About One Another
January 1, 2012 4:30 AM -0600
Manuscript
Outline
Notes
Bibliography
As Christians, we have the unprecedented opportunity and challenge to draw near to God in relationship and confess Him as our Savior and Lord. But that's easier said than done. Discover why and how fostering accountability relationships with other believers can and will make those things a little easier.
Thesis: Developing accountability relationships with fellow believers is a critical way to deepen your faith.
Objective: Challenge believers to identify and forge at least one accountability partnership outside of their spouse.
Hebrews 10:19-25
Objective: Challenge believers to identify and forge at least one accountability partnership outside of their spouse.
Hebrews 10:19-25
- Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh),
- and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and
- our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one
- another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you
- see the day drawing near.
- We must draw near to God (22).
- We must have a true heart (“let us draw near with a true heart;” It’s not enough just to approach the throne of God. We need to want to be there, wholeheartedly and unreservedly. We need to be sincere and completely true in our intention and desire to be close to God, or it won’t count.).
- We must have full assurance of faith (“let us draw near... in full assurance of faith;” In order to approach the throne, we need to have a real belief in Jesus’ sacrifice and role, demonstrated by real actions. As James said, “Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works” (James 2:18).).
- We must have restored innocence (“with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ashed in pure water;” It’s not enough to want to be in God’s presence. Remember, Hebrews 12:14 states, “without [holiness] no one will see the Lord.” So we need to be thoroughly, legitimately holy, with our consciences cleansed and our bodies consecrated, if we’re going to draw near to God.).
- We must hold on to the confession (23).
- We must confess sin (“Let us hold on to the confession;” The first of two types of confession identified in Scripture as essential to our faith, we must acknowledge that we are sinners; we’re responsible for that sin; and it was, indeed, sin.).
- James 5:16: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.”
- 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive s us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- We must confess Jesus (“Let us hold on to the confession;” The second type of confession identified, probably more what the author was speaking of, we must own Jesus as our own Savior and Lord and tell others about what He’s done for and in us.).
- John 12:42-43: “Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”
- Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord, ” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
- We must hold on (“Let us hold on to the confession;” The idea of owning Jesus’ sacrifice and Lordship is inherent in confession, but it is reinforced by the idea of “hold on,” which gives us the idea of taking hold of something in a bear hug, possessing it as your own with the intent to never surrender it.).
- We must hold on unwaveringly (“Let us hold on to the confession without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;” It’s not just about holding on to hold on tight. We need to hold on faithfully because God Himself is faithful.).
- We must foster accountability (24-25).
- We must be concerned about one another (“Let us be concerned about one another” (24); If the highest commands of Christianity are to love God and our neighbors, the social aspects of our faith are implicit. We can’t be Christians in a vacuum. If we’re going to love our unbelieving neighbors, it seems only logical that we would have at least the same regard for our believing brothers and sisters in Christ.).
- We must promote love and good works (“...in order to promote love and good works” (24); The objective of our concern for others, particularly our Christian brothers and sisters, is to “spur on” (NIV) one another in our faith. ILLUSTRATION: Spurs have had various designs over the centuries, but generally, the business end consists of a shank and a toothed rowel. Under most conditions, only the flat side of the shank ever touches the horse. But the rowel remains as an option, just in case. The idea of “promoting” love and good works is that we should be steering one another toward these ideals of the faith, gently if at all possibly, but poignantly and painfully should the need arise.).
- We must worship together (“not staying away from worship meetings, as some habitually do” (25); It’s not enough to just promote love and good works. We need to take time to gather together for worship and fellowship and study.).
- We must encourage each other (“encouraging each other” (25); When all else fails, when things are going dismally or we’re struggling in our faith, we need to encourage each other.).
- Conclusion
- Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
- Two similar situations
- Similarly hard (aka, stubborn)
- Similar gender
- Similar spiritual condition or experience
- Similar life situation
- It is essential to be deliberate
- Choosing an accountability partner
- Exercising accountability
- James 5:15-16, 19-20: “The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his •life from death and cover a multitude of sins.”
- Confess your sins
- Pray with and for one another
- Prayer
- Bible study
- Correct each other
- Save each other
Ryrie
Reflecting God
Archaeological
ESV Study Bible
HCSB Study Bible
- (1-39) “In this chapter the author emphasizes the finality of Christ’s sacrifice by contrasting it with the lack of finality of the OT system of law and sacrifices. Christ’s redemption needs no repetition and no supplementation. Therefore, a rejection of His sacrifice is final and unforgivable.” ← Really? Because I’m not entirely sure that I like the implications of that statement.
- (20) “Christ is [the new and living] way. The torn veil opening the way to the Holy of Holies symbolizes Christ’s flesh (body) on the cross, which opens access to God for us.”
- (24) to promote/provoke/spur is “to stir up to an incitement or paroxysm of love and good works. To understand how strong this Greek word is, see its use in Acts 15:39 (sharp contention); 17:16 (stirred); 1 Cor 13:5 (provoked); Eph 6:4 (provoke).”
- (25) “not staying away from our worship meetings” is to say that we should not miss “the gathering of Christians for worship and edification.”
- (25) “the day” refers to the second coming.
Reflecting God
- (19) “Another section of practical pplication and exhortation begins here.”
- (19) “The way into the sanctuary of God’s presence was closed to the people under the former covenant because the blood of animal sacrifices could never completely atone for their sins. Now, however, believers can come to the throne of grace since the perfect priest has offered the perfect sacrifice, atoning for sin once for all.”
- (20) “When Jesus died, the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Plcae was ‘torn in two from top to bottom’ (Mk 15:38). The curtain symbolizes the body of Christ that was torn to open the way into the divine presence.”
- (22-25) “Five exhortations spring from Jesus’ provision for our reconciliation to his Father: 1. ‘Let us draw near to God.’ 2. ‘Let us hold unswervingly to... hope.’ 3. ‘Let us consider how we may spur one another on.’ 4. ‘Let us not give up meeting together.’ 5. ‘Let us encourage one another.’”
- (22) “Four conditions are given for drawing near to God: 1. a sincere heart. Undivided allegiance in the inner being. 2. full assurance of faith. Faith that knows no hesitation in trusting in and following Christ. 3. hearts sprinkled... from a guilty conscience. Total freedom from a sense of guilt, a freedom based on the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. 4. bodies washed with pure water. Not an external ceremony such as baptism but a figure for inner cleansing, of which the washing of the priests under the old covenant was a symbol (see Ex 30:19-21; Lev 8:6; Eze 36:12, where a similar epxression is used figuratively for the cleansing resulting from the new covenant).”
- (23) “unswervingly” = “Without doubt r hesitation. Some of the readers were tempted to give up the struggle and turn back to a form of Judaism.”
- (25) “The Greek word translated ‘give up’ speaks of desertion and abandonment.”
Archaeological
- (22) “Very likely both ‘hearts sprinkled’ and ‘bodies washed’ allude to Christian baptism.”
ESV Study Bible
- (10:19-12:29) “The exposition of the superiority of Christ and his salvation culminates in exhortations to faith and perseverance (10:19–39; 12:1–29) and in an extended series of examples of how faith endures through hope in God (11:1–40).”
- (19-39) “The truth of Christ’s person and work leads to encouragement to draw near to God (vv. 19–25) and to exhortations against shrinking back from faith (vv. 26–39).”
- (19) “ Verses 19–21 draw upon Christological arguments made earlier in the book.”
- (19) “The readers have the privilege of following the Messiah into the heavenly holy places (see 9:12, 24). “Confidence” in access to God is based upon Christ’s saving work (3:6; 4:16; 10:35). by the blood of Jesus. See 9:11–14.”
- (20) “This entrance (v. 19) has been newly inaugurated by Christ’s consecrating work, and it is “living” just as God himself is “living” (3:12; 9:14; 10:31; 12:22), as the word of God lives (4:12), and as those who follow Christ truly “live” (12:9).”
- (20) “The veil of the heavenly tabernacle (cf. 9:3) lies open due to the sanctifying work of Christ (6:19–20; 9:11–12, 24).”
- (20) “Although some suggest that Jesus’ “flesh” is itself the “way,” the word order (and the neuter gender of the Greek tout’ estin, rendered “that is”) makes it much more likely that Jesus’ flesh is identified with the tabernacle “curtain” or veil, which was torn open just as Jesus’ own flesh was metaphorically torn at his death (cf. Matt. 27:51).”
- (22) “In the first of three exhortations in vv. 22–25, Christians are called to act faithfully upon their confidence to enter by the blood of Christ (v. 19) into God’s presence (see 4:16; 7:25; 11:6; cf. 10:1).”
- (22) “In context [a cleansed heart] is a cleansed (“sprinkled”) and believing (in full assurance of faith) heart that is submissive to God (v. 26; also 13:9; cf. 3:8, 10, 12; 4:12).”
- (22) “hearts sprinkled clean. Jesus’ atoning work purifies the inner person (see notes on 9:14; 10:15–18).”
- (22) “bodies washed. Likely a reference to baptism (see 6:2; Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11; cf. Heb. 9:10), which employs ritually pure water (cf. Lev. 11:36; Num. 5:17; Ezek. 36:25).”
- (23) “The second exhortation of vv. 22–25 calls forth a faithful, unwavering embrace (see 3:6, 14) of the confession of our hope, i.e., the church’s assent to the teachings concerning Christ and his work (see 3:1; 4:14; cf. 2 Cor. 9:13; 1 Tim. 6:12), teachings that produce hope (Heb. 6:18–20; 7:19).”
- (23) “Confident hope in God’s promises (see 6:12–20) stems from God’s trustworthy character (also 11:11).”
- (24-25) “The third and final exhortation in vv. 22–25 calls for serious thinking about other Christians with a purpose to stir up (or “provoke”) them in their love and service (good works). Christian perseverance is thus also a community endeavor.”
- (24-25) “Community encouragement toward perseverance requires being together. That some were neglecting this duty may have been among the motives for the author’s warnings throughout this book.”
- (24-25) “encouraging = Voicing exhortation with the goal of strengthening another’s faith (see 3:13; cf. 13:22).”
HCSB Study Bible
- (19-30) “The author again exhorted his brothers to faithfulness. This exhortation contains commands, a warning, an encouraging reminder, a promise, and an expression of confidence. Due to the boldness that believers have to enter the divine presence through the perfect sacrifice of Christ, he commanded his brothers to (1) draw near to God with assurance; (2) hold on to their confession witout wavering; and (3) be concerned for one another and not forsake the gathering of the church. The warning is a reminder that there is no effective sacrifice for sin apart from that provided by Christ. If Christians turn their backs on Jesus, they have no hope - only the expectation of terror.”