Jesus: The JOY of Fellowship

1 John 1:1-4

SUBJECT:  FELLOWSHIP/ INTIMACY

THEME: John gives an absolutely sure testimony of the Reality of Jesus Christ the Son of God.   Then He invites us to join him in fellowship with the Living Word.  Our fellowship with Him today should be as real as it was for the Apostle John 2000 years ago.

INTRODUCTION: Is Jesus Christ really who he said he is? Some have said He was, “a good man . . . yes . . . perhaps one of the best who ever lived . . . but just a man.”  Others disagree claiming that he suffered from delusions of grandeur-----a “messiah complex.”  And the argument continues to rage over Jesus’ true identity.   Whoever he was, they all agree that Jesus left his mark on history(Wierse).

  Hearing these discussions could cause even Christians to wonder and doubt.  Is Jesus really God?  Did he come to save sinners like us?  Was His death of any Atoning value?  What, if anything, does He expect of me?

1.  The Question of Jesus’ Identity Was a Topic of Discussion Even in Our Lord’s Day.   

Matt 16:13-16, When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.   15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?   16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

2.  The Questions of Knowing Jesus Today. The appropriate Questions today are, “Who do you say Jesus is” and “Do you know him with an intimate knowledge?”  “Is he as real to you today as he was to John almost 2000 years ago?”

      A.  John Claimed That He Was Currently Enjoying Intimate Fellowship With Christ Even After Our Lord’s Ascension. 1 Jn 1:3,   That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

There is nothing like the testimony of an Eye Witness.  There is nothing more valuable to a court case then an Eyewitness.  A conviction is almost certain in such cases.

John the Beloved here is an Eye Witness of the Person and Ministry of Jesus Christ. John is a Witness to the personal benefits of fellowship with Christ.  John was perhaps the closest disciple of Jesus Christ and his testimony is of Great Significance, value, and interest to us as believers today.

Is he as real to you today as he was to John almost 2000 years ago?  Are you enjoying fellowship with the Son of God?  Do we really understand the implications of the truth?

       B.  The Apostle Paul’s Life Was a Glorious Quest Of Acquiring the Treasured Knowledge of and Enjoying Precious Fellowship With Jesus Christ.  Phil 3:10, That I may know (complete knowledge) him, and the power of his resurrection, (Experiencing Christ) and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 Do we really know him?  Will we ever move beyond knowing about him in our orthodox doctrine to actually knowing him intimately and experientially? Today we know the faith, the fundamentals, but do we know our lord?

1.  This is the reason why we do not know the will of God for our lives and ministries, but when we engage in fellowship with our Lord He will share this insight with us.

2.  This is the reason why we walk in fear, defeat, sin, turmoil, anxiety, powerlessness, insecurity, purposelessness, and confusion!  We have no Peace, No Joy, No Faith, No Sense of Security, No Direction, No Confidence, and No Love because we do not KNOW HIM. When Jesus becomes a reality to us these problems I have mentioned will soon be dwarfed by His Presence, Power, and Splendor!

ILLUSTRATION: Acts 4:13, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.  So it is with all who have actually been with Jesus!  We desperately MUST see our gross NEED to get back to Him!  These men knew God’s purpose for their lives because they were intimate with Him!

MESSAGE:

I.  THE FOUNDATION OF FELLOWSHIP.  (VS 1-2)

Jesus Christ Is the Foundation of Our Fellowship with God!   By Foundation, I mean that Christ is absolutely essential and central to our sharing together with God and our knowledge of God.  Without Him real Fellowship with God is impossible!

        A.   THE GLORIOUS FACT: JESUS HAS ALWAYS EXISTED; HE IS THE ETERNAL GOD OF HEAVEN.  Vs. 1, “That which was from the beginning”

John 1:1-2, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2, The same was in the beginning with God.

Rev 1:8, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.  (Also 1Tim 3:16)

Fellowship with God is only possible because God made it possible, this evidences His grace and His desire for our fellowship.

ILLUSTRATION: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  God created man for fellowship.  This is the principal reason for our creation!

        B.    THE GLORIOUS PROOF:   JESUS CHRIST IS GOD INCARNATED; JOHN HEARD, SAW, LOOKED UPON, AND HANDLED HIM—HE IS REAL!  Vs 1,  “. . .which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled”

John 1:14,   And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

               1)   John Heard Him Who is Life.  He Spoke, Preached, Comforted ect.

               2)   John Saw Him Who is Life.

               3)  John Looked Upon Him Who is Life. ‘Looked upon’ means to study and gaze to grasp the meaning and significance of Christ.

               4)  John Handled Him Who is Life. ‘Handled’ means to hold something for the purpose of close examination.

John made a complete and thorough investigation of the Person of Christ and concluded that this is indeed the Word of Life.  John used every physical and intellectual examination tool at his disposal to look deeply into the person of Jesus Christ and after his careful and penetrating exploration, he not only knew Christ intimately but he was powerfully motivated to share Him with others. He wanted others to fellowship with Christ as He did; he yearned for others to know Jesus as he did.

APPLICATION: Have we really put the time and energy into knowing Christ intimately on a daily basis? Could it be that we don’t trust Him because we don’t know Him?  Have we merely adopted conclusions and views of Him that someone else shared with us or do we really know Him for ourselves? He can be as Real to us as He was to John!

                

APPLICATION: The clear fact of it all is that Jesus Christ is God!  This is the final analysis of John’s complete investigation.  Therefore, John’s testimony of Christ is reliable. He was an Eye Witness; He had Personally Experienced Him.  We cannot know God until we know Jesus Christ and as we learn of Him we simultaneously learn of God!  Through Christ God is not some far off unconcerned being.  God can no longer be perceived as unapproachable, distant and uncaring.  He has not forgotten us and left us in our sin.  God loves and cares for us and He has proven His love by sending His precious Son into the world. This was very evident to John! Now therefore we who are saved must endeavor to know that same Christ intimately and as we do we will discover the meaning and purpose of our Christian life-INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. As a result we will discover our mission to this lost and dying world!

      C.  THE GLORIOUS REVELATION: JESUS CHRIST IS THE WORD OF LIFE   VS 1-2      Vs 1,  “. . . of the Word of  life;”

John 14:6,   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:4,   In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jesus Christ made it absolutely clear who God is and what He is like.  The Person of Jesus Christ is the literal living communication of God to man unveiling Himself to the human race.   Jesus is to God what our words are to each other.  Therefore, He is called the Word of Life.  Just think, . . . how  would you reveal yourself  if  you  were God?   Jesus Christ is the Way that God Chose to express Himself to mankind.  Christ revealed to us the Person, Mind, and Heart of God; he is the living communication between God and men.  To know Jesus Christ is to know God!  Do You Know Him?  Are You Saved? He Is Absolutely Essential And Foundational To Our Fellowship!

                  1) He ‘Manifested’ Himself; He was Revealed or Appeared!  The Eternal Invisible God was now manifested in the flesh.  Again John Knew Him Who is Real Life. Vs 2,   “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”  INCARNATION (1 Tim. 3:16)

                  2) He Identified With Man, He Gave Us The Opportunity to Know Real Life through Himself.  Jesus Christ is The Foundation of our Fellowship with God and if we know Him then we Know God.  We can enhance our fellowship with God and each other by completely embracing the Revelation of  God in Jesus Christ.

ILLUSTRATION: THE NEW HYDRAULIC TEST STANDS AT WHITEMAN AFB

When the Test Stands first arrived at the shop no one knew anything about them.  I had the opportunity to work on them, learn them, study their systems and subsystems, disassemble and reassemble them.  By time I was done working on those stands I knew them well enough to operate them with my eyes closed. I could even tell you what stage in its operation cycle it was at just by listening to it run.  I knew that piece of equipment because I carefully investigated it and spent much time learning it. 

We would know our God more intimately if we took the time to study the person of Jesus Christ.  Like John, we would conclude that He is REAL!  But not only that, I was excited about teaching and training others on that piece of equipment!

ILLUSTRATION: It is the same as reading a love note from your spouse.  You may read it several times wondering exactly what she or he really means by each phrase.  We need to be reading the Word of Life (Jesus Christ) so carefully that we literally comprehend some things about our God.

II. THE FULFILMENT OF FELLOWSHIP.  (VS 3-4)

Fellowship with God Will Bring Fulfillment and Joy.  I Jn 1:3-4, That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4, And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Many are leading very empty, meaningless and unfulfilled lives because they fail to live in fellowship with God. We must all ask ourselves a question, “What value will my life have 500 years from now?”   The emptiness or void in our lives should be filled with PURPOSE & JOY; Real Joy is a product of living in fellowship or communion with God.  This should wet our spiritual appetite for fellowship like a T-bone Steak would our physical appetite!

          A.  THE MOST GLORIOUS PURPOSE IN LIFE: FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

This is the purpose that Christ came into this world and the purpose for which John is writing to these Believers—Fellowship!  John is inviting us to enjoy and share in the deep sense of satisfaction and purpose that knowing Christ and walking with Him brings.

                    1.  FELLOWSHIP IS SHARING YOUR LIFE WITH GOD: "communion, sharing in common, to share together"; “to have in common”

BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATIONS:  1) There is the Fellowship or Communion of the Lord’s Table, (1 Cor. 10:16, 20-21). 2) There is the Fellowship, Contribution, or Sharing in the Offering for the Saints in Jerusalem, (2 Cor. 8:4; Rom. 15:26). 3) There is the Financial and Prayer Fellowship or Sharing in the Gospel in Missions Endeavors, (Phil. 1:5). 4) Then there is Fellowship or Communion with God, (1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Jn. 1:3, 6 & 7). Throughout this book fellowship refers to Sharing in Personal Knowledge of God and a heartfelt Obedience to God through Jesus Christ.

EXAMPLE; A set of Identical Twins would have much in common in their appearance. A Man will marry a Woman if they both have much in common, spiritually, intellectually, socially, and culturally. Two Young Boys will get along well and develop a deep bond if they both like fishing, hiking, camping, sports, card collecting, playing marbles, and video games—they have much in common. Their communion would be a real source of joy and fulfillment. Our lives should be an expression of our communion with God.  How much do we have in common with God? The More we have in Common with God the greater our fellowship will be!

                    2. THE PROBLEM IN OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD TODAY. The reason we have so very little JOY is because we have so little fellowship.  The reason we have so little in common with God is because we don’t know God—Ignorance, sin, error.  Therefore, our lives are not a grand expression of communion with Him.  We know something ABOUT Him, but we don’t know Him INTIMATELY nor by EXPERIENCE!  We only have a Fellowship of Knowledge, but we need a Fellowship of Experience with Him on a personal basis!  There is no wonder we have so little joy; we have ignored the source of Joy.  Jesus!

                   3. Fellowship with God is to be the goal and purpose of every Christian’s life.  Not the Ministry, not the Mission Field, not Preaching the Gospel, not Soul Winning, not Giving, not Church Attendance, not Bible Reading, not Prayer, nor Church Planting.  But fellowship with God!  But if we are in fellowship with God all these things will be a part of our fellowship experience. All these things we’ll have in common with Him! And all these things will enhance our fellowship and experiences with Him and thus bring greater fulfillment and joy to our lives. But the ORDER must be Fellowship first—Obedience—Ministry—then comes the Joy!

APPLICATION: 1. We must resolve that our fellowship with God is the MOST IMPORTANT THING! 1Jn. 1: 3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”   We are Invited to Join John as He Fellowships With God; This is still possible for us today; God wants to fellowship with YOU!

2. John Wrote That We Might Know the Joy of the Lord Through Fellowship!

Vs 4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

It is obvious here that our Joy comes from our fellowship with Christ.  The reason so many Christians claim that their Christian lives are miserable,  confused, empty, frustrating, and unhappy is because they have failed to recognize that the source of  Real Life is also the source of  Real Joy!

3. Thirdly, the reason we have no joy is because we have believed the lies and promises of Satan concerning Sin.  Sin will give some sort of gratification for a season, but it will sever your fellowship with God and thus you have no Joy!

QUOTE BY W.  W.  WIERSBE

“Once upon a time . . . .”       Remember how exciting those words use to be ?  They were the open door into an exciting world of make-believe, a dream world that helped you forget all the problems of childhood.

Then----pow!  You turned a corner one day, and “Once upon a time” became kid stuff. You discovered that life is a battleground, and fairy stories were no longer meaningful. You wanted something real.

The search for something real is not new. It has been going on since the beginning of history.  Men have looked for reality and satisfaction in wealth, thrills, conquest, adventure, power, influence, learning, and even in religion.

There is nothing really wrong with these experiences, except that by themselves they never really satisfy.  Wanting something real and finding something real are two different things.   Like a child eating cotton candy at the circus, many people who expect to bite into something real end up with a mouth full of nothing.  They waste priceless years on empty substitutes for reality.

     John had discovered that satisfying reality is not to be found in things or thrills, but in a Person—Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus Christ is a Living Reality. . . .”

Now that you and I have tried everything else in life, pursuits for money, position, power, influence, things, thrills, learning and even religion.  Why don’t we choose the one who is REAL LIFE?  There is NO satisfaction, Fulfillment or Joy outside of Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION: We as Christians Must Spend Time Getting to Know Our SAVIOR if we are going to experience fullness of Joy.  Place your Gladness in the Unchanging Hands of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Life will be miserable for the Christian that tries to live on every other HIGH while they ignore the Source of all Joy—Jesus Christ.  We need to stop looking to things and thrills and look to someone Real who can give Real Joy—Jesus Christ! We need to start digging into the inexhaustible Mine of Spiritual Wealth!  Let us make Fellowship With Christ the very purpose and priority of our lives!

          B.   THE MOST GLORIOUS REALITY IN LIFE: AN INTIMATE LIFE WITH GOD HIMSELF. The deeper our fellowship with God, the broader our ministry capacity and the greater our Joy! John is inviting us to experience God!

ILLUSTRATION: GOD WILL SHARE MORE WITH THOSE WHO ARE MORE INTIMATE WITH HIM.  John the Beloved or the Revelator illustrates this truth.   Jesus had many disciples and out of them He chose 12 to be his closest disciples.  He would teach these 12 men more than any of the others.  Jesus would use them more than any of the others.  They would live, eat, travel, pray, preach, and serve with the Lord.  From those 12 he took three (Peter, James & John) and shared more with them than the others. These would have more meaningful and significant experiences with the Lord.  They would witness the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter in Lk. 8.  They would go farther with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Mk. 14 than the others.  These three witnessed the transfiguration and saw Jesus in His Glory on the Mount. They also heard the testimony of God concerning the Sonship of Jesus Christ Mk. 9.  From these three there was one young man who was especially close to the heart of the Savior,  John the Beloved.  This is the one disciple he revealed the Betrayer Judas Isacariot to.  This is the one disciple that was not content to sit beside the Savior at the last Supper, but he wanted to lay his head on the Savior’s chest where he could hear his heartbeat.  It was John only who appeared at the foot of the Savior’s Cross while Peter followed afar off.  This disciple was the one He committed the care of His mother to in John 19.  This is the same disciple that arrived first at the Lord’s empty tomb, the first to believe in Christ’s resurrection John 20.  This disciple was the one our Lord revealed the future of Heaven and Earth to in the Revelation.  Throughout John’s Life he Grew Deeper in His fellowship with the Lord and so should we!

As a result Jesus shared more with him and used him in more significant capacities.

APPLICATION: 1. We all need to determine to go deeper in our fellowship and therefore experience more of the Joy in knowing our God Experientially and then Ministerially.

2.  Secondly, Expect God to share more direction, wisdom, power, grace, and a greater ministry with you as you draw closer to Him! Rev. 3:20, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. )  I believe that Jesus wants to share His Life and Joy with us!  I believe that Jesus is now at the door of our hearts tonight and He wants to fellowship with You.  Why not let Him in?   Some have barred the door to their hearts with Things, Thrills, Possessions, Power and Personal Ambitions. Some have locked the door with “Their Will” for their lives. Some have cemented that door closed by their refusal to see the world’s need.  As a result Jesus can not come in and share more with them; typically they have no Joy and no real significance in life!

CONCLUSION:

1. God’s Son has come to the earth, and John here gives an Eyewitness account of Him and what He made possible through His death and resurrection-----Fellowship with God!   God is not disinterested and unconcerned about this world.  He is so interested in your and my welfare that he stepped out of Heaven for a period and went to a Cross so that we could have Fellowship with Him and each other.

2. My friend God has something special that He wants to share with you.  But you must draw closer to Him if you want to know what that something is.

3. We are saved for fellowship with God, but in many cases we want to keep God out of as much of our lives as we possibly can---shame on us . . . .We are out of fellowship with God therefore we walk around empty and unfulfilled. 

4.  We run from this thrill to the next trying to get a cheap substitute for Real Life, Real Significance, and Real Joy.  Why don’t we stop looking to everything else and look to the person of Jesus Christ-- He was  real to John and He wants to be Real to us today. Make it your life’s pursuit to continually and eagerly draw closer to God!

5. Could we today convince anyone as to who Jesus really is?  Do we know Him for ourselves?  Do we know Him by experience?  Should we become intimate subjects of His?

Have we been trying to serve Him when we don’t even know Him?  Have we been trying to share with others someone we don’t know ourselves?

Is Jesus as real to you today as he was to John almost 2000 years ago?  Are you enjoying fellowship with the Son of God?  Do we really understand the implications of the truth that life can be an intimate reality with Jesus Christ our Lord?  Let me encourage you with every fiber of my soul to begin today to discover the reality of Jesus Christ on a daily basis! 

Too Sure To Quit!

Hebrews 6:9–20

Theme: God has assured us of eternal salvation! Because of this we can press on to maturity in Christ through any difficulty. If you are saved, there is no need to fear being eternally lost again.

Relevance: God sternly challenged these believers to keep maturing in the previous section.  So to avoid any misunderstandings and relieve spiritual insecurity, He sought to encourage His people by assuring them of salvation. He promised them eternal glory, a spiritual inheritance, and access to Himself.  

We also must persevere in spiritual growth. God never challenges us to grow up or you’re going to Hell! To be sure all of us at times feel we are not making the spiritual progress we should, but still we need never fear that God will finally give up on us and condemn us to Hell. Therefore God gave us several solid reasons to be assured of our salvation and glorification.  He also guarantees real access to Him through Christ’s Cross and Priesthood throughout our Christian journey. Therefore, press on to godly maturity (6:1), free of spiritual anxiety and fear, assured that God has made every possible provision for our eternity with Him.

Introduction:

Assurance of salvation means the intellectual and spiritual certainty that you have a relationship with God. You can know for sure that you currently possess eternal life—salvation.

2 Timothy 1:12, For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

1 John 5:13, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

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:

God wants us to be sure we are truly saved for many reasons. Assurance brings joy (1Jn. 1:4), confidence before God (1Jn. 3:19, 21), comfort of heart (Col. 2:2), and stability and decisiveness (Js. 1:8). Assurance enables us to overcome the world (1Jn. 5:4, 5), and to effectively serve the Lord by telling others about Jesus (Jn.  1:40, 41; 4:28, 29; Acts 16:10). 

In Hebrews assurance enables us to press on to maturity in Christ overcoming the temptations to quit or give up. In our text assurance is related to several different things: (a) it rightfully accompany our salvation (6:9), (b) our service to the Lord and others (6:10-12), and (c) God Himself guarantees our salvation to encourage us (6:13-20). 

Therefore, “let us go on unto perfection!” There are three things God assures us of in this text:

I.                    Assurance of our Salvation (6:9-12)

II.                  Assurance of our Inheritance (6:12-18)

III.               Assurance of our Access to God (6:18-20)

Message:

I.                    Be Assured of your Salvation as you Pursue Maturity (6:1, 9-12).

One Christian said to another, “You know there is nothing better than being saved.” The other gentlemen responded by saying, there is one thing better than being saved. The first brother enquires, “What could be better than being saved?” The second gentlemen said, “It is better to be saved and know you’re saved.” Assurance of salvation is certainly better. And I would add one more thing that is better yet; it is better to know you are saved, and that you can never lose it! Assurance and security are related concepts in the Christian’s experience; both concepts are taught in this passage. Assurance is confidence about your conversion because you trusted Christ and can see evidence of God’s work in your life.

a.       Press on to Maturity—Assurance through Growth (6:1).

                                                               i.      “Perfection” (Heb. 6:1) is not sinlessness or flawless living, but instead it refers to progressing in spiritual growth—growing up (Phil. 3:12-15; Col. 1:28; 4:12). God does not want us to be spiritual babies forever; He wants us to grow up.  Perfection refers to maturity.

1.       This involves growth in knowledge and grace (2Pet. 3:18)—the insight into transformed living and the power to make the changes (1Cor. 4:15-20). We are to grow up in Christ (Eph. 4:15)—He is the Source, Climate or Context, and the Aim and Goal of our spiritual growth.  Living in love toward all men is the essence of spiritual maturity (Matt. 5:43-48).  In doing so we behave like our Heavenly Father!

2.       In order to grow, we must expose ourselves often to the Word of God through our devotions, family altar, church attendance, and personal Bible study (1Pet. 2:2; 2Tim. 2:15; 3:16, 17; 1Thess. 2:13). It is good to have music, programs, fellowship in church, but we must have the Word of God taught and preached to help us grow.

3.       How To See Growth In Christ

Dr. Bonar once said that he could tell when a Christian was growing. In proportion to his growth in grace he would elevate his Master, talk less of what he himself was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own esteem, until, like the morning star, he faded away before the rising sun. —D. L. Moody

4.       You must understand the basis for assurance of salvation is the Word of God and not your feelings. Genuine Christian experience is another basis of assurance.

a.       1 John 5:11-12, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

b.       Believers must take God at His Word; believe the record!

c.       Many people struggle with a lack of assurance of salvation because they depend more on their feelings than the Word of God. The problem is feelings change. One day we feel saved, and another day because of circumstances, we don’t feel saved.

d.       You have something more than feelings to go by.  You have the unchanging promises of the Word of God (John 3:14-18; Acts 16:30-34).

                                                             ii.      “Perfection” also anticipates spiritual glorification (Rom. 8:28-30; Phil. 3:20, 21; 1Cor. 15:51-58).

                                                           iii.      Beware of the possibility of falling away (Heb. 6:6). Since there are various degrees of “falling away” believers need to beware. There are many who once were faithful and committed but today they are out of fellowship with God, out of church, and out of His will, enduring the chastening of our Heavenly Father.

b.      Press on with your Ministry—Assurance in and through Service (6:9-10).

                                                               i.      God will make our service fruitful if we abide in Christ (Jn. 15:5). To sense that God is truly using us in service also affords assurance through our Christian experience.

                                                             ii.      God will not forget your service and labors of love.

1.       He is aware of all your works of service to His Name—“I know thy works” (Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:8, 15).

2.       He knows how you have sacrificed time, energy, money, privileges, and opportunities to advance His will.

3.       God knows when your motives in service are for “His Name” and in “love.”

4.       He knows when you served His people secretly, discreetly, and silently behind the scenes and away from public view.

5.       It is not the character of God to forget those who have served His people for His Name’s sake!

6.       God encourages us to keep it up while assuring us that He is conscious of all our service and is available to help us in any needed way (1Cor. 15:58).

7.       Assurance Produces More Work

During the first part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no safety devices were used, and 23 men fell to their deaths. For the last part of the project, however, a large net, costing $100,000, was purchased and employed. At least 10 men fell into it and were saved. But an interesting development is the fact that 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety! —Dennis J. De Haan; Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations

                                                           iii.      God will reward your service to Him and His people at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2Cor. 5:9, 10; 1Cor. 3:9-15).

c.       Press on with Diligence—Assurance through Experience (6:11).

Why have faith in Jesus if there is no hope for a glorious future? Why love others if it doesn’t matter in the end? If we have no hope in the afterlife, then “we are of all men most miserable” (1Cor. 15:19). But, since we have the assurance of a brilliant future, we press on in Christian experience. So what should be do?

                                                               i.      Every Believer is to diligently pursue maturity making every effort to grow in the Lord and serve others.

1.       Continue to progress in the grace and character of the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit (2Pet. 1:5-8, 11).

2.       “Go On, Sir”

When Arago, the astronomer, was young, he became thoroughly discourage over mathematics. One day he found on the flyleaf of a textbook a few words from the famous D’ Alembert to a student who had been discouraged like himself.

D’Alembert’s advice was very short; it was, “Go on, sir, go on!”

Arago said afterwards that that sentence was the best teacher of mathematics that he ever had. Following it doggedly he went on until he became the leading mathematician of his day. No man has ever exhausted the power that lies in the words, “Go on.” Going ahead, steadily and perseveringly, step by step, is the secret of material, moral, and spiritual success. — Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations

                                                             ii.      Every believer is to possess “the full assurance of hope” (6:11, 18, 19; 2Pet. 1:10).

1.       Hope makes all the difference. The Christian’s hope is a confident expectation.  It is both “set before us” and this “hope we have as an anchor of the soul.” This confident expectation is our future promise and our present comfort!

2.       Our hope is “laid up” (Col. 1:5; 2Tim. 4:8) or stored in heaven, where Christ returned to be with the Father. Our hope will be fulfilled in the future. We look forward to a hope that is awaiting us; yet we also have that hope with us, enabling us to live our Christian lives with unhindered faith and love. Our confidence gives us stronger faith in God and deeper love for others.

                                                           iii.      Every believer is to have a sure expectation (Hope) of a specific “end” or outcome.

1.       What is “the end” or goal of our hope in Christ? 

2.       It is glorification (“sanctification”) and forever with God (Heb. 9:12, 14, 15, 24-28; 10:10, 14). Every believer should be assured of this expectation!

3.       The Sacrifice of Christ took away sin forever and sanctified every believer, which is the will of God.  Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers have a status in God’s presence that is “perfect.”  That is we may confidently approach God through the blood of Christ knowing we are fully accepted on the basis of His single sacrifice.

4.       Be assured of you glorious future!

                                                           iv.      Think of a time when you worked hard to reach a personal goal. What helped you to persevere?  Perhaps you would say, a love one kept encouraging me.  Maybe there was a mentor or a certain accomplished person who inspired you. Perhaps it was a commitment you made and you were determined to see it through. Some persevere through difficulties because they feel they have come too far to quit.  They believe they’ve invested too much money, time, and energy to stop short of realizing their dreams. 

                                                             v.      But as believers, we press on because of a sense of calling (2Pet. 1:3; Rom. 8:29-30). We should be willing to do whatever is required to continue because we know/believe God has summoned us to it. Therefore with passion we believe the journey is worthwhile, as well as the goal.  God repeatedly guarantees our final triumph. He promises us ultimate victory, help in this worthy task—spiritual progress—and the completion of our salvation. Armed with these promises, we can continue in Christ. Assurances help us to continue even when facing serious difficulties in our growth. We should have a sense of calling in this worthwhile endeavor supported by the reassuring promises of God.

d.      Refuse to be Lazy—which results in a lack of assurance and immaturity (6:12). But How?

                                                               i.      Refuse to respond slowly to Christ or to learn truth slowly (Heb. 5:11).  See “dull.”

                                                             ii.      Refuse to remain immature and unskilled with the Word of righteousness (Heb. 5:12-14).

                                                           iii.      Refuse to regard the basics of the faith, without choosing to advance in the faith (Heb. 6:1, 2; 4: 11-16).

                                                           iv.      Refuse an immature and insecure ‘Christian’ experience.  Great spiritual anxiety, unrest, unfruitfulness, worldliness, and doubting marks the life of a Christian who is not growing in the Lord (2Pet. 1:8, 9). Some suffer quietly wondering if they are truly saved. Others are plagued with such great upheaval in their soul, that they will anxiously confide in another in an effort to find peace. But when God begins to change things deep down inside of us and we begin to behave differently as a result of this, it is solid evidence of genuine conversion.

                                                             v.      Woman Who Grew Backwards

The lady who grew backward was a woman who lived in Virginia some years ago. In the Virginia Medical Monthly her doctor told the story:

She had grown normally, married, and had three children. Life was happy until the husband and father died when the children were in high school. The mother doubled her devotion to the children. She changed her clothes to those of a girl of twenty, joined in her children’s parties and fun.

In a few years the children noticed that as they grew older their mother was growing younger. Psychiatrists call it “personality regression,” which means “a person walking backward.” Usually such people stop going backward at a certain age.

But not this woman. She slipped backward at the rate of one year for every three or four months of time that went forward. Although she was 61 years old she acted and talked like a 6-year-old. She was sent to a sanitarium, where she insisted on wearing short dresses, playing with toys, and babbling like a child.

Then she became like a three-year-old; she spilled her food, crawled on the floor, and cried “Mama.” Backward still farther to the age of one, she drank milk curled up like a tiny baby. Finally, she went back over the line and died. —Selected; Tan: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations

II.                  Be Assured of your Inheritance by God’s Promises, Confirmation and Character (6:12-18).

In verse 12, God says, “through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Then in verse 17, he refers to the “heirs of promise.” Believers are heirs and they can expect an inheritance from God (Acts 26:18)! We are further described as “heirs of God” and “joint-heirs with Christ” who will inherit glory (Rom. 8:16-18).  God’s will includes believers receiving this inheritance (1Pet. 1:3-5; Heb. 10:10). It is guaranteed by God Himself! So what should we do to be assured of this inheritance?

a.       Follow Good Examples of Faith and Perseverance (6:12).

                                                               i.      The believer must do his part. We must not be lazy but apply ourselves to the spiritual resources God has given us. We have the promises from God. We should exercise faith and patience and claim these promises for ourselves! Like Caleb and Joshua, we must believe God’s promise and want to go in and claim the land! –Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

                                                             ii.      We know the promises God made to us are secure because He cannot lie and has confirmed them by His own nature, character, and oath. Since these promises are secure, we should not be sluggish, allowing our feet to drag and our spirits to lag. We must press on, imitating all true believers who through faith and patience inherit the promises. See Hebrews 11.

b.      Follow Abraham’s Example of Endurance to Realize What God Promised (6:13-18).

So what does Abraham’s example teach us? Abraham is a great example of faith and patience in God’s promise (see v. 12).

                                                               i.      He was Assured by God’s Promise to Him (13-14).

1.       He waited 25 years from the time the promise was first made until Isaac, the promised son, was born (see Gen. 12:4; 21:5).

2.       We likewise should be convinced by the promises of eternal life and complete salvation in Christ (Heb. 7:25; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 10:8-12; 1Jn. 5:9-13)

                                                             ii.      He Endured Until He Received what God Promised (15).

1.       All believers are heirs of the promises through Abraham’s spiritual Seed—Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:29; 4:7). We too must endure in faith and patience because we are the heirs of the promises!

2.       We have the promise of eternal salvation. This is for all who believe on Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When God made a promise of a seed to Abraham, the promise found its full and ultimate fulfillment in Christ (Gal. 3:13-16, 26-29), and all the blessings that flow from union with Christ were therefore included in the promise.

3.       We Have The Promise of “Entering Into His Rest” (Heb. 4:9-11).

a.       This is the rest God gives to believers involving His peace, confidence of salvation, dependence on His power, and assurance of a future home in heaven (Matt. 11:29).

b.       Since Christ Jesus, the Son of God, has completed the work of redemption and is at rest, we must accept it, rely on it and enter into His rest. Accept Christ’s peace for the conscience, the heart, and the mind by faith.

4.       We Have the Promise of a Compassionate High Priest in heaven affording us Full Access to God (4:14-5:10).

a.       Because Jesus is both God and Man, He is an adequate link between us and the Father. So the Scripture says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (v. 16).

b.       When we fail and are ashamed, or when we are overwhelmed and need help desperately, we need never draw back. Jesus, human like us, will understand. And Jesus, God as is the Father, is able to aid us.

                                                           iii.      We must Receive God’s Encouragements to Press On with Confidence—Be Convinced by His Confirmation (6:16-18). God not only gave Abraham a promise, but He confirmed that promise with an oath to guarantee its fulfillment. The promises of God are affirmed for our benefit also (6:13-17).

1.       Consider an Oath of Confirmation in Court (6:16). An oath in court has convincing power among people and usually settles any dispute.

2.       Consider an Oath of Confirmation by an Honest God (6:13-18).

a.       It was Affirmed by the Character of God Himself (v. 13) “He sware by Himself”.  When God made that promise, He swore by Himself since He could swear by no one greater. God pledged Himself, His own nature and character, to carry out this promise, and therefore its fulfillment is assured.

b.       It was Affirmed by the Commitment of God Himself (v. 14) “I will” God would personally see to the fulfillment of this promise by His own will and might. Again the fulfillment of the promise is not dependent on human performance, but God’s alone.  This is an unconditional promise.

c.       It was Affirmed by the Consideration of God Himself (v. 17) “God willing more abundantly to shew…” The word “willing” (v. 17) refers to a desire that is based upon the reasoning faculties and does not arise from the emotions. God, facing human weakness, was minded to guarantee His promise with and oath. Aren’t you thankful for God’s consideration of our slowness to believe and respond to Him?

3.       Consider the Strong Consolation God Gave Us (6:18).

a.       God demonstrated incredible consideration for our human weakness in making an oath. Since the oath has convincing power among men (v. 16), God disregards the insult implied in man doubting His Word, and condescends to human infirmity, confirming His Word by an oath.

b.       Why? God wanted His believing people to be absolutely assured that what He promised would come to pass.  Actually His bare promise would have been enough, but He wanted to make clear it’s greater importance by adding an oath to the promise.

c.       The word “immutability” means God will not change His position as to His promise. Having made the promise, He will stand by it. He is not a turncoat. He will not change His position because that promise rests upon His counsel, which is also, unchangeable. 

d.       Albert Barnes said, “The immutability of his counsel” refers to His fixed purpose. He meant to show in the most solemn manner that his purpose would not change. The plans of God never change; and all the hope which we can have of heaven is founded on the fact that his purpose is immutable.–Barnes’ Notes

e.       The Triune God in council convened brought forth this counsel to the effect that the soul might find a sure refuge in the Lord Jesus. This counsel is immutable. —Wuest, Kenneth S.

III.               Be Assured of your Access and Security through Jesus Your Savior (6:18-20).

In the remainder of chapter 6 we have four figures to drive home the utter reliability of the Christian hope: (1) a harbor of refuge, (2) an anchor, (3) a forerunner, and (4) a High Priest.

a.       Jesus is Our Harbor of Refuge and Security in Salvation (6:18).

                                                               i.      The phrase “fled for refuge” (Heb 6:18) suggests safety and security!  We have fled to Jesus Christ, and He is our eternal refuge.

                                                             ii.      My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea, so burdened with sin, and distrest, till I heard a sweet voice saying, “Make me your choice!” And I entered the Haven of Rest.

I yielded myself to His tender embrace, and faith taking hold of the Word, my fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul—The “Haven of Rest” is my Lord.

Chorus: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I’ll sail the wide seas no more; the tempest may sweep o’er the wild, stormy deep—In Jesus I’m safe ever more. –Osbeck: Amazing Grace

b.      Jesus is Our Anchor of Hope and Security in Heaven (6:19).

                                                               i.      What anchors are to a ship in stormy water, the conscious presence of Christ is to a Christian during the storms and stresses of daily living. Christians have never been promised an exemption from any of life’s storms. The Scriptures teach that “man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). It is our reaction to life’s storms that reveals the level of our spiritual maturity. We can either become bitter and belligerent, or we can use the experience to develop greater spiritual strength as we learn to rely more fully on our Lord. –Osbeck: Amazing Grace

                                                             ii.      Our hope in Christ is like an anchor for the soul. The anchor was a popular symbol in the early church. At least sixty-six pictures of anchors have been found in the catacombs. The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote: “One must not tie a ship to a single anchor, nor life to a single hope.” Christians have but one anchor - Jesus Christ our hope (Col 1:5; 1 Tim 1:1).

                                                           iii.      However, this spiritual anchor is different from material anchors on ships. For one thing, we are anchored upward - to heaven - not downward. We are anchored, not to stand still, but to move ahead! Our anchor is “sure” - it cannot break - and “steadfast” - it cannot slip. No earthly anchor can give that kind of security!

                                                           iv.      In the storms and trials of life this hope serves as an anchor of the soul. The knowledge that our glorification is as certain as if it had already happened keeps us from drifting on the wild waves of doubt and despair. The anchor is not cast in the shifting sands of this world but takes hold in the heavenly sanctuary. Since our hope is the anchor, the meaning is that our hope is secured in God’s very Presence behind the veil. Just as sure as the anchor is there, we shall be there

c.       Jesus is Our Forerunner in the Presence of God on our behalf (6:20).

                                                               i.      Paul now clinches the argument: our Savior is our “forerunner” who has gone ahead to heaven so that we may one day follow! (Heb 6:20) Jesus has gone into the inner shrine and His presence there insures the ultimate entrance of all who belong to Him. It is no exaggeration to say that the simplest believer on earth is as certain of heaven as the saints who are already there.

                                                             ii.      Anderson-Berry writes:

The word translated “forerunner” is found nowhere else in the New Testament. This expresses an idea never contemplated in the Levitical economy, for the high priest entered the holiest only as a representative. He entered where none could follow. But our Forerunner is a pledge that where He is, we also shall be. As Forerunner He (1) announced our future arrival there; (2) took possession of heaven’s glories on our behalf; and (3) has gone to be able to bid His people welcome when they come, and to present them before the Majesty of heaven.

d.      Jesus is Our Everlasting High Priest with God providing everlasting life, security, and access to the Father (6:20).

                                                               i.      The fourth figure is that of High Priest. Christ is “within the veil” as our High Priest. We can therefore come boldly to His throne and receive all the help that we need. In fact plan to live within the veil with God!

                                                             ii.      Our Lord has become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. His eternal priesthood guarantees our eternal preservation. Just as surely as we have been reconciled to God by His death, so surely are we saved by His life as our Priest at God’s right hand (Rom. 5:10).

                                                           iii.      Because Jesus is our High Priest, we are freed from doubts and uncertainties, and can go on in our Christian lives, confident of our salvation. —Richards, Larry

Conclusion:

Do not misunderstand, live in confidence because we are saved and have full access to God secured for us by Jesus (4:14-16). God desires for us to know we have a relationship with Him. Our access to Him is guaranteed by His oath (6:17), so that we who have fled to Christ and have taken hold of our hope may be greatly encouraged (6:18). This hope affords us a firm and secure anchor for our soul. Our hope enters the inner sanctuary of His Majesty—the holy of holies—behind the holy curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf as our Forerunner (6:18–20). In the Presence of God, Christ our High Priest, ever lives making intercession for every believer. For these reasons we should have assurance of our salvation—confident that we are indeed saved.