Hebrews 10

Confident Cowards

The bible reading was short - not because I am going to do a NASA talk - one where you start with the bible and then lift off into outer space - all sort of other areas and ideas. I am going to work through the whole of Hebrews Chapter 10 and these two verses sum up what I will say to you today.

That we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved - and so I've named this talk - Confident Cowards. And as I go on I hope you will see that that is what we are - Confident Cowards and also where that confidence comes from.

Let's pray...

Father we come before your word now knowing full well that you are going to speak to us. Make us open to hear what you have to say to us. Soften our hearts so that we will respond in faith to what you say to us. Thank you Father. Amen.

The letter to the Hebrews was written to remind Jewish Christians that they had right standing with God through the death of Jesus not through Jewish customs or following the Law. That Jesus was superior to Angels, Moses and the priests. In chapter 10 the writer points out that in fact Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and that his superiority does not make him unapproachable - quite the opposite - Because of who he is and what he has done we are now able to approach God and have the confidence to persevere. We are confident cowards.

Let's look closely at Hebrews 10. I will be going through it verse by verse so please open there now if you haven't already.

This chapter falls into four main areas:
vv 1- 18 which talk about the Law and sacrifices and show why there is no need for them
vv 19 - 25 which is a call to confidence and perseverance and to love and encourage
vv 26 - 31 only Jesus sacrifice is enough if you reject it there is nothing else
vv 32 - 39 a second call for confidence and perseverance
JUMP TO -> Conclusions

PART ONEvv 1- 18 which talk about the Law and sacrifices
and show why there is no need for them

1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.
3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

If you read through Leviticus and Deuteronomy you see the many different types of sacrifice - peace offerings, thank offerings, first fruits, the day of atonement, feast of tabernacles, guilt offerings and all the things that would require an offering to be made.

Imagine the temple - people coming and going constantly, bringing animals, killing them, blood being sprinkled, poured, parts of animals being held up and waved as wave offerings, carcasses being burned, removed from the temple. And all around the stench of blood and death.

You couldn't ask for a more powerful reminder of sins. They were reminded by the continuous nature that these really weren't what brought forgiveness - Next year you have to come again. The death and blood remind you that your sin is serious - something has to die to pay for what you have done - and this as one of God's chosen people. This also reminded them that faith needs to be continuous - they must trust in God day after day and come to him and accept the forgiveness that is on offer.

And so these people must have been wondering - if these offerings do not pay for my sins - what does? If this doesn't take away sin - even in God's people - what will - what was the sacrifice that was needed - what were these people looking forward to?

We know....
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, `Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.'"

This comes from Psalm 40:6-8. So what does this mean? The writer goes on to tell us.
8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made).

Again this tension this yearning for something better. In fact Christ offered himself his body the one that God had prepared for him so that he could come down and live just like us and then lay down his life for us as the final sacrifice for sin that people had looked forward to in faith for all those years.

9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.
10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Once for all - that speaks of the retroactive nature of Christ's death. It covers all those before and after him. Not through continued sacrifice [the first] but through his once for all sacrifice - the second.

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

What a contrast. day after day contrasted with one sacrifice and stands contrasted with sat down. IT IS FINISHED!!!!

Then the most vital contrast - the sacrifices can never take away sins but Christ instead offered for all time one sacrifice for sins. And so the long hoped for salvation - the agent of forgiveness had come. The answer to the major problem we all face - our sin - our rejection of God - had come. Christ's death was the only death and the only blood that would take away sins. Even we could not die for our own sins. It is only through the sacrifice of Jesus that we can be forgiven our sins completely. The letter then goes on -

13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool,
14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

So, whilst the act of forgiveness is once, things still go on. Jesus waits for his enemies to be humiliated. He waits - he has already done what has to be done he is merely waiting now for the final consummation of all the was done on the cross - at the end times.

V14 talks about this "now but not yet" - we have been made perfect by Christ's death, and yet day by day we are being made holy. It is an ongoing process. We have been made perfect before God and in his sight, yet we still have to grow and live our lives day by day becoming more like Jesus until finally we die and are raised up again in glory - in our perfect state. We are perfect, but not yet showing that in this world - glimpses come through but nothing like what is to come. This is a part of the hope which leads us on.

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."
17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

These verses come from Jer. 31:33,34. These promises were not fulfilled until Jesus came and here the letter is reinforcing the idea that people had looked forward - they had always had this desire for being right with God - and God had promised it and so they were desperately searching for it. Once again this promise is fulfilled in Christ. There are many more places that point to Christ and in fact the whole of the Old Testament points to Christ. All prophecy finds its fulfilment in Jesus For no matter how many promises God had made, they are yes in Christ. And so through him the Amen is spoken to us to the glory of God - 2 Corinthian 1:20.

18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

What a frightening thought. If you don't believe in Jesus then you are in trouble. Quite clearly if sins have been forgiven and they have in Christ - then there is no other sacrifice that can work. There never was - the writer stated that in the first few verses. The only sacrifice that removes sin is Jesus. Anything else you are trying will not work. More on that later. But there is also the good side to this, an awesome, mind blowing side, listen..

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

As people who are forgiven there is nothing to stop us approaching God - we can be Confident Cowards [who wouldn't be a coward if they had to approach God by themselves with only their own goodness] Think about that for a moment - As people who are forgiven there is nothing to stop us approaching God.

So put aside all the sins that are weighing you down or those little niggling problems that you face day by day. Put aside the anger you feel for whatever reason, put aside the pains, hurts, losses, disappointments, rejections. Take hold of this. As people who are forgiven there is nothing to stop us approaching God! This should lift the heart, this is the source of our underlying Joy - not hype not noise not inanely repeating the same phrase over and over again. But the convicting knowledge and saving faith in the fact that through Jesus' death on the cross for us we have access to God - anytime anyplace - no matter what we've done, are doing or will do.

I plead with you - if its been a while - come to God today look closely at him and see God's love and feel his forgiveness and peace. He never abandoned you, he was always there for you - he was always carrying you, holding you. You just looked away - look back - let him heal you - not fully [we are still sinful] but in part. Let him heal you more than you have been before and more than anything the world can offer - he will heal you more than whatever you have been trying to do for yourself. And when you finally die or He returns you will be completely healed!!!!

22 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
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Because of Jesus we can approach God - so let's do it! We have full assurance, our hearts will be cleansed of guilt - guilt is the work of the devil the deceiver God is on about forgiveness. Our whole person is cleansed before God!!!! Praise God! This is a fact which will unbow the one bowed down - will heal the ones who are hurting.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Why? Because we are free. You see when you can come before God freely and he will always love you then you are free to give of yourself to others - even when they don't met your needs of love and acceptance - because you always have a father who loves and accepts you. Note the use of the word consider. Encouragement, like love, is an act of will it doesn't just happen we have to sit down and think about how we are going to do it.

How can we encourage someone? is it by a phone call, a letter, a visit, a verse from the bible, praying with them, letting people know that you are prying for them. Think about it. How are we spurring each other on how long has it been since you've consider how you might do that.

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.

Pretty straight forward - and sure that doesn't just mean church in this place but it does mean meeting with other Christians to look at the word and encourage each other. And as we realise that Christ could return at any time then we will be even busier at encouragement.

We are up to PART THREE vv 26 - 31 only Jesus' sacrifice is enough
if you reject it there is nothing else

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 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?
30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," [4] and again, "The Lord will judge his people." [5]
31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Harsh words - but true. if Christ is the only sacrifice for sins - and he is - then to ignore him or to reject him outright having claimed him as your own leaves nothing left.

Don't think God is dead, don't think he watches from a distance - he is alive and active - if you reject him all your life then you will have to pay for your rejection - lip service isn't enough either - whole hearted trust in the death of his son is all that he wants.

PART FOUR:vv 32 - 39 a second call for confidence and perseverance

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.
33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.
34 You sympathised with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Persevere in our trust in Christ, not in the things that we can do but in what Jesus has done on the cross. The writer has shown quite clearly that Jesus is the sacrifice for sins. That has not changed it is one of the few things that never will. Hold fast to this, don't be put aside by troubles or persecution, jeers or people thinking you are strange - our faith will be richly rewarded. Remember the strength for this comes from the fact that we can approach God at anytime because of Christ's death. The strength for this comes not of ourselves it comes from God. We are confident cowards because we understand what has been done for us and that nothing can take it away from us. We tremble and are afraid but because what we have is worth so much and is so secure we can stand up for it in the face of opposition.

I want to leave you some conclusions and challenges and then use the last three verse of Hebrews 10 to encourage.

Firstly if you are not a Christian then all I have to say to you that It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. If you are doing anything other than trusting in Jesus' death as paying for your sins then you are a fool. Maybe you aren't sacrificing animals to appease God's wrath at your rejection of him - but you will be doing something. Today we usually do good works - or just try and look like a Christian.

Well God didn't accept it in the past and he doesn't now. You see nothing you can do is enough to pay for your sins. God says it in Psalm 51v15 "you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings"What God wants is explained in v17"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise";.

What are you offering God - burnt offerings - your good works, church attendance, donations to charities - only surface things that you do to please God?

Or are your heart and spirit given over to him and his will. Are you putting your faith in Christ's sacrifice - acknowledging that you can do nothing to please God?

If you are not then you will not escape the judgment that is coming. In Acts 16:30 some people asked Paul and Silas ³What must I do to be saved? They replied ³Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved² I am sorry that I can offer no course or acts of goodness or penance or anything - all you have to believe is that about 2000 years about the man who was God - Jesus Christ died on the cross to bring you forgiveness for your rejection of God. If you believe that then tell God and then tell someone here.

If we are already Christians then remember what I said before - As people who are forgiven there is nothing to stop us approaching God. And I say again - if you are holding onto some sin refusing to accept the forgiveness that is already on offer that you already have, let go of it - I know the pain it causes.

God has already forgiven you for it - forgive yourself.

God is waiting for you and is keen for you to draw near to Him with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, and then having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and ... our bodies washed with pure water.

If you are thirsty drink - hungry eat. Don't be stubborn.

And this fact also lets us persevere as I have said. Makes us confident Cowards. Are you??? If not then come back to looking at Jesus and not yourself. The more you look to Jesus the more confident you become - because you see that your power or eloquence is not important it is the power of God at work in us that is important and effective.

Finally

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
37 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." HABB 2:3,4

We must live by faith in Jesus - this is all we are called to do. Jesus is returning and when he does he will be judging not saving. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. If we continue in our faith in Christ's death being the answer to our sins and persevere in coming to God and in meeting together for encouragement. Then we will last to the end and not fall away.

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

We are Christ's Confident Cowards the writer to the Hebrews was sure of that and so am I.

Let's pray...

Father if anyone here is not trusting in you then I pray that they now will tell you that they wish to believe that Jesus died for their sins. ........

Father we thank you so much that Jesus died for us and so we can now come to you confidently and need not be afraid to stand up for you either. We thank you that you have given us the strength to be your Confident Cowards and we ask that we will be what we are. Help us to step out in faith to stand up for you to tell others about you.

We thank you that no sin that we have or will commit can ever come between you and us. We praise you and give you glory because of how great you are and how faithful and loving and forgiving you are.

In Jesus' name - the name by which we are saved - AMEN!