February 1 2009
Jesus: Our Confidence
Hebrews 10:19-25
With the talk around town being about “stimulus’” … “bailouts” … “layoffs” … “national & personal debt” … “foreclosures” … “bankruptcy” … you have to admit it doesn’t give one a lot of confidence in the now or the near future.
It’s a great time to ask ourselves … “Where does our confidence come from? Who and what is our confidence in?”
The writer of Hebrews wants to talk to us about this matter of “confidence” …. and he says, “since we have confidence.”
Confidence has at least three elements built into it.
|
Confidence |
Man |
God |
|
Person |
Me – My – Mine (unholy trinity) |
God – Son – Spirit (Holy Trinity) |
|
Knowledge |
Experience (opinions; cause & effect) |
Word of God (Truth/Faith) |
|
Orientation |
Self Oriented (image, starting, esteem) |
God Oriented (God-Conscience) |
The writer is going to contend that our confidence is not “self” manufactured, but Christ “produced.”
Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The Basis of our “confidence” … regardless of the circumstances of the failing or prevailing culture is not within us, but gained for us through the all holy work of Christ our Savior and Lord.
· Blood of Jesus … cleared & cleansed sin and guilt … Enter In
· Body of Jesus … opened the (inaccessible) way … into House of God
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
The fear of the Lord brings with it the confidence of lasting security and molds a person’s character to follow the right path. (ESV Study Bible Note)
And with the confidence of a “right path” the writer issues three IMPERATIVES.
With that exhortation let us be confronted, called, challenged that we might come to hear and do what God’s Word speaks to one who is hungering and thirsting for the righteousness of Christ.
1. Let Us Draw Near (22)
Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
“After all God has done for us (in Christ) it would be the greatest ingratitude and contempt of God and Christ to keep at a distance from Him.” - Matthew Henry Commentary, Hebrews
Repetition is a good teacher! The writer had already issued such a commanding call … Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
It is imperative for the born-again “draw near” to God. But not in “Oz” like fearfulness, but in bold “fearlessness” because of the effective and affirmative work of Christ.
§ Hearts sprinkled clean from guilt
§ Bodies washed with pure water (symbolic of sins washed away, 1 Pt 3:21)
Therefore we draw near …
§ Heart that is “plumed” true … sincere, inner life, genuine desire aligned with God, His person, Word and Work (in Christ).
§ Heart full of the assurance of faith … conviction of certainty … substance (Heb 11:1)
Such faith the writer speaks of is not blind faith or a leap of faith … but “full assuring faith” that is always increased by opposition, where “trials, obstacles, difficulties and sometime defeats are the very food of faith.” – Miles Stanford, The Green Letters
James 4:8 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
In such real faith the writer imperatively says … Draw near to God
2. Let Us Hold Fast (23)
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
What is the ultimate Christian hope? What hope is there for change, rescue, transformation, new possibilities, within the world in the present? – N.T. Wright
Most make hope to be some:
§ “fictional” character of “uncertainty”
§ “futuristic” term of just making it to heaven (it’s not hope that brings us into heaven, but the One we hope in, Jesus Christ.)
The disappointment in either of these as standalone hope is that neither will bring about a sustained work in the midst of trying times.
More than “holding on” to such … the writer encourages us to cling to so as to possess the hope that transcends and transforms … not merely the outcome of circumstances, but the mind so as not to be moved by circumstances. This hope is based up the faithful character of God that does not disappoint.
§ Do so “without wavering” … concept of stability (immutable hope = no change)
We are “fickled flip-flopping” creatures … going back and forth changing our mind, with no sustaining action. (Eph 4:14 tossed here and there with the latest craze of belief)
Matthew Henry says … “Do this, without doubting, disputing, dallying … be immovable.”
Hold fast to hope … for God is faithful to provide strength and stamina to keep on holding to Him … His Word, Person, Promise and power.
3. Let Us Consider (24)
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
From faith and hope the writer delivers us to “love” (1 Cor 13) Let us consider (give thought to so as to discover)
§ Stir Up … not agitation … but love and good works
“Believer’s are to rivet their attention on the need for conscious activities of encouragement.” - Donald Guthrie
Hebrews 6:10 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.
It’s on that love we the beloved and born-again … must not and must do.
§ Must Not … neglect meeting together (as some were and are doing)
Ø More than just attending services
Ø Not “frequency” … but “consistency”
Ø Body life … stirring and encouraging cannot be done in “isolation”
§ Must Do … love and encourage … promotes “fidelity” in family life (too much “infidelity to Christ & His Bride the church).
We “do” and “don’t” do all based on … all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
As that Day awaits us … Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. (Hebrews 10:35)
Amen!
