Author: Art Davison

GOING ON TO PERFECTION–HEBREWS 5:12–6:1-6

Art Davison THE HEBREWS SERIES 0 Comment
GOING ON TO PERFECTION
HEBREWS 5:12–6:1-6
Introduction:

Paul is talking about maturity in the things of God to these Hebrew Christians. His evaluation of their spiritual condition is that they are still babes in Christ. They are still taking milk when they should be on strong meat. They were not ignorant, but inexperienced. They didn’t lack information, but had not learned to put “the teaching about righteousness” to effective use.

Paul refuses to go back over the elemental doctrines of the Word of God, rather, he encourages them to go on to maturity. In this passage Paul states a hypothetical case in verses 4-6 involving the impossibility of losing ones salvation. This involves going back to Judaism, which some professed believers were teaching.

I. SALVATION INVOLVES THE WILL

A. The will of man, 1 John 5:1, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”

B. The will of God.

1. It is not God’s will that any should perish, 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

a. God has no pleasure in man’s death, Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

b. God wants man saved, 1 Timothy 2:4, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

2. God goodness leads us to repentance, Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

II. IT IS THE WORK OF GOD THAT TRANSFORMS MAN

A. From Darkness to Light.

1. Satan has blinded men to keep the light out, 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

2. In Christ God is revealed to man, Luke 10:22, “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.”

B. From Death to Life, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

1. To trust His message and that of His Father, is to have in this present time eternal life, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

2. No judgment will come in the future that is, he will not be condemned, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

3. The believer has already passed from one realm—DEATH—into another—LIFE, Ephesians 2:1, 5, “And you hath he quickened , who were dead in trespasses and sins; 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ( by grace ye are saved;)”

C. From a Child of the Devil to a SON of God, Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

1. Believers have received the Spirit of sonship, Romans 8:15-16, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

2. Believers become heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified together.”

III. IT IS A COMPLETED REGENERATING WORK

A. He has made PERFECT FOREVER those who are sanctified, Hebrews 10:19-22, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20- By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21- And having an high priest over the house of God; 22- Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

B. He has been made PERFECT BY THE GRACE of God, Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

CONCLUSION

It is impossible to fall away from Christ after having trusted Him as Savior. If that were possible, which it is not, there would be no other offering for sin. The believer is to continue on trusting, Hebrews 10:23-25,“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; ( for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

GOD PROVIDED BETTER THINGS–HEBREWS 11:32-40

Art Davison THE HEBREWS SERIES 0 Comment
GOD PROVIDED BETTER THINGS
HEBREWS 11:32-40
Introduction:

The text speaks of the “better things” of the New Testament. The Old Testament saints accomplished many things, but we have been blessed beyond what they were in God’s service.

In the next few minutes I hope to share with you some to these things that we find in this book of Hebrews. They are truly a blessing.

I. THE NEW COVENANT SPEAKS OF BETTER THINGS

Hebrews 12:24, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

A. Abel’s sacrifice was better than Cain’s, Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”

B. Jesus sacrifice was better than Abel’s. Hebrews 9:23, “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”

1. Abel offered an animal, Hebrews 10:4, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

2. Jesus offered Himself, Hebrews 10:10, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

II. A BETTER HOPE

Hebrews 7:19, “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”

A. The Law made nothing perfect, Romans 3:19-20, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

1. The Law was given that the entire world might become guilty before God, Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

2. Therefore, by the deeds of the Law no one is justified, Galatians 3:10-11, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

B. The bringing of a better hope made things perfect.

1. Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

2. God sent His own Son to condemn sin in the flesh, Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”

III. THE GUARANTEE OF A BETTER TESTAMENT.

Hebrews 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.”

A. An Everlasting covenant, Hebrews 13:20, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”

B. Jesus is the Mediator of a Better covenant, Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”

1. He obtained a more excellent ministry:

a. He is the Mediator of a better covenant, Galatians 3:19-20, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.”

b. He is the guarantor of the new covenant, Hebrews 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. “

2. It was established upon better promises, 2 Peter 1:4, ” Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the author of a better covenant. We are the partakers of this covenant by faith in Jesus Christ. This covenant is based on the DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS. Anything other than this covenant is a counterfeit and God does not honor it.

Don’t delude yourself to think that there is any other way than God’s way of salvation. Jesus Christ is “THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. He said “no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” John 14:6.

FAITH–HEBREWS 11:1, 6

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FAITH
HEBREWS 11:1, 6
Introduction:

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true and therefore worthy of trust. Definition: Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

I. FAITH IS THE ONLY WAY TO PLEASE GOD.

A. God has set the standard, Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

B. He has set the reward for faith, “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

II. FAITH IS NOT BLIND, BUT MUST HAVE AN OBJECT.

A. Some say that they have faith, but do not demonstrate the object of their faith.

B. The object of our faith is the whole revealed Word of God, John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1. Faith accepts and believes the Word of God, John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

2. Faith in His Word unites us with Christ, Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

a. By trusting the immutable God of Heaven, Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

b. By owning Him as our Savior for His Word’s sake, Titus 1:1-2, “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

III. FAITH SECURES THE BELIEVER’S FREEDOM.

A. He has freedom from condemnation.

1. We live because He lives, John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

2. The truth has set us free from the condemnation of sin, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

3. We are free because Jesus has set us free, John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

4. We are free because of the grace of God, Romans 5:15, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

B. Having been made free from sin we are become the servants of God, Romans 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

1. Faith has set us apart to honor our Lord with our lives, Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

2. Faith makes it possible to be filled with the fullness of God, Ephesians 3:17-19, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

CONCLUSION

Faith is not as simple as it appears on the surface. It is a very large thing in our lives. Faith is trust in the Lord Jesus Christ that He can and will do what He has said in His Word. The opposite of faith is infidelity and we want to be faithful to Him.

He does not need our help to fulfill His Word, but has chosen to use man in order to bring greater glory to His name. However, our conduct must be based on “thus saith the Lord,” and not on what we might think.

CONTENTMENT–HEBREWS 13:5

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CONTENTMENT
HEBREWS 13:5
Introduction:

CONTENTMENT is a state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot in life whatever it may be; It is a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed. He has sufficiency of the necessities of life and a mind content with what he has.

The word “CONTENT” means — sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or processing enough to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances; contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though they may be the very least.

I. GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT
1 Timothy 6:6, But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

A. As opposed to envy, James 3:16, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

1. Envy [rivalry] indicates that their wisdom is not from above, James 1:17,“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

a. There is strife, Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

b. There is confusion, 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

c. There is every evil work, Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

2. There is no envy in the wisdom that comes from above, James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

B. As opposed to avarice, Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

1. Be content with what you have, Luke 12:15, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

2. We brought nothing into this world, 1 Timothy 6:7-8, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8- And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

3. God will never forsake us, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

B. As opposed to ambition, Proverbs 13:10, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

C. As opposed to anxiety, Matthew 6:25, 34, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

D. As opposed to repining, 1 Corinthians 10:10, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer,”

1. “You have killed the people of God,” Numbers 16:41, “But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.”

2. Moses intervened for the people to save them, Numbers 16:47-48, “And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.”

II. CONTENT WITH OUR SITUATION

Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

A. Being content with the simple things of life, 1 Timothy 6:8, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

B. Being content with what God has given us. Quaker’s Test?

We’ve heard of an old Quaker who advertised that he would give 40 acres of rich farmland to anyone who was perfectly satisfied with that which he had. One seeker came to see the Quaker.

“Are thee perfectly satisfied with what thee hast?”

“Yes,” answered the hopeful guest.

“Then why dost thee want this land?” was the old Quaker’s significant reply.

1. Many want more recognition.

2. Many want more control or power over other people.

III. GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

2 Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

A. Our sufficiency is not in ourselves, 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

B. God is able to make us content, 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

1. Happy is he whose hope is the Lord, Psalm 146:5, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”

2. Happy is the man to whom God has given a family, Psalm 127:4-5, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5- Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.”

CONCLUSION

1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” That is some of the best news I have ever heard. I can be happy under many different circumstances if my life is right with the LORD.

How is your life today? Are you content? Do you know Christ as you Savior?

CONSIDER THIS, BELIEVER–HEBREWS 9:22-28

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CONSIDER THIS, BELIEVER
HEBREWS 9:22-28

Key verse: v. 24, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”

Introduction:

There are many things that God’s people need to consider. In ourselves we have nothing to offer the God of Heaven, however, in Jesus Christ we have everything. In these verses of Scripture let us glean the great truths of God’s Word. These blessings are needful to be remembered and meditated upon regularly.

I. OUR FORERUNNER, JESUS, IS ENTERED INTO GOD’S PRESENCE FOR US

Hebrews 6:20, Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

A. We have no right to heaven in ourselves, our right lies in Christ, Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

1. We are reminded of our former situation, Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

2. God concluded everyone guilty of sin, Galatians 3:22, “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

B. If you are pardoned, it is through His blood, Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

C. If you are justified, it is through His righteousness, Romans 3:24-25, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

D. If you are sanctified, it is because He is made of God unto you sanctification, 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

E. If you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus, Jude 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”

F. If you are perfected at the last, it will be because you are complete in Him, Colossians 2:8-10, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

II. JESUS IS MAGNIFIED FOR ALL IS IN HIM AND BY HIM

A. The inheritance is made certain to us—for it is obtained in Him, 1 Peter 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

B. Each blessing is the sweeter —for it is obtained in Him, Psalms 24:5, “He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

1. His blessing is on those that fear Him, Psalms 115:13, “He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.”

2. His blessing is on those that walk in His ways, Psalms 128:1, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.”

a. It will be well with you, Psalms 128:2, “For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

b. Your family will be blessed, Psalms 128:3, “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.”

C. Heaven itself the brighter, because it is Jesus our Beloved “in whom” we have obtained all:

1. In whom we have redemption, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

2. In whom we have forgiveness of sins, Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

3. In whom we have bold access to the throne of grace, Ephesians 3:12, “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

4. In whom we have an inheritance, Ephesians 1:11, In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

CONCLUSION

Have we considered just what the Lord has done for us? Perhaps we need to spend more time thinking about His blessings than complaining about what we don’t have. Remember that we are in His hands.