Jesus Our High Priest: Part II – No Turning Back

Hebrews 6:1-8

Purpose: Building the case for secure salvation in Jesus Christ

1. No Turning Back! (Heb 6:1-6)

Defining “elementary teaching” (6:1)

The key word is “washings” referring to OT practices (6:2)

Defining “tasted” (6:5)

OT people can be described by all of these!

            The readers are to leave OT shadows (“elementary teachings”) and go to NT
            realities

            If the readers go back in the OT shadows, it is impossible for them to be saved!

            Jesus Christ, the cross and His resurrection, changes everything forever!

            Now that Jesus has fulfilled the gospel, it is impossible to go backward and be
            saved!

            Only in the gospel of Jesus Christ can anyone (Jew or Gentile!) be saved

                        First for the Jew and then for the Gentile (Rom 1:16)

2. Parables of Salvation (Heb 6:7-8; Matt 13:1-23)

3. Jesus Christ, the High Priest of “Eternal Salvation” (Heb 5:9, et. al.)

• Hebrews 5:6; 6:20; 7:17 Jesus is “A PRIEST FOREVER” & “a high priest forever”
• Hebrews 5:9 Jesus is “the source of eternal salvation”
• Hebrews 7:24-25 Jesus “holds His priesthood permanently,” “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
• Hebrews 7:27-28 Jesus “once for all” offered Himself, “a Son, made perfect forever”
• Hebrews 9:12 Jesus, through His own blood, “entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption”
• Hebrews 9:15 Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, so that … those who have been called may receive the promise of the “eternal inheritance.”
• Hebrews 10:10 Believers are “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
• Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord

Three Options Concerning Salvation:

A Non-Christian is not saved

A False-Christian = false profession (Matt 7; 23:27) = not saved

A True-Christian will persevere = “perseverance of the saints” = eternal security

Jesus Our High Priest: Part I

Hebrews 5

Purpose: Building the case for secure salvation in Jesus Christ

1. Overview: The Superiority of the Son Jesus Christ

The Son Jesus Christ is the completed revelation (1:1-3)

The Son’s superiority to angels (1:4-2:18)

             Warning: Since Jesus is superior to the angels, listen to His message (2:1)

The Son’s superiority to Moses (3:1-4:13)

   Warning: Since Jesus is superior to Moses, then we better heed (3:12; 4:1)    

          The Son’s superiority to Aaron (4:14-10:18)

               A better position (4:14-16)

1. Focus: The Superiority of the Son Jesus Christ as Our High Priest

Jesus is the BETTER priest (5:1-8:6)

Jesus’ qualifications for priestly service: eternal, Son, Melchizedek (5:1-6)

Jesus’ surpassing qualifications: designated by God,
                                                       100% obedient Son (5:7-10)

Jesus, “the source of eternal salvation” (5:9)

The problem of dullness concerning Melchizedek (5:11-14)

The book calls believers to move on from OT shadows
           to the reality in Jesus

    Warning: The danger of going back once Jesus has arrived (5:11-6:20)

Conclusion: Heed the warnings, stay in Christ!

It is impossible for Christ to fail in His High Priestly Service! (8:1-6)

The point of failure is if a person denies Christ by turning to others/angels/Moses/Aaron.

Who or what carries the day in your life of faith?

Are you trusting your soul’s salvation to the unfailing High Priest Jesus Christ?

Or are you trusting in anything other than Jesus Christ?

The Accomplishment of the Son
Hebrews 4

Purpose: Jesus has accomplished everything necessary for God, both now and in eternity. Therefore, let us rest in Him.

1. Rest In His Faith (Heb. 4:1-5)
   Our faith is his gift

2. Rest In His Work (Heb. 4:6-10)
   Jesus is the better Joshua

3. Rest In His Word (Heb. 4:11-13)
   Be a willing patient

4. Rest In His Grace (Heb. 4:14-16)
   Be Bold and Take Hold

The Assurance of the Son
Hebrews 3:12-19

Purpose: Jesus Christ, our high priest, is the source and securer of our salvation. Therefore, let us hold fast to Him alone.

1. A Warning Against Unbelief (3:12)
      Remember the 4 Soils

2. The Pathogen of Unbelief (3:13)
   Deadly Deceit

3. The Antidote to Unbelief (3:14)
   Christ – the active Cause
      We need each other

4. The Symptoms of Unbelief (3:15-19)
   Know the signs of the disease

The Faithfulness of the Son
Hebrews 3:1-11

Purpose: Jesus is the faithful Son over God's house, therefore, hold fast to Him and do not harden your hearts.

1. Consider Jesus (Heb. 3:1)

2. Consider the Son Greater Than the Servant (Heb. 3:2-6a)

3. Consider the Consequences of A Hardened Heart (Heb. 3:6b-11)

The Sacrifice of the Son
Hebrews 2:10-18

Purpose: Jesus Christ, the Son, by his sacrifice has satisfied the just wrath of God and made us co-heirs of the inheritance.

1. To Call Us Brothers (Heb. 2:10-13)

2. To Free Us From Sin (Heb. 2:14-15)

3. To Make Propitiation For Us (Heb. 2:16-18)

The Sovereignty of the Son

Hebrews 2:5-9

Purpose: Jesus Christ, although briefly lower than the angels, is eternally glorified and sovereign over all.

1. Christ Briefly Lowered, Is Sovereign Over the World (Heb. 2:6-8a)

2. Christ Briefly Lowered, Is Sovereign Over the World to Come (Heb. 2:5,8b)

3. Christ Briefly Lowered, Is Eternally Glorified As Sovereign (Heb. 2:9)

The Sufficiency of the Son

Hebrews Chapter 2:1-4

Purpose: Jesus alone is sufficient to make peace with God through the better covenant of Grace.

1. Lean Into Christ (Heb. 2:1)
        “Follow” is a verb.

2. Look to Christ (Heb. 2:2-3)
        New Covenant > Old Covenant

3. Listen to Christ (Heb. 2:4)
        YHWH has spoken in Son

The covenant of grace, proclaimed and provided by Christ, is better than the covenant of law proclaimed by angels. Christ alone is sufficient; we must place our hope in him.

The Supremacy of the Son

Hebrews Chapter 1

Purpose: To see and savor the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ!

1. The Supremacy of the Son, Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-3)

      Jesus Christ, God the Son, is the completed and supreme revelation of God

Who Jesus Christ IS, Seven descriptions:

1. Heir – appointed heir of all things
2. Creator – through Jesus God made the creation
3. Radiance – the outshining of the Father’s glory
4. Representation – exact representation of God’s nature
5. Sustainer – upholds all things by the word of his power
6. Savior – made purification of sins
7. Sovereign – set down at the right hand

2. The Son’s Supremacy Over Angels (1:4-14)

Seven proofs from the Old Testament:

1. Jesus is the crowned Son of God (Heb 1:4a; Psalm 2:7)
   1. Note: Angels are never crowned
   2. “Son” = Heir
2. Jesus David’s Greater Son (Heb 1:5b; 2 Sam.7:14)
3. Jesus is greater than & worshipped by angels (Heb 1:6; Deut. 32:33 LXX)
4. Angels have a transitory ministry (winds, flame; Heb 1:7; Ps.104:4)
   1. Angels worship Jesus!
5. Jesus is “God” with an eternal throne (Heb 1:8-9; Ps. 45:6-7)
6. Jesus is eternal (Heb 1:10-12; Ps 102:25-27)
   1. “rolls up his coat” and throws it away
   2. Jesus is Creator while angels are created!
7. The work of Jesus is completed (Heb 1:13-14; Ps 110:1)
   1. Note: the Son is seated the angels are sent
   2. True angels are messengers who point us to Jesus Christ

We worship Jesus, not angels (Rev 19:9-10; 22:6-9)

The Good Design of God
Genesis 1:26-31

Purpose: God’s design and blessing of humanity is good because he is holy.

1. Humanity is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27)

2. Humanity is blessed by God (Genesis 1:28)

3. All God created is Good (Genesis 1:31)
   Genesis 2:20-24

So How did we get here?
               Genesis 3:1, 4-7
               Romans 1:18-32

What do we do?

The Ways of the LORD Are Right!

Hosea 14

Introduction: Deuteronomy 29:10-13, 22-29; Psalm 81

1. Repent, Return, be Restored (Hosea 14:1-3)
       Matthew 3:2; 4:17

2. The Lord Alone is Healer (Hosea 14:4-7)
       Exodus 15:26;
       Psalms 103:3; 147:3;
       Isaiah 30:26;
       1 Peter 2:21-25

3. Choose the One True God! (Hosea 14:8-9)
       Jeremiah 10:10;
       John 17:3;
       1 Thessalonians 1:9;
       1 John 5:20

Only if and when we return to the LORD, repenting of sin and believing in Jesus Christ, will we find forgiveness and life!

The Autopsy of Israel

Hosea 13

Purpose: Without repentance, spiritual death leads to eternal death.

1. Israel died because of their wickedness (Hosea 13:1-3)

    Psalm 1

2. Israel died because of their pride (Hosea 13:4-8)

    Deuteronomy 8:11-14

3. Israel died because of their treason (Hosea 13:9-11)
   1 Samuel 8:4-8

4. Israel died because of their foolishness (Hosea 13:12-14)
   Psalm 14:1-3

5. Israel is destroyed because of God’s judgment (Hosea 13:15-16)

             Jeremiah 14:10-12

Glorifying the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday, 2023

1. The Person of the Holy Spirit: He is God

He is a Person, One with the Father and the Son (Acts 5:1-4; 1 Pet 1:2)

            Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9-11; Phil 1:19; Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1:11)

            Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One Co-equal & Co-eternal Deity

2. The Purpose of the Holy Spirit: He exalts all truth in Christ

            Revelation in Scripture (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21)

            Illumination to the believer (1 Cor 2:14-16)

            The Helper Who leads to Christ, reminds of His teachings (Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7)

3. The Promise of the Holy Spirit: He has come & will lead us home

            He Himself was promised (Lk 24:49 & Acts 1:4)

            Down-payment “earnest” of more to come (Eph 1:13-14; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5)

4. The Presence of the Holy Spirit: He is with Believers, Building the Church!

            He is the Gift (Acts 2:38; 10:45), and Giver of gifts (1 Cor 12:4, 9; Heb 2:4; 6:4)

5. The Precision of the Holy Spirit: He will not lie to you!

            2 Tim 3:16                   Heb 6:18

            2 Pet 1:20-21  +          Titus 1:2           = He will never contradict His Scripture

6. The Power of the Holy Spirit: He will help you to live a Holy Life!

            Gives New Birth (Jn 3:4-8 with Ezek 37)

Applies the gospel for justification and sanctification (Rom 2:29; 8:13; Gal 5:16)

Empowers worship (Jn 4:23-24)

Empowers world-wide gospel proclamation (Acts 1:8)

Do you know for certain that you are a child of God? (Rom 8:15; 1 Jn 3:24)