Supernatural Community

In Hebrews 10 God reveals to us what we share in Jesus that transcends the natural bonds of every day life. For what we share is not a natural community that the world offers, but a supernatural community that is found in what Jesus offered when He gave himself once for all.

We share a bond that is Formed by Forgiveness:

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,  and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.  For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”  

Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.  Hebrews 10:11-18

It is the completed work of Jesus Christ that forms us as God’s people. It is the forgiveness He provided that makes our shared bond supernatural. He did this for us. As verse 12 states, when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. That was the miracle that formed us. It is impossible for us to provide a way for our sins to be taken away. What we could not do for ourselves, Jesus did for us. He offered Himself. And now anyone who calls upon the name of Jesus in faith is forgiven forever. That’s good news. That’s supernatural. And this forever forgiveness is what each one of us shares.

Once Jesus offered himself, he then sat down at the right hand of God. This is a profound image. Taking the seat at the right hand of God, meant that God had accepted Jesus’s sacrifice. Never again does a sacrifice have to be made for your sins. That’s why it says in verse 14 this truth: “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” That’s you. That’s anyone who has put their trust in Jesus. You are now seen as perfected in God’s eyes. Your conscience has been cleansed completely of guilt. There is not one speck of wrong, not one mark of sin, not one filthy stain of immorality. All guilt has been completely and forever washed away. You are clean. Jesus has made you perfect forever. You are now completely acceptable in God’s sight. This is the miracle of forgiveness. And this is the forgiveness God gives us when we believe.

Once we are forgiven forever, God now gives us something that makes us His completely. That’s what we see in verse 15 and 16. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

Once you are forgiven, God puts His laws in our hearts, and writes them on our minds. In other words, before we were forgiven we followed a different law that was at work in us. We followed the desires of our hearts. But following our heart can lead us astray. God’s Word is clear on this: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 Not only that, but we were captive to the cravings of our flesh and followed its desires and thoughts. We thought of only what was best for ourselves and we opposed what God wanted for us. But now with our forgiveness God puts His Spirit in us so we will want what He wants and begin to think like He thinks. This is what makes our bond so supernatural, and makes our community so unique. And God does it all for us.

So our bond is not found in our shared experience of coming to worship services, being part of a Journey Group or some other kind of religious activity. That’s not what binds us together. That’s not what makes us different. What makes us different is our forgiveness found in our faith in Jesus. For once we are forgiven God puts His Spirit in us. This is the foundation of our family.  We are forgiven forever, perfected by Jesus to be the dwelling place of His Spirit.

We Share a Privileged Access  Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22

Up until the time of Jesus’ death, only one person could come into the presence of God: the High Priest. The High Priest entered the Most Holy Place only one day a year, the Day of Atonement, when He offered sacrifices for all the people. But this was a dangerous access. Often a cord was tied around the High Priest’s leg, in case he was to die in God’s presence. Then he could be dragged away. But now, since our Great High Priest shed His blood, providing our forgiveness, there is no longer any need for this annual sacrifice. Jesus has opened the way into God’s presence by His blood. He is the curtain to the Holy of Holies. He is now the new and living way into God’s presence. This is the second supernatural bond we share: Every Christian shares a privileged access into God’s very presence.

We Share an Unwavering Hope  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 11:23

We have so much hope to hold onto that is secured for us in Christ. Just in this passage, we have a forgiveness that is forever. Hold onto your forgiveness. Your forgiveness guarantees your salvation will come. One day you will see the Savior face to face.   Hold onto Jesus. He is our hope! The more you hold onto him, the less the things of this world will have a hold on you. Hold on to hope. When you do you will never fear death, for Jesus has conquered the grave. Hold on to hope. For when you do, hope gives your life meaning and purpose.

Hope is one of the greatest gifts God gave us. And sometimes our hope is the only thing we have to hold onto. Unforeseen circumstances, death and suffering can make life miserable, even unbearable at times. In our darkest hours holding onto hope helps us to endure pain, suffering and loss. And when others see us hold fast in the worst of times, our unwavering hope tells them that there is more to life than this life. So the next time you find yourself discouraged by the difficulties of this life, hold on to hope! Hope is God’s supernatural gift that keeps us moving forward when everyone else gives up. This is an amazing bond we share.   We share an Unwavering Hope, because we have an Unwavering God!

We Share a Supportive Love Look now at verses 24-25

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.  Hebrews 10:24-25

When the NIV says “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” the word he uses is the word “to provoke.” We are familiar with being provoked in a negative way. Like when someone does something to irritate or infuriate you – to push your button – so to speak. When they do this, we react… negatively, with anger or frustration. But in this context, the word is to be used in a supportive sense – to provoke or arouse one another to love and good deeds. We are push one another’s buttons in such a way that it stirs up love!

And the writer gives two ways we can stir up love: One, by not giving up meeting together. In other words, just showing up to worship, coming together to pray, hanging out together at a pool party, being with a group of guys in a journey group – just being together in relationship is what God had in mind for us as His people. It’s when we are journeying together in relationship with one another, God will give us opportunities to love and serve one another. We all know what it’s like to be loved by God through the forgiveness of Jesus. Each of us share that experience. His love for us bonds us together. Now He would have us awaken His love in us for one another. And the good news is that each one of us has the potential to love just like Jesus. And when we do, that’s a supernatural miracle of God’s grace. Think about it. Every time you serve a brother; every time you forgive a sister, every time you refuse to judge or criticize, but instead come alongside and encourage and show grace and understanding… you awaken love. That’s an amazing gift we have to share. It’s no wonder God wants us to stir things up with love!

But that’s not the only way to stir things up in love. Another way is by encouraging one another. We all need encouragement. Sometimes through a simple phrase of affirmation: “It’s good to see you today.” Or an aptly timed phrase: “You are such a faithful friend.” I often think we don’t really share our kind words about someone until its too late. Too often I’ve sat and listened to others speak well of someone at a memorial service and wondered if they got to hear those words when they were alive. But God calls us to strengthen one another, inspire and embolden our hearts with encouragement. How important is encouragement to a believer? Listen to these words from the writer of Hebrews earlier in this letter: See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

We need encouragement to keep us on track with God. Do you know someone struggling in their faith right now? They need encouragement. Do you know someone who used to be on fire for God, but now he or she rarely darkens a church door? They need encouragement… not judgment, not correction, not advise… encouragement. And we have this gift to share. In fact, Christians ought to be the greatest encouragers of any group in the world because we are the beloved of God! This is what sets us apart. This is the bond we share. We have the supernatural ability to love one another because God first loved us!

So here’s the deal: There is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian. We all need one another.   I need your love.   You need my encouragement. We need to push one another’s buttons in a way that blesses, serves, strengthens and inspires!

That’s why God formed our bond on the foundation of forgiveness. For he who has forgiven much, loves much!

That’s why Christ has given us access to God’s presence. For when we draw near to God He draws near to us.

That’s why God gave us an unwavering Hope. For when we hold onto hope we can stand together through anything.

That’s why God loved us with an amazing Love. So we can love one another and show the world what God is like.

Now it is up to us to take advantage of all God has given us. God has given us all we need to truly experience and enjoy the supernatural community of Christ.

Now all that is left is to act on it.