January 25 2009

Jesus: Our Forgiveness

Hebrews 9:22, Matthew 26:26-29

 

Matthew 26:26-28 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

 

Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

 

The scriptures are clear … “man needs forgiven”, however people today are unclear to their “need” of forgiveness.

 

·    Morality a “Pick & Choose” … many have constructed their own “word” on what is “morality” … concepts of right and wrong.  (differing from the truth of God’s Word)

 

For instance … some would say the “torture” of human life by our military for gaining information is morally wrong (I agree) … but the “torturous” killing of the unborn … life in the womb is not considered to be a matter of immorality, but a convenient choice (I disagree).

 

·    I’m Not Wrong! … people who “pick & choose” what is right and wrong are not likely to see themselves as “wrong” … therefore they do not see themselves as “sinful” and in  need of   “forgiveness.”   The cry today is, “I’ve done nothing wrong!” [Rod Blagojevich … “I’ve done mostly right.”]

 

People basically see themselves as a “good” person who do “good” things, make “good” decisions, which have good families and good kids.  

 

Our own “goodness” … “may dull our sense of need for forgiveness of what the bible terms sin.”  [Donald Guthrie, NIV Application Com, Hebrews]

 

Psalm 14:3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.   

 

“There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous.”  - Blaise Pascal

 

So we ask this morning … “What does the writer of Hebrews want us to understand of Christ and His sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin?

 

1.       Reason for Forgiveness

 

The Bible speaks clearly of the reason man needs forgiveness … SIN.  It leaves no wiggle room for picking and choosing … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. [Romans 3:23]  

 

The writer of Hebrews has spoken to us concerning the sin of man …

 

·    Sin hardens our hearts (desires) as it is deceitful (3:13)

·    Sin tempts us to do sinful acts (4:15)

·    When we sin we do it willfully (choosing) (10:26)

·    Sin easily traps and entangles us (12:1)

 

It is clear … not according to our own picking & choosing, but according to the absolute truth of God’s Word … man is a “sin-born-creature” and in need of forgiveness.

 

Hebrews 9:22b … and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

 

Reiterates … Leviticus 17:11 11  For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

 

The forecast was made … blood would make the atonement for man’s life.

 

2.       Remedy for Forgiveness

 

The writer labors over making clear the “remedy” for the forgiveness of man’s sin as he speaks to the ineffective as well as effective treatment for man’s disease of sin.

 

·    Hebrews 9:1-10 … “Ineffective” Antidote for Sin

·    Hebrews 9:11-28 … “Effective” Remedy for Sin

 

Hebrews 9: 12-14 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

 

Hebrews 9:26b But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

 

Christ … offering his body and blood brings about the only REMEDY (that which relieves pain, cures disease, corrects a disorder) for man’s sin … redemption … forgiveness … salvation.

 

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (see Col 1:14)

 

And it is by grace we are saved (Eph 2:8) … and thus the remedy applied.

 

3.       Results of Forgiveness

 

Jesus secures forgiveness of sin through giving Himself and from it results of it come our way …

 

·    Eternal Redemption … not temporary (9:12)

·    Forgiveness … past, present, future … by shed blood (9:22) [Ephesians 4:32 … forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.]

·    Serve the Living God … from dead works (9:14)

·    Cleansed-Clear-Conscience … forgiven and no guilt (10:22 … see 9:9)

 

Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart full of assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Jesus … is our forgiveness.

January 18 2008

Jesus: The New & Better

Hebrews 8:6-13

 

“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”  The rule at hand is saying … it is a mistake to try to improve something that works.

 

Such might be a good axiom for gadgets, trinkets and appliances … but when it comes to man, sin and his relationship with God … we need a new and better fix.  We don’t need the old tweaked or repaired … we need it replaced with something new and better, and that is what God had done for us in the new covenant.

 

Hebrews 8:1-13 (emphasis v.6-13)

 

Within the idea of the new and better covenant is a dynamic life transformation.

 

“Now the point in what we are saying is this:” (Get the Point!)

 

A reiteration for Jesus our High Priest …

 

·    Jesus “HP” … “seated” (v.1) … speaks to the completed finished work of Christ … no earthly HP ever sat down (incomplete offerings).

 

Hebrews 10:11-12 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

 

·    Jesus “HP” … “obtained” (v.6a) … ministry much more excellent … heavenly not earthly bound.

·    Jesus “HP” … “mediates” [go-between; goel Hebrew for “redeemer”] (v.6b) … a better covenant based on better promises (see #2)

 

“Goel” … Kinsman Redeemer … book of Ruth … must be [1] blood relative to redeem, [2] able to redeem, [3] willing to redeem … redemption complete when the price was completely fully paid.  (Heb 7:27 … once for all when He offered up Himself)  God in Christ was living by His own Word!

 

1.       Why We Need It … Reason for the new covenant

 

The old was in need of being replaced.

 

Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

 

Hebrews 8:13b And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

 

Old Covenant (testament; agreement) the author speaks of as … NOT faultless, obsolete, growing old (wear out) and ready to vanish … to point out it losing its usefulness. 

 

Jesus spoke of it … And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” (Mark 2:22)

 

‘The old covenant had done its job.  It had pointed to, prepared the way for, and was now giving way to the new covenant.” – Thomas D. Lea, Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James

 

It was inevitable as it was predicted by God. [Jeremiah 31:31-34]

 

“Behold the day are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant …” (Heb 8:8)

 

2.       What It Is … Content of the new covenant

 

Okay, the old is out and the new is in, but what is all this “new covenant” talk? 

 

What Is the New Covenant?

 

The “new covenant” speaks of in dynamic transforming fashion the relationship God desires to have with His people.

 

God in this new agreement says He will …

 

ü Be our God

ü Allow us to know Him

ü Transform our hearts and minds

ü Provide the motivation (love) to do His will

ü Forgive our sins

 

The new covenant IN Christ is …

 

ü  Internal based … not just external … I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their heart … mind & heart apply to the “whole” person … 1^st Cov’t written on stone tablets … Implanted Word saves [James 1:21] … hide His Word in our hearts not to sin [Ps 119:11]

 

ü  Intimate based … I will be their God, they shall be my people, for they shall know Me, least to greatest … not “physical” birth but “spiritual” birth (new birth; born-again) entrance into new covenant

 

ü  Initiated based … I will be merciful .. I will remember their sins no more … forgiveness forms the ultimate basis of the new covenant relationship … the law (old cov’t) could REVEAL sin but it could not REMOVE sin.  God says He will remove it and remember it no more! “They are consumed in the death of Christ.” [John Piper]

 

Romans 11:27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” [See: Heb 10:12-18]

 

3.       What It Does … Result of the new covenant

 

This passage (Heb 8) is good for more than a lesson in “theology.” It offers us, believers in the new covenant of Christ … “a unique opportunity … to understand and make our faith authentic in our community.”  (Donald Guthrie, NIV Application Commentary, Hebrews)

 

Among the Christian community there is an inability to explain concisely the essence of Christianity, and thus the Gospel.  I spoke of it earlier in terms of “articulation” and “application” [“say it & live it”] of WHO Christ is, WHY Christ came and WHAT Christ accomplished.

 

What the New Covenant Doesn’t Do:

 

·    Does Not Dismiss or Negate the Old Testament Scriptures. 

 

OT still contains principle truth that must be learned and lived.

 

·    Does Not Dismiss the Jewish People … Heb 8:9 speaks of “disapproval” not “removal” … Romans 11:25-27

 

·    Does Not Dismiss External Practices

 

The New Covenant is not about “externalizing Christianity” into a ritual of habits (service attending, bible reading).  The NC … works from the “inside out” … producing spiritual realities of externals (acts of service and love) as a result of the transforming work of God placing His Word/Law in the hearts & minds of the born-again.

 

What the New Covenant Does Do:

 

2 Corinthians 3:6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant

 

·    Clear Thinking & Expressing of Our Faith

 

Christian’s today must not only know what they believe (not mushy vague responses), but how to express our faith to the community.

 

The Church should be secure in its mission and message … don’t let the world rob us of our identity of faith based people.

 

W.M. Ramsay [1851-1939 British archaeologist and New Testament scholar] speaking of the first-century church and the church of modern day … “An easy-going Christianity devoid of firm convictions and open to all religious positions as equally valid, could never have survived.”

 

·    Clear Living of Our Faith

 

Believers are challenged to walk in … “newness of life” [Rom 6:4] … “love” [Rom 14:16] … “good works” [Eph 2:10] … “the Spirit” [Rom 8:4, Gal 5:16] … as a manifesting work on the inside.

 

“There must be a distinct difference between the Christ-follower and people of the world who live immoral lives.” – Donald Guthrie

 

Colossians 3:5-10 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

 

A truly transformed life (inside to outside) is a powerful witness of the New Covenant of the better change Christ brings into a person.

 

Matthew 5:16 … let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven

 

Jesus … our new and better covenant to be lived out daily in our community is the vital life statement the world needs.

 

May it be so in you and me!

 

Amen!

January 11 2008

Jesus: Our Guarantee

Hebrews 7:22-28

 

Read: Hebrews 7:22-28

 

If you’ve ever started watching a movie that’s half over you probably thought or asked … “What’s going on?  Who’s that?  Why did he say that? Why did they do that?”  Well I sometimes think the way I am preaching “IN” (not through) Hebrews, that is one message from each chapter, is sort of like walking into a movie halfway through, as there are items, events and persons that we see and wonder, “what, who, why, how come?” 

 

Well we’ve stepped into Hebrews 7 at about the 2/3 point … hearing the incredible statement … “this makes Jesus the guarantor …”

 

A lot has been talked about prior to this statement … talk of priests, priesthood, covenant, Melchizedek, Abraham, Levi, Judah, Moses … and more … aside from Jesus.  But in truth, it is all said to make note of Jesus. (transformation, not information is our goal).

 

The author of Hebrews wants to “magnify” (lift up) Jesus as  “better” (not a between bad or good, but complete lacking nothing) than all other people, places or things.  So much better that He has become the “guarantor” of the guarantee.

 

GUARANTOR … is the person who guarantees the position or promise of someone else (God) … while putting Himself at risk.

 

Thus Christ is our “guarantee” as our better High-Priest offering a better Covenant. 

 

1.       Jesus Guarantees Our Representation Before God

 

·    American History: ”No Taxation without Representation”

·    Church History: “No Salvation without Representation”

 

 “Man needs someone to represent him to God.” Why?  Because man is ignorant of sin, guilty in sin, and corrupt with sin. (See: Jesus Our Salvation, Hebrews 5)

 

 

The priests in Old Testament were those who would represent the sinful man (people) to God by way of sacrifices seeking forgiveness from their sins.

 

The author shows us the Levitical priesthood to be limited and temporary (by death) … unable to bring salvation … weak & useless (vs.18)

 

So Christ enters …

 

Hebrews 6:19-20 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.

 

Melchizedek … King of Righteousness & Peace (Salem) … Genesis 14 … type (typology) of Christ … resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever … as this priest was of the eternal nature, so Christ’s priesthood would be modeled after it … that is eternal.  Some believe Melchizedek is the pre-incarnate Christ.  

 

However, both the Levitical & Melchizedek are intended to “foreshadow” something better … They serve a copy and a shadow of the heavenly things (Heb 8:5)  Don’t lose the point among the subpoints!

 

Therefore Christ our High-priest … our “Representative” has come forth.

 

·    Forerunner … “goes before” … Heb 12:1 run the race marked out for us (Heb 12:1)

·    Forever … eternal not temporal … permanent (v.24)

·    Better hope … draw near to God (v.19)

 

Hebrews 7:26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest (representative), holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

 

Such describes the sinless “Person” and exalted “Position” of Christ … who represents us.  [God intends to reproduce Christ’s character in us … unstained … James 1:27 pure & undefiled religion … keeping unspotted from the world]

 

So what does all this mean to us?  

The intent of Christ representing us is “forgiveness.” 

 

As the Old Testament priest represented the people and their sins to God seeking forgiveness through the blood of bulls and goats would bring back the forgiveness of sins … so Christ our forever, perpetual, permanent High Priest who “once and for all” through His own body and blood … secures “once for all” forever forgiveness.

 

Brings a powerful credence to 1 John 1:9 … not some cliché but a powerful truth reckoned in our lives through the forever work of Christ.

 

Man’s sins … past, present and future are forgiven through Christ our “forever representative”.  

 

2.       Jesus Guarantees Our Relationship With God

 

Hebrews 7:22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

 

The overall intent of the either covenant old or new (look at this in depth in chapter 8) is “relationship.”

 

God’s goal was/is to establish an eternal relationship between Himself and His people.  God is a relational God … and through Christ God is offering man a “Better Relationship” through a covenant not like the old … based on law (legal) … but on grace.

 

This relationship with God through Christ …

 

·    Offered Himself … once for all … no more sacrifice for sin

·    Save to the uttermost (v.25) … fullest extent (old covenant saved no one … tutor to lead us to Christ … Gal 3:24)

·    Prays to intercede (v.25) … always lives to pray … perpetual prayers for us by Christ. (Lk 22:32 … But I have prayed for you) … ministry of intercession … representing one before God.

 

God being a God of relationships …

 

ü  Has brought about the means for establishing a lasting relationship with us.

 

ü  Has paid the price to give us security in that relationship.

 

ü  Has expressed commitment to meet our deepest need for forgiveness, holiness, and deliverance.

 

ü  Has maintained His relationship with us by the eternal forever work of His Son our Savior, Jesus Christ.  (Source: Guthrie)

 

So again, what does all this say to us?  Those who have confessed and believed in Jesus Christ have and will always have a RIGHT-STANDING relationship with God, in the righteousness of Christ.

 

Hebrews 7:7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

 

See Jesus, our Guarantee of a better representation and relationship with God … forever and ever!

 

Amen!

January 4 2009

Jesus: Our Maturity (Pt2)

Hebrews 6:4-12

 

Here’s a thought for traveling … “It’s good to go away, and good to come back.”  We made a departure from Hebrews over a month ago and it is now time to come back … so it’s all been good.

 

With such a long departure it would be good give a few lines of quick review of where we’ve been and where we’re going.

 

Review:

 

Overall: Christ Supreme … “so much better” (NKJV 1:4) … the direct intent of the writer is to show the supremacy of Christ so as to encourage the believers to continue their pursuit of Him (why settle for less?)

 

Chapter by Chapter:

 

·    Heb 1: Jesus: Son of God (see-seek-speak)

·    Heb 2: Jesus: Listen to Him (final word)

·    Heb 3: Jesus: Faithful & True (to God & over all)

·    Heb 4: Jesus: Our Rest (no works salvation)

·    Heb 5: Jesus: Our Salvation (advocate, intercessor, author, savior)

·    Heb 6: Jesus: Our Maturity-P1 (Ills and thrills)

 

Maturity is a strange sort of creature; on one hand we are encouraged to BE MATURE and yet on the other we know that we will NEVER BE fully/completely mature in this life. 

 

The writer encourages believers with a twofold intention …

 

·    “Go on to maturity” (6:1) … setting the mind & will of the believer to pursue Christ,

·    “And this we will do if God permits.” (6:3) … the maturation process of God at work in and on the believer.

 

So in this process of maturing our writer wants us to take note that there are “cautions” and well as “confidences” to consider.

Read: Hebrews 6:1-12

 

1.  Maturing Cautions (4-8)

 

Hebrews 6:4-8 For it is impossible, in the case of 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 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, 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.

 

Today too much triteness has wormed itself into the doctrine of salvation.  From easy believe-ism to other beliefs scores of people rest on something other than atoning work of Christ for salvation.  For instance, such thoughts as “once saved always saved” [I am a proponent of the biblical truth that underscores the truth behind the phrase … but I don’t necessarily like the phrase as it can create a false sense of security in salvation as well as sinful sloppy living] will rally even the worst of sinners to say that at some time in their lives they walked the church isle and said a prayer (religious experience) … but has lived like the devil since then.  Thus the security of their salvation is based on a phrase rather than a Savior. 

 

The author of Hebrews has issued this well crafted word of caution (not to be thrown to the wind)  that is intended to drive the Christian to state of “cautious fear” and thus making following Christ a serious pursuit.

 

Cautious Fear:  Impossible to restore again to repentance

 

This thought begs our attention, as it did for those readers then.

 

“In what way did the author intend this passage to challenge the attitudes and change the actions of his hearers?

 

His intents were to stir them to press on in the way of maturity in Christ.  They were “immature” in life actions … by this time you ought to be teachers, (5:12) as well as life attitudes in what they believed about salvation in Christ.

 

·    Misunderstanding … whereas today it is “misinterpretation”

·    Believers believed b/c they sinned they had “fallen away” (lost salvation) and were in need of repentance to be saved again.

 

Fallen away … interps: (1) loss of salvation, (2) never were Christians (3) challenge believers to persevere, (4) loss of rewards (see vs. 7-8)

 

“Again & Once” … they are interesting key words:

 

·    AGAIN … “once more” … the author uses it in the negative to say … (1) you cannot “once more” lay again the foundation of salvation  … (2) you “once more” cannot be restored to repentance … these are impossibilities.

 

The IMPOSSIBILITIES of God

 

·    Impossible for God to lie … (6:18)

·    Impossible for blood of bulls & goats (works) to take away sin (10:4)

·    Impossible to please God apart from faith (11:6)

·    Impossible to restore a man to “initial” repentance (6:6) … the author is not speaking to “general” repentance or else it would void such a scripture as 1 John 1:9.  And that too is an impossibility!

 

Why? 

 

·    Initial foundation of Christ and faith in Christ cannot be duplicated, repeated, done over … (1 Cor 3:11 no one can lay a foundation other than Christ)

·    Initial act of repenting and believing leading to salvation cannot be duplicate, repeated, done over … Salvation/saved; either you are or you are not saved.

 

·    ONCE … (once for all) Christ offered Himself (7:27) … entered holy place to obtain eternal redemption (9:12) … to bear the sins of many (9:28) … sanctified through body of Christ (10:10)

 

Thus scripture establishes that both the work of salvation and effect of salvation are a ONE time (not multiply as some talk of being saved and then being lost and then being saved) initial act in the believer’s life.

 

To believe otherwise (loss of salvation) Christ would have to be crucified again (another impossibility) and thus it brings open shame and distrust to Christ’s completed and finished work of salvation.

 

The language between “impossible” and “repentance” is both “questioning” (have you?) and yet “savoring” …

 

·    Once been ENLIGHTENED … born-again

·    TASTED the heavenly gift … salvation

·    SHARED in the Holy Spirit … indwelling presence @ salvation

·    TASTED the goodness of God & powers … good pleasure & power to save sinners

 

This is the language of salvation and it evokes that “cautious fear” so as not to answer so glibly, but also wets the appetite of the born-again to savor and desire more of Christ … for He is better than all.

 

The author concludes his word of caution with a warning to be “usefully” fruitful, thus receiving the blessings of God, rather than risk loss of rewards by living an unproductive life (much like the fruit and fruitlessness in John 15).

 

So the word is out, live “cautiously” and yet “confidently” in Christ.

 

2.  Maturing Confidence (9-12)

 

Hebrews 6:9-12 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 unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name 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.

 

Though the author may appear to be speaking harshly in the previous verses, here he speaks to bolster faith-filled confidence to go on to maturity in Christ.  Sometimes it takes a good chewing to get you chewing on the solid meat of the Word!

 

Doctrinal beliefs are not intended for lists that one might agree with.  We are believers are to be able to articulate with scriptural convictions why we believe … as well as able to have application of our beliefs into our everyday living.

 

So the author speaks of …

 

·    Confidence of Salvation … we are confident of better things in your case–things that accompany salvation. (NIV 6:9)

 

The author expresses more than mere opinion, but an absolute conviction.

 

Philippians 1:6  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

·    Better Things of Salvation … “motif” of Christ in Hebrews … Life with Christ is better than those without Christ, now and forever it is better.  Christ is stronger, nobler, best, better than all the rest … DO NOT GIVE HIM UP!

·    Fruit of Salvation … “your work and love … shown for His name” … their faith in and love for Christ had been lived out, fleshed out to produce a glorious work that God does not overlook!  Good works is evidence of salvation!

 

The author inspired by God and speaking for God ends with a word of “exhortation”.

 

·    Show Diligence … show the same earnestness, full of assurance to the end

·    Do Not Become Lazy … not be sluggish … imitate mature believers … Therefore I urge you to imitate me. (1 Cor 4:16)

 

“Hebrews is written to deepen and strengthen the joy of our assurance in God …”  - John Piper

 

How can we hear such convicting and challenging words from God’s Word and then do nothing?  None of us are to a point of complete maturity … therefore let us … “Go on to maturity … “And this we will do if God permits.”  Amen!