HEBREWS 10:32-39 HOWARD BUCK JUNE 29, 2014

Hebrews 10: But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. 38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE THEME OF TODAY’S STUDY IS?... FAITH

We launch a discussion of faith here that continues through all of chapter 11 To finish out the book we have:  Chapter 11 = The Faith Chapter  Chapter 12 = The Hope Chapter  Chapter 13 = The Love Chapter

Interestingly, MacArthur believes the audience here are “near believing Jews” I can’t get that from the reading of the scripture It looks like we are addressing believers So I checked 10 other well known commentaries, they also state that we are addressing believers.. With that in mind:

32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, The key to whom the author is writing is in the word “enlightened” Informed, instructed, edified, educated, told, clarified, explain to, made clear to (Believers???) But, what is the exciting point of his comment here?... THEY ENDURED!!!!!

These are not new converts, not waffling possible converts, these people are experienced, tried and true believers whose faith was severely tested and they ENDURED the test!! Remember, in the last section our author was issuing stern warnings ending with verse 31: It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God Now, this section is one of encouragement!!

33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. Now we get a better idea of what the sufferings were NIV: Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. They were publicly insulted/persecuted And, they stood up for their fellow believers when they were persecuted..

34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. In the day, those that helped prisoners became publically connected to the prisoners, they became like them (probably a source of the public insults) The property seizure seems to be one born of violence most probably hateful mobs throwing them in the streets The key is, how did they accept the loss of their possessions?...

Joyfully WHY?... Because: knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one What is the better possession?... It could be eternal life in Christ, or the result of that eternal life meaning eternity with God or even possibly the promise of a heavenly home that will be theirs – ours

. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Another encouragement here You have endured trials, lost your property but stood firm in your faith so don’t back down now! I think this has to do with the potential influence of those in their company that were non-believers and the group convinced but not yet convicted It’s a warning to continue to stand firm in their faith and not be influenced by these others

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Tying in with what he just said – stand firm, here is the reason why: WE MUST ENDURE THIS WORLD until our WORK FOR THE LORD is finished and God takes us home!!!! How cool is the: when you have done the will of God Note, we are not working FOR our salvation but BECAUSE of our salvation!!!

Let me ask a question. If you will live “until you have done the will of God” or basically, until you have finished working for God, what are your plans for next week?... Joshua 24:15 …but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. (Verses 10:37-38 = Isa 26:20 Hab. 2:3-4) In the OT meaning, the Jews were being encouraged to be patient and in faith wait for God to free them from the Chaldeans Here the author likens the verse to the return of Christ The encouragement = He is coming and will not delay Remember the return is in HIS timing not ours..

38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM This is one of those verses Watch: Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Here Paul is concerned on how the man who is righteous by faith should live but:

our author makes a different emphasis He is more concerned about our holding fast to our faith in the face of temptations and of the persecutions he referred to in In essence, don’t shrink away from your faith STAND STRONG IN YOUR FAITH If you do shrink away, you will displease/disappoint God..

First the warning in verse 38: AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM Here is the closing and most encouraging words, of the encouraging words 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. Notice who is included with the readers?... The author!!!

Don’t shrink, it angers God So, what is the alternative?... PRESS FORWARD IN FAITH!!! What happens if we draw back?... shrink back to destruction Literally we will be destroyed Rather….

…but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. We, through faith will be preserved We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and based on that faith and His work on the cross, we will be preserved for all of eternity..

The bridge between: FAITH Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Starting with our verses, 10:32-39 the author introduces the concept of faith. He uses their faith to encourage them. They survived trials, stood strong by others, did His work with prisoners and were not those that would shrink back

Faith: n.noun Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance. keeping faith with one's supporters. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will. The body of dogma of a religion. A set of principles or beliefs..

Definition of Faith: When the Bible speaks of faith, it is not referring to the make-believe faith that is used to create the axioms (beginning assumptions) of science or the various philosophies and religions of the current evil age. Faith is belief and trust, supernatural belief and trust, that is always based in the reality of a real-time, ongoing, powerful, interactive, relationship with the Almighty Creator of the Universe. Continued..

God speaks, and faith comes. Faith is the belief and trust of God as opposed to human belief and trust. Through it, we are able to believe and trust God rather than Satan. This is not a false dichotomy, because, in the final analysis, these are the only two sources of every thought, word, and deed. Whatever is not of the faith of God is of Satan, and whatever is not of Satan is of God (Seekfind.net)

Hebrews 11:1 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This is God’s definition of FAITH which serves as the introduction to what we titled as “The Faith Chapter” Coming in two weeks presented by the one and only Q