Life At Its Best - A Confident Life
Introduction
We have been looking recently at some lessons from the book of Hebrews, and we’ve been dealing with the theme “Life At Its Best.”
Thus far, we have considered the idea of “A Focused Life” from some passages in Hebrews chapter one and two. Then we talked about “A Faithful Life” from certain portions of Hebrews chapter two and three. We also looked at “A Maturing Life” from the last part of chapter five and the first part of chapter six.
Today, we’re dealing with some verses in Hebrews chapter ten as we consider the idea of “A Confident Life.”
To have confidence is to have freedom from doubt; to have trust or faith in a person or thing. Many have commented on and explored the concept of confidence. For example, the great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.” Mark Twain said, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.” John Milton said, “Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration to its possessor.” Sophocles (the playwright of ancient Greece) said, “In a just cause, it is right to be confident.”
On December 16, 2000, the president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Chuck Kelley, addressed the graduating class and said, “In ministry, attitude is essential, and the only attitude that will reap a harvest in ministry is an attitude of complete confidence in God alone. … Attitude is essential, but it cannot be a supreme confidence in yourself; it cannot be a supreme confidence in your skills; it cannot be a supreme confidence in your tools; it cannot even be a supreme confidence in that certificate or diploma hanging on your wall. It must be a supreme confidence in God and God alone.” (From Baptist Press – http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=10095)
There have also been many who have exhibited the character of confidence. For example, J. Wilbur Chapman told the story of a group of farmers and their families who many years ago arranged to meet one day in the little prairie church to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered and only one little girl came with an umbrella … that’s confidence! And the minister ended up walking home in the rain under the umbrella that was graciously shared by the little girl. (From “Present Day Parables” by J. Wilbur Chapman)
A noted brain surgeon, Dr. Bronson Ray, was taking a stroll when he saw a boy on a scooter smash headfirst into a tree. Realizing that the boy was seriously injured, the doctor told a bystander to call an ambulance. As he proceeded to administer first aid, a boy not much older than the injured one nudged through the crowd that had gathered and said to Dr. Ray, “I’d better take over now, sir. I’m a Boy Scout and I know first aid.” The boy was certainly confident.
I read about a man named Bob who had made it to the last round of a television quiz show where the grand prize was one million dollars. The night before the big question, he told the host that he desired a question on American History.
The big night arrived. The host stepped up to the microphone and said, “Bob, you have chosen American History as the category for your final question. You know that if you correctly answer this question, you will walk away one million dollars richer. Are you ready?” Bob nodded with a cocky confidence. He hadn’t missed a question all week.
“Bob, yours is a two-part question. As you know, you may answer either part first. As a rule, the second half of the question is always easier. Which part would you like to take a stab at first?” Bob wasn’t sure, but he knew that American History was his best subject, so he played it safe. In all of his self-confidence, Bob said, “I’ll try the easier part first.” The host nodded approvingly. “Here we go, Bob. I will ask you the second half first, then the first half.”
The audience grew silent with anticipation. And the host said, “Bob, here is your question: In what year did it happen?”
It is possible to be overly confident in one’s own abilities. It is possible to place too much trust in someone or something. But it is never wrong to put our confidence in Almighty God and in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Psalms, the Bible says…
(Psalms 118:8) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. (Psalms 118:9) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
In Proverbs, the Bible says…
(Proverbs 3:26) For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
(Proverbs 14:26) In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
In Philippians, the Bible says…
(Philippians 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(Philippians 3:3) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
The concept of confidence is first seen in our passage in Hebrews 10:19 where the writer says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” The word “boldness” in this verse is a word that means assurance or confidence. The same Greek word is used again at the end of our passage. In Hebrews 10:35, the Bible says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.”
I. We Can Be Confident In The Assurance
(Hebrews 10:19–25)
A. We Are Assured Of Our Entrance (10:19-21)
1. Our Entrance Involves A Special Privilege
(Hebrews 10:19-20) 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;
In the New Testament Commentary from Baker, William Hendricksen and Simon Kistemaker wrote…
The word therefore looks back to the preceding section with its lengthy discussion of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ and the forgiveness of sin. The author invites the readers to approach God because, he says, “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.” These words echo an earlier exhortation, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence” (4:16).
The Bible Knowledge Commentary says…
The central assertion of these verses is in the words, Therefore, brothers (cf. 3:1,12)...let us draw near to God. … The readers are New-Covenant people (“brothers”) who should have confidence (boldness – ? parresian ?; cf. 3:6; 4:16; 10:35) to come into the very presence of God. This idea is enriched by the use of Old-Covenant imagery. God’s presence in the most holy place and the curtain that once was a barrier to man is now no longer so. It symbolized Christ’s body, so the writer may have had in mind the rending of the temple curtain at the time of Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51). At any rate His death gave believers the needed access and route to God.
Albert Barnes said of this “new and living way” that…
It was a mode of access that was till then unknown. No doubt many were saved before the Redeemer came, but the method by which they approached God was imperfect and difficult. The word which is rendered here “new” - ?prosfaton ?- occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It properly means “slain, or killed thereto;” that is, “newly killed, just dead; and then fresh,
recent” (Passow). It does not so much convey the idea that it is new in the sense that it had never existed before, as new in the sense that it is recent, or fresh. It was a way which was recently disclosed, and which had all the freshness of novelty. It is called a “living way,” because it is a method that imparts life, or because it leads to life and happiness. Doddridge renders it “ever-living way,” and supposes, in accordance with the opinion of Dr. Owen, that the allusion is to the fact that under the old dispensation the blood was to be offered as soon as it was shed, and that it could not be offered when it was cold and coagulated. The way by Christ was, however, always open. His blood was, as it were, always warm, and as if it had been recently shed. … The word “living,” also, has often the sense of perennial, or perpetual, as when applied to a fountain always running, in opposition to a pool that dries up (see the notes on John 4:10), and the new way to heaven may be called living-in all these respects.
2. Our Entrance Involves A Special Priest
(Hebrews 10:20-21) 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;
John Phillips said…
He (Christ) has entered into the Holy of Holies, and because He is there we can be there. He does what no priest of Israel ever dared to do. He takes others with Him into the Holy of Holies. That is the great reality of the Christian faith. It is a reality of which Judaism, at its brightest and its best, never dreamed. This is the wonderful word of welcome extended to us: “Come into the Holy of Holies.”
The Preachers Homiletic Commentary states…
Our new and spiritual High Priest, being Himself also His infinitely acceptable offering, took the veil and went in, leaving the veil drawn aside, and the way in open for everyone who would come to God by Him. That High Priest went in, and never came out again, and never closed the veil behind Him, and never will. There it stands today just as He left it, thrust right back; and there He stands today, just as He took His stand when He entered, as sacrifice and priest, the Holy Place. And there the open way is, just as He made it; and by that way we have freedom and boldness of access to God.
Cf. (Ephesians 3:11-12) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: {12} In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
As Matthew Henry said…
The veil in the tabernacle and temple signified the body of Christ; when he died, the veil of the temple was rent in sunder, and this was at the time of the evening sacrifice, and gave the people a surprising view into the holy of holies, which they never had before. Our way to heaven is by a crucified Saviour; his death is to us the way of life.
Cf. (Ephesians 2:14-16) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; {15} Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Considering that the veil signified His body, it adds meaning to Jesus’ statement to Thomas…
(John 20:27) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
The wounds had remained open just as our means of access to God was now open!
B. We Are Assured Of Our Expectations (10:22-25)
Having magnified our access to God through Christ, the writer then, as Matthew Henry reminds us, “proceeds to show the Hebrews the duties binding upon them on account of these privileges, which were conferred in such an extraordinary way.”
1. We Are Expected To Grow In Our Faith
(Hebrews 10:22-23) 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. {23} Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
William Hendricksen and Simon Kistemaker tell us, “The triad faith, hope, and love stands out clearly in verses 22,23, and 24.” (New Testament Commentary – Baker)
Herschel Hobbs agrees that it is “faith in the efficacy of Christ (vs. 22), hope in the faithfulness of God (vs. 23), and love for the brethren who have been hallowed by the Holy Spirit (vs. 24).”
Jerry Vines said that verse 22…
Reminds us of what a priest had to do before he went into presence of God (Leviticus 16). The blood of the sacrificial animal had to be sprinkled on him, and he had to stop by a laver that was filled with water and wash himself. Those rituals represented the fact that in order to come into the presence of God, you have to be sprinkled with blood and your body has to be washed with pure water.
As Hendricksen and Kistemaker state…
That blood sets the believer free. He now may freely approach the throne of grace because his conscience is clear. In faith he has claimed for himself forgiveness of sin through Christ. He knows that Christ has removed forever the guilt that hindered him from coming to God.
The “bodies washed with pure water” seems to be an allusion to the fact that…
Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:25-26)
The “profession of our faith” in verse 23 could also be rendered the “confession of our hope.” So not only are we to be coming closer to God because He has forgiven us in verse 22, but we should be consistently confessing God because He is faithful in verse 23.
2. We Are Expected To Grow In Our Fellowship
(Hebrews 10:24-25) 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.
We are expected to grow in our fellowship by encouraging one another in our Christian works in verse 24 and in our corporate worship in verse 25.
Warren Wiersbe wrote that…
Fellowship with God must never become selfish. We must also fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly. Apparently, some of the wavering believers had been absenting themselves from the church fellowship. It is interesting to note that the emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly.
Rev. Robert Tuck stated…
As members of Christian communities our fellow-members have claims upon us, and we have claims upon them. All human relationships involve mutual responsibilities. God purposes to carry on His redeeming and sanctifying work in small circles by the piety, the gracious words, and hallowing influence of individuals, and in larger circles by the piety, devotion, zeal, and aggressive activity of Churches. (The Preacher’s Homiletic Commentary)
It was A. T. Robertson who said of the phrase “as the manner of some is” that “already some Christians had formed the habit of not attending public worship, a perilous habit then and now.”
II. We Can Be Confident In The Admonition
(Hebrews 10:26–29)
A. Notice The Debatable Aspect Of This Warning
In considering this section of the passage, I think George Henderson said it best when he said, “Like Hebrews 6:4-8, the passage now before us is confessedly a difficult one. Where there is so much difference of opinion, one can only very humbly declare one’s conviction as to what it means.”
My conviction is that like the warnings of chapters 3 and 6, this too speaks to believers who come to the point of despising God’s instruction. The Jewish New Testament Commentary says that “these verses recapitulate, in even stronger language, the exhortation of 6:4-8, with emphasis on fearing God.”
I agree with Warren Wiersbe who said of this section that…
It is written to believers and follows in sequence with the other exhortations. The believer who begins to drift from the Word (Hebrews 2:1-4) will soon start to doubt the Word (Hebrews 3:7-4:13). Soon, he will become dull toward the Word (Hebrews 5:11-6:20) and become “lazy” in his spiritual life. This will result in despising the Word, which is the theme of this exhortation.
B. Notice The Dangerous Aspect Of This Warning (10:26- 31)
1. There Is The Mention Of Rebellious Iniquity
(Hebrews 10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
We were told in verse 23 to “hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (hesitation or drawing back or turning away), but the antithesis of this is seen in the willful sin of verse 26. The rebellious iniquity here hearkens back to Numbers 15:30 where it speaks of those who act “presumptuously” or defiantly towards God and His word.
(Numbers 15:30-31) But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
{31} Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
According to the Keil and Delitzsch Commentary, something done “presumptuously” indicates that they “committed a sin ‘with a high hand,’ so that he raised his hand, as it were, against Jehovah, or acted in open rebellion against Him – blasphemed God.”
The IVP Bible Background Commentary says of Numbers 15:31 that…
The sentence “to be cut off from his people,” implies punishment by both human and divine agencies – perhaps capital punishment by the authorities and extinction of his family line by God.
Concerning this statement: “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” Jerry Vines said…
If you reject the power of the cross in your daily life, there is nothing else God can do to help you overcome sin. … Jesus is not going to die on the cross again when you sin.
2. There Is The Mention Of Real Indignation
(Hebrews 10:27-31) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. {28} He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: {29} Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? {30} For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. {31} It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
III. We Can Be Confident In The Afflictions
(Hebrews 10:32–36)
A. In The Midst Of Affliction, We Should Be Remembering The Past (10:32-34)
1. Remember The Conflict That You Have Endured – The Miseries Of The Past
(Hebrews 10:32-33) But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; {33} Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Adam Clarke wrote…
[But call to remembrance] It appears from this, and indeed from some parts of the Gospel history, that the first believers in Judea were greatly persecuted; our Lord’s crucifixion, Stephen’s martyrdom, the persecution that arose after the death of Stephen, Acts 8:1, Herod’s persecution, Acts 12:1, in which James was killed, and the various persecutions of Paul, sufficiently show that this disposition was predominant among that bad people.
2. Remember The Compassion That You Have Exhibited –
The Ministry Of The Past
(Hebrews 10:33-34) Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. {34} For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
B. In The Midst Of Affliction, We Should Be Resolved In Our Patience (10:35-36)
1. Let Us Remain Courageous
(Hebrews 10:35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
Confidence - teen - parreesian. Render it: “boldness.” The boldness and courage which you manifested under persecution. (From Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament)
Oswald Chambers said, “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”
2. Let Us Remain Constant
(Hebrews 10:36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
patience – Greek NT:5281. hupomonees; steadfastness, constancy, endurance; in the N. T. the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
Conclusion
In the little book “Tad and His Father,” by F. Lauriston Bullard, the story is told the following story.
On a day in the late summer of 1862, the President of the United States and his Cabinet were in conference in a large room upon the second floor of the White House in Washington. A commotion was heard in the hall outside, and blows resounded upon the door. There were three sharp raps, followed by two slow thumps. In that order the blows were repeated over and over. “Now I wonder what Tadpole wants,” said the President. “You see, that’s the code I taught him yesterday, three short and two long, this way,“ and he drummed the signal upon the Cabinet table
“Tad learned it over in the telegraph office. It’s a sort of bribe to prevent him breaking in on us without warning. I’ve got to let him in, you see, because I promised never to go back on the code.” But the applicant was getting impatient, and as the President strode towards the door, with the Cabinet looking on curiously, it flew open, and in rushed a small boy, who plunged straight into his father’s arms. A jolly, round-faced lad he was, cheeks glowing, gray eyes flashing, dark hair flying. Words were getting into each other’s way as they tumbled out of his mouth, and a slight defect in his utterance made it still harder to understand him. In his excitement he seemed to explode just like a bombshell, and he shattered the solemnity of the Cabinet meeting quite as effectually as a shell might have done.
The President sat down again and took the boy on his knees. A marvelous change transformed his face. The eyes were radiant, the wrinkles were smoothed out, and a tender smile effaced every vestige of melancholy. It was the look which his friends always remembered affectionately, but which no artist ever was able to record. “Now, Tad, tell us all about it,” he said, speaking very slowly.
Tad, sizzling with excitement, jerked out his story, much as the sparks sputter from a burning fuse. “Papa day, isn’t the kitchen ours, and can’t I feed some boys if I want to? There’s a lot of ‘em downstairs, and they’re all my friends, and two of ‘em have got a papa in the army. We’re all hungry as bears, and I won’t eat if they can’t. And Peter won’t let us in, and mama is away, and isn’t it our kitchen? I want Peter to get out the meat and pies and things he had left yesterday, and he called my friends street boys, too. Can’t I give them some dinner? Because it’s our kitchen, isn’t it? And please make Peter mind me.”
“How many boys are there, Taddie?”
“Why, there’s the two soldier boys, and Perry Kelly, and Bobby Grover, and two more, and me; that makes seven. We’re terrible hungry: please, papa day.”
With a droll smile, the President wrote a line and signed it, remarking that he reckoned Peter would come to time now.” This ‘order’ he delivered into the brown hands of the eager boy.
An hour later, the others having gone their several ways, the President walked across with Stanton from the White House to the big building which housed the War Department. As they left the mansion, they caught sight of a group of boys sitting on a flight of steps at the rear. They had been having a feast, and Tad, nutcracker in hand, was distributing the final course. Perry Kelly, who was about Tad’s own age, was the son of a Pennsylvania Avenue tinsmith. Bobby Grover’s father was the manager of the National Theatre, usually called Grover’s, to which the President went more frequently, perhaps, than to the better-known playhouse conducted by John T. Ford. Charlie Forbes, the big Irish footman, happened to be passing, and he stopped to look on for a moment, only to have his hands filled with nuts by the generous master of ceremonies.
The Secretary and the President regarded the scene as they crossed the lawn, and Lincoln remarked humorously: “’Oil’s well that ends well’, as my friend Nasby says. I reckon the kitchen’s ours.”
Just as young Tad had access to his father, we have access to our Heavenly Father. And just as Tad’s friends had access to the resources of the father through Tad, we have access to the Father’s resources through Christ.
In light of this… (Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(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.
Amen!