Christian Life Church
May 28, 2023 at 8:30am & 10:00am
THIS PRESENT TIME #15 STAY ON THE RIGHT ROAD
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
THIS PRESENT TIME #15
Stay on the Right Road 5.28.23
Hebrews 2:1 NIV We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Central Truth: I am never static as a Christian. I am either growing in grace or I am going backwards! The Epistle to the Hebrews displays five urgent warning signs.
“No matter how long or how far we’ve traveled down the right road, we are as close to the ditches as we’ve ever been.” - Pastor Darren Hileman
Key Terminology
A Maturing Christian – I am increasing in conformity to the image of Christ as I Know - Grow - Sow. I have a relationship of intimacy with the Father. I am growing into all things concerning Christ. The Holy Spirit is using me to invest into the lives of others. By doing these things, I am loving the Lord with all my strength and cherishing my neighbor as I my own self.
A Weak Christian - a Believer who is not growing in the faith. Defeat marks his life, but it is not necessarily the result of overt rebellion. This is essentially immaturity.
A Backslider - a Believer who is "out of fellowship” with God. He is walking in rebellion and/or disobedience.
An Apostate - one who has defected from the faith. Some Christians teach an Apostate was never saved. Others teach that an Apostate was saved, but may no longer be renewed to a place of faith. Some teach that Backsliders and Apostates are synonymous terms.
Pot-Holes to Avoid on the Journey
I. The Danger of Neglect
Hebrews 2:2-3 NIV For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
“A slipped ring”
II. The Danger of Insensitivity
Hebrews 3:12-13 NIV 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.
“A hardened heart”
III. The Danger of an Undisciplined Life
Hebrews 5:12 NIV In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
“A careless life”
IV. The Danger of Withdrawal
Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 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.
“A selfish life”
V. The Danger of Apostasy
“There must be another way.”
Hebrews 10:26-31 NIV If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three.How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 2:1 NIV We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Some take-away principles…
Stay on the Right Road 5.28.23
Hebrews 2:1 NIV We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Central Truth: I am never static as a Christian. I am either growing in grace or I am going backwards! The Epistle to the Hebrews displays five urgent warning signs.
“No matter how long or how far we’ve traveled down the right road, we are as close to the ditches as we’ve ever been.” - Pastor Darren Hileman
Key Terminology
A Maturing Christian – I am increasing in conformity to the image of Christ as I Know - Grow - Sow. I have a relationship of intimacy with the Father. I am growing into all things concerning Christ. The Holy Spirit is using me to invest into the lives of others. By doing these things, I am loving the Lord with all my strength and cherishing my neighbor as I my own self.
A Weak Christian - a Believer who is not growing in the faith. Defeat marks his life, but it is not necessarily the result of overt rebellion. This is essentially immaturity.
A Backslider - a Believer who is "out of fellowship” with God. He is walking in rebellion and/or disobedience.
An Apostate - one who has defected from the faith. Some Christians teach an Apostate was never saved. Others teach that an Apostate was saved, but may no longer be renewed to a place of faith. Some teach that Backsliders and Apostates are synonymous terms.
Pot-Holes to Avoid on the Journey
I. The Danger of Neglect
Hebrews 2:2-3 NIV For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
“A slipped ring”
II. The Danger of Insensitivity
Hebrews 3:12-13 NIV 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.
“A hardened heart”
III. The Danger of an Undisciplined Life
Hebrews 5:12 NIV In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
“A careless life”
IV. The Danger of Withdrawal
Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 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.
“A selfish life”
V. The Danger of Apostasy
“There must be another way.”
Hebrews 10:26-31 NIV If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three.How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 2:1 NIV We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Some take-away principles…