Sermon Audio

As we begin winding down the book of Hebrews, the final chapter is filled with exhortations and commands that show us how to live like Jesus is better. The last verse of chapter 12 told us to offer acceptable (pleasing) worship to God. In Hebrews 13:21, the author prays that God would equip the reader to do what is "pleasing" in His sight. Between these two ideas of living and worshiping in a way that pleases the Lord, the various commands show us what that looks like. In verses 13:7-16, we are instructed in what to do and shown where the strength to endure in these things comes from. The Hebrew Christians are told to remember those who taught the word to them and to consider the outcome of their way of life (v. 7) Many have endured faithfully to the end, and we can draw encouragement from their example because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (v. 8) The same Jesus that enabled past saints to end well is with us as we hold firm to our faith through trials. Moreover, the writer shows us how to be "strengthened by grace" (v. 9) by going to our "altar" (v. 10), which is the cross of Jesus Christ. We have an altar that the Old Covenant priests cannot eat from (v. 10). "Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured" (v. 13) By grace, we can endure to the end as we:

I. Emulate The Faithfulness Of Godly Examples (v. 7-8)

II. Be Strengthened By Grace From Our Altar (v. 9-14)

III. Continually Worship With Spiritual Sacrifices (v. 15-16)

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As we begin Hebrews 13, the final chapter in the book, we are confronted with many short, rapid-fire commands that seem contextually disconnected from each other. Hebrews 13:1- 17 sometimes feels like the author has run out of space, so he throws a bunch of commands in at the end. This is certainly not the case. At the end of chapter 12, the readers are exhorted to "offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." The same word translated as "acceptable" is translated as "pleasing" in 13:16 and 13:21. These commands are interconnected by showing the readers what offering acceptable ("pleasing") worship/service to God. The commands of Chapter 13 may seem disconnected, but the author is actually showing the Hebrew Christians (and us) what running with endurance looks like practically as individuals and as a congregation. Sunday, we will study the first six verses as we see the author’s application of the theological truths he presented throughout the book. If we truly believe that Jesus is better and seek to run with endurance as we offer pleasing service to God, this is what it looks like. We certainly aren’t perfect in our running, but (after showing us the finish line toward which we strive (12:18-14), Hebrews concludes by showing us what should characterize our present running in a hostile world.

I. Be Characterized By Love (v. 1-2)

II. Care For The Oppressed (v. 3)

III. Honor Marriage (v. 4)

IV. Be Content In Faith (v. 5-6)

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This Sunday, we come to the book of Hebrews’ thematic climax. The author draws together all the book’s theological truths and reminds the Hebrew Christians of the glorious reality Jesus has imparted to them. They are suffering and persecuted. They are wavering in faith and being tempted to go back to their old lives. So, the author shows them (and us) how to “lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet,” (v. 12-13). We must firmly believe in where we stand to run this race with endurance. To show this in verses 18-29, the author tells these Hebrews where they “have not come” and where they “have come.” To illustrate their position in Christ, the author shows two ways to come to God, pictured in two mountains. Mount Sinai was a mountain of fear and dread as God’s terrifyingly holy presence thundered upon it. The other is Mount Zion, characterized by joy and peace, with a mediator whose blood speaks peace and atonement rather than justice. The author of Hebrews reminds the reader to which mountain they have come. In Christ, they have already come to Zion, the picture of God’s perfect salvation throughout the Old Testament. By remembering where they stand, the readers are encouraged to offer God praise and thanksgiving, even amid their trials. Because they already occupy Mount Zion, their future glorification is sure. Quoting Haggai 2, he says, “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” (v. 26). Since the world and all its tempting comforts are passing away, it is foolish to hold onto what is “shaken” and forsake the true kingdom that remains forever. Refusing to follow Christ to gain relief from our worldly suffering is not worth the cost. All the things of this life are temporary. Yet, like Esau (v. 16), the temptation to trade our birthright for temporary satisfaction is a continual snare for us. Therefore, we are warned, “25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.”

I. Remember Where You Are Standing (v. 18-24)

II. Remember Where You Are Heading (v. 25-27)

III. Remember Where Your Treasure is (v. 28-29)

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Hebrews 12:14 begins the final section of the book. Most of the remaining sections instruct the Hebrew congregation on living out the church’s calling together in a hostile environment. The author gives many short commands regarding how these professing Hebrew Christians are to respond to the deep theological truths of Jesus’ sufficiency and excellency. Because Jesus is better than all things, fulfilling all God’s promises and sufficient to secure their inheritance, the last section of Hebrews shows them how to live out these truths as the body of Christ. After speaking extensively about their sufferings and trials being the discipline (training) of a loving Father and calling for them to see their difficulties as such, v. 12-13 told us - "Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." We saw that the text says, "Lift THE drooping hands and strengthen THE weak knees," meaning we must lift our own drooping heads but also lift one another’s as well. This is confirmed as the author shows us how we do that as a congregation. V. 14-17 gives explicit instruction about what our focus must be as we run this race with endurance. We are to strive (chase after) peace with everyone (specifically within the body of Christ) and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. In this section, the writer gives some difficult realities of the authority and responsibility of the local church congregation. We are indeed our brother’s keeper. Sunday, we will look at that pursuit of peace and holiness and the three responsibilities necessary to faithfully pursue this peace and holiness in the body.

I. The Pursuit: Peace & Holiness (v. 14)

II. The Responsibility: Help One Another Endure (v. 15)

III. The Responsibility: Guard Agaisnt Defiling Division (v. 15)

IV. The Responsibility: Hold One Another Accountable (v. 16-17)

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