MAY 29, 2022 – ONE ANOTHER SERIES
LESSON 17
BE INVOLVED WITH ONE ANOTHER
HEBREWS 10:24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
WE BEGAN WITH THE SUGGESTION THAT THIS “ONE ANOTHER” TENDS TO CAPTURE THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE
STUDY. IF WE FOLLOW THE COMMAND OF JESUS, TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, INVOLVEMENT IS NATURAL AND
INTUITIVE. THE BOOK OF HEBREWS FOCUSES ON THE SUPERIORITYOF JESUS IN EVERY SENSE. THAT TRUTH IS
IMPORTANT TO JEWISH CHRISTIANS THAT HAD EMBRACED JESUS. COMING TO CHAPTER 10 THE WRITER ADDRESSES
THE SUPREME SACRIFICE THAT JESUS MADE, LEADING TO THE ADMONITION IN VERSES 23-25:
“
LET US HOLD UNSWERVINGLY TO THE HOPE WE PROFESS, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.
AND LET US CONSIDER HOW WE MAY SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TOWARD LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS,
NOT GIVING UP MEETING TOGETHER, AS SOME ARE IN THE HABIT OF DOING, BUT ENCOURAGING
ONE ANOTHER—AND ALL THE MORE AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.”
BUD OFFERED THE FOLLOWING GENERAL COMMENTS ON THIS PASSAGE AS FOLLOW:
JESUS’ SACRIFICE WAS ONCE FOR ALL
HE IS FAITHFUL AND WE MUST HOLD TO THE HOPE IN HIM
THAT MEANS TO CAREFULY CONSIDER HOW TO SPUR ONE ANOTHER
WE MUST BE FAITHFUL TO MEET TOGETHER
THE DAY IS APPROACHING
RON ADDED THE FOLLOWING INSIGHTS FROM THE PASSAGE.
Heb. 10:24
This passage begins with verse 19. Verses 19-25 in the Greek are all one sentence, while English translations usually
break them into from two to four separate sentences. So, you need to take them as a whole. Let’s read the whole
passage first then break it down.
Vs. 19 “Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,” Vs. 20 “by a new and
living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is His flesh,” Vs. 21 “and since we have a great priest over
the house of God,” Vs. 22 “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water;” Vs. 23 “let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;” Vs. 24 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and
good deeds,” Vs. 25 “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,
and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.”
Vs. 19 “Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,”
This word, "confidence", is sometimes translated "boldness" or "authorization". We now have boldness and authority to
enter the heavenly tabernacle. The emphasis here is on the great extent of this right to have access to God. This word
was also used to describe the right of free speech for citizens in the assembly of the Greek cities.
When the writer says that we can now enter the Holy place, this does not refer to the act of entering but the means.
It’s "by the blood of Jesus". "Enter" here refers to "a way that was not there before". In Jewish terms, this “entry” is
analogous to the temple entrance to the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest was allowed in once a year on the Day of
Atonement. He could only enter after he had made sacrifice for his own sins. If his sacrifice was not accepted by God,
God could strike him dead. That’s why he always had a rope attached to him so that the other priests could pull him out
if he died. They were not allowed to enter under any circumstance. The fact that year by year, God did not strike any of
them dead likely led to a complacency toward their own sin.
What verse 19 is saying is that we don't need to slink timidly into God's presence. This right of entrance into God's
presence was obtained by the cleansing blood of Christ. We can now enter with confidence and authority. Think of
what this meant to these Jewish Christians. The Holy Place was where God dwelled in Israel.
Vs. 20 “by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is His flesh,”
What does "living way" refer to? Something that is alive and active. It is not a onetime thing. The author wants them
to grasp the full significance of their continuing right of entrance into God's presence.
Moses inaugurated the tabernacle with animal blood. Christ inaugurated the heavenly tabernacle with His blood.
"Inaugurate" can also be translated "dedicate". Its root means "to make something new". This word implies new in
character. This entrance is seen as forever new or fresh.
Through the veil refers to going from the Holy into the Most Holy Place. When Christ's flesh was torn on the cross, the
veil was torn in the temple. The way into the Most Holy Place is now open.
Vs. 21 “and since we have a great priest over the house of God,”
This is a reminder. You have a great, or High, priest, and He is the basis of your confidence.
The next three verses are often referred to as a spiritual salad—Let us, let us, let us—draw near, hold fast, consider.
Vs. 22 “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
“Draw near” means "move into someone’s presence". Why is this important? We now have personal access to God
through Christ. So, let’s take advantage of this opportunity.
Do you realize the greatness this gift? The privilege? Those before Christ did not have this kind of access. How often
are we using this privilege? How often do we seek God’s presence?
The author says this is to be with a "sincere" heart. What do you think this means? There are three other words
sometimes translated “sincere”. The root of this word is “truth”. It refers to a heart which recognizes and speaks the
truth. It includes the ideas of genuine, and without ulterior motive. There is no guile or pretense in this heart. It’s also a
heart that is ready to listen.
Then we come in "full assurance of faith". This means absolutely secure in God's promise of His presence.
This is followed by two metaphors:
1) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse our guilty conscience. This is a transformation of the heart.
2) having our bodies washed. One commentator said that this is parallel to Aaron and his sons being washed to be
installed in their priestly office. This may be the first indication that all believers are now priests. As Peter says in 1 Pet.
2:9, we are a royal priesthood.
Vs. 23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;”
Hold fast means take a firm grip. Our confession of hope is the testimony of our faith. Hold onto it
“Unwavering” means “veering neither to one side nor the other.” It is maintaining an absolutely straight course.
The author ends with: Faithful is the One who promised. God's people have the most certain guarantee: His character
and reputation.
Vs. 24 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,”
"Let us consider" means "let us give full attention to" or "focus our attention on”. Many of these Jewish Christians had
been "considering" (in the same sense) returning to the Levitical system of Judaism in order to avoid persecution. The
author is saying, "Instead of considering that, consider this." The author is urging them (us) to concentrate a conscious
focus on activities that stimulate one another.
“Stimulate” means to incite, to stir up, to provoke. It can mean to “irritate”. The idea is to make someone
uncomfortable in their status quo. This is not just a mild stimulation. These Christians were facing difficult times. It is
important to understand that faithful service to God includes stimulating one another. In effect this is saying, "Let’s get
moving.” Focus your minds and energies on working with others in the body. We are a partnership. We either work
together or we don’t work at all.
We are not to settle for anything than the best for and from each other. We are to stir one another to love and good
deeds. This is love that is expressed in action toward one another as a habit.
Here is what Setzer, in “Love One another” says, “This is one of the few confrontational commands. The Christian life is
for the serious, not the casual strollers. The mutuality commands generally assume an openness to spiritual growth.
This command deals with what most of us are at least some of the time—rebellious. Christians don’t always strive for
the highest and the best. In these cases, we need someone to “stir” us up especially when we are headed in the wrong
direction.”
The command to stir up one another is meant to push us beyond our comfort zone. And how do we stir up one
another? With grace. Remember:
Love one another as I have loved you.
Forgive one another as God has forgiven you.
Accept one another as Christ has accepted you.
Vs. 25 “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the
more, as you see the day drawing near.”
Forsaking here is not just "leaving" but a willful "abandonment".
Gather together has its root in the word synagogue. This is a core concept. Collective, corporate worship is a vital part
of spiritual life. We need the body.
The word translated "habit" is not the usual word for habit, but the Greek word “ethos”. This is not just something that
is occasional. It refers to what "characterizes" you. It is your "default". This warning implies Christians who deliberately
and persistently abandon the fellowship of other believers are in danger of becoming like and repeating the sin of the
Wilderness Generation. This is especially important since the day is drawing near. We have to be serious about this
because we don’t know how much time is left—either for the coming of the Lord or our individual departure to meet
Him.
I PETER 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
PETER DEMONSTRATES THAT HE WAS TOTALLY INTERESTED IN BELIEVERS LIVING HOLY LIVES LIKE THE WRITER TO
THE HEBREWS, HE IS AWARE THAT THE END OF THE AGE MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME AND BELIEVERS MUST BE READY.
IN THE BROADER CONTEST OF VERSES 9-11 WE SEE PETER DEVELOP THE NOTION OF HOSPITALITY.
“
OFFER HOSPITALITY TO ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT GRUMBLING.
10
EACH OF YOU SHOULD USE
WHATEVER GIFT YOU HAVE RECEIVED TO SERVE OTHERS, AS FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF GOD’S
GRACE IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS.
11
IF ANYONE SPEAKS, THEY SHOULD DO SO AS ONE WHO
SPEAKS THE VERY WORDS OF GOD. IF ANYONE SERVES, THEY SHOULD DO SO WITH THE
STRENGTH GOD PROVIDES, SO THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE PRAISED THROUGH JESUS
CHRIST. TO HIM BE THE GLORY AND THE POWER FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.
BUD OFFERED THE FOLLOWING GENERAL COMMENTS ON THIS PASSAGE AS FOLLOW:
WITH PETER IT IS ALL ABOUT GODLY LIVING. THEREFORE, INVOLVEMENT AND HOSPITALITY ARE NECESSARY AND
NATURAL FOR THE BELIEVER. SUCH IS VITAL TO ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE TO SPEAK AND SERVE IN THE
POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ALWAYS AND DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.
1 Pet. 4:9—this passage begins with 4:7. We’re only concerned with 4:7-9.
1 Peter 4:7 “T
RON ADDED THE FOLLOWING INSIGHTS FROM THE PASSAGE.
the end of all things is near. Therefore, be of sound mind and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”
“Be of sound mind” means able to make sound judgments. This is the same word in 2 Tim. 1:7. “God has not given us a
spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
“Be sober” means not intoxicated. It involves clarity of thinking and the ability to be vigilant. Example of alexander The
Great.
We should live expecting Christ to return at any time and be ready to meet Him. This is an integral part of our prayer
life.
1 Peter 4:8 “More than anything, stay intense in your love for each other, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
“Intense” means to be fervent.
“To cover” means to hide or conceal.
So, what does it mean to cover a multitude of sins? It means to treat them as though non-existent. How does that
work out in practical ways? Does this mean every sin?
1 Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”
What is hospitality? Hospitality literally means love of others who are different from you. This is the same word used in
Rom. 12:13 which we discussed a few lessons ago. Its transliteration is philozenia or, in English, Zenophile.
Christian hospitality may begin with social entertaining, but it’s much deeper than that.
The word, “to” is literally “into”. We are to offer hospitality so that it actually reaches into the lives of others. What do
you think that means? It is not just words. It’s real actions. And we are to do it without grumbling.
To grumble means to murmur or complain. There is a sense of doing this in your heart. This is much like Paul’s
command in Phil. 2:14. We are to avoid this attitude in our hospitality to others.
Why does Peter say this? Have you ever done something for someone all the while begrudgingly grumbling in your
mind?
At this point I want to share something I read in Jerry Bridges’ book, “Respectable Sins”. He says, “The damage to God’s
glory by our sin is determined not by the severity of our sin but by the value of God’s glory.
If I spill indelible ink on a rug you bought at the local discount store, that’s bad. But if I spill the same ink on your very
expensive Persian fug, that’s really bad. Why? My act is the same and the ink is the same, but the value of the two rugs
is vastly different. The extent of the damage is determined not be the size of the ink blobs on the two rugs but by the
respective value of each of them.
This is how we should think of our sin against God. Every sin we commit regardless of how insignificant it seems to us, is
an assault on His infinite glory.”
Probably most of us have been Christians for a large part of our lives. We’ve been law abiding citizens, trying to
contribute to our neighbors and our Christian brothers and sisters. We’ve tried to live lives that don’t create problems
for others. On the surface, we would probably be described as “good people”. It could be easy to dismiss our sin and its
effect on God. But we have to remember that it cost God something to forgive even what we would consider the most
minor sin in our life. It cost God the life of His Son.
I JOHN 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all
[a]
sin.
JOHN IS FOCUSED ON THE NEED FOR BELIEVERS TO DEMONSTRATE LOVE. FRANCIS SCHAEFFER DESCRIBED LOVE AS
THE MARK OF THE CHRISTIAN BASED ON THE WRITINGS OF JOHN. JOHN DESIRRED THAT BELIEVERS FELLOWSHIP
TOGETHER IN OBEDIENCE AND MUTUAL FOREGIVENESS. THE PASSAGE IN VERSES 5-7 DEMONSTRATES THIS T
“IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND DECLARE TO YOU: GOD IS LIGHT; IN HIM
THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL.
6
IF WE CLAIM TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND YET
WALK IN THE DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT LIVE OUT THE TRUTH.
7
BUT IF WE WALK IN
THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE
BLOOD OF JESUS, HIS SON, PURIFIES US FROM ALL
[A]
SIN.
BUD OFFERED THE FOLLOWING GENERAL COMMENTS ON THIS PASSAGE AS FOLLOW:
IT ALL BEGINS WITH OUR WALK WITH GOD, OUR LOVE FOR HIM, AND OUR DESIRE FOR OBEDIENCE. OUR DEEDS AND
ACTIONS MUST PASS THE “LIGHT” TEST. IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT WE WILL HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THE WRITER GOES ON TO REMIND US THAT SINS WILL ALWAYS OCCUR AND THAT CONFESSION RESULTS IN THE
BLOOD OF JESUS CLEANSING US FROM ALL SIN.
RON ADDED THE FOLLOWING INSIGHTS FROM THE PASSAGE.
1 John
John wrote this letter about 60 years after the crucifixion. Even Christians had begun to wonder and doubt. Is Jesus
really God? Did he come to save sinners like us? Does God really care about us?
John wrote to dispel doubts and to build assurance by presenting a clear picture of Christ. Jesus was and is God in the
flesh—seen, heard, and touched by John. He walked and talked with Jesus, saw him heal, heard him teach, watched him
die, met him arisen, and saw him ascend. John knew Jesus was God. He had lived with him and had seen him work.
At the same time, false teachers had entered the church, denying, among other things, the incarnation of Christ. John
wrote to correct their errors.
In the passage we are looking at, 1:5-10, there are five if-then statements in this passage, each having to do with how
what we say aligns with how we live. But they are also about our relationship with God. I’m first going to read the
verses of this passage together, including the “then” for emphasis
Vs. 1:5 “And this is the message we have heard from Him and we announce to you, that God is light and there is no
darkness in him.” Vs. 1:6“If we say we have fellowship with Him and still walk in darkness, (then) we are lying and we are
not practicing the truth.” Vs. 1:7 “If we walk in the light as He exists in the light, (then) we have fellowship with one
another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” Vs. 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, (then) we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us.” Vs. 1:9 “If we confess our sins, (then) He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Vs. 1:10 “If we say we have not sinned, (then) we are calling Him a liar and the
truth is not in us.”
Let’s go back to 1:5:
1 John 1:5 “And this is the message we have heard from Him and we announce to you, that God is light and there is no
darkness in him.”
There is literally “not any” darkness. Why is this important to know? When Satan talked with Eve, he had a hidden
agenda. There is no hidden agenda with God. God is always up front. There is no darkness in Him. What you see really
is what you get.
1 John 1:6 “If we say we have fellowship with Him and still walk in darkness, (then) we are lying and we are not
practicing the truth.”
“Fellowship” here is koinonia. It indicates a partnership.
“To walk” means to live a certain kind of life both in this verse and the next.
“Practice” means to do habitually.
John is confronting one of the claims of the false teachers: That we can have fellowship with God and still walk in
darkness. They taught either of two opposite things:
1) The body was evil and you had to deny any bodily desires through rigid discipline, or
2) You could gratify every physical desire because the body was going to be destroyed anyway.
John is saying that no one can claim to be a Christian and still live in the darkness of immorality.
The next verse is a contrast with the previous one.
1 John 1:7 “If we walk in the light as He exists in the light, (then) we have fellowship with one another and the blood of
Jesus cleanses us from all sin.”
“Fellowship” here is the same word, koinonia, in the previous verse.
The requirement for fellowship with God (vs. 6) is that we walk in the light. Then two things happen:
1) We have fellowship with one another, and
2) Our sins are cleansed by His blood.
1 John 1:8 “If we say we have no sin, (then) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
The false teachers failed to take sin seriously. Many taught that people had no natural tendency toward sin. Because of
this, they saw no need to confess sin. John tells us this was self-deception and a lie. This would mean they did not need
Christ’s death. Instead of advocating repentance and confession, they were actually encouraging sin among believers.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, (then) He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:10 “If we say we have not sinned, (then) we are calling Him a liar and the truth is not in us.”
Look at what is common to verses 6, 8, and 10:
Vs. 6—If we walk in darkness, We are lying. We don’t practice the truth.
Vs. 8—If we say we have no sin, We deceive ourselves. The truth is not in us.
Vs. 10—If we say we’ve not sinned We call Him a liar. The truth is not in us.
Living in darkness and sin amounts to lying and living apart from the truth. We cannot do that a
HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?
FOCUS FULLY ON WHAT JESUS HAS DONE
SEEK TO LIVE FULLY OPEN LIVES
HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS IN A TOTALLY OPEN WAY
CONSIDER THE END OF THE AGE TO BE NEAR
NEXT WEEK – A SUMMARY OF “ONE ANOTHER”
