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[Music] welcome to everybody it's good to be in the house of our God on this Lord's Day just a couple of announcements before we begin just a reminder that tonight will be the Lord's Supper our service begins at 5:00 and then Bible study will recommence this Wednesday evening that's at 7:30 in the fellowship hall upstairs we are presently in the book of Genesis for those who have not come and want to come and we are starting the narrative with reference specifically to Isaac we've been dealing with Abraham for quite some time transitioning out in to Isaac well for our call to worship this morning you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 100 Psalm 100 is a great and wonderful reminder concerning our presence before God and the Blessed privileges that are ours to praise and to honor and to glorify Him Psalm 100 beginning in verse 1 a psalm of thanksgiving make a joyful shout to the Lord all you lands serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing know that the Lord he is God it is he who has made us and not we ourselves we are his people in the Sheep of his pasture enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankful to him and bless his name for the Lord is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endures to all generations amen well please turn with me in your hem books to number 209 hymn number 209 will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] amen let us pray God Most High it's a joy and a privilege to gather in your house on this day to enter into your gates and God may it be with great Thanksgiving in our hearts as we consider who you are Father Son and Holy Spirit we consider what you have done you created the world and you govern it by your power and you have redeemed your elect out of it and may that thankfulness truly fill our hearts as we consider that work of redemption in and through our Lord Jesus Christ how we praise you that you sent him into this world sinners to save how we praise you that he took on our humanity that he lived in absolute conformity to your law that he died as a sacrifice and a substitute upon that cross and he was raised the third day how we praise you that you have given us the graces of faith and repentance so that we may believe on him and turn from sin and know the joy of being found in him god we pray that as we thank you as we praise you as we worship and adore you that you would be exalted and enthroned upon the praises of your people here that God would be all in all in this place and that our hearts would be drawn out in love and affection and adoration to the great to the true and living God we acknowledge Lord Most High not only the redemptive work that you have wrought in us but as well God your preservation over us we thank you that you never leave us nor forsake us we thank you that you load us daily with benefits we thank you that you provide for us and in every way imaginable and Lord God even beyond that even beyond what we were able to thank and to consider you bless us so God as we gather together as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray that we would ponder our great God that our our affections would go heavenward and that Lord you would indeed flood us with that that knowledge of the Holy One of Israel that God in heaven you would be pleased to send forth your Holy Spirit and that Christ would be found walking in the midst of this particular lampstand we thank you for it the Lord's Day we thank you for that one day out of the seven that you give us to gather together corporately in a special way to sing your praises to pray unto you to look to holy scripture and we pray that all that we do today would redound to the praise and the glory of our great God we ask that you would forgive us for our sins our transgressions of your holy law so we consider those Commandments those Ten Commandments we see a revelation of who you are and God as we see ourselves before you we confess with the hymn writer that we are prone to wander and prone to leave the god that we love we confess with the Apostle and Romans seven that the good that we wish to do we don't do and the evil that we don't want to do we find ourselves doing God we come to you and we confess that transgression of your law that lack of conformity unto it sins of omission and Commission God we confess them now trusting in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ invoking those blessed promises of Scripture David says in the Psalms a few Lord should mark iniquity Oh Lord who could stand but there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared and God as those forgiven of sin may we fear may we revere may we esteem you and may we indeed treat you as that holy God of heaven and earth we ask that you would be merciful to any and all who've come here this morning that are dead in their trespasses and sins those who have not tasted and seen that the Lord is good those who are undone because of sin we pray that they would find relief they would find grace they would find help from on high through the preaching of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit we pray that today would be the day of salvation for both young and old in this place god we can't appeal to sinners to save themselves we can't appeal to to sinner's to make themselves savable but we come to the God who has absolute power the God who makes men willing in the day of his power and we pray that you would be merciful that you would undertake that you would bless the word as it goes forth caused it to run swiftly and be glorified in this place and throughout the earth and our God in heaven we pray that men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation would come out of darkness into marvelous light confessing faith in the glory glorious Lord Jesus today and that many more would be added to the church by the power of the gospel we ask they would bless with reference to the temporal needs in this congregation we know there are several among us that that the labor that struggle with ongoing illness and sickness and we do commit them to you into the word of your grace we pray father for Sheila we ask that you would bless her that this procedure would have gone well that you would restore her to good health we also pray father for the blessing of God upon each and everyone in this congregation not with just just the physical maladies but with the spiritual as we all come together today we all come out of the world having faced temptations and trials and difficulties we confess there are many sorrows associated with life in this world and yet father we know that that that gospel that Word of God is the balm of Gilead that it is able to minister unto us and we pray that today we would take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and that we would commune with the father through the son and the power of the Holy Spirit and that God would be all in all in this place we pray for other churches thanking you that we're not alone in this community praying God that you would bless those who worship you in spirit and truth we pray that as sinners gather together in churches in Chilliwack she would be pleased to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto God through Christ the Lord we know this community has many needs but ultimately there is one need and that need is for the gospel of Jesus Christ so be merciful and bless the churches and God throughout this nation we live in dark days to be sure we live in days where abortion and euthanasia and and all manner of perversion is is is openly promoted it's propagated it's even celebrated God there's this just a wickedness and the hearts of men with reference to image bearers there is wickedness in the hearts of men with reference to - all things that you have spoken against and so father we pray that in your wrath you would remember mercy that you would bless the word as goes forth throughout this country and God we pray that you would have mercy that you would save that you would be gracious and that you would set things aright in this land Jesus taught us to pray that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven and we're not so foolish and naive as to think that that men could do this that that that politics could do this that that any resources that we have could do this but we know that the Prince of Peace is able to we know that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes for in that gospel the righteousness of God is revealed and we would pray even now that that word would go forth in this land and father we do thank you even though it is a wicked land we have many blessings and many liberties and help us to celebrate that and help us to use these things for your glory and for our well-being our hearts go out to those who live in nations where they don't have such blessings we read of the persecuted church we read of those who are are in countries that are steeped in a false religion and we would just commit our brothers and sisters into your care and we would pray God for those suffering under great oppression that you would be gracious to them and enable them to persevere in the midst of such things God be glorified throughout the earth and send forth your gospel and cause your face to shine upon the nation's and let them be glad and Lord we just thank you for this time that we can gather together it is a blessing to be with your people it is a blessing to be with those blood-bought children of God it's a blessing to open our books and to sing praises unto you it's a blessing to be able to open the book and hear from the word of the living and true God so father fill our hearts with joy with gratitude with celebration today in the presence of our great king and we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well please turn with me in your hem books to Psalm one Psalm one B as in Bravo we'll stand as we sing Psalm one be [Music] [Music] we can turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 4 for our scripture reading this morning Acts chapter 4 we'll read verses 23 to 37 Acts chapter 4 beginning in verse 23 and being let go they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them so when they heard that they raised their voice to God with one Accord and said Lord you are God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them who by the mouth of your servant David have said why did the nation's rage in the people plot vain things the kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for truly against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done now Lord look on their threats and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word by stretching out your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus and when they had prayed the place where they were assembled together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the Word of God with boldness now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own but they had all things in common and with great power the Apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all nor was there any one among them who lacked for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were and laid them at the Apostles feet and they distributed to each one or to each as anyone had need and Josie's who was also named Barnabas by the Apostles which is translated son of encouragement a Levite of the country of Cyprus having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles feet amen so essentially what we see here is an apostolic prayer meeting and then the life of the early church and with reference to this prayer meeting we see that they first of all addressed God in terms of creation verse 24 they say Lord you are God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in that and I've often thought that if we as the people of God sacrifice or give away the doctrine of creation if we capitulate to what modern science may may report then we're getting rid of a various a very reason for which to praise God a reason for which to present our prayers to God acknowledging that he has made the world acknowledging that he is sovereign acknowledging that he is supreme is something we find from Genesis to Revelation the Lord God most high is the one who made heaven and earth and the sea and it's very appropriate when we consider the particular station that the Apostles find themselves in they've just been persecuted by the Sanhedrin they've just been persecuted by the religious elite in Israel it is good for us to remember that God is over even our enemies God is supreme even over our enemies God is absolutely unrivaled as unrivaled sovereignty over even the enemies of the church and it's good for us to rehearse this to recount this and to consider this but as well they invoked the very word of God itself they see in their own lives and ministry they see in the life in the Ministry of the Lord Jesus and then again in their own time this this fulfillment of Psalm 2 it wasn't should have it should not have been a surprise to anybody who was a pro familiar with Psalm 2 the sorts of things that were going on the nation's raged the people plot vain things men outside of Christ despised God they reject him they reject his anointed or his Christ they despise they loathe a abominate amp and they understand that this is being fleshed out right in their midst and then they see again God's sovereignty over the situation this didn't happen in some haphazard way this didn't happen according to some you know renegade thing that occurred in history no they acknowledge the absolute Providence of God or the sovereignty of God in his Providence in verse 27 for truly against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do notice whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done again the doctrine of predestination or or God's absolute sovereignty bothers the non people of God but the people of God are greatly encouraged to realize that nothing transpires in this world apart from the decree of God Almighty it doesn't always make things easy in terms of suffering but when we know that God purposes to work all things for good then that gives meaning even to the suffering that the people of God endure if God is using these sorts of things to further conform us onto the image of Jesus Christ then praise be to his holy name imagine living in a world where the Herod's in the Pontius Pilate so the Prime Minister's or whoever ran along unchecked on governed on unsubmitted to to Providence God has all things under his control and this was a great encouragement to these apostles and then finally they make their petitions specifically known they don't pray that they wouldn't suffer they don't pray that they wouldn't be persecuted they don't pray that the Sanhedrin would back off they pray that they would have boldness in preaching the Word of the Living God I think we need to take our our pattern of prayer from Scripture itself they don't say Lord we don't like the Sanhedrin destroy that Lord we don't like the Sanhedrin caused them to find other enemies now they say Lord in the midst of all these goings on give us continued continued commitment to the truth of the gospel and a boldness to make it known and that is a most blessed and encouraging thing because they understand their place before God they are preachers they are Proclaimers and they need the requisite boldness to stand before the Sanhedrin to stand in various cities to stand before various persons and to make known Jesus Christ and him crucified it really is a wonderful prayer and of course God answers the prayer and that signified in verse 31 and when they had prayed the place where they were assembled together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the Word of God with boldness they did what God equipped them to do well let us pray our Father we thank you for this prayer we thank you for what it teaches us concerning your supremacy in your sovereignty and what is most important with reference to the church it's not that we don't suffer it's not that we don't get persecuted but that it's we remain faithful in preaching boldly the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord help us never to get sidetracked help us to always be faithful by your grace and for your glory Paul says in first Corinthians moreover it is required of stewards that they be found faithful may this be what what what what dictates our prayer life and what we bring before you Lord God in terms of those things that are most essential for the - the life and the health and the ministry of this local body and we pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well for our final him before the preaching we'll look at or will sing number 243 that's 243 again will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] we can turn with me in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 10 Hebrews chapter 10 we'll return to our exposition of the book of Acts God willing next Sunday morning but this morning I want to preach from Hebrews 10 specifically verses 26 to 31 which is a warning against apostasy a warning against apostasy but I want to read beginning in chapter 10 at verse 19 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 in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching for if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries anyone who has rejected Moses law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses of how much worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot counted the blood of the Covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing and insulted the spirit of grace for we know Him who said vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord and again the Lord will judge his people it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God but recall the former days in which after you were illuminated you endured a great struggle with sufferings partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated for you had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward for you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise forget a little while and he who is coming will come and will not tarry now the jaw shall live by faith but if anyone draws back my soul has no pleasure in him but we are not of those who draw back to perdition but of those who believe to the saving of the soul amen will let us pray father thank you for the written word of the living and true God thank you for its profitability in our hearts and lives and even now we pray for the ministry of the holy spirit to take that word and make it effectual in each one of our hearts may we receive the warning but as well may we see the encouragement that the tax holds out to those who do believe the gospel to those who do walk by faith in the Son of God who loved us and who gave himself for us and God we pray that the Spirit would be at work and those who are dead in trespasses and sins awaken them to their state before a holy God caused them to ponder the the verse that says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God obviously apart from that that righteousness of Jesus Christ so we pray that they would take heed that they would listen and by grace would believe on that one that is altogether lovely that one that is chief among ten thousand again do forgive us for our sins and unrighteousness and we pray through Christ Jesus our Lord amen well as we come to this particular section in Chapter ten at verse 19 the Apostle shifts direction and he begins to get real practical up until this point he is set forth the superiority of Jesus Christ he has highlighted the priestly office of the Lord Jesus Christ specifically as the as the priest and as the the victim as the sacrifice himself as the one in whom there is forgiveness of sins well here specifically in chapter 10 at verse 19 he gives some encouragement and then he gives some exhortations and those exhortations are found in verses 22 to 24 notice says let us draw near verse 23 let us hold fast and then verse 24 let us consider one another and then in verses 26 to 31 he gives a bit of a diversion or a bit of a digression it is intimately connected to verses 19 to 25 but he deals with apostasy and apostasy means basically to fall away from to defect from he's already dealt with this in Hebrews chapter 6 and we will have cause perhaps to refer to that passage as well so the one hand this is a warning passage and we need to take it as such but on the other hand I don't know that we always appreciate who the Apostle is identifying in verses 26 to 31 the typical believer comes to verse 26 and he he reads about this willful sin and he realizes or she realizes that when I said I I do it willfully when I said I choose to do it when I raised my voice or when I'm unkind or when I get upset or when I whatever it is I I do that willfully and so therefore with reference to verse 26 good Christian people at times begin to suspect that there are the ones in verses 26 to 31 so while I want to deal with the warning that the passage of forints I want us to be encouraged because it's not condemning weak believers it's not condemning believers it is condemning those who fall away those who are obstinate those who are incorrigible in fact I'd go so far as to say the persons pictured in verses 26 to 31 are most likely not in churches on Sunday morning they repudiate the very gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord now if you understand the context of the book of Hebrews it's helpful to understand the specific application that Paul is making I take it that Hebrews was written before AD 70 it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple that means the temple was still standing that means the sacrificial system was still being engaged in that means that there was a real temptation for Jewish believers to leave Christ and go back to Moses and one of the purposes of the particular letter is to exhort those who have started with Christ to persevere with Christ do not submit to the pressures around you do not fall back into this pattern of Old Covenant worship but rather go forward serve the Lord God Most High through Jesus Christ I want to look at three things in verses 26 to 31 this morning first the particulars sinned in view and we're gonna look at verses 26 27 and then 29 be here and then secondly we'll look at the covenantal comparison made in verses 28 and 29 and then finally the terrifying punishment proposed in verses 30 and 31 but note in the first place and this is where we're going to spend the bulk of our time so we really know what Paul is saying here with reference to this situation now some will obviously hear that I affirm Pauline authorship notice the triad in verses 22 to 24 faith hope and love it's another evidence that the Apostle Paul actually wrote the book of Hebrews and I take it that way and I want to preach it that way and if that makes you uncomfortable I'm very sorry actually I'm not very sorry you just have to deal with it Pauline authorship of Hebrews is it is a good thing and I think that's what's happening here but I want to identify first the willfulness involved with the sin secondly this is under the particular sin in view secondly the identification of the sin and then the certain expectation associated with the sin notice the sin in view for if we sin willfully after we have received verse 26 the knowledge of the truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins now we have to absent certain things when we come to this particular passage in Hebrews 2:17 we learned that Christ makes atonement for the sins of his people so those sins cannot be numbered here in verse 26 we know from first John 1:9 that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness we know that it can't be the sorts of sins that that erupt upon a man with some sudden vehemence and we see that in the way Peter Peter in Matthew 26 denies Jesus Christ on three occasions or three times to his slave girl that wasn't the willful sin that the Apostle is dealing with in verse 26 nor can it be the enormous vile horrific sins that even the people of God at times commit David is in heaven David is not an apostate according to Hebrews 10:26 231 David committed adultery and murder and nevertheless he found forgiveness with God that God may be feared so whatever the sin in verse 26 is it isn't those that are dealt with by Christ it isn't those that we confess and find forgiveness with by God it isn't those that are supress unsurprising sins that oftentimes befall the children of God and the scene in view cannot be even large and vile sins fact when you consider first John 1:9 how do you ponder that tact if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness are you the kind of person that sort of has the big sins and then the not so big sense we can confess the not so big sins but the big sins that just disqualifies us David's in heaven Peter's in heaven big sins aren't necessarily disqualifying sins now I'm not advocating go out and sin big but I am suggesting that we have a bigger Savior then we have big sins as Newton said I am a great sinner but Christ is a great Savior and we mustn't ever forget that notice as well the occasion of this particular sin for if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth the one guilty of this sin makes an outward profession of the faith they have received the knowledge of the truth and they have accordingly acted upon it John Owen says they were such as unto whom the gospel had been preached who upon conviction of its truth and sense of its power had taken upon themselves the public profession of it so this isn't necessarily describing the even the pagan the person that has never heard the gospel rather it is specifically attributable to those who had received the knowledge of the truth as well we see the finality of this particular sent notice in verse 26 at the end there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin that is a very final statement and one that echoes what he says in Hebrews chapter 6 you can turn there Hebrews chapter 6 he speaks in verse 4 to apostasy he says for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come gotta remember these are not believers because if you actually believe if you are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus you will never fall away we have the promise of God that there is nothing that shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord we have Philippians 1:6 that says and assures us that he will began this good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ these persons tasted but they hadn't eaten these persons became partakers of the Holy Spirit not in terms of the internalization of the Spirit of God but they were in churches the Holy Spirit was active and they got to benefit from it to some degree or others they tasted the good word of God through the preaching of the gospel and the powers of the age to come we ponder heaven we ponder the inheritance of the saints and those among the people of God yet some of that at least externally but notice what he goes on to say he says if they fall away to renew them again to repentance since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put him to an open shame so both in chapter 6 and 10 the Apostle underscores the impossibility for the center of this particular sin to be saved again that cannot apply to every other sin because we know that Christ came to die for our sins and to be raised again the sin in view cannot be attuned for by the grace for the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ because it's Christ's sacrifice that's utterly repeating it's Christ's sacrifice that is mocked its Christ's sacrifice that is ultimately trampled underfoot and in the context you need to appreciate the specificity if as we understand the book of Hebrews it comes to Jews and some of these Jews make this external profession of faith some of these Jews say yes Jesus is Messiah they confess him as Lord and Savior but then they turned from Jesus and they go back to the Levitical system what is that but to trample underfoot the Son of God to take that sacrifice that was once for all and to repudiate it to reject it to despise it to forsake it that's what's in view with reference to these particular persons they are apostates john calvin mentions or makes a comment concerning christ's sacrifice for his people he says Christ's sacrifice is efficacious to the godly even to the death though they often sin a brethren I don't read this and I don't bring this to encourage sin John says my little children I write these things so that you may not sin but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous my purpose is to encourage you that we have an advocate we have a redeemer we have a savior that when we sin and confess that sin there is forgiveness with him that he may be feared Calvin goes on to say nay it retains ever its efficacy the sacrifice of Jesus for this very reason because they cannot be free from sin as long as they dwell in the flesh right we need an efficacious sacrifice based on the fact that we are who we are we everyday need the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we everyday depend on blood we every day need that Savior intervie interceding on our behalf and being our advocate with the father every single day if anybody here says well I didn't need them on Thursday because I had a pretty good day you don't understand sin you don't understand law and you certainly don't under and the gospel you need him constantly because you're not obeying you're not glorifying you're not loving God and loving neighbor as yourself he goes on to say the Apostle van refers to those who alone to those alone who wickedly forsake Christ and thus deprived themselves of the benefit of his death see when you are I sin what do we do we feel bad about it I'm just generalizing here and then we confess it don't we that's not what these people do these people aren't weak Saints these people aren't struggling believers these people who are people who are openly mocking the very cross word of the son of God that's why there no longer remains a sacrifice for that sin because they repudiate the very sacrifice for sin that's who's in view it's apostates now notice specifically the identification of the set in verses 27 and 29 look at verse 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation will devour the adversaries believer when you sin against God and you confess that sin to God you're not as adversary can I just encourage you with that you're not his adversary when you do what he calls you to do if we confess our sins he's faithful and just to forgive us if we confess our sins he's faithful and just to condemn us as adversaries no it's not the adversary who struggles over his sin it's not the adversary who's convicted of his sin it's not the adversary who says the good that I wish to do I don't do and the evil I don't want to do I find myself doing the adversary is an adversary he is a posed to God he is hostile to God he is contrary to God and that's what the word used here needs opposed contrary and hostile the persons in view heard the word of God they make some sort of external profession of faith with reference to the Word of God and then they repudiate and reject that word of God and thus make themselves adversaries of the living and true God now the apostate is described in detail in verse 29 we'll get to that in more detail later in terms of the the punishment but notice how the apostate is described in verse 29 of how much worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy now notice the three things who has first of all trampled the Son of God underfoot secondly counted the blood of the Covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing and then thirdly and insulted the spirit of grace again your sin against God doesn't necessarily give that your sin against God is an offense it is a transgression it is a lack of conformity unto that law it is bad and it is to be confessed and forsaken but you will find mercy that's not so with this particular person it's impossible to renew them to repentance according to Hebrews 6 and here there's no sacrifice that remains for the person guilty of these three things now what does it mean to trample underfoot the Son of God it means what I've already stipulated to reject the sacrifice of the son of God the Apostle says earlier in this chapter the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sin so the idea is is that you've heard of the one who the bulls and goats pointed to remember the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is how the Baptist identifies Jesus Christ so you've heard of Christ you've heard that those those animals in the Old Covenant simply typify they were they were shadows they they pointed forward to that one who would come and fulfill all that the father had laid upon him and so then you hear that word you hear the gospel you make this external profession of faith and then you say forget it I want the bulls and the goats I'm gonna reject Jesus I'm going to repudiate Jesus I'm going to despise Jesus and I'm gonna go back to the temple I'm gonna take the bull out of my flock I'm gonna cut its throat I'm gonna hand it to the priests and then he's going to do his thing with it you see that is to trample underfoot the Son of God again I'm not saying every sin doesn't to some degree bring dis fight upon the name of the Lord Jesus but not like this these are apostates these are the hostile these are the ones opposed these are adversaries of the living and true God brethren if your doctrine of salvation yields the idea that as believers were adversaries you need to reform your doctrine of salvation it's the blessing of the gospel God takes adversaries and through the blood of Jesus Christ makes them his sons makes them his blood BOTS make them makes them participants in his own family John Gill man says this with reference to this trampling underfoot the Son of God he says could they have had their will of him they would have pulled him from his throne and trampled upon him it is a phrase expressive of the utmost scorn and I'm not saying go out and sin brethren but I am saying that when you do sin you have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous these persons don't come and say Oh Lord in heaven please forgive me that doesn't even come up and and don't get it in your head that the 26 to 31 or the Hebrew six people you know those poor innocent people you know they they are actively at enmity with God they are opposed to God I don't know if you saw this week but in Chile I think it was in the country of Chile there were pro abortionists that were burning effigies of babies to evidence and to indicate how much they support abortion now that is sick beyond all possible comprehension to burn effigies of babies to celebrate abortion and I'm not suggesting all apostates will necessarily do that but it's that kind of stuff it's that open disavowal of the gospel of free grace it is profligate it is wicked it is incorrigible it's not this poor innocent person wants to repent but God won't let him that's not it at all he is not a poor innocent person he has heard the word of the gospel he's made a public affirmation of that word of the gospel and then he has reputed it he has trampled underfoot the Son of God he says no I'd rather have the blood of bulls and goats no I'd rather have my own works no I'd rather have my own free will no I'd rather do it my own I'd rather go it without the Christ that's the mindset of the 26 to 31 percent and you need to keep that in mind he goes on to say it is a phrase says it is a phrase expressive of the mutt most scorn contempt and ill-usage and which such are guilty of who deny his deity an eternal sonship who render him useless in his offices undervalue this sacrifice despised his righteousness and strip him of the glory of his person office and grace and for those of you here that may not be believers don't immediately conclude that you're an apostate not all unbelievers are apostates all unbelievers are sort of in the same boat with the apostates but there is nothing precluding you from here and now believing on the Lord Jesus Christ see we don't ultimately know who an apostate is until they're dead and in hell that's why it's very you know ill-advised to bandy this term around without knowing the hearts of men we don't ultimately know who's an apostate in this life we may see some open profligate wretched sinners that deny Christ and that that openly trash his name and whatnot but but you see that even in the pages of the New Testament the Apostle Paul was a blasphemer he was a persecutor he was an insolent man and yet Christ saved him so if you're an unbeliever this morning don't immediately conclude that you're an apostate the fact that you are here is a good indicator that perhaps or not now if you are an unbeliever though believe look to Christ do not trample underfoot the sacrifice do not trample underfoot Christ himself but rather believe on him look to him in his brace his offices his righteousness all that John Gill has mentioned here so the apostate has trampled the Son of God underfoot secondly noticed that the apostate has counted the blood of the Covenant as a common thing notice in verse 29 counted the blood of the Covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing now a lot of people think well this is it this is the indicator this shows that you can be saved and then lose your salvation because after all this person was sanctified by the blood of the Kaaba and then lost yet the he there is Christ the he there isn't the apostate Christ is sanctified by the blood of the Covenant Christ is set apart for the high priestly office it is to do despite to Christ in terms of the sacrifice and in terms of his office as priests the specific emphasis he has counted the blood of the covenant by which Christ was sanctified a common thing Owen again says it is Christ himself that has spoken of who was sanctified and dedicated under God to be an eternal high priest by the blood of the covenant which he offered unto God so it's not teaching that the apostate was sanctified by the blood of the Covenant and then lost it no it's more despite done to the name of Jesus see who's the target in the apostates hostility it's Jesus and it's the spirit look at the last or the third identifier of the apostate they're the apostate has insulted the spirit of grace so we've got him trampling underfoot the Son of God Counting the blood of the Covenant by which Christ was sanctified a common thing and insulting the spirit of grace now remember that Jesus in his earthly ministry taught about an unpardonable sin it was the sin against the holy spirit that's probably what's happening in this particular passage Hebrews Saix Hebrews 10 and that unpardonable sin that sin against the Holy Ghost is what's in view it is apostasy Birkhoff helpfully explains what the sin against the Holy Ghost means he says it is not so much a sin against the person of the Holy Spirit against the person of the Holy Spirit as a sin against his official work in revealing both objectively and subjectively the grace and glory of God in Christ it's not just the person of the Spirit but the Spirit is the authorized representative of the glory of God in Christ that's what's being blaspheme that's what's being repudiated that's what's being rejected so the counting or the trampling of the son of God under what the counting and the blood of the Covenant is a common thing and then insulting the spirit of grace again your garden-variety sins brethren that you commit on a daily basis ain't that so please don't go home and say well go sin now because Butler said I'm not an apostate please don't take the sermon that way my little children I write these things to you so that you may not sin but if anyone does sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous if there's one thing I could pass on as a legacy to all of you is that Luther said I preach justification by faith every week because my people forget it every week so many believers weak believers are brought into such consternation over passages like these and it's not to be the case apostasy is not your garden-variety sin apostasy is a willful rejection after having heard it of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ it is an open vile repudiation of who Jesus is it is to trample it underfoot it is to insult the spirit of the great spirit of grace and it is to count a common thing the very blood of the Covenant by which Jesus was sanctified now yeah in the context his own rightly points out such were they who fell off from the gospel unto Judaism in those days don't forget the context you've got a group of people that have heard the truth a group of people would have confessed the truth and a group of people have repudiated the truth by going back to the bulls and goats of Old Covenant worship for us it may not be that but it may be this open a vowel that we no longer want Christ this open repudiation of the gospel and all things concerning the righteousness of Jesus this trampling underfoot the Son of God are insulting the the spirit of grace or counting as a common thing the blood of the eternal covenant is done by those who openly say absolutely positively no to the Lord Christ it's not the reality that they are innocent people that are struggling with a particular sin and the Lord God has shut them out or banish them no God invites those who are struggling with sin to come to him doesn't he doesn't Jesus say come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest doesn't the Lord God give us those blessed privileges and promises in the scripture I think all Christians should have those passages in their minds in their hearts you know before the internet before the internet I'm not that old I guess the internet was around in the 90s but but you know some of us had to write you know like I was be looking for books and I have to write it all down on a piece of paper and put it in my wallet there was no Amazon wishlist right that's a that's a really good thing but you know back in the day it taught you to do certain disciplines like that you write down some important things and put it in your wallet I think there's text that Christians ought to put in their wallets so I'm 25 11 is one of them so I'm 133 and four is one of them Matthew 18 I'm sorry Matthew 11:28 230 is one of them and first John 1:9 is certainly one of them if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness brethren the believer the Christian the ones struggling with remaining corruption is not an adversary of the Most High it is the person described in Hebrews 10 verses 26 to 31 now notice the certain expectation associated with this sin in verse 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries I think this echoes are is an allusion to the prophet Isaiah chapter 26 11 but again it confirms the identity of apostasy as the sin in view this adversarial language you've got to get it out of your head that if you are a believer struggling with remaining corruption you're an adversary of God the passage is not intended to condemn weak believers the passage is intended to condemn apostates and warn weak believers from becoming such the Geneva Bible I think is very helpful at this point it says for it is another matter to sin through the frailty of man nature and another thing to proclaim war as it were to God as an enemy jesus deal that way in the Garden of Gethsemane I want you men Peter James and John to watch with me and pray and what did they do they sack out they fall asleep they saw logs what's Jesus say to them the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak he doesn't say you adversaries you wretches you terrible people I cannot believe it he chides them to be sure he wants them to stay awake to be sure but he is akin to the Father in Psalm 103 13 he pities us he knows our frame he knows that were but dust weak believers are not condemned in Hebrews 10:26 231 open apostates are defectors are trampled underfoot of the Son of God are those who count is common though the blood of the eternal covenant are those who in spirit insult the spirit of grace they're the ones condemned in this passage not your eyes who are trying to confess our sins forsake our sins and find mercy from God these people don't do that they don't rejoice in Psalm 133 and 4 which is if thou o lord should smark iniquities who or who could stand but there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared there not the song 25:11 man who says pardon my iniquities for your name's sake O Lord for they are great the greatness of your sin ought to promote frequent access to the throne of grace what a what an argument pardon my sin for it is great don't we typically they part of my sin because I'm a good guy otherwise pardon my sin because I'm really trying pardon my sin because I don't know what l all these reasons we proffer for David the issue is pardon my sins because they're great if I don't have God to pardon my sin I got nothing and so once I was at 1/16 or one of the 100's it's off it's escaped me now what is the song and say I love the Lord why because he's heard the voice of my supplications brethren is not treat us as adversaries when we come to him in faith so that's the particular sin it's willful its apostasy and there is a certain expectation associated with that and now notice the covenantal comparison made in verses 28 and 29 verse 28 anyone who has rejected Moses law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses I think the specific passage in view here is Deuteronomy 17 2 to 7 and in Deuteronomy 17 2 to 7 it's not a sin here or there that the person is guilty of the language is conspicuous and it says transgression of the Covenant going after other gods see all throughout the Mosaic law there is a place for sinners all through the Mosaic law there is a place for sin the sacrificial system as a whole existed why so that sinful man could draw near to a holy God it's built in the five books of Moses that men will sin but God has provided a means for men who do sin and it's the sacrificial system Tabernacle temple but in Deuteronomy 17 2 to 7 it is a transgression of the Covenant a repudiation of all that is God and it's demonstrated in the fact that this person now goes after other gods so you see it's not the suffering struggling Saint in Leviticus that that 8 jack dog or 8 you know something that he was forbidden yeah he had a shrimp well were you're done it's out you're over you can't be in the government you've eaten shellfish and you're now damned to hell that's not the way the Old Covenant read that's not the way the Old Covenant is is structured but a repudiation of the Covenant the transgression of the Covenant a going after other gods you have to see that that's a bit of a different thing than eating shrimp now I'm not suggesting it was ok to eat shrimp God said don't eat shrimp when God says don't eat don't eat shrimp but it's not the same there was a tonne meant for the shrimp eater in the Old Covenant but not for the one who transgressed the very covenant itself and the one who went a whoring after other gods and that's what the author invoked here Deuteronomy 17 2 to 7 the issue is not breaking a specific command but a rejection of the law as a whole and then notice the greater penalty involved verse 29 he says of how much worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy of who has and then it's trampled the Son of God underfoot counted the blood of the Covenant by which he was sanctified as a common thing and insulted the spirit of grace what's one of the main emphases in the book of Hebrews stefa sighs the superiority of Jesus so what's the argument you sin against Jesus and the punishment that you will receive is far worse than what you would have received under Moses not that it was okay under Moses but there's a worse punishment involved in having heard the word of the gospel and then openly renouncing and disavowing any connection to the Lord Jesus Christ whatsoever there is greater punishment associated with rejecting greater light and this is where we all ought to stand a bit afraid in light of this reality we have a lot that poor guy during the times of Moses that ate a shrimp didn't have the same weight that we have we have an abundance everybody here is a has a Bible probably has two three four five at home we have sermon audio I'm sure somebody out there knows how many sermons are actually posted I mean it's overwhelming to go to sermon audio isn't it unless you know who you're looking for it's one of those things it's like it's just too much like the cereal aisle at the at the grocery sighs too much I don't know what to pick it is too many choices there's too much good stuff in this aisle the same thing with sermon audio there's there's just a glut of information we've got blood publishers we've got what we've got it now so that if you're too lazy to actually pick up a book and put your lap and read it you've got a device that will read it to you come on there is no excuse for biblical illiteracy in the 21st century when we can put the earphones in and hear a man read to us the book of Romans you know I still like picking up the Bible it's so heavy I just I'm just such a sluggard I can't you know move off my bed to be bothered can you reach over and grab your iPhone and plug it in your head well you know that might be a stretch in the 21st century I'm sure but but but you get my point we are the benefactors of great white and in our particular tradition the reformed tradition with our Creed's and our confessions there really is no excuse whatsoever to be illiterate with reference to the doctrine of justification with reference to the identification of the sin of chapter 10 26 to 31 so you see what the Apostles point is if you did this in that society you were put to death there wasn't mercy but how much worse punishment do you suppose there is for those who've heard the gospel who make an open profession of the gospel and then openly repudiate that gospel of course there is a greater degree of punishment that will come upon that particular person and then notice finally the terrifying punishment proposed verses 30 and 31 he says for we know Him who said vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord and again the Lord will judge his people it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God the Vengeance of God it's a terrifying concept isn't it it's terrifying see the adversaries will reap the Vengeance of God the wheat believer won't why do you think God and his vengeance is going to come out and get you if you confess your sin and you seek mercy from Christ that's not an adversary brethren adversaries don't prey adversaries don't read the Bible adversaries don't bolon their sin adversaries don't reckon the conflict that exists visa vie Galatians five the flesh lusts against the spirit the spirit against the flesh these are contrary to one another so that you don't do the things that you wish the adversary doesn't care the adversary lives as if there is no God the adversaries already openly pronounced there is no dot as far as he is concerned but with reference to the people of God we will not be subject to the vengeance of God and you can thank the Lord Jesus Christ for that because he took the vengeance of God that was due for us he took the wrath and fury and the punishment of God that was due for us he cried my God my God why hast thou forsaken me so that you and I will never have to we will not fall prey to the vengeance of God because God has expressed his vengeance in the person of his son when the son went to the cross bearing our sin carrying our sin the Lord God Most High was pleased to bruise him was pleased to crush him according to the prophet Isaiah but for the apostate for the one who rejects for the one who is identified in verses 26 to 31 it is a terrifying judgment that awaits you notice the backdrop is Deuteronomy chapter 32 35 to 36 now if you're familiar with Deuteronomy 32 it's in the context of the covenant community see this sin isn't the sin of the pagan no not to say the pagan isn't going to meet the Vengeance of God not to say that the pagan isn't going to meet the terrifying judgment of God he is to be sure but this language initially it was spoken to Israel in Deuteronomy 32 those who have come close those who've made an outward profession and then those who openly repudiate those who openly reject it's a sin that takes place among the professing people of God both in the Old Covenant setting and here in the New Covenant setting that the Apostle says vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord and again the Lord will judge his people and then that final statement in verse 31 it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living consider the contrast in the chapter go back to chapter or go back to verse 19 in chapter 10 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 draw near to what God it's God who are we drawing near to it's not nebulous and undefined what's kind of draw near I mean that's probably a postmodern thing now we're just drawing near to what doesn't matter we're drawing near kind of meet with this and the life of faith well it doesn't matter what you believe in as long as you have faith it absolutely positively does matter what you believe in you can believe in that piano until the cows come home but it ain't gonna save you you need to believe the truth as it is in Jesus Christ this drawing near is a bless of provision for the people of God because of this new and living way that has been that has been inaugurated by the blood of Jesus Christ we have access back to Hebrews four we considered some of these passages earlier in the confession study but in Hebrews chapter 4 notice what the Apostle does there verse 14 seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our confession for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize notice with our weaknesses it doesn't just mean your physical inability to benchpress 250 the weaknesses there are your sins your remaining corruption the the reality that you are weak he sympathizes with us you understand that he's omnipotent he has compassion he's a sympathetic Savior he actually cares for us again that the echoes of Psalm 103 on a ring in our ears the father pities us he knows our frame he knows that we're but dust and therefore it evokes from the Father's heart pity towards his children well here we have in verse 15 we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need brethren our time of need is all the time our time of need is oftentimes instigated by the presence of sin and so what the author is saying is in that time of need when we've either a sin or we're about to sin or were tempted to sin what are we supposed to do I gotta go clean myself up from my sin and then I can draw near to God no that's the devil's logic draw near to God and he may give you the power to resist that sin it's the interesting thing about the supper you know we have the Lord's Supper once a month and sometimes I think people don't come to the service because they've said it's especially designed for those who sin what would we ever conclude this I'm not gonna go see that hip surgeon because he'll fix my hip I'm not gonna go get that shot of penicillin because it'll cure my mallet no we don't do that the Supper isn't designed to be a reward for your good works it's a reminder for the glorious works of our Lord Jesus Christ do this in remembrance of me now if you are not dealing with your sin you are openly profligate you are not living with a conscience void of offense toward God and men then obviously the warnings in 1st Corinthians 11 obtained don't take look if you're struggling you're weak you're agonizing you're confessing you're forsaking you're saying with the Apostle the good that I wish to do I don't do the evil I wish I don't wish to do I find myself to this supper is for you we'll pray because we've sinned the emphasis of the scripture is you better pray because you've said go back to the Father remember that bit and Jeremiah the Prophet chapters 2 and 3 read that some time in light of your own position before God in Jeremiah chapter 2 God through the prophet and Deitz the people why because they were wicked they were terrible they did horrible things that God is able to say to them as a nation exchanged it's God's for another and yet my people do that and then he five times in Chapter three yet return to me says the Lord yet return to me says the Lord yet return to me says the Lord you know what the answer is when you sin against God it's not to live at a distance from man it's not to avoid him it's not to say well you know I've got to clean up it's to go to him isn't that the emphasis in our tax we're here in 410 416 let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need so that is the blessing of falling into the hands of the Living God for the believer there's no place we'd rather be isn't there is there oh that we could fall into the hands of the Living God even more and more because he's so gracious he's so glorious he's so wonderful in the language of the bride with reference to the bridegroom and the Song of Solomon he's what he's altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand who doesn't want to fall into his hands but in terms of the apostate it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God that living God is going to send forth his vengeance his judgment and a worse punishment than that one that which was associated under the Old Covenant to those who have heard those who've made an open profession of faith and then those who have taken the apostates route and openly disavowed any interest in our Lord well brethren I want to make a few final thoughts and then we'll close first the connection the text assumes there is no haphazard Ness and the way that Paul has put this chapter together in fact if you look at verse 26 it starts with for for if we sin willfully that expresses a connection to what has preceded and the connection is simply this if you do not do what Paul says in verses 19 to 25 especially 22 to 24 this drawing near this holding fast this considering one another that is the high road to the apostasy that is described in verses 26 to 31 Lords it's God who keeps us and God uses means by which he keeps us and the means that God uses to keep us are the sorts of things that are indicated in verses 22 to 24 let us draw near if we're not we run the risk of apostasy let us hold fast if we're not we run the risk of apostasy let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works if we're not we run the risk of apostasy does everybody see that connection because you have to because that's how verse 26 starts 4:4 we willfully sin against God by repeating the sacrifice of Christ that is demonstrated manifested in the way that we despise the means that God has given we're not saved because we draw near we're not saved because we hold fast and we're not saved because we consider one another but these are the fruits or the consequences of us having been justified by faith so if we are not engaged in these particular things we run the risk of apostasy Lords brethren come to church in other words brethren stir one another up in other words brethren be right with reference to sound doctrine and hold it fast and in other words brethren draw near to God he has bought this privileged for you through the blood of his own dear son are we not going to use it are we not going to pray we're not gonna read we're not going to come to the supper we're not going to avail ourselves of the things that God has given to keep us from this sin of apostasy see apostasy doesn't just happen either I doubt anybody wakes up on a Sunday morning and says that's it I'm done it's over no more for me I'm not gonna serve Jesus any longer now that may happen but typically it's persons that compromise its persons that don't draw in there its persons that don't hold fast it's persons that don't consider one another it's persons who throw off the things that God has given that run the risk of apostasy and this is the connection that the text assumes secondly the warning the tax communicates the apostate willfully reject the gospel he's heard it he's understood it he's made a profession of it but then he tramples underfoot the Son of God the apostate places himself in a position that is beyond hope with reference to repentance that's hebrews chapter 6 it is impossible to renew them the apostate ultimately makes God is enemy the apostate ultimately makes himself the adversary of the living and true God and is therefore susceptible to the vengeance and the fury and the wrath of God Almighty and the apostate is not only one who publicly repudiates Christ which we might assume is always the case the the apostates going to stand up at a prayer meeting or or on a Sunday and say that's it I'm done it's over I'm out it could be sort of that open vociferous profession but it could be a self-righteousness it could be quieter it could be a defection or a departure from the gospel that isn't necessarily visible to everyone around us so we need to be aware that this tax does communicate a very strong warning to the professing people of God but I do want to highlight the comfort the text affords I mentioned of the Brethren in the last hour that I wanted to preach this tonight with reference to our Lord's Supper service but I thought it'd be a a bit of a hard sell to preach on apostasy for the Lord's Supper but I actually think if you follow the Apostles logic if you connect the dots as to what he is saying there's a great deal of comfort in this passage isn't there there's a great deal of encouragement in this passage if you are not the person that is herein described you ought to you know stand up and kick your heels together and say praise Jehovah from whom all good things flow the lexical Argan alar Gyun that means the language of the text adversaries Christians are not adversaries against the living and true God the contextual argument the description of apostates in verse 29 those three particulars that are involved in apostasy and the larger context of the book of Hebrews the Apostle is saying to those Jews who had professed faith in Jesus Christ keep going forward to Zion keep going forward with Jesus don't go back to the Levitical priesthood Christ is superior to Moses Christ is superior to Aaron Christ a superior to that sacrificial system Christ is the one to the to whom all those things point it so stay with Christ do not reject Christ do not repudiate Christ and then of course the biblical larger biblical theological argument David and Peter are in heaven that ought to encourage us not to go out and commit adultery not to go out and commit murder and not to go and deny our Lord but to realize that God's grace is powerful enough to even forgive that see we need to be reminded of that and then there's a historical argument you know there are times when you know a kid on the playground isn't taken seriously so he brings his big brother well I'm gonna bring my big brothers to bear on this particular subject of apostasy so that you'll understand this isn't an invention in my own head John Owen says on Hebrews 10 wherefore the sin here intended is plainly a relinquishment and renunciation of the truth of the gospel and the promises thereof with all duties thereunto belonging after we have been convinced of its truth and about its power and excellency here that's what's in view not the person who sins tomorrow goes to God confesses and forsakes s Hebrews 6 John Owen again says it must consist in a total renunciation of all the principles and doctrines of Christianity whence it is denominated such was the sin of them who relinquished the gospel to return unto Judaism as it was then stated in opposition unto it and hatred of it this it was and not any kind of actual sense that the Apostle manifestly discourse is concerning lords it's not particular sins that God has afforded forgiveness for in and through the gospel of Jesus and then John Calvin on Hebrews 6 there is a two-fold falling away one particular in the other general he who has in anything or in any ways offended has fallen away from his state as a Christian therefore all sins are so many fallings right there is that general sense he says but the Apostle speaks not here of theft or perjury or murder or drunkenness or adultery but he refers to a total defection or falling away from the gospel when a sinner offends not God in some one thing but entirely renounces his grace I mentioned of the Brethren in Surrey last week that we live in a time where in our discourse and popular discourse if I were to say I love apples somebody today might say well why do you hate oranges I don't hate oranges I just love apples so when Calvin mentions theft and perjury and drunkenness and murder he's not saying go out and do those things but what he is saying is that there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared it's not the particular sins but it is rather a renunciation of the gospel and the very sacrifice of Christ that that gospel communicates Calvin Ani Bru's turn but Christ's sacrifice is efficacious to the godly even to death have already read this though they often sin John Gill on Hebrews 10 says it intends a total apostasy from the truth against light and evidence joined with obstinacy and then in his excellent commentary on the Heidelberg catechism zechariah zechariah Ursinus in his discussion of church discipline he says an apostate is not one who occasionally or even often offends and doctrine in life and repents again of his sin but his such and one who being convicted of air and open wickedness is still unwilling to abandon his sins and to renounce his errors there is an obstinacy involved in apostasy that the garden-variety Saint who is seeking to deal with his or her sent each and every day doesn't have if you don't see that we can talk later I can try to convince you more because you need to understand the blood of Jesus Christ his son does cleanse us from all sin the gospel speaks to believers even in their remaining corruption the gospel speaks to believers in the real language of the Apostle Paul in Romans 7 in Galatians 5 in the real language of our confession of faith in chapter 17 at parrot three and though they may through the temptation of Satan and of the world the prevalence II of corruption remaining in them and the neglect of the means of their preservation fall into Grievous sins and for a time continue their end whereby they incur God's displeasure and breathe his spirit come to have their graces and comforts impaired have their hearts hardened and their conscience is wounded hurt and scandalized others and bring temporal judgments upon themselves yet they shall renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end brethren in some please recognize the difference between a weak Saint and an open enemy of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ if you are in the former category then do not let 10:26 231 nor Hebrews 6 cause you to fall to pieces understand that there are persons running the risk of these things and certainly pray for them but as one who is seeking by God's grace each and every day to maintain a conscience void of offense toward God and man be encouraged be helped be blessed and be strengthened and if you are not a believer here this morning again doesn't necessarily mean you're an apostate but do not continue in this trajectory do not continue living at a distance from the prophet of mercy do not continue to live at arm's length from the living and true God he bids men come all over Scripture it's not one place here or there where the God of heaven and earth says to sinners to come it's all throughout in fact God comes to sinners beginning in Genesis chapter 3 dog comes to sinners in Genesis chapter 12 God comes to sinners all throughout the Psalter and the and the prophets God comes to sinners in the person in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that one said my my mission my my purpose my meat is to do the will of him who sent me in terms of his obedience to the Father he says on the occasion of Zacchaeus to solve Asia he has come to seek and to save that which was lost do not reject it do not repudiate it but rather believe on him and whom there is salvation well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word we thank you for this passage of Holy Scripture and well on the one hand it is a stern warning against the sin of apostasy I hope it's an encouragement to my dear brothers and sisters here that are struggling that perhaps are weak that are seeking by your grace to find that mercy and that forgiveness and that provision that you give in the gospel I pray that they would be helped that I would be helped that all of us God would walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit we thank you for your grace your mercy and your loving kindness to us and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well we'll close by singing in our hymn books number 568 hymn number 568 we'll stand as we sing together [Music] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen well let us pray father we thank you that this is pronounced upon the church in Corinth and I pray that this too would encourage our hearts we know that perfection is an impossibility on this side of heaven we know that we will struggle with remaining corruption but we know in the gospel there is provision for such and I pray that we would not soon forget this but each and every day we would seek by your grace to live in a manner that is consistent with your will and word but God when we do sin let us remember the advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous bring us together again tonight father that help us to worship and to glorify and to sanctify this day and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed