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Hebrews 6:9-12 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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I invite you to take out your copy of God's Word and turn to Hebrews chapter 6.
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We're going to continue our verse-by-verse study of the book of Hebrews.
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!
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With today's text, which is Hebrews chapter 6, verses 9-12.
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Before I read it, I remind you, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.
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It was written for His glory and our good.
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And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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Hebrews chapter 6, verse 9 and following.
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Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things.
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Things that belong to salvation.
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For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.
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And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.
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So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
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This morning, as we look at these verses, I want to first draw your attention to the word that the author of Hebrews uses in addressing the church that this letter is written to.
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He gives them the title, beloved.
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Beloved.
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Which means loved ones or loved.
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It sounds so very churchy to say beloved.
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It's not a word I ever use, at least rarely outside of this room.
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But it just simply means loved ones.
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And He does this.
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He gives them this title.
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He addresses them in this way after saying in the beginning of verse 9, though we speak in this way.
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So just prior to this, verses 4 through 8, He has issued to them a warning.
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And it's a similar warning.
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It's been carrying all throughout the text so far.
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However, it is the large reason this letter was written that they would be careful to be sure that they are, in fact, in the faith.
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Remember that this little church had suffered much and they were being tempted to go back to Judaism.
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To forsake the following of Christ for the sake of avoiding discomfort.
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Avoiding the trial that was coming their way.
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And so just previously, by way of reminder, verses 4 through 8 of chapter 6, the author of Hebrews has written,
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For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
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and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come,
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and then have fallen away to restore them again to repentance.
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Since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt.
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For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated,
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receives a blessing from God.
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But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed,
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and its end is to be burned.
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He has rebuked these Christians for being dull of hearing in chapter 5 and verse 11.
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And has spoken of the need to go on to maturity in chapter 6 verse 1.
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And then issued this very grave warning concerning land that has received the water of God's grace,
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and then produced only thorns and thistles.
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And what he says of it is that this land will be burned.
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This pastor, out of concern for those who may leave the faith,
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has warned them in chapter 2 and verse 1,
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to pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
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What is he referring to?
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The gospel of Jesus Christ.
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That we can only be justified before God by grace alone,
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through faith alone,
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in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
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He is concerned that these he's writing to would be apostate.
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That they would leave the faith and show themselves to have never been Christians at all.
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He shares Paul's sentiment when Paul writes in 1 Timothy chapter 1 verse 18 and following,
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where Paul exhorts Timothy,
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wage the good warfare,
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holding faith and a good conscience.
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By rejecting this,
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referring to faith and a good conscience,
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some have made shipwreck of their faith.
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The author of Hebrews will go on in this chapter to say,
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in verses 19 and the beginning of verse 20,
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we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.
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A hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain
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where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.
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Jesus Christ is the anchor for the soul that is storm-tossed.
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So he has spoken strongly about those who did not make Jesus the steadfast anchor of their souls.
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Who have drifted and shipwrecked their faith.
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And he is warning these Christians not to be deceived by false conversion.
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To not put too much credit in their religious experience.
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To not find themselves among the drifted and shipwrecked.
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And it is with this in mind,
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as he's completing that portion of his case,
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that he calls them beloved.
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It is significant.
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I hope that if it doesn't already arrest on this word,
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that after this morning, as you're reading your scripture,
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when you see the word beloved,
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it will cause you to pause and think about all that that term means for you in Christ.
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I believe for the author of Hebrews that there are two senses to this address.
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Reasons that he uses this term.
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I think first, he is simply saying,
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you are loved by me.
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I am penning this letter for your sake.
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I care deeply about you.
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It's a familial term.
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He is relating to them as their brother.
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He is saying to them,
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you are my brothers and you are my sisters.
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You are my beloved.
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Much like the apostle John does in 1 John 3,
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verse 1 and following where he writes,
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see what kind of love the Father has given to us,
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that we should be called children of God.
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And so we are.
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The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
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So the apostle John is saying to these Christians,
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we are brothers and sisters.
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And then at the beginning of verse 2,
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he says, beloved, we are God's children now.
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He is expressing to them a great affection for them.
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Secondly, and more importantly,
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he is saying you are loved by God.
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You are loved by God.
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In fact, the author's ability to call them beloved
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has its beginning in God's adoption of them.
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God's familial terminology.
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His inclusion of these people into his family.
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The author belongs to him and they to him
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because they all belong to God.
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Just after Jesus was baptized,
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Matthew 3, verse 17 tells us,
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and behold, a voice from heaven said,
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this is my beloved son
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with whom I am well pleased.
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And so if we are in Jesus,
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if we have been adopted in him,
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his righteousness given to us,
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our sin given to him,
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this term transfers to us.
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No longer enemies,
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but beloved children.
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And I hope this word prompts that in you.
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A contemplation about who you are in Christ.
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Have you noticed my use of this same term
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as I address you?
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I also mean it in both sentences.
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Have you noticed that I most regularly use it
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when I'm about to say something particularly difficult
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or when I'm trying to bring a particular comfort
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or draw your attention?
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I've already done it once this morning
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and I do that every Sunday morning.
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Beloved,
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this is God's word to us.
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I'm founding that in.
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My great love for you
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because of God's great love for us.
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He's written us this good book
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so we should pay attention to it
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is what I'm saying to you.
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God loves you
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and he's written you a word.
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Pay attention this morning.
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I'm saying I love you
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and more importantly,
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God loves you.
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And that is what the author of Hebrews
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is doing here
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for his original audience
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and for us.
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He has just said
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a particularly difficult thing
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and he is now bringing
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a particular comfort.
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He has warned them
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not to neglect such a great salvation
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by going on to maturity.
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And now he gives to them
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his confidence
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that they are in fact Christians
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and that they will persevere
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to the end.
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He is convinced
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of the sincerity
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of their love for Christ.
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And had they
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not separated by time
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and been friends,
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he would have agreed
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with the Puritan theologian
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William Pink.
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This is on your bulletin
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who said,
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God presently gives
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an everlasting assurance
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of salvation
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to all who love Christ
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sincerely.
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He is writing now
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at this point in the text
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as he has been warning
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and warning
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and warning
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and rebuking
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and warning
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some comfort to them.
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He is offering to them
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his confidence
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and he is hoping for
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and wanting them
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to have
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this confidence.
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And so that is a general outline
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for today's study.
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Number one,
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the author has confidence
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that they are Christians.
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Christians.
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And number two,
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the author wants them
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to have confidence
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that they are Christians.
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So first,
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he expresses
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this confidence.
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He says,
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yet in your case,
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beloved,
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he's just talked about
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people who appeared
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to be Christians
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and showed themselves
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not to be.
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Those who had drifted.
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Those who had make
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shipwreck of their faith.
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Those who did not
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go on to maturity.
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Those who rejected Jesus
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as the Christ.
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Yet in your case,
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beloved,
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we feel sure
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of better things.
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Things that belong
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to salvation.
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These were things
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that he could see
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and observe
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and been told of
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that existed
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with this little church.
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What are these things
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that belong to salvation?
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salvation.
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The Christian life
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will give evidence
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to its faithfulness.
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Good trees
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will bear
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good fruit.
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Now,
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there are certainly
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external evidences
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and we want to consider
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and we want to talk
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about those.
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But before we do,
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I want to talk
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just briefly
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this morning
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about internal
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evidences.
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A thing that cannot
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be measured
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from the outside.
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A thing that the author
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of Hebrews
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could not look
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upon them
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and know
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with great confidence.
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Because if you are
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in fact in Christ,
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if He has made you new,
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He has made you new
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by His Spirit.
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He has given to you
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the gift
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of a Spirit
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that indwells you,
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makes you new,
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causes you to walk
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in His ways.
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Right?
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Replaces that heart of stone
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with the heart of flesh.
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Paul writes about this
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in Romans 8,
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verse 15-16,
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where he writes,
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For you did not receive
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the spirit of slavery
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to fall back into fear,
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but you have received
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the spirit of adoption
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as sons
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by whom we cry,
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Abba,
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Father,
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Daddy,
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Father.
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And then verse 16 says,
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The Spirit Himself
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bears witness
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with our spirit
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that we are children
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of God.
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Right?
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We have the spirit
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that testifies to this,
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is a seal of this,
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that communicates to us
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that we belong
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to God.
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No longer a spirit
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of fear,
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but a spirit of adoption
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as sons.
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Right?
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An internal knowing
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that we belong
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to God.
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This is a precious reality
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that the spirit of God
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speaks to us
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in this way
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if we have Him.
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J.I. Packer
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in his wonderful work
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Knowing God,
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which I commend to you,
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wrote this,
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If you want to judge
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how well a person
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understands Christianity,
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find out how much
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he makes
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of the thought
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of being God's child
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and having God
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as his Father.
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If this is not
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the thought
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that prompts
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and controls
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his worship
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and prayers
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and his whole outlook
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on life,
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it means that
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he does not
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understand Christianity
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very well at all.
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For everything
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that Christ taught,
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everything that makes
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the New Testament new
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and better than the old,
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everything that is
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distinctively Christian
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as opposed to
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merely Jewish,
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is summed up
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in the knowledge
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of the fatherhood
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of God.
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Father is the
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Christian name
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for God.
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This internal testimony
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works for our assurance.
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Jesus said in John 14
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in verse 27,
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Peace I leave with you,
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my peace I give to you,
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not as the world gives
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do I give to you.
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Let not your hearts
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be troubled,
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neither let them
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be afraid.
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Now, beloved,
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if you are in Christ,
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there are times
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in your life
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you may doubt
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your salvation.
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I am not saying
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that if you ever
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doubt your salvation,
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you are not in fact
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in Christ.
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But through prayer
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and fellowship
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and the study of the word,
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if you have the spirit,
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the spirit will
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give you this
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adoptive status,
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this understanding,
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right,
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will not make you
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in fear,
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but will grant you
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peace.
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So there's this internal,
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a bit subjective
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evidencing,
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but more specifically,
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I think what our author
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is writing about
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is external evidencing,
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right,
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again,
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things he could see
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and hear about,
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could report on.
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In verse 10,
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he expresses this,
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for God is not unjust
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so as to overlook
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your work,
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activity,
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outward sign,
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and the love
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that you have shown
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for his name
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in serving the saints,
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right,
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you once did it,
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and he goes on to say
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at the end of verse 10,
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as you still do.
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Not just past work
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and love,
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but also present work
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and love.
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Later on in the book
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of Hebrews,
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he writes in chapter 10,
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32 and following,
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but recall the former days
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when after you were enlightened,
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you endured a hard struggle
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with sufferings,
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sometimes being publicly exposed
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to reproach and affliction,
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and sometimes being partners
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with those so treated.
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For you had compassion
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on those in prison,
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and you joyfully accepted
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the plundering of your property,
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since you knew
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that you yourselves
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had a better possession
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and an abiding one.
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There's one example
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in our text,
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in this book,
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of what the author of Hebrews
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here is talking about.
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This work and the love
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that you have shown
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for his name
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in serving the saints,
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as you still do.
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So, what's happening here
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is that people are being
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publicly mocked,
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in some cases imprisoned,
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and for the church,
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right,
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who's bearing the name
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of Christ,
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to identify
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with those in prison,
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to come to them
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and bring aid to them,
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because they weren't being
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taken care of in prison,
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they were just simply
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locked up.
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They were to be fed,
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they were to be fed
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by family.
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They were also then
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taking on
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the name
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of Christ.
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Christ
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had become
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most precious
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to them,
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a better possession
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and an abiding one,
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verse 34
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of chapter 10
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says,
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that they were willing
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to bear up
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under this reproach
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and this affliction,
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right,
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to love
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those
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who were being
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mistreated.
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And this is because
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they understood
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the commands
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of Christ.
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John chapter 13,
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verse 34,
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and verse 35,
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Jesus says,
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a new commandment
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I give to you
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that you love
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one another.
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Just as I have loved you,
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you also
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are to love
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one another.
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By this,
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all people will know
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that you are my disciples
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if you have love
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for one another.
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And as a mental exercise,
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it is
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helpful
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to think about
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John 13,
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35
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and replace
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in there
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all of the things
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we tend
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to think
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will make us
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known as Jesus'
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disciples.
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disciples
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and there is
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any measure
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of them.
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Going to church
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on Sunday morning
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does not necessarily
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mean you're a disciple
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of Jesus Christ.
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Claiming to be
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an evangelical
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does not necessarily
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make you a disciple
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of Jesus Christ.
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Voting for a particular
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party does not
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necessarily make you
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a disciple
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of Jesus Christ.
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Going on a mission trip
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every spring break
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does not necessarily
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make you
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a disciple
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of Jesus Christ.
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Jesus brings it down
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to this one thing.
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By this
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all people will know
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that you are my disciples
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if you have
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love
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for one another.
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And this bears
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itself out
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in so many ways
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which may include
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going to church
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on Sundays
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and going on
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mission trips.
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All types of things
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are
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loving.
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But just before that
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he has said
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just as I
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have loved you
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you also
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are to love
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one another.
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And so something
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we can be sure of
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is that the type
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of love
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he's talking about
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is a sacrificial
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love.
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It's a love
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that gives
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of yourself
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for the sake
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of
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for the highest
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good
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of
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another.
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The author
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of Hebrews
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is doing
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that very
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thing here.
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We live
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in a culture
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that defines
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love
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by the way
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in which
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the person
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receives
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the love.
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So if we
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say something
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to someone
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that they don't
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particularly like
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and it doesn't
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feel loving
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to them
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then our culture
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is very quick
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to dismiss
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the action
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as unloving.
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It's aimed
21:06
at how
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the object
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feels
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about
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what's done.
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The author
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of Hebrews
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has just
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called them
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beloved.
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He just
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said you
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are loved
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ones.
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I love
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you.
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And he's
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been so
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very hard
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on them.
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He has
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just
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finished
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this
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harsh
21:25
rebuke
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to now
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go on
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to be
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an
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encouragement.
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So love
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takes on
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all kinds
21:33
of forms.
21:35
But we
21:35
know
21:35
that the
21:36
Christian
21:37
life
21:37
is a
21:38
life
21:38
of
21:39
sacrificial
21:40
love.
21:42
And they
21:42
had
21:43
expressed
21:43
this.
21:44
And this
21:44
was giving
21:45
this
21:46
pastor
21:46
a
21:47
confidence
21:47
in their
21:49
salvation.
21:51
Secondly,
21:52
the author
21:52
wants them
21:53
to have
21:53
confidence
21:54
that they
21:54
are
21:55
Christians.
21:55
He doesn't
21:56
want it
21:56
to end
21:56
just with
21:57
his
21:57
confidence.
21:58
He also
21:59
wants
21:59
them
22:00
to be
22:01
confident.
22:01
Verse 11
22:02
he writes,
22:03
and we
22:03
desire
22:04
each
22:04
one of
22:05
you
22:05
to show
22:07
the same
22:07
earnestness
22:08
to have
22:09
the full
22:10
assurance
22:11
of hope
22:12
until the
22:13
end.
22:14
Not
22:15
some
22:16
assurance,
22:17
not a
22:18
little
22:19
measure
22:19
of
22:19
assurance,
22:20
but full
22:21
assurance,
22:21
the full
22:22
measure,
22:23
complete
22:24
assurance,
22:26
an unshakable
22:27
confidence is
22:28
what he's
22:29
talking about
22:29
here.
22:30
And not
22:30
just today,
22:32
but today
22:33
and tomorrow
22:34
and the
22:35
next until
22:36
the end.
22:38
He wants
22:38
them to
22:38
persevere.
22:40
He wants
22:40
them to
22:40
press on
22:42
in knowing
22:42
God and
22:44
doing so
22:44
to the
22:46
end.
22:47
And he
22:48
gives us
22:48
some ideas
22:48
about how
22:49
it is
22:50
that we
22:51
can have
22:52
this
22:52
assurance.
22:54
So how
22:55
is it
22:55
that we
22:55
can have
22:56
full
22:57
assurance?
22:58
Number
22:59
one,
23:00
don't
23:01
be
23:02
lazy.
23:03
Number
23:03
one,
23:05
don't
23:05
be
23:05
lazy.
23:06
The first
23:06
part of
23:07
verse 12,
23:09
he writes
23:10
so that
23:10
you may
23:10
not be
23:12
sluggish.
23:15
I think
23:16
that this
23:17
particular
23:19
challenge,
23:21
we would
23:21
not be
23:22
sluggish,
23:24
plagues
23:24
the American
23:25
church.
23:27
I think
23:27
many of
23:28
us would
23:29
find that
23:29
we are
23:30
far too
23:30
often,
23:31
far too
23:32
apathetic,
23:34
sitting
23:34
back,
23:35
seems
23:36
that so
23:37
often,
23:38
comfort
23:38
is our
23:39
very
23:39
worst
23:40
enemy.
23:42
We don't
23:43
see that
23:43
the stakes
23:43
are high.
23:45
We kind
23:45
of float
23:46
through
23:47
life.
23:48
And here
23:49
he's saying
23:49
the opposite.
23:51
Don't
23:51
be
23:52
sluggish.
23:53
Don't
23:53
be
23:54
lazy.
23:55
Put
23:55
yourself
23:56
to
23:57
the
23:58
task.
23:58
task.
23:59
This
24:00
word
24:00
here
24:00
translated
24:01
in the
24:01
ESV
24:02
sluggish
24:02
is the
24:03
very
24:03
same
24:04
word
24:04
translated
24:05
in
24:05
chapter
24:05
5
24:06
and
24:06
verse
24:06
11
24:07
as
24:08
dull.
24:09
When he
24:10
rebukes
24:10
them
24:10
that they're
24:12
being
24:12
dull
24:13
of hearing,
24:15
you could
24:15
also say
24:16
sluggish
24:17
of hearing,
24:18
lazy
24:18
of hearing.
24:21
The author
24:21
of Hebrews
24:22
has rebuked
24:23
them for
24:23
being sluggish
24:24
in their
24:24
hearing and
24:25
does not
24:25
also want
24:26
them to
24:27
become
24:27
sluggish
24:28
in their
24:29
acting.
24:31
And there's
24:31
a connection
24:32
between the
24:32
two,
24:33
between our
24:33
hearing and
24:35
our
24:35
obedience.
24:36
And I
24:37
would suggest
24:37
to you,
24:38
although not
24:38
in the
24:38
text today,
24:39
that there's
24:39
also a
24:40
connection
24:40
between our
24:40
obedience
24:41
and our
24:41
hearing.
24:43
That God
24:43
doesn't
24:44
entrust us
24:44
with more
24:45
until we're
24:46
obedient with
24:46
what he's
24:47
already
24:47
taught us.
24:49
That part
24:50
of the
24:50
growing up
24:52
process
24:52
is that when
24:54
God gives
24:54
you something
24:55
to obey,
24:56
you obey
24:56
that thing
24:57
and he
24:58
continues to
24:59
give you
24:59
more to
25:00
obey and
25:00
grows you
25:01
up into
25:02
Christ.
25:05
James,
25:05
in James
25:06
chapter 1
25:06
verse 22
25:07
through 25,
25:09
most of the
25:09
book of James
25:10
is about this
25:11
very issue.
25:13
He writes,
25:14
but be
25:14
doers of
25:16
the word
25:16
and not
25:17
hearers only
25:18
deceiving
25:20
yourselves.
25:22
Do not
25:23
deceive
25:23
yourself.
25:24
What he's
25:25
saying
25:25
essentially
25:25
is that
25:26
you're
25:26
not
25:26
hearing
25:26
it
25:26
if
25:27
you're
25:27
not
25:27
doing
25:28
it.
25:29
Verse 23,
25:30
for if
25:30
anyone is
25:31
a hearer
25:31
of the
25:31
word
25:32
and not
25:32
a doer,
25:33
he is
25:34
like a
25:34
man who
25:34
looks
25:34
intently
25:35
at his
25:35
natural
25:35
face
25:36
in a
25:36
mirror.
25:37
For
25:37
he looks
25:38
at himself
25:38
and goes
25:38
away
25:39
and at
25:39
once
25:40
forgets
25:41
what
25:41
he was
25:42
like.
25:43
He's
25:43
merely
25:44
saying
25:44
you're
25:44
not
25:45
using
25:45
the
25:45
mirror
25:45
for
25:46
the
25:46
purpose
25:46
of
25:46
the
25:46
mirror.
25:47
You
25:47
don't
25:47
get
25:47
what
25:47
it's
25:48
for
25:49
verse 25,
25:50
but the
25:51
one who
25:51
looks
25:51
into the
25:52
perfect
25:52
law,
25:53
the
25:53
law
25:53
of
25:53
liberty
25:54
and
25:55
perseveres,
25:57
presses
25:57
on to
25:58
the
25:58
end
25:59
in
25:59
his
26:00
doing,
26:01
being
26:01
no
26:02
hearer
26:02
who
26:02
forgets,
26:03
but a
26:03
doer
26:04
who
26:04
acts,
26:05
he
26:06
will be
26:06
blessed
26:06
in his
26:08
doing.
26:08
Be
26:10
doers
26:10
and not
26:11
hearers
26:12
only.
26:13
Do not
26:14
be
26:14
lazy
26:16
in your
26:16
pursuit
26:17
of God.
26:18
So that's
26:19
to say it
26:19
in the
26:20
negative,
26:20
but I
26:21
think it's
26:21
also very
26:21
important
26:22
that we
26:22
say it
26:22
in the
26:23
positive.
26:24
So
26:25
secondly,
26:25
how can
26:26
you have
26:26
assurance?
26:27
Work.
26:29
Work
26:29
to have
26:30
assurance.
26:32
The last
26:32
part of
26:32
verse 11,
26:33
he says,
26:33
show the
26:34
same
26:34
earnestness
26:34
to have
26:35
full
26:35
assurance
26:36
and
26:36
hope
26:36
until
26:37
the
26:38
end.
26:38
This
26:39
idea of
26:39
earnestness
26:40
means a
26:41
serious
26:42
devotion
26:43
to,
26:44
to pick
26:45
up the
26:45
task of
26:46
having
26:46
full
26:47
assurance
26:47
of hope
26:48
until
26:49
the
26:49
end.
26:51
Beloved,
26:51
we are
26:51
far too
26:52
informed
26:53
by our
26:54
feelings.
26:56
I think
26:56
way too
26:57
often,
26:58
we wait
26:58
to be
26:58
obedient
26:59
until it
26:59
feels
27:00
good
27:00
to be
27:01
obedient.
27:02
We are
27:03
waiting
27:03
for a
27:04
feeling
27:04
of
27:05
assurance
27:06
and we
27:08
want
27:08
to have
27:08
feelings
27:09
and we
27:09
are not
27:10
stoics.
27:11
Feelings
27:11
can be
27:12
good
27:12
and they
27:13
can be
27:13
helpful.
27:14
They can
27:14
be informative
27:15
for us.
27:16
We want
27:17
our feelings
27:18
to coincide
27:19
with.
27:20
We want
27:20
them to
27:20
catch up
27:21
to the
27:22
truth.
27:24
So,
27:25
here he's
27:26
not saying
27:26
feel
27:28
assured.
27:29
He's
27:30
saying
27:30
have
27:31
earnestness.
27:32
Show
27:33
devotion
27:33
to.
27:34
Right?
27:35
Work
27:35
to have
27:36
assurance
27:37
of hope
27:38
until the
27:38
end.
27:39
Be a
27:40
doer
27:40
and let
27:42
the feeling
27:42
of it
27:43
catch up.
27:45
No one
27:46
can be
27:47
saved
27:47
by their
27:48
works.
27:49
The
27:50
gospel of
27:50
Jesus Christ
27:51
says this
27:52
to us
27:52
again
27:52
and again
27:53
and again.
27:54
We needed
27:55
Jesus'
27:56
righteousness,
27:56
his perfect
27:57
law
27:58
keeping.
27:59
Right?
27:59
No one
28:00
can be
28:00
saved
28:00
by their
28:01
works.
28:01
But
28:02
saving
28:02
faith
28:03
does
28:04
work.
28:05
Evidences
28:07
the
28:08
faith.
28:10
Again,
28:11
James,
28:11
he's
28:11
helpful
28:12
to us
28:12
in this
28:13
chapter 2
28:14
and verse
28:15
14.
28:16
He says,
28:16
What good
28:16
is it,
28:17
my brothers,
28:18
if someone
28:19
says he
28:20
has faith
28:20
but does
28:21
not have
28:22
works?
28:23
Can that
28:24
faith
28:24
save him?
28:27
James is
28:27
making the
28:27
case that
28:28
he's merely
28:29
this person
28:30
he's referring
28:31
to,
28:32
just has
28:33
some
28:33
mental
28:34
assent.
28:34
says,
28:36
like my
28:37
children
28:37
say,
28:38
I believe
28:38
in Jesus
28:38
but they
28:40
don't know
28:40
him,
28:41
they have
28:41
not been
28:41
changed
28:42
by him,
28:43
they're not
28:43
being granted
28:44
the spirit
28:45
of Christ
28:46
and this
28:48
is the
28:48
great issue
28:49
of our
28:51
day.
28:52
I say it
28:53
over and
28:53
over again,
28:54
I feel like
28:54
a broken
28:55
record at
28:55
times.
28:57
The gospel
28:58
of Jesus
28:58
Christ
28:59
is that we
29:00
are saved
29:00
by grace
29:01
alone,
29:01
through faith
29:02
alone,
29:02
in Christ
29:03
alone.
29:03
God saves
29:04
those who
29:05
are his.
29:06
He moves
29:07
in them
29:07
to repentance
29:08
and faith.
29:10
He causes
29:11
them to turn
29:11
from sin
29:12
and to believe
29:13
in Christ.
29:14
To place
29:14
all of their
29:15
confidence
29:16
in who
29:16
Jesus
29:17
is.
29:19
And this
29:19
is a great
29:20
work of
29:21
God.
29:22
This is a
29:23
monergistic
29:24
work.
29:25
God saves,
29:26
God keeps.
29:28
It's in
29:29
that salvation
29:30
that we
29:31
now walk,
29:32
that we
29:33
evidence
29:34
it.
29:36
Just because
29:37
you have
29:38
raised your
29:38
hand or
29:40
walked down
29:41
an aisle
29:41
does not
29:42
necessarily
29:43
mean you're
29:45
a Christian.
29:46
What
29:47
evidences
29:47
your faith?
29:50
And remember
29:51
that he's
29:52
being encouraging
29:53
to this end.
29:54
Right?
29:55
He's being
29:55
encouraging to
29:56
this end.
29:57
I have a
29:58
confidence.
29:58
I want you
29:59
to have a
29:59
confidence.
30:00
Right?
30:01
I'm
30:01
observing.
30:02
You continue
30:04
to do
30:04
this work.
30:06
Be earnest
30:07
in your
30:08
working.
30:11
Paul writes
30:12
in Ephesians
30:12
chapter 2
30:13
verses 4
30:14
through 10.
30:14
Some of
30:15
this will
30:15
sound familiar
30:15
from our
30:16
time with
30:16
the children.
30:17
But God
30:17
being rich
30:19
in mercy
30:19
because of
30:20
the great
30:21
love with
30:21
which he
30:21
loved us
30:22
even when
30:24
we were
30:24
dead in
30:25
our
30:25
trespasses.
30:26
Dead.
30:27
Inactive.
30:29
Unable.
30:29
He made
30:31
us alive
30:32
together
30:32
with
30:33
Christ.
30:34
By grace
30:35
you have
30:35
been saved
30:36
and raises
30:37
up with
30:37
him and
30:37
seated us
30:38
with him
30:38
in the
30:38
heavenly
30:39
places
30:39
in
30:39
Christ
30:40
Jesus.
30:42
So that
30:42
in the
30:42
coming
30:42
ages
30:43
he might
30:43
show
30:43
the
30:43
immeasurable
30:44
riches
30:44
of his
30:45
grace
30:45
and kindness
30:46
toward us
30:46
in Christ
30:47
Jesus.
30:48
Right?
30:48
In order
30:48
to put
30:48
on display
30:49
his
30:49
greatness
30:50
he has
30:51
saved
30:51
a people.
30:52
Verse
30:52
8.
30:54
For by
30:54
grace you
30:54
have been
30:55
saved
30:55
through
30:55
faith.
30:56
And this
30:56
is not
30:57
your own
30:58
doing.
30:59
It is
30:59
the gift
30:59
of God
31:00
not a
31:01
result of
31:02
works
31:02
so that
31:03
no one
31:04
may boast.
31:07
And then
31:07
verse 10.
31:08
For we
31:10
are his
31:10
workmanship
31:11
created in
31:13
Christ
31:13
Jesus
31:14
for good
31:15
works.
31:16
He saved
31:17
us
31:18
for good
31:19
works
31:19
which
31:20
evidence
31:20
this saving
31:21
power in
31:22
our lives
31:22
which
31:23
God
31:24
prepared
31:24
beforehand
31:25
that we
31:26
should walk
31:27
in them.
31:28
So do
31:29
you want
31:29
to have
31:30
assurance?
31:31
Do you
31:31
want to
31:31
feel
31:32
assured?
31:33
Then get
31:34
to work.
31:35
Pick up
31:36
the scripture
31:36
and read
31:37
the commands.
31:39
How is it
31:39
that God
31:40
would have
31:40
me walk?
31:43
Learn
31:43
to love
31:44
righteousness.
31:46
Put off
31:46
old habits
31:47
by putting
31:48
on new
31:49
habits.
31:50
And you
31:50
will find
31:51
in doing
31:51
this if
31:51
you are
31:52
in Christ
31:52
your trajectory
31:54
will be
31:54
towards
31:55
holiness.
31:56
You will
31:56
find that
31:57
it gets
31:58
easier and
31:59
easier to
31:59
do these
32:00
things.
32:01
We never
32:01
become perfect
32:02
beside of
32:03
heaven but
32:03
we progress
32:04
toward it.
32:06
Always
32:07
making
32:07
progress
32:08
bit by
32:09
bit by
32:10
bit.
32:10
One
32:11
degree
32:11
of glory
32:12
to another
32:13
degree
32:14
of glory
32:15
as the
32:16
spirit of
32:16
Christ
32:17
powerfully
32:17
works
32:18
within us.
32:20
We are
32:20
meant to be
32:21
a people.
32:21
That is
32:21
why we are
32:22
left here.
32:22
We are
32:23
We still
32:24
carry the
32:24
baggage of
32:25
our flesh
32:25
around.
32:26
We have
32:27
a great
32:27
deal of
32:29
sympathy with
32:30
those who
32:30
are not
32:30
in Christ
32:31
because we
32:31
still feel
32:32
we still
32:33
experience
32:34
the effect
32:36
of a
32:36
fallen
32:36
nature.
32:38
But we have
32:39
been set
32:39
free from
32:39
sin.
32:40
We have
32:40
been delivered
32:41
from it.
32:41
We no
32:41
longer have
32:42
to sin
32:43
because we
32:44
have the
32:45
spirit of
32:45
Christ.
32:46
We can
32:46
be obedient
32:47
to him
32:48
and we're
32:48
meant to
32:49
be moving
32:49
ever
32:50
heavenward.
32:53
And this
32:53
is how we
32:54
exalt Christ
32:55
on the
32:56
earth.
32:57
This is
32:58
why as a
32:58
people,
32:59
as a church,
33:00
we're meant
33:01
to be drawn
33:01
together and
33:02
distinct in
33:02
that way.
33:03
That our
33:04
community would
33:04
look at us
33:05
and go,
33:05
what is it
33:06
with those
33:06
people?
33:08
They're
33:08
improving
33:09
people.
33:10
They're so
33:11
humble as
33:11
they walk
33:12
before their
33:12
God.
33:13
They're putting
33:14
off sin
33:15
and they're
33:15
putting on
33:16
righteousness.
33:18
What an
33:19
odd people.
33:21
And to
33:21
some that'll
33:21
be attractive
33:22
and to
33:23
some it'll
33:23
be repulsive.
33:25
So,
33:26
don't be
33:26
lazy.
33:28
Secondly,
33:29
work.
33:30
Third,
33:32
imitate.
33:34
Last part
33:35
of verse
33:35
12,
33:37
the author
33:37
says,
33:38
but imitators
33:39
of those
33:40
who through
33:41
faith and
33:42
patience
33:43
inherit the
33:45
promises.
33:48
This life
33:49
is not
33:50
long.
33:52
We are
33:52
here but
33:54
a moment,
33:55
right?
33:55
A vapor
33:56
in the
33:57
wind.
33:58
The older
33:59
I get,
34:00
the more
34:00
I feel
34:01
that.
34:02
The life
34:03
seems to
34:03
be accelerating.
34:05
I've asked
34:05
people older
34:06
than me,
34:06
does it ever
34:07
slow down?
34:07
And I say,
34:08
nope,
34:08
it keeps
34:09
right on.
34:10
I turned
34:10
39 at the
34:11
end of
34:12
January
34:12
and already
34:14
was dreading
34:15
40,
34:15
like,
34:16
approaching
34:16
it.
34:16
I was
34:17
already
34:17
dreading
34:17
it.
34:18
And we
34:18
are almost
34:19
halfway there
34:19
already.
34:20
It felt
34:20
like yesterday
34:21
I was
34:22
going,
34:22
oh,
34:23
39,
34:24
and I'm
34:25
going to
34:25
blink again,
34:26
and I'm
34:26
going to
34:26
be 40.
34:27
Life does
34:28
not last
34:29
that long,
34:30
but in
34:30
our struggle
34:31
with sin,
34:31
it feels
34:32
like forever.
34:34
God,
34:35
deliver me
34:36
from this
34:36
body of
34:36
death.
34:38
Every day
34:39
as I set
34:40
my face
34:40
towards him
34:41
just seems
34:41
like such
34:42
a struggle.
34:45
And to
34:45
walk in a
34:46
world that
34:46
is hostile
34:47
toward us,
34:48
as we're
34:49
following the
34:50
way of
34:50
God,
34:51
we are
34:52
bound to
34:52
get tired.
34:54
Just as
34:55
the Christians
34:55
of this
34:56
church that
34:57
this author
34:58
is writing
34:58
to were
34:59
getting
34:59
tired,
35:01
right?
35:01
They were
35:02
beleaguered,
35:03
right?
35:03
They were
35:03
worn out.
35:05
They had
35:05
suffered and
35:06
they would
35:07
suffer.
35:10
The author of
35:10
Hebrews was
35:11
writing to
35:11
them and
35:12
us to
35:13
tell us
35:13
and them
35:14
to imitate
35:15
those who
35:16
went before
35:17
us.
35:18
Look to
35:18
those who
35:19
finished well,
35:20
who already
35:21
finished and
35:22
who finished
35:23
well.
35:25
And the
35:25
author of
35:26
Hebrews is
35:26
likely setting
35:28
them and
35:28
us up for
35:30
the hall of
35:30
faith that
35:31
is chapter
35:32
11.
35:33
If you're
35:33
familiar with
35:33
the book
35:34
of Hebrews,
35:36
chapter 11
35:36
lays out a
35:37
series of
35:38
people who
35:39
by faith
35:41
and patience
35:42
inherited
35:44
the promises.
35:46
And so I
35:46
would like for
35:47
us to go
35:47
there together.
35:48
So turn over
35:48
a few pages
35:49
if you will
35:49
to Hebrews
35:51
chapter 11.
36:03
As we
36:03
think about
36:03
being
36:04
imitators,
36:05
now this
36:06
phrase,
36:08
through faith
36:08
and patience,
36:10
in extra
36:11
biblical Hebrew
36:12
writing,
36:12
was most
36:13
often attributed
36:14
to Abraham.
36:16
And it's
36:16
very possible
36:17
at this
36:18
point in
36:18
the Hebrew
36:19
listener's
36:20
mind,
36:21
that's where
36:21
the brain
36:22
goes immediately.
36:23
Oh,
36:23
Abraham,
36:24
faith and
36:24
patience.
36:25
And he
36:26
is talked
36:26
about most
36:28
extensively in
36:29
Hebrews chapter
36:30
11.
36:30
But I think
36:31
the author of
36:31
Hebrews also
36:32
means to
36:32
gather others
36:34
into that
36:34
number.
36:35
So yes,
36:37
Abraham,
36:38
but also
36:39
to add to
36:41
that.
36:42
And we
36:42
now have,
36:44
as I'm
36:44
going to
36:44
add to
36:45
Hebrews
36:45
chapter 11,
36:46
not in
36:47
an inspired
36:47
sense,
36:48
but we
36:49
now have
36:50
many who
36:50
have gone
36:50
before us.
36:52
So I
36:52
commend
36:53
biography
36:53
to you
36:54
to read
36:55
about the
36:56
faith and
36:56
patience of
36:57
others as
36:59
well.
37:01
Verse 1 of
37:02
Hebrews 11
37:02
says,
37:03
now faith
37:03
is the
37:04
assurance
37:04
of things
37:05
hoped for,
37:07
the conviction
37:08
of things
37:09
not seen.
37:12
So as
37:12
we're tired,
37:13
as we're
37:13
beat down,
37:14
as we're
37:14
beleaguered,
37:15
as this
37:15
church was,
37:16
faith is
37:17
believing in
37:18
the promises
37:18
of God
37:19
that are out
37:19
there.
37:20
We're not
37:20
there yet,
37:21
right?
37:22
But we're
37:22
believing we
37:23
will get
37:24
there.
37:25
It's
37:25
believing
37:26
that.
37:27
And so
37:27
you can
37:28
see as
37:28
he goes
37:29
through this
37:29
text talking
37:30
about the
37:30
faith of
37:31
these people
37:31
that this
37:32
was a
37:33
patient
37:33
faith.
37:36
So faith
37:37
is the
37:37
assurance of
37:38
things hoped
37:38
for,
37:38
the conviction
37:39
of things
37:40
not seen.
37:42
For by it
37:42
the people
37:43
of old
37:44
received
37:45
their
37:46
commendation.
37:48
By faith
37:48
we understand
37:49
that the
37:49
universe was
37:50
created by
37:50
the word
37:51
of God
37:51
so that
37:52
what is
37:52
seen
37:52
was not
37:53
made
37:53
out of
37:53
things
37:54
that are
37:54
visible.
37:56
By faith
37:56
Abel
37:57
offered to
37:57
God a
37:57
more acceptable
37:58
sacrifice
37:58
than Cain
37:59
through which
38:00
he was
38:01
commended as
38:01
righteous,
38:02
God commending
38:03
him by
38:04
accepting
38:04
his gifts.
38:06
And through
38:06
his faith
38:07
though he
38:08
died he
38:09
still speaks.
38:10
To who?
38:11
To us.
38:13
By faith
38:14
Enoch was
38:14
taken up so
38:15
that he
38:15
should not
38:16
see death
38:17
and he
38:17
was not
38:18
found because
38:18
God had
38:19
taken him.
38:20
Now before
38:20
he was
38:21
taken he
38:21
was commended
38:22
as having
38:23
pleased
38:24
God.
38:25
And without
38:26
faith it is
38:26
impossible to
38:27
please him
38:27
for whoever
38:28
would draw
38:28
near to
38:29
God must
38:30
believe that
38:30
he exists
38:31
and that
38:32
he rewards
38:32
those who
38:33
seek him.
38:35
By faith
38:35
Noah being
38:36
warned by
38:36
God concerning
38:37
events as
38:38
yet unseen
38:38
in reverent
38:40
fear constructed
38:41
an ark for
38:42
the saving of
38:43
his household.
38:44
By this he
38:45
condemned the
38:45
world and
38:46
became an
38:46
heir of the
38:47
righteousness
38:47
that comes
38:49
by faith.
38:50
By faith
38:51
Abraham
38:51
obeyed when
38:52
he was called
38:53
to go out
38:53
to a place
38:54
that he was
38:54
to receive
38:55
as an
38:56
inheritance
38:56
and he
38:57
went out
38:57
not knowing
38:58
where he
38:59
was going.
39:00
By faith
39:01
he went to
39:01
live in
39:01
the land
39:01
of promise
39:02
as in
39:02
a foreign
39:03
land living
39:03
in tents
39:04
with Isaac
39:05
and Jacob
39:05
heirs with
39:06
him of
39:07
the same
39:07
promise.
39:08
For he
39:09
was looking
39:09
forward to
39:10
the city
39:11
that has
39:11
foundations
39:12
whose
39:13
designer and
39:14
builder
39:14
is God.
39:17
By faith
39:17
Sarah
39:18
herself received
39:19
power to
39:20
conceive even
39:21
when she was
39:21
past the age
39:22
since she
39:23
considered him
39:24
faithful who
39:25
had promised.
39:26
therefore
39:27
from one
39:28
man
39:28
and him
39:29
as good
39:30
as dead
39:30
were born
39:31
descendants
39:32
as many
39:32
as the
39:33
stars of
39:33
heaven
39:34
and as
39:34
many
39:34
as the
39:35
innumerable
39:35
grains of
39:36
sand
39:37
by the
39:37
seashore.
39:39
I just love
39:39
that he
39:39
calls Abraham
39:40
as good
39:40
as dead.
39:42
Verse 13
39:43
These all
39:44
died in
39:45
faith
39:46
not having
39:47
received
39:48
the things
39:48
promised
39:49
but having
39:50
seen them
39:51
and greeted
39:52
them from
39:52
afar
39:53
and having
39:54
acknowledged
39:54
that they
39:55
were strangers
39:56
and exiles
39:57
on the
39:58
earth.
39:59
They all
40:00
recognized
40:00
that there
40:01
was a
40:02
greater
40:02
promise
40:03
for them
40:04
and they
40:04
did not
40:05
know exactly
40:06
how the
40:06
greater
40:06
promise
40:07
would come
40:07
to pass.
40:07
We now
40:08
know it
40:08
comes to
40:09
pass in
40:10
Christ.
40:12
Verse 14
40:13
For people
40:13
who speak
40:14
thus make
40:15
it clear
40:15
that they
40:15
are seeking
40:16
a homeland.
40:17
If they
40:17
had been
40:18
thinking of
40:18
that land
40:18
from which
40:19
they had
40:19
gone out
40:20
they would
40:20
have had
40:20
opportunity
40:21
to return.
40:22
But as
40:24
it is
40:24
they desire
40:24
a better
40:25
country
40:26
that is
40:26
a heavenly
40:27
one.
40:28
Therefore
40:28
God is
40:29
not ashamed
40:29
to be
40:30
called
40:30
their
40:30
God
40:31
for he
40:32
has
40:32
prepared
40:32
for them
40:33
a city.
40:35
By
40:35
faith
40:35
Abraham
40:36
when he
40:36
was tested
40:37
offered
40:37
up
40:37
Isaac
40:38
and he
40:39
who had
40:39
received
40:39
the promises
40:40
was in
40:41
the act
40:41
of offering
40:42
up his
40:42
only son
40:43
of whom
40:44
it was
40:44
said
40:45
through
40:45
Isaac
40:46
shall
40:47
your
40:47
offspring
40:47
be
40:48
named.
40:50
He
40:50
considered
40:50
that God
40:51
was able
40:51
even to
40:52
raise him
40:52
from the
40:53
dead
40:53
from which
40:54
figuratively
40:55
speaking
40:55
he did
40:56
receive him
40:57
back.
40:58
By faith
40:59
Isaac
40:59
invoked
41:00
future
41:00
blessings
41:01
on Jacob
41:01
and Esau.
41:03
By faith
41:03
Jacob
41:04
when dying
41:04
blessed
41:05
each
41:05
of the
41:05
sons
41:05
of
41:06
Joseph
41:06
bowing
41:06
in
41:07
worship
41:07
over
41:07
the
41:07
head
41:08
of
41:08
his
41:08
staff.
41:09
By
41:09
faith
41:10
Joseph
41:10
at the
41:10
end
41:10
of
41:11
his
41:11
life
41:11
made
41:11
mention
41:12
of
41:12
the
41:12
exodus
41:12
of
41:13
the
41:13
Israelites
41:13
and
41:14
gave
41:14
directions
41:15
concerning
41:16
his
41:16
bones.
41:18
By
41:18
faith
41:18
Moses
41:18
when he
41:19
was born
41:19
was hidden
41:20
for three
41:20
months
41:21
by his
41:21
parents
41:21
because
41:22
they
41:22
saw
41:23
that
41:23
the
41:23
child
41:23
was
41:23
beautiful
41:24
and
41:24
they
41:24
were
41:25
not
41:25
afraid
41:25
of
41:26
the
41:26
king's
41:26
edict.
41:27
By
41:28
faith
41:28
Moses
41:28
when he
41:29
was
41:29
grown
41:29
up
41:29
refused
41:29
to be
41:30
called
41:30
the
41:30
son
41:31
of
41:31
Pharaoh's
41:31
daughter
41:32
choosing
41:32
rather
41:33
to be
41:33
mistreated
41:34
with
41:34
the
41:34
people
41:34
of
41:34
God
41:35
than
41:35
to
41:35
enjoy
41:35
the
41:36
fleeting
41:36
pleasures
41:36
of
41:37
sin.
41:38
He
41:38
considered
41:39
the
41:39
reproach
41:39
of
41:39
Christ
41:40
greater
41:40
wealth
41:41
than
41:41
the
41:41
treasures
41:41
of
41:42
Egypt
41:42
for
41:43
he
41:43
was
41:43
looking
41:43
to
41:44
the
41:44
reward.
41:51
By
41:53
faith
41:53
he
41:53
kept
41:53
the
41:54
Passover
41:54
and
41:54
sprinkled
41:55
the
41:55
blood
41:55
so
41:56
that
41:56
the
41:56
destroyer
41:57
of
41:57
the
41:57
firstborn
41:57
may
41:58
not
41:58
touch
41:58
them.
41:59
By
41:59
faith
42:00
the
42:00
people
42:00
crossed
42:00
the
42:00
Red
42:01
Sea
42:01
as
42:01
on
42:01
dry
42:01
land
42:02
but
42:02
the
42:02
Egyptians
42:03
when
42:03
they
42:03
attempted
42:03
to
42:04
do
42:04
the
42:04
same
42:04
were
42:05
drowned.
42:06
By
42:06
faith
42:06
the
42:07
walls
42:07
of
42:07
Jericho
42:07
fell
42:08
down
42:08
after
42:08
they
42:09
had
42:09
been
42:09
circled
42:09
for
42:10
seven
42:10
days.
42:11
By
42:11
faith
42:12
Rahab
42:12
the
42:12
prostitute
42:13
did
42:13
not
42:13
perish
42:13
with
42:14
those
42:14
who
42:14
were
42:14
disobedient
42:15
because
42:15
she
42:16
had
42:16
given
42:16
a
42:16
friendly
42:16
welcome
42:17
to
42:17
the
42:18
spies.
42:18
And
42:19
what
42:19
more
42:19
shall
42:20
I
42:20
say?
42:21
For
42:21
time
42:22
would
42:22
fail
42:22
me
42:23
to
42:23
tell
42:23
of
42:24
Gideon,
42:24
Barak,
42:25
Samson,
42:26
Jephthah,
42:26
of David
42:27
and Samuel
42:27
and the
42:28
prophets
42:28
who
42:29
through
42:29
faith
42:30
conquered
42:30
kingdoms,
42:31
enforced
42:32
justice,
42:33
obtained
42:33
promises,
42:34
stopped
42:35
the mouths
42:35
of lions,
42:36
quenched
42:36
the power
42:37
of fire,
42:38
escaped
42:38
the edge
42:38
of the
42:39
sword,
42:39
were made
42:39
strong
42:40
out of
42:40
weakness,
42:41
became
42:41
mighty,
42:43
foreign
42:44
armies
42:44
to
42:45
flight.
42:46
He's
42:46
going
42:47
through
42:47
the
42:47
entire
42:48
Old
42:49
Testament
42:50
telling
42:51
us
42:52
and them
42:52
pay
42:53
attention
42:54
to
42:56
the
42:56
faith
42:56
and
42:56
patience
42:57
of
42:58
those
42:58
who
42:58
have
42:59
gone
42:59
before
42:59
you.
42:59
Be
43:00
imitators
43:00
of
43:01
them.
43:03
This
43:04
by the
43:04
way
43:04
is the
43:04
text
43:04
that
43:05
makes
43:05
a lot
43:05
of
43:05
people
43:05
think
43:05
this
43:05
was
43:06
originally
43:06
a
43:06
sermon
43:07
that
43:07
was
43:07
recorded
43:07
because
43:08
he
43:08
says
43:08
he
43:08
doesn't
43:08
have
43:08
time
43:09
and
43:09
he's
43:09
writing
43:10
a
43:10
letter.
43:10
But
43:10
verse
43:13
35
43:13
women
43:14
received
43:14
back
43:15
their
43:15
dead
43:15
by
43:15
resurrection.
43:16
Some
43:16
were
43:17
tortured
43:17
refusing
43:17
to
43:18
accept
43:18
release
43:18
so they
43:19
might
43:19
rise
43:19
again
43:20
to
43:20
a
43:20
better
43:20
life.
43:21
Others
43:22
suffered
43:22
mocking
43:22
and flogging
43:23
and even
43:24
chains
43:24
and
43:24
imprisonment.
43:25
They
43:25
were stoned.
43:26
They
43:27
were sawn
43:27
in two.
43:28
They
43:28
were killed
43:28
with a
43:29
sword.
43:29
They
43:29
went
43:29
about
43:30
in skins
43:30
of
43:30
sheep
43:31
and goats
43:31
destitute,
43:32
afflicted,
43:33
mistreated,
43:34
of whom
43:34
the world
43:35
was not
43:36
worthy,
43:38
wandering
43:38
about in
43:39
deserts and
43:39
mountains and
43:40
in dens
43:40
and caves
43:41
of the
43:42
earth.
43:43
You
43:44
were not
43:44
alone
43:44
in your
43:46
suffering.
43:47
Verse 39
43:48
And all
43:49
these,
43:50
though commended
43:51
through their
43:51
faith,
43:52
did not
43:53
receive
43:53
what was
43:54
promised,
43:55
since God
43:56
had provided
43:56
something better
43:57
for us,
43:59
that apart
43:59
from us,
44:00
they should
44:01
not be
44:01
made
44:01
perfect.
44:02
He's talking
44:02
about the
44:03
coming of
44:03
Christ and
44:04
the saving
44:04
of the
44:05
church.
44:06
Chapter
44:07
12
44:07
Therefore,
44:09
since we
44:10
are surrounded
44:10
by so great
44:11
a cloud of
44:12
witnesses,
44:13
let us
44:13
also lay
44:14
aside every
44:15
weight and
44:15
sin which
44:16
clings so
44:17
closely,
44:18
and let
44:19
us run
44:19
with endurance
44:21
the race
44:21
that is set
44:23
before us.
44:24
Run with
44:26
endurance,
44:26
not lazily,
44:28
not lackadaisically,
44:30
not sluggish,
44:33
but competing,
44:35
running,
44:37
being earnest
44:38
in this,
44:39
and doing
44:40
so with
44:41
endurance,
44:42
with
44:42
patience.
44:45
Verse 2,
44:45
looking to
44:46
Jesus,
44:49
the founder
44:49
and perfecter
44:50
of our faith,
44:51
who for the
44:52
joy that was
44:53
set before him
44:53
endured the
44:54
cross,
44:55
despising the
44:55
shame and
44:56
acceded at
44:57
the right
44:57
hand of the
44:59
throne of
44:59
God.
45:00
Consider him
45:01
who endured
45:03
from sinners
45:03
such hostility
45:04
against himself,
45:05
so that you
45:07
may not
45:07
grow weary
45:09
or faint-hearted.
45:12
So as we
45:14
look to be
45:15
imitators
45:16
of those who
45:18
have gone
45:18
before us
45:19
in this
45:20
life,
45:21
we are also
45:22
meant to
45:22
look to
45:24
Christ,
45:25
who suffered
45:26
for our
45:27
sake.
45:29
Only
45:29
undeserving
45:30
sufferer who
45:32
has ever
45:32
existed,
45:33
who had no
45:34
fault in him
45:35
whatsoever,
45:35
but took
45:36
on our
45:37
fault and
45:38
suffered in
45:39
our stead.
45:40
Took away
45:41
God's wrath
45:42
due us,
45:43
and he
45:43
drank it
45:44
to its
45:46
end.
45:48
It's an
45:48
astounding
45:49
thing,
45:50
beloved,
45:51
that if you
45:52
are in fact
45:52
in Christ,
45:54
you have
45:55
been changed.
45:57
It's
45:58
doctrine of
45:58
regeneration.
45:59
You're not
46:00
the same
46:00
old you.
46:01
You're a
46:01
new
46:02
creation,
46:04
creation,
46:04
and you're
46:05
being given
46:06
by the
46:06
spirit
46:06
new
46:07
impulse.
46:10
So just
46:10
as the
46:11
author of
46:11
Hebrews is
46:13
looking at
46:13
this little
46:13
faithful church,
46:16
just as I
46:16
can look out
46:17
on so many
46:18
of you,
46:19
some of you I
46:20
don't know that
46:20
well,
46:20
but many of you
46:21
I can look at
46:22
and say,
46:22
I have a
46:22
confidence.
46:23
confidence.
46:24
We also
46:25
want to have
46:26
our own
46:27
confidence.
46:29
I want you
46:29
to have
46:30
a confidence
46:31
that you're
46:32
in Christ
46:33
because if
46:33
you don't,
46:34
you may
46:35
not be
46:35
in Christ.
46:37
I don't
46:38
mean that
46:38
to cause
46:39
fear in
46:39
you unless
46:41
you need
46:41
to be
46:42
fearful.
46:43
Maybe
46:44
your end
46:44
is destruction
46:45
and your
46:46
eternity
46:46
is torment
46:47
and separation
46:48
from our
46:49
Most High
46:50
God.
46:51
These are
46:51
the loving,
46:52
kind words
46:53
of God
46:53
for us
46:54
this morning
46:54
that we
46:54
would repent
46:55
and believe,
46:57
that we
46:57
would press
46:58
on,
46:59
that we
46:59
would work
47:00
to have
47:01
assurance.
47:04
And so
47:05
in summary,
47:05
some application.
47:08
First,
47:10
be part
47:11
of a
47:11
faithful church
47:12
if you
47:14
are not
47:14
already.
47:15
Be part
47:16
of a
47:16
biblical
47:16
church.
47:17
For the
47:17
sake of
47:18
time,
47:18
I can't
47:18
explain
47:19
everything
47:19
I mean
47:20
by that.
47:22
Be part
47:23
of a
47:23
church.
47:25
Beloved,
47:26
the church
47:26
is not
47:26
an
47:27
afterthought.
47:28
You're
47:28
not the
47:29
center
47:29
of the
47:29
gospel
47:30
and then
47:30
God
47:31
says,
47:31
oh,
47:31
sure,
47:32
and also
47:32
gather,
47:32
that could
47:33
be good
47:33
for you.
47:35
God
47:35
saved a
47:36
people,
47:37
he saved
47:37
a church,
47:39
and these
47:39
local expressions
47:40
of it are
47:40
given tools
47:41
to help
47:42
us in
47:43
this way,
47:44
to help
47:44
you have
47:45
assurance.
47:46
you need
47:48
followers of
47:49
Jesus Christ
47:49
to have a
47:51
confidence in
47:51
you,
47:52
and you
47:53
need opportunity
47:54
to love
47:55
what God
47:55
loves,
47:56
to give
47:57
that evidence.
47:59
I love
47:59
God's
48:00
people,
48:01
and I
48:01
serve
48:02
God's
48:03
people.
48:05
Christianity
48:05
is not a
48:06
solo sport.
48:09
Secondly,
48:11
be confident.
48:12
press on
48:14
to have
48:16
assurance.
48:18
Assurance
48:19
is such
48:19
a blessing.
48:22
I still
48:22
sin.
48:24
I have
48:25
times where
48:26
I do
48:26
things that
48:27
would say
48:28
to God,
48:28
I am not
48:29
your son.
48:29
I'm going
48:30
to act
48:30
in total
48:31
contradiction
48:32
to the
48:32
reality that
48:33
you love
48:33
me and
48:34
you've
48:34
given me
48:34
good
48:35
commands.
48:37
But it
48:37
is a
48:37
wonderful
48:38
thing when
48:38
that happens
48:39
to get
48:40
to go to
48:40
the cross
48:41
of Christ
48:41
and rejoice
48:41
that I
48:42
am
48:42
his.
48:43
That he
48:44
accomplished
48:44
a work
48:45
in me
48:45
and that
48:46
is
48:46
unshakable
48:47
because
48:48
it's
48:48
his
48:48
doing.
48:50
I sit
48:51
and counsel
48:52
so many
48:53
that sin
48:54
and they
48:55
just don't
48:55
know.
48:57
I want
48:57
you to
48:58
know.
48:58
It's a
48:59
good thing
48:59
to know.
49:01
So be
49:01
confident,
49:04
but be
49:04
confident by
49:05
not being
49:06
lazy,
49:07
by working,
49:08
pressing on,
49:09
being earnest
49:10
and knowing,
49:11
and by
49:12
imitating
49:12
those who
49:13
have gone
49:14
before you,
49:16
faith and
49:17
patience
49:17
receive the
49:18
promise,
49:19
and especially
49:20
by imitating
49:22
Christ.
49:23
Let's pray
49:24
together.