A Better Song the Gospel Sings

Hebrews 7:11-19 (ESV)

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?  [12] For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.  [13] For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.  [14] For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

[15] This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,  [16] who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.  [17] For it is witnessed of him,

“You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

[18] On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness  [19] (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Introduction-

Many churches today teach that holiness is attained through a long list of do’s and don’ts and it’s mostly don’ts.  You’re seen as an upper class Christian if you don’t drink or smoke or play cards or dance or watch movies.  The problem with this mentality is that not doing something, viewed by some to be a sign of holiness, does not make one holy.

In the early years of the 20^th Century, in opposition to the Liberal teaching that was making it’s mark in America, a group appeared who laid out a list of things that marked one as an evangelical Christian.  This group had good intentions and they fought hard to promote conservative Christian beliefs. Continue Reading

Christ’s Eternal Priesthood

Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV)

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,  [20] where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:1-10 (ESV)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,  [2] and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.  [3] He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

[4] See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!  [5] And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.  [6] But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.  [7] It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.  [8] In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.  [9] One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,  [10] for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

In writing the Book of Hebrews, the author was out to show the greatness of Christ over and above anything else that make claims of greatness.  Jewish believers were being tempted to return to their Jewish traditional beliefs.  The writer offers proof after proof that to go back would be to forfeit all hope for eternal life with the Lord.  Hebrews was written to show that to return to OT practices would be an empty endeavor because everything that the OT pointed to finds its reality in Jesus Christ.

We should think of the OT as a map or signs that directs us to Jesus.  Kids, it’s like going to King’s Island.  The map shows the roads to take to get there and then once you get closer there are signs that say Kings Island with a arrow.  It would be terribly wrong for mom and dad to pull over the car at the side of the road by the sign and say, Here we are! No, you’re not there.  The sign points to a reality it is not the reality.  The reality is the park not the sign pointing to the park. Continue Reading

Our Soul’s Anchor

Hebrews 6:13-20 (ESV)

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,  [14] saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”  [15] And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.  [16] For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.  [17] So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,  [18] so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  [19] We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,  [20] where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

We live in an age where someone’s word really doesn’t mean much.  It’s an age of loopholes and broken promises.  Between unfulfilled wedding vows and unfulfilled political agendas our age is an age where human words are really worth next to nothing.

With divorce on the rise, the words for better or for worse must not really mean for better or for worse.  They must mean for better or for best.

The promises of politicians for the most part are worthless.  There is always a reason that their words remain unfulfilled.  I wonder how many people are actually taken in by the political debris of these promises that cannot possibly be kept.  A Balanced national budget, Healthcare for everyone, Jobs for everyone who wants one.

We’re so used to not believing promises that we may be tempted to not believe God’s promises.  We’re so skeptical when those on the television make dogmatic statements that it may often carry over into our spiritual life.

There is a difference between a man made promise and a promise made by God.  While man’s promises have many different reasons for not coming true, God’s has a million reasons that guarantee them. Continue Reading

God-Granted Assurance

Hebrews 6:1-12 (ESV)

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  [2] and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  [3] And this we will do if God permits.  [4] For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,  [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,  [6] if they then fall away, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.  [7] For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.  [8] But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

[9] Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.  [10] For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.  [11] And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,  [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

As we begin this morning we must pay very close attention to this text.  Most of the Bible is clear cut and easy to understand.  Some, like this text, require a little more work. Last week we learned about those in the church the author of Hebrews referred to as those who were living on the milk of the Word rather than meat.  Now he is placing before the entire church the idea that for some, it may be a whole lot more serious than simply being an immature Christian.  There may be some who are not a Christian at all.

Scripture clearly teaches that it is God who saves.  He alone grants repentance.  He alone opens hearts to believe and He alone keeps His children.

There are two basic groups the writer is concerned with.  First, there is the group he’s writing to.  These are true believers who need to move on toward maturity.  Then there is a second group who need to be saved.  For the true Christians, his words become encouragement, however, to the false disciples his words are a serious caution. Continue Reading

A Case Study in Christian Immaturity

Hebrews 5:11-6:3 (ESV)

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  [12] For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, [13] for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of

righteousness, since he is a child.  [14] But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  [2] and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  [3] And this we will do if God permits.

I remember when I would preach in Bible College and seminary around at various churches.  Whenever the sermon topic would be directly evangelistic, after it was finished, I would be assured that the sermon topic was well picked and exactly what the church needed to hear.  I want to share with you today that the Gospel should make an appearance in every sermon in some form or other.  However, if all the church hears is the basics of the Gospel and it never hears any more than that, the church will be at best filled with baby Christians.  Immaturity will be the mark of the church.  Consequently, whenever I would preach on a doctrine from the Bible I would often get blank stares. Continue Reading

Finding Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The last couple of weeks have left us wondering what went wrong in the lives of the Hebrews who left Egypt to travel and enter the Promised Land.  God has warned us over these few weeks from these passages that He doesn’t want us to be like them.  They could not enter His rest because they didn’t believe His Words.  We learned last week that there is no escaping God’s all penetrating gaze and to grumble and complain is to do it in God’s presence. Continue Reading

Strive to Enter God’s Rest

Hebrews 4:11-13 (ESV)

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.  [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

So far through this section of Hebrews, we’ve learned that there were those who, because of unbelief, could not enter into God’s rest.  This is an eternal rest, one that is a symbolic reference to heaven.  The writer of Hebrews wants the church to be aware of the danger that exists in coming up short.  Only true Christians will enter into God’s rest.  A true Christian, as described in Scripture, is one who knows Jesus Christ and obeys His Word.  The knowing is proven by the obedience to His Word. Continue Reading

Entering God’s Rest

Hebrews 4:1-10 (ESV)

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.  [2] For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.  [3] For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest,’ “

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.  [4] For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”  [5] And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

[6] Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,  [7] again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

[8] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.  [9] So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,  [10] for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Introduction

Last week we looked at a generation of Israelites who failed to enter into the Promised Land because of unbelief.  There lack of faith kept them from entering what is referred to as God’s rest.

The Lord issued the invitation for them to enter and they did not listen.  They forfeited their opportunity to enter.  Rather than worshipping the Rock known as Jesus Christ and seeking refuge in Him, they looked back to Egypt for comfort.  This wasn’t a one time thing, but they were doing this for 40 years.

The Almighty swore in His wrath that they would not enter into His rest.

The Lord’s invitation to enter into His rest is still valid today.  The message is the same today as it was in those days.  We must enter into that eternal rest by faith. Continue Reading

Unbelief, the Deadly Sin

Hebrews 3:7-19 (ESV)

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

[8] do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

[9] where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works  [10] for forty years.

Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

[11] As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’ “

[12] Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.  [13] But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  [14] For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.  [15] As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

[16] For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?  [17] And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  [18] And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?  [19] So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Introduction

In the first section of Bunyan’s work Pilgrim’s Progress, we are introduced to a man who lacks faith and conviction.  His name is Obstinate. John Bunyan names his characters after their character. Continue Reading

Jesus, the Faithful Son

Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV)

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,  [2] who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.  [3] For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.  [4] (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)  [5] Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,  [6] but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Introduction

Primary Claim- Jesus is superior to Moses as a builder is superior to the house and as a beloved Son is superior to a servant.

Primary Challenge- To consider and hold fast to Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

We have covered the first two chapters, chapters that taught us that Jesus is superior to those who mediated the Law, namely, the prophets and the angels.  The writer takes more territory away from the Jewish Christian who would still want to hold to some of his tradition.  Jesus is not only better than those who mediated the Law of Moses, He’s better than Moses, the one who gave the Law to the people.  To make the bold statement that Jesus is far superior to Moses was a serious statement for the Jew. Continue Reading