Hebrews 10:19-25
In 1976, Francis Schaeffer wrote a significant book titled How Should We Then Live? His purpose was to show how ideas as they have been embraced or discarded have shaped the rise and decline of Western Culture. In his opening chapter he writes: “What [people] are in their thought world determines how they act…. The results of their thought world flow through their fingers or from their tongues into the external world. This is true of Michelangelo’s chisel, and it is true of a dictator’s sword.”
Richard Phillips, in the Reformed Expository Commentary on the Letter to the Hebrews, writes, “This is how the New Testament presents matters. The reason so much of the Bible is devoted doctrine – statements regarding what we must know and believe – is that the consequences of these truths are utterly definitive.” To demonstrate the veracity of the Scriptures’ approach, Phillips marshals the time-tested work of Schaeffer, noting carefully the decline of Western Culture.
Again, Phillips notes that “We are living in a time that says it matters not so much what we believe as how we believe it, that is, with sincerity and tolerance for other views that are diametrically opposed. Quite in contrast, the apostles demanded fidelity to the truths God revealed through them and through the prophets before them.” The apostle Paul therefore begins his Letter to the Galatians by writing, “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). Truth is of central importance and is definitive for salvation. To deny truth with even the best of apparent intentions is to rebelliously reject God and suffer eternal condemnation.
“How should we then live?” Schaeffer asked in his book, and he answered by saying that our manner of living must be consistent with our professed faith. Phillips writes, “This is a view strongly stated by the writer of Hebrews. He has devoted nine and one-half chapters to the proclamation of truth regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ. Now, in the transition from doctrine to application he says, ‘Therefore, brothers,’ what we believe must transfer into our life and actions.”
I hope you can join us this week as we continue our study in the Letter to the Hebrews 10:19-25. How Should We Then Live? is not only the title of an outstanding work by one of the world’s premier thinkers; it is also one of the most significant questions that we in the church in this 21st century must raise and answer.
For the next two months (Jun/Jul) there will be no Sunday School classes offered. We are setting aside the Sunday School time to not only provide our teachers a rest, but we are especially setting it aside to provide you an extra time on Sunday morning to bring your family together and to pray specifically for the work of Redeemer. Please take this time on Sunday mornings to pray for our service and for the means of grace within our church. We will resume Sunday School classes in August. But for now, we are asking you to spend extra time in praying for our morning worship time and the mission of our church.
Boldly Praying,
Pastor Wayne
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