2014 New Year Resolution

2014 New Year Resolution

 

 

Text:  Hebrews 10:19

Reading:  Hebrews 10:19-25

 

 

Introduction

 

Every New Year, people all around the world make New Year Resolutions.

However, these resolutions are abused realities.

We even make jokes about them . . . “My only New Year’s resolution is to make no New Year’s resolutions.”

What a shame, because something important is at stake.

How do we make commitments?

Are we faithful to our commitments?

How do we keep commitments?

 

During 2013, as a preacher, I have been preaching Six Major Areas;

Knowing and Understanding the Father’s Heart

Reestablishing our Relationship with God & with Others

Understanding God’s Purpose & Mission for our Lives

Showing Compassion toward Our Neighbors

Obeying God’s Word in Our Lives

 

 

Through prayer and meditation, I thought about what our Spiritual New Year Resolution ought to be.

 

I would like to share this with you from the Book of Hebrews.

 

 

What God Has Done for Us

 

“We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place . . .”  (vs. 19)

 

      In Jewish theology, the presence of God was to be feared.

ð  Quite often most Jews shrink back from the presence of God and even from speaking his holy name.

ð  The Holy of the Holies, which represented the presence of God, was covered so that persons could neither enter nor see into it.

ð  Only once a year, after elaborate rites of purification and precautions (such as tying a rope around the priest’s ankle in order to pull him out in case of death in the presence of God), could a priest enter into the Holy of Holies, and then only in fear and trembling.

 

      In contrast, …

ð  Christians proclaim that God can be not only approached but approached with confidence.

ð  We approach the presence of God not only unafraid, but with eager anticipation and joy.

ð  Jesus spoke of God as “Father” with all of the connotations of intimacy and nearness.

 

 

“A new and living way opened for us through the curtain . . .”  (vs. 20)

 

      Outside of the Holy of Holies was a veil.

ð  It covered the place that represented the presence of God.

ð  Its primary purpose was to keep people out.

ð  The Christian proclamation is that in the death of Jesus the Christ, the curtain has been rent in two from top to bottom.

 

      This symbolizes, first, that God did it.

ð  Christianity is not about what people can do for themselves; it is not about man’s search for God.

ð  Rather, the emphasis in on what God has done for us and on God’s search for lost people.

ð  People come to God not through moralism or mysticism, but through the death of the Son of God.

 

      The tearing of the veil from top to bottom symbolizes, secondly, that people can now enter into the presence of God.

ð  Because of the redemptive work of Jesus, we can enter into God’s presence; the veil separating us from God has been torn apart.

 

 

“We have a great priest . . .”  (vs. 21)

 

      The word priest means “bridge builder,” which adequately describes the work of Christ.

ð  The bold proclamation of the gospel is that Jesus builds bridges of trust and love between humans and the Father.

ð  He is the Door, the Rent Curtain, the Way into God’s presence.

 

      In Jesus we now know how much God loves us and all that he will do to redeem us.

ð  And it is Jesus' great love for us that draws us to him.

ð  The memory of his pierced hands pierces our heart and draws us.

ð  If the cross will not make you come, nothing will.

ð  If the cross cannot make you feel welcome, nothing will.

 

 

Our Resolution

 

The first part of the resolutions are established by God Himself.  Let us now examine our resolutions to God.

 

“Let us draw near to God . . .”  (vs. 22)

 

      Here we are reminded of the “duty” of worship.

ð  As Augustine so eloquently put it:  “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”

ð  This is mind boggling for Jews -- to think that persons can boldly enter into the presence of God confidently and with joy.

ð  This is, indeed, a privilege which we all too often take for granted.

 

      Let us draw near to God “in full assurance of faith” (vs. 22).

ð  Often a boy will not ask a particular girl out for a date because of the fear of rejection.

ð  This is a familiar fear for all of us.

ð  We do not have to worry about that with God.

ð  We can draw near to God in the full assurance of faith.

ð  We are his delight & his joy.

 

      We also draw near to God in the full assurance of forgiveness.

ð  In 8:12 the author describes God’s forgiveness:  “I will . . . remember their sins no more.”

ð  God will not hold our sins against us.

ð  He forgives our sins and wipes the slate clean.

 

 

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”  (vs. 23)

 

      God has been faithful to us; he has provided a way of salvation.

ð  Therefore we should keep the faith.

ð  It is not always an easy task, but it is the one we have been given to do.

 

“Let us . . . spur one another on toward love and good deeds”  (vs. 24)

 

      Through our words and our actions, we are to help others.

ð  We need to be encouragers, persons who put courage into others.

ð  Life is full of discouragers, self-appointed cold-water committees.

ð  We need encouragers.

 

      The name Barnabas means encouragement.

ð  It was Barnabas who first believed in Paul and led the other to trust him also.

ð  It was Barnabas who encouraged Paul to give John Mark another chance and took the young man himself on a missionary journey.

 

 

“Let us not give up meeting together”  (vs. 25)

 

      There is no such thing as “Long Ranger Christianity.”

ð  William Barclay wrote, “There is no man who can live the Christian life and neglect the fellowship of the church.”

ð  There is no “secret discipleship.”

ð  Coals in a group will burn brighter and longer and stay hotter.

ð  Sticks in a bundle are harder to break.

ð  Fellowship provides strength and energy, resolve and commitment.

ð  The church is a vitally necessary “hospital for sinners.”

ð  To be absent is against our best interest.

 

 

Conclusion

 

God has kept his resolutions to us.

He has allowed us to enter his presence, has granted us forgiveness, and has united us with him.

All of this has been effected by the death of Christ.

 

Out of gratitude for all God has resolved, let us resolve to know him better by drawing near to him, keeping faithful, encouraging one another and fellowshipping with the saints.

 

-Pastor; Oh yun seok-