22) Hebrews - The Advent of the Perfect Priest
Notes
Transcript
Teach God’s Character and Work. (The Word)
So that the people may turn from a rebellious Heart (Root) Sins of “Unbelief, Pride, Selfishness” (Repentance)
and “Be Reconciled to God” (Justification)
Resulting in Transformation - behavioral change of the work of the HS (Sanctification)
Which is obedience to the will of God (The Word)
Resulting in being encouraged by God’s Character and Work to hold fast to the Promise of Hope. (Faith and Belief)
Resulting in Eternal Rest, Joy, Peace, Worship (Glorification)
For His Glory
Gathering - Community Announcements
Welcome Folder
Today we start the time of year called The Advent Season. No one really knows the exact time that is started but it is believed to have been observed by Christians as early as the 5th century. Though not mandated in scriptures many Christian churches will take the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to focus on the two fold Advent of Christ.
The word Advent: Comes from a Latin word meaning coming, arrival or appearance. and is tied to the greek word parousia (pa-roo-see-ah) meaning arrival or coming.
During this time Christians take some time to focus on the Advent of the messiah, the Christ, Jesus coming to earth. Born as a baby to a virgin mother Mary. The event we celebrate on Christmas. The incarnation of the Son. When Jesus fully God became flesh and took on a second nature as was fully human. As God has revealed in Hebrews, this was required for Him to become our High Priest. He had to be fully human to be qualified to redeem man, to be the sacrifice and the sacrificer. These requirements were fulfilled when Jesus was born. The first arrival the first advent.
16 For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!”
But the focus is a two fold one is the first arrival but Christians will also look to his return. To long and anticipate the day that our high priest, mediator, savior will come again to earth.
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
We are to be strengthen and patient and this season is a time to reflect on the baby that came into the world that brought with him perfect peace, joy, love, and hope all for his glory. So let us pray this morning for God to drawing our mind and hearts to him today and throughout this advent season.
Call to Worship
Corporate Prayer -
Worship through Song
Nate - Peace
Lighting of the Peace Candle
Worship through Song
4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
Worship through Song
Prayer
Sermon
Introduction
Introduction
We continue God’s word through the author of Hebrews on Jesus as the Perfect High Priest. The author has been working through the comparison of the priesthood that was established in Isreal after God had brought his people out of Egypt and the priesthood of Jesus.
We pick up where Josh left off last week in verse 20 of Hebrews 7. In verses 11-19 the comparison between the Levitical Priesthood of the old Testament and the Priesthood of Christ was provided.
The author asked the question “If perfection came through the Levitical Priesthood”… then why would God speak of another priesthood. One of a different order. One according the Melchizedek instead of Aaron? We saw the the Levitical Priesthood was not bad. It was established by God but it was not intended to make things perfect. Through the sacrifices and offerings, atonement could be made. These were given to appease God but they could not save a person from sin.
11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.
It was temporary and for a time until the timing of God was revealed in Christ.
23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
The Law accomplished exactly what God wanted it to accomplish for the length of time that he wanted it the be in effect. Until the coming of the savior, the Messiah. The author ended last week with this thought in mind with.
18 So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable 19 (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
The law though good, could not perfect man. A better hope had to come and is introduced and that better hope is what we speak of today.
20 None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.” 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. 24 But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.
Sufficient Priest
Sufficient Priest
The author turns fully to focus on Jesus. He quotes Psalm 110 again but drops the Melchizedek. this section is fully focused on who the savor is as our high priest.
A better hope has been introduced. A better hope through which we draw near to God.
The priests of the old testament were appointed by genealogy and by not by oath. The author reiterates this in verses 20 and 21.
20 None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.”
God has sworn an oath that the priest king that would come that Davis spoke of in the Psalms would be a priest forever. And as such God will not change his mind on this. Jesus performed the perfect sacrifice as the perfect offering in the cross.
17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
He had to be like men in every way. Pause and think about that. Jesus had to be, was required to be, like men and women in every way, so that he could become a MERCIFUL and FAITHFUL high priest. So that he could stand and represent men before God and stand before men and represent God. This was required for him to make atonement for the sin that rules all men.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus lived under the Law perfectly. tempted in every way yet without sin. The quality of something depends on the tests you put something through.
Who here likes to hikes? Likes to explore new places? Go go out in the unknown, to see what you can see. Have you ever gone out on a hike and come to a bridge that just looks sketchy.
Here is a bridge that is in Pakistan. Who here would test their nerves on this bridge? What is the quality of the bridge. It depends on what you put on it right? What is is tested too. How much can it hold? It is one thing to put one person at a time on it. What about a 100 people or a person with a 60 lb pack on their back. The quality of a thing is only proven when it is tested.
Like a diamond. Who here likes diamonds. They have ratings based on their testing.
Jesus was tested and tempted in every way that men can experience in ways that we will never know because we many times fall to the temptation. However the quality of Jesus as the atonement for men was perfected by the fact that he was tempted and tested in all ways. Yet without sin.
As it states in verse 27 Jesus offered himself. Once for all time and because he was the perfect sacrifice he fulfilled the oath that God spoke of through David.
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. A better agreement. We will go into this new covenant in detail in the chapters to come but I want to stop and take a look at this word guarantee.
What do you think of when you here the word guarantee? We see stamps like this one here. Show the picture.
We see this posted. I buy the product and I am not 100% satisfied. The company states that they will take it back or fix it. What they don’t usually tell is all of the stipulations that come with it.
The word here translated as guarantee is not found any other place in scripture.
It is translated as surety in the the NKJV and in the ESV as guarantor. The Greek means:
guarantor n. — a person of sufficient means who offers his belongings, freedom, or often his life as an assurance that another person will meet certain specifications or requirements; especially in a financial context of debt repayment.
Jesus has become the guarantor of the better new covenant. He is of sufficient means who offered his life willingly to secure the better covenant. Which God proclaims through the prophet Jeremiah.
31 “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”—the Lord’s declaration. 33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.
Jesus was of sufficient means by a perfect human life to be the assurance of believers and partakers in the better covenant.
Friend and beloved child of God. The Lord Jesus is the one who secures this promise. It is not based on our works but on one thing only. Do you believe and have faith that you have been saved by the work of Christ on the cross? Be comforted that it is not based on our greatness. Oh what a sad place that would be.
Permanent Priest
Permanent Priest
How is able to be the guarantor of this covenant?
23 Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. 24 But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.
I love my wife and children very much and as much a I would love to live to see the entirety of their lives and the lives of my grandchildren in this world an can never make them the promise “I will always be there for you”. No matter how much I wish that were true, but my days are numbered. Some day they will live on in a God honoring way teaching their children and raising them in the ways of the Lord. But I do not have the means or the power to make them this promise.
And in a sense the Levitical priest were unable to accomplish what Jesus did because for one reason of many but they were mortal. They could not live forever. When they died or became 50 they would be replaced by new priests.
But Jesus’ priestly ministry is permanent, it is unending, it will never waver and never fail to accomplish its work. Because of this we can have confidence that the work has been finished. In the Old Testament if the priest that was performing my sacrifices, interceding for me, and he finished his service or passed away. I had to have another priest. Atonement for my sin was always dependent on there being another priest.
This is not so with Jesus. Because he has a permanent ministry since he ALWAYS lives to intercede for those that come to God through him.
A person
Comes to God through Jesus. Or draw near to God. James 4:8 “8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. ...
Is completely saved by Jesus.
Has the living Jesus interceding, petitioning God on our behalf
The reason for this is that is it proper or fitting for believers to have a high priest that is this kind of priest.
Perfect Priest
Perfect Priest
26 For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.
Holy
holy (pure) adj. — having the characteristics of moral or ritual purity; context often emphasizes one over the other.
Innocent
innocent adj. — free from evil or guilt.
Undefiled
ritually untainted adj. — free from stain or blemish according to cultic regulations and requirements; especially understood as necessary to be cultically untainted in the eyes of God.
Separate from sinners
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Exalted above the Heavens
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.
No need for personal sacrifices
He did this once for all when he offered himself up.
This is the priest we have. A holy perfect sinless perfect priest that is out guarantor of the better covenant. Who as the author concludes this section, has been perfected forever.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The babe born in the manger, born at the appropriate time. Was appointed by God for his position and has been perfected. Not in the sense that he ever sinned but that everything was completed perfectly. It is through Jesus that those who are saved get to draw near to God. The old testament law did not provide that.
There are many times that believers can waver in their faith. We can start to look at all of the mistakes we make and start to wonder or act like we are not enough for God. Nothing that we looked at today has any part of it tied to our actions. It is all God and because he is Sufficient, Permanent, and perfect then he can accomplish the blessing we read in 1 Thessalonians.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Communion
Warning
Children, Lost, Sin
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Prayer
Song
Closing
Blessing/Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.