Bumby Bible Questions 15

Introduction

Well, good morning. As you can see by the stools, and I’ll kindly say the nice people on them, it’s our question and answer Sunday. As you know, we’ve been taking pre-submitted questions. That is an important part of this, that it is pre-submitted. That’s for your protection and ours. They are pre-submitted questions. And speaking of that, if you would like to submit those questions, I know that’s a shocker that we got there so fast. Please do so. In fact, we have three different ways, Ken, tell them all about it. Oh, wow. You can hand that to us personally, of course. We we ask that it be written down, and that’s because Greg will forget. Uh his memory is not what it used to be. And so if you write those down and hand them to us, or we have the suggestion box, or we’ll we call it the question box in the Fourier.

You can write it down and put it in there. Or you can email it to us. And I’m going to test Greg’s memory here and ask him if he knows the email address, but you can email that to us as well at the funny part of this test is he always forgets. He gives me this test. I’m really good at that test. Bumby BibleQuesti at gmail.com. Helps when you already know the answer before the questions asked. Bumby BibleQuestions at gmail.com. And one note on either way that you get a question to us, whether in person, please write it down through the box where it will be written down or an email. If you write your name on it, we will not share that publicly unless it’s just too good not to.

But if we have a follow-up, if we misunderstand, if we’re going to take a question in a certain direction, if your name’s on it, we can check with you to see is this actually the question you wanted, or are we just going to answer the question we wanted? Now that’s good for us, but if you actually had a question you were aiming at, we can do some follow-up with you privately, individually, not here, not publicly, to make sure we understand your question and cover it appropriately. We’ve got excellent questions, and we thank you for those, but please, please uh inundate us with questions. We we want uh to be able to address all of the biblical topics that you might have questions about. To our first question this morning, it’s a simple question.

1. Please Explain Hebrews 10:26

It just simply states, please explain Hebrews 10 verse 26. And so uh turn with us there to Hebrews chapter 10, verse 26. This is the our favorite, or maybe I leave Greg out of this, but it won’t speak for him, but my favorite type of question, and that is here’s a biblical text that is difficult to understand. Uh help us to understand that. And so uh let’s address Hebrews 10 verse 26. Let’s just start by obviously reading it, our Bible reading this morning, led up to that, Hebrews 10 verses 19 through 25. But then verse 26 is a difficult text, and it reads this way, for if we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, and continue our reading, but a certain fearful judgment, fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

What does it mean when it says that if we continue in these sins, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins? That’s our first question. So there’s a bit of an alarming problem here because if you look at verse 26 and we think honestly, we think, well, uh maybe after becoming a Christian I have sinned, and we would say most, if not all, sin is deliberate or willful. So, what does that mean? We have to key in on what is the writer getting at, and what does that phrase mean to properly explain this. So let’s look first of all at what is that idea of sinning willfully and what is the writer addressing? If we can look back to Hebrews chapter 2, really chapters 1 and 2 give us a good idea of what the Hebrew writer is getting at in this entire book.

In Hebrews chapter 1, he’s explaining that Jesus, the Lord, is superior to all aspects of the old law, of the Jewish way of doing things. Jesus is superior to angels. We’re going to see Jesus is superior to Moses to the law. We need to be with Jesus, not the old Judaism system. But if you look at Hebrews chapter 2, verse 2 and 3, this might well put the idea of Hebrews. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Really key in on the first phrase of verse 3. Do you see that part of the question? How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Man, both under the old law, the law of Moses, we’re going to talk a lot about that, hopefully, towards the end of our QA this morning, and even under the Christian law, have a problem. The wages of sin is death. And if we reject Jesus, then what do we have waiting for us? Well, only condemnation. There is no salvation. And so, you think about verse 2, though, those transgressions or disobedience, what would he be talking about? I think we see in Hebrews that the writer is targeting Hebrews or Jewish Christians, Jewish converts, who are thinking about going back.

And so what do we want to do? We want to stick with Jesus. Don’t turn away. And so the theme of the book helps us understand the meaning of this one particular passage. Always key in on the context of the passage you’re having difficulty with. In fact, most of the time, an answer about a particular verse can be found just by reading the verses leading up to it and verses after it. And so the book of Hebrews is not talking about Christians and urging them not to engage in particular sins. The New Testament deals with that. The book of Hebrews is saying, don’t leave your faith. Don’t leave Jesus Christ and go back into Judaism. This section, actually the whole book, but chapter 10 that we’re addressing this morning was again addressed to Christians, urging them not to abandon their faith, to fall away from their faith.

Again, let’s look at the context of Hebrews 10, verse 26. Hebrews 10, beginning in verse 19, again says, Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he consecrated for us through the veil, that is his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without favor, without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another to stir up to love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some, but exhorting one another so much more as you see the day approaching.

I would I would key you in on two phrases there. The first one is, let us hold fast. And then the second one is not forsaking. There’s the theme of the book of Hebrews. Hold fast, don’t forsake. And then we have that passage, the one in question. If we sin willfully after we’ve received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. But then skip down and notice two verses following. Verse 32 says, But recall the former days in which after you were illuminated you endured a great struggle with sufferings. In other words, he’s saying, in this present struggle, in your present Christian faith, remember when you became a Christian. Verse 35, therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

2. Christ Is the Once for All Sacrifice

Don’t throw away your confidence in Jesus Christ. There’s the context of Hebrews 10, verse 26, that helps us understand the meaning of these maybe difficult words. As we think about forsaking then, or sinning deliberately or willfully, we reach kind of a crossroads. It can mean one of two things. Either any time I do something with intent, or when I do this, let’s say, sin from verse 26, and I keep going down that path. And of course, with the word like forsaken, what does that imply? I’ve not only turned away from doing the right thing, I am going down a completely different pathway. That’s the idea of verse 26. And that creates a problem because going back to the superiority of Jesus, Christ is the once for all sacrifice.

And if you read the end part of verse 26, if I reject Jesus, if I go down that road forsaking the way of Christ, there no longer remains what? Any sacrifice for sins, and that’s a problem because Jesus died once for all. He is the only sacrifice we can access. He is the only answer to our sins. And so a rejection of Christianity is a rejection of Christ, which of course would mean a rejection of his sacrifice, his blood, sharing in his resurrection, all the benefits of Christianity disappear if we reject our Lord. So here were some New Testament Christians who were in Christ, were enjoying the blessings of that salvation, and they were being tempted to forsake that, to cast that away and go back under a different system.

And so the warning is if we reject his sacrifice, there is no hope. This lines up perfectly with the words of Jesus Himself, when he said, I am the way, the truth and the lie. No one comes to the Father but by me. And so what the warning is, if you reject Jesus for some other system, some other way, there’s no sacrifice. Jesus is the sacrifice. If you reject his sacrifice, if you reject his way, then you have rejected the only way to God and the only way to heaven. So it’s not saying if you commit one sin, God’s not going to forgive you. What it’s saying is if you reject Jesus Christ, you reject His way, then God will not save you. Because that is the way, the only way to salvation.

That creates a problem, though, for understanding of God and forgiveness. If you can become a Christian, imagine a Jew who has converted, who went through those public sufferings and held firm for a while, but then did sin willfully, did forsake both Jesus and his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Verse 26 says there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Does that mean they have reached a point where God cannot or will not forgive them? Well, as we look at the New Testament, we need to realize God is always willing to save. But the way to be saved is only through Christ’s sacrifice, which means can someone who has left the fold come back? Yes. Jesus’ sacrifice is there for any who take it. And then you look at what are the terms of salvation?

Well, repentance has to jump to the front of any list. What is repentance? A rejection of my stubborn will and acceptance in turn to God’s will. And so if we leave the faith, we have no hope. In fact, we have something fearful to look forward to. That fiery condemnation is waiting for us. But because our God loves better than we can, he’s willing to forgive better than we do, if we turn back and accept Jesus’ terms and Christ’s salvation offer, then we can have forgiveness as well. God is amazing, and it’s a good thing he doesn’t forgive like we do. Otherwise, maybe once we did leave, there would be no hope. But that’s why we can have hope. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of being with brothers and sisters in Christ and to make sure we’re right with God at every turn.

3. What Is the Bible Definition of Hospitality?

So there’s always hope in Christ Jesus and in Christ Jesus alone, is what the passage is teaching. Alright, so question number two says, what is the Bible definition of hospitality? And how should Christians, particularly us, how should Christians practice hospitality? So what is hospitality, Greg? Well, as we look at hospitality, obviously we’re looking at both what is the New Testament definition of it, as well as what does it mean in the 21st century, what does it mean in America and Orlando to practice that? Well, first we have to understand from a New Testament word point of view, hospitality is to be fond of guests. You may have heard kind to strangers, some sort of variation of those wording choices. You see a lot of instances of this, both in Titus chapter 1 and 1 Timothy 3, that elders in particular, our shepherds are to be given to or fond of hospitality.

They should be leading the charge. One of the many ways that elders serve as an example to the flock. They should be given to this hospitality, this kindness to strangers, this fondness of guests. But you really see this in practice in Hebrews chapter 13. Let’s look there. In Hebrews chapter 13. By the way, you see what happens when you let Ken and I pick the questions. We pick ones where we can stay in the same book for a while. Hebrews chapter 13, verse 1 and 2. Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Obviously, a New Testament reference to some Old Testament incidents. We think about Lot, we think about Sodom and Gomorrah, and frankly, biblically speaking, there could be more that it are written within this reference and many things that might have been within Jewish tradition that aren’t necessarily in our codified Old Testament that this could be referencing.

But the idea is to show hospitality to even strangers. Now, that is a New Testament definition, but that creates a problem because in our culture we think of strangers generally with skepticism. We don’t want to get in a car with a stranger, although we have Uber. That’s kind of weird. We don’t want to buy food from strangers, although we have them deliver it to our door. Kind of breaking some of those laws unless we have money involved for some reason makes it okay. But verse 1 helps us bridge the gap. What is this an act of? Verse 1, let brotherly love continue. Hospitality is a manifestation of love towards others. As we look at some applications, keep in mind both verse 1 paired with verse 2.

And so if we have words like love and kindness involved in the definition, it shouldn’t surprise us that this practice is enjoined upon us as Christians. That God wants us to be loving and wants us to be kind and giving. In fact, the New Testament teaches us that it is a God-given responsibility, that we, as children of God, are to be loving and kind. We are to be like our Father, and that means that we’re going to be hospitable. Look in 1 Peter chapter 4, verses 8 through 11, it says, and above all, have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling, as each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. One of the wonderful things about God is that God just doesn’t tell us to do something. God gives us the tools to do it, and many times the detailed instruction to how to do it. God didn’t just say love and leave it to us to figure out what it means to love or to be kind. Here, one verse after saying practice love is the explanation of here’s one way you can do it. Be hospitable to one another. Show that kindness, that fondness to strangers, and even to those who aren’t strangers, because here he says, be hospitable to one another, and show this kind of generosity and this kindness.

And so we understand that this is not an option for Christians. This is a responsibility to love and to be kind to one another. And what that looks like, Peter says, is hospitality. I think verse 9 is interesting. Not only is it expected to be done, it’s expected to be done without grumbling. Again, this is then the idea of loving one another. And so, while we think of caring for strangers really as a New Testament definition, you can tell from Peter’s usage, and also in Paul’s and Romans chapter 12, that showing hospitality is taking care of the needs of others. And we can leave that open. Take care of others. Love others. It’s interesting if you look at Romans chapter 12 quickly for a moment. In Romans chapter 12, within the context of verse 9 saying, Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.

Verse 10 says, love one another with brotherly affection. And then you find in verse 13, contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. That means looking for opportunities to what? Well, to tend to and take care of the needs of others. And by the way, we say take care of the needs of others, that’s just using words there. It also means looking for it and just helping people in general.

4. What Hospitality Looks Like in Action

There doesn’t have to be a need for it. Hospitality, though, is looking out to the needs of others and filling that need on a personal loving basis. So we talked about what hospitality means, kind of the biblical definition of it. But what does hospitality look like? How do we do that? What will it look like in action? Well, we have a good biblical example. We won’t turn over there because I’m sure you’re familiar with the story that Jesus told about the good Samaritan. We all know what made him good. What made him good in that story told by Jesus as an example for all of us is that he understood, as the teaching of Jesus bore out, that everyone was his neighbor. That there were no limits to those to whom he was to show kindness, to whom he was to be hospitable.

Here was a man in need, and he saw to those needs. Regardless of how it might have inconvenienced him, of how it might have been easier to do what those others did and just walk by the other side of the road. But he saw someone in need and he met those needs. He used his resources, his time, his money, his resources to help this person. That’s what hospitality looks like. It’s not just this simply the idea of being nice to someone by words or by gestures, but it’s the idea of actually expending time and resources to be a blessing to someone. That’s the story of the Good Samaritan, and there’s hospitality in action. And so I’d encourage you, although we’re all familiar with the story, go back and read the story of the Good Samaritan.

In question, asking yourself, who’s my neighbor? And how can I show this love, this kindness, this hospitality to others. And you’ll find it in that story. That’s the fascinating part is that is by definition hospitality, kindness or fondness to strangers. This Samaritan didn’t know this Jewish man who was left for dead, but he took care of him anyway, and Jesus is linking that with loving your neighbor. We think a lot about loving our neighbor, but how often do we link it with hospitality? Our neighbor is both near and far, stranger and friend. So as we think about the New Testament church, really in Acts chapter 2, another passage you might be familiar with, after the 3,000 were baptized on the day of Pentecost, we have an example of what I would call extreme hospitality.

Basically, they were together and they were a unit and they took care of each other. They were taking care of each other in basically every way possible, and that involved a lot of time together. And that came with a lot of blessings. Part of God’s system, part of God’s beautiful design and creation for within Christianity, is that we are a new family, and that family loves and takes care of one another. That means getting to know each other. That means taking advantage of the opportunities to be together. And again, combining some of our words here, seeking to show hospitality, showing hospitality without grumbling, and making sure that we’re giving one another honor. And that means making time to be together. In Acts chapter 2, they just were.

It was a given. The New Testament church would be together for spiritual reasons and obviously physical reasons as well. So do we do that? If not, then I need to step up my willingness to practice hospitality to show that neighborly love and affection, particularly amongst my fellow brethren here. And this hospitality demands that we get our hands dirty, so to speak.

Let the church take care of that. That’s what we’ve got deacons for. No, the idea of hospitality, again, in the story of the Good Samaritan and in all of these passages, means that this is a personal approach. It may be something as simple and benign as getting together socially, having someone into your home or meeting them at some kind of restaurant and getting to know someone on some kind of personal level. But it often and most often means more than that. It’s the idea of visiting one another, seeing to the needs of one another, meeting those needs both spiritually, mentally, and materially. That’s hospitality. And there’s a benefit and the blessing to that for both participants. If you’re the one giving the hospitality, there’s a couple of obvious blessings to that.

Number one is you’ll be blessed by God because you’re doing what God expects you to do. You’re doing what God would and has done. And so you’ll be blessed by that. You’ll be blessed in addition to that with just the kind of, not to be corny, but just that warm, fuzzy feeling of helping someone, of the encouragement of that. And don’t discount that. And obviously, the recipient of that hospitality, of that kindness, is going to be blessed. Again, we refer you to the story of the Good Samaritan. How was that man who was beaten and left for dead blessed by the hospitality shown to him? It’s obvious that he was blessed in that regard. And so if you have that need, be a blessing to others and raise your hand and say, I need help.

And if you’re in a position to be of help in whatever way, small or big way to someone, be a blessing and receive a blessing by being hospitable, which is what God wants us to be, to truly be children, compassionate children of His. That idea of looking for these opportunities, though, is the challenge within the New Testament. If you index the idea of hospitality or being hospitable to others, you constantly find verbs like seeking. You’re looking for this opportunity. You’re doing so without grumbling. This means I am looking for that opportunity to serve. I am making sure that I am outgoing with hospitality. And again, by the way, two pictures we want to make sure we paint on this question. Number one, hospitality is not only kindness to somebody you’ve never met before.

That’s a part of the definition, and that has that origination in the word in the Greek. But as you can see from the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus gave an example of hospitality within answering the question of who is my neighbor? So, first of all, it doesn’t have to be a stranger. And second of all, for our modern day application, hospitality does not mean you have somebody in to your nicely prepped home from one of the magazines, and you have had a pre-made meal that is four courses, and you took all day to make it. That is not the only way to show hospitality. That is a wonderful way to show hospitality. It’s an enjoyable way to show hospitality. But do we think any of the first century Christians were doing that the way we picture it in American society?

Conclusion

That’s certainly not what happened with the Good Samaritan. He didn’t help the Jewish man by bringing him to his home, having his wife cook a four-hour meal. There are different ways to administer to needs. And we say, what can I do? If I’m seeking to show hospitality, I’m saying, what can I offer and who can I offer it to? That goes well beyond just having people in a home or even just cooking a meal. It’s time, it’s care, it’s love. And that’s the challenge of the New Testament for us in all facets of our Christianity. And so let’s challenge ourselves this coming week. Raise your eyes and look around and see, both here and other places, where can I show this hospitality? Where can I be that good Samaritan?

How can I show love and kindness to strangers, to my fellow man, to my family, and to my brethren. Challenge yourself to be active in hospitality this week. You’ll be amazed, as we’ve said, what a blessing that’ll be to you and to others. I don’t think we have time for a third question. I don’t think we do. Super speed round may be coming next month. If you will, go ahead and go to God in prayer with me at this time. Our dear God and most gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we’re so thankful to you for your wonderful blessings for the sacrifice of your son. Thank you for all that it means to become a child of yours, to be a Christian, to be your son or your daughter.

Thank you for the blessings of eternal life, of a peace while we’re here, of the fortress and shelter that you provide to your family and your people. Help us always to look to you, to give you the praise and honor and glory that you deserve, to be strong in our faith, and that when the storms of life come, when they tempt us to turn away, to forsake you, that our anchor is you, that we remember your goodness, we remember your grace, and we think about how powerful and strong you are, and how weak and alone we are without you, and we stay with you where there is protection, where there is room.

Recognize that you have created every person who lives, and that they have a special soul. We are all made in your image. And so, humbled by that fact, we recognize we need to look to one another to show hospitality, to show love, even to lift up one another, even if it comes at a personal detriment. Thank you for the example of your son who washed feet, who was sacrificed and crucified on the cross for our benefit, nothing of his own, taking no glory, taking no right that could be his, but sacrificing himself, the true meaning of giving up his entire being so that we might live, so that we might have a hope, a better life. Thank you for all that it means to be your child.

Thank you for showing us how we can stay faithful and what it means to be faithful. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your word, and thank you for your son. It’s in his name we pray. Amen.