The Superiority of Christ: Resting in the Finished Work

[00:00:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
We do praise you Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
[00:00:05] Lord, we thank you that you are sovereign even over the weather.
[00:00:09] We do pray for those in harm's way now for this storm and this hurricane.
[00:00:14] Lord God, that
[00:00:15] you would protect your children and that you would providentially Lord show yourself strong even in this and now Lord we ask that you would come and visit us afresh as we come to this matchless book in my mind of the New Testament in Hebrews and yet all of your word is inspired equally and yet Lord this book such a wonderful blessing help us Lord to have ears to hear speak to us by your word through your Holy Spirit
[00:00:43] May faith grow in our hearts and may you get the glory, honor, and praise and we thank you in Jesus' name.
[00:00:49] Amen.
[00:00:50] The book of Hebrews.
[00:00:52] We are going to go through this book.
[00:00:54] This is the key book in the New Testament that gives us an understanding as we look at the Bible in 31 days and the connection between the Old and the New.
[00:01:05] Hebrews is the best place to find that.
[00:01:09] The Old and the New Covenant.
[00:01:10] And the basic theme is that the New is better.
[00:01:14] The New Covenant is better.
[00:01:16] It's a better covenant.
[00:01:18] It's better promises.
[00:01:19] It's a better mediator.
[00:01:21] It's a better high priest.
[00:01:22] And we're going to see that.
[00:01:24] We're going to be reading the first couple chapters.
[00:01:26] And then after that, we're going to be reading selected passages throughout the book to see this wonderful argument named Hebrews because the theme here is Jews who've come to Christ primarily are the recipients.
[00:01:42] who are being pressured to revert back to Judaism without Christ this book is written we believe when the temple was still standing and so there would be a lot of pressure for Jews who've accepted Christ you need to come back you need to be a good Jew give up this Jesus business and so there is a continual warning about apostasy as well as an exhortation to persevere in the faith and I think that's timely for us today
[00:02:12] In the situation that we face right here in this country in this time.
[00:02:16] But without further ado, let's get right into the scripture.
[00:02:19] Hebrews chapter 1 verse 1.
[00:02:23] God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who, being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, upholdeth all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,
[00:02:47] Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
[00:02:53] For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.
[00:02:59] And again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.
[00:03:04] And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
[00:03:10] And of the angel he saith, Who maketh the angels spirits,
[00:03:13] and his ministers a flame of fire but unto the sun he saith thy throne O God is forever a scepter of righteous is the scepter a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows and thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens they are the work of thine hands they shall perish but thou remainest
[00:03:43] and they all shall wax old as doth a garment and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail but to which of the angels said here any time sit thou on my right hand until i make thine enemies thy footstool are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation
[00:04:06] Chapter 1 presents to us Jesus Christ as far superior to the angels.
[00:04:12] The angels are the ones who we see bringing the Old Testament.
[00:04:16] Remember the angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham.
[00:04:19] The angel of the Lord spoke, brought the message on Mount Sinai.
[00:04:22] And so it says in the first verse, God who at sundry times in diverse manners, Old Testament, spake in times to the fathers by the prophets,
[00:04:30] And those words came as it were oftentimes the angel of the Lord.
[00:04:34] In these last days, last days of the redemptive history coming up in a climax and culmination in Jesus Christ, He's spoken to us by His Son.
[00:04:45] Not, and then later, Muhammad, and then later, Joseph Smith.
[00:04:48] No.
[00:04:48] In these last days, He's spoken to us by His Son, the final revelation, Jesus Christ.
[00:04:54] And that's what we have.
[00:04:55] He is the appointed heir over all things, by whom also He made the worlds, Jesus the Creator.
[00:05:01] And the whole rest of the first chapter of the book of Hebrews
[00:05:04] All of these verses, these are quotations primarily from the Psalms.
[00:05:08] There's one from 2 Samuel, another from Deuteronomy.
[00:05:13] Each and every one of them are here applied and opened up by the Holy Spirit as talking about the Son, Jesus Christ.
[00:05:20] And what we find, if we don't have time now, but you all are all going to come to my Tuesday night class starting next week, I know.
[00:05:26] 7pm, looking forward to that as we take time through the book of Hebrews.
[00:05:30] But anyways, all of these basically are saying Jesus is not only greater than the angels
[00:05:37] He is God Himself who created the angels.
[00:05:41] And we see that in many passages.
[00:05:43] Real quickly, you can look this up yourself, but verse 5 is quoting Psalm 2, 7, and 2 Samuel 7, 14.
[00:05:50] Verse 6 is quoting from Deuteronomy 32.
[00:05:53] Verse 7, Psalm 104.
[00:05:54] Verse 8, Psalm 45.
[00:05:56] That's verse 8 and 9.
[00:05:57] Psalm 45 and 6 and 7.
[00:05:59] Verse 10, 11, and 12, quoting Psalm 102.
[00:06:03] Verse 13, quoting Psalm 110.
[00:06:05] Verse 14, quoting Psalm 103.
[00:06:07] I just want to show you one here.
[00:06:09] Look at verse 7.
[00:06:11] Actually, verse 8.
[00:06:12] But unto the Son, in the Psalms, in Psalm 45, unto the Son, unto Jesus, in the Psalms.
[00:06:18] I didn't think Jesus was around.
[00:06:20] Well, by prophecy, this is a Messianic Psalm, referring to Jesus.
[00:06:24] Unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God.
[00:06:29] is forever and ever.
[00:06:31] Who's he calling God?
[00:06:32] Jesus.
[00:06:34] A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.
[00:06:37] Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity, therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
[00:06:46] If Jesus is God, how can he have a God?
[00:06:49] Well, that's the Father.
[00:06:50] There's the Trinity.
[00:06:51] The Father has anointed you, the Son.
[00:06:53] The Eternal Father has anointed the Eternal Son as Lord, as Messiah, as Christ.
[00:07:00] And this is a beautiful passage that Jesus is being presented in the book of Hebrews as greater, as we'll see, than the angels.
[00:07:10] Greater than even Moses, which really got the Jews upset.
[00:07:15] Greater than Aaron, the high priest.
[00:07:18] Even greater than Levi and the whole Levitical priesthood.
[00:07:21] Greater than Joshua and his namesake, who led the people in the Promised Land, but didn't give them full rest.
[00:07:30] Here in chapter 1, the deity of Christ is on full display.
[00:07:34] And if you come to the class, we'll take time to parse that out and to look at every scripture
[00:07:39] How it shows that the Old Testament clearly preaches that Jesus is not only far superior to the angels, but in fact the creator of the angels.
[00:07:48] He is God incarnate.
[00:07:51] Now chapter 2 continues this, but we're going to see in chapter 2 the fact that Jesus is not just God, as if that's not enough, but he's also man.
[00:08:03] As Pastor Andy mentioned, he's 100% God and 100% man.
[00:08:06] Now, that's not always.
[00:08:07] That only started at Christmas 2,000 years ago, right, with the Incarnation.
[00:08:11] And we're going to see that now in Chapter 2.
[00:08:14] So we have the deity of Christ in full display, Chapter 1, the humanity of Christ here in Chapter 2, and
[00:08:21] One of the key reasons that Jesus Christ took on human flesh here in chapter 2.
[00:08:26] Let's take a look at verse 1.
[00:08:27] Therefore, what's the therefore?
[00:08:29] Therefore, the previous chapter, since Jesus is far greater than the angels who brought the Old Testament, okay, since he's far greater than the instrumentality of bringing the Old Testament,
[00:08:42] Then what?
[00:08:43] We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
[00:08:50] See, there's the warning, right?
[00:08:52] You love Moses, you love the Old Testament, so do I, but this is even...
[00:08:56] More important in the sense that Jesus himself has now come and spoken to us.
[00:09:02] God in person, the second person of the Trinity.
[00:09:04] For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, verse 3 of chapter 2, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?
[00:09:23] God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with diverse miracles and gifts of the holy ghost according to his own will for unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come wherever we speak but one in a certain place says what is man that thou art mindful of him or the son of man that thou visitest him psalm 8 thou madest him a little lower than the angels thou crownest him with glory and honor and did set him over the work of thy hands thou has put all things in subjection under his feet
[00:09:53] for in that he put all in subjection under him he left nothing that is not put under him but now we see not yet all things put under him psalm 8 a messianic psalm talking about christ who has been made a little lower than the angels not in his deity but in his humanity but this is part of the incarnation and the purpose that's going to unfold here in the next few verses but verse 9 but we see jesus
[00:10:17] who was made a little lower than the angels why for the suffering of death so he was born to die for suffering of death crowned with glory and honor that he by the grace of god should taste death for every man for it became him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings for both he that sanctifies that is he that makes holy that's jesus
[00:10:47] And they who are sanctified, all true believers, are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.
[00:10:55] Praise God.
[00:10:56] If you're born again, did you know Jesus is your brother?
[00:10:59] Your older brother?
[00:11:01] i don't know if i can talk about that well jesus says not ashamed to call you brother praise god hallelujah or sister if you're truly born again saying and the quotation from psalm 22 saying i will declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the church will i sing praise unto thee and again i will put my trust in him and again behold i and the children which god hath given me now here we go verse 14 for as much then as the children that's us believers
[00:11:27] are partakers of flesh and blood.
[00:11:29] All of you got flesh and blood.
[00:11:31] He also himself likewise took part of the same.
[00:11:34] So Jesus existed eternally before he had a human body.
[00:11:37] Why did he come and take on human flesh?
[00:11:41] There are many reasons, but look at the reason that's on display and highlighted here.
[00:11:45] In verse 14,
[00:11:48] For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also likewise took part of the same that or so that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death which is the devil.
[00:12:00] Praise God.
[00:12:01] he was born to die but the victory was not in the birth as much as in the death because in his death remember uh all the way back in genesis uh the seed of the woman i'm going to put enmity between the seed your seed satan and the seed of the woman he shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel christ bruises his head and his death bearing resurrection
[00:12:23] and so it says that he through death he might destroy him they had the power of the death the devil and look verse 15 and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage who's that talking about
[00:12:35] Every human on the face of the earth, and only those who are truly believers are the ones that are delivered.
[00:12:41] Every human on the face of the earth has a bondage to the fear of death.
[00:12:44] They may or may not admit it.
[00:12:45] They may want to talk about it, they may not want to talk about it.
[00:12:48] In our society they try to push it off and not talk about it at all.
[00:12:51] But the fact is it's there.
[00:12:53] Deep down it's there.
[00:12:54] And so Christ has come to deliver us.
[00:12:56] From that, that bondage, we're not supposed to be in bondage.
[00:12:59] Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
[00:13:00] Bondage is chains and slavery to the fear of death.
[00:13:04] That's why when they said, oh, don't go to church, you might die from COVID.
[00:13:08] Most of the churches in America closed indefinitely.
[00:13:13] This church didn't close.
[00:13:15] And if one of us died of COVID by coming to church, praise God, we die as a martyr for Jesus.
[00:13:21] But none of us died, praise God.
[00:13:22] Some of us got sick.
[00:13:23] It's okay.
[00:13:24] We were all right.
[00:13:25] God took care of us.
[00:13:26] But the point is, are we more afraid to die, or are we more afraid of denying the Lord Jesus Christ?
[00:13:33] And so, he came to deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
[00:13:40] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
[00:13:45] There it is, the seed of Abraham.
[00:13:47] He didn't come as an angel.
[00:13:48] He didn't come as a ghost.
[00:13:49] He came in the line of the Messiah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and then, of course, Judah, and then, of course, David.
[00:13:57] He's the son of Abraham, the son of David.
[00:13:58] He takes on the seed of Abraham.
[00:14:01] That's the blessing, remember, of God to the whole world.
[00:14:04] And thee shall all the tribes of the world be blessed.
[00:14:07] through Jesus Christ the seed he took on him the seed of Abraham verse 17 wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in these things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted he's able to succor he's able to strengthen he's able to aid and help us who are tempted now this is very
[00:14:35] The book of Hebrews is the only place where the doctrine of Jesus being our high priest is expounded, unfolded, and addressed at any kind of length.
[00:14:46] There's only a couple other places where it's mentioned, like Psalms, Psalm 110, you know, this idea, but the...
[00:14:52] Romans, but here alone is it expounded upon and you'll see this idea of Jesus being our High Priest focused on as we move through the book of Hebrews.
[00:15:02] He is our High Priest and so that raises some questions that will be addressed
[00:15:07] in subsequent chapters so christ comes he takes on human flesh he defeats the devil he delivers all who believe upon him from the fear of death and from the one who had the power of the fear of death jesus came to destroy the devil praise god uh he came to destroy the devil and his work that started all the way back at the garden of eden
[00:15:29] Praise God.
[00:15:30] And so, if we are in Him, we are to be freed from that.
[00:15:34] Continuing on to chapter 3, now I want us to pick up in verse 16.
[00:15:40] The first part of chapter 3 is talking about Moses.
[00:15:48] And the fact of the matter is that Jesus is being presented now to the Jews as greater than Moses.
[00:15:56] That's something that's difficult for them to understand.
[00:15:59] But they say, Moses was faithful in all of his house, but Jesus is greater because he's the one that made the house.
[00:16:05] And then we pick up in chapter 3, verse 16.
[00:16:11] By the way, he also warns them, don't
[00:16:16] Treat Jesus like your Israelite forefathers treated Moses and not believe in him and murmur against him and not follow his commands and turn to idolatry.
[00:16:28] And so there's a warning there.
[00:16:30] And then in verse 16, For some, when they had heard
[00:16:34] Oh, I'm sorry.
[00:16:36] Forgive me.
[00:16:36] I want to read the first six verses of chapter 3.
[00:16:39] Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him that appointed him, and as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
[00:16:50] For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.
[00:16:58] For every house is builded by some man, but he that built all things is God.
[00:17:02] There's Jesus here.
[00:17:03] And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of these things which were to be spoken after.
[00:17:11] But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we if we hold fast
[00:17:19] The confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
[00:17:22] You see, there's that exhortation to hold fast your profession of faith.
[00:17:26] And then the rest of the chapter is a warning.
[00:17:29] Don't fall into the unbelief that kept the Israelites in that generation of the Exodus from entering into the Promised Land.
[00:17:37] Now with that in mind, chapter 4 talks about that very theme of the Israelites who did not enter into the rest of God, into the Promised Land, because of unbelief.
[00:17:50] And so there's this idea, if you look at chapter 4 verse 8,
[00:17:54] In the King James it says, if Jesus had given them rest.
[00:17:58] In Greek, Jesus and Joshua is exactly the same word.
[00:18:01] So it should be read Joshua.
[00:18:03] If Joshua had given them rest by leading them into the Promised Land, then would they not have afterwards spoken of another day?
[00:18:12] Because David in Psalm 95 talks about a future day of rest.
[00:18:17] Well, they're already in the Promised Land.
[00:18:18] What's the future day of rest?
[00:18:20] Joshua's already brought them in.
[00:18:21] It's referring to a rest that only Jesus can bring us into.
[00:18:26] And so that's in chapter 4.
[00:18:28] So Jesus is greater than the angels.
[00:18:30] Jesus is greater than Moses.
[00:18:32] Jesus is greater than Joshua.
[00:18:34] Boy, he's touching all the buttons of the Jews, isn't he?
[00:18:37] And then, of course, in chapter 4, if you look at the last few verses, verse 14,
[00:18:45] Seen then, we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God.
[00:18:50] Let us hold fast our profession.
[00:18:53] You see, there it is again.
[00:18:55] He is our high priest.
[00:18:56] He's in heaven making intercession for us.
[00:18:59] Let's hold fast our profession.
[00:19:01] There's that exhortation for us to continue.
[00:19:03] Now, chapter 5 opens up the idea that Jesus is a high priest, but Jesus is not from the right tribe to be a high priest.
[00:19:12] If you're going to be a priest in Israel, what tribe do you have to be part of?
[00:19:16] Levi, what tribe was Jesus from?
[00:19:20] Judah and so he is a priest of a different order and that's opened up there's this idea that in Genesis chapter 14 we find that this strange character Melchizedek shows up to Abraham after he goes and rescues Lot from the war with Sodom and the kings of the area and this guy Melchizedek which means king of righteousness who is also the king of Salem the king of peace shows up
[00:19:50] Shows up with bread and wine.
[00:19:52] Wow, sounds like Jesus to me.
[00:19:53] But anyways, the funny thing is Abraham pays tithes to Melchizedek.
[00:19:59] There hasn't been yet anything that says to pay tithes.
[00:20:03] How does he know?
[00:20:04] And how does he know Melchizedek?
[00:20:05] And who is Melchizedek?
[00:20:07] And then Melchizedek blesses Abraham.
[00:20:09] And the Bible says the less is blessed of the better.
[00:20:12] Well, many people believe Melchizedek is a pre-incarnate Christ.
[00:20:16] But the key is that we don't know anything about his genealogy.
[00:20:20] And Jesus, it says, is a high priest after a different order, an order of Melchizedek.
[00:20:26] And that's what it says, by the way,
[00:20:28] In Psalm 110, right?
[00:20:32] Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
[00:20:35] We'll see that picked up again in chapter 7.
[00:20:37] So Jesus is a high priest, but it's not from the tribe of Levi because not only is Jesus better than the angels and better than Moses and better than Joshua, but his priesthood is infinitely better than the Levitical priesthood.
[00:20:52] See, that's the whole theme.
[00:20:54] Better.
[00:20:54] Everything is better.
[00:20:55] Better promises, better mediator, better covenant.
[00:20:58] And so this is the theme that is continuing on.
[00:21:02] Now in chapter 6, before you get to chapter 6, the end of chapter 5,
[00:21:12] I think it's probably Paul, but obviously the Holy Spirit wrote this book, and he says, look, I'd like to tell you more about Melchizedek, but you're not ready.
[00:21:20] You should be eating meat, but you're drinking milk, so I can't tell you right now.
[00:21:25] And so, he goes into chapter 6, and he gives a warning, a warning about apostasy.
[00:21:33] Remember, they're being exhorted to hold on to the faith and to continue and to press forward, and he warns them,
[00:21:41] about falling away and the impossibility for those who were once enlightened 6-4 and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame and there is a similar warning you'll find in chapter 10 because this seems to be the temptation
[00:22:10] that hebrews has been written to stave off don't return to judaism don't give up your faith in jesus christ now that warning is there and if you look in verse 9 he says but beloved we're persuaded better things of you
[00:22:27] uh for god is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have showed verse 10 towards his name and that you have ministered to the saints and and so he ends by encouraging them uh reminding them of god's promise to abraham verse uh 13 for when god made promise to abraham because he could swear by no greater he swear by himself saying surely blessing i will bless thee and multiplying i will multiply thee and so after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise
[00:22:57] For men verily swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife, wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, unchangeability, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
[00:23:24] which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast which reacheth entereth in to the veil and through the holy of holies you know we may not be there but if we're born again we've got an anchor
[00:23:41] it's all the way in the very presence of God and no matter what happens in life the waves of life the tribulations the troubles in our body and our mind and our finances and our family and our work whatever comes our way God forbid and yet there's an anchor and it keeps us tethered if you will chained to the very presence of God himself behind the veil there in chapter 6 what a beautiful picture and by the way
[00:24:07] What else is important about that?
[00:24:09] Verse 20, Whither the forerunner for us is entered in, even Jesus made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
[00:24:19] He's already there.
[00:24:21] We've got the chain.
[00:24:23] And we're being called to enter in, as we'll see.
[00:24:28] Later on.
[00:24:29] Beautiful picture.
[00:24:31] Continuing in chapter 7 is more about Melchizedek and the idea that Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek.
[00:24:41] And we find that expounded and the idea that Jesus, that this priesthood is far greater.
[00:24:51] How so?
[00:24:52] Look at chapter 7, verse 22.
[00:24:56] By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
[00:25:00] New Testament's better than the old.
[00:25:02] Verse 23, And they truly were many priests, this is the Old Testament, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death.
[00:25:09] priests did pretty good until they died right then they couldn't serve anymore makes sense right but this man jesus because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood an eternal priesthood wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto god by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them
[00:25:33] It's not Jesus plus my good works.
[00:25:36] It's not Jesus plus anything else.
[00:25:37] Joseph Smith or, you know, you name it.
[00:25:43] It's Jesus alone.
[00:25:44] He's able to save us to the uttermost.
[00:25:46] And also, he ever liveth, what's his primary occupation right now in heaven?
[00:25:52] At the right hand of the Father?
[00:25:53] To make intercession for us.
[00:25:57] Praise God.
[00:25:58] For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins and then for the people's.
[00:26:11] For this he did once when he offered up himself.
[00:26:16] for the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity but the word of the oath which was since the law maketh the son who is consecrated forevermore if you look back in verse 17 of hebrews 7 for he testifieth thou art a priest forever after the order of melchizedek that's god the father speaking to the son in psalm 110 verse 4 and so this is the oath of god the word of god
[00:26:42] The unchangeable truth of the unchangeable priesthood that is far better than the Levitical priesthood because Aaron is dead and all of the Levitical priests are dead but Jesus continues forever at the right hand of God where he ever liveth to make intercession for those he came to save.
[00:26:58] Praise God.
[00:27:00] Continuing on chapter 8, let's take a look at verse 1.
[00:27:03] Now of the things which we have spoken, you say, Pastor Joseph,
[00:27:08] Where are you going with this?
[00:27:09] Well, here we go.
[00:27:10] Now, of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum.
[00:27:13] Ah, that means wake up, listen.
[00:27:15] We have such a high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.
[00:27:26] For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices, wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
[00:27:35] For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law, who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,
[00:27:46] as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle for see saith he that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount and so what's being taught here the tabernacle that Moses made and then later the temple that Solomon made those were real physical temples and tap but they were shadows of the true temple in heaven itself
[00:28:14] And that Jesus is the High Priest, not of the... Because, by the way, when Jesus died on the cross, what was in the Holy of Holies?
[00:28:21] Absolutely nothing.
[00:28:23] Where was the Ark?
[00:28:24] It's been gone since 586 BC, when the Babylonians... And so Jesus doesn't carry his blood into there.
[00:28:30] No, he carries his blood into the Holy of Holies in heaven itself.
[00:28:35] And you see that, and we'll see that on Friday night in Revelation, where the Ark is actually in heaven.
[00:28:41] Interesting.
[00:28:42] And that's what it's saying here, verse 6.
[00:28:44] But now hath he, Jesus, obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
[00:28:54] Are you getting the drift here?
[00:28:55] Better, better, better, better and more, yeah?
[00:28:58] For if the first covenant had been faultless, the Old Testament, then should no place have been sought for the second.
[00:29:04] The fault is not in God and his covenant.
[00:29:07] The fault is in man not being able to keep it.
[00:29:10] verse 8 for finding fault with them sinful man he says behold the days come save the lord that i'll make a new covenant with the house of israel with the house of judah pastor andy when he preached on jeremiah he said you'll find this two places in rome in the book of hebrews here's one in chapter eight i believe the other is in chapter 10. he's quoting what jeremiah 31 31 you thought pastor andy might have been making it up but no here's the proof right that this is talking about the new testament
[00:29:36] Jeremiah 31, right here, 31 in verse 8.
[00:29:38] For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I'll make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant.
[00:29:52] And I regarded them not, saith the Lord, for this is the covenant that I'll make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord.
[00:30:00] I'll put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts.
[00:30:05] and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother saying know the Lord for he shall know me for all shall know me from the least to the greatest for I'll be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more
[00:30:24] In that he saith a new covenant, he hath made the first old.
[00:30:29] Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
[00:30:33] Many people believe this book was written in the late 60s, not the 1960s folks, the late 60s, because the temple was destroyed in 70.
[00:30:42] And it says the old covenant is waxing old, it's about to vanish away.
[00:30:47] The very temptation to go back to the temple is going to be removed when that temple is destroyed by the Romans in just a couple years.
[00:30:55] And so that's what's, I think, being referred to here.
[00:30:58] Now continue on into chapter 9.
[00:31:01] In chapter 9, the first 10 verses, the old covenant is being described.
[00:31:08] The old tabernacle, what was in the tabernacle, the holy place, the holy of holies, the mercy seat, and the ark, and all of these things.
[00:31:16] And look what it says about these things in verse 8.
[00:31:23] the Holy Ghost this signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while as the first tabernacle was yet standing remember nobody could go into the holiest of holies except the high priest only once a year and first he had to offer bullocks uh on sacrifice for his sin just to go in tradition says they put a long rope around his ankle uh and he had bells they did have bells on his outfit he'd go in there they'd hear the bells if he didn't hear the bells for a while
[00:31:53] and he doesn't come out let's get that rope because you can't go in after him and let's pull him out you know that's tradition but uh it makes sense because that was it that you can't go into the holy of holies and when the old tabernacle and temple was there the way between god and man is is shut off and by the way remember when adam and eve were kicked out of the garden what did god do to make sure they couldn't get back in put cherubim there flaming swords you know what was embroidered
[00:32:23] On the veil between the holy of holies and the holy place?
[00:32:28] Cherubim with swords.
[00:32:32] Man can't go in.
[00:32:35] Very interesting.
[00:32:36] But praise God!
[00:32:38] We know what happened when Jesus died, right?
[00:32:40] Now look at verse 11 of chapter 9.
[00:32:44] But Christ...
[00:32:45] Being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
[00:33:05] Praise God.
[00:33:06] This idea that Christ has to be sacrificed every time we have the Lord's Supper, this is not true.
[00:33:13] This idea that Christ is still on the cross is not true.
[00:33:16] He did it once.
[00:33:17] Once and for all.
[00:33:20] Jesus paid it all.
[00:33:21] He doesn't need to come up with another payment.
[00:33:24] His payment is far greater than we can even begin to comprehend.
[00:33:29] The blood of the eternal God shared for you and me and all who would believe.
[00:33:32] Verse 23, it says, It was therefore necessary that the patterns of these things in the heavens, the temple or tabernacle in heaven, should be purified with these, the animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these, which is of course the blood of Christ.
[00:33:51] For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
[00:34:02] Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others.
[00:34:10] for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world you see but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself and as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment so christ came once he once offered was once offered to bear the sins of many and under them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin under salvation are you looking for him
[00:34:39] There's an implication there.
[00:34:40] If you're not looking for him, he's not going to appear to you.
[00:34:43] Oh, he'll appear in judgment, but not in salvation.
[00:34:46] And why does it say he'll appear the second time without sin?
[00:34:49] Did he have sin the first time?
[00:34:52] The answer is yes he did but it was your sin and my sin and he took it as the scapegoat to hell.
[00:34:59] He descended into hell.
[00:35:00] The third day he rose again from the dead and he ascends into heaven and when he returns he's already removed our sin as far as the east is from the west and you're right he doesn't have any sin and when he comes back that's a sign that our sin is completely gone.
[00:35:14] He's coming back spotless.
[00:35:15] He's coming back perfect.
[00:35:17] He's not coming back suffering on the cross.
[00:35:20] He's coming back on a white war horse ready to do battle with a sword coming out of His mouth.
[00:35:25] Praise God.
[00:35:25] Hallelujah.
[00:35:26] Without sin, the second time, for those who look for Him, He appears the second time without sin under salvation.
[00:35:35] Praise the Lord.
[00:35:36] Now in chapter 10, it continues this comparison between the Old Testament law and the New.
[00:35:42] I think we need to read a bit more.
[00:35:43] Chapter 10, beginning in verse 1.
[00:35:45] For the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of those things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
[00:35:57] For then would they not have ceased to be offered, because that the worshippers, once purged, should have no more conscience of sins.
[00:36:05] But in those sacrifices there's a remembrance again made of sins every year.
[00:36:09] For it's not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
[00:36:14] Therefore, when he cometh into the world, Jesus, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.
[00:36:21] Psalm 40.
[00:36:22] These animals, this sacrifice is temporary, so God gives him a body so that he might perfectly fulfill the Old Testament law in that true human body and then offer that human body, that spotless Passover lamb, that lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the world, that spotless
[00:36:40] Perfect Lamb of God, the sinless Lamb of God, who died on the very day of Passover, a body thou hast prepared me.
[00:36:46] Psalm 40 verse 6.
[00:36:47] In burnt offerings, verse 6, and sacrifice for sin thou hast no pleasure.
[00:36:51] Then said I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God.
[00:36:57] above when he said sacrifice and offering and burnt offering and offering for sin thou wouldest not neither has pleasure therein which are offered by the law then said he lo i come to do thy will o god he taketh away the first first covenant that he may establish the second the new covenant this is why he says this is the new covenant written in my blood
[00:37:19] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
[00:37:26] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
[00:37:33] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down at the right hand of God.
[00:37:42] One of the things you don't find in the tabernacle or temple is a lazy boy.
[00:37:46] There is no chair except the mercy seat, which God alone, if you will, that's not even a seat where he sits.
[00:37:52] But Jesus, when, so the, why is there no chair?
[00:37:55] Because the priest's work was never done.
[00:37:57] But once Jesus offers himself one time, he goes up and sits down at the right hand because he says, it is finished.
[00:38:05] He doesn't need to do any more work to atone for our sins.
[00:38:09] The only thing he's doing now is praying for us as we walk in that glorious salvation, interceding for us.
[00:38:16] Praise the Lord.
[00:38:17] Verse 13, From henceforth expect him till his enemies be made his footstool.
[00:38:21] For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.
[00:38:25] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is witness to us.
[00:38:27] For after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I'll make with them after those days.
[00:38:31] Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses that every word be established.
[00:38:34] Pastor Andy said it's in two places.
[00:38:35] Here it is again.
[00:38:36] Jeremiah 31.
[00:38:37] in chapter 10 of the book of Hebrews I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds will I write them their sins and iniquities will I remember no more now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin listen the temple the holy of holies the holy of holies has the ark and the ark is the covenant the the ten commandments okay now where do we find the temple of God and God looks at the
[00:39:06] And if you're born again, he's written his commandments right there in the Holy of Holies, you see?
[00:39:13] Isn't that interesting?
[00:39:15] And it goes on to say, Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest.
[00:39:21] We already have an anchor, right?
[00:39:23] Sometimes they bring the anchor in.
[00:39:26] Wherefore, brethren, seeing we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil.
[00:39:36] Those cherubim with the flame have to stand back.
[00:39:39] that is to say his flesh as his flesh is opened up with the spear and the life-giving water and the blood that cleanses us comes out the the miracle of the veil in the in the temple on earth rending into in that is to show us the idea that the way into the holiest of all
[00:40:01] is now made manifest.
[00:40:03] The communion with God that we enjoyed in the garden, we can now enjoy once again if we're being in Christ Jesus.
[00:40:10] Notice it says, A new and living way, verse 20, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance.
[00:40:22] You always wonder about those people on the back row.
[00:40:25] Now, my family and other people, you know, they're good people, I understand, but there's this idea, Ron, of course, but let's draw near.
[00:40:32] Let's get as near as we can to the Lord.
[00:40:34] And that's not talking so much about physical, right?
[00:40:37] It's more spiritual.
[00:40:38] Draw near.
[00:40:39] Draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.
[00:40:45] Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful, it promised.
[00:40:54] And let us consider one another.
[00:40:56] Why should we go to church every Sunday?
[00:40:58] Well, here it is.
[00:40:59] Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.
[00:41:02] How do we do that?
[00:41:04] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.
[00:41:12] That's one of the reasons, among many others, that we should be in the household of God.
[00:41:16] We should be encouraging and exhorting one another, considering one another as we see the day of His glorious return approaching.
[00:41:25] Now, in the end here of this chapter, verse 30, let's pick it up now in verse 35.
[00:41:33] Cast not because there is another warning against apostasy like there was in chapter 6 here in chapter 10 beginning verse 35 cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompense of reward for you have need of patience
[00:41:48] that after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise for yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry people say where is he in a little while he'll come he's going to come and not tarry now the just shall live by faith
[00:42:05] But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
[00:42:09] But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
[00:42:15] Now we have to read chapter 11.
[00:42:17] Chapter 11 is beautiful.
[00:42:18] It's the Hall of Faith.
[00:42:19] And the point is that look at all of these saints in the Old Testament that we've already studied that persevered in the faith
[00:42:28] But they never got to see Jesus.
[00:42:30] They never got the New Testament.
[00:42:31] They never got what we got.
[00:42:33] And so the encouragement and the argumentation is, if they could do it without the Holy Spirit having come to fill them, without the New Testament that you're now receiving, why can't you do it?
[00:42:43] And look, salvation by grace through faith, a lot of churches will say, oh, that doesn't start until Pentecost.
[00:42:49] The writer of the Hebrews sorely disagrees.
[00:42:52] It starts with who?
[00:42:55] It actually starts with Abel.
[00:42:57] hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen for by it the elders obtained a good report through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of god so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear by faith abel
[00:43:18] Offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and by it being dead yet speaketh.
[00:43:28] By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death, and was not found, because God hath translated him.
[00:43:35] For before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
[00:43:38] But without faith it is impossible to please him.
[00:43:42] For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
[00:43:47] By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
[00:43:58] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out and to a place which he should afterwards receive for inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
[00:44:07] And by faith he sojourned in the land of promises, in a strange country dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
[00:44:15] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
[00:44:21] He wasn't looking for Israel, he wasn't looking for Gaza, he wasn't looking for Iraq, he was looking for the New Jerusalem.
[00:44:27] Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
[00:44:36] Therefore sprang there even of one and him as good as dead, as many as the stars of the sky, and multitude as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable.
[00:44:44] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
[00:44:56] That's a model for us.
[00:44:58] For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country, not the land physically of Israel, though that's important, but that's not what they're seeking.
[00:45:07] For truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
[00:45:13] Look at verse 16.
[00:45:14] But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly.
[00:45:18] Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city.
[00:45:23] Amen?
[00:45:24] And it's going to come down from heaven, and we'll talk about that Friday.
[00:45:28] By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac.
[00:45:31] And he that had received the promises offered up
[00:45:33] His only begotten Son, of whom it was said that in Isaac shall thy seed be called, accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure.
[00:45:43] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
[00:45:47] By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph and worshipped, leaned upon the top of his staff,
[00:45:52] By faith, Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.
[00:45:58] By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents because they saw he was a proper child and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
[00:46:06] By faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
[00:46:16] Why?
[00:46:17] Esteeming the reproach of Christ.
[00:46:19] Greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
[00:46:24] By faith he forsook Egypt, not feeling the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
[00:46:30] Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
[00:46:36] By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land which the Egyptians, a saint to do, were drowned.
[00:46:41] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days.
[00:46:46] By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not when she had received the spies with peace.
[00:46:53] And what more shall I say?
[00:46:54] The time would fail me, and it will fail me here tonight, to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, of Jephthah, of David, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through fate subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, women received their dead, raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance.
[00:47:20] that they might obtain a better resurrection and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment they were stoned they were sawn asunder they were tempted they were slain with the sword they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute afflicted tormented of whom the world was not worthy they wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth and these all having obtained a good report through faith received not the promise
[00:47:50] God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect.
[00:48:00] All of this faith, all that they suffered, and they hadn't received Christ.
[00:48:04] They hadn't seen Christ yet, as we have seen him.
[00:48:07] They didn't see the truth.
[00:48:09] They didn't see it being played out that he died for us, that he rose again, that he ascended into heaven.
[00:48:13] They didn't see the Spirit come down at Pentecost.
[00:48:15] They didn't have all this explanation that we have now.
[00:48:19] He says, so how is it that we're going to falter when they didn't falter?
[00:48:23] because we are in the same line of faith that they are the very same way they are saved is the way that we're saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ them looking forward to the cross we're looking backward to the cross and then chapter 12 says wherefore seeing we are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight what is the weight that's keeping you and the sin that so easily besets us
[00:48:50] and let us run with patience the race that is set before us that race that ends in heaven the promised land right looking unto jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him of being reunited with the father for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross despising the shame and has now sat down at the right hand of the throne of god and so it encourages us
[00:49:16] Here in chapter 12.
[00:49:17] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest at any time you be wearied and faint in your minds.
[00:49:24] For you have not resisted sin unto blood, but Jesus did.
[00:49:30] And then the rest of chapter 12 in the middle there tells us to understand that God does chasten whom he loves and not to be overly concerned with persecution which they may be facing because there is a chastening of the Lord through this that is so that we might be partakers of his holiness.
[00:49:50] Wherefore, raise up the hands that hang down, and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
[00:50:02] Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.
[00:50:07] Now look here at the end of chapter 12.
[00:50:10] For you are not come to the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest.
[00:50:16] You hadn't come to Mount Sinai, you New Testament believers, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which words they heard and treated, that the words should not be spoken to them any more, for they could not endure that which was commanded.
[00:50:28] And if so much as a beast touched the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with the dark.
[00:50:32] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake, but you are come unto Mount Zion.
[00:50:39] And to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
[00:51:03] See then that you refuse not him that speaketh.
[00:51:06] For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth , but now he hath promised, saying yet once more, I shake not the earth only, but heaven.
[00:51:21] and this word yet once more signifies the removing of those things that are shaken as of things which are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remain wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve god acceptably with reverence and godly fear for our god is a consuming fire and before we end he's
[00:51:51] Reminding us of Mount Sinai.
[00:51:55] All of those Jews that heard except two of them, what happened to them?
[00:51:59] Died in the wilderness.
[00:52:01] Did not enter into the Promised Land.
[00:52:03] Which is a picture of what?
[00:52:06] Heaven.
[00:52:07] Did not enter into the rest of the Lord.
[00:52:10] And so he's warning us.
[00:52:12] He's saying, no, you're not going to come to Mount Sinai, but you're going to come to Mount Zion.
[00:52:16] In the innumerable company of angels and to Jesus himself.
[00:52:21] But it is all the more important and serious that we walk in a life of holiness, pleasing unto the Lord because we've been saved by a far greater covenant, by a far greater mediator, greater than the angels,
[00:52:33] A better covenant made upon better promises with the Spirit of God now inside of us, not that we can live an unholy life until we get to the temple where the Spirit is and then we got to get cleaned up.
[00:52:48] No, because He's in us day by day and He lives and moves in us and we have to walk in a holy way, pleasing in reverence and godly fear so that we do not end up like those who died in the wilderness and failed to enter into the rest of God which is
[00:53:02] Ultimately, salvation and heaven itself.
[00:53:05] And with that, let's end in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 1.
[00:53:11] Wherefore, holy brethren, chapter 4, let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left of us entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
[00:53:27] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them, those Israelites,
[00:53:32] But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
[00:53:37] For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, as I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
[00:53:48] For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, and God did rest the seventh day from all of his works.
[00:53:56] and in this place again if they shall enter into my rest seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief again he limiteth a certain day saying in David today after so long a time as it is said today if you will hear his voice hearted not your hearts for if Joshua that is had given them rest then he would not have spoken of another day there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God
[00:54:25] For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his.
[00:54:31] Who's that talking about?
[00:54:34] God the Father rested on the seventh day, that's why they had the Sabbath on the seventh day.
[00:54:38] He who entered into his rest
[00:54:41] Verse 10, For he that entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works as God did from his.
[00:54:47] The Father finished his work of material creation on the sixth day, rested on the seventh.
[00:54:52] Jesus finished his work of the spiritual creation and entered into his rest in the day of resurrection.
[00:55:01] That's why we celebrate on the Lord's Day.
[00:55:03] this is the day of rest now you see there remains a rest to the people of god and that's what it's talking about but let us labor therefore to enter into that rest not just a sunday rest but the rest that is being pictured eternally lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief now how do we enter in you say notice it says let us labor to enter in well do we get saved by works we've established no by no means then what does it mean to labor to enter in how many of you know you can go on vacation
[00:55:33] and you can come back more tired than when you left.
[00:55:36] Anybody know about that?
[00:55:37] I'm fixing to do that in November Pastor Andy.
[00:55:40] Lord have mercy.
[00:55:42] How many of you know you can be saved but still be a mess inside sometimes and you need rest and that's why Jesus says come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I'll give you rest not physical rest take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I'm meek and lowly and hearted you shall find rest unto your
[00:55:59] So, isn't that what we really need?
[00:56:02] Rest to our souls.
[00:56:03] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
[00:56:06] And so, let us labor to enter into that rest.
[00:56:09] There is a rest for the people of God.
[00:56:11] Yes, ultimately, if you're born again, you're going to enter into that promised land one day.
[00:56:15] But most Christians today, I believe, are not resting in Jesus.
[00:56:19] There is a rest that we are to labor in.
[00:56:21] We are to strive to enter in at the straight gate.
[00:56:23] Yes, not to be saved.
[00:56:25] If we're born again by grace through faith, that's not something we can work for.
[00:56:29] But once we're saved, to enter into that rest of not being worried and not being a mess like the world and not being terrorized and not be afraid of the fear of death because Jesus died so he wouldn't have that.
[00:56:40] He was born, remember, and took part of human flesh so he might destroy him that had the power of the fear of death, which was the devil, which he destroyed, praise God, because
[00:56:48] All those people, everyone, was all their life in bondage to that fear, but He has freed us, and whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
[00:56:56] So we are now to labor to enter into that rest.
[00:56:59] But how do we do it?
[00:57:00] Because the enemy doesn't want us to rest.
[00:57:01] He wants us to be worn out, and he wants us to be tired, and he wants us to be depressed, and he wants us to get downcast, and oh well, and just defeated.
[00:57:12] But there is a way to enter in that God has given us.
[00:57:16] Look at the very next verse here in chapter 4.
[00:57:20] For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
[00:57:34] Neither is there any creature that does not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
[00:57:42] It's a double-edged sword.
[00:57:43] On the one hand, when you read the word, it cuts.
[00:57:46] I want to go to the car show and it's at church.
[00:57:49] Oh, that word tells me I've got to be at church.
[00:57:51] That's a cut.
[00:57:52] On the other hand, it gets rid of the devil.
[00:57:54] On the other hand, it enables us to fight the good fight of faith and to move forward in this progress.
[00:58:00] It's a double-edged sword.
[00:58:01] And God is the Word of God and He knows the difference between when we say,
[00:58:05] Nobody loves the Lord more than me, but he knows our heart, right?
[00:58:08] And so he's a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
[00:58:12] It divides, and it is both a double-edged sword, and then it cuts us, and it hurts us, but it also enables us to move forward in the Christian life, and to fight the good fight of faith, and to fight against the very flesh, fleshly desires, mortify your flesh, put to death the flesh, that you might walk into that place, enter in, labor to enter in,
[00:58:34] How were the Israelites to go and enter into the Promised Land?
[00:58:37] With the sword, the physical sword.
[00:58:40] How are we to enter into that rest that God is inviting us into?
[00:58:43] With the spiritual sword, the Word of God.
[00:58:45] May it be inside of us.
[00:58:46] If we're born again, He's already said, He's written it on our heart and in our minds.
[00:58:49] And we're to walk in that, the sword of the Spirit, right?
[00:58:52] Isn't that our spiritual armor?
[00:58:54] The Word of God, the only offensive weapon, the Word of God praying always.
[00:58:57] We're to go with that sword.
[00:58:59] We're to go from grace to grace, from glory to glory, from victory to victory.
[00:59:03] And look what it says at the end of the chapter.
[00:59:04] Chapter 4, verse 14.
[00:59:10] Seen then, we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God.
[00:59:20] Let us hold fast our profession, for we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
[00:59:28] If you only know what I've had to go through, Pastor Joseph, I don't know
[00:59:33] but I know someone who does and he's gone through a lot more for you and for me and for all who would believe in his name is Jesus of Nazareth and he's now our exalted God at the right hand of the Father we don't have a high priest verse 15 that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin so what's the answer?
[01:00:02] and what's the whole point?
[01:00:04] of Hebrews to you and me as a brother in Christ, sister in Christ.
[01:00:08] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
[01:00:18] Amen.
[01:00:20] To God be the glory for his wonderful work of saving us through his Son, living the perfect life we couldn't live, dying on the cross and taking the punishment that we deserve.
[01:00:33] Rising victoriously on the third day teaching and appearing to the apostles and above 500 brethren for 40 days ascending up to heaven itself and then 10 days later sending his very spirit into us his church that we might uh live his life and continue as uh and by the way he's a high priest if there's a high priest what does that imply
[01:01:04] Pastor, it's late.
[01:01:04] I want to go home.
[01:01:05] No, it implies that there are other priests.
[01:01:10] Doesn't the Bible say we're priests?
[01:01:14] But we're not from the Levite tribe, are we?
[01:01:17] The Bible doesn't specifically say this, but I believe it's safe to say he's made us priests after the order of Melchizedek.
[01:01:26] To his glory, honor, and praise, so that we might go forth
[01:01:30] As living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.
[01:01:35] To him be glory, honor, praise, both now and forevermore, in Christ Jesus' name.
[01:01:42] Amen.
[01:01:43] Amen.
[01:01:44] I know we sang Marching to Zion the other day, but
[01:01:47] It says we hadn't come to Mount Sinai, we've come to Mount Zion.
[01:01:51] So we've got to sing it again.
[01:01:52] Before we sing, let's pray.
[01:01:54] Dear Heavenly Father, we do praise you.
[01:01:56] Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, thank you, Lord God, that your Son, Jesus, is at your right hand right now.
[01:02:02] O Lord, may he continue.
[01:02:03] To make intercession for us.
[01:02:06] Forgive us, Lord, for we know that our prayers are nothing without his glorious name.
[01:02:12] So we come before you now, cleansed and washed through his blood, by your grace, by your mercy, and by your love.
[01:02:19] Thank you, Lord God, that we have a high priest
[01:02:22] who knows what it feels like to be a human and to be tempted and to be in pain and to be in suffering and yet lord we thank you for his glorious victory that we now share in by faith as he our high priest leads us in this wondrous priesthood of melchizedek this eternal priesthood
[01:02:42] May we be faithful priests to offer ourselves daily as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to you, we pray, which is our reasonable service, and help us, Lord, not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
[01:03:00] that we might prove and taste and see and experience that good and acceptable and perfect will that you have, God, for us in and through your precious Son, Christ Jesus,