The last few episodes highlight a central goal of salvation: pure, undefiled worship/service of God. Embrace of this objective, according to Hebrews 6:1 is through "repentance from dead works" and "faith toward God." This episode poses a simple question designed to test if we've truly repented from dead works: "Why do we go to church?" The Biblical answer, according to Hebrews 9:14, is that it enables us to become better worshippers. We correctly seek to be equipped for the work of ministry SO THAT we can serve God better. A common answer among those who have only partly repented from dead works is that they go to church to be better people, possibly indicating that worship and service of God is not really the ultimate objective. Their anthropocentric religious activity is aimed at self-improvement, mostly gaged by feelings and comparative assessments with others. (see the Pharisee and the Publican, Luke 18:9-14). Theocentric worship, not anthropocentric worship decked out with the form of godliness, must be the goal. Consequently, repentance from dead works is a repudiation of EVERYTHING and EVERY WORK that ultimately replaces worship of God with another substitute. And, it is absolutely essential to produce good works acceptable to God.
Worship that Reverses the Great Exchange
This episode focuses on the high bar of true worship articulated by Christ in John 4:22-23, "An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth." The statement naturally begs the question, "Were Jews previously worshiping the Father in the flesh and a lie?" This would be the natural conclusion of Christ's insistence that one MUST be born again and Paul's description of the great exchange in Rom 1, where men exchange the truth of God for a lie. Importantly, God had revealed His truth perfectly, highlighted by Christ's acknowledgment that "salvation is from the Jews." The Jews were nevertheless no exception to the great exchange, indicating that even though they were the blessed recipients of God's Word, the rampant idolatry of their hearts constantly produced fleshly worship more disposed to self-worship than the worship of the one true God. Idolatrous worship reigns among the unregenerate, those Jews who are "uncircumcised of heart and ears." (Acts 7:51) Regeneration, being born of the Spirit, is therefore the necessary precondition to worshipping God in Spirit and truth. With respect to the question about the possibility of good works for unbelievers, the logic is inescapable. If Jews prior to Christ couldn't escape their fleshly worship of the lie, even though they were entrusted with God's perfect Truth, how can unbelievers do good works when their idolatry is not remotely tempered by the Word of God?
Let Him Who Boasts, Boast in the Lord
This episode centers on "religious" work, noting that activity not motivated by love of God and neighbor doesn't qualify as "good" work. Christ derided Jewish efforts to make proselytes in which converts became "twice the sons of hell" as those proselytizing (Mt 23:15) The context of Christ's woes against hypocrisy highlights the exaltation of man-made religion to the expense of the Great Commandments. Paul later took issue with Judaizers in the early Christian church, who prioritized circumcision over sanctifying faith. Outward observance of circumcision by converts became a badge of boasting in which Judaizers made "a good showing in the flesh." (Gal. 6:12) Religious work not born out of the Great Commandments ("gold, silver, precious stone") is burned up at the judgment seat of Christ, for it does not qualify as a "good" work. (1 Cor 3:12-15) The episode also cites modern-day "boasting in the flesh." Altar calls designed to elicit quick professions of faith, often by ignoring or understating the necessity of repentance, have become the predominant badge of boasting in evangelical circles. This "wood, hay and straw" motivated by flesh will be burned up. Unfortunately many who are manipulated into reciting the sinner's prayer will also be burned up, because they hypocritically professed Christ as lord, as evident by their pursuit of lawlessness. (Mt 7:22-23) In summary then, if hypocrisy and carnality can undermine religious work, even rendering as rubbish the deeds of regenerate believers, can the works of unbelievers possibly be described as "good?"
When you’re Afraid Remember the Lord
Coming from Nehemiah 4:11-14, this episode provides a model for overcoming fear amidst opposition to God's purposes in our lives. When threatened with death by "vision-killers," Nehemiah encouraged his compatriots, "Do not be afraid of them, remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers.." When believers experience discouragement and fear because of their aggressive embrace of the kingdom, they join in the "fellowship of sufferings" that old and new testament saints experience. And all endured opposition and fulfilled their calling by remembering the Lord Who is great and awesome.