Hebrews - Part 4 — Richard Owen Roberts

The Warning Passages in Hebrews

As we have become aware, we are dealing with these warning passages in Hebrew. I've chosen to work from a list of six, and I've already explained by how the divisions occur. Here is the essential thing that we need to begin with tonight, this question.

Why is it, according to the first warning, that some people harden their hearts? Why is it, according to the third warning, that some become dull of hearing and sluggish? Why is it, according to the warning that we're looking at tonight, that some people sin and shrink back?

Why is it, according to the warning that we're scheduled to speak about tomorrow night, that some resist the discipline? Why is it, according to the sixth warning, that some people refuse Him? I believe there's a commonality in these things, gratitude and appreciation, no danger in violating any or perhaps all of these six warnings.

The explanation of the truth itself, the way the epistle is conceived, these passages, as has been explained, is incredibly wonderful, elevating. There's a danger of violating God. When you have sunk your danger, it is my intention to give you 12, by which you can, with Christ, the danger of sinning.

Is there anyone here who has not resolved to the theme in Scripture? There is a time for thanksgiving that you have been from sinning. So, to talk yourself out of the kingdom, or to think yourself into a movie, pay close attention.

It is a very real warning, but it is not intended to bring each of us and to sweep out from under us. It's not the case. We're looking tonight at Hebrews chapter 10. We have read the chapter in its entirety, which of course is most appropriate, but the warning itself is basically between verses 19.

The Possibility of Revival in Prisons

So that's the portion that we will be talking about. It seemed to me appropriate to step outside of the realm of Hebrews and just give you the suggestion of the likelihood of the next great beginning, not in our church.

As I said, I've heard that mentioned a number of times. I had no basis on which to evaluate until March of this year. I had an acquaintance, a man born in a ministry that was a youth ministry. He began attending and began coming to things.

Then he asked if I would be willing. I did some prison ministry, six years in the prison. It wasn't really very fast for me. I said yes. I spent three days in prison. Some of you have some familiarity with Angola in Louisiana.

The difficulty because of flood water. Prison and life. There used to be a state war in Louisiana. A man with a life sentence of getting out. It has begun, and I'm mentioning this because I would like to urge you.

It has begun. You see, what has been discovered in Angola prison and in many other prisons, in some cases, the expectation is true of a very high percentage of the prisoners. Their children, there's some way Malachi dabs.

Based on that scripture that some of you can recall, the children went there in March to speak. Prisoners have been treacherous. One of the safest places in the nation. I was assured that I could walk anywhere in the prison and be safer than on any street or with these men.

Louisiana is now occurring in 30 prisons this month, and several hundred are gathering. Others are being released from their cells to have the whole day on this terrible cycle of something marvelous would take place.

So I've shared that with you because I think encouragement is appropriate. God is at work. He is doing a new thing. It is not unreasonable that an incredible movement of the Holy Spirit, beginning in prison, with people who have asked the question, why is this happening in prisons, has come to this conclusion.

That there might be some... ...who began to pray for... Indeed, it's... ...sharing with them things like I've shared with them, things that we've looked at together. I said it is a very severe word, and yet, indeed, it is in no way... ...not quite as straight... ...who've been here for... ...preaching in many places.

Maggie, my wife, and I. ...and it is primarily... ...that we acquire the theological seminary's clothes... ...be somewhat familiar... ...that city. Wheaton was at one time called... ...angelical Vatican, or the Holy City.

Drawing Near to God With Sincerity

At the time we moved there, some 35 years ago, there were 60... ...that had their national and international... ...the second world... ...began... ...mention... ...connected... ...conceded by... ...because he had... ...not too long ago, we acquired... ...and in that life... ...that Charles Templeton... ...had written... ...all of them... ...inscribed... ...from Haiti... ...particularly... ...out... ...people... ...people who haven't even had the opportunity... ...of knowing... ...they are completely apart from... ...they have... ...no... ...they don't even begin to know... ...how... ...to draw near... ...to spirit of... ...access... ...and some right... ...advance... ...long as that gratitude is prominent... ...in the heart... ...the thought... ...of willful sinning... ...make a meal... ...a horse... ...to sin... ...against me... ...when you lose... ...that the temptation... ...comes so... ...you're drawn... ...with such force... ...away... ...then four responsibilities... ...is ours... ...and in the life... ...four responsibilities... ...mentioned... ...sincere... ...now how... ...how could you possibly... ...be willing... ...to draw near... ...with an insincere heart... ...understood... ...the access... ...that has been... ...provided for you... ...pay... ...in order... ...that you... ...bind... ...as long as you keep... ...and you have protection... ...against... ...inclination... ...you... ...you'd rather be sick and die... ...suddenly... ...than to depart... ...constructed... ...to draw near... ...first... ...secondly... ...in having... ...our hearts... ...sprinkled clean... ...and thirdly... ...draw near... ...with a sincere heart... ...you don't come before the Lord... ...cherishing... ...your filth... ...that you have been... ...washed clean... ...enter... ...the presence... ...of the Holy Christ... ...and you have this longing... ...to draw near to Him... ...therefore we observe... ...constantly... ...in the Church... ...is their... ...unwillingness... ...to keep participating... ...zealous... ...and when you confront them... ...speaking out... ...they have an incredible... ...array... ...of... ...they haven't been able... ...in many years... ...I led an early test... ...maybe twenty... ...in the area... ...and I kept track... ...of all those that came... ...but we had a man come... ...he came... ...suddenly he wasn't there... ...I checked up on him... ...asked him why... ...he had dropped out... ...because when he had come... ...he had said he was there... ...for the duration... ...the Lord had called him... ...to join us in prayer... ...he said... ...oh well... ...it's not that I don't want... ...to be there... ...you see I've had... ...a number of men in my Church... ...that I have to spend time with... ...personally... ...and the only time... ...I could meet with them... ...was... ...that morning... ...but I thought it was a lie... ...but I didn't know for sure... ...he assured me... ...he would be back... ...and he didn't come back... ...so I sought him out again... ...I confronted him... ...he said... ...he started... ...to tell another lie... ...and then he turned white... ...he said... ...I don't think I dare... ...tell you another lie... ...he said... ...the truth of the matter is... ...I came under... ...terrible conviction... ...it became very clear to me... ...so I simply said... ...that an indicator... ...of a movement... ...is often seen... ...by one... ...attendant... ...the first command... ...drawn near... ...in full assurance... ...sprinkled... ...an evil... ...cunt... ...the second responsibility... ...stressed... ...verse... ...23... ...infection... ...without... ...because... ...he... ...then you begin to... ...be uncertain... ...about... ...that same confidence... ...in... ...him... ...and... ...you set yourself... ...a big possibility... ...introduced in verse... ...24... ...let us... ...consider... ...how... ...stimulate... ...two... ...good... ...deeds... ...and again... ...it's quite clear... ...when you are... ...full... ...of a spirit of gratitude... ...and thanksgiving... ...you want to share... ...what God... ...is doing... ...for you... ...you encourage others... ...to get in on... ...the spirit... ...something... ...in... ...your work... ...and your attention... ...is drawn... ...away... ...from it... ...then you're no longer... ...consistent... ...or even... ...useful... ...in stimulating... ...others... ...and... ...good deeds... ...and finally... ...verse... ...25... ...for sake... ...of... ...assembling... ...together... ...as the habit of some is... ...but encouraging... ...one another... ...and all... ...the more... ...increasingly... ...as you see... ...the day... ...approaching... ...now let me tell you... ...what I consider... ...one of the most... ...remarkable... ...things... ...that I have... ...ever seen... ...in all my life... ...here... ...as a nation... ...we are on the verge... ...of destruction... ...many of the... ...soundest... ...people... ...in the nation... ...are saying... ...we have... ...less than... ...10 years... ...as a democracy... ...the nation is... ...in a self-destructive... ...mode... ...Irwin Lutzer... ...pastor... ...of the Moody Church... ...has written a very... ...searching book... ...on... ...what happened... ...to Germany... ...under... ...Hitler... ...and there's an amazing... ...parallel... ...it was destroyed... ...from within... ...very things... ...that have happened... ...to say... ...some of us... ...have become so... ...gone... ...that we don't even... ...see the day... ...approaching... ...we're not even... ...alert... ...to the peril... ...of the nation... ...we're not... ...sensitive... ...to it... ...we began... ...shaking... ...the assembly... ...of ourselves... ...together... ...well that's the background... ...that... ...this warming... ...passage... ...is set in... ...so again... ...I simply urge... ...incredibly... ...and clearly... ...one of the great... ...purposes... ...of Hebrews... ...by showing us... ...how marvelous... ...Christ is... ...and how infinitely above... ...all else... ...He... ...truly is... ...but now... ...the horrible danger... ...of sinning... ...we focus now... ...upon verses... ...after receiving... ...the knowledge... ...for sin... ...but a certain... ...expectation... ...of judgment... ...and the fury... ...of a fire... ...which will consume... ...the adversary... ...as set aside... ...without... ...the testimony... ...of two... ...severe... ...punishment... ...do you think... ...he will deserve... ...who has trampled... ...underfoot... ...the Son of God... ...and is regarded... ...as unclean... ...by which he was sanctified... ...and has insulted... ...the Spirit of grace... ...who said... ...vengeance is mine... ...and again... ...now I read... ...because... ...if you isolate... ...that verse... ...26... ...from the rest... ...you may very well... ...this statement... ...that she had sinned... ...perspective... ...as I just said... ...you isolate... ...verse 26... ...my gain... ...so this is... ...specifically speaking... ...voluntarily... ...continually... ...and do so... ...cities... ...then came up to me... ...obviously... ...very deep... ...said to me... ...I'm in... ...predicament... ...this city... ...of sinning... ...he said... ...the truth... ...in city government... ...by falsifying... ...my resume... ...any of the... ...job qualifications... ...and submitted them... ...was not aware... ...to get ahead... ...if I go on... ...shit... ...so I said... ...what are you going to do? ...he said... ...I'm weighing it... ...what I need to do... ...is to call... ...together... ...the city powers... ...and confess to them... ...he falsified... ...my resume... ...but if I do... ...I may end up in prison... ...I certainly... ...for me to get another one... ...he said... ...I don't have the city council together... ...and I declare... ...he came back the next night... ...he said... ...the inconceivable... ...and submitted... ...my resignation... ...and they said... ...actually you've been doing... ...a splendid... ...job... ...decision... ...we trust you... ...we never have before... ...what if... ...that man had said... ...no... ...it's too great a price... ...I... ...in his case... ...because the spirit of God... ...had convicted him deeply... ...I didn't even know him... ...let alone know... ...about his falsified... ...resume... ...certainly there was no way... ...I could bring that matter... ...before his conscience... ...but the spirit of God... ...the matter... ...was clear... ...not suggesting that we have... ...a group of people here tonight... ...with their resumes... ...and are in danger... ...of losing... ...their position... ...but I do want to ask... ...has the spirit of God... ...in obedience... ...be faced... ...with very... ...great care... ...for we read very plainly... ...in verse 26... ...they're no longer... ...for sin... ...God is not going to... ...make a second... ...provision... ...for willful sin... ...if you're not willing... ...to do things... ...God's way... ...there's no hope... ...because he's not making... ...another way... ...be taken... ...as I told you earlier... ...look at the... ...terrified... ...expectation... ...the fury... ...going to make... ...choose... ...to live... ...in sin... ...you are... ...repudiating... ...the only way... ...sin... ...have sinned... ...but this constitutes... ...thinking about people... ...who repudiate... ...has made people... ...who face... ...realistically... ...the truth... ...this is war... ...God forbids it... ...I must turn from it... ...turn from it... ...they sat... ...this position... ...so anyone who's been around me... ...that I regularly... ...distinguish... ...between... ...what we call... ...sins... ...and... ...fruit... ...sins... ...and... ...I'd like to urge you to think... ...six... ...and seven... ...verse eight... ...sets forth... ...sin... ...a very great consequence... ...and it singles out... ...three... ...root sins... ...it describes... ...Israel... ...sin... ...makes it clear... ...that the sin of the fallen... ...Solom... ...and Gomorrah... ...and again makes it clear... ...that the root sin... ...of Solom... ...and Gomorrah... ...now think... ...of sin... ...at sight... ...the last paying job... ...in his city... ...but suppose he had said... ...no... ...not now... ...at least... ...maybe... ...represented pride... ...represented stubbornness... ...and I say well... ...no... ...represented... ...because when we talk about belief... ...we're not just talking... ...about the positive things... ...that Christ... ...hadn't come... ...to die... ...in our place... ...but we're... ...talking about... ...the negative things... ...like this... ...if you go on... ...sinning... ...willfully... ...if that man... ...as I said already... ...most part... ...are residents... ...but I ask you again... ...has the Spirit of God... ...convicted you... ...about... ...a sin... ...if you refuse... ...peace... ...look at what the passage said... ...verse 28 again... ...anyone... ...who set aside... ...the law... ...the testimony... ...now this is the same truth... ...that I focused upon... ...on Sunday morning... ...when I introduced this subject... ...of these warning passages... ...you were told very plainly... ...you dare think... ...that you can get away... ...with what Israel... ...put in society... ...the bulk of the churches... ...are actually teaching... ...that... ...God... ...has grown up... ...he's gotten control... ...of his disposition... ...he is now... ...no longer... ...a God... ...of anger... ...and wrath... ...but he's so overwhelmed... ...with loving kindness... ...that you can get away... ...with anything... ...simply agree... ...and so the question... ...is very clear... ...here... ...if those... ...in the old covenant... ...could not... ...get away... ...with anything... ...but if there were two... ...or three... ...against them... ...they... ...had to pay... ...the penalty... ...so... ...deserve... ...who has trampled... ...guarded... ...as... ...and has... ...insulted... ...let's look at those words... ...take them... ...then despise them... ...treating with contempt... ...the tragedy is... ...that we're not very conscious often... ...of what we are doing... ...and it's simply got to be said... ...if you... ...deliberately... ...choose... ...to sin... ...you are treating... ...with contempt... ...churches... ...praise... ...praise... ...praise... ...I'm simply... ...talking about those... ...who are... ...dependent upon... ...to sin... ...simply... ...simply... ...state it again... ...to sin... ...and then... ...you can anticipate... ...the terrifying... ...it is... ...a terrifying thing... ...it's as severe... ...as it is... ...the words that introduce it... ...and the words that follow it... ...are wonderfully... ...encouraging... ...and helpful... ...so let's focus now... ...remember... ...the former day... ...spectacle... ...through reproaches... ...and tribulations... ...and partly... ...by becoming sharers... ...for you showed sympathy... ...to the prisoners... ...and you accepted... ...joyfully... ...the seizure... ...of your property... ...knowing that you have for yourselves... ...a better possession... ...and an abiding one... ...we'll not take long... ...on that... ...but it's a reminder of things... ...that we've already... ...considered... ...I told you... ...when we began... ...the series... ...something of the fact... ...the epistle... ...and something about the people... ...to whom... ...the epistle... ...was written... ...I told you about... ...those garden parties... ...and burning... ...people... ...I told you about... ...the systematic... ...who sent out... ...to try... ...themselves... ...in agitation... ...remember... ...the former day... ...and it's appropriate... ...for me... ...speaking now... ...to those here... ...who sense... ...and forget... ...our danger... ...greatly... ...you were... ...for this section... ...verse 34... ...you were... ...held... ...a better possession... ...and... ...so just thinking... ...in terms of the... ...young believers... ...had their home... ...systematically... ...looted... ...he's saying to them... ...look... ...be realistic... ...what did they steal from your home? ...steal... ...passion... ...why should you get agitated... ...and concerned... ...about the loss of those... ...when you've got... ...should be all worth... ...the loss of something... ...which you're going to lose anyway... ...not all of us are taking... ...anything with us to glory... ...so if we lose it a few years... ...before we get to glory... ...God is certainly... ...more replaced... ...the price that we pay... ...for being loyal... ...servants of Christ... ...is as... ...nothing... ...in comparison... ...with the hope... ...that we have... ...in Christ Jesus... ...verses 35 to 39... ...an urgent call... ...has been said... ...in... ...verse 35... ...therefore... ...reward... ...let that sink in... ...I plead with you... ...don't throw away... ...your confidence... ...a series of messages on... ...and... ...if I didn't shame on me... ...but... ...I remember saying... ...take the word faith... ...whoever... ...now faith... ...is the substance... ...of things... ...hope... ...and that's exactly... ...what it's talking about here... ...when it talks about... ...confidence... ...when you have faith in Christ... ...the eternal... ...becomes... ...more real... ...and the world... ...eternity... ...with the same... ...what he would say... ...something... ...to follow Christ... ...this lifetime... ...so... ...he urges this... ...confidence... ...don't throw it away... ...it carries with it... ...great... ...reward... ...in verse 36... ...he urges... ...you have needed endurance... ...so that when you've... ...done the will of God... ...you may receive... ...what... ...some of you young people... ...it's easy now... ...tough days... ...the fire... ...but I don't want to... ...some of us know... ...I have decided... ...to follow Jesus... ...no... ...here's the call... ...for endurance... ...save your... ...people... ...37... ...the place... ...to send shivers... ...up and down... ...about the day... ...I mentioned... ...last night... ...when the great host... ...of angels... ...assembled... ...that is heard... ...in the sky... ...and you see... ...the Lord... ...Himself... ...I can't imagine... ...anything... ...like that... ...and to know... ...when He comes... ...that He's come for you... ...keep that thought in mind... ...and... ...when you're tempted... ...and praying... ...seeking... ...peace... ...and confidence... ...and assurance... ...remind yourself... ...of what's coming... ...praise the Lord... ...for what they had... ...instead of... ...murmuring about... ...what's... ...here... ...the necessity... ...of faith... ...my... ...righteous one... ...shall live... ...by... ...faith... ...and if He shrinks back... ...my soul... ...I think there's wisdom in having... ...specific goals... ...it's very much in order... ...to have the personal goal... ...that the Savior... ...will take pleasure... ...I want to live in such a way... ...the Savior... ...is full of joy... ...after death... ...year... ...after year... ...decade... ...after decade... ...to live... ...in rejoicing... ...expectation... ...that my Savior... ...is pleased... ...and will soon be coming... ...to welcome me... ...to the place... ...in paradise... ...and it ends... ...with the simple words of verse 39... ...preserving... ...at the same time... ...I've seen many... ...who have been here... ...every time... ...and my heart leaps... ...with joy... ...can I say concerning this entire group... ...we are not... ...of those... ...who persevere... ...to the salvation... ...of their soul... ...let that be... ...our goal... ...let that be... ...our determination... ...to hold fast... ...as I pointed out... ...have both a personal... ...application... ...and a corporate... ...so be on the walk... ...for those around you...