Sermon
#49 Hebrews
Notes
Title: “We Are Not of Them that Draw
Back”
Text: Hebrews 10:26-39
Subject: Encouragements to Perseverance
Date: Tuesday Evening –
Tape # W-34a
Introduction:
There
are many who begin the race, but never finish, -- many who run well for a
season, but in time fall by the wayside, -- many who, like Judas, Demas, and
Diotrephes, seem to be stalwart examples of faith and faithfulness, but at last
deny the faith, forsake Christ and his people, and make shipwreck of their
souls.
These facts, so often
illustrated in Holy Scripture and verified by observation cause great concern
in the hearts of men and women who, like ourselves, struggle with sin. True
believers are often like the true apostles of our Lord. – On that night when he
announced that one of them would betray him, those whose hearts were true
quaked with fear, saying, “Lord, is it I?”
After
reading the warnings given to us in this tenth chapter of Hebrews against such
apostasy, when we read verse 39, we have reason to shout with joy and
thanksgiving to our God.
{Hebrews 10:39} But we are not
of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of
the soul.
The
title of my message tonight is found in the opening words of verse 39. – “We are not of Them that Draw Back.”
This
last section of Hebrews 10 was written specifically to encourage us in
perseverance; and the source of encouragement is the assurance that true
believers shall persevere unto the end. The righteous shall, indeed, hold on
his way. Christ’s sheep shall “never perish.” Nothing shall be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ.
Proposition: God’s elect shall
persevere unto the end because we shall be preserved and kept unto the end by
God’s almighty, immutable grace.
Divisions: I want you to hold your
Bible open on your lap and follow along as I show you three things plainly set
before us in Hebrews 10:26-39.
1. A Word against Apostasy (vv.
26-31)
2. A Word about Assurance (vv.
32-34)
3. A Word of Admonition (vv.
35-39).
I.
First,
in verses 26-31, we are again given a sober warning. Once again, we have here a word against apostasy.
A. In verses 26 and 27, the
apostle describes what apostasy is.
This description must be understood in its context. The Holy Spirit clearly makes apostasy to be connected with the forsaking of Christ, his gospel, his church, and the worship of God in the assembly of his saints.
{Hebrews 10:25} Not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
{Hebrews 10:26-27} For if we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, {27} But a certain fearful looking
for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
These verses are perverted
by many in their attempts to prove that true believers can be lost, that people
who commit sin after being baptized are lost, or those who sin should be
excluded from the fellowship of God’s church.
An incorrect interpretation
of this passage has caused great distress upon many genuine believers. The fact
is, honest hearts, burdened with a sense of inward sin and realize that all of
our acts of sin are, to one degree or another, willful acts.
This is what the text means. -- After a person has
embraced and professed the gospel of Christ (and particularly the great truths
revealed in this chapter -- that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only and
all-sufficient High Priest of God’s elect, that his blood our only and our
effectual atonement, that his sacrifice the end and fulfilment of all the types
and shadows of the law) -- and yet, against all evidences, light and
revelation, willfully denies the sufficiency of Christ and the efficacy of his
sacrifice, there is no other sacrifice for sin; there is no other Savior! There
is no help for him, no hope for him, but only a certain fearful judgment
awaiting him eternally. There is no going back to the Mosaic law, rituals and
ceremonies. So if anyone willfully turns from Christ, there is no hope! (Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 3:11).
{Acts 4:12} Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved.
{1 Corinthians 3:11} For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The
willful sin spoken of in verse 26, is the abandonment of Christ, his gospel,
his worship, and his people.
·
It is to go back to the law. – To go back to works religion.
·
It is to go back to the world.
Look at how
this apostasy is described in verses 28-29.
{Hebrews 10:28-29} He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: {29} Of
how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath
trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the
Spirit of grace?
God gave the law to Israel
by Moses. Anyone who rejected God’s law or set at naught the rules and
sacrifices of the law was put to death (Deut. 17:1-6). While the tabernacle,
temple and ordinances of the law stood, they were binding upon the people.
If God poured his wrath upon
those who made light of the types, think how severe shall be his judgments upon
those who reject and make light of the precious blood of his dear Son! A return
to circumcision and ceremony (away from Christ) is to bring contempt upon the
person of Christ (Gal. 5:1-4; 4:21).
{Galatians 5:1-4} Stand fast
therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not
entangled again with the yoke of bondage. {2} Behold, I Paul say unto
you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. {3} For
I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the
whole law. {4} Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you
are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
{Galatians 4:21} Tell me, ye
that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
We
must not fail to notice what strong words the apostle was inspired to use in
describing what this apostasy involves.
·
It is treading under foot the Son of God.
·
It is counting the blood of the covenant wherewith a person has been
outwardly sanctified (by the profession and practice of religion), a unholy,
common, ordinary, meaningless thing.
·
It is doing despite to the Spirit if grace.
Now, read
verses 30-31.
{Hebrews 10:30-31} For we know
him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense,
saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. {31} It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Those who abandon Chris and
the gospel of God’s grace and glory in him never knew him. “They went out from us
because they were not of us.” Such people, those who choose will-worship,
circumcision, works and law in the stead of the revealed Christ, have every
reason to expect the wrath and judgment of God to fall on them (Deut. 32:35-39).
It is a fearful thing to
incur the wrath of the eternal and living God (John 3:36). Example after
example is given in Scripture of God’s wrath falling upon those who turn from
him to idols.
·
The Flood
·
The Sons of Ham
·
The Children of Israel in Captivity
·
Ephraim
·
Israel Cut Off
“Be not
high minded, but fear.”
{Romans 11:21-22} For if God
spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
{22} Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
{John 3:35-36} The Father loveth
the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. {36} He that believeth
on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not
see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
II.
Second, in verses 32-34, the Holy Spirit gives us a word about assurance.
{Hebrews 10:32-34} But call to
remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a
great fight of afflictions; {33} Partly, whilst ye were made a
gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became
companions of them that were so used. {34} For ye had compassion of me
in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in
yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Here Paul calls us to
remembrance. To encourage us in perseverance, to encourage us to go on in faith,
trusting Christ even in the face of great temptation and opposition, to hold to
our confidence in him and not be disturbed and discouraged by false prophets,
ceremonialists and legalists (who would rob us of liberty in Christ and take us
away from the simplicity that is in him), Paul urges us to remember the early
days of faith when we endured mocking, ridicule and affliction.
When you left the world to
walk with Christ, the world did not allow you to leave peacefully; but you knew
that in heaven you had a family, an inheritance and an everlasting glory, even
if you lost everything here. The people you lost for Christ's sake are nothing
compared to the family you gain. The comforts, pleasures and fame of the world
are nothing but soap bubbles. The glory of heaven is eternal.
III.
Third, Paul concludes this chapter with a comforting, assuring, and challenging word of admonition (vv. 35-39).
A. Here is an admonition.
{Hebrews 10:35} Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
B. Here is a need we
all have – Patience!
{Hebrews 10:36} For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
C.
Here is the promise by which the Holy Sprit inspires our perseverance.
{Hebrews 10:37} For yet a little
while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
When
our Lord Jesus Christ comes, he will put an end to all suffering and death and
sorrow.
{John 14:1-3} Let not your heart
be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my Father's
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also.
{Acts 1:11} Which also said, Ye
men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him
go into heaven.
{1 Corinthians 15:24-26} Then cometh
the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. {25} For
he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. {26} The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
{Revelation 21:4-5} And God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the
former things are passed away. {5} And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are
true and faithful.
D. The believer’s life is a life of faith.
{Hebrews 10:38} Now the just
shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no
pleasure in him.
True believers live by
faith, not by law, works, merit or ceremony.
1. They
receive spiritual life by faith in Christ.
2. That life
is sustained and kept by the power of God through faith.
3. That life
shall be perfected by faith -- all of grace!
Works make no contribution
to our life in Christ; and if any professor of faith draws back to
ceremonialism or away from pure faith in Christ, 'My soul hath no delight in
him.'
E. We are not of them that draw back to
perdition.
{Hebrews 10:39} But we are not
of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of
the soul.
True believers cannot, will
not and do not leave Christ, nor will they take up the weak and beggarly
elements of the law and their own works in the place of Christ. 'To whom shall
we go? He hath the words of life.' (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:38-39).
{John 10:27-30} My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me: {28} And I give unto them
eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand. {29} My Father, which gave them me, is
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father's hand. {30} I and my Father are one.
{Romans 8:38-39} For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, {39} Nor height, nor
depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.