Hebrews 3:1-6 Jesus is Faithful
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Intro: Car air fresheners
Intro: Car air fresheners
My son Toby got a job at a car wash this summer
It has uncovered some really cool traits and shown him a side of himself he didn’t know was there
One of the perks of his job is that he gets one free car wash a week
Since he drives my car to work I get a cleaner car on the outside
He also gets some other things like dash wipes and air fresheners
While I’m thankful for a clean car there is one area in every teenage boy that hasn’t been developed, their sense of smell
There is a reason that companies like Axe Body spray makes billions of dollars, teenage boys think more is better
I got into my car on Tuesday morning to go to the gym and it smelled like a cinnamon roll had exploded inside
Now I like cinnamon rolls and I am not gonna lie that I was craving them later in the day, but inside my Subaru was gross
I noticed that he had taken two fresheners and placed them in the air vents
Sometimes we think more of something like the real thing equates to the real thing
That’s how the Jews looked at religion
More laws, more sacrifices, more rituals and they would check the box
Unfortunately those were inadequate substitutes to the real thing Jesus Christ
Today we are challenged to consider Jesus and to hold fast to our faith
Read Hebrews 3:1-6
Read Hebrews 3:1-6
Transition: Jesus is More than Religious Rituals
In Judaism, Moses represented the pinnacle of faith
Not only did Moses bring the people into the promised land, but he delivered the Law
In the Law was all of the rituals of the Jewish faith
People found comfort in the rituals because doing them gave a sense of accomplishment and made them feel closer to God
The Jews in Rome are longing for the old rituals they used to practice
They are referencing Moses a lot more in their discussions because they harken for a simpler day
The writer of Hebrews shows them the difference between a religion where they go through the motions and one that is filled with life and power
Moses was a great man and faithful to God, but Jesus is more
Consider Jesus vs. 1
Consider Jesus vs. 1
The writer of Hebrews implores his readers to Consider Jesus
The word consider originally means to contemplate the stars in the Latin
It gives the idea of a quiet, patient, concentrated gaze seeking to discover all that can possibly be known
The reason so many Christians are weak and worried is that they do not keep considering Christ, and so His full strength and comfort and guidance are not theirs
Why should we consider Christ
The writer gives us several reasons just in verse one
vs. 1a Holy Brothers
vs. 1a Holy Brothers
First is that He considers us Holy Brothers
In chapter two we saw that Jesus is the one who sanctifies us, which means to make us holy
We also saw that he is not ashamed to call us brothers
The writer of Hebrews is reminding us of our standing before Christ
He sees us this way even if we don’t see ourselves that way
God is known for His holiness
Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.
Holiness means pure, without blemish
Our great high priest has opened the way for us into the most holy place
We must know that we are holy in Christ
This will give us courage to enter the holy of holies, to have God’s holiness take complete possession, and fill our whole being
vs. 1b Heavenly Calling
vs. 1b Heavenly Calling
The second reason we should consider Jesus is our Heavenly calling
Heavenly calling is more than having a ticket to heaven
It is experiencing the presence and the power of Jesus here on earth
The Jews found their purpose in obeying the law
Christians find their purpose in being filled with the Spirit
While Jesus was on earth the kingdom of heaven was at hand, after he ascended and received the kingdom from the father, the kingdom of heaven came to earth in power through the Holy Spirit
Judaism was an earthly calling with an earthly inheritance.
Christianity is a spiritual and heavenly calling with a spiritual and heavenly inheritance
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
The writer is saying to his Christian Jewish readers, “You are citizens of the heavenlies, so why don’t you let go of the earthly things? Why do you want to hang on to the earthly rituals, the earthly symbols, when you have the heavenly reality?”
The heavenly calling is that which the power of the heavenly life works to make our life heavenly
vs. 1c Apostle & Priest
vs. 1c Apostle & Priest
The third reason we should consider Christ is that he is both our Apostle and Priest
Moses and Aaron together represented God in Israel
The one as messenger or apostle. The other as high priest
In the person of Jesus, the two offices are united
The word apostle means messenger
Moses was the great apostle or messenger of God
He had access to God and brought the Word of God to the people
Jesus is the great apostle of the New Covenant
He spoke of himself as the one whom his father sent
As an apostle he is God’s rep making God known to us
As a high priest he brings us into the presence of God
Jesus was faithful in all that God appointed him
More Honor Than Moses vs. 2-4
More Honor Than Moses vs. 2-4
Because of that Jesus has more honor than Moses
The writer of Hebrews starts to use the metaphor of a house
Moses was a faithful servant in the house, but Jesus is the builder of the house
The builder will always get more honor than a servant
vs. 2 Faithfulness of Moses
vs. 2 Faithfulness of Moses
Moses was very faithful
Faithfulness is trustworthiness
Moses in every respect was a OT type of Christ
Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.
Jesus was more faithful than Moses
vs. 3 Builder Has More Honor
vs. 3 Builder Has More Honor
While Moses was faithful he was just a servant
Jesus was the one appointed by God
When a house is built it is the developer who puts it all on the line
The framer may be the best in the business but he just puts wooden sticks together
The electrician may bring light but he doesn’t make the toilet flush
It is the builder who gets credit for building the house
He coordinates all of the trades, gets permits, and takes all financial risk
Moses was the best leader outside of Jesus, but Jesus is the creator
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
In all of this you have to see that the writer is trying to push people beyond being mediocre
The law had created people who were going through the motions, it wasn’t personal
Jesus came and removed the law, the sacrifices, and rituals to reestablish the connection between man and God
We can be indwelt with the Spirit permanently
Hold Fast to the Faith vs. 5-6
Hold Fast to the Faith vs. 5-6
We need to hold fast to our faith because Jesus is Faithful
vs. 5 Moses left a faithful testimony
vs. 5 Moses left a faithful testimony
Now the writer switches it on the Jews
They idolized Moses but didn’t have the faith Moses did
This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did.
Moses testified to everything God told him
He went before the Lord while everyone else stood at a distance
vs. 6 Hold Fast to the Faith
vs. 6 Hold Fast to the Faith
The writer finishes this section with a challenge
If you are the house of the Lord
Essentially he is asking, “Are you in or out?”
You know you are in by holding fast to your confidence in Jesus
You believe that He has made you holy, filled you with His Spirit, and continues to minister to you
Notice all those things are what Jesus has done for you?
We need to hold fast to our faith
How do we do that?
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Abide means to dwell or remain
Abide in Jesus
Spend time in your Bible and prayer
But hone your faith thru trusting Him
Find your sustenance in Jesus
Walk in His light
Avoid temptation and sin