Sermon: Nothing is Hidden from God, Hebrews 4:12-16

 I have the privilege of preaching occasionally at Forest Community Church in Forest, VA. Over two years ago I began a series on Hebrews entitled "Keep Your Eyes on Jesus." I decided to post the links to the videos for any who would like to watch them. This sermon covers Hebrews 4:12-16 and is called "Nothing is Hidden." The sermon was originally preached on August 21, 2022. I'll post the notes/outline below (NOTE: the video may not follow the notes exactly!), but here is the video link: Hebrews 4:12-16. There are announcements prior to the sermon, so the sermon begins around 5:30 on the timer.

Hebrews Series: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Nothing is Hidden from God, Hebrews 4:12-16

Intro: Remember Kadesh Barnea and their unwillingness to hear from or to obey God. Avoid their mistake and do not harden your heart. Unlike the Kadesh Barnea generation, Hebrews calls us to make every effort to enter into God's rest--we have to pursue it. Hebrews 3:1-4:11 sets up discussion in 4:12-5:10. Nothing is Hidden from God. 1) His Word Exposes; 2) His High Priest Knows; and 3) His Mercy Emboldens.

Point 1: God’s Word Exposes Us (4:12-13)—(cf. Psalm 119) These verses are a sharp warning that offer another reason for continued faithfulness to the readers. The image here is of God’s Word as a sharp sword/knife--a knife or sword that exposes the depths of human thoughts and hearts. This could call up the imagery of Kadesh Barnea where God’s promise cut the hearers when they disobeyed it. It could further call to remembrance the piercing swords of the enemy felt by the disobedient ones who tried to force God’s promises to be true on their own abilities.

The point here is that when we are confronted with God’s Word we are confronted with God himself. Jesus is God’s “word” and that may be the meaning here (cf. John 1:18). God’s Word “exposes” us to God. The word “laid bare” or “exposed” in 4:13 refers to a wrestler who has been caught in a neck hold and is in danger of being thrown. In other words, God’s Word renders us “helpless” before God. God’s powerful Word reveals, exposes, challenges, and changes us.

Nothing is hidden from God. The children of Israel rebelled against his Word, but then tried to fix it by “repenting” (at least, in their minds it was a form of repentance--they took it upon themselves to try to make God's promise become reality, but God had already told them that their disobedience closed that door). Unfortunately, God had told them NOT to invade. They failed to listen again and experienced defeat. God’s Word exposes sin, it renders us helpless before God, and it changes us. On the positive side, God’s Word exposes (or makes known) God and his intentions. God is revealed, made known, and explained by his Word. Failure to hear and to obey God (do not harden your heart, make every effort to enter his rest) results in negative exposure. Listening to God’s Word and responding in obedience results in change, transformation, life. How are we responding to God’s exposing Word?

God’s Word also reveals to us the person and actions of his high priest. Nothing is hidden from God because his high priest knows us—he knows our lives, our suffering, our failure, our success—he knows us because his experience and our experience are similar. God’s high priest knows us, so nothing is hidden from God.

Point 2: God’s High Priest Knows Us (vv. 14-15)—Shifting gears a bit, the author now begins a discussion of the high priestly ministry of Jesus (note: Hebrews is the only book of the NT to refer to Jesus as a High Priest). Remember, that the author of Hebrews has made the point that the course of life can be determined by an individual’s choices. There is no escape from the call to decision. We experience life or death as a result of our decisions. This truth is shown throughout Hebrews. 

Israel decided at Kadesh Barnea that they could not trust God. Since trust is related to faithfulness, the Exodus generation seems to have decided that God is not faithful. Unbelief then is in some sense a form of distrust. That is why the author now directs his readers attention to the trustworthiness of Jesus. As a compassionate high priest, Jesus is trustworthy. Reflecting back to 2:14-3:1, our author engages once again in a discussion of Jesus’ role as a high priest for us.

In this section (and part of chapter 5), the author discusses two relationships of the high priest. His relationship to God: in which Jesus proved to be faithful. His relationship to the people: in which Jesus proved to be compassionate.

Jesus can show compassion because he participated in our situation—tempted in every respect like us. 4:15 uses a double negative to emphasize forcefully that Jesus identifies himself with those who feel defenseless in their situation. The verb here carries the idea of sharing an experience. It also includes the possibility of help. The idea here is that Jesus suffers when we suffer (cf. Acts 9), and he can help those who are helpless.

William L. Lane (Hebrews: A Call to Commitment): “Although Jesus as the exalted Son of God is now enthroned in God’s presence (4:15) he is related by experience to a humiliated and suffering community (4:16).  The exalted status of our heavenly high priest does not detract in any way from his ability to empathize with the weary and defenselessness of the Church in the world.”

Jesus is God’s High Priest. He represents God to us and us to God. He knows what we have gone through, and he is sympathetic to us. We are not alone, we have a high priest who understands. We can have confidence in him, and we can hold on to hope. Hope does not disappoint. Hope looks forward to the future revelation of God’s plan and intention for humanity. God has a plan, and his high priest (who passes into the highest heaven) is the guarantee that his plan will be accomplished. Nothing is hidden from God. He knows our hearts, our thoughts, our actions. His high priest lived as one of us. God knows our situation better than we think. Nothing is hidden from God. Because he sees it all, we can be confident in him. Jesus reveals God’s mercy, and God’s mercy emboldens us.

Point 3: God’s Mercy Emboldens Us (v. 16)—Jesus’ testing was like our testing, but his result was unlike our experience—he proved to be without sin. Because of Jesus’ participation in our situation, we can come to God with “bold frankness” (the word here has the idea of “freedom of speech” or “confidence” in gaining an audience. It has to do with the free and open communication of fellow citizens. The free right to approach God with boldness is granted through the sacrifice and suffering of Christ.

We have a choice to make today. We see that nothing is hidden from God. We see that his word exposes, his high priest knows, and his mercy emboldens. Yes, the exposure of our sin can be awkward. And the idea that God knows everything about us can be scary. But we tend to forget that God is merciful and longsuffering. His throne of grace is approachable. God never exposes sin and leaves it graceless. The only obstacle to him is our own unwillingness to be exposed, to identify with Jesus, and to rely on his mercy. Today, if we hear his voice, let’s not harden our hearts. Let us make every effort to enter his rest. Let’s rely on his mercy. How do we respond to this word? (Give gospel here)

Conclusion: First, listening to God in Scripture is imperative. Such listening (and obeying) is a matter of life and death. The pattern of disobedience begins in the heart, the center of human will and volition. An experience of privileged position with God is not a guarantee of blessing or success. The positive and faithful response of every single person to the voice of God is of crucial importance. The antidote to unbelief, indecision, and disobedience is exposure to God’s strong and living Word. The faithfulness of Christ is the primary basis for establishing a life that shows faithfulness to God. Read God’s Word, and ask him to expose his character and your character through the reading of it. Then do your best to obey what he tells you.

Jeremiah 2; Psalm 81; Luke 14; 2 Timothy 3; John 1:1-18

Second, let’s remember that we need rest. We need confidence. We need mercy. The need for rest—modern society is characterized with frenetic activity, we need a place to “rest”. This week, take 5 minutes a day to sit still and know he is God (Psalm 46). As we learn to sit in his presence, to contemplate his character, we will find he will expose his mercy and grace to us (especially when he exposes our sin).

Third, keep in mind that: Faith has a personal reference, Faith trusts in the promises of God, Faith unites the faithful one to Christ. Cultivating a reverence for God and a respect for his discerning Word. Faith is built up not simply by reading God’s word or listening to his voice, faith is also strengthened by obedience. We need to do what he says. One of the things he tells us to do is to share his grace with others. This week, write down 5 special gifts that the Lord has given you (five area of rest, mercy, or grace). Then, make sure you share them with at least one other person.

Nothing is hidden from God. He knows what we think, what we do, what we need. As we leave here today, God goes before us. He sees. How will you respond?

Nothing is hidden from God.

Thanks for reading!