Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                                  “Pleasing God”
                                                 Hebrews 11:4-7

            Three Steps to Pleasing God:

1.         Serve with the Right Attitude

•  It is all about Abel’s righteous attitude: 1 John 3:12
• Proverbs 15:8 Sum it up for us!
•   Death is only a door to eternity: Matt. 22:31-32

2.         Walk with God (Live it!)  

•  Listen to what is said about Enoch: Gen 15:24
•  Pursue righteousness: Proverbs 15:9
•  Faith believes in the unseen God and the un-experienced rewards:  John 20:29
• The blessing of belief is joy: Psalm 43:4

3.          Respond to the Message

           Three Facts about Noah’s Response: 

    1)   Noah took God at his word.  - 7a

• Gen 6:22; He did what he was told to do!
• Faith can make you look foolish.
• 1 Cor. 1:18 “Fools for Christ.” 

    2)   Noah’s actions condemned the world.  – 7b

• 2 Pet. 2:5 “a preacher of righteousness.”
• Building a ship in the desert gave Noah a preaching platform.
• Godly living condemns the world: John 3:19-21

    3)   Noah became the heir of Righteousness  - 7c

•  Righteousness is the by-product of faith: 1 Jn 5:18
• God is with us during temptation: 1 Cor. 10:13
• Out faith triumphs over evil: 1 John 5:4

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                      Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                   “Biblical Faith Defined”
                                           Hebrews 11:1-3

Three facts about Biblical Faith:

1.         Faith is Confidence in God’s Promises

•  Faith is confidence in God’s promises: Hebrews 10:36-39

       Two key promises:

      1)      Jesus is coming for us! Hebrews 10:37

       2)      We are being saved:  Hebrews 10:39

• The opposite of salvation is destruction: 1 Corinthians 1:18
• We can be certain of Salvation: 1 John 5:13
• Our faith rests on God’s enduring Word: 1 Peter 1:24-25
•  Hearing elicits a response:  Romans 10:17
• Our worldview completely changes: Ephesians 2:1-5
• There are no accidents, Jesus is on the throne: Hebrews 1:3

2.         Faith Win’s God’s Approval

• Who do we want to please?
• Its not about Other people: Luke 6:22
• Choose God over everyone: Luke 14:26
• We want God’s approval: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

3.         Faith Recognizes God’s Power

•  He has already asserted that Christ created everything in Hebrews 1:2.
• God makes something from nothing:  Psalm 33:6, 9

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                     Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                  Sustained Confidence
                                     Hebrews 10:32-39

•  The gospel is serious business: Heb 10:26-27
• Our main Idea is found in Heb 10:35… 
• There are more important things than your petty problems:  Rom 8:18

      Two Keys to Sustained Confidence:

1.            Remember Your First Love

•  There is always a honey-moon period for faith:  Rev. 2:4-5
• In Rome, AD 49, the Jews were expelled from Rome, under Emperor Claudius.  Acts 18:18:1-2
• Rejoice in suffering: Luke 6:22-23

2.         Trust in God’s Faithfulness

•  Can God be trusted? Heb 10:23 
• The gospel is not about us: 2 Cor. 12:7-9
• He quotes Habakkuk 2:3-4
• His perceived slowness is about patience: 2 Pet 3:8-9
• God wants to save as many as possible: John 3:16 
• We live by Faith like Abraham: Gen 15:6
• Just like in Heb 6:9; he remains hopeful.

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                 Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                   “Serious Business”
                                    Hebrews 10:26-31

•  Heb 10:25; “The Day of judgment is coming.”
• “Keep on sinning”  (Miss the mark)
• All believes sin (point in time) 1 John 1:8-10
• The word is in the present tense (lifestyle sin) 1Jn. 3:9
• The sin of unbelief: Heb 3:12; 6:4-6
• Obviously he is talking about rejecting Christ.
• To reject Jesus is to reject redemption: Acts 4:11-12
• Hell is real: Mk 9:43-47
•  Many have confused God’s love with leniency. 
• Justice and Love are intimately connected: Psalm 35:5

        Three reasons for Severe Punishment:

1.            Trampling the Son of God

• Jesus warned us about this situation: Mt. 7:6
• Someone who has tasted:  Heb 6:4-6

2.            Undervaluing the Work of Christ

3.            Insulting the Holy Spirit

• There is contempt for the spirit: Mt. 12:31
•  With enlightenment comes responsibility.
• God warned the OT Church: Amos 3:2
• The NT Church will be judged: 1 Pet 4:17
• Isaiah 33:14; Heb 12:29 “Consuming fire.”
•  We have a choice!
• Fall into his loving arms or fall into his hand of judgment!

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                         Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                               “Privilege Demands Action”
                                          Hebrews 10:19-25

•  “Therefore,” sums up all the doctrine he has been expounding upon; Doctrine leads to  action!
• When Jesus died the curtain separating the Holy place from the most holy place was torn from top to bottom (Mk 15:38)  Like the curtain his body was torn to open the way.
• This is our authors counterpart to John 14:6; “I am the way…

      We are called to three specific action steps:

1.         Live in a state of Worship (God)

•  How do we worship?  It’s all about lifestyle here!
•  Sincerely; Sincere Heart or lowly of heart: Isaiah 57:15
• The lowly or poor in spirit recognize their spiritual depravity: Mt. 5:3
• Our spirits and our bodies are saved; 1 Pet 3:21  

2.         Hold on to your Confession of Faith  (World)

•  It is about our witness to the world.
• Faith and confession are welded together in Rom 10:9-10
• Trust in the faithfulness of God:  2 Tim 2:13
• Our hope is based on God’s unfailing promises.

3.         Spur one another on toward Noble Living (Church)

•  Christianity is not a lone-ranger faith.
• “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” (Wesley, the Methodist movement.
• How do we spur?
• We fellowship together.
• We are a body; thus, we need to come together.
• We Encourage not discourage.
• Why? The clock is ticking: Rom 8:18
• Godliness with contentment is great gain: 1 Tim 6:6-9

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                    Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                “Completing the Goal”
                                     Hebrews 10:11-18

• Main Idea: Look at verse 14!
• Christ is the one who makes you holy:  Phil. 2:12-13

            What is he doing?

      1.      He is ruling (right hand of God): Heb 1:3

• Notice, he is sustaining:  Col 1:17
• He is in total control.

      2.      He helps us: Heb 2:18

• He provides a way out: 1 Cor 10:13
• He gives us grace:  Heb 4:16

     3.      He intercedes: Heb 7:25

       Three ways Jesus Completes the Goal?

1.         Jesus Calls His Enemies to Accountability

•  All Believers start out as enemies: Eph. 2:1-5
• You cannot escape His judgment: 1 Cor. 15:24-28
• Notice, even though he quotes Jer. 31:33-34, it is the Spirit that speaks not the prophet.

2.         Jesus Changes our Hearts and Minds

•  God gives us his Perspective or “Worldview.”

3.         Jesus Completely Loves Us

•   God forgets our sins!
• 1 Cor. 13:4-5 “Love keeps no records of wrongs.”
• God is love:  1 John 4:16
• We are the completion of God’s ultimate goal: 1 Cor. 6:11

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                      Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                       "The True Sacrifice”

                                           Hebrews 10:1-10

•  The law was a shadow: a form without reality: Hebrews 8:5
• The Religious fall short: Philippians 3:4-8
• The Apostle John also reminds us of our failures and the antidote. 1 John 1:9 
• God does not remember our sins any longer: Hebrews 8:12
• He quotes Psalm 40:6-8
• We sacrifice our bodies: Romans 12:1

       Three Reasons why the Sacrifice of Jesus is the True Sacrifice:

1.            His Sacrifice fulfilled Biblical Prophecy

•  353 Prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ
• The odds are 1 in 13 trillion in just 48
• Mark 14:49; “the scriptures must be fulfilled”
• God wants Godly lives not sacrifices: 1 Samuel 15:22
• Jesus Choose God’s will over his own: Matthew 5:23-24

2.            His Sacrifice Expressed God’s Will

•  The Law was our babysitter:  Galatians 3:24
•  What is the will of God?  Obedience: Jeremiah 7:21-23
• Jesus demonstrated obedience:  Matthew 26:39
• Obedience to God is still a requirement: 1 John 2:5-6

3.            His Sacrifice Completed God’s Ultimate Goal

•  God’s goal is for your redemption: John 3:16

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                 Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                 The Better Sacrifice
                                    Hebrews 9:23-28

•  These  six verses elaborate upon the triumphant announcement of Hebrews 9:11-12. 

 
      Three Results of the Better Sacrifice: the good things Heb 9:11

1.            Unlimited Access to God

•  He is our Advocate! (1 Jn. 2:1-2)
•  He lives to intercede: Heb 7:25
• “His work is finished;” “It is finished.” Jn. 19:30
• “Culmination of the Ages.”  God's timing was perfect. Gal. 4:4

2.            Purpose In Life

•  Reincarnation is not Biblical.
• Every moment of life is precious.

3.         A Clear Choice

•  The scapegoat: Lev. 16:20-22

• The scribe: Joshua Ben Sira, (200 years before the birth of Christ) describes the appearing of the High Priest after the completion of his duties:

• “How glorious he was when the people gathered round him as he came out of the inner sanctuary!  Like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon when it is full; like the sun shinning upon the temple of the Most High, and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds; like roses in the days of the first fruits, like lilies by a spring of water, like a green shoot of Lebanon on a summer day; like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of hammered gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones; like a olive tree putting forth its fruit, and like a cypress towering in the clouds.

• How much more glorious will Christ return be: 1 John 3:2 

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                         Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                      “The Legacy of Christ”
                                             Hebrews 9:15-22

     The Legacy of Christ brings up two key questions :

1.       What’s in it for me?  Mt. 19:26-30

      A.       We get a Mediator.  Hebrews 8:6

• Jesus provides a bridge across the chasm to God.
• Thus his sacrifice initiated the promised new covenant: Mt. 14:24
• There was purpose in his death: Hebrews 12:2

      B.        Eternal Inheritance: Again look at Mt. 19:29-30

• Notice our author writes, “those who are called.”
• This is both a invitation and a summons to act!
• The wealth of this world will pass away: Mt. 6:19-21
• Why do we put all our eggs in this earthly basket?
• We hang on for dear life.

      C.        Forgiveness of Sins – Hebrews 8:12

• Psalm 103:8-12

2.         Why did Jesus have to die?

• When I became an adolescent the death of Christ became a stumbling block: 1Corinthians 1:18

          He gives two examples:

      A.        A Legal Example (Secular approach)

•  Our Laws are built on a Biblical foundation.
• Secular leaders are God’s Servants: Rom 13:4-5

      B.         A Biblical Example – V-18

•  He draws from scripture: Exodus 24:3-8
•  “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” Mk. 14:24
• “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Mt. 26:28

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                       Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:
                                        “Effective Worship”
                                           Hebrews 9:11-14

•  His worship was spiritual as ours should also be: John 4:23-24
• The people of God are his dwelling place:  Heb. 3:6
• We are temples: 1Corinthians 6:19-20

           Three results of the Effective Worship of Christ:

1.       Effective Worship Obtains Redemption

•  Redemption is a slave market term:  We were bought with a price; the price of his blood. Eph. 1:7
• Defilement is a hindrance to worship; Sin limits our access to God.  1 Pet 3:7
• The spotless lamb: Heb 4:15
• Jesus did what we could not do!
•  Everything Christ did was empowered by the Spirit.
• Raised by the power of the Spirit: Rom 8:11

2.        Effective Worship Purifies our Conscience

•  It is about the inward: Mk. 7:20-23
• We pass from death to life: Eph. 2:1-5
• The work of Christ gives us access to cleansing: 1 John 1:8-9
• Cleansing is ongoing. 

3.          Effective Worship Sanctifies our Service

•  We serve or worship God out of a healthy heart: Rom. 12:1-2
• Get past your spiritual inertia.
• Stop conforming; be a non-conformist.

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