Sunday, October 11, 2020

A NEW AND LIFE-GIVING WAY

 


Introduction: It was March 18. Leanne tried not to think about the fact that Melvin would have been 39 today. The face of the man driving the van flashed in her mind. She tried not to be angry. Once more, the scream of brakes, the crash, and then the silence replayed itself in her memory. She remembered the sound of the blades whipping through the evening sky as the helicopter carried Melvin’s organs to others whose very life depended on his final gift.

            Who were they? Would she ever get to see them? The recipient of Melvin’s heart had written twice in the year and a half since the transplant. Leanne had finally found the courage to answer and admit that she longed to hear that beautiful heartbeat again.

            There was no way she could have known that at that very moment, John Meinhardt and his wife Jan were signing release forms to reveal their identity to the donor family. John’s head swam with memories too: he could almost feel the mix of terror and ecstasy by hearing the nurse’s casual statement that a heart had been found. He wanted to live so much, but he had struggled with guilt, knowing that for him to live, someone else would die.

            Soon John and Leanne were choking back tears as they spoke on the phone. “When can we meet?” John asked. “How about in an hour at Latina’s Pizza?” Leanne replied. An hour later, Leanne laid her head upon John’s chest and heard the heart she had loved for so long, Melvin’s heart. The heart which had given new life to John.”[1] 

            Similarly, in our former state of sinfulness, we were like the living dead. We were walking around without real purpose and Hope. If we were to live productively, someone would have to die on our behalf. That’s what exactly Jesus did for us. Out of His great love for us, He died on the cross so that by believing in Him, we might live forever. Hebrews 10:15-25

            The author of the Hebrews points his audience to this powerful truth that only through Christ can we live and enter into heaven when we die. Hebrews 10:19, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.” It is not the blood of animals, but the blood of Christ that gives us entry into heaven.

            Then he explains how that has been made possible. Vs. 20, “By his death, (Lit through His flesh) Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.” When Christ died on the cross, the Temple curtain tore from top to bottom, opening a New and Life-Giving Way to all people to enter. I would like us to look at what this new way of living contains?  The author suggests a four-fold path for all believers to follow.

 

I. A WAY OF WORSHIP

            Vs. 21-22, “And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” This new and life-giving way is not just for our pursuit, but a call for corporate living as a Church, where we practice these principles in a community of believers.

            In an individualistic society, it is hard for us to grasp that we need each other for our well-being. But the early Christians understood that they were together in their pursuit of God.

 Until Christ’s death on the cross, only the High priest entered into the most Holy Place. But now all can enter confidently because Christ made us presentable both inside and out.

            Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Let us remember this new and life-giving way calls us to offer our lives as a living sacrifice; that is the way we worship God.

            Vs. 22, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Did you ever struggle with a guilty conscience, which makes you think you are a failure and can never do anything right?

            Guilt is a universal trait most human beings feel at different points in their lives, including believers. Despite knowing scriptures, at times we lack the confidence to trust God and struggle with a guilty conscience. Let me reiterate earlier messages: Once and for all, Christ has set us free from sin and made us righteous. He promised to forgive our past sins and remember them no more. What God has forgotten; the devil digs them up and makes us feel guilty.

            Whenever your guilty conscience attacks you, you can silence it by saying the blood of Christ has washed me. I am a new creation, the old has gone, and everything became new. I am free, forgiven, and no longer live in condemnation but live in His grace and mercy.

 

II A WAY OF UNWAVERING TRUST.

            Vs. 23, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the Hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promises.” By these words, the author warned them to persevere and hold firmly without wavering what they have believed in their newfound faith.

            It was perhaps preparation for the upcoming worldwide persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian in 303 AD. It is not that the Christians’ persecution is stopped; even today, our brothers and sisters worldwide are being persecuted for their faith. Paul encouraged Timothy to hold firm with these words: II Timothy 3:12-14, “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true.”  The oldest half-brother of Jesus, James, has something to say about those who are persevering under difficulties and how God rewards them.

            James 1:2-4, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy, for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So, let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

            Some new Christians have a rosy and idyllic view of following Christ. They expect all should go well and all the time. Yes, there is much joy and fulfillment in following Jesus, but that comes with hardships and troubles. A new and Life-giving way is marked with suffering, which is a hallmark of Christian maturity. Our Christ suffered much agony to bring us salvation.     All the apostles except one were martyred for their faith. Are we any different? We, too, will go through the suffering of all kinds. When you feel like giving up and can’t take it anymore, look up and see what Christ has done for you. Remember that God is faithful and trustworthy. He will never leave nor forsake you. He always keeps his word.


III. A WAY OF ACTION, NOT JUST WORDS

 

            Vs.24 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Christianity is not a religion of good works but it is a new and Life-giving way. It is packed with action, not with just empty words. If you are a follower of Christ, you are called not to passive and laid-back life but an active and productive life.

            Remember at some point some people came to Jesus and said, “we want to perform God’s works, too what should we do? Jesus told them; this is the only work of God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”  John 6: 29. This is to emphasize the fact that our good works will not save us but our faith in Christ saves us.

            The author in our passage challenged his audience to think of ways to motivate each other to acts of love and good works. God expects his followers to excel in love and good works.

            Our Lord Jesus Christ modeled a lifestyle of servanthood. Mk20:28, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If our Lord came to serve, would he expect anything less than that?

            The Apostle Paul reminds the Ephesian believers of their calling to do good works. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

            When we come together to worship, let’s think of ways “to motivate” in another version “to stir up” one another to acts of love and good works. During this Pandemic, let our good works shine before people so that they will glorify our father in heaven. If someone is sick among us, we don’t merely pray for that person, but we will show our care by cooking meals, bringing groceries, writing letters, making phone calls and by many other ways of help.

 

IV. A WAY OF ENCOURAGEMENT

            Vs. 25. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” We live in challenging times, which is one of the clear signs of our Lord’s return. Therefore, we have all the more reason not to stop gathering for worship at the Church or the Livestream.

            During the initial shelter in place, one of my younger sisters sent me a poorly recorded cooking video. I gave some creative input and encouraged her to start the “Ballas Kitchen” YouTube channel, which kept her going through these uncertain days of COVID-19. She has her cooking channel got about 366 subscribers. That is one example of what encouragement can do.             We all crave it, but we seldom give it to others. Therefore, let’s look for ways that we could encourage somebody today. Let me repeat this fourfold path of the new and Life-Giving way. It is a way of worship, unwavering trust, action, not just words, and encouragement. Amen!

 

 

 

 



[1] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/11739/salvation-by-guy-caley