The prayer of faith, Hebrews 13:18-25

Today’s message is the last in our study of Hebrews.  It’s been about 7 months since we began the study of this tremendous book which is so rich in doctrine, and in some ways, I feel that today’s message is sort of anti-climatic.  It’s sort of ironic that it took us 7 months to exegete this epistle, and yet if you sat down and read it in one sitting, you could read it in an hour.  The author, who we have not tried to conclusively identify, says in vs 22, that we should bear with this exhortation, because he had written to you briefly.  Exhortation is another word for preaching.  So, as I’ve said before, this book was really a written sermon, which was intended to be read to the churches. 

I must say that the audiences of yore had a much longer attention span than audiences today.  Today we live in the age of twitter, where if you don’t get it said in 240 characters, which I believe is the limit, (though I don’t tweet) then the implication is that it doesn’t need to be said. Well, though I don’t twitter, though I do however exhort, and my messages tend to be around 40 minutes long.  I don’t think that God twitters either, so I believe I’m in good company on that score. 

It’s also interesting that at the conclusion of this book, we finally see the author mention himself.  For thirteen chapters he has not mentioned himself that I am aware of, but now he refers to himself in the plural in vs 18. And he mentions himself in regards to asking the readers to pray for him.  That’s a very telling indication of his humility, something that is sorely lacking in a lot of preaching today.  Far too often in the church today we end up with a personality cult, of which the pastor is the star, and much which is said on his part is intended to glorify himself in that regard.  It’s a seductive thing that all pastors need to be on guard against. Preaching should always glorify Christ.

So though we are starting at vs 18, we must remember that this is a continuation of a sermon, and even more to the point, it’s part of a greater context which includes vs 17.  And if you notice in vs17 the idea he was expressing was that you should obey and submit to your leaders, that is your leaders in the church.  And I believe that context of leadership is important in understanding this desire he has for the readers to pray for him.  He was a leader, an elder, a pastor who had written to this church over which he had oversight. 

And my take on this verse is that in some way or another he had suffered some sort of extradition  or even incarceration on behalf of the gospel and had been taken away from them.  There is no indication that he was now incarcerated, as he later says that they had heard that Timothy had been released, probably from prison.  And if he comes soon, then he would come to see them with Timothy.  That would indicate that he was not incarcerated at that point.  But he obviously was estranged from them, and it seems to be against his wishes as he indicates as the reason for asking them to pray for him.  He wants them to pray that he might be restored to them the sooner. And I think that the word restored there indicates that his former position was at this church and he was hopeful that he would be restored there soon.

I think there is another point that needs to be emphasized here about not only the humility of the author but the humanity of the author as well.  We sometimes idealize the apostles and early church fathers and envision them as some sort of pious super saints who were above the trials and tribulations of normal people.  Perhaps we might even imagine some church leaders today in the same degree. What comes across in this last couple of paragraphs in this text is the humanity of the author, the pathos of his situation, his yearning for his Christian family.  

And it’s a reminder that the great men of the Bible were all men of like passions as we are.  Even Jesus became a man, suffering in all points as we do, yet without sin.  Men like Peter, or Paul, got sick, fell into depression, were lonely, afflicted, persecuted.  Paul said in  2Cor. 11:24-28 “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine [lashes.] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  [I have been] on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from [my] countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;  [I have been] in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  Apart from [such] external things, there is the daily pressure on me [of] concern for all the churches.” 

I guess we can all appreciate the fact that Paul and the other apostles suffered persecution, but the part which we tend to gloss over is when he said,  “[I have been] in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” Those are things that are common to many of us, aren’t they?  And church leaders, especially this author, suffer such things as well. 

I appreciate the fact that God uses common men for uncommon purposes.  Not many noble, not many mighty are called.  But God calls men who are beset with weaknesses, that the glory might go to God and not to men.  And because they are weak, they are in need of prayer support from the saints.  I know I need prayer, because I know I am weak, and the devil knows my weaknesses. 

Prayer is such an important aspect of the Christian life. I could have said such an important doctrine.  And yes it is.  But it is also so important for our spiritual survival.  It’s essential to our spiritual life. Did you know that the spiritual aspect is just as important to the body as food, water and shelter?  I used to have a series of handbooks when I was a young boy on wilderness camping.  I was really into hunting and camping from a very early age. And in this one series of booklets on surviving in the wilderness it identified the essential things that you needed to survive in the wild.  And in addition to listing food, water and shelter was spiritual.  There is a need in the human soul for a spiritual connection to God which is essential for well being.  And I think one of the reasons that society today is so despondent  is that society has tried to tell them that God isn’t important.  That life can be perfectly fulfilling without God.  Well, every society that has removed religion has not fared so well in the long run.  I think history proves that the societies which held to religion and particularly to Christianity have made more progress in regards to the advancement of civilization than those cultures which have been agnostic or  pagan.

So why pray?  That’s the question I found myself asking God the other day.  Ironically, I had to pray to ask Him that question.  But the point I was inferring was why pray if we don’t or can’t expect an answer?  Why pray if we shouldn’t expect help? Psalm  46:1 tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” In the scriptures we are told to pray at all times, to pray without ceasing, to be devoted to prayer.  To seek the Lord while  He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.  And we are promised that He hears our prayers.  That our Great High Priest stands at the throne of God interceding for us, and that the Holy Spirit within us prays for us with groanings to deep for words. We should pray, expecting help, because God has promised to hear us, and to help us in time of need.

This author says in Heb. 4:16 “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  The unqualified assurance he gives is that we may receive mercy and grace to help in time of need.  It is a benefit of being a child of God that our heavenly Father is interested and wants to help us.  In fact, the Lord desires that we live in a dependent mode, always looking to Him to supply every need.  

So the author is asking the church to pray for him, and he indicates that there is some difficulty which has prevented him from being with them.  But as to this difficulty, he professes his innocence.  Notice, “for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.”  That doesn’t mean that he has never done anything wrong, but that in regards to what he has been accused of, he is confident that he has a good conscience.  

I suspect his situation is similar to what Peter referred to in 1Peter 3:16-17 saying “and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

Well, whatever the author of Hebrews was suffering for, he is saying that his conscience is clear and that he has acted honorably in all things. That should be the confession of all who claim Christ.  Our conscience is clear because we act honorably in all things.  There is a standard of conduct that is to be expected of a Christian.  Just ask your unsaved friends.  Unfortunately, we tend to judge others more strictly than we judge ourselves.  We tend to presume too much upon the grace and mercy of God and act more like the devil than we act like Christ. But being a Christian we should imitate Christ in our behavior.  We should be holy because He is holy.

But notice that he fully expects God to answer  their prayers saying in vs19 “And I urge [you] all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.”  We can expect a result to prayer.  Prayer changes things.  We may not understand how, and we may not dictate to God the terms or the timing, but the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much as James assures us in his epistle.  And this author fully expects God to respond to their prayers and speed his return the sooner.

So having asked for prayer for himself, the author in turn then prays for the church starting in vs 20.  He is actually giving a blessing, or a benediction to the church through this prayer.  I was telling someone just last night that sometimes in the Bible we learn more by examples than by commandment. In other words, God doesn’t always speak explicitly concerning every thing, but offers through the scripture examples which we are to follow.  And I think that this prayer offered by this writer is a worthy example that we can learn from and imitate.  

Notice that there are several things that are stated here before he gets to his petitions.  He starts off, as would be expected, by addressing the Lord.  And his address is a little different than we hear today.  He invokes God as the God of peace. Particularly at Christmas we hear the term peace being frequently used.  It was used in the address of the angels to the shepherds.  They said “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  

What is this peace that is being spoken of?  I think most people in the world today when hearing this phrase would associate it with the absence of war.  Or the hope that everyone would just get along.  But I would suggest that is not the type of peace which the angels spoke of, nor is it what this author is speaking of either in addressing God as the God of peace.    The angels and the author are both speaking of the same thing, incidentally.  And that is the peace which is offered to man through the good will of God by the redemption  purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ.

In other words, man is by nature in rebellion against God, even, the Bible says, at enmity with God.  Man was created to live in righteous fellowship with God, but instead he choses to live in the rebellion of sin.  That rebellion has caused a breach with God, resulting in enmity with God.  But God so loved the world, that He sent His Son to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins, that we might be redeemed, so that we might be reconciled to God.  That’s the good will towards men the angels spoke of.  We who were far off, have been brought near.  Eph. 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

So the origin of this peace  comes from God and is offered to man.  God has sent His Son, the Prince of Peace to offer peace to those who will believe in Him and receive Him, so that we are no longer estranged from God, but we have peace with God, and may be transferred into His kingdom.

Notice also how this peace was procured. "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord.”  This peace comes through the blood of our Great Shepherd Jesus Christ as He died on the cross for the lost sheep, was buried and resurrected to the right hand of the Father.

The author of Hebrews said back in chapter 9:22 “And according to the Law, [one may] almost [say,] all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  Now that may offend 21st century sensibilities to say that there must be a shedding of blood, that someone must die for the penalty of sin.  But that is the law of God.  That was established at creation, that if they ate of the fruit of the tree they would surely die.  Romans tells us in the New Covenant that the wages of sin is death.  This is God’s law, irregardless of man’s sensibilities.

It’s essential that we are unequivocal in our explanation of the gospel.  There is no gospel without the blood.  And there is no need for the cross if there is no sinner to be saved.  The gospel is not negotiable, or redefinable.  It is a declaration from God.  It’s not a social gospel.  It’s the gospel of salvation from sin which has condemned men to death.  

There is an attempt in liberal Christianity to redefine the gospel.  To take away the blood.  To not speak of sin or judgment.  The co founder of Westminster Theological Seminary, a man named J. Gresham Machen wrote a book called Christianity and Liberalism back in the 1920’s.  And he had this to say: “Here is found the most fundamental difference between liberalism and Christianity–liberalism is altogether in the imperative mood, while Christianity begins with a triumphant indicative; liberalism appeals to man’s will, while Christianity announces, first, a gracious act of God. It is no wonder, then, that liberalism is totally different from Christianity, for the foundation is different. Christianity is founded upon the Bible. It bases upon the Bible both its thinking and its life. Liberalism on the other hand is founded upon the shifting emotions of sinful men.”  

You might say to that, well I’m not a liberal.  Well, I would say a liberal is someone who defines reality according to his own opinions. That fits our modern culture pretty well.  We want to define God, define sexuality, define morality according to what we think.  And as a result we end up worshipping a god made in our image. The problem of course is that sinful men don’t want to think of themselves as sinful, and so they use religion to try to make themselves seem good enough or better than others. But the fact is that the Bible says “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  And the only way sinners are reconciled to God is through the blood of Jesus Christ. 

I find another interesting title in the author’s prayer, and that is that he calls Jesus the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Psalm 23 says the Lord is my Shepherd.  And then goes on to give a long list of the blessings that come upon his life because of that relationship. A shepherd in the Near East was responsible for watching out for enemies trying to attack the sheep, protecting the sheep from attackers, caring for the wounded and sick sheep, finding and saving lost or trapped sheep, loving them, tending the sheep and feeding the sheep.

 It’s an amazing thing that the Great Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep. Jesus said concerning Himself in John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Shepherd is the word we get the title pastor from.  I referred last week to pastors as being under shepherds.  Now we see that the Great Shepherd is Jesus our Lord.  To be an under shepherd then is to take your orders and relay the will of the Great Shepherd.  That’s the job of the pastor, to faithfully explain and convey the word of the Great Shepherd.  And then the congregation may submit to the word of the pastor, knowing that it is the word of Christ.

Just a word about the eternal covenant which he mentions in his prayer.  A covenant is a binding agreement.  And so he is speaking of the binding agreement between the members of the trinity.  It is a unilateral agreement that God has made.  The promise of God is not contingent upon man, but it is contingent upon God to fulfill it.  And so we take comfort in that, knowing that God is the author and finisher of our faith. What he has begun, he will bring to completion.  And He will complete His covenant concerning our redemption because He cannot deny Himself.  So the author in His prayer calls upon that covenant as the basis for his petition.

Now as to the petition; vs21, “[may He] equip you in every good thing to do His will…” The word that is translated equip is used in the original language to speak of mending nets.  God is not only able to use that which is perfect, but He is able to fix that which is broken.  That’s really the good news.  He is able to take this sinner, saved by grace, this selfish, weak, sometimes mean spirited person and equip me to do His will.  

And even more good news, He will give you what is necessary so that you can do His will.  God will provide what we need to do His will. There is no excuse for not doing the will of God.  God has promised to provide all our needs according to His riches in glory.  He has given us the Spirit of God to empower us to do His will.  He has given us a new heart that we might desire to do His will.  In Ezekiel 36:26-27 God says, ”Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  God equips us to do His will.

So when we have this new heart, and a new spirit within us, then according to his prayer, God is able to work in us His will which is that which is pleasing in His sight. His will is not necessarily that we be happy, but to be holy.  Notice that working in us comes through Jesus Christ.  How?  Through the Spirit of Christ and through His word He leads us and guides us into righteousness.  Thinking again about Psalm 23 we read “He leads us in paths of righteousness  for His name’s sake.”   To follow Him, to be like Him, to please Him, to serve Him and live for His glory.  That is how he concludes his prayer; “to Him be the glory for ever and ever.” 

It’s practically counter intuitive to think that I can be happiest, I can be most fulfilled, I can be most blessed, I can find my best possible life, not in living out my dreams, or in fulfilling my ambitions, not in doing my will, but in living my life for the glory of my King.   In living for the glory of God I will find my the greatest expression of my life, I will gain the greatest use of my life.  But that’s the opposite of what the world is seeking.  It goes against the grain of what psychologists and therapists will tell you.  But the source of all truth, the eternal word of God declares that in dying to yourself and living for God you gain the greatest blessing possible in this life.  You gain nothing less than life with God, both now and forever.  

I hope and pray like this author prayed, that our Great God and Lord Jesus Christ, would equip you to walk in such a way as to be pleasing to God.  And if you are here today and you have never accepted Jesus as your redeemer, for forgiveness of your sins, then I pray that today is the day of your salvation.  Jesus has purchased your redemption that you might have peace with God and receive the life of Christ and the Spirit of Christ in you.  I pray that you do not reject so great a gift and believe in Him as your Savior and Lord today. 

The priesthood of the faith, Hebrews 13:9-17

I don’t apologize for not giving a typical Christmas message today as is the custom in many churches.  Though I fully embrace the holiday and plan on celebrating the birth of Christ with my family, we are never told in scripture to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We are however, told to celebrate the Lord’s death until He comes again. And we will do that today, particularly in observing the Lord’s supper. But I hope that our continuing study in Hebrews will inform us as to why Jesus came to earth, and what He came to accomplish. Simply to celebrate His physical birth may have sentimental value, but to understand what He accomplished as our Savior through His death has eternal value.

Last week in our study we established that the church is the visible manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth.  To say it another way, the kingdom of God and the church are synonymous.  Thus the writer of Hebrews says to the church in chapter 12 vs 28 “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”  

Now the church’s service to God  is what the author has been speaking so far in chapter 13.  But in order to really grasp the full significance of this service, it’s necessary to understand our position in the kingdom.  In the old covenant, with Israel, God initially ruled the kingdom through the priesthood as a theocracy.  That was the divine plan for the government of Israel.  In the new covenant, God rules the kingdom as a theocracy as well which is carried out by a new priesthood.  And in that regard, the author has previously spent a great deal of time establishing that a new high priest after the order of Melchizedek has become the Great High Priest, who has offered a better sacrifice, once for all, and now sits at the right hand of God in the Holy of Holies as our Intercessor.  

Now in our text we read that Jesus is our Great High Priest, who has offered Himself as the ultimate, once for all sacrifice, at an altar which was outside of Jerusalem, outside of the temple, outside of the Judaistic system.  And as the eklesia, the church, the called out ones, we are to go to Him outside the camp, and like Him bear the reproach that He received, and offer to God acceptable services and sacrifices as priests to God.  Not only did Christ offer a sacrifice, but we are to  offer sacrifices as well.  But it is within the context of a new covenant, which is not governed under the old laws and regulations of the temple which were merely a type, but we serve in a better covenant, by which we may offer up sacrifices to the Lord.

Peter spoke of this new position as the priesthood of believers in 1Peter 2:4-5 saying, “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,  you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  Peter continues in vs 9, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

In that last verse, notice that there is a dual position that is assigned to us, we are a royal priesthood.  That speaks of a different priesthood than the priesthood of Aaron.  We are given the responsibility to rule and to reign with Christ and to serve as a priesthood unto God.  So the plan of God in the new covenant is to establish the called out ones, this chosen race as Peter describes us, as priests and princes with God.  We that have become saved have already been anointed to this royal priesthood.  We are now receiving this kingdom, but we do not yet see it come into it’s fulfillment.  The fulfillment will happen completely when we are caught up to be with the Lord at the coming of His consummation. But it is something that we already are to be in possession of, and already be serving in. 

Three times this promise of our position in Christ’s kingdom has been reiterated in the book of Revelation.  Listen to how John speaks  of this; Rev. 1:6 “and He has made us [to be] a kingdom, priests to His God and Father--to Him [be] the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  Rev. 5:10  "You have made them [to be] a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”  Rev. 20:6 “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”  

Now this position is our inheritance, but it is also ours now.  And the Lord has given the responsibility to us to serve Him now as priests unto God and to offer sacrifices.  However, there is no further need for penal sacrifices for sin.  That sacrifice of full atonement has been completed once for all in Christ.  But there is a responsibility to offer up sacrifices which serve the kingdom of God as it is carried out on earth. However, the service we offer is not like the service of the priests in the temple.  Notice in vs.10 he says, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.”

What he means by that is the priests who were serving the temple under the old covenant were not qualified to serve in the new covenant. They were once useful in picturing a typology of the kingdom to come through Christ.  But now there is a new administration of the kingdom of God.  We have a new altar, and they serve the old altar.  The new altar is the altar of the cross, whereupon Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice.  There is no more need for sacrifices for sin, which were done morning and evening, day after day under the old covenant.  We have no requirement, because the perfect sacrifice has been given once for all at Calvary. So consequently, there is a new priesthood, which offer different sacrifices and services in the church, which has replaced the tabernacle of the old administration.

I would just add a note here, that those who insist that the sacrifices must begin again and the temple of Jerusalem must be rebuilt in order for Christ to appear at His second coming are trusting in a flawed theology.  God destroyed the temple and removed the sacrifices in 70AD as prophesied by Jesus. And if Jesus has perfected for all time the sacrifice for sin, then why would God need to resurrect the temple and sacrifices again?  The whole point of the new covenant is that God has done away with the old covenantal system.  To reestablish it would indicate that there was something lacking in Christ’s atonement.  That cannot be.

The same principle applies to the injunctions of Jewish dietary restrictions, feast days, sabbath days, circumcision, etc.  The author made the point in vs 9 that the dietary laws did not give any spiritual advantage to the Jews.  Paul said if you eat meat, or if you don’t eat meat, neither will commend you to God. False teachers and especially cults always seem to want to take the church back to Jewish laws and ceremonies and rituals.  But as Paul said to the Colossians in chapter 2 vs 16 “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--  things which are a [mere] shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.”

So there was an old altar, an old temple, an old priesthood, and they served as a type of better things to come in Christ.  But in this new covenant, we are a royal priesthood, serving a new altar which is the cross, in the new temple in which our bodies make up the greater body of Christ, which is the church, of which Christ is the head.  Someone well said, “God’s head of the church is at his right hand, but His hands and feet are down here.”

Now speaking of the old altar under the old covenant, the blood of the atonement was sprinkled on the altar and the mercy seat, but the bodies of the animals were taken outside the camp and burned.  Under the Jewish law, no part of the sin-offering was to be eaten, but all must be burned outside the camp. So according to that typology, the author says if they are still subject to that law, serving the old tabernacle, they cannot eat at the gospel altar; for that which is eaten there is furnished from Christ, who is the great sin offering. The Lord's supper is not our altar, but it is furnished with provision from the altar. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us (1 Co. 5:7). The Lord's supper is the feast of the gospel passover.  The error of the Catholics and other so called orthodoxy, is that they crucify Christ again and again in taking the mass, thinking that eating His physical blood and flesh sanctify their bodies.  But Hebrews tells us that Christ died once for all, as a final sacrifice for sin. In the Passover feast, they did not experience deliverance from death year after year, but they remembered the single event in yearly commemoration. 

So the author says that Jesus in His atonement suffered outside the camp, that is outside of Jerusalem, outside of the temple, taken out of Jerusalem to the mount Golgatha. And He did so, in order to sanctify His people from their sins.  And in light of our observance of Christmas, even his birth illustrated that we must go to Him outside the camp. Jesus was born not in Jerusalem, in the capital of Israel, where the leaders and the priests and the temple were, but He was born in the tiny village of Bethlehem, not in a royal palace, but in a barn, not in a crib, but in a manger.  His whole life was marked by reproach, as He was contemptuously referred to as a Galilean.  His life was marked by being an outsider.

So in like manner, as His select priesthood, let us go outside the camp, identifying with Him, bearing the same reproach as He bore.  In other words, especially to the Hebrew audience, he was saying we must abandon the temple and the rituals and ceremonies of the old covenant and go out to the place of crucifixion, where we take up our cross and follow Him.  Though we cannot offer sacrifices for sin, yet we still can offer sacrifices which are pleasing to God.

In thinking of the crucifixion and the sense of abandonment that accompanied Jesus, I am reminded of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who were described as secret disciples.  I’m afraid that there are more than a few secret disciples of Christ in the church today as well. We are afraid to let people know that we identify with Christ. It may be socially acceptable to let people know that we are religious, to claim some measure of faith, but to actually identify with Christ and share in His reproach is something that we dare not do.  And so we come short of the grace that was given to us.  We come short of the purpose God has in making us a part of the royal priesthood which Peter said was given “so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Instead of the church being the called out ones, the eklesia, we are too often trying to reap the benefits of this world, while claiming the benefits of the next.  Like those secret disciples of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimatha, we want to hold onto to the security and the prosperity and the pleasures of the world we live in and yet still inherit the treasures of heaven.  But as Peter says, the earth is destined for destruction, and all it’s works will be burned up.  2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

This new heaven and new earth is no less than what John calls the New Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven. The present Jerusalem, Hebrews says in vs14, is not a lasting city.  In fact, just a few years after this letter Jerusalem and the temple as they knew it would be destroyed and the priesthood killed or scattered with the rest of the population. But we are looking for a new Jerusalem, a lasting city in which we shall be forever with the Lord.  How foolish then it is to serve the present city, this present world, which has no lasting value.  Let us go outside to join with Christ, which may cause temporary suffering, but which will result in an eternal weight of glory.

Though Him then, vs 15 says, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.  In the old covenant, thanksgiving was a form of peace offering.  And in the new covenant, we may still offer a sacrifice of praise.  Not by offering an animal, but by the fruit of our lips.  I believe this indicates much more than offering up hymns or songs of praise, though that certainly plays a part.  But I think it indicates proclaiming the wonders of His love and grace to a world in darkness.  We offer praise to God to the nations of the great work of Christ in salvation.  This praise is what Peter called the proclamation of the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  The testimony which we offer to the world of God’s salvation to us is the sacrifice of praise which we offer to God.  It’s the acceptable service which we render to God because He has transferred us into the kingdom of God.

To the sacrifice of praise the priests of God in the new covenant must also add the offering of works of righteousness, that which the author calls doing good. And closely aligned with that is what he calls sharing. This is the working out of brotherly love which we talked about in our earlier study.  Good works do not earn our entry into the kingdom of God, but as priests of God we serve the body of God through good works.  Paul said in Eph. 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  So we were created in righteousness so that we might walk in good works, even as Christ did on earth. 

So also Paul said to Timothy to instruct the church to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” [1Tim. 6:18]  Sharing is a part of good works, and when it is offered up in the name of the Lord, it is a sacrifice with which God is well pleased. Sharing is speaking of those who according to Paul  are rich in this world’s goods, that they should share with those in need.  James says the same thing, James 2:14-17 “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for [their] body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, [being] by itself.”

And Paul, speaking to the Philippians is even more explicit saying that the financial gifts and offerings he received from them was “an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God”, using almost identical language to our text in vs 16.  

This sacrifice of sharing in financial means brings the author back to the subject of leaders in the church, who are worthy not only of support, but a certain measure of honor, requiring the sacrifice of our submission.  Vs. 17,  “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Now he has already clarified the fact that worthy leaders are those who preach the word to you, back in vs.7.  “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”  Now to the injunction to remember them, and to imitate them, comes even more explicit commands to submit to them, and obey them, being understood that is contingent upon their faithfulness to the word of God. 

In the story of Christ’s birth, the gospel of Luke records that there were shepherd in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  And that same word picture is used here to describe the under shepherds who keep watch over the souls of the flock in their charge. It indicates a sleepless state of watching, or more expressly, that of being on the alert on behalf of their flock.  Pastors, or shepherds, are responsible for the souls of their sheep, to guard them against the schemes and deceit of the devil, the false teachings, wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

And the author encourages us to follow their guidance, so that the pastor may not suffer that stricter judgement that will come to teachers of the gospel, and that you may not live an unprofitable life. 

There is a profit to living godly. Paul said in 1Tim. 6:6 that “godliness [actually] is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”  And contentment is found in submission to the authority that God has established for our benefit.  Contentment is also found in doing the will of God, doing the things which are pleasing to God.   Contentment is found in performing our service to God in the role that He has prepared us for.  And God has prepared us to be a royal priesthood, proclaiming the excellencies of Him who has called us out of the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. Let us do so with praise, with service, and through sharing, being subject to the authority of the church of God and His shepherds, that we may fulfill the measure of grace that was given to us.  

The Kingdom of the Lord, Hebrews 13:7-9

I think in Christianity today we tend to have too low of a view of the church. The church is the visible, physical manifestation of the spiritual kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God is the church. There are those who are looking for the kingdom of God to appear some day in the future.  But Jesus said, the kingdom of God is near you, it is in your midst.  Jesus came preaching and teaching the kingdom of God.  He referred to the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven dozens and dozens of times.  He spoke of the church only rarely.  The church is eklesia, the called out ones.  We have been called out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. 

Now that’s important to understand.  Because Christianity has evolved and formulated many various traditions and ideas of what we think constitutes a church.  And yet very few of those traditions and ceremonies and procedures really characterize the church according to the Bible. Jesus could say the kingdom of God was at hand because He was the King of the kingdom.  And so where He is, the kingdom is.  And by the same standard, Jesus is the head of the church.  And so where Jesus is, the church exists.  We need only to study the ministry of Jesus to understand the ministry of the church.  If our church today looks different from the church of Jesus Christ then we have added superfluous and potentially detrimental ceremonies and rituals and traditions of men, rather than of God.

Some time ago I ended up in a debate with some pastors in our area concerning church membership.  They believed that in order to have a Biblical church you had to have church membership which involved all sorts of procedures and checks and classes and so forth in order  to make sure we don’t have people in the church who are not believers, or who do not practice church doctrine. I was told by one sanctimonious pastor that if there is no church membership, then there is no church. 

However, my view is that church membership as practiced in most churches today is a man made invention.  And while it may arguably be useful to some degree from a managerial aspect, it can be harmful in others.  Furthermore, I don’t believe anyone can enter into the spiritual kingdom by earthly means.  Membership in the church is the same as citizenship in the kingdom of heaven.  You have to be born into it.  You have to be born again and that enrolls you into the family of God, the kingdom of God, the church of God. So God does it, not man.  And that’s why we don’t practice church membership in this church.  Only God knows if you are HIs child or not and whether or not you are a part of His kingdom. 

Now understanding this doctrine of the kingdom of God is important because chapter 13 is primarily practical application of the doctrine of the church.  At the end of chapter 12 vs 28 the author says, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” And so from that point on, chapter 13 tells us how we as the church can render acceptable service. And in vs1, we are told that this acceptable service to God in the church starts with brotherly love for one another.  And flowing from that brotherly love is a series of injunctions which we are to take note of as we live out our duty and responsibilities as members of His kingdom.

Now the most important aspect of being in the kingdom of God is that we recognize the nature and character of our King and our responsibilities to Him.  And so in that respect, in order to be sure that we are submissive to our King and doing the things that are pleasing to Him, God has set up under shepherds, or pastors, leaders of the church to be our guides. 

Notice how he speaks of them in vs7; “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Now the way the NASB which I just read from translates this verse, it sort of diminishes the position to some degree.  The King James Version renders it “Remember your rulers…”  Most of the modern translations say “Remember your leaders…”  

The consensus of most theologians is that this is speaking of church leadership.  And we can differentiate between church leadership and political or civil leadership because it says “who spoke the word of God to you.”  It’s hardly likely that civil leaders are speaking the word of God, or that we would be told to imitate their way of life.  Our political leaders seem to advocate the “do as I say, and not as I do” theology.  They make rules, but they don’t live by them themselves.  God’s rulers or leaders, are supposed to be examples to the flock.

Four aspects of the church’s responsibility in the realm of church leadership are mentioned here at the end of this epistle.  It’s obviously of some concern and importance to the kingdom of God. He says again in vs 17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”  So first remember them, and then imitate them.  Then obey them, and submit to them.  

One commentator expanded on this verse by saying it this way; “Christ's church is a kingdom, and he is King in it; pastors of churches are subordinate governors; who rule well when they rule not in an arbitrary way, according to their own wills, but according to the laws of Christ, with all faithfulness, prudence, and diligence. The word may be rendered "guides" or "leaders"; for such point out the way of peace, life, and salvation to men, and direct them to Christ; and guide them into the understanding of the Scriptures, and the truths of the Gospel; and lead them in the paths of faith and holiness, and are examples to them.”

Now there are many examples in the past of pastors and leaders that have abused the leadership and authority that God has given to them.  And so Peter warns pastors in 1Peter 5:1-4 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as [your] fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,  shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to [the will of] God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”  So Christ is the Chief Shepherd, who has appointed under shepherds or pastors, who are to exercise oversight over the flock, and be an example to them, but not lording it over those who are allotted to our charge.  That is written to pastors.

But in the Hebrew text before us today the author is speaking to the church, to remember their leaders, and all that entails, which would include providing for them.  Paul says in 1Cor. 9:14 “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” And then the responsibility of the church is to imitate their leaders, or to follow them as their guides, then to obey your leaders, and them submit to them.  

Now there are two very important caveats that are included here.  First he says follow or submit to leaders who spoke the word of God to you.  The faithfulness of the preacher to speak the word of God accurately and truthfully is paramount.  Because the pastor is the under shepherd.  He is the governor, whereas the Lord Jesus is King.  The pastor simply conveys the Chief Shepherds word, faithfully and accurately.  What it’s saying is that the pastor’s leadership is shown to be legitimate by his faithfulness to the word of God. 

Secondly, it says, considering the outcome of their life, or considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.  You know, there are a lot of pastors or preachers out there who are just in it for the money or who are on some sort of power trip. And they are clever enough to speak enough of the word of God to sound legitimate, but their lifestyle, if you scrutinize it, reveals that they don’t live by the word. A good example is these faith healers that fly around the country in their private jets preying on vulnerable people.  There was a pastor of a church in South Carolina who made the news yesterday who bought his wife a new $200,000 Lamborghini.  And he was getting some flack for it.  Well deserved I would think.  A lavish, worldly lifestyle is hardly compatible with the example of Jesus.

So considering their conduct, their faithfulness to the word, then imitate or follow their example. How are they running the race,  or in the case of those who have passed, how did they finish the race?  I have a Bible at home which was my main Bible for many years but it’s now falling apart.  But in the margin of this verse I have a question mark. And I remember writing that in my Bible many years ago, maybe 30 years ago as I thought about my dad’s life and particularly how it ended.  My dad had a church which he started, and he helped to start many more in that area of North Carolina.  But the end of his life his health failed. And along with that my mother left my father and eventually divorced him.  She took all his money out of the bank while he was away at a series of meetings.  She sold all the furniture at a yard sale. When my dad came home, at a time when he was in very bad health, he came home to an empty house, no wife, no car, no money, nothing.  And I remember reading this verse and wondering about my dad’s life and whether or not that was ever something that I wanted to imitate, or follow in, considering the outcome.  So many preachers I have known have had some sort of similar misfortunes at the end of their life.  So I don’t think we can look at a pastor’s life from a human standpoint and judge whether or not things worked out as we think they should have or whatever.  But in that he was faithful to be obedient to the calling of God, he was faithful to preach the word accurately, and he lived according to how God tells us to live.  And in those respects, we then can imitate them.  Just like we would imitate the faith of Job.  None of us would want to partake in the circumstances of Job’s life, but we should imitate his faith.

This passage in Hebrews then is speaking of our responsibility to the leaders of the church, and their responsibility to the Lord Jesus Christ to be faithful to His word and His design for the church.  Then in vs.9 we see a contrast to the faithful leader.  And that contrast is those leaders who distort and misrepresent the gospel. Listen to vs 9, “Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.” 

I’ve already said some things about those pastors or preachers that use the gospel for the sake of personal gain.  And we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves in that regard.  We need to be as the Bereans and study the scriptures to see if those things are so which they are teaching.  Particularly as it pertains to false teaching.  Here false teaching is described as varied and strange teachings. As far as the enemy of the church is concerned, I believe Satan’s intent is to subtly distort the word of God.  It is much more palatable to swallow a half truth than a whole lie.  And I believe the Devil is adept at scheming up doctrines which consist of partial truths. As I have said many times before, only a one degree error in your compass when setting on a trans Atlantic ocean voyage will end up taking you hundreds of miles off course before you complete your journey. 

 I am constantly amazed at how a lot of Christians start off hot, and end up cold.  And unfortunately I think it’s due to believing faulty theology most of the time.  The problem in the church today is that a lot of people are getting their doctrine from the wrong sources.  They neglect the God appointed and ordained pastor and his teaching, because they think they like better the sermons on television, or online.  They eschew the leadership of a Bible teaching preacher because they prefer the stirring melodies of a so called worship music and contemporary musicians. They disregard the daily study of the Bible in their quiet times in exchange for the latest Christian self help books found in the bookstores.  And as a result, their theology gets subtly distorted.  They end up believing strange teaching.  They start off thinking they are hot, but instead they are getting colder and colder because they are drifting further and further away from the refining fire of God’s word.

So it is incumbent upon the church to avoid such leaders as that.  In the case of the Hebrews, one of the characteristics of these deceitful leaders was that they were trying to enforce the Jewish diet rituals on the new Christians. And so that’s the emphasis that the author puts on this warning, to beware of those who were trying to reinstate the dietary laws of the old covenant when we have this new covenant of grace.  The ceremonial laws were done away with at the cross, because Jesus fulfilled all the types which those laws were supposed to be teaching.  And he says, those who practiced such laws were not benefitted by them.  The cermemonial laws were supposed to separate the Jews from the world, so that they might be a light to the Gentiles.  But because their hearts were not sanctified, the outward ceremonial laws that they practiced did not help them in that regard whatsoever.  And it’s interesting that today in many evangelical circles there is a desire to go back to traditions, to ceremonies, to rituals, to candles and incense and liturgies which have the appearance of spirituality, but have no spiritual value.

The heart, the author tells us, is better strengthened by grace. What is grace?  Grace is the gift of God, sending Jesus Christ to be our Savior.  Grace is the repentance and faith that comes from the conviction and quickening of the Holy Spirit.  Grace is the forgiveness of our sins, and the Spirit of God who is given to us as an inward witness and help. These aspects of grace strengthen the heart, the soul, that we might have a change of heart, new desires, and find strength to carry out the desires of God.

This grace is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  And that grace is still available today for those who believe in Him.  And so we focus our attention on the One who is unchangeable, immutable, Jesus Christ the Lord.  Vs. 8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Though earthy leaders may come and go, though denominations rise and fall, though some stay faithful and some fall away into apostasy, the Lord Jesus Christ remains the same.

Let’s notice first the preeminence of His name.  Jesus is HIs given name. It means Jehovah saves.  No Hebrew could say the name of Jesus without realizing the significance of that name.  When the angel spoke to Joseph he said, “And you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.”  He came to earth to be our Savior.  He came to seek and  to save those that are lost.

Are you lost today?  Have you come to that conclusion?  It’s necessary to recognize that you are lost before you can be saved.  Recognizing you are lost is coming to the point of confessing you are a sinner, you are hopeless, that you are helpless, coming to the end of yourself.  Recognizing that all your efforts at directing your life has been faulty, and coming to the point of believing that Jesus Christ is your only hope.  He will save you, if you will recognize that you are lost and  believe that He is your Savior.

Notice also the word Christ.  Christ is not His surname.  Christ is His title.  It is the Greek word for Messiah which means anointed one. Kings were anointed. Priests were anointed. Prophets were anointed, all three. And our Lord holds all three of those offices. And, particularly, as we have been alluding to, the office of King. So He is the Anointed One and that suggests his office of kingship.  

The author of this epistle has referenced that kingship in chapter 1 in verse 8, where he says these words, citing from Psalm 45. “But to the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions.’” So he is the Anointed King.

Well, if God has anointed Him and appointed Him to be the Savior of sinners,  why is it that people object to having Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? If God has anointed him to be the Anointed King and Savior of sinners, it seems to me that the right response of human beings is to bow down before him and acknowledge him as their Lord.  And that of course is the reason that they refuse Him.  Because they do not want to surrender to Him as Lord.  I would suspect that it’s possible some would even be wiling to have Him as their Savior, but not their Lord.  They are willing to let Him  pay for their sin, but not to have Him as Lord over their lives.  But both are necessary.  He must be both Savior and Lord.

And then the author speaks to the immutability of Jesus Christ.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is unchanging.  In the first chapter again, vs.10 he says, “ And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;  THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT, AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP; LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED. BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END.”

Our faith is founded on the unchanging, immutable Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us, and who has ascended to the right hand of the Father where He ever lives to make intercession for us.  Our citizenship in the kingdom of God is not dependent on denominations or creeds or people or rituals or ceremonies of religion, but our security is in the eternal, unchanging,  immortal God, Jesus Christ the Lord. 

As I was working on preparing for the Christmas party this year, I think it’s about 14 years now that we have had it.  And thinking of the years we have had the Luau, and all the people over the years who we have ministered to.  Some who are still with us and many more who are no longer here.  It makes me realize the changeableness of our church.  People come and go.  The congregation changes.  People get hot and cold. The church changes.  I have changed. I’ve gotten older.   But Jesus Christ remains unchanged.  He is the same, forever. His word, His person, His gospel, His salvation endures forever.

And I will say one more thing about His unchangeableness in regards to doctrine.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  That means if we want to know what the church of Jesus Christ is supposed to look like today, then we look at what the church of Jesus Christ was like when He was on earth.  When you want to know what the life of the Christian is supposed to look like today, then look at the life of the Chief Shepherd whom we are to imitate.

His unchanging nature provides the standard for all Christian conduct, particularly in the preaching of the word and in worship. Just because we live in a modern society we should not expect something completely “new” as if there is an Old Covenant God and a  New Covenant Jesus.” The nature of God as it is manifested by Jesus is the same in the old as in the new. And the nature of Christian conduct that we see in the Bible  should be the same which is seen in the church today.

And let me add that the nature of the Holy Spirit is no different than the nature of Jesus Christ.  As Jesus Christ is the exact representation of the nature of the Father according to chapter one vs.3 which says, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.”  Jesus said of the Spirit in John 16:13-14  "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose [it] to you.”

So, that’s the Oneness of God, the unity of the Trinity.  Jesus is the exact representation of the Father.  And the Spirit is the exact representation of Jesus.  So in the church we have unity in the truth, first and foremost.  The Holy Spirit is not going to be glorifying Himself.  He is not going to be acting in a way that is incompatible with the way Jesus acted when He was on earth.  And the leadership of the church is to be exact in it’s representation of Christ as well.  We must be careful to study the scriptures and teach faithfully and handle accurately the word of God, so that the church may be built up and do the work of service in ministry.

That’s quite a responsibility for the pastor, but it’s also quite a responsibility for the congregation, to be imitators of Christ in the world. To be discerning, and to be steadfast, persevering to the end.  I pray that we may be found faithful.

If you’re here today and you have come to the conclusion that you have never been born again by the Spirit of Christ, then I invite you to accept the gift of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  If you will confess your sins and repent of your sins, and ask Jesus to save you, to remake you, and surrender to Him as Lord and King, then He will forgive your sins, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, and give you His Spirit to empower you.  I pray that no one here today is foolish enough to reject the grace of God. The Bible says it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment.  When that day comes, your faith in Jesus Christ is the only way of escape.  I pray that you do not presume upon the grace of God, but surrender to Him today.