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The Dead Speak?

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Seems like a strange thing to suggest, but that is precisely what the author of Hebrews says in Hebrews 11:4 (our text for 3/25/12) regarding Abel.  The text says: “…And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”  What does this mean?

Well, we know from the Genesis 4:3-5 passage that after Cain murdered Abel his blood cried out from the ground.  This was reflected in this painting by William Blake entitled The Murder of Abel:

In the Genesis passage, what seems to speak through Abel’s death is his blood.  His blood is kind of crying out from the ground condemning Cain.  So, in Blake’s painting, Cain is running away with his ears covered.

But, in Hebrews 11:4, something else is speaking: Abel’s faith.  It was “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.  And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”  The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still (said Luther).  Even though Abel was slain, his faith stood firm and continued to speak.

What does your faith speak?  Does your faith reflect a heart of worship to God?  Is God commending your faith because of how you relate to Him?  These are some of the themes we will look at this coming Lord’s Day.  Join us.

Faith…

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My AM sermon today will be on Hebrews 11:1-2, describing what faith is.  Here’s a longer definition from Phil Hughes on what v.1 is driving at and I’ve added space for emphasis…

[Faith is a] conviction
     that is not a static emotion of complacency
     but something lively and active,
not just a state of immovable dogmatism
    but of vital certainty
which impels the believer to stretch out his hand, as it were
     and lay hold of those realities on which his hope is fixed
     and which, though unseen, are already his in Christ.

Hoping to hold out this kind of faith today…

Weekend Preview – Faith Defined

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This coming Lord’s Day, we finally get to Hebrews 11, specifically vv.1-2.  In this opening statement, we have faith defined with terms like assurance and confidence.  Often, people think that Christianity is some blind leap into the dark.  But, the Bible paints faith in entirely different concepts.  Faith is, actually, centered and fully reliant on the reality that is ours in Christ.

Looking forward to this Lord’s Day as we revel in these and other truths.

What Drove Those People?

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In Hebrews 10:32-35, we read of a people who endured suffering “sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.”  These people “joyfully accepted the plundering of their property” since they knew that they themselves “had a better possession and an abiding one.”  That was their secret.  Or, as F.F. Bruce put it on p.271 of his commentary on Hebrews:  

“The eternal inheritance laid up for them was so real in their eyes that they could lightheartedly bid farewell to natural possessions, which were short-lived in any case.”  

Today, we live in a day and age in which even Christianity is sometimes overly caught up in property and possessions.  Maybe this is true because we are much more wrapped up in the stuff of here and now and not in believing that we have a better possession that will abide forever.  This Sunday, join us as we look at this amazing passage and what drove these people to endure such suffering.  

Some of the most difficult verses in the Bible…

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…will be the text for my sermon this Sunday, February 19th.  Hebrews 10:26-31 is the text in question.  I can’t think of a better way to prepare you than to merely copy the verses here and encourage you to prayerfully consider its truth, as you ask the Spirit for wisdom.  And, while you’re at it, pray for me.

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that willconsume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved bythe one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said,“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Our Hope and Assurance

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This coming Lord’s Day, we will be looking at the vision of a healthy church from Hebrews 10:23-25.  v.23 urges us to hold on to our confession of Jesus for one big reason: The One who promised is faithful.

Writing on this, Ligon Duncan tells Christians to realize the brilliance of this: “You are a Christian.  You are struggling with assurance.  A dear friend and Christian comes to you to encourage you by turning you to the promises in the Word made to you.  You say back to him, “Well, you see, that’s my problem.  I am having a hard time believing that God could be so good to make those promises to me.”  The author of Hebrews has already figured you out.  He is saying, “Your confidence is not based ultimately on the promises that God has made to you, but the promises that God has made to Christ.  Do you doubt them?  Do you doubt the promises that God the Father has made to His Son?  When God the Father promised to make Him a priest according to the order of Melchizedek forever and when God the Father promised His Son that He would give you into His hands, do you doubt that promise?  You see, it is easy sometimes to doubt that God might be faithful to us.  That is because our lack of faith.  But you know, even when we are struggling with our own faith, we know enough about God to know that He is not going to break a promise to His Son.”

Hope to see you this Sunday as we think about this faithful, promise-keeping God and the calling He’s placed on our lives.

Weekend Preview – Hebrews 10:19-22

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After being out of the pulpit last Sunday (but still being well served here at Crestview) we are back this Sunday and given some measure of application.  From 1:1-10:18, the writer of Hebrews has been on a campaign to help root and ground us in the superiority of Christ, who He is and what He’s done.  Now, in Hebrews 10:19-22, our text for this coming, we will be reminded of these things again, but be pointed to application, specifically that we can come near to God Himself.  Therefore, plan to join us as we corporately draw near and hear of His amazing work for us.

Holiness Is Possible, Really!

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This coming Lord’s Day, Lord willing of course, my Sunday AM sermon will be on Hebrews 10:1-10. I’ve entitled the message Holiness Is Possible. Seems like many think of holiness or sanctification as an elusive thing.  It’s more like a goal, but something that we don’t know a real experience of.  But, in this text of Scripture, we are told that we can have real hope for being holy and approaching a holy God because of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  The old covenant spoke of limitations, but the good news is that we can be near God through Jesus.  I hope you come ready to praise God for the joy and holiness that is yours in Christ.

Weekend Preview – Affliction and God’s Word

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This coming Lord’s day, we hope to be back in Psalm 34 to be shaped again to be a people of God’s Word.  I was asked by someone yesterday how Psalm 34 relates to the Word.  So, here’s my attempt at whetting your appetite:

In vv.1-3, we are told that the humble hear and are glad.  What does afflicted or humble people here that gives them joy in the midst of their affliction?  Well, on one level, we have to say that it is God’s Word.

In vv.4-10, we are told to taste and see that God is good.  Where do we do this?  How do we know God is good?  By simply looking at creation’s marvel?  Yes, but we don’t stop there.  It is in His Word that we know God is for us and not against us.  We need the special revelation that comes from savoring Him in His Word.

Finally in vv.11-22, we are told to come and listen to learn the fear of the Lord.  What are we listening to?   The Word of God.

Quite simply, God’s Word is what we need to hear and as we do, we’ll be equipped for affliction when it comes (and it will).  My hope this coming Lord’s Day is to encourage you to go after God in His Word.  Hope to see you there.