RETURN TO SYLLABUS
HEBREWS 10:7-39
LESSON #24
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE BELIEVER AND THE FAITH PRINCIPLE
- READ HEB 10:5-14 CHRIST, THE FINAL SACRIFICE
- MAIN POINTS:
- THE OUTWARD OBSERVANCE OF ANIMAL SACRIFICES DID NOT PLEASE GOD.
- WHY, WHEN IT WAS GOD WHO INITIATED THE PRACTICE?
- ANIMAL SACRIFICE DID NOT CHANGE THE HEART OF MAN, AND IT DID NOT MAKE ANYONE RIGHTEOUS.
- JESUS CHRIST CAME IN THE BODY OF A MAN TO BE THE FINAL SACRIFICE FOR SIN.
- A QUOTE FROM PSA 40:6-8. HE TOOK ON HIMSELF A HUMAN BODY SO THAT HE COULD GIVE IT UP TO
THE WILL OF GOD. JESUS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE HIGHEST USE OF THE HUMAN BODY WAS TO OFFER IT
UP TO GOD.
- READ ROM 12:1-2
- WE ARE TO DO THE SAME THING. GOD WANTS US TO GIVE UP OUR LIFE TO HIM.
- THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION:
- THE MYSTERY OF THE ATONEMENT:
- A BODY WAS OFFERED FOR SIN
- THE MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION:
- THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN AND SANCTIFIES OUR BODIES.
- THE OLD TESTAMENT WROTE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST DOING THE WILL OF GOD (PROPHECY).
- GOD TOOK AWAY THE ANIMAL SACRIFICES WHEN JESUS CAME TO BE THE FINAL SACRIFICE.
- GOD ALLOWED THE JEWISH TEMPLE TO BE DESTROYED IN 70 AD TO INSURE THE END OF ANIMAL
SACRIFICES SO MAN WOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THEM RATHER THAN THE
LITERAL PERFORMANCE OF THEM.
- THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST MAKES US HOLY (SANCTIFIED).
- WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION = THE PROCESS WHEREBY EVERYTHING THAT OCCURS IN OUR LIVES BRINGS
US INTO A FULL, LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
- CLEANSED FROM SIN, TAKEN OUT OF THE SPHERE AND POWER OF THE WORLD AND SIN, AND BROUGHT
TO LIVE IN THE SPHERE AND POWER OF GOD'S HOLINESS.
- OUR POSITION PHI 1:6 1JOH 3:2 HEB 10:10,14
- WE ARE ETERNALLY SET APART FOR GOD HAVING BEEN BOUGHT BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
- OUR EXPERIENCE 1THE 5:23,24 JOH 17:17 2COR 3:18 EPH 5:25-26
- A PROGRESSIVE EXPERIENCE BEING MADE MORE HOLY AS WE GROW IN CHRIST AND BECOMING MORE
LIKE HIM.
- OUR CONSUMMATION 1JOH 3:2 EPH 5:27
- COMPLETE SANCTIFICATION WAITS FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST WHEN WE RECEIVE A NEW,
IMMORTAL BODY.
- READ HEB 10:15-18 THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
- WHAT PART DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT PLAY IN THE NEW COVENANT?
- THE HOLY SPIRIT INTERNALLY WITNESSES THE NEW COVENANT TO US BY MAKING IT REAL TO US.
- EPH 1:13 TELLS US WE ARE SEALED WITH THE SEAL OF PROMISE. THIS IS THE SAME WORDING THAT
IS USED FOR AN ENGAGEMENT RING.
- HE WRITES THE LAWS OF GOD ON OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR MINDS (16).
- THEN WHEN WE SIN, WE KNOW WE HAVE SINNED, AND WE FEEL GUILTY.
- WHEN WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE APPLIES THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST TO OUR SINS, AND GIVES US
A CLEAR CONSCIENCE (18).
- FROM HEB 10:19-13:25 THE BOOK CHANGES FROM ITS EMPHASIS ON DOCTRINE TO PRACTICAL
APPLICATION.
- READ HEB 10:19-25 PRIVILEGES OF THE BELIEVER
- WHAT ARE THE BELIEVER'S PRIVILEGES?
- 1. WE CAN HAVE A BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD (THE HOLY OF HOLIES).
(19-20).
- BECAUSE OF WHO CHRIST IS, AND WHAT HE HAS DONE, WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENTER BOLDLY.
- WE ARE TO STOP WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS OF UNBELIEF. (HEB 3).
- WE ARE TO ENTER INTO THE "REST" OF GOD (THE FULL PROMISES OF GOD). (HEB 4)
- WE ARE NOT TO BE CONTENT LIVING IN THE OUTER COURTYARD OF THE TABERNACLE, BUT ENTER INTO
THE HOLY PLACE (HEB 9).
- WE ARE NOT ONLY TO BE CONTENT LIVING ON THE WORD OF GOD, IN THE LIGHT OF HIS LEADING,
AND IN PRAYER, BUT WE MUST ENTER INTO THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
- WE DO THIS BY DYING TO OUR SELF, JUST AS JESUS DID (THAT'S THE TEARING OF HIS FLESH--THE
VEIL) (HEB 10:20).
- THE FLESH = HUMAN NATURE UNDER THE POWER OF SIN WAS WHAT SEPARATED MAN FROM GOD. JESUS
TOOK A HUMAN BODY OF FLESH SO THAT HIS FLESH COULD BE TORN. THEN THE HOLY OF HOLIES WAS
OPENED.
- WE MUST EXPERIENCE PSA 27:4-6, THE CLOSENESS OF THE LORD WHICH BRINGS US INTO A NEW AND
LIVING WAY TO LIVE OUR LIVES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY SACRIFICING YOUR FLESH NATURE SO AS
TO ENTER INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES (SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING).
- A NEW WAY = IT MEANS EVER FRESH, A WAY THAT NEVER DECAYS OR GETS OLD.
- A LIVING WAY = EXPERIENCED BY THE PERSON WALKING THE PATH AND WORKING OUT THE WILL OF
GOD IN HIS LIFE.
- 2. WE HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO INTERCEDES FOR US. (21)
- THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST NOW IS TO BRING US INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES AND TO HELP US LIVE
THERE. IT IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. IF IT WERE IMPOSSIBLE, HE WOULD NOT INVITE US TO
ENTER INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
- 3. WE ARE CLEANSED BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. (22)
- BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S FAITHFULNESS, THERE ARE 4 THINGS WE SHOULD HAVE TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD:
- 1. A TRUE HEART (22) = FULL DEDICATION.
- IN HEBREWS 3, WE WERE TOLD NOT TO HAVE A HARD HEART, A WANDERING HEART, OR AN
UNBELIEVING HEART.
- 2. A FULLNESS OF FAITH (22) = STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE BELIEVE. THERE IS:
- A FAITH OF INSIGHT INTO GOD'S WORKINGS.
- A FAITH OF DESIRE OF THE WILL OF GOD.
- A FAITH OF TRUST IN THE TRUTH OF THE WORD.
- A FAITH OF PERSONAL ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST AND OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY.
- A FAITH OF LOVE THAT EMBRACES ALL.
- A FAITH OF WILL THAT HOLDS FAST.
- A FAITH OF SACRIFICE THAT GIVES UP EVERYTHING.
- A FAITH OF DESPAIR THAT ABANDONS ALL HOPE IN SELF.
- A FAITH OF REST THAT WAITS ON GOD ALONE.
- 3. A HEART SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE (22)
- THE BLOOD OF JESUS PUTS AWAY THE THOUGHT OF OUR SIN FROM THE MIND OF GOD.
- THE BLOOD OF JESUS PUTS AWAY THE THOUGHT OF OUR SIN FROM OUR OWN MIND, TAKING AWAY THE
EVIL CONSCIENCE THAT CONDEMNS ME.
- 4. A BODY WASHED WITH PURE WATER (22)
- THE BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT USES THE WATER OF THE WORD OF
GOD TO BRING HOLINESS INTO OUR LIFE BY CONVICTING US OF SIN SO THAT WE REPENT.
- THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT JUST AN INWARD LIFE OF HOLINESS AND NOT JUST AN OUTWARD LIFE
OF HOLINESS. IT IS BOTH.
- COMMANDS:
- OUR POSITION IN CHRIST:
- 1. LET US DRAW NEAR IN 'FAITH' (22)
- HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED BY BLOOD (SALVATION).
- WASHED WITH PURE WATER (BAPTISM).
- OUR FAITH WALK:
- 2. LET US HOLD FAST OUR PROFESSION (ORAL CONFESSION) OF FAITH ('HOPE') (23)
- 3. LET US 'LOVE' OTHERS ENOUGH TO PROVOKE (IRRITATE THEM TO GOOD WORKS BY
ASSEMBLING TOGETHER (24)
- HOPE IS THE STRENGTH AND SUPPORT OF FAITH. LOVE IS THE OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF FAITH.
- THE REST OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THESE THREE SECTIONS:
- THE FULLNESS OF FAITH HEB 11
- THE PATIENCE OF HOPE HEB 12
- THE PRACTICE OF LOVE AND GOOD WORKS HEB 13
- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP? (24-25)
- THESE VERSES REFER TO WORSHIP SERVICES.
- TO PROVOKE LOVE AND GOOD WORKS.
- THE CHRISTIAN LIFE MUST ALSO HAVE AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF FAITH, FOR WITHOUT WORKS,
FAITH IS DEAD. (JAM 2:20)
- TO EXHORT (ENCOURAGE) ONE ANOTHER.
- WHY IS IT MORE IMPORTANT TO GATHER TOGETHER AS WE COME CLOSER TO THE SECOND COMING OF
CHRIST?
- THE BIBLE SAYS MANY WILL FALL AWAY IN THE LAST DAYS AS LIFE GETS MORE DIFFICULT IN AN
ANTI-CHRISTIAN WORLD AND AS FALSE DECEPTIONS BECOME MORE OF A DANGER.
- TRUE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AROUND THE WORD OF GOD AND IN WORSHIP WILL HELP PEOPLE REMAIN
ON THE RIGHT PATH.
- A NEGLECT OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP ENCOURAGES FELLOWSHIP WITH NON-BELIEVERS.
- READ HEB 10:26-31 THE FOURTH WARNING
- BACKGROUND COMPARISON: THE SANCTUARY AND ITS ENTRANCE (19)
- WHAT IS THE SIN? (26)
- WILLFUL SIN (APOSTASY: DELIBERATE, PRESUMPTUOUS, INSISTENT SIN).
- APOSTASY DEFINITION:
- -AN ABANDONING OF WHAT ONE BELIEVED IN (dictionary).
- -ONE WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH AND SINS WILLFULLY AND HABITUALLY AFTER THAT (HEB. 10:26).
- WHAT IS THE WARNING? (29)
- DON'T DESPISE CHRIST AND WHAT HE DID FOR US.
- THE MEANING OF VERSE 26:
- AFTER RECEIVING A NEW BIRTH EXPERIENCE (RECEIVING THE KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH), IF A HEBREW
BELIEVER WILFULLY SINNED AND WENT BACK TO JUDAISM, THERE WOULD BE NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR
HIS SIN. WHY?
- BECAUSE HE DOES NOT REPENT AND AVAIL HIMSELF OF THE SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST THAT TAKES AWAY
SINS, HIS SINS ARE STILL WITH HIM.
- IF HE WENT BACK TO JUDAISM AND ANIMAL SACRIFICE THAT ONLY COVERED SIN, HE WOULD BE LEFT
WITHOUT ANY SOLUTION WHEN ANIMAL SACRIFICE ENDED WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE IN 70
AD.
- THE THREE WILLFUL SINS AGAINST THE TRIUNE GOD THAT CAUSE THE LOSS OF REWARD (29):
- TO TROD UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD.
- TO COUNT THE BLOOD OF CHRIST COMMON INSTEAD OF HOLY (TO DECLARE YOU ARE IN NO NEED OF A
SACRIFICE FOR SIN).
- TO DO INSULT TO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE.
- HOW WAS THE OLD TESTAMENT JEW PUNISHED IF HE DESPISED THE LAW OF MOSES? (28)
- HE WAS PUNISHED WITH PHYSICAL DEATH IN FRONT OF WITNESSES. SINCE CHRIST IS GREATER THAN
MOSES AND THE NEW COVENANT GREATER THAN THE MOSAIC LAW, THE PUNISHMENT WILL BE GREATER FOR
NEW TESTAMENT APOSTASY.
- GREATER GRACE AND PRIVILEGE BRING GREATER RESPONSIBILITY, AND, AS A RESULT, A GREATER
JUDGMENT.
- THE TWO PHASES OF CHRIST'S SECOND COMING:
- READ HEB 10:32-39 THE FAITH PRINCIPLE
- WHAT WERE THE HEBREW CHRISTIANS GOING THROUGH THAT WAS CAUSING THEM TO RETURN TO
JUDAISM? (32-34)
- AFFLICTION AND PERSECUTION FOR THEIR FAITH.
- A GAZING STOCK (A PUBLIC SPECTACLE)
- LOOTING AND BEING USED BY OTHERS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH.
- IN SPITE OF PERSECUTION, WHAT DO THE FAITHFUL RIGHTEOUS LIVE BY?
- WE ARE TO LIVE BY FAITH (IDENTIFIED, DEFINED, AND EXPLAINED IN HEB 11).
- THE DEMAND TO BOLDNESS:
- "DON'T CAST AWAY YOUR BOLDNESS" (35)
- HEBREWS TELLS US:
- "HOLD FAST OUR BOLDNESS" (3:6).
- "DRAW NEAR WITH BOLDNESS" (4:16).
- "HAVING BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES" (10:19).
- IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN OUR SPIRITUAL BOLDNESS SO AS NOT TO FALL AWAY. BOLDNESS WILL
KEEP US FROM BACKSLIDING AND IT WILL BRING US INTO THE FULLNESS OF FAITH.
HOMEWORK
HEBREWS 11:1-40
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR
CORRECTION.
- APPLICATION OF HEB 10:7-39
- EXAMINE YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS AND DETERMINE IF REPENTANCE IS
REQUIRED OF YOU IN ORDER TO LIVE THE LIFE OF FAITH.
- TRUSTING IN THE OUTWARD OBSERVANCE OF CHURCH ATTENDANCE TO GET YOU TO HEAVEN OR TO
PLEASE GOD.
- TAKING FOR GRANTED THE BLOOD OF CHRIST TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS WITHOUT THE REQUIRED
CONFESSION TO GOD AND REPENTANCE.
- FORSAKING COMING TO CHURCH FOR FELLOWSHIP AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
- COMMITTING THE THREE WILLFUL SINS OF HEB 10:29.
- IF REPENTANCE IS REQUIRED, ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU AND THEN CLAIM YOUR FORGIVENESS
ACCORDING TO 1JOHN 1:9.
- PREPARATION FOR HEB 11:1-40
- READ HEB 11:1-40
- WRITE THE BIBLE'S DEFINITION OF FAITH.
- WRITE THE DEFINITION OF FAITH IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
- WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND BELIEF?
- WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH AND HOPE?
- WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT FAITH FROM MARK 11:23-24?