go back to verse 14. 158 00:07:32,630 --> 00:07:36,110 It talks about how there was one offering, there was one sacrifice 159 00:07:36,190 --> 00:07:39,590 that Jesus Christ made for you, that he made for me. 160 00:07:39,590 --> 00:07:41,710 A once and done sacrifice. 161 00:07:42,190 --> 00:07:44,990 As you're going throughout your life, you may have a sin, you 162 00:07:44,990 --> 00:07:45,230 may. 163 00:07:45,230 --> 00:07:46,190 You may mess up. 164 00:07:46,350 --> 00:07:50,310 But what does 1 John 1:9 say if we confess our sins, which means 165 00:07:50,310 --> 00:07:53,190 to say the same thing as he is faithful and just, to forgive us 166 00:07:53,190 --> 00:07:55,630 our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? 167 00:07:55,630 --> 00:07:57,070 He is a faithful high priest. 168 00:07:57,340 --> 00:07:59,180 He is one who has passed in the heavens. 169 00:07:59,500 --> 00:08:01,340 Hebrews chapter four talks about that. 170 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:04,500 Let us come before the throne of grace, that we can attain mercy 171 00:08:04,500 --> 00:08:06,780 and find grace to help in time of need. 172 00:08:07,900 --> 00:08:10,700 Tonight, the beginning of August, towards the end of the summer, 173 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:12,460 do you find yourself in a time of need? 174 00:08:15,820 --> 00:08:18,580 The people here, who this author is writing to, they were in 175 00:08:18,580 --> 00:08:20,860 a time of need, they were struggling. 176 00:08:21,580 --> 00:08:24,060 So maybe you find yourself here, but when you are struggling, 177 00:08:24,060 --> 00:08:27,160 when you are going through a difficulty or whatever it is, maybe 178 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:28,880 you're like, yeah, I'm doing great here. 179 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,200 In verse 19, do not forget to be bold in Christ. 180 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:36,240 Verse 19 it says, Having therefore brethren boldness to enter 181 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:41,480 into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, 182 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,760 which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, 183 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:48,080 his flesh, and having an high priest over the house of God, let 184 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,480 us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having 185 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,830 our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed 186 00:08:54,830 --> 00:08:58,070 with pure water, let us hold fast the profession of our faith 187 00:08:58,070 --> 00:09:00,830 without wavering, for he is faithful that promise. 188 00:09:01,230 --> 00:09:02,590 And let us consider one another. 189 00:09:02,670 --> 00:09:06,190 To provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling 190 00:09:06,190 --> 00:09:09,030 of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting 191 00:09:09,030 --> 00:09:11,990 one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 192 00:09:11,990 --> 00:09:12,830 Verse 26. 193 00:09:13,150 --> 00:09:16,670 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge 194 00:09:16,670 --> 00:09:20,410 of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for our sins, but 195 00:09:20,410 --> 00:09:24,170 a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, 196 00:09:24,170 --> 00:09:25,890 which shall devour the adversaries. 197 00:09:26,050 --> 00:09:30,090 He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three 198 00:09:30,090 --> 00:09:34,050 witnesses of how much sure punishment, Suppose ye shall he be 199 00:09:34,050 --> 00:09:37,490 thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, 200 00:09:37,490 --> 00:09:40,370 and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified. 201 00:09:40,530 --> 00:09:44,770 An unholy thing hath done despite unto the spirit of grace. 202 00:09:45,250 --> 00:09:47,890 For we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth unto me. 203 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:49,440 I'll recompense, saith the Lord. 204 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,120 And again the Lord shall judge his people. 205 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,640 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 206 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,560 Tonight we're going to see this first point is that you must 207 00:09:57,560 --> 00:09:59,120 be bold in Christ. 208 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:01,560 Being bold in Christ. 209 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:03,040 What does this word boldness here mean? 210 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,840 It means to have a freedom of speech, to have a confidence. 211 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,080 Does it mean having, having an arrogance? 212 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,160 No, it means to have a confidence, knowing the promises 213 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,800 of God, knowing who Christ is, knowing that his one and done sacrifice. 214 00:10:15,210 --> 00:10:17,970 I can come back to him every single day, every single moment. 215 00:10:17,970 --> 00:10:21,090 I'm going through a struggle, I'm going through a trial, I'm going 216 00:10:21,090 --> 00:10:22,490 through a mistake that I've made in my life. 217 00:10:22,490 --> 00:10:23,610 I'm able to come before him. 218 00:10:23,610 --> 00:10:27,170 Even chapter four talks about that we can come before his throne 219 00:10:27,170 --> 00:10:29,930 of grace to find that help in time of need. 220 00:10:30,810 --> 00:10:33,770 And so we see there's this freedom of speech, a confidence, 221 00:10:33,770 --> 00:10:34,650 a courage. 222 00:10:34,890 --> 00:10:38,970 We are encouraged to come into God's prayer, to be able to intentionally 223 00:10:39,050 --> 00:10:40,410 take that time with God. 224 00:10:40,750 --> 00:10:42,830 They come before him and just say, lord, I need you. 225 00:10:43,870 --> 00:10:46,550 Whether you're going through a, maybe you're in a mountaintop 226 00:10:46,550 --> 00:10:49,430 experience right now, tomorrow going to Six Flags on top of roller 227 00:10:49,430 --> 00:10:54,110 coaster, or maybe you're down in the pits wherever you are. 228 00:10:54,350 --> 00:10:56,310 Being bold and coming before God. 229 00:10:56,310 --> 00:10:58,350 This implies a fearless confidence. 230 00:10:58,990 --> 00:11:02,590 Originally it was used for free citizens who could speak openly 231 00:11:02,590 --> 00:11:03,710 in public assemblies. 232 00:11:03,950 --> 00:11:06,190 Back in the Roman time, there were citizens who were able to come 233 00:11:06,190 --> 00:11:08,990 out to bring their petitions before the leadership of the Roman 234 00:11:08,990 --> 00:11:09,430 Empire. 235 00:11:09,430 --> 00:11:13,200 Being able to say, oh, you know, ruler, I have this request, 236 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,480 I have this need that openness is made available by Christ to every 237 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:18,360 single one of us. 238 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,240 We have that open accessibility because of Christ. 239 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,560 In the Old Testament, only the high priest entered the most holy 240 00:11:24,560 --> 00:11:25,760 place once a year with blood. 241 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:30,600 Leviticus 16, 14, 15 in Christ's blood grants all believers 242 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,640 direct access to God's presence. 243 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:38,630 Have you ever had children or ever been watching some children 244 00:11:38,630 --> 00:11:38,990 before? 245 00:11:39,870 --> 00:11:43,110 And you're sleeping, maybe it's like a stormy night, it's thundering 246 00:11:43,110 --> 00:11:44,910 outside and a little child come and just. 247 00:11:45,950 --> 00:11:50,270 You hear a soft knock, or maybe you wake up in the morning, 248 00:11:50,270 --> 00:11:52,950 your child is sleeping on the outside of the door because they 249 00:11:52,950 --> 00:11:56,910 were scared, you know, whatever the case is, right? 250 00:11:56,910 --> 00:11:59,310 That little child that's coming in, why is that child coming 251 00:11:59,310 --> 00:12:00,270 into your bedroom? 252 00:12:00,590 --> 00:12:03,070 Well, that child is coming into your room because they know 253 00:12:03,070 --> 00:12:05,680 they can Trust you, they know they can come before you. 254 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:07,600 When they're fearful, when they're, when they're struggling, 255 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,080 they don't know what's going on, they're scared. 256 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,800 They can come before their parents, right? 257 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,440 And be able to come get mommy with mommy or Daddy, right? 258 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:16,480 Be able to snuggle with them. 259 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,160 But that's kind of the idea here, is that we have this open access, 260 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,080 right, where we can come before him, we can bring our petitions, 261 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,560 bring our requests before Him. 262 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,480 And being able to bring this before, I mean, is he going to turn 263 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:27,840 us away? 264 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:33,300 No psalm says, but a broken and a contrite heart he will not 265 00:12:33,300 --> 00:12:33,940 despise. 266 00:12:34,580 --> 00:12:37,660 If you're discouraged, if you have a broken heart, you're going 267 00:12:37,660 --> 00:12:39,700 through something, God's not going to push you, right? 268 00:12:39,860 --> 00:12:42,100 If you're coming with a humble heart, you're coming with that. 269 00:12:42,180 --> 00:12:45,180 If it's a repentant heart from sin, or maybe it's a broken heart 270 00:12:45,180 --> 00:12:46,340 over something in your life. 271 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:48,900 Being able to come before him, he's not going to despise you. 272 00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:51,140 He's not going to tear you down and say, how dare you come and 273 00:12:51,220 --> 00:12:52,820 how dare you come and talk to me? 274 00:12:52,980 --> 00:12:53,380 No. 275 00:12:53,860 --> 00:12:56,440 He's the kind of God who wants that open relationship with him, 276 00:12:56,590 --> 00:12:56,830 us. 277 00:12:57,230 --> 00:13:00,550 And so we see that we can approach God daily with confidence 278 00:13:00,550 --> 00:13:03,950 in prayer and worship, knowing that Jesus's blood has removed all 279 00:13:03,950 --> 00:13:04,510 the barriers. 280 00:13:04,910 --> 00:13:06,830 Don't let guilt or fear keep you away. 281 00:13:07,070 --> 00:13:09,150 His blood covers a multitude of sins. 282 00:13:09,870 --> 00:13:11,790 And so we take that to look into verse 20. 283 00:13:12,349 --> 00:13:15,830 Verse 20, it says, this is by a new and a living way which he hath 284 00:13:15,830 --> 00:13:18,990 consecrated for us in the veil, that is to say, his flesh. 285 00:13:19,630 --> 00:13:24,070 And so we see this is a new way, meaning that the sacrifice of 286 00:13:24,070 --> 00:13:25,990 Christ is active today. 287 00:13:26,790 --> 00:13:29,030 The blood of Christ covers sins today. 288 00:13:29,750 --> 00:13:31,790 It's not something that just happened 2,000 years ago. 289 00:13:31,790 --> 00:13:36,550 And that's is something that is active and is alive today. 290 00:13:37,430 --> 00:13:41,750 The veil of the temple, it was torn at Christ's death, Matthew 27:51. 291 00:13:41,830 --> 00:13:44,430 It symbolizes his body which was broken for us. 292 00:13:44,430 --> 00:13:46,990 We had the Lord's Supper this morning remembering how he. 293 00:13:46,990 --> 00:13:50,360 How he was torn for us, how he was scourged for our sins. 294 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,760 Isaiah talks about that the chastisement of our peace is upon 295 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:56,760 him, and by his stripes we are healed. 296 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:01,400 The stripes of Christ, we are healed presently, today. 297 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,640 And maybe you say, well, Pastor John, you have no idea. 298 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:07,280 I've been having this one struggle for 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 299 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:07,640 years. 300 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,720 Well, I can tell you today, before the eyes of God, he knows 301 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:14,200 exactly where that struggle is and you can confess that sin tonight. 302 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:17,100 That's the power of the forgiveness of God. 303 00:14:17,740 --> 00:14:19,500 His blood cleanses all sins. 304 00:14:20,220 --> 00:14:23,260 The question is, are you willing to give that up? 305 00:14:23,980 --> 00:14:27,700 Are you willing to remove that idol of your heart to confess that 306 00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:28,460 sin to him? 307 00:14:28,540 --> 00:14:32,220 Which means to say the same thing as saying, lord, I acknowledge 308 00:14:32,220 --> 00:14:32,540 this. 309 00:14:33,100 --> 00:14:35,980 Maybe it's an idol, maybe it's a struggle, maybe it's a sin. 310 00:14:36,780 --> 00:14:39,620 And rather than keeping that in keeping it close to you, saying, 311 00:14:39,620 --> 00:14:41,020 you know what, I want no part of it. 312 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:43,320 What does the Bible say about that? 313 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,960 We are to put to death, we are to mortify the deeds of our bodies, 314 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,840 the flesh, sin, things that are going on in our lives, the mind 315 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:57,240 putting to death the desires of the flesh by walking in the spirit. 316 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,480 And here tonight specifically, we see that this is all done through 317 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:05,080 a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us. 318 00:15:06,770 --> 00:15:10,170 And so we see that we are called to live as if the way, as 319 00:15:10,170 --> 00:15:11,650 if the way to God is always open. 320 00:15:12,210 --> 00:15:16,410 Don't treat Jesus sacrifice as a one time event, but it should be 321 00:15:16,410 --> 00:15:19,090 a living path to intimacy with God. 322 00:15:19,250 --> 00:15:21,090 It should be a continual relationship. 323 00:15:21,090 --> 00:15:23,010 It should be a continual walk, right? 324 00:15:23,730 --> 00:15:26,450 It wasn't just the great high priest going in once a year now. 325 00:15:26,690 --> 00:15:28,930 No, that curtain was torn in two. 326 00:15:29,250 --> 00:15:33,370 And we have accessibility to God every single day, every single 327 00:15:33,370 --> 00:15:35,090 moment, all throughout your life. 328 00:15:35,490 --> 00:15:38,730 If you feel discouraged, if you feel like nobody else understands, 329 00:15:38,730 --> 00:15:40,690 if you feel like nobody knows what you're going through. 330 00:15:41,170 --> 00:15:45,050 Hebrews 4 says that we have a high priest who is touched with the 331 00:15:45,050 --> 00:15:49,570 filling of our infirmities because he knows he was tempted like 332 00:15:49,570 --> 00:15:51,970 as we are, yet without sin. 333 00:15:53,490 --> 00:15:56,450 He was tempted, guys, just like you, just like me. 334 00:15:56,530 --> 00:15:58,290 But he was able to overcome them. 335 00:15:58,530 --> 00:16:00,530 He was able to overcome that by his power. 336 00:16:00,850 --> 00:16:04,170 And if he was able to overcome that, can we overcome that in our 337 00:16:04,170 --> 00:16:04,450 life? 338 00:16:05,010 --> 00:16:06,050 We certainly can. 339 00:16:06,290 --> 00:16:07,810 And here we see that that's the same. 340 00:16:07,810 --> 00:16:08,850 That's simply the truth. 341 00:16:09,090 --> 00:16:10,290 So let's live like it. 342 00:16:10,770 --> 00:16:11,890 Look at verse 21. 343 00:16:12,210 --> 00:16:15,450 It says, Having a high priest over the house of God, Let us draw 344 00:16:15,450 --> 00:16:18,690 near with the true heart and full assurance of faith. 345 00:16:18,690 --> 00:16:22,130 Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies 346 00:16:22,130 --> 00:16:23,330 washed with pure water. 347 00:16:23,330 --> 00:16:24,370 Draw near here. 348 00:16:24,860 --> 00:16:28,380 This is the idea of approaching with purpose and reverence, 349 00:16:28,380 --> 00:16:28,580 right? 350 00:16:28,580 --> 00:16:31,820 We're not just, we're not just half heartedly you know, looking 351 00:16:31,820 --> 00:16:34,140 over here as we're coming over here, right? 352 00:16:34,140 --> 00:16:36,740 We're not keeping our distraction, no, we're having our 353 00:16:36,740 --> 00:16:38,060 full focus on God. 354 00:16:39,420 --> 00:16:41,900 Jesus, our high priest, he intercedes for us. 355 00:16:41,900 --> 00:16:43,580 His blood cleanses our conscience. 356 00:16:43,580 --> 00:16:46,580 This enables us to be able to approach God with that sincerity 357 00:16:46,580 --> 00:16:49,780 and faith, a true heart and full assurance of faith. 358 00:16:49,780 --> 00:16:51,260 This is a heart of truthfulness. 359 00:16:51,610 --> 00:16:54,890 With the fullness of persuasion, I have been persuaded 360 00:16:54,970 --> 00:16:58,650 that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against 361 00:16:58,650 --> 00:16:59,290 that day. 362 00:16:59,850 --> 00:17:01,770 I know that God's a faithful God. 363 00:17:01,930 --> 00:17:05,050 He remembers his promises, he remembers his mercies towards them, 364 00:17:05,050 --> 00:17:07,850 that walk with him, mercies that you were sharing tonight, Mr. 365 00:17:07,850 --> 00:17:11,130 Risa, about being able to testify and to saying, lord, you're 366 00:17:11,130 --> 00:17:14,170 a good God, you're a faithful God, you're watching over me. 367 00:17:14,650 --> 00:17:17,810 And even though I might, the situations, it may be as difficult 368 00:17:17,810 --> 00:17:18,970 that I'm dealing with right now. 369 00:17:19,130 --> 00:17:21,530 But in my heart of hearts, I'm trusting you. 370 00:17:22,079 --> 00:17:23,599 I know that you're a faithful God. 371 00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:28,199 I know that I'm going to keep, as I keep my heart and my mind focused 372 00:17:28,199 --> 00:17:31,159 on you and that cleansing through his blood, our hearts are 373 00:17:31,159 --> 00:17:32,959 sprinkled from that evil conscience. 374 00:17:32,959 --> 00:17:33,359 Why? 375 00:17:33,599 --> 00:17:34,559 How is it done? 376 00:17:35,679 --> 00:17:38,959 Is it just a one time event that our hearts are cleansed? 377 00:17:39,839 --> 00:17:43,519 No, it's every single moment, every single day, right? 378 00:17:43,759 --> 00:17:47,559 It is a continual thing that we are abiding in the truth of God's 379 00:17:47,559 --> 00:17:47,859 word. 380 00:17:48,090 --> 00:17:49,290 They were abiding with God. 381 00:17:49,290 --> 00:17:50,650 We are spending time with him. 382 00:17:51,770 --> 00:17:53,130 2 Timothy 1:12. 383 00:17:53,690 --> 00:17:57,290 Paul was telling Timothy, he said, for the which cause I also 384 00:17:57,370 --> 00:17:58,810 suffer these things, right? 385 00:17:59,050 --> 00:18:01,890 Paul endured for the Gospel. 386 00:18:01,890 --> 00:18:04,530 Paul endured for the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus 387 00:18:04,530 --> 00:18:04,730 Christ. 388 00:18:04,730 --> 00:18:08,370 He was declaring that message and he was shipwrecked, he was beaten, 389 00:18:08,370 --> 00:18:09,370 he was thrown in prison. 390 00:18:09,370 --> 00:18:11,770 He went through a lot of hardships in his life. 391 00:18:12,250 --> 00:18:15,610 And he says, nevertheless, I am not ashamed. 392 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,080 He was never ashamed. 393 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,920 He even asked believers in this day, he said, pray that I would 394 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,800 have all boldness that I can just magnify Christ. 395 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,560 He told the Philippians, he said, whether, whether I be, whether 396 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:33,520 Christ is magnified by my death or by my life, may you be magnified 397 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:35,120 Christ in and through my life. 398 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:38,560 But he goes on and he says, for I know whom I have believeth, 399 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:40,400 who have you believed? 400 00:18:42,170 --> 00:18:44,410 Romans 3 talks about that right to the Jews. 401 00:18:44,970 --> 00:18:46,170 To whom do we believe? 402 00:18:46,490 --> 00:18:47,850 Who is our report about? 403 00:18:50,010 --> 00:18:51,930 We get to believe on Christ. 404 00:18:52,090 --> 00:18:54,410 But here he says, I know who I believe, right? 405 00:18:54,490 --> 00:18:58,090 He's our faithful high priest, our great high priest and am persuaded 406 00:18:58,090 --> 00:19:02,490 that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against 407 00:19:02,490 --> 00:19:03,130 that day. 408 00:19:03,850 --> 00:19:06,890 Like Pastor Josh talking this morning about that eternal focus, 409 00:19:06,890 --> 00:19:08,010 that hope in Christ. 410 00:19:08,930 --> 00:19:12,450 It's not here and now, just the here and now, right, it is a 411 00:19:12,450 --> 00:19:14,850 continual thing until the day of Jesus Christ. 412 00:19:15,010 --> 00:19:18,690 But here he says that I know whom I believe it and am persuaded 413 00:19:18,770 --> 00:19:22,450 that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against 414 00:19:22,450 --> 00:19:22,890 that day. 415 00:19:22,890 --> 00:19:23,970 You know what Paul was saying? 416 00:19:24,610 --> 00:19:27,690 Paul was saying that no matter what I'm going through, I had that 417 00:19:27,690 --> 00:19:28,410 thorn in the flesh. 418 00:19:28,410 --> 00:19:30,490 I asked God to remove that physical difficulty. 419 00:19:30,490 --> 00:19:33,490 I asked God to remove, to be going through things. 420 00:19:35,890 --> 00:19:40,370 But Paul said, I am persuaded that God is able to keep that which 421 00:19:40,370 --> 00:19:41,290 I've committed the Lord. 422 00:19:41,290 --> 00:19:42,410 I'm committing this to you. 423 00:19:42,410 --> 00:19:43,970 I'm committing my life to you. 424 00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:45,810 I'm committing everything to you. 425 00:19:46,530 --> 00:19:47,730 Don't hesitate to pray. 426 00:19:48,610 --> 00:19:50,530 Don't be fearful about worshiping God. 427 00:19:50,770 --> 00:19:52,450 Don't fear that you're not good enough. 428 00:19:53,090 --> 00:19:55,050 Because the truth is that we'll never be good enough in of 429 00:19:55,050 --> 00:19:55,490 ourselves. 430 00:19:56,690 --> 00:20:01,010 We must rest and trust in Christ's cleansing and his approach 431 00:20:01,010 --> 00:20:04,590 to God with that sincere heart. 432 00:20:05,070 --> 00:20:08,670 So where is that object of faith for us as we're struggling, 433 00:20:08,670 --> 00:20:09,710 as we're going through our life? 434 00:20:09,710 --> 00:20:11,070 Where is the object of faith? 435 00:20:11,310 --> 00:20:12,830 It is in God himself. 436 00:20:13,710 --> 00:20:17,470 So first, tonight you must be bold, but secondly, you must embrace 437 00:20:17,869 --> 00:20:18,990 an accountable community. 438 00:20:21,230 --> 00:20:22,670 Look down at verse 23. 439 00:20:23,470 --> 00:20:26,710 It says, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, 440 00:20:26,710 --> 00:20:27,670 for he is faithful. 441 00:20:27,670 --> 00:20:28,350 That promise. 442 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,000 Let us consider one another to provoke into love and to good works, 443 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,640 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner 444 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:36,440 of some is, but exhorting one another. 445 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,840 And so much the more, as you see the day approaching. 446 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,680 Here we see in verse 23, let us hold fast the profession. 447 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,480 That profession there means an open confession, an agreement before 448 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,640 God, a public acknowledgment of faith. 449 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:50,000 Right? 450 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,160 We're gathered together, Ecclesia. 451 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,040 We are the church. 452 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,130 We are gathered together to proclaim Christ, to proclaim that 453 00:20:56,130 --> 00:20:58,250 he is the high priest, that he is a faithful God. 454 00:20:58,250 --> 00:21:00,290 We are acknowledging Christ together. 455 00:21:00,770 --> 00:21:04,290 And there it says in verse 23, he's telling the audience, he's saying, 456 00:21:04,290 --> 00:21:06,690 let us hold fast the profession of our faith together. 457 00:21:08,210 --> 00:21:13,330 And it says, without wavering, holding fast means to grip tightly 458 00:21:13,410 --> 00:21:18,730 or retain firmly, implying active effort against the opposition, 459 00:21:18,730 --> 00:21:19,090 right? 460 00:21:19,810 --> 00:21:23,240 Without wavering, the Hebrew Christians, they face pressure to 461 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:24,160 abandon their faith. 462 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,960 But this verse here urges steadfastness. 463 00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:29,520 And where is their steadfastness rooted in? 464 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,400 It's rooted in God's unwavering faithfulness for us. 465 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,520 Now, James chapter one talks about when those scattered Christians, 466 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,440 the Jewish Christians, they were scattered amongst the known 467 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:41,520 world during that time. 468 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:46,320 He told them in chapter One he said, as you're going through difficulties, 469 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,730 you're going through trials later on. 470 00:21:48,730 --> 00:21:53,570 In that context it says to ask God for wisdom who gives to all men 471 00:21:53,570 --> 00:21:53,930 liberally. 472 00:21:53,930 --> 00:21:56,690 He breatheth not and it shall be given him. 473 00:21:57,890 --> 00:22:02,130 But as James talks about this and telling believers to ask in faith, 474 00:22:02,130 --> 00:22:04,770 he says to ask in faith without wavering. 475 00:22:05,970 --> 00:22:07,810 And who is the one that wavers? 476 00:22:08,210 --> 00:22:13,010 The one who wavers, he says the one who wavers should not expect 477 00:22:13,010 --> 00:22:15,210 to receive any, anything from the Lord. 478 00:22:16,490 --> 00:22:18,570 That's a very, that's a very stern rebuke. 479 00:22:19,850 --> 00:22:23,290 If we come to God, right, that half hearted approach where we're 480 00:22:23,290 --> 00:22:25,490 like, okay, God, I want your help. 481 00:22:25,490 --> 00:22:28,930 And I also want, I also want something from my own understanding. 482 00:22:28,930 --> 00:22:32,130 I want, you know, maybe it's rich, maybe it's money, maybe it's 483 00:22:32,130 --> 00:22:35,010 fame, maybe it's relationships, it's something that 484 00:22:35,010 --> 00:22:36,170 you know is not Christ. 485 00:22:37,050 --> 00:22:39,610 And maybe you've embracing that and God's tonight, he's telling 486 00:22:39,610 --> 00:22:41,530 you, no, I want you to fully embrace me tonight. 487 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:46,040 I want you to embrace your calling entirely in Me tonight. 488 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:50,440 And so we're called to hold fast without wavering. 489 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:55,760 When life's trials tempt you to doubt or drift, cling to Christ's 490 00:22:55,760 --> 00:23:00,800 promises, your trust in God's faithfulness, it will reflect endurance 491 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:01,400 in your life. 492 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:06,440 So maybe think to yourself, right, Monday morning, work man. 493 00:23:07,410 --> 00:23:09,530 My co workers have no idea what I was going through this last 494 00:23:09,530 --> 00:23:09,970 weekend. 495 00:23:11,170 --> 00:23:12,530 Nobody else understands. 496 00:23:13,410 --> 00:23:17,650 And, but, but if you're truly trusting in God, if you're truly 497 00:23:17,650 --> 00:23:20,530 allowing yourself to rest in his faithfulness, to rest in his 498 00:23:20,530 --> 00:23:25,850 power, to rest in his one and done sacrifice for you as you rest 499 00:23:25,850 --> 00:23:28,850 upon him, as, as you yield to him, he gives you that strength to 500 00:23:28,850 --> 00:23:29,810 be able to endure. 501 00:23:30,210 --> 00:23:32,930 Because now you're not relying on yourself, you're relying on Him. 502 00:23:33,390 --> 00:23:34,190 Does that make sense? 503 00:23:34,910 --> 00:23:38,670 And so you rely on him and you say, lord, I truly rely upon you. 504 00:23:38,750 --> 00:23:41,470 And so when you're at work on Monday morning, everyone else is 505 00:23:41,470 --> 00:23:44,430 bringing a cup of coffee and you're bringing out Jesus and you're 506 00:23:44,430 --> 00:23:47,430 able to say, lord, I'm just trusting you this morning and I'm 507 00:23:47,430 --> 00:23:49,630 resting in your grace and resting in your strength today to 508 00:23:49,630 --> 00:23:50,590 help me to get through this. 509 00:23:51,550 --> 00:23:55,430 And so you're trusting God's faithfulness, it will reflect endurance, 510 00:23:55,430 --> 00:23:56,590 but it's not going to be for your ownership. 511 00:23:56,590 --> 00:23:59,150 People are going to look at your hand and say, how is that person 512 00:23:59,310 --> 00:23:59,870 so strong? 513 00:24:00,030 --> 00:24:04,650 And in doing what they're going through right now, and you're 514 00:24:04,650 --> 00:24:06,530 able to say, it's all God. 515 00:24:06,690 --> 00:24:07,730 Has nothing to do with. 516 00:24:08,210 --> 00:24:12,210 And you're able to point them to Christ through that trust in him. 517 00:24:13,010 --> 00:24:16,770 And that's where you see the last part of verse 23, where it says, 518 00:24:16,770 --> 00:24:21,130 for he is faithful, that promise, the one who made the promises 519 00:24:21,130 --> 00:24:22,610 of the one who's a faithful God. 520 00:24:22,690 --> 00:24:26,170 He is the one who is faithful and will always be with you, even 521 00:24:26,170 --> 00:24:27,010 at the very end. 522 00:24:28,300 --> 00:24:29,660 Let me go on to verse 24. 523 00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:34,020 First 24 says, Let us consider one another to provoke unto love 524 00:24:34,020 --> 00:24:35,180 and to good works. 525 00:24:35,660 --> 00:24:40,300 This means to stir up, to strongly encourage, often with urgency, 526 00:24:40,300 --> 00:24:40,540 right? 527 00:24:40,540 --> 00:24:45,980 And so with this word here, considering means to observe carefully, 528 00:24:45,980 --> 00:24:47,420 like you're looking at others needs, right? 529 00:24:47,580 --> 00:24:49,620 And as you're looking at others needs, you see what they're 530 00:24:49,620 --> 00:24:50,140 going through. 531 00:24:50,220 --> 00:24:51,660 Believers are called to. 532 00:24:51,820 --> 00:24:54,260 They're called to intentionally spur each other toward 533 00:24:54,260 --> 00:24:58,490 love and good deeds, not just passively listening or negatively 534 00:24:58,490 --> 00:24:59,650 engaging in conversation. 535 00:24:59,650 --> 00:25:02,130 That's not going to be supportive for that situation. 536 00:25:03,010 --> 00:25:06,890 And so we as believers, right, if we have a problem with somebody, 537 00:25:06,890 --> 00:25:08,170 we go and we talk to them about it. 538 00:25:08,170 --> 00:25:09,610 We go and we address that issue with them. 539 00:25:09,610 --> 00:25:11,490 And we say here, this is what's going on. 540 00:25:11,810 --> 00:25:15,570 Galatians 6:2 says, Bring one of those burdens and so fulfill the 541 00:25:15,570 --> 00:25:16,130 law of Christ. 542 00:25:16,530 --> 00:25:19,010 Like teammates are together in a team, right? 543 00:25:19,650 --> 00:25:22,490 Man, maybe it's a football team. 544 00:25:22,490 --> 00:25:25,480 Man, that quarterback, you did a horrible job tonight. 545 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:26,240 No, right. 546 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:27,920 Hey, teammate, can I get with you? 547 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,440 Let's practice your runs, let's practice your throws, right? 548 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:31,120 Let's practice. 549 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:32,000 Let's work together. 550 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:33,040 Can I pray with you? 551 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:33,920 Can I encourage you? 552 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,400 How can I come alongside you to help you be a better quarterback? 553 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:36,720 Right? 554 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,240 But fill in the blank, right, with whatever you're seeing within 555 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,400 the church, man, I'm seeing a need over here. 556 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:44,880 Well, I'm going to go over there and I'm going to step in. 557 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:47,640 And a lot of you guys do a great job with this of being able 558 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:50,320 to step in and encourage other people within the congregation here. 559 00:25:51,290 --> 00:25:53,850 But it says there is considering what another to provoke 560 00:25:54,010 --> 00:25:56,250 unto love and to good works. 561 00:25:57,210 --> 00:26:00,130 And so we see that focus there is on love, God's love, right? 562 00:26:00,130 --> 00:26:02,010 Pastor Josh talked about this morning, right? 563 00:26:02,810 --> 00:26:06,210 The love of God, of giving his only begotten Son. 564 00:26:06,210 --> 00:26:11,130 For us, we abide in God's love, and we're able to abide in 565 00:26:11,130 --> 00:26:13,730 the love that we get from the Holy Spirit and being able to look 566 00:26:13,730 --> 00:26:15,810 forward to that hope of eternal life that we have through 567 00:26:15,810 --> 00:26:16,010 Christ. 568 00:26:16,010 --> 00:26:16,970 Look at verse 25. 569 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:20,100 It says, not forsaken the assembling of ourselves together 570 00:26:20,100 --> 00:26:21,380 as the manner of some is. 571 00:26:22,020 --> 00:26:23,460 And so I've seen this verse before. 572 00:26:24,020 --> 00:26:26,860 And forsaking here means abandoning, right? 573 00:26:26,860 --> 00:26:27,700 Or deserting. 574 00:26:29,540 --> 00:26:32,100 And so there's a deliberate choice to disconnect. 575 00:26:32,100 --> 00:26:35,980 Like, I am not going to be taking an active part within the 576 00:26:35,980 --> 00:26:37,100 local congregation there. 577 00:26:37,100 --> 00:26:41,980 And I personally, I used to be more like legalistic, where I'm like, 578 00:26:41,980 --> 00:26:44,220 all right, we got to be in church every single time the doors 579 00:26:44,220 --> 00:26:44,980 are open, right? 580 00:26:45,850 --> 00:26:49,930 But then the other end too is, well, you know, where are you, right? 581 00:26:49,930 --> 00:26:50,490 Are you here? 582 00:26:50,650 --> 00:26:51,450 Are you present? 583 00:26:52,010 --> 00:26:55,530 But I believe the intentionality behind this verse 584 00:26:55,850 --> 00:26:58,250 is that there should be that continuing. 585 00:26:58,490 --> 00:27:00,570 There should be that continuing relationships in the body 586 00:27:00,570 --> 00:27:02,410 of Christ being present here, right? 587 00:27:02,810 --> 00:27:04,570 If you're missing here and there, you know there's going to 588 00:27:04,570 --> 00:27:07,410 be like a extending many circumstance or whatever, but you're 589 00:27:07,410 --> 00:27:10,010 being intentional on connecting within the body of Christ. 590 00:27:10,490 --> 00:27:12,620 And so what if someone's missing? 591 00:27:12,860 --> 00:27:14,860 Well, if you have a connection with that person. 592 00:27:14,860 --> 00:27:15,820 Hey, I missed you. 593 00:27:15,820 --> 00:27:16,700 You know, I missed you on Sunday. 594 00:27:16,700 --> 00:27:17,700 Is there anything I can do for you? 595 00:27:17,700 --> 00:27:17,980 Right. 596 00:27:18,220 --> 00:27:19,100 Maybe they were sick. 597 00:27:19,100 --> 00:27:20,180 Can I bring a meal by for you? 598 00:27:20,180 --> 00:27:20,340 Right. 599 00:27:20,340 --> 00:27:21,100 Can I encourage you? 600 00:27:21,100 --> 00:27:21,420 Right. 601 00:27:21,740 --> 00:27:23,300 Can I come alongside and pray with you? 602 00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:23,580 Right. 603 00:27:23,820 --> 00:27:24,660 That's the idea. 604 00:27:24,660 --> 00:27:25,700 Just as a ritual, right? 605 00:27:25,700 --> 00:27:27,420 As this a meaningful, meaningless thing. 606 00:27:27,420 --> 00:27:28,540 Not just as a ritual, right? 607 00:27:28,540 --> 00:27:31,140 As this a meaningful, meaningless thing, but something 608 00:27:31,140 --> 00:27:34,620 that I'm intentionally engaging within, having a spiritually 609 00:27:34,860 --> 00:27:37,420 vibrant and accountable life with other believers in the church. 610 00:27:38,360 --> 00:27:40,440 And so we take that to go to our next point here, which means 611 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:44,040 this, which says, you must beware of judgment lest you forget. 612 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,000 You must beware of judgment lest you forget. 613 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:48,520 Look at verse 26. 614 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:51,880 It says, for if we sin willfully, after that we have received 615 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,760 the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice 616 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:55,400 for sins. 617 00:27:56,120 --> 00:28:00,280 And so we see this word here, knowledge means it is a full experiential 618 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:02,640 knowledge, not just mere head knowledge, but you've actually received 619 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:03,640 Christ as your Savior. 620 00:28:04,140 --> 00:28:06,260 And now that you've received Christ as your Savior, you're saying, 621 00:28:06,260 --> 00:28:08,020 all right, thanks, Lord, for saving me. 622 00:28:08,020 --> 00:28:09,420 Now I'm going to go live how I want to live. 623 00:28:10,380 --> 00:28:16,300 I'm going to go to sin against you, and I'm going to take that sacrifice 624 00:28:16,300 --> 00:28:17,260 that you made for me. 625 00:28:18,380 --> 00:28:19,500 I'm going to neglect it. 626 00:28:19,819 --> 00:28:21,340 I'm going to live as I want to live. 627 00:28:23,180 --> 00:28:26,860 This warns against apostasy, deliberately rejecting Christ. 628 00:28:28,220 --> 00:28:32,750 You know, you've experienced the salvation in Christ, you've experienced 629 00:28:32,750 --> 00:28:35,790 that new life in him, but you're actively choosing to live 630 00:28:35,790 --> 00:28:39,150 in rebellion against him, even though you receive Christ as your 631 00:28:39,150 --> 00:28:40,470 Savior, you have neglected him. 632 00:28:41,590 --> 00:28:44,830 And we are called to be remembering, to be engaging right 633 00:28:44,830 --> 00:28:45,430 within our community. 634 00:28:45,590 --> 00:28:49,470 Not forsaking, not neglecting and not forsaking the knowledge of 635 00:28:49,470 --> 00:28:49,710 Christ. 636 00:28:49,710 --> 00:28:54,070 We should be intentionally connecting, like spinning in a lifeboat, 637 00:28:54,070 --> 00:28:54,270 right? 638 00:28:54,270 --> 00:28:56,940 You're, you're trying to preserve this lifeboat. 639 00:28:57,820 --> 00:29:00,380 But, but as you're, as you're trying to, as you're trying to, to 640 00:29:00,380 --> 00:29:03,100 get this lifeboat after being rescued from a sinking ship, right? 641 00:29:03,100 --> 00:29:05,220 You're trying to, you're trying to spit, spit water in this 642 00:29:05,220 --> 00:29:06,460 little, this little lifeboat. 643 00:29:06,540 --> 00:29:07,500 Rejecting Christ. 644 00:29:08,780 --> 00:29:10,060 It leads no other way. 645 00:29:10,140 --> 00:29:12,140 You have to continue living in Him. 646 00:29:12,140 --> 00:29:13,220 He is your anchor. 647 00:29:13,220 --> 00:29:14,620 He is your steadfast hope. 648 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:17,020 He is the one that is taking you to the finish line. 649 00:29:17,900 --> 00:29:19,100 So examine your heart. 650 00:29:19,580 --> 00:29:20,380 Where are you? 651 00:29:21,620 --> 00:29:22,580 Where are we tonight? 652 00:29:22,900 --> 00:29:26,860 Don't flirt with sin and don't take, don't treat Christ's sacrifice 653 00:29:26,860 --> 00:29:27,460 casually. 654 00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:36,779 But we also see for the but we also see that there is a fearful 655 00:29:36,779 --> 00:29:40,980 judgment reserved for the adversaries of God. 656 00:29:40,980 --> 00:29:42,020 James 4:4. 657 00:29:42,180 --> 00:29:45,180 James condemns the believers who are, who are drifting from God. 658 00:29:45,180 --> 00:29:48,420 He says, ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not if the 659 00:29:48,420 --> 00:29:50,380 friendship of the world is enmity with God. 660 00:29:50,540 --> 00:29:53,540 Whosoever therefore be a friend of the world is the enemy 661 00:29:53,540 --> 00:29:53,980 of God. 662 00:29:53,980 --> 00:29:57,860 Do you realize that tonight, guys, that when you choose to be 663 00:29:57,860 --> 00:30:01,260 living in sin, that you are literally on the enemy lines behind 664 00:30:01,260 --> 00:30:02,060 enemy lines? 665 00:30:03,260 --> 00:30:07,500 And if you're on, if you're on the enemy side, when, when, when 666 00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:10,620 God is sending his firepower against the evil one, who's getting 667 00:30:10,620 --> 00:30:10,940 hit? 668 00:30:12,140 --> 00:30:13,420 We're getting hit, right? 669 00:30:13,420 --> 00:30:15,180 Because we're on the wrong side of the field. 670 00:30:15,670 --> 00:30:18,230 We're supposed to be on God's side, living in obedience to him. 671 00:30:19,910 --> 00:30:21,190 But let's go on to verse 28. 672 00:30:21,190 --> 00:30:24,310 It says, he that despised Moses law died without mercy under 673 00:30:24,310 --> 00:30:26,790 two or three witnesses of how much shorter punishment? 674 00:30:27,110 --> 00:30:30,950 Suppose ye shall he be thou worthy, who hath trodden under foot 675 00:30:30,950 --> 00:30:33,550 the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant 676 00:30:33,550 --> 00:30:37,430 wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath hath done 677 00:30:37,430 --> 00:30:39,430 despite unto the Spirit of grace. 678 00:30:40,470 --> 00:30:43,390 And the context here, this phrase here, he that despised Moses 679 00:30:43,390 --> 00:30:45,990 law died without mercy under two or three witnesses primarily 680 00:30:45,990 --> 00:30:50,330 refers to Deuteronomy 17:2 through seven and related passages 681 00:30:50,330 --> 00:30:53,290 in the Mosaic law, which outlines the punishment for certain 682 00:30:53,290 --> 00:30:57,050 serious sins, particularly idolatry and blatant rebellion against 683 00:30:57,050 --> 00:30:58,050 God's covenant. 684 00:30:58,290 --> 00:31:01,690 The accusation was brought and it was required to be confirmed by 685 00:31:01,690 --> 00:31:05,170 two or three witnesses, and this would help to ensure justice. 686 00:31:05,170 --> 00:31:07,050 It wasn't just one person coming and just saying, all right, 687 00:31:07,050 --> 00:31:08,010 this person's doing a sin. 688 00:31:08,010 --> 00:31:09,570 No, it had me two or three witnesses. 689 00:31:10,130 --> 00:31:14,180 But then, if this person was found guilty, the offender then was 690 00:31:14,180 --> 00:31:15,340 to be stoned to death. 691 00:31:16,380 --> 00:31:17,780 Stoned to death for this. 692 00:31:17,780 --> 00:31:19,660 This serious sin against God. 693 00:31:20,380 --> 00:31:23,820 A punishment carried out without mercy. 694 00:31:23,980 --> 00:31:25,260 Because such scenes were. 695 00:31:25,260 --> 00:31:28,740 Such sins were seen as a deliberate rejection of God's covenant 696 00:31:28,740 --> 00:31:29,500 and authority. 697 00:31:30,380 --> 00:31:33,580 This community was involved in the execution to show collective 698 00:31:33,580 --> 00:31:36,860 agreement with God's judgment and to purge the evil from Israel. 699 00:31:37,660 --> 00:31:41,260 And so this wording here we're seeing of trotting underfoot means 700 00:31:41,260 --> 00:31:45,180 to trample with contempt, showing utter disrespect for Christ's 701 00:31:45,180 --> 00:31:45,820 sacrifice. 702 00:31:47,180 --> 00:31:50,980 Now, rejecting Christ's blood is far worse than breaking the Mosaic 703 00:31:50,980 --> 00:31:51,740 Law, right? 704 00:31:53,260 --> 00:31:55,940 You're rejecting his blood, you're rejecting his sacrifice, and 705 00:31:55,940 --> 00:31:57,900 it insults God's Son and his grace. 706 00:31:58,380 --> 00:31:59,140 It's like taking. 707 00:31:59,140 --> 00:32:00,220 Okay, like, let's say. 708 00:32:00,620 --> 00:32:03,020 Let's say, you know, you got your wife this beautiful. 709 00:32:03,100 --> 00:32:06,210 This beautiful necklace or beautiful jewelry, and she just takes 710 00:32:06,210 --> 00:32:07,610 and she says, thanks, honey. 711 00:32:07,690 --> 00:32:09,850 Goes outside in the backyard in the mud, just throws in the mud 712 00:32:09,850 --> 00:32:10,730 and just tramples on it. 713 00:32:11,610 --> 00:32:14,810 And you're like, I just spent, you know, thousands of dollars or 714 00:32:14,810 --> 00:32:16,490 whatever on this nice piece of jewelry for you. 715 00:32:16,490 --> 00:32:18,290 And you're going back there and you're trampling it, right? 716 00:32:18,290 --> 00:32:21,690 This priceless, this very nice gift I got for you, you're just completely 717 00:32:21,690 --> 00:32:22,410 rejecting it. 718 00:32:25,770 --> 00:32:30,570 Here it says, of how much sorer punishment shall it be? 719 00:32:33,940 --> 00:32:34,380 Verse 30. 720 00:32:34,380 --> 00:32:36,940 For we know him that hath said, vengeance belongeth unto me, 721 00:32:36,940 --> 00:32:38,420 I will recompense, saith the Lord. 722 00:32:38,420 --> 00:32:40,580 And again the Lord shall judge his people. 723 00:32:42,180 --> 00:32:45,340 And so God's justice is certain for those who reject him. 724 00:32:45,340 --> 00:32:48,100 His judgment is not a light matter, but it's a sober reality. 725 00:32:48,180 --> 00:32:51,220 It's like standing before a judge with undeniable evidence of 726 00:32:51,220 --> 00:32:51,700 guilt. 727 00:32:52,340 --> 00:32:56,500 Facing God and him being in this judgment is terrifying. 728 00:32:56,500 --> 00:32:57,860 It's a scary situation, right? 729 00:32:57,860 --> 00:32:58,500 Somebody who. 730 00:32:58,850 --> 00:33:01,970 You violated the law, and now it's like, that's it. 731 00:33:03,730 --> 00:33:07,170 Live with holy fear, knowing that God sees who you are, knowing 732 00:33:07,170 --> 00:33:08,210 that God knows everything. 733 00:33:08,210 --> 00:33:11,330 Let his love drive obedience, not just. 734 00:33:11,330 --> 00:33:12,330 Not his punishment, right? 735 00:33:12,330 --> 00:33:13,290 Oh, I have to. 736 00:33:13,290 --> 00:33:14,610 I have to be able to dodge the. 737 00:33:14,690 --> 00:33:16,890 Trying to dodge the judgment or the punishment of God. 738 00:33:16,890 --> 00:33:19,250 No, But I'm called to live in obedience to him. 739 00:33:19,970 --> 00:33:21,890 And Jesus's blood has opened the way. 740 00:33:22,690 --> 00:33:24,490 So let's draw near with boldness. 741 00:33:24,490 --> 00:33:29,420 Hold fast your faith and stir others up to obedience and walk in 742 00:33:29,420 --> 00:33:30,860 holy fear of God. 743 00:33:31,580 --> 00:33:32,620 Don't shrink back. 744 00:33:33,340 --> 00:33:37,180 Christ died not Just to save you, but to claim you completely. 745 00:33:38,220 --> 00:33:41,260 So is there an area in your life tonight that you would say, 746 00:33:41,260 --> 00:33:42,140 lord, I need to. 747 00:33:42,140 --> 00:33:43,740 I need to turn this over to you. 748 00:33:44,620 --> 00:33:46,140 I need to confess this to you. 749 00:33:46,940 --> 00:33:50,140 Has your faith been bold or has your faith been cold? 750 00:33:51,420 --> 00:33:55,910 Has your faith before God, has it been consistent before everyone 751 00:33:55,910 --> 00:33:56,470 around you? 752 00:33:56,470 --> 00:33:56,670 Right? 753 00:33:56,670 --> 00:33:59,470 Whether it's with our spouse at home, with our children, whether 754 00:33:59,470 --> 00:34:02,710 it's with our co workers, people here at church, are you the 755 00:34:02,710 --> 00:34:05,830 same you no matter where you are, right? 756 00:34:05,830 --> 00:34:08,350 If anybody, if anybody knew you from work, could this is the 757 00:34:08,350 --> 00:34:09,550 same about you here at church? 758 00:34:09,950 --> 00:34:13,990 And ultimately, before the eyes of God, could God say that you're 759 00:34:13,990 --> 00:34:15,870 being consistent in your walk with him? 760 00:34:16,830 --> 00:34:19,470 Secondly, are you stirring others up? 761 00:34:19,550 --> 00:34:19,870 Right? 762 00:34:19,870 --> 00:34:23,190 Are you intentionally engaging with the community here at the Middletown 763 00:34:23,190 --> 00:34:23,870 Baptist Church? 764 00:34:24,420 --> 00:34:25,540 Are you isolating yourself? 765 00:34:25,540 --> 00:34:28,300 You're just pulling back and you're like, oh, I have. 766 00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:29,420 I have my own life. 767 00:34:29,420 --> 00:34:31,260 I have my own secret things I like to do. 768 00:34:31,260 --> 00:34:32,580 I don't like to be held accountable. 769 00:34:33,700 --> 00:34:35,300 We're called to be held accountable. 770 00:34:35,620 --> 00:34:39,420 And lastly, are you honoring Christ's blood or are you treating 771 00:34:39,420 --> 00:34:41,740 it and despising it and saying, I'm going to do what I want 772 00:34:41,740 --> 00:34:42,100 to do? 773 00:34:43,780 --> 00:34:45,140 Verse 30 and 31. 774 00:34:45,940 --> 00:34:49,020 Sorry, verse 31, it says, it is a fierce thing to fall under the 775 00:34:49,020 --> 00:34:51,109 hands of the living God. 776 00:34:52,069 --> 00:34:54,869 Ultimately, we are held accountable before God, right? 777 00:34:55,909 --> 00:34:57,589 So my question for you tonight is this. 778 00:34:58,869 --> 00:35:02,509 Are you going to continue living in your life with sin or living 779 00:35:02,509 --> 00:35:05,509 in your life of rejecting of what Christ has done? 780 00:35:06,309 --> 00:35:08,949 Or will you confess that struggle that you're dealing with 781 00:35:08,949 --> 00:35:09,509 tonight? 782 00:35:10,149 --> 00:35:11,669 Will you confess that sin? 783 00:35:11,829 --> 00:35:14,829 Will you turn to him and to say, lord, I'm done trying to do 784 00:35:14,829 --> 00:35:15,429 this myself. 785 00:35:15,980 --> 00:35:16,860 I need your help. 786 00:35:17,740 --> 00:35:21,100 I'm going to yield this trial of this situation to you. 787 00:35:25,740 --> 00:35:28,300 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 788 00:35:28,300 --> 00:35:28,940 podcast. 789 00:35:29,180 --> 00:35:31,500 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing for you. 790 00:35:32,220 --> 00:35:34,500 If you would like to find out more information about our church 791 00:35:34,500 --> 00:35:37,980 or this sermon, you can find us at middletownbaptistchurch.org 792 00:35:38,220 --> 00:35:40,780 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 793 00:35:41,670 --> 00:35:46,110 You could also email me directly at Josh Massaro at middletownbaptistchurch. 794 00:35:46,110 --> 00:35:50,390 Com if you've enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and follow 795 00:35:50,390 --> 00:35:53,270 along for future podcast and updates. 796 00:35:53,910 --> 00:35:54,870 Thank you so much. 797 00:35:55,030 --> 00:35:55,830 God bless. 798 00:35:56,070 --> 00:35:57,349 Have a wonderful day.