'Let Us'

from verse 22

where it says let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith

with our hearts sprinkled clean 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 us faithful

and let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works and it'll just be

a light overview of these three

let us phrases that we come across here in this chapter

now the writer to the hebrews well it's not really clear who he was

and there are in this chapter in this book the great verses that we could consider

and as the writer goes through from hebrews at the beginning of hebrews he seems to be

building this momentum as he's writing as he indeed does through the whole book

he elevates the person of christ who christ is what christ has done for us

and what it means to have faith in this man christ

that he this person is superior

to any other angel in the heavens

he's superior to any other prophet that ever lived

and superior to any other priest

that went on behalf of the people

he's lifting up the name of christ

he is greater than every sacrifice that was ever offered

and in his great sacrifice he accomplishes that eternal atonement

for the lord's people

and washes us the scarlet sins of our garments whiter than snow

in the light of the writer's considerations of christ and who he is and his building of momentum

of this person

and all that he has done and all that he means

the teaching of this great prophet priest and king

he calls out then to the reader to respond

and he seeks to instill the reader with confidence equally in this christ

as he considers christ

that as individuals

we would find confidence

and knowledge of knowing who christ is

that he is a superior prophet priest and king

an ever superior prophet priest and king

but also as a church

that he is a prophet priest and king

superior to all others

and in this letter we have this phrase letter

it's not only repeated here

but it's it's it's repeated through the book of hebrews

12 or 13 times

and often this letter it's a it's a resulting clause

of the writer looking at christ

he looks at christ

and then he calls to the people and he says

therefore let us

with consequent actions

he turns to the people he turns to the church

to respond with action

let us do something

let us therefore

because of christ

sprawl says if he was thrown into prison

rc sprawl if he was thrown into prison

and he could only take one book with him

he said it would be the bible

and if he could only have one chapter of the bible

he said it would be isaiah chapter 6

Isaiah 6 · chapter mention

but if he had one book of the bible

he said he would take the book of hebrews

because he says it brings the whole council of god together

on every page and gives us the most magnificent portist of christ

and each chapter

and it's that consideration of christ

and then the call to us to respond to the superior person and our savior

and prior to the texts that we have here

the three letters

we were reading of christ's sacrifice

and how the old ways

and the sacrificial ways are now not required

because through the blood of christ jesus

we have been cleansed

and who satisfied divine justice

in this perfect sacrifice

that has been offered for our sins

and therefore the way has been opened

through this sacrifice

the curtain has been torn in two

to enter into this kingdom

there is no more need

for any further payments

and the section finishes

there in verse 17

that he will therefore

remember our sins no more

and our lawless deeds

they're not to be remembered

they're gone

so then we're presented

after this image of christ

the sacrifice that he has given to us

the writer says there in verse 19

therefore

and then gives us

the three letters

following

we have confidence to enter

the holy places

let us draw near

let us hold fast

let us consider

how to stir one another

to good works

and even if you consider that

let us

that is set out to each other

it's important in and of itself

because of who he is speaking to

calls out to the people of god

calls out to each individual here

it means that there is no one

left on their own

and the church family

is to be bound together

in christ jesus

as one body

let us

together

act

come with us

together

in doing what we're doing

let us

together

strengthen our minds

our bodies

let us

increase

our assurance

in christ jesus

let us

gain our understanding

in christ jesus

let us

trust

more and more

to live our lives

devoted

to christ jesus

let us

it's that great phrase

after considering christ

that calls us

to do something

let us

remember each other

let us

it's a great welcome

that the church should give

to new members

that come

you are now

a part

of this

body

of believers

and therefore

new members

are welcomed

with this

let us

regardless of how old we are

regardless of how young we are

spread there

let us

together

learn from one another

and see

the experience

of the elder brother

of

the elder brothers

that we know

and learn from them

and

the young ones

the older ones

learn from the younger ones

as well

that call

of being together

as one body

the children

of god

and while

there's a sermon

it's the chapter

it's loaded

there's a sermon

on each one

of these calls

we just look at them

and I see

there's a response

to each one

of these letters

one is

let us

draw near

one is

let us

hold fast

one is

let us

consider

how to

stir

one another

to love

and good works

so just briefly

we'll consider

each of these

let us

phrases

let us

draw near

that's the first

of these three saints

it is good

to draw near

together

it is good

to draw near

with a focus

on christ

and it is natural

for the believer

to draw near

but if you love

someone

you are inclined

to draw near

to them

you desire

to be with them

it's natural

to be together

in each other's

company

it speaks

of joining

together

and the joy

of joining

together

as we saw

in the psalms

and how we

desire

that we

we would love

to have that

desire

all the time

to come

together

but it's true

that we don't

that we would

love to have

that heart

like mary

did

that she

was inclined

to come

and just sit

and listen

to every word

and almost

hang off

every word

as she was

consumed

with the presence

and the words

of christ

as she sat

there

that she

drew near

to him

natural

affections

to the love

of our saviour

a place

where she

and we

can pour out

the affections

of our heart

and come

to him

with confidence

but we know

that as I said

our love

is not always

that inclined

to naturally

draw near

to christ

we are the

weak link

in that

relationship

his love

towards us

is perfect

and ours

is tainted

to our shame

we don't always

maintain

the idyllic

relationship

that we

even desire

to keep

to draw

near

to him

and yet

we are so

consumed

to draw

away

to other

things

that call

our hearts

desires

with it

with that

we acknowledge

the truth

of our hearts

let us

draw near

with a true

heart

confessing

the truth

of ourselves

as we heard

in prayer

acknowledging

the weaknesses

of our heart

and our desire

to come

to christ

remember

we looked

at isaiah

a couple

of weeks

ago

isaiah

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1

where the

people were

so sinful

before

this great

phrase

was said

that

their sins

were so

scarlet

in the sight

of god

and yet

he would

still wash

them whiter

than snow

there was

an assurance

if they came

as he called

to them

that they

would be

washed

and

let us

draw near

with a

true

heart

assurance

of faith

sprinkled

clean

from an

evil

conscience

and our

bodies

washed

with pure

water

and yet

we come

we're not

consumed

with that

evil

of our

heart

the evil

does not

rule

the consciousness

of our

hearts

we come

because we

confess

and see

the smallest

of evils

within our

hearts

and the

impurities

of it

we come

to that

cleansing

power

at Calvary

and that

great display

of his

love

towards us

where he

died on

the cross

and where

his blood

was spilt

to cleanse

us

and it

is a

call

and compelling

picture

where we

can draw

near to

and a

place where

we can

continue

coming to

and drawing

even closer

to

that knowledge

of that

great love

love

at Calvary

to know

it in a

greater

sense

and to

understand

him

and what

he has

done

for us

how close

are we

to Christ

we have

to ask

ourselves

do we need

to draw

near again

on that

cord of

love that

has been

extended

to us

by means

which we

meet with

him

and he

with us

in the

word

and through

the means

of grace

in his

gathered

people

where he

pours down

his blessings

that we

would continue

drawing near

us

every day

confessing

the truth

of our

heart

but there

are times

we must

admit

and confess

that although

we are

called to

come and

draw near

we feel

like

we're

stopped in

our tracks

and we

can't draw

any closer

than we

can

at such

a time

as where

we hold

fast

let us

hold fast

the confession

of our

hope

without

wavering

for he

who promised

his faith

we are

also called

to hold

fast to

the confession

of our

hope

in the man

through whom

we have

professed

our faith

in

therefore

let us

hold fast

the confession

of our

hope

as we look

at Christ

and we see

the sacrifice

that he paid

for us

we have

confidence

in all

that he

has done

for us

and we

steadfast

and trusting

when the

world

and its

devils

are telling

you

to let

go

to turn

away

to stop

drawing near

it is then

we need to

hold fast

in the difficulties

in the difficulties

of life

when we feel

stopped in our

tracks

it is then

we need to

hold fast

let us

hold fast

to the hope

set before us

as he previously

speaks in Hebrews

Hebrews 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6

for we have a

sure and

steadfast

anchor

for the soul

we have a

sure and

steadfast

anchor

on which

we can

hold fast

to

and we

have an

assured

hope

in his

promises

to us

through his

word

and the

provisions

that he

has made

for us

such a

hope

that will

not

leave us

tossed

to and

throw

like the

wind or

waves of

doctrine

as is spoken

in James

and Ephesians

but that

anchor

if we

hold fast

will keep

us secure

in the

uncertainties

of life

steadfast

upon

that

figure

Christ

therefore

we hold

fast

to the

one

who

holds

me

it is

him

who is

the

anchor

for us

to hold

fast

to

and in

these times

where we

feel like we

cannot

go on

where we

feel like

we are

just

holding on

this in

these days

where a

word of

encouragement

can be so

precious to

us

and keep

us

holy

let us

consider

how to

stir up

one another

to love

and good

works

not

neglecting

to meet

together

as is the

habit of

some

but encouraging

one another

all the more

as you see

the day

drawing

me

the third

call

let us

let us

stir up

one another

to love

and good

works

the word

consider

in the

Greek

has strong

implications

that we

pay attention

with the

greatest care

and consideration

to one

another

that we

consider

the need

of each

other

we consider

one another

in that

great

let us

be attentive

and

that we

stir

one another

up

that we

support

one another

in ways

that are

needed

that we

care for

one another

as we

go on

to live

in love

and good

works

and highlights

the importance

of being

together

that we

do

stir

each other

up

together

we encourage

each other

when we meet

together

and even

we stir

one another

and keep

each other

and watch

over each

other

in our

marriages

in our

friendships

in our

families

in our

church

the family

we stir

one another

up

we pay

attention

with the

greatest

consideration

to each

other

on how

to draw

one another

to love

and good

works

let us

in the

gathering of

God's

people

as the

church

have this

special

bond

of love

to stir

each

other

and to

encourage

one another

on the

way

and these

three let

us

just briefly

in concluding

let us

draw near

let us

hold fast

let us

stir up

one another

to love

and good

works

I want to

present

to you

an image

and there

is more

to it

I just

don't have

the time

to fully

go into

it

the simplest

of images

that ties

these three

actions

in the

Christian

faith

I'd imagine

you were

on a raft

at sea

and each

of you is

in your

own raft

there is no

land to be

seen

the sea

as you know

is full of

dangers

storms pass

over from

time to

time

and you

realise

you must

get to

land

somehow

before

you

perish

and you

notice

in each

corner

ropes

tied

to the

raft

and there

are people

likewise

in a similar

situation

beside you

on their

own raft

with their

ropes

that you

can speak

to and

interact

to

and

have you

tried

pulling

on any

of the

ropes

say

well

some

have

pulled

on

the

ropes

some

have

ropes

that

have

been

tagged

eternal

joy

eternal

pleasure

and it

was only

a loose

end

there are

other ropes

that have

given

promises

that have

been tagged

with promises

of material

possessions

and the

riches of

this world

and there

are only

ropes that

they have

left

bundled

on their

raft

barely

keeping them

afloat

and dragging

them down

themselves

but yet

there is a

small red

scarlet

cord

tied to

the corner

of each

raft

raft

and this

is a

cord that

is really

holding

the raft

this is a

cord that

is keeping

the raft

from being

completely

lost

it is this

small

cord

that people

despise

that is the

sustainer of

each raft

and each

life

every occasion

the wood

of one

raft

becomes so

absorbed

with wood

with the

wood of the

raft

becomes so

absorbed

with water

that it

sinks

with its

occupant

it brings

fear and

uncertainty

to those

who are

left

but soon

these

feelings

pass by

and they

continue

in their

own

comfort

in their

own way

by no

effort

by staying

in the

same

place

but you

in pondering

the situation

realise

the plight

of staying

where you

are

and so

pull on

this red

cord

small

in size

but three

fold

in

construction

and this

one is

tagged

the cord

that saved

my life

by one

called

rehab

and as

you do

so

pull on

this rope

every effort

of it

there is a

weight to

it

and pulls

you in a

sure

direction

separating

you from

the others

that you

leave behind

and you

know

that at the

end of

this

cord

is

something

there is

weight

to it

and as

you draw

on this

cord

the

windings

of it

are wrapped

with the

promises

of God

and it

is what

you hold

on to

as you

draw

on it

these

promises

of God

and your

hope

is then

shifted

not on

the raft

nor yourself

but on the

cord that

you hold

on to

and it

is that

cord

that we

likewise

hold on

to

that

promises

of God

and the

uncertainties

of our

lives

and yet

that

cord

is a

sustainer

of every

life

really

do we

pull upon

do we

draw near

upon

storms

come

as we

pull upon

this

cord

that test

us

that deny

our faith

in this

promises

do we

hold fast

to it

in the

struggles

of life

we are

inclined

to let

go of

it

that

cord

is the

anchor

of your

hope

isn't it

in no

other

rope

is there

confidence

to be

placed

and you

hold on

to it

and you

pull upon

it

it's the

word of

God

and only

as you

pull upon

it you

see at

the end

land

and a

secure

refuge

and a

figure

that holds

the rope

who is

Christ

himself

and then

you realise

that

while all

you're pulling

upon the

rope

he did

not let

go of

you

and if

that rope

you stained

it with

your sins

and the

weight of

the rope

was bundled

on the

raft

behind you

and all

the sins

of your

life

and the

sins

of your

hands

that stained

it

were not

too much

of a

weight

for the

man

that held

unto you

and he

did not

let go

of you

even

when you

let go

of it

even if

you slipped

even if

you were

just holding

on with

doubt

that we

hold

fast

and yet

others

come

alongside

you

that are

pulling

upon the

same

cord of

love

that is

extended

to them

and you

encourage

one

else

to

continue

mist

may

come

down

and

obscure

your

vision

surprises

may

lurk

in the

water

you

may

hit

a

reef

and

feel

grounded

but we

hold

fast

through

the

difficulties

of

life

and we

hold fast

confidently

to the

promises

of

God

that he

is one

that will

take that

raft and

that sins

and take

us to

a sure

shore

and he

will

cut

these

sins

from us

and the

raft

so uncertain

and set

you on

a rock

in which

you can

have confidence

in his

presence

that he

was the

one that

held you

all the

time

through the

difficulties

and

uncertainties

of life

as we

look at

Christ

it is

encouraging

us

to say

to one

another

let us

draw near

let us

hold fast

in the

times of

difficulty

let us

consider one

another

and stir

one another

up to

love and

good works

as we

go on

in the

Christian

journey

keeping our

eyes upon

Christ

and keeping

our eyes

also on

each other

let us

draw near

up to

to Christ

let us

hold fast

to Christ

and let

us stir

each other

up to

love and

good works

in Christ

may these

thoughts be

blessed to

us

we'll

conclude

later