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DEALING WITH SIN

Hebrews 10:23-24

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The cause of all this discussion is sin.

 

B.      Hebrews 10 has a lot to say about sin. 

1.      We have entitled this chapter:  “Dealing with Sin.”

2.      Keep in mind that the writer is dealing with Jewish believers returning to Judaism.  There fore, he continues to make contrasts between the system of Judaism and the system of Christianity.

 

C.     In this chapter, the writer will end the doctrinal details of his discussion (See vs 18-19, 22-24) and begin to make some very practical admonitions to his readers.

 

D.    Outline:

 

i.                    SINS REMAINED (Heb. 10:1-4)  Remembrance of sins

ii.                  SINS ARE REMITTED (Heb. 10:5-14)  Remittance from sins

iii.                SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE (Heb. 10:15-18)  Remembered no more sins

iv.                NO SINS BRING RESPONSIBILITY (Heb. 10:19-25)  Responsibility after sins

v.                  SINS ARE RECOMPENSED (Heb. 10:26-31)  Recompense for sins

vi.                SIN:  NO RETURN (Heb. 10:32-39)  Resolution against sin

 

I.                   SINS REMAINED (Heb. 10:1-4)

 

II.                SINS ARE REMITTED (Heb. 10:5-14)

 

III.             SINS REMEMBERED NO MORE (Heb. 10:15-18)

 

IV.             NO SINS BRING RESPONSIBILITY (Heb. 10:19-25).

 

A.    We have now entered into the practical application section of Hebrews. 

1.      Based upon all that had been said, Christians have responsibilities that they are to fulfill.

2.      In this section, the writer will discuss:

a.      Three “let us” obligations (Heb. 10:22, 23, 24).

b.      One negative obligation (v. 25)

 

B.      Number 1:  Let us draw near (Heb. 10:19-22)

 

C.     Number 2:  Let us hold fast (Heb. 10:23)

 

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faifhful that promised.

 

1.      Our Profession

a.      In this verse, we read about the “profession” of our faith.

b.      Definition:

1)      Strong (3671):  acknowledgement

2)      Thayer:  profession (confession), what one professes

3)      Vine:  confession by acknowledgement of truth

c.       Our confession at the time of our conversion was that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37).

1)      We acknowledge that He is Lord (Acts 2:36).

2)      As Lord, He is our Master.

3)      We are His servants and obey His will.

2.      Our Obligation

a.      Hold fast

1)      Definition:

a)      Strong (2722):  to hold down (fast)

b)      Thayer:  to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of

c)      Vine:  to hold firmly

2)      Two thoughts:

a)      Holding fast involves action and not just a mindset.

-          There are many who believe they are holding fast their profession in their mind.

-          Their actions, however, show they have let go of their profession of faith.

b)      LESSON:  If a person cannot lose his salvation, why is he commanded to “hold fast” to it?  This command, in fact this entire book, would be a waste of time.

b.      Without wavering

1)      Definition

a)      Strong (186):  not leaning, that is, firm

b)      Thayer:  no inclining, firm, unmoved

c)      Vine:  without bending

2)      Comments

a)      We can waver in our beliefs.

We can waver in our morality.

We can waver in our worship.

We can waver in our commitment.

We can waver in our duties.

b)      “A wavering Christian is a Christian who trusts in the love of God one day and doubts it the next, and who is alternately happy or miserable accordingly.  He mounts to the hilltop of joy at one time, only to descend at another time into the valley of despair.  He is driven to and fro by every wind of doctrine, is always striving and never attaining, and is prey to each changing influence, caused by his state of health, or by the influences around him, or even by the state of the weather” (https://www.tentmaker.org/books/TheGodOfAllComfort-HannahWhitallSmith/ccel/s/smith_hw/comfort/htm/XII.htm).

c)      “The man who wavers in his faith is upset by the smallest trifles; the man who is steadfast in his faith can look on calmly at the ruin of all his universe” (Ibid.).

3)      LESSON:  The storms will come against our Christian lives.

a)      Trees often bend in the storms, then break.  We don’t want to be trees.

 

Image result for trees in a storm                       Related image

b)      We want to be like rocks that do not budge in the storms of life

 

Image result for rock in a storm

 

c)      “And we certainly see it throughout the pages of the Bible.  Adam, Sarah, Jacob, Job, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Jonah, Thomas, Martha, Peter…people who question, falter, doubt and yet in the end remain faithful” (https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/struggling-with-a-wavering-faith-ken-kersten-sermon-on-doubt-52205?page=1&wc=800).

3.      God’s Reputation:  He is faithful that promised

a.      Definition:  faithful

1)      Strong (4103):  trustworthy

2)      Thayer:  of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties, one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust, that can be relied on

3)      Vine:  faithful, to be trusted, reliable

b.      God has made many promises to His children:

1)      He will not allow us to be tempted above that we are able (I Cor. 10:13).

2)      Eternal life if we remain faithful (Tit. 1:2).

3)      A crown of life if we remain faithful (Rev. 2:10).

c.       God will never, never, never go back on these promises.  He is faithful.  He is reliable.  He is trustworthy.  He is one to be trusted.

d.      Therefore, we, too, should be trustworthy, reliable, and faithful to our confession.

 

D.    Number 3:  Let us Consider One Another (Heb. 10:24)

 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.

 

1.      Divine suggestion:  Let us consider one another

a.      Consider:

1)      Strong (2657):  to observe fully

2)      Thayer:  to consider attentively, fix one’s eyes or mind upon

3)      Vine:  to perceive clearly, to understand fully

4)      Vincent:  take careful note, “It denotes attentive, constant care.”

b.      One another

1)      This is a mutual obligation.

2)      Each Christian is to observe fully every other Christian.

c.       LESSONS:

1)      Questions:

a)      How do you consider those you do not know?

b)      How to you consider one another if you do not communicate?

2)      This will take being very intentional in our relationships with each other.

3)      We often want others to consider us, but we do not consider them.  That is, we do not practice the “one another” aspect of the passage.

2.      Devoted stimulation:  to provoke

a.      Provoke

1)      Strong (3948):  to incite to good

2)      Thayer:  an inciting, incitement

3)      Vine:  a stimulation

4)      Robertson:  it comes from a word that means “to sharpen” (See Prov. 27:17)

5)      Vincent:  with a view to incitement

6)      Barnes:  to arouse, excite, call to action

b.      Each one of us is to excite the other.  By our words, actions, and understanding, we arouse each other in two different areas:

a.      Love

b.      Good works

 

E.      One Negative:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25)