Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
HEBREWS
Chapter 13
Hebrews 13:1-19
FAITH IN PRACTICE
NOTE: Hebrews 11 = Examples of Faith for our instruction
Hebrews 12 = Encouragement to Faith through God's loving discipline
Hebrews 13 = Evidences of Faith by practice; thirteen listed below
1. Love the brethren - v. 1 -> cf. 1 John 3:14; Rom 12:10; 1 Thes 4:9-10; 1 Peter 1:22
NOTE: “A church fellowship based on anything other than love for Christ and one another simply will not last.”
2. Be hospitable - v. 2 -> cf. Rom 12:13
* “angels unawares” = Abraham; Gideon
3. Be concerned for brethren in afflictions - v. 3
4. Marry in the will of God = based on committment as well as love (the two go together)
*The proper use of sex
*Whoremongers = fornicators = committed by unmarried persons
*Adultery = committed by married persons
*Judged
- Personally -> cf. Rom 1:24-27; Rev 21:8
- Through others -> cf. David, 2 Sam 12:7-14
5. Have a right relationship with material things - v. 5
- “covetousness” = idolatry - cf. Col 3:5
- “covetousness" = the desire for more whether we need it or not
- contentment = absolute trust in God for all and with all
NOTE: Comment from behind the Iron Curtain by a believer from a group who were told Christians in America were praying for them - “We are happy for that, but we feel that Christians in America need more prayer than we do. We here in Eastern Europe are suffering, but you in America are very comfortable; and it is always harder to be a good Christian when you are comfortable.”
*We might lose all our goods, but God will meet our needs - v. 6 -> Cf. Mat 6:33
6. Follow the faith of leaders who set good examples - v. 7
a. Known by the word of God they preach
b. Known by the fact their behavior glorifies Christ
Jesus is the goal of true faith, not only for leaders, but for all - v. 8
*He is the One to follow, not those who preach His word -> cf. 1 Cor 11:1
7. Do not get involved with teachings that contradict what you know to be true - v. 9
a. “Divers” = various in character; not consistent
b. “Strange” = foreign
c. Grace, not ceremonies and rules, is what establishes the heart -> cf. Col 2:16-23
d. LEARN AND KNOW THE WORD OF GOD
e. CHRIST MUST BE PREEMMINENT
8. Participate in spiritual worship - v. 10
NOTE: For each of the OT believer's temporary earthly items, the Christian has a heavenly, eternal counterpart.
a. Altar = Jesus Christ
b. Temple = heavenly sanctuary
c. Jerusalem = eternal city, New Jerusalem
*It is failure to know, remember, and submit to God's word that causes believers to be discouraged in time of trouble.
NOTE 2: Spiritual worship comes from the heart but involves the whole being, body, soul, and spirit.
9. Bear the reproach (rejection) with Him - v. 13
*Identify fully with Him. DO NOT COMPROMISE!
10. Remember, this is not our home - v. 14
11. Offer spiritual sacrifices - vv. 15-16
NOTE: Spiritual sacrifices are those which come from the heart, but do not exclude material things -> cf. Rom 12:1; Phil 4:18
a. Continual praise to God with thanksgiving, rather than complaining
b. Do good works
c. Share material wealth
12. Submit to spiritual leadership - v. 17
NOTE: “When a servant of God is in the will of God, teaching the word of God, the people of God should submit and obey.”
a. Not dictatorial rule
b. Genuine concern for the souls of the flock of God
c. Who must give account of the response of those under their charge
13. Pray - vv. 18-19
Hebrews 13:20-25
TRUE FAITH AND SPIRITUAL LORDSHIP
NOTE: Lordship = total control
A. Consider the One who is and wants to be LORD
1. The GOOD Shepherd, who died for the sheep -> cf. John 10:11
a. According to God's eternal purpose -> cf. Acts 2:23
b. Willingly -> cf. John 10:18; the garden prayer
c. Establishing the basis for the everlasting covenant
(1) A part of God's eternal plan
(2) Guaranteeing eternal life(Heb 12:12-13)
2. The GREAT Shepherd, who lives for the sheep -> cf. Heb 7:25
3. The CHIEF Shepherd, who is coming for the sheep -> cf. 1 Peter 5:4
4. He loves and cares for His own in the past, present, and future -> cf. Heb 13:8
B. Consider the outcome of His being LORD
1. Good works, which are ordained in salvation -> cf. Eph 2:10
2. His will, which is good, acceptable, perfect (complete) -> cf. Rom 12:2
3. Pleasing to God, to which He responds -> cf. 1 John 3:22
4. Spiritual perfection, complete maturity, the fullness of the stature of Christ, to be fully reached at His return -> cf. 1 John 2:28-3:3
NOTE: “Perfect” = Gk. “katartidzo” = “to repair or adjust” “set a broken bone”; “mend a broken net”; “outfit a ship for a voyage”; “equip an army for battle”
C. Consider how this is done
1. God working in you -> cf. Phil 2:12-13
2. Through Jesus Christ -> cf. Col 1:27
3. Through the Word -> cf. 2 Tim 3:16-17
4. Through prayer -> cf. 1 Thes 3:10
5. Through local church fellowship -> cf. Eph 4:11-12
6. Through individual believers -> cf. Gal 6:1
7. Through afflictions (discipline) - cf. 1 Peter 5:10
Conclusion
A. “Few words” = exactly to the point, absolute truth
B. Receive and respond - cf. 1 Thes 2:13
C. Make vv. 20-21 a daily prayer
D. “Grace be with you all”, without which none of this can or will be done in you