Is there evidence in your life to show to others that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? Do your works show to others that you are Christian in your conduct? Or does your life contradict what you profess with your mouth?
The emphasis in the last three chapters of Hebrews is on living by faith. The writer presented some great examples of faith in Chapter 11 and the encouragements to faith in Chapter 12. In Chapter 13, he presented some evidence of faith that should appear in our lives if we are really walking by faith and not by sight.
In this chapter, we will consider enjoying spiritual fellowship as evidence of faith.
THE BASIS OF FELLOWSHIP Vs l
Hebrews 13:1 KJV 1 Let brotherly love continue.
Definition of brother love. It comes from the Greek word "Philadelphia". "Phileo" speaks of human affection or fondness. "Adephos" means brother or one from the same womb. The basis of their Christian fondness and affection for each other and the source of their Christian fellowship was the fact that they all came from the same source. They had been born again and had the same Father, God. These Hebrew believers, no doubt, had been rejected by their friends and perhaps by family members. But the deepest kind of fellowship is not based on race or family relationships.
It is based upon the spiritual life we have in Jesus Christ.
Direct command. "Let brotherly love continue." A church fellowship that is based on anything other than a love for Jesus Christ and for one another simply will not last.
Romans 12:10, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in
honour preferring one another..."
1 Thess. 4:9-10, "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you:
for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it
toward all brethern which are in Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that
ye increase more and more."
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1 Peter 1:22, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a
pure heart fervently."
John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto your, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that
ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."
HOSPITALITY AND LOVE Vs 2
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained
angels unawares.
The encouragement, (Verse 2a). Where there is a true Christian love, there will also be hospitality. The term "hospitality" comes from the Greek word "philoxenia" which means love to strangers. The tendency to neglect Christian fellowship would lead to the failure to recognize the needs of Christians coming from a distance. There was an important ministry in the early church because persecution drove many believers away from their homes. Pastors are supposed to be lovers of hospitality (Titus 1:8), but all believers should be "given to hospitality" (Romans 12:13).
Titus 1:8 KJV 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy,
temperate;
Romans 12:13 KJV 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
The example of Abraham (Verse 2b). Genesis 18.
THE CONCERN FOR OTHERS Verse 3
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer
adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
The exhortation. It was not unusual for Christians to be arrested and imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ. The writer exhorted his readers to be mindful of their fellow believers when they suffered persecution and adversity. These Hebrews were still in their physical bodies and were subject to persecution also. But they were also members of the body of Christ, the Church. To identify with the persecuted believers might be dangerous, but Christ's love demanded that they minister to those who were suffering.
Some examples.
1.
Peter and John (Acts 4).
2.
The apostles (Acts 5).
3.
The Church (Acts 8).
4.
James and Peter (Acts 12).
5.
Paul (2 Corinthians 11:21-28).
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FELLOWSHIP IN THE HOME Verse 4
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and
adulterers God will judge.
Wisdom concerning marriage (Verse 4a). The home is the first place where Christian love should be practiced. A Christian home begins with a Christian marriage in the will of God. This means loyalty and purity. Sex outside of marriage is sinful and destructive. Sex within the protective bonds of marriage can be enriching and glorifying to God.
The warning (Verse 4b). The term "whoremonger" comes from the same word which is translated
"fornicator" in Hebrews 12:16. "Pornos" is a masculine word and means a sodomite, catamite, homosexual. "Porne" is a feminine word and means a prostitute, a harlot. "Porneia" is translated fornication and means sexual activity (heterosexual or homosexual) by unmarried persons. The term "adulterers" means married persons who have sex or physical intimacy with ones to whom they are not married.
God's judgment upon immorality. Sometimes God judges those who commit these sins in their own bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:16-18: "What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot
is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the
Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the
body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."
Romans 1:24-27: KJV 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness
through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between
themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and
served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For
this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also
the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward
another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (VD, aids, out of wedlock pregnancy, etc.)
Certainly, they will be judged at the final judgment.
Revelation 21:8: KJV 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,
and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is
the second death.
Revelation 22:15 KJV 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and
whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh
a lie.
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Believers who commit these sins certainly may be forgiven but they will lose rewards in heaven.
Ephesians 5:5: "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God."
1 Timothy 1:8-11: KJV 8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
lawfully; 9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for
the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that
is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed
God, which was committed to my trust.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: KJV 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit
the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15: KJV 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the
fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which
he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. There is also the example of King David.
In these days, when sexual sins are paraded as entertainment in movies and on TV, the church needs to take a stand for moral purity of the marriage bond.
A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TO MATERIAL THINGS Verses 5-6
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things
as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that
we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do
unto me.
The conduct (Verse 5a). If we love God and others as we should, then we can also have a right relationship to material things. The word "conversation" today means dialogue between two or more persons. In 1611 A.D., when the KJV translation was made, it meant what the Greek word (tropos) means—"manner of life, behavior."
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The words "without covetousness' come from the Greek word (aphilarguros) and means without fondness for silver or money. The exhortation is against covetousness in the form of love of money.
1 Timothy 6:6-10: KJV 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And
having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which
drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of
all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The contentment (Verse 5b). The word "content" comes from the Greek word (arkeo) which means to be possessed of unfailing strength, to be strong, to suffice, to be enough, and finally, to be satisfied, contented. The underlying thought is that one should be satisfied with that which meets our needs and should not desire an oversupply or over abundance.
The word "content" in this verse refers to the ability of the Christian to be dependent upon the Holy Spirit and to be independent of outward circumstances.
The words "such as ye have" are the translation of the Greek expression (tois parousin) which means the things which are present around a person, namely the circumstances.
Philippians 4:10-11: KJV 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the
last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye
lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
A European believer once said, "We feel that Christians in America need more prayer than we do.
We here in Eastern Europe are suffering, but you in America are very comfortable, and it is always harder to be a good Christian when you are comfortable."
Contentment cannot come from material things because they can never satisfy the heart.
Luke 12:15: "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for
a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
The cause of contentment (Verses 5c-6).
The promise of God (Verse 5c) The reason why a child of God can and should obey these admonitions is now given. ".. .for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." The term "leave" comes from the Greek word (aniemi) and means to send back, to relax, to loosen, not to uphold, to let sink. The word is preceded by two negatives, which in the Greek, strengthens the negation. "I will by no means leave you."
The word "forsake" comes from the Greek word (egkataleipo) which means to leave behind in any place or condition. God will not leave His child in a state of defeat or helplessness in the midst of 263
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hostile circumstances.
The profession that may be made (Verse 6). Verse 6 is a quotation from Psalm 118:6: "The
LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" Note Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV),
"So we may boldly say: The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
It was a source of great peace to the early Christians to know that they were safe from the fear of man, for no man could do anything to them apart from God's will and permission. It is important that we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Helper, and that we do not put our trust in material things. Contented Christians are people with priorities, and material things are not high on their priority list.
Conclusion
Enjoying spiritual fellowship is evidence of faith. The basis of fellowship is brotherly love. Where there is Christian love, there will also be hospitality. Love also expresses itself in concern for others. The home is the first place where Christian love should be practiced. If we love God and others as we should, then we can have a right relationship with material things.
Are you saved? Do you have the assurance that you will go to Heaven when this earthly is over?
Do you have evidences to show that you are a child of God?
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