Traitor Or Patriot

Text: He. 10

Introduction:

  1. A Comparison of the Sacrifices
    1. The deficiency of the OT sacrifices
      1. It was a shadow, not the real thing
      2. Could not make people perfect
      3. Had to be offered continually
      4. Only covered sin, did not cleanse from sin
      5. Sin would be brought to remembrance, not remitted
    2. The sufficiency of Christ
      1. He offered Himself willingly
      2. Can sanctify us
      3. Offered once for all
      4. Finished work (sat down)
        1. It is finished
        2. Explain the finished work of Christ
        3. This is why we do not need to do anything to contribute to our salvation
      5. Can perfect us
      6. Sins are remitted, no longer to be remembered
  2. Commands for the Saints
    1. The Basis for the Commands
      1. Boldness to come into the presence of God through Christ
      2. Christ is a living way (he ever liveth to make intercession for us)High priestly work of Christ enables us to obey
    2. The Giving of the Commands
      1. Let us draw nigh (v. 22)
        1. We must prepare ourselves spiritually to fellowship with God.
          1. The Old Testament priest had to go through various washings and the applying of blood on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16).
          2. Also, during the regular daily ministry, the priests had to wash at the laver before they entered the holy place (Ex. 30:18-21).
          3. The New Testament Christian must come to God with a pure heart and a clean conscience. Fellowship with God demands purity (1 John 1:5-2:2).
        2. Cp. James 4:8
      2. Let us hold fast
      3. Let us consider
        1. Are we selfish or other oriented?
        2. Primary reason given for attending faithfully is not what we get out of it, but we can contribute to the fellowship
        3. We especially need it in light of the near coming of Christ
    3. The Danger of willful sin
      1. This is not referring to a loss of salvation
      2. OT illus.
        1. There was no sacrifice that was offered for willful sins, only sins of ignorance
        2. Many were saved by the blood in coming out of Egypt, but then died in the wilderness because of sin. There was no more sacrifice for those sins.
        3. For the Christian, though our sins both past and future have been forgiven, judgment will come if we sin willfully
        4. If people died who sinned willfully by breaking the Mosaic Law, then why do we think God will deal with us any less strictly who are under a better covenant?
      3. When we sin, the next step is chastisement
      4. There is a sin unto death
        1. Willful or continued willful sin (that is the tense of "sin willfully")
        2. Cp. 1 John 5:16f
        3. Cp. 1 Co. 11:30
      5. Vengeance is the Lord's
        1. We usually use this verse to teach that we should not retaliate (cp. Ro. 12:19)
        2. In this context, it refers to the fact that God will take vengeance on those who despise the New Covenant that He has made with them through the blood of Christ
      6. Illus. of trampling on the flag

        7. What if last week on Veteran's Day I had trampled on an American flag which was purchased by the blood of our forefathers and our family members? What if you had lost a son in the war and I then spit on his grave or misused the freedoms that he purchased for me? You would consider me unpatriotic. You would want my head. This is what happens when we sin willfully against God.

      7. Fearful Thing
        1. This is addressed to disobedient Christians, not the lost!
        2. We must cultivate a healthy fear of God in our lives or we will learn this fear by meeting Him in person
      8. Chastisement is the theme of chapter 12 which we will examine in two weeks
  3. Commendation for the Faithful
    1. Remember
      1. Past faithfulness
      2. Past compassion
    2. Be confident
      1. You did it before, you can continue to do it
      2. The Lord is coming
    3. Live by faith
      1. Explained in ch. 11
      2. Draw back to perdition
        1. Perdition has several meanings
          1. Die
          2. Waste
          3. Perish
          4. Destruction
        2. Probably has the meaning of either
          1. Die physically (the sin unto death)
          2. Waste your testimony