It DOES Matter What You Believe
From "The Pastor's Pen" in the April 2007 Voice of the Valley, the monthly newsletter of Valley Bible Church, by the Reverend Frank C. Emrich. Re-posted here with permission.
~ ~ ~
Some of the most encouraging words in all of Scripture are these:
Please notice that based on the priestly work of Christ that gives us confidence and encouragement to enter the heavenly Most Holy Place, the writer exhorts us to do three things: (1) draw near to God; (2) hold fast the confession of our hope; and (3) consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. The second and third exhortations naturally flow out of the first - drawing near to God.
First, the writer says we should act on this confidence and encouragement we have - we should draw near to God in worship. In addition, he says we should draw near in a particular kind of way - with a sincere (literally "true") heart and in full assurance of faith. We are qualified both internally and externally - we are qualified in every way - to draw near to God based on the work of Christ.
Second, we are to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering." God has promised an eternal inheritance in His presence, and He is faithful to give that which He promised. We therefore have every reason to hold onto this forward-looking hope "without wavering" - without being shaken loose from faith by temporal circumstances.
Third, we are to "consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds." How is someone so stimulated? By, um, love and good deeds. We, 0urselves, are stimulated to recuprication by the caring service God has shown us. As we love others and show them God's love through our actions, they are stimulated.
There is a tendency not to do this, of course. To move away from people in general, not toward them. So we are told not to forsake (our own assembling together, as is the habit of some."
What keeps us away? What keeps us from "assembling together," moving toward other followers of Christ in various kinds of groups and relationships? Whatever our excuses, they are often just a front for a refusal to invest our lives in people that is borne out of fear - that our needs won't be met, of rejection, of failure, of giving up valuable time. Whatever the reason, we should beware that staying away can be habitual; the writer says it is the "habit" of some.
The purpose given for assembling together is that we might "encourage one another." The encouragement is mutual. We encourage, ad we get encouraged. The result of such encouragement is the stimulation of one another to love and good deeds. We should encourage each other "all the more, as you see the day drawing near." That is the Day of the LORD, when Christ returns. Encouragement is especially imprtant in light of Christ's coming, because on that day what will be important is people - those we have encouraged, and those who have encouraged us.
The second and third commands, to hold fast the confession of our hope and to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, then, are based on the first command: to draw near to God, which is itself made possible and encouraged by thre priestly work of Christ.
The writer pulls out all stops to get us close to God. He goes to great lengths to show us that the way is clear and that God is calling. If He has cleared the way, the only thing preventing us from drawing near is our own wrong beliefs. Have we kept ourselves distant from God in fear? Have we presented to Him a false self? Have we tried to pump ourselves up for Him? Have we settled for something other than nearness to God? Have we settled for lesser joys and pleasures?
We may not know what keeps us distant from God, or why there seems to be a wall between Him and us. There is a certain mystery to intimacy with God. Why it is we have it, why it is we don't have it - who's to say? But it's worth pursuing. It's worth praying and studying and scratching and clawing for it.
The pslamist says:
The writer of Hebrews answers that question for us. When? NOW! Now and any time, draw near. This is living - drawing near to God, holding onto hope, involvement with others that motivates them to move out in love and good deeds.
~ ~ ~
Some of the most encouraging words in all of Scripture are these:
9 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Please notice that based on the priestly work of Christ that gives us confidence and encouragement to enter the heavenly Most Holy Place, the writer exhorts us to do three things: (1) draw near to God; (2) hold fast the confession of our hope; and (3) consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. The second and third exhortations naturally flow out of the first - drawing near to God.
First, the writer says we should act on this confidence and encouragement we have - we should draw near to God in worship. In addition, he says we should draw near in a particular kind of way - with a sincere (literally "true") heart and in full assurance of faith. We are qualified both internally and externally - we are qualified in every way - to draw near to God based on the work of Christ.
Second, we are to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering." God has promised an eternal inheritance in His presence, and He is faithful to give that which He promised. We therefore have every reason to hold onto this forward-looking hope "without wavering" - without being shaken loose from faith by temporal circumstances.
Third, we are to "consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds." How is someone so stimulated? By, um, love and good deeds. We, 0urselves, are stimulated to recuprication by the caring service God has shown us. As we love others and show them God's love through our actions, they are stimulated.
There is a tendency not to do this, of course. To move away from people in general, not toward them. So we are told not to forsake (our own assembling together, as is the habit of some."
What keeps us away? What keeps us from "assembling together," moving toward other followers of Christ in various kinds of groups and relationships? Whatever our excuses, they are often just a front for a refusal to invest our lives in people that is borne out of fear - that our needs won't be met, of rejection, of failure, of giving up valuable time. Whatever the reason, we should beware that staying away can be habitual; the writer says it is the "habit" of some.
The purpose given for assembling together is that we might "encourage one another." The encouragement is mutual. We encourage, ad we get encouraged. The result of such encouragement is the stimulation of one another to love and good deeds. We should encourage each other "all the more, as you see the day drawing near." That is the Day of the LORD, when Christ returns. Encouragement is especially imprtant in light of Christ's coming, because on that day what will be important is people - those we have encouraged, and those who have encouraged us.
The second and third commands, to hold fast the confession of our hope and to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, then, are based on the first command: to draw near to God, which is itself made possible and encouraged by thre priestly work of Christ.
The writer pulls out all stops to get us close to God. He goes to great lengths to show us that the way is clear and that God is calling. If He has cleared the way, the only thing preventing us from drawing near is our own wrong beliefs. Have we kept ourselves distant from God in fear? Have we presented to Him a false self? Have we tried to pump ourselves up for Him? Have we settled for something other than nearness to God? Have we settled for lesser joys and pleasures?
We may not know what keeps us distant from God, or why there seems to be a wall between Him and us. There is a certain mystery to intimacy with God. Why it is we have it, why it is we don't have it - who's to say? But it's worth pursuing. It's worth praying and studying and scratching and clawing for it.
The pslamist says:
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?
The writer of Hebrews answers that question for us. When? NOW! Now and any time, draw near. This is living - drawing near to God, holding onto hope, involvement with others that motivates them to move out in love and good deeds.
posted by JASmius at 3:40 PM
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