Hebrews 12:14-17

Now that the author has established both the inferiority of the trusting in religious ritual and the superiority of faith in Jesus Christ, he gives the readers of his letter a charge to have an eternal mindset. The pressure and temptation to turn back from Christ to the law must have been significant, but was to be refused for the following reasons:

1. If you turn back NOW, you won't see the Lord THEN (14)

Don't Try to Make Heaven without Holiness
"without holiness no one will see the Lord"

Negative Reality: The Old Covenant Priests were not truly holy (5:3)
Positive Reality: Jesus Christ is truly holy (7:26)

We can share in His holiness
--We are declared holy by Christ's sacrifice (10:10)
--We are being made holy by the Spirit (10:14)
--We are made holy through the Father's discipline (12:10)

What does it mean to SEE God?
Matthew 5:8: The pure in heart will see God
1 John 3:2-3: There's a connection b/w our holiness and our ability to see Him
Only the holy can truly appreciate/see the Lord

2. If you miss grace NOW, you won't see the Lord THEN (15)

Don't try to make heaven w/o grace
"see tht no one misses the grace of God"

Negative Reality: Moses was able to cross the Jordan (3:16-19)
Positive Reality: Jesus justifies us by His grace (Romans 3:24)

We can miss grace
--We miss grace when we try to be justified by the law (Galatians 5:4)
--We miss grace when we don't focus on the cross (2:9)
--We miss grace when we don't approach the throne with confidence (4:16)

3. If you live for the NOW, you won't see the Lord THEN (16-17)

Negative Reality: Esau gave up the future for a moment
Positive Reality: Jesus gave up the moment for the future

What do sexual immorality and Esau have in common?
--Sexual immorality comes when we seek instant pleasure w/o regard for long term consequences
--Esau was willing to give up enormous future blessing in exchange for instant gratification (16)
--Esau regretted his godlessness, but at that point it was too late (17)