Sermon Tone Analysis

Getting a Corner on Confidence: 

The Stronghold of Hope in Christ

Hebrews 6:9-20                                               June 1, 1997

 

Scripture:  Responsive Reading #403, Hymnal

 

Introduction:

 

          What is it that gives you confidence?

You know, that gives you the will and the drive to go ahead.

It probably isn’t that someone would tell you that you are slow, immature, need to go through kindergarten again, need to eat baby food, need to figure out right from wrong again, and that it is questionable whether or not you are actually trainable.

That is where the author of Hebrews has just taken his readers as he comes into Chapter Six.

Maybe they needed that, however.

Sometimes we need a wakeup call, don’t we; a little thing to get our attention and shake us out of our complacency or get us on the right track again.

But we should never leave someone there, and our author doesn’t leave his readers, or us, there either.

He goes on to impart confidence.

So the author has just warned the Hebrew Christians of the danger of immaturity.

They have not understood the significance of Christ’s position as high priest.

They must understand this but he is afraid they won’t or can’t.

It is only the understanding of who Christ really is and the office he performs that will keep us until the end.

(If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.)

And it is this understanding that will drive us on to greater understanding.

Their minds must be stretched or they will begin to shrink.

That is why going beyond immaturity is so important as a safeguard against apostasy (falling away).

There is no remedy for apostasy which is a deliberate and willful sin of disbelief.

Continuing in growth is a test of the reality of salvation.

The author has not questioned the perseverance of the saints so much as insisting that those who persevere are the true saints.

It is the experience of the church (not withstanding that it is possible for the grace of God to accomplish any act of redemption) that those who have shared in the covenant privileges of the people of God, and then deliberately renounce them, are the most difficult persons of all to reclaim for the faith.

It is the danger of becoming ‘twice dead’ in unbelief after having clearly seen where the truth lies, and even conforming to it for a time, before renouncing it for one reason or another.

God has pledged to pardon all who truly repent, but Scripture and experience alike suggest that it is possible for human beings to arrive at a state of hardness in heart and life where they can no longer repent.

That was the bad news.

Now here is the good news.

After warning them of the potential danger of apostasy, falling away from faith in Christ alone as our Great High Priest, the author readily reassures his readers that he is confident of better things for them.

He has just told them of the danger of continued immaturity that may lead to apostasy if their lack of growth is left unchecked.

Failing to grow in the truth of the Gospel makes us vulnerable to falling away even from the truth we received.

When we stop growing spiritually, we begin to die spiritually.

The sign of life is growth.

The nature of the Word of God is that it causes growth in those who are alive to God.

The believer’s safety zone is continual growth in the application of Gospel truth.

Outside the safety zone of growth is the danger zone of death.

Infants are more vulnerable than adults.

But now he builds upon what they know and spurs them on to a greater application and a greater hope.

His purpose is to impart confidence.

*I.

The confidence of salvation.

(vv.

9-12)*

 

          A.

God is just and remembers those who are saved.

(v.

10)

                   1.

Those who are saved perform works done for God.

                             a.

Those who are saved exhibit love shown to God                                                through those works.

b.

Those who are saved give help to God’s people                                                 through those works.

* *

*Gal.

6:7  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.

A man reaps what he sows.*

*8  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.*

*9  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.*

*10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.*

2.

Those who are saved persevere in those works.

(v.

11)

 

This is evidence that demands a verdict.

a.

Those who are saved gain a sure hope through                                          persevering in those works.

* *

*1Jn.

3:18  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.*

*19  This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence*

* *

*Mk.

9:21  Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered.*

*22  "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.

But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."*

*23  "'If you can'?" said Jesus.

"Everything is possible for him who believes."*

*24  Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"*

It is in the act of doing that faith becomes active and remains active.

We must just be willing to work for God and then we see the reality that He is which keeps us to the end.

Did God save us just so we could do our own thing?

Carrying the ball into the end zone gives hope of winning the game.

b.

This sure hope is the knowledge that we are not                                                 forgotten by God because we have not forgotten                                                 him.

*Heb.

3:6  But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house.

And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.*

B.

Those who are saved follow the way of the saints.

(v.

12)

                   1.

The saints did not become lazy in faith.

2.

The saints did not become lazy in patience.

3.       Faith and patience are inseparably linked.

a.

Faith dies without patience.

b.

Patience dies without faith.

*Gal.

5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,*

*23  gentleness and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.*

(Long-suffering - God would not have required long-suffering if there were not some things that we must suffer long.)

4.

The saints inherited what God promised by carrying out                                    an active faith and patience.

We inherit a promise (eternal life) by continuing to believe it.

This is proved by our actions.

Catherine Booth, wife of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said, “Salvation without service is no salvation.”