NOTE: This sermon was delivered in four parts at four separate times of the worship service.
2007 Book of Hebrews Series –
“Four Pieces of Lettuce”
Hebrews 10:19-39
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – July 15, 2007
Prayer Introduction:
This morning we are going to eat “Four pieces of Lettuce” – four “Let us” verses
in
I. The First Piece of Lettuce [Hebrews 10:19-22] – Let us draw near to God
I want to begin by looking at the first piece of lettuce [pull out the first batch of lettuce] in verse 22 – “let us draw near to God…” Let us draw near to God. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to draw near to God?!
“Let us” passages tell us to do things that we know we should do, but don’t do like we should. Just like we know we should eat lettuce, but we would rather eat Potato Chips [pull out a bag of chips]. We have all had difficult moments where we responded by getting angry or anxious or escaping from the situation; and we looked back and realized, “I should have gone to God.” Right?
You received an unexpected bill in the mail. Your kids disobeyed you for the zillionth time today. Your spouse made an insensitive comment. Your co-worker made the same mistake, again. Things keep falling off the shelf when you grab the thing next to it. You can’t find your keys. You’ve had it! So you yell like a maniac, or you panic, or you throw up your hands and grab a drink (or a bowl of ice cream).
“Let us draw near to God.” Yeah, that’s what I should have done, but it didn’t occur to me at the time. I ate Potato Chips instead of the Lettuce.
“Let us” passages tell us to do something that doesn’t come naturally. What comes naturally is to get angry or anxious, or to escape the situation by eating, drinking, watching TV, reading, fishing…
But we have another choice. And it is the choice Christians really want to make – “draw near to God.” We need a new bumper sticker that says “Situation Happens” – and then a bumper sticker next to it that says “Draw Near to God.”
This doesn’t come naturally. In fact, for many it is impossible. Not only do “Let us” passages tell us to do what doesn’t come naturally; they tell us to do things that we cannot unless we are in Christ.
Look at the 3 verses that precede verse 22. Go back to verse 19. After being reminded that all of our sins (our sin debt [see last sermon]) has been paid in full by Christ, we read – “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
When “situation happens” we can either become anxious, angry & escape OR we can draw near to God. The latter is only possible for those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
These verses
(Hebrews 10:19-22) are a parallel to the end of Hebrews chapter
The “Let us” verse just tells us to do it, but the verses before it tell us how to do it. Verses 14 & 15 say, “since we have a high priest who has gone through the heavens…who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” Let us then approach the throne of grace…
We can approach the throne of grace because – and only because – we have Jesus as our high priest. “Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near to God.”
Our ability to draw near to God flows from our confidence in Christ. Responding in anger, anxiety or escape is an act of dis-trust. Responding by drawing near to God is an act of trust, of faith. How, precisely, do we do this?
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians he writes, “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5b-7).
When “situation happens” to us – which it does everyday – let us remember that the Lord is always near. In prayer, see that Christ has opened the way for us to draw near to God. Instead of being filled with anger and anxiety, we can be filled with joy.
[Each of us has particular situations we deal with. And we have specific sinful ways in which we respond. So let us draw near to God right now in prayer knowing that he is near to us; trusting in Christ – our Great High Priest – who has opened the way for us…(Unison Prayer of Confession)]
II. The Second Piece of Lettuce [Hebrews 10:23] – Let us hold to our hope in Christ
Let us look at the Second Piece of Lettuce [pull out the second batch of lettuce] in verse 23 – “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
What is the hope we profess? That we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. In a few minutes we will sing, “Jesus, my only hope, my only plea. My righteousness, my Great High Priest, who intercedes for me before the throne. Jesus, I trust in you alone” (by Mark Altrogge).
We know that we should trust in Jesus alone, but it is natural to trust in ourselves instead [pull out a Hershey bar]. We know we should eat lettuce, but come on – this is chocolate!
God’s Word has to tell us over and over again to eat lettuce instead of chocolate – because it isn’t natural to trust in the work of Jesus rather than in our own works. Every other religion teaches that salvation is by works. Roman Catholicism teaches that faith isn’t enough. And in our own lives we tend to trust ourselves more than we trust in Jesus.
It is unnatural to trust our eternal salvation to a man we have never met, through something we did not see him do 2,000 years ago. Not only is it unnatural, but it is impossible to do apart from the grace of God.
How can we be sure we are saved by God’s grace? Assurance of faith is one of the great gifts that God gives to his people and so many of us do not have it. The Lord wants you to be absolutely sure.
Today’s use of the word hope means “wishful thinking” (“I hope I get a pay raise”). The biblical use of hope means “confident assurance.”
The King James Version doesn’t even use the word “hope,” but uses the word “faith” and emphasizes the “profession of faith.” Too many have taken this to mean that assurance of salvation comes in the fact that a person has made a profession of faith in the past.
Yet, we have all known people who claimed to have made a profession of faith in the past, but live out their life apart from Christ.
Many people, who are saved, cannot name the particular moment in the past when they first professed faith. So assurance of salvation is not only about a past profession of faith, but is seen in the present practicing of faith.
Is our hope, right now, in Christ? Is this being demonstrated in the way we live our life. The question is not so much, “When did you become a Christian,” but “Are you a Christian right now?”
Again, this does not mean that we trust our works – but true faith is evidenced in works – we do not trust in works, but in God’s gracious promise.
Notice the last part of verse 23 – “For he who promised is faithful.” Some might be tempted to think, “God could change his mind. What if I arrive at the throne of God and hear him say, ‘I changed my mind, Jesus’ sacrifice isn’t enough.’”
He won’t; because he who promised is faithful. That’s right, God has promised that Jesus is enough – and God always keeps his promises.
George Whitefield said – “Works! Works! A man to get to heaven by works! I would as soon think of climbing to the moon on a rope of sand!”
God’s promises are sure. If our trust is in Him, then our salvation is sure. Let us rejoice in such good news. Let us rejoice together in this assurance as we pray…[Morning Prayer w/the Lord’s Prayer]
III. The Third Piece of Lettuce [Hebrews 10:24] – Let us spur one another to love
And so we are ready to munch on the Third Piece of Lettuce [pull out the third batch of lettuce] in verse 24 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
This piece of “let us” has become the hardest to chew for Christians in today’s world. We know that we should encourage people to do good deeds, but our world has convinced us that we don’t have the right to tell anyone what they should do [pull out candy]. We know we should eat lettuce, but candy tastes so good!
I have a huge sweet tooth. My desk is loaded with candy. And I would rather offer sweet talk to people – telling them that they can do whatever they want. I was once sitting in a Sunday School class and a young wife & mother – who had become over-involved with various secular activities – was telling everyone that she was feeling guilty for not doing more for the church.
You know what we did in response? Tried to encourage her not to feel guilty. The Holy Spirit was spurring her on toward love and good deeds – inviting us to do the same thing for her – instead, we basically encouraged her away from love and good deeds. Sadly, we were successful.
You know what happens when you eat too much candy; you get sick to your stomach. When I was writing this part of the sermon I was getting sick to my stomach thinking about how much enabling I do. I am so hesitant to spur others on to love and good deeds. Instead, I smile and nod – enabling people to remain distant from Christ and his Church.
This passage tells us there is a step that we need to take before we actually talk to a person. “Let us consider how…” – let us think of ways that we can encourage one another, and let us think of ways to communicate this.
There is no
greater privilege we have then to serve the Lord. Loving God and loving one
another are the two great commandments – and go hand in hand.
The Apostle Paul rebuked the Galatian Church saying, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).
And Paul encouraged the Thessalonian Church saying, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
Let us consider, let us be willing, to rebuke those who are using the freedom of grace as an excuse to indulge the sinful nature, rather than serving Christ in love. Let us also consider ways to encourage one another – remembering those who have served faithfully.
During the 8 weeks that we have celebrated communion we began by acknowledging those who have served in the past. In the bulletins we listed those who have been ordained as elders and deacons the longest, moving forward, each week. Last week at the picnic we celebrated many who have been faithful members for as much as 79 years! The Sunday Evening Study, which is looking at Church History, recounted the faithful leadership of this church’s earliest elders and pastors.
This week we move to the present with an eye toward the future – giving thanks for our current elders along with the Sunday School and Way Cool Wednesday teachers and leaders.
You know, we could sit here for hours and tell stories of the people who have loved us, whose good deeds God used to change our lives.
Let us consider new ways in which we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds – that we may be used of God to change lives. Let us now give our tithes and offerings to the Lord in thankful response for those he has already placed in our lives, and to commit ourselves anew to being used by the Lord to serve others in love. [Offering]
IV. The Fourth Piece of Lettuce [Hebrews 10:25-39] – Let us continue meeting together
And now for the Fourth Piece of Lettuce [pull out the fourth batch of lettuce] in verse 25 – “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
This piece of “let us” is most certainly attached to the last one. This piece of “let us” is not just eaten individually, but also corporately – together we eat from the same head of lettuce. We know that we should encourage people to continue coming to worship with the church all of their days, but our world has convinced us that we don’t have the right to tell anyone what they should do [pull out cookies]. Who wants to eat lettuce instead of cookies?!
Notice how this piece of “let us” is attached to the last one, and to the verses that follow about the Day that is approaching: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”
It has been said that there are three types of people: (1) Those who do not come to church and work hard not to feel guilty about it; (2) Those who come to church to earn salvation by their works continuing to feel guilty; and (3) Those who come to church to worship the Lord who has set them free from guilt and the power of sin.
Coming to church won’t save you; but refusing to continue meeting together with the church for worship, fellowship, discipleship and mission may put you under the judgment of God.
However, if we continue meeting together in faith – drawing near to God, holding on to our hope in Christ, spurring one another on to love and good deeds – then there is no fear of judgment but rejoicing in our assurance of salvation.
We can have greater and greater assurance of salvation – which produces greater and greater joy – by persevering in our faith. Each time we repent, we become more assured of our salvation and filled with more joy.
In what ways can we be encouraging one another to persevere in faith? What will each of us do this day and this week before we meet together again?
How will we draw near to God when situation happens? How will we hold on to hope in Christ, rather than trying to attain salvation by our own works? Will we take time to consider ways we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds?
May each of us avoid our natural desires to eat potato chips, chocolate, candy and cookies; and instead pursue the supernatural diet of “let us” – until the day when we see our redeemer who waits for us at gates of gold.
MAY THE TRUTH SET US FREE – AMEN!