Hebrews: The New Covenant Administration of Christ Max A Forsythe (c) Anno Domini 2005

From the Pulpit at Pilgrim's Rest Presbyterian Church in America

Perseverance
For the Lord’s Day:  the 24^th of April 2005 

Hebrews 10: 32-39

Introduction:  As we had announced a few weeks ago, once we completed the eighteenth verse of chapter ten, the whole focus of the epistle changed from a point by point argument for the supremacy of Christ to the practical issue of “How Shall We Then Live,” if I may use the title of Francis Schaeffer’s great work on that subject.  We are now three weeks into the practical advice of the Apostle.  Thus far, we have considered the loving access which every member of the church has been given to the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne of heaven.  Also, we have been encouraged by comparison to the worst of the worldly that we do indeed have a viable freedom and standing in this relationship.  And so today, we are charged to prove our calling in careful living – even as we demonstrate the fruits of the Holy Spirit day by day.

Now, as you see in the bulletin, I originally entitled this sermon Endurance, but upon further reflection I believe that Perseverance is a better theme of the short set of verses before us.  Let us begin with verses thirty-two and three:  “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.”

Development:  Now, I have delivered enough lambs and calves to recognize an anguished birthing process.  It is then that you call the veterinarian to assist in those especially difficult cases beyond ordinary experience.  The same is true of the human birthing process – usually experienced mid-wives are all that is necessary.  And these women all realize the limits of their knowledge and willingly call in the doctors and nurses at the appropriate times.  I say this in preparation to discuss the process of the New Birth in Jesus Christ.  Depending upon time, place and circumstance – the New Birth can sometimes be difficult if not down right traumatic – especially when the person involved has little or no knowledge of what is transpiring.

I noticed early on in the life of our congregation that even people who had acknowledged the New Birth previously, very often met with difficulties when they came on board here at Christ Covenant.  Some years ago, I met with a member to help them find a different church.  There had been a messy divorce and a partner had renounced the church to avoid discipline.  The innocent party was traumatized deeply.  When we sat down to talk, I was reminded of the difficulties that I just mentioned.  The party involved said that all of the sufferings and goings on had not been expected – but, given my prior warning at least that advance notice that the faith could lead to trials had in the long run helped to spark the necessary sense of perseverance.  Even though the person felt they could no longer face the congregation – still there was an earnest desire to continue in the faith by moving to a new congregation.

Now, I do not recommend changes every time a person goes through trials and tribulations, but unfortunately in our day and age when there are a multitude of choices – far too many people feel they must avail themselves of a completely new start where people do not know their past history.  In fact, way too many people choose to stay away from church whenever they have more than the usual amount of despair, suffering and persecution!  Ultimately – if they belong to the Lord, He will lead them back again to fellowship with His people.  One of our former members, who left the church, was sent our bulletin by the secretary for two years.  And in the announcement section, there was the recurring request to remember a lost sheep.  That along with the regular weekly sermons slowly brought them to their senses and while they did not return to our fellowship, they did indeed meet with the session before joining another church.

In another case, a young convert was stunned to learn that their worldly friends at work were put off by any of “God talk.”  Eventually, the worldly opposition led them on to another place of employment.  Some new converts find it extremely difficult to find time for church; something is always coming up and getting in the way.  Nine months is not an ordinary number for the New Birth coming to fruition, but the word months is very often involved in the process as well as many forms of devilish harassment.

Fortunately and providentially, we have not been born into a culture where the faith once given to the saints is completely at odds with a dominant and opposing religion.  Verse thirty-four – especially applies to the Jews of the early Christian Church as well as those areas behind the devil’s curtain.  “For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”  This verse is an apt description for any new converts in Muslim areas of the world, and also in the Communist ones as well.  This is why we cannot pray publicly for several missionaries, this is also why the Catholics have one secret Cardinal, because he is operating against some culture, where his very life could well be in danger.

In Apostolic times, it was good that the early church experiment with communal property, because once it was sold, very few Christians were financially devastated with the destruction of Jerusalem.  However, because of the Jewish view of their new religious affinity, life was made very difficult.  Some were tried and thrown into prison and Stephen they even stoned for blasphemy.  Once the Roman Empire realized that Christianity was no longer a Jewish sect, all of the protective laws for the Jewish faith were removed in any Christian context.  As a result, very many Christians were persecuted, thrown to the lions and destroyed because they would not bow the knee to Caesar and worship him along with Christ.  F.F. Bruce gives a long list of Roman pogroms and riots in the first century after Christ.  Very many of these could be referenced in our verses today, because of their contemporary dating.

The next verse, the thirty-fifth commends the believers for their original confidence shown during those trying events in many areas of the Empire.  “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”  F.F. Bruce translates this verse differently:  “Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward.” We must remember in the light of David’s experience related to us in the beginning of Psalm Twenty-seven that confidence and boldness are related ideas.  And it is in those times when the members of Christ’s Church are thoroughly confident in their witness that they are willing to be bold in confronting people around them with the Gospel of grace and mercy.  Sadly, it is a persecuted church that makes the most impact upon its culture.  That is a fact of history that we may know better than we want in the near future.   Every time, we have a general election in this country, I believe that given the worst of our candidates being elected – we could all too quickly know what persecution really means.  Some years ago, a humanist candidate for the vice-presidency announced that evangelical Christians should be locked up for the good of the Republic.  Fortunately, even the Democratic Party was not then ready for such a strident demand, so they went with a less threatening candidate who never reached office.

Application:  Many of you who work in a corporate or government environment are already aware of any number of personal religious restrictions if you are Christian.  I certainly understood, and over the years in public service, my Christian friends and I had to continually adjust our outreach and witness to the students and teachers.  Providentially, the more severe the pronouncements of the Administrivians – the more receptive people became.  Each year, we could reach about one per cent of the adults and students.  Over time, that does add up to significant numbers.  Patience, as the Apostle reminds us here is an absolute requirement.  Look at verse thirty-six:  “For you have need of patience, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

We have to remember that the Lord’s word does not go out without accomplishing what He intends.  I remember my work with a young man over a five year period.  There was no real substance of faith realized, until I met his father, when he missed an appointment.  It was then I knew why I had spent so much time with the son, to get to the father and give him a word of encouragement in the faith.  And so, we are all encouraged to keep on giving witness to those around us, knowing that our Lord and Savior is indeed coming again.  And in the last verses this morning, we are reminded that we are to continue the work of the church because our ongoing work in the face of opposition demonstrates the soundness of the faith that is within us.  The Apostle writes: “but we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

You see, the church is a lot like the work on a farm.  Each year, you sow the seed and reap a variety of rewards.  Some years, you don’t even get back what you put into the ground, but hope springs again at the end of each winter.  And a new crop is planted, sometimes to reap forty fold or even a hundred fold.  But, as every farmer knows – you have to keep on planting the seed every season or very quickly the farm will fail.  May you all increase your faith by sharing it as you are able.  The Apostle would have us know that this activity is just as important to our faith as it is to others.  Will you do it?  Amen.

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PREACHING RESOURCES 

Brown, John.  A Geneva Series Commentary:  Hebrews.
Bruce, F.F.  The Epistle to the Hebrews.
Owen, John:  Commentary on the Book of Hebrews.
The Holy Bible:  English Standard Version.

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