Sermons

As the author of Hebrews brings his letter of exhortation to a close, he ends with a wishful yet confident plea, like a prayer, that God will equip His people for the challenges before them. Contrary to what his readers may have been tempted to think, trusting in the simple realities of the Gospel—which he has unfolded for them throughout the book—provided their greatest security in an insecure world. There was no true help to be found in returning to Judaism or any of its traditions or associations. They were instead fully supplied through the finished work of Christ alone. While singular trust in Him may have seemed too simple, or worse yet, too passive, it was actually the key to a life of fruitfulness, well-pleasing to God. Likewise today, the all-sufficiency of Who Jesus is for us and what He has done for us does not render us lazy, fruitless, or ill-equipped for life's challenges, but renders us productive, fruitful, and fully equipped for them. It is a guarantee, settled within the everlasting covenant God has established with His people through the blood of Christ. It is Jesus' sacrifice for us, not our sacrifices for Him, that ultimately secures us in this world. More than anything else, learning of this security is what God uses to produce fruitfulness that brings good to us and glory to Him. Like the author of Hebrews, we can trust God to “equip [us] in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever” (v. 21).

In this message on Hebrews 13:15–19, Pastor Robert Clark emphasizes the call of Hebrews to place our full trust in Christ alone, without hedging our loyalties or diversifying our hope. The writer of Hebrews is utterly persuaded of the superiority, sufficiency, and singularity of Jesus—our once-for-all sacrifice, unchanging Savior, and secure hope in an unshakable kingdom—and urges believers to be persuaded (πείθω) and to yield (ὑπείκω) to the faithful proclamation of this same Christ. Safety is found only in union with Him, outside the camp, where confidence replaces fear and faith preserves the soul. This persuasion expresses itself in “lips that confess His name” and “lives that reflect His generosity,” as the Word of Christ creates faith that clings to Him and overflows in love toward others. The central question remains: if Jesus alone is our eternal security, are we fully persuaded to entrust ourselves—without contingency plans—to Him?

Tucked within his closing thoughts for the Hebrews, the author includes another brilliant Gospel gem that highlights the uniqueness and value of fellowship with Jesus. Referencing Old Testament imagery of things like the tabernacle, the altar, the animal sacrifices, the priests, etc., he once again demonstrates how Jesus is the fulfillment of all those historic icons and practices. Specifically, he zeroes in on the tradition of sacrificial animal carcasses being taken "outside the camp" due to their uncleanness and cursed status. In God's redemptive plan, this ritual is a divinely prescribed foreshadowing of Jesus being despised, rejected, and expelled from the religious community as He bears the sins of His people on the cross. The author invites His readers to realize the value of Jesus, to accept their cursed nature and status as sinners, and to find the best kind of fellowship with Him "outside the camp." That is where we come to know Him and to experience His love and forgiveness. Nowhere other than with Him--with our sovereign Creator and loving Savior--do we find the true belonging and true inclusion our souls long for.

As the author closes his letter of exhortation, he gives practical instruction to his recipients regarding their treatment of one another, including their leaders. These rare and valuable messengers had preached the Gospel to them and led them away from lies into the truth. Their voices proclaimed the clear, unadulterated, life-giving message of God's grace--the only stengthening message (v. 9)--and their lives exemplified faith and its fruits. They upheld "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever" (v. 8). They invited their hearers to join them outside the camp, where fellowship with Christ occurs, and to look forward to the lasting city to come (vv. 10-14). The author urges his hearers to "remember" these leaders (v. 7) and to hold them in high esteem as generous gifts of a gracious God.