“THE ESTABLISHED HEART.” (Heb 13:9)
June 8th, 2003
Int. The words are to be connected with (Vr. 8)
1. The subject of Hebrews is the immeasurable superiority of Christianity over Judaism and here before us is a further evidence of that very fact.
2. Under Judaism, Aaron was followed by Eleazer, and he, by Eli; but our Great High Priest abides forever.
3. Israel’s Prophets followed each other; but our Prophet has no successor.
4. Our Great High Priest never changes....(Heb 13:8)
5. John Calvin said: “The only way by which we can persevere in the right faith is to hold to the foundation, and not in the slightest degree depart from it, for he who holds not to Christ knows nothing but mere vanity, though he may comprehend heaven and earth.”
6. Since Christ is the same always; we should be “established in the faith” and not waver. (1 Cor 15:58) should be our battle cry.
I. BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT WITH DIVERS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES.
A. NOTICE THE PLURALITY IN THE WORDS “DIVERS AND DOCTRINES.”
1. “Divers and Doctrines.”
a. Truth is a perfect unit; but error is multiform.
2. For example: “
a. (Eph 4:5) “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
b. (Jude 1:3) “Contend for ‘the’ faith.”
c. (Heb 2:3-4) “It was ‘the gospel’ that was revealed by Jesus and His Apostles.”
3. Therefore, “the truth” is always spoken of in the singular singular number, as:
a. “The Doctrine” (Jn 7:17) “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
b. The Doctrine (singular) of Christ. (2 Jn 1:9) “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
c. Notice Paul’s warning in (Rom 16:17) “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
d. Paul warned Timothy: (1 Tim 4:16) “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
4. Notice that when error is referred to, plural numbers are employed.
a. (Col 2:22) "Which all are to perish with the using;) after the ‘commandments’ and ‘doctrines’ of men?"
b. (1 Tim 4:1) "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
II. BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT WITH DIVERS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES. (Vr. 9)
A. OUR LORD GIVES US FAIR WARNING ABOUT THESE THINGS.
Int. The very fact that this exhortation was recorded in Scripture means that we, like those early Christians, will have to contend with this temptation too.
1. (Mat 24:4-5) "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. {5} For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
2. The Apostle John, the last writer of the Bible warned: (1 John 4:1) "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
a. There are lying spirits. (1 Ki 22:22) "And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so."
b. There are evil spirits. (Luke 7:21) "And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight."
c. There are unclean spirits. (Mat 12:43) "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none."
1. Their Message! Belittling Grace!
2. Their Methods! Belittling Preaching!
3. Their Manners! Inconsistent with the Gospel!
III CONSIDER THE NEED FOR AN ESTABLISHED HEART. (Vr. 9)
A. NOTICE HOW THESE FALSE TEACHERS MISUSED THE LAW.
1. The Levitical law made distinctions of meats, (and things of like nature) which the false teachers were pressing with much zeal.
2. (Rom 14:13-23) "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. {14} I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. {15} But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. {16} Let not then your good be evil spoken of: {17} For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. {18} For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. {19} Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. {20} For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. {21} It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. {22} Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. {23} And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
3. (1 Cor 8:1-13) "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. {2} And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. {3} But if any man love God, the same is known of him. {4} As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. {5} For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) {6} But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. {7} Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. {8} But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. {9} But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. {10} For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; {11} And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? {12} But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. {13} Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."
4. (Gal 4:1-31) "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; {2} But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. {3} Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: {4} But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, {5} To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. {6} And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. {7} Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. {8} Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. {9} But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? {10} Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. {11} I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. {12} Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. {13} Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. {14} And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. {15} Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. {16} Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? {17} They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. {18} But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. {19} My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, {20} I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. {21} Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? {22} For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. {23} But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. {24} Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. {25} For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. {26} But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. {27} For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. {28} Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. {29} But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. {30} Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. {31} So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."
5. There were determined efforts by the enemy to corrupt the Gospel by attaching to it parts of the cermonialism of Judaism.
6. Then Paul says: (Vr. 9-b) “.....which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”
7. Paul was not referring to the O. T. saints who had obeyed the Mosaic law, but to those who heeded the errorist of his day.
8. The sinner today, like some of them, is more concerned about the details of ordinances than he is of getting his heart established with grace.
Ill. People will drive a hundred miles to hear someone speak on prophesy, but will not walk across the street to hear someone preach on Christ dying for sinners.
9. They are selling their soul for “a mess of pottage” when they should be “buying the truth and selling it not.”
a. (Heb 12:16) “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
IV. NOTICE AGAIN THE CALL FOR THE HEART BEING ESTABLISHED WITH GRACE. (Vr. 9)
A. CONSIDER WHAT THE APOSTLE MEANS BY THE WORD “ESTABLISHED”
1. It is the opposite of being “carried about.”
2. (Eph 4:14) "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
a. (Ps 40:2) “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”
3. Jude describes these false teachers as “CLOUDS THAT HOLD NO WATER.” (Jude 12)
4. Such false teachers are teaching another gospel.
a. (Acts 15:1) "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved."
5. Such false teachers are busy teaching and preaching another gospel today.
a. “Except ye be baptised, ye cannot be saved.” (By a Campbellite)
b. Except ye speak in tongues. (Pentecostals)
c. Except ye belong to our church.....(Cults)
B. NOTICE THAT PAUL SAYS: “THE HEART BE ESTABLISHED WITH GRACE.”
1. This word “grace” is a vastly comprehensive word in the Greek.
2. We have been saved by “grace” (2 Tim 1:9)
3. We were chosen by grace. (Eph 1:3-6) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: {4} According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: {5} Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, {6} To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
4. For those moments of weakness in our Christian journey:
a. (James 4:6) "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
5. Simon Peter needed this grace when he denied his Lord. (Lk 22)
6. The “grace” of God is so real that it can be seen in a believer’s life.
a. (Acts 11:23) "Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."
7. The gift of preaching bears the title of “grace”.
a. (2 Cor 6:1) "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."
8. All acceptable works are brought about by the Holy Spirit through Grace.
a. (2 Cor 12:9-10) "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. {10} Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
VI. NOTICE THAT PAUL SAYS: IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE HEART BE ESTABLISHED WITH GRACE. (Vr 9)
A. EVERYTHING WE ARE, IS BY GRACE.
1. (1 Cor 15:9-10) "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. {10} But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
Conclusion: (Jn 1:16) “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”
Gadsby's Hymn Book (#201)
"Grace first contrived the way
To save rebellious man,
And all the steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan.
Grace first inscribed my name
In God's eternal book.
'Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrow's took."