Hebrews 3:12-14: The Promise Given

Driving home: One of the tragic but undeniable facts of life is that many, many who begin well the profession of the Christian faith never persevere in that profession to the end of their days.

Martin states that apostasy is a tragic but undeniable fact, not a phantom, seen in Scripture and church history, including their own church.

One of the tragic but undeniable facts of life is that many, many who begin well the profession of the Christian faith never persevere in that profession to the end of their days. In other words, apostasy, or falling away from the profession and apparent possession of Jesus Christ, is a sobering reality. It is not a phantom. Apostasy.

1:33 - 2:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He clarifies 'unto the end' as maintaining confidence until death or Christ's return, and elaborates on the 'beginning of our confidence' as the simple, foundational persuasion…

He compares relinquishing a firm grasp on Christ to cutting the string that holds pearls together, causing all graces (zeal, prayer, sensitivity) to fall away.

No man ever apostatizes until he begins to relinquish a firm grasp upon that. And when he does, it's like cutting the string that holds the pearls together. They all fall to the ground.

21:05 - 21:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He clarifies 'unto the end' as maintaining confidence until death or Christ's return, and elaborates on the 'beginning of our confidence' as the simple, foundational persuasion…

When one's zeal and desire for Christ wane, trying to fix these 'fruits' without returning to the root of confidence in Christ is like a self-help scheme that only gets 'mud in your face.'

You see these fruits of relinquishing the firm persuasion, and you start dealing with fruits instead of roots. And you start trying to patch yourself up and work on your zeal and work on your prayer and work on this and work on that. And you just involve yourself in the muck and the mire of a self-help scheme that does nothing but get mud in your face. And up your nostrils, the tragic thing.

21:35 - 22:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Young Christians, listen carefully: All noble beginnings mean nothing unless they issue in continuance.

He uses the analogy of a goat wearing a sign that says 'I'm a sheep of Jesus' to illustrate that mere profession without hearing and following Christ is not evidence of true discipleship.

They hear me. They follow me. That makes it manifest that they're his sheep. Any old goat can go out and create a sign.

34:11 - 34:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Young Christians, listen carefully: All noble beginnings mean nothing unless they issue in continuance.

He shares that their church doesn't make much noise when someone professes faith, but rejoices more when they've endured trials and still have their 'face still set to the celestial city,' indicating true perseverance.

All the noble beginnings mean nothing unless they issue in continuance. That's why we don't make a lot of noise around here when someone steps into the way by profession. We make a lot more noise when he's come to a few encounters with Apollyon and with Mr. Byron and with Mr. Obstinate and some of the other characters along the way and comes off from the battle with his face still set to the celestial city. Oh, a few wounds and bruises, but the face is still set. Then we do a little rejoicing. But my friend, even then, our rejoicing must be restrained.

35:10 - 35:47 Read in full sermon

The point: If your heart is set on persevering to the end, then the evidence will be that you use every legitimate means ordained to that end.

He challenges young men who say they want a wife but don't use the legitimate means of cultivating deep relationships, arguing that their actions betray their stated desire.

That causes any man to blink at any means ordained for his preservation in the word of God. You see, God does not keep us apart from the means but by use of the means. Now, if you say your heart is set on a given end, the proof is that you'll use every means to attain that end. Some of you guys say, Boy, I sure want me a wife.

43:23 - 43:46 Read in full sermon

The point: If your heart is set on persevering to the end, then the evidence will be that you use every legitimate means ordained to that end.

He uses the example of someone desiring good health in retirement but living an unhealthy lifestyle (drinking, no exercise, poor diet) to show that indifference to means reveals a lack of true commitment to the end.

Here's a person that tells me I've got my heart set on good health. By the time I come to retirement, I want to be robust and healthy. And he sits around all day drinking six cans of beer and watching TV, doesn't exercise, no concern for diet. I'd say, no, you don't have your heart set on good health in your waning years.

44:27 - 44:48 Read in full sermon