THE BASIS FOR SPIRITUAL SECURITY
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
We have seen the author of the epistle to the Hebrews express his concern for the initial recipients of this epistle...
We have seen the author of the epistle to the Hebrews express his concern for the initial recipients of this epistle...
He makes mention of their spiritual immaturity - Heb. 5:11-14
He warns them concerning the peril of not progressing - Heb. 6:1-8
While he writes in this way, he has great confidence for their ultimate salvation...
While he writes in this way, he has great confidence for their ultimate salvation...
Even though others had indeed fallen to the point where it was “impossible...to renew them again to repentance...” - Heb. 6:4-6
Yet he could say of many of them...
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:
What was it that gave the author confidence regarding his readers’ salvation?
What was it that gave the author confidence regarding his readers’ salvation?
That is, what was the basis for their spiritual security, when the danger of apostasy had just been
described in vivid detail?
What can we glean from this passage will also help us understand the basis for our own
spiritual security?
There are three things mentioned in this section of scripture (Heb. 6:9-20), that gave the author this confidence.
The first of which is the fact...
DISCUSSION
GOD DOES NOT FORGET OUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE
GOD DOES NOT FORGET OUR WORK AND LABOR OF LOVE
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak: 10 for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.
God is a Just God, One Who Does Not Forget… Notice the following from verse 10
God is a Just God, One Who Does Not Forget… Notice the following from verse 10
God is very much aware of our service in the past (“in that ye have ministered”)
God is very much aware of our service that has been shown toward Him (“toward his name”)
God is very much aware of our service that has been shown toward His servants (“unto the saints”)
And God is very much aware of our service in the present (“and still do minister”)
Knowing this can be a Source of Great Comfort
Knowing this can be a Source of Great Comfort
In contrast to every sin which is “blotted out” and “remembered no more” (cf. He 8:12),
service rendered in love to God is not forgotten!
We need not fear that God will not see or remember our efforts to be pleasing to Him
God seeks to show Himself strong to those who are loyal to Him ...
9 For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
If God took note of Cornelius’ desire to please Him in his unsaved state, how much
more will He take note of Christians’ effort to serve Him! - cf. Acts 10:1-6
Thus when we stumble, but repent of our sins, our labor of love is remembered and our sins
forgotten!
Knowing that God sees and does not forget our service of love, both past and present, should help us feel spiritually secure.
God does not forget our “work and labor of love”, this fact implies the need on our part for...
DILIGENCE, FAITH, AND PATIENCE
DILIGENCE, FAITH, AND PATIENCE
11 And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: 12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Notice the Author’s Desire
Notice the Author’s Desire
He desires that his readers’ show the same “diligence” [earnestness] (v. 11) they had shown in the past
To show diligence regarding their assurance of hope
And to be diligent until the end...
6 but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.
14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:
He desires that they do not become “sluggish” (v. 12)
The word “sluggish” is from a Greek word meaning “dull”
The same word as used in “dull of hearing” - cf. Heb 5:11
They were already dull of hearing; his desire is they not become dull in conduct!
He desires that they have “faith and patience” (v. 12)
Imitating “those who through faith and patience inherit the promises”
Such as Abraham, who is given as an example...
15 And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
These Qualities are Necessary for Spiritual Security
These Qualities are Necessary for Spiritual Security
Peter describes the need for diligence to “make your calling and election sure”
5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;
10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Jesus called upon His disciples to remain faithful if they wished to “receive the crown of
life”
10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.
Paul wrote that eternal life is...
7 to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:
36 For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.
Only by developing such virtues as diligence, faith, and patience can we rightfully have an assurance that we will one day “inherit the promises” (v. 12)
Without them, we become “sluggish,” and as such expose ourselves to the danger of apostasy.
To encourage us further, we note that another reason we can have spiritual security is because...
GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES (6:13-20)
GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES (6:13-20)
Notice first the Example of God’s Promise to Abraham
Notice first the Example of God’s Promise to Abraham
God made a promise to Abraham...
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself, 14 saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
In this promise He swore by Himself (because He could not swear by anyone greater)
This was a promise which Abraham obtained after patient endurance (v. 15)
God confirmed His promise with an oath
16 For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. 17 Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:
For men, an oath confirms what they say, ending all dispute
To assure us of the unchangeableness of His promise, God also swore an oath
This provided a double assurance that He would keep His promise:
First, because it impossible for God to lie anyway...
2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;
Second, because of the oath by which He confirmed it
How does this relate to our spiritual security? Notice that...
God’s Faithfulness is our assurance!
God’s Faithfulness is our assurance!
It gives us “strong encouragement”
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: 19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
God’s faithfulness gives encouragement to those who are seeking “refuge” (v. 18)
God’s faithfulness gives encouragement to those who need “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (v. 19)
This is especially true regarding our “hope”, which is Jesus!
19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; 20 whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
I understand Jesus to be the “hope” in this passage...
For He is “our hope,” to whom we can flee as a refuge
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope;
As such, He is our “anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast”
As a “forerunner,” He has entered “into that which is within the veil” [i.e., heaven] (v. 20)
He has become “High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (v. 20)
Even as God swore He would do - cf. Psa 110:4
God not only promised, but He swore an oath, just like He did for Abraham
So He has kept His promise, providing us a superior High Priest!
Upon such an example of God’s faithfulness, we can have an assurance of our salvation as long as we continue to lay hold of the “hope” (Jesus) set before us
CONCLUSION
With a finely crafted argument, the author has returned his readers back to his original subject, which is Jesus as “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”
With a finely crafted argument, the author has returned his readers back to his original subject, which is Jesus as “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”
Our spiritual security is first based upon the character of God...
Who will not forget our work and labor of love
And, who keeps His promises
God has promised and swore with an oath concerning the priesthood of the Messiah
This priesthood Jesus now has in heaven, and as such is the basis of our “hope”
For which reason we should seek to learn what we can about the priesthood of Jesus
Yet as wonderful as the character and promises of God are - we are not to take them for granted...
Yet as wonderful as the character and promises of God are - we are not to take them for granted...
We must be careful not to become sluggish
We must be careful to be diligent, imitating the faith and patience of those like Abraham who
obtained God’s promise for them
Together with God’s character and promises, this is “The Basis For Spiritual Security”
Have you fled to Jesus for refuge? Is He your “hope”, your “anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast”?
Have you fled to Jesus for refuge? Is He your “hope”, your “anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast”?
Is He your “High Priest”?
If so, then let these words sink deep into your heart:
11 And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: 12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
If you have not yet fled to Jesus for refuge, then please consider His tender invitation:
28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.