Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer

Jesus Christ---Our Redeemer

"But By His Own Blood"

Book of Hebrews Chapter 9

The word "Redemption" comes from several Greek terms that mean "to set free by the payment of a price".

One of those Greek words is "agorazo" and it means "to purchase in the market place". It was associated with slaves in the market place in Bible times.

Redemption in the Bible means that through His death, Jesus Christ has set every believer "whosoever they are", free from their enslavement to sin!

Every believer has been purchased out of the slave market of sin and set free from sin's bondage!

1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Every believer should now be a slave to do God's Will!

There is another Greek word that relates to our redemption. It is "exagorazo". This word means that every believer has been redeemed from the curse and bondage of the law that can only condemn and not save!

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

AND,There is another Greek word that explains redemption. That word is "lutroo". This word means "to obtain release by the payment of a price. In other words a "ransom".

Every believer has been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus:

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Every believer is then a special possession for God!

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, [that he might redeem us from all iniquity], and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

That great "Redeemer" is Jesus Christ, The "Only Begotten" Son of God.

*****Our Text

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an 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;

Our lesson begins with verse 11 because the theme of our lesson is the "Redeemer". In the first ten verses of this chapter in Hebrews proves that Our Redeemer ministers in a superior sanctuary.

1.) In contrast the Levite priest ministered in an earthly sanctuary, in other words it was made by man's hands. It was always in need of repair and it could only be in one place at a time.

2.) This earthly tabernacle contained things that were only "patterns of the things in Heaven". It can be said that many spiritual truths were wrapped up in these instruments of the first Tabernacle. They certainly were designed as "types" of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

3.) We know of the Holy of Holies, and this place had no access to people. Only the High Priest could enter and He only once each year.

4.) We know this earthly Tabernacle was only temporary. It was a tent with a veil covering the entrance.

Even when the Temple was built there was this veil that covered the opening into the Holy of Holies but our Redeemer purchased us access to the true Holy of Holies.

Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

5.) We know that in this earthly tabernacle, sacrifices that were made were only ceremonial. They were "carnal" ordinances that were for the outer man but they could never change what was in man's heart. They could not change the inner man. No one was "reborn" or what Jesus said, to be "Born Again" because of what they did in this Tabernacle.

We will now see how much more superior the Heavenly things are!

It is a fact that no one in the Old Testament was saved by keeping those old laws!

It is also a fact that no one in the Old Testament was saved by animal sacrifices!

The Bible is specific:

Gal 3:24 Wherefore [the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ], that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, [we are no longer under a schoolmaster].

All things good have come to pass by Our Lord Jesus Christ!

We need to pay special attention to the Heavenly ministry of Jesus in these last days.

There is a real Heaven!

We have a real High Priest in Heaven!

AND, We can have true Spiritual Worship in every house called by His name [but only because] Our Redeemer paid the price for our "redemption"!

The New Covenant sanctuary was not made by the hands of man.

You know, we call our places of worship the House of God but we know He does not live there.

But we sure do hope He comes to visit us as we worship Him and He does!

"Not of this building" means not of this earthly creation!

We can spend God's money to try to make our places of worship beautiful and more pleasant to the eye but this only speaks to our flesh and it only ministers to the physical side of us.

We should maintain the buildings we have and grow as the need requires, and take care of our Pastor and others that are needed, but we need to concentrate God's money on furthering the Gospel to as many as we can!

*****Heb 9:12 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.

We are called a bloody religion because we are a bloody religion.

It is by the blood of our "Redeemer" that we are saved!

So, What is at the heart of the Gospel story?

What command does God give every Pastor, Preacher, and Evangelist and every soul that is saved?

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, [to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood].

This the message to every "house of God"!

Without this message there can be no church!

Where does our "redemption" come from?

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption [through his blood], (the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;)

How were we redeemed?

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 [But with the precious blood of Christ], as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

How are we cleansed from sin? How has He made us kings and priest?

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, [and washed us from our sins in his own blood,]

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Who can be saved by the blood of Jesus?

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, [and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation];

In the Old Testament sin was only atoned! Sin was only appeased!

And that only a year at a time.

In took the red, sinless, pure blood of Jesus to redeem those that are lost!

There is a great big difference between atonement and redemption!

Atonement was yearly in the Old Testament.

Redemption is Eternal, through the "Blood of Jesus"!

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now [no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus], who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath [made me free] from the law of sin and death.

*****Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Not one of these Old Testament rituals could change what is in a person's heart.

They knew they could come back each year to have their sin atoned for.

This does not mean they could not trust God. His Word was just as true then as it is now!

Every one that obeyed the Word of God was truly declared clean!

These rituals offered purification for the flesh but there was no cleaning of the conscience!

To be "Born Again" in Christ Jesus, is to have a conscience that is purged from dead works!

We should serve God knowing that we have full assurance that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

We are saved and justified by the work of Our Savior upon Calvary's Mountain.

Redeemed by His Blood!

We have not arrived to our Christian life until we recognize that Our Redeemer has absolutely and eternally, forgiven and cleansed us of sin!

If your conscience is cleansed of guilt you will realize that you could not have been cleansed by "dead works"

Anything that we could do to try to earn our salvation would be a dead work!

Good works are not as cause of salvation[but a result of salvation]!

*****Heb 9:15 [And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament,] that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Many ask, Why did the Lord Jesus have to die?

We have our answer in this verse!

Jesus Christ had to die in order to begin a New Covenant!

The Old Covenant could not provide "eternal redemption" and God had to make some arrangement for sin!

This arrangement had to include [all sin past and future] to include those under the Old Covenant!

This verse makes it perfectly clear that there was no final or complete redemption in the Old Testament.

It was the sacrifice of Jesus, on that cross that brought spiritual cleansing:

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Because Christ Jesus has provided such an eternal redemption, we can now share in an eternal inheritance!

*****Verses 16-21 are not part of our lesson today.

BUT, We know we are redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

This is a Blood Covenant! Since the word inheritance was used in verse 15, the Holy Ghost points out that this New Covenant is also somewhat like the "last will" of a dying man.

An inheritance in most cases cannot be received without a "Will". In the case of a "Will" a death must occur! The death of the one who makes that "Will"!

It "was not" the death of Christ Jesus, that made Him out Mediator!

It "was" the death of Christ Jesus that gives us our inheritance and our "salvation".

Jesus Christ had to die before Our Inheritance could be received!

It is not the "Will" that is ratified by His Blood!

It is the "New Covenant" that was ratified by His Blood!

The death of Jesus made God's New Covenant to be valid!

There could be no atonement without His death!

After His death, then Blood then became the token that made this New Covenant valid!

Had Jesus not died on Mount Calvary there would be no hope of eternal life!

There would have been no hope for forgiveness!

But because He died, {"whosoever" will accept Him} can be saved!

These things take us up to our next verse.

*****Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

It seems the world will never understand that there is no way to go to Heaven except by and because the Lord Jesus faithfully died on Golgotha.

Had He not died there could be "No Hope" of "Redemption"!

Mankind could have never been reconciled to God if Christ Jesus had not died!

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, [we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son], much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

To be "Reconciled" means God can provide peace in place of being an enemy.

To be "Reconciled" means we can have fellowship with our "Creator"!

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, [who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ] and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

*****Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

First we must not ever believe that Jesus died and shed His blood to purify anything in God's Heaven!

Heaven can never be defiled!

BUT, Before we can enjoy the beauty of Heaven, there are certain requirements that have to be met.

The Old Covenant was established by blood and so was the New Covenant!

BUT, The New Covenant was established by a better sacrifice, and applied in a better place!

The Blood of Jesus is much more costly than any animal in God's creation!

*****Heb 9:24 For Christ is 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:

We would be foolish to trust our salvation and our spiritual life to anything on this Earth that is made by the hands of man!

This verse plainly states that it is Heaven itself that is the "True Sanctuary"!

This is where Our Lord Jesus Christ is located as our Mediator.

He is face to face with our Father who is in Heaven!

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

*****Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

To compare the Old Covenant to the New Covenant:

1.) The Old Covenant had repeated sacrifices.

The New Covenant only had one sacrifice, Our Lord.

2.) The Old Covenant used the blood of others(animals)

The New Covenant, Our Lord used His Own Blood.

3.) The Old Covenant, sin was just covered for one year.

The New Covenant, Sin has been put away forever.

4.) The Old Covenant was for Israel only.

The New Covenant is for "whosoever will believe".

5.) The Old Covenant had the Holy of Holies.

The New Covenant, Christ entered Heaven itself and remains there at this time.

6.) The Old Covenant, the priest had to come out to bless the people.

The New Covenant, Our Great High Priest "will come" to take His people to Heaven.

The work of Jesus Christ for our salvation is completed, it is final and it is eternal!

AND, Jesus Christ now is ministering in Heaven on our behalf!

*****Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

This verse plainly says that every man, woman and child has an appointment with death.

The Greek word "apokeimai" means death is reserved for each of us!

This same Greek word is translated as "laid up" in other places in the New Testament.

But, the meaning is not just to die but to die "once" as Jesus Christ died "once"!

We must not forget this book was written to believers.

It is a fact that every unbeliever will die twice!

After this death comes the judgment.

There is the judgment seat of Christ for the believer:

2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

To the unbeliever the Great White throne judgment:

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

We have to make our choice before we die the first death, to believe or to not believe.

To the believer when we next see Christ we will be like Him"

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

To the unbeliever when they next see Christ they will be cast into the burning lake of fire.

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The believer has:

1.) A sanctuary in Heaven.

2.) Our Father is in Heaven.

3.) Our Savior is in Heaven.

4.) Our citizenship is in Heaven.

5.) Our Treasures are in Heaven.

6.) Our HOPE is in Heaven.

7.) Heaven is our HOME!

The most important book for the unbeliever is the Lamb's Book of Life.

The most important book to the believer is God's Written Word, The Bible!

I built power lines for over 42 years. This is my field of expertise.

Brother Buddy is a builder of many things. This is his field of expertise.

Brother Robert is a mechanic. This is his field of expertise.

Our God is an expert in giving new life to all those who trust Him.

Salvation is His field of expertise!

How could we ever forsake Him?

Questions?

Lets Pray!

Jesus Christ----Our Mediator

Jesus Christ---Our Mediator

"God's New Covenant"

Our Text: Book of Hebrews Chapter 8

What is a mediator?

This is a person who intervenes between two other persons.

Why do we need a mediator?

Human leaders such as Abraham and Moses mediated God's will to the people of Israel and whoever would join them.

It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who "Mediates God's Will" [of our salvation] between God and all the human race but individually!

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Sin interferes with our relationship with the Lord Our God. If not for the Lord Jesus Christ, [who is our mediator between us and Father God], then we could not know the truth of salvation.

We could have no relationship with Our God!

We could not know the truth!

If we did not know the truth then we could not be free!

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall [make] you free.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall [make] you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Notice that word "Make".

We are not "set" free!

To be set free would mean we could be captured again.

God set the Sun in it's place!

God "set" the Moon and all the stars in their place!

God does not "set" a lost sinner in place!

God "makes" every child of His to be free.

God "makes" a new creature, therefore Born Again".

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

I sure am glad that Our Lord does not just throw the clay away!

Jesus Christ is God's Superior High Priests and He "Mediates" a ministry based on a New Covenant which is much better than the Old Covenant of the Law!

*****Our Text:

Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

The first thing we should remember about the work of Christ's ministry is what we have already read:

Heb 7:25 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.

Our great High Priests lives to make intercession for all that call on His name!

We know that the right hand of God is a reference to God's Almighty Power!

Now we see the main point and the most important point of the first seven chapters in this Book of Hebrews!

Jesus Christ is the Minister of a better Sanctuary!

Jesus Christ is the Minister of a better Covenant!

Jesus Christ "was" the better Sacrifice!

Jesus Christ "has" the better promises!

Jesus Christ "is" the Minister of the True Tabernacle!

If we think back to the Books of Moses, we know that the Earthly Tabernacle was made by the pattern of the tabernacle in Heaven.

Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exo 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, [after the pattern of the tabernacle], and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

As Our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ presents to His Father the gifts of the spiritual sacrifices of the believer, including the sinners prayer.

He then can present the benefits of His sacrifice on behalf of every believer in anytime of need to the believer!

There will be a Second Coming of Our Lord!

In the clouds to Rapture, His Church!

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Then sometime afterward, at least seven years, He will come to this Earth to rule by sitting on the throne of David!

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

It was impossible for Christ Jesus to fulfill His Priestly function in a Tabernacle that was on this Earth!

By God's own Word this was the function of the Aaron and his descendants.

Jesus Christ was not a priest in the order of Aaron!

Jesus Christ is a priests in the order of Melchizedek!

The "ministry" of Christ Jesus is built on the basis of His resurrected life!

His throne in Heaven is a fulfillment of prophesy!

Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Melchizedek was both priest and king.

Aaron was a priest who could never be king.

Jesus Christ ministers in the House built by God Himself!

Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Jesus could only sit down because He had finished the work for our redemption!

*****Heb 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

Heb 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

The title "high priest" was not an honorary title!

A high priest was ordained to serve others!

They were ordained to offer the gifts and the sacrifices that were brought to them by the sinful people.

These sacrifices could not be offered just anywhere!

Only in God's appointed place could these things be done!

Jesus Christ then by logic had to have a sanctuary!

Jesus could not be high priest while on this earth because it would violate the truth of the Bible, the Laws of Moses.

The sanctuary of Our Lord then has to be in Heaven and not on Earth.

These are the only two places mentioned in creation. All the heavens were part of Earth's creation.

Every high priest that came before Our True High Priest were all about ritual and ceremony. They were only a shadow and a pattern of the things that that Jesus brought.

When Jesus offered Himself on that cross there was nothing ritual nor ceremonial about it!

Jesus is not a symbol!

There was no ritual for Him to observe!

Jesus Christ was and is the fulfillment of all these things!

Jesus is the fulfillment of "all" Old Testament prophesy!

The Apostle John said:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

*****Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, 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 shewed to thee in the mount.

We use the word "type" a lot. A "type" is an Old Testament picture of a New Testament truth!

In this verse we the word "pattern". This is the Greek word "tupos" and this is where we get our English word "type".

We can get that same understanding of "type" from the Hebrew word "tabnith" from the Old Testament.

When we studied the Book of Exodus we learned that every piece of material, every color, and every construction technique use in the design of the tabernacle was actually a "type' Of Christ!

The Candlestick in "type"--Jesus the Light Of The World.

The table where the Shewbread was placed was in "type"--Jesus the Bread Of Life.

The golden alter was in "type"---Jesus Our Great Intercessor.

The Laws of Moses them selves were in "type"---Jesus is the only One to have ever kept the Law, so He is the fulfillment of the Law.

The Manna was in "type"--the Bread of Life Today.

Aaron's Rod was in "type"---The Resurrection.

We could go on an on but the Tabernacle and all things of the Tabernacle were in fact "A Pattern" of the things of Heaven and "types" of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

The entire Jewish worship system, as given by Moses is in fact only a "type" or a pattern, a shadow of the Heavenly things and the true Tabernacle, not built by hands but built by God Himself!

We need the reality of Jesus in our lives daily!

Christianity is not another religion, Christianity is just the TRUTH!

*****Heb 8:6 But now hath [he obtained a more excellent ministry], by how much also [he is the mediator of a better covenant], which was established upon [better promises].

For all those that think they can lose their salvation, God placed this verse in the Bible.

The New Testament we have written down for us by the Holy Spirit, is our copy of the New Covenant that God makes with each of us individually.

It is more excellent and it is Better, Better, Better than anything of the Old Testament, the Old Covenant!

We have a better High Priest.

We have a better Sacrifice.

We have a better Tabernacle.

The Mosaic Covenant brought obedience through the fear of God!

The New Covenant brings a Covenant of Grace and Mercy to those that come with a willing heart and a willing mind!

Jesus Christ is not only the Mediator of the New Covenant, "He Is Also The One Who Guarantees The Truth Of It"!

We are not only saved but we have an intercessor, a mediator, and a guarantor, to keep us that way!

Jesus truly stands in the middle between God and man!

There would not be a new covenant if the old one could do these things.

These Jewish believers knew that such a covenant was to come:

*****Heb 8:7 [For if that first covenant had been faultless], then should no place have been sought for the second.

Heb 8:8 [For finding fault with them], he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

We should not think that there was a problem with any covenant of God. Verse 8 plainly states that the problem was with them, the people, and not the covenant itself!

There has never been anything wrong with God's Law!

The problem is always you and I!

No one has ever been able to keep the Law!

We simply cannot measure up to the requirements of the Law!

The announcement of this New Covenant is based on the prophesy of Jeremiah:

Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

This promise to Israel has not been fulfilled at this time but will happen during the seven year tribulation period.

So we are not confused Jesus Christ announced the New Covenant on the night of the Lord's Supper!

Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

Luk 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, [This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you].

This New Covenant became effective with the crucifixion of Our Lord and is now our guide for Christianity and the Church!

These Hebrew believers needed to turn to this New Covenant through the Blood of Jesus.

The New Covenant spoken by Jeremiah was for the "house of Israel" and "the house of Judah".

Israel will be restored which is the prophesy of the Millennial Kingdom!

Everyone saved in this time of "Grace" are to worship and serve God under "the covenant of Blood".

*****Heb 8:9 [Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers] in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; [because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord].

We can immediately see that this New Covenant is not a continuation of the Old Covenant, which was the Law!

The New Covenant REPLACES the Old Covenant!

God's New Covenant does not depend on Man's faithfulness!

God's New Covenant depends only on God's faithfulness to His Promises!

The phrase "I regarded them not" simply means God ceased to care for them. This same Greek word is used six times in the New Testament and it means to neglect, to take lightly, to be made light of, negligent, and regarded them not in our verse.

When God removes His caring hands from any nation as He did to Israel, they became wicked. In fact they became so wicked that they crucified Our Lord who was innocent of any wrong.

I believe we can see that God has the same feelings for America because the proof is what we see.

America is becoming more and more wicked and Americans are becoming more and more tolerant of this wickedness, even turning a blind eye to what is happening to the land we love.

*****Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

The Law of Moses provided God's standard for a righteous life but it did not provide the power of obedience.

Sinful people need a new heart!

Sinful people need to be "Born Again"

Every sinner, and we are all sinners, that trust the Lord will receive a new divine nature:

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: [that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature], having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

What does the old nature look like?

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Those old laws were written on stone!

God's new covenant is written in the hearts and the minds of every believer!

God's "grace" makes it possible for an internal transformation so we can be more like Jesus!

In the new covenant it is not the obedience to the old laws of Moses which we put so much effort into but it is by yielding to the Holy Spirit, who abides in every believer, that will make us righteous in the eyes of God!

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

*****Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, [and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more].

The Laws of Moses, including the Ten Commandments, cannot bring forgiveness!

They are simply our standard to live by!

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

It is only through the sacrificial blood of Jesus that forgiveness can come!

Not Mohammed's blood.

Not Buddha's blood.

Not any man's blood but Christ Jesus, The Son of God!

And surely not the blood of any animal!

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].

Only the blood of God Himself!

What does it mean that God "remembers our sin no more"?

This does not mean that Our Powerful God can forget, because that is simply not true!

If God forgot anything then He would not be God!

God recalls everything we have done, in fact He writes down everything we have done!

Psa 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: [are they not in thy book?]

These things are written down but God will blot them out. This does not mean they erased but He will not see them anymore.

Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Why?

For God's sake, it is necessary for redemption!

Isa 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

Once our sin is forgiven, it will never brought up before us again!

If only we could forgive like our Lord God forgives!

God sees only "Grace" and "Mercy" where our sins used to be!

This matter of sin is settled eternally!

*****Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

God has replaced the old with the new!

Shortly after this Book was written the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed.

The Jews had no Temple to worship in. They had no Temple for their sacrifices.

They had no priests to perform the rituals of forgiveness.

Their system of worship had grown old and had vanished away. God had shown Israel in "type" the things He had taught them in this Book of Hebrews.

This again is prophesy fulfilled:

Hos 3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

It is only after these things that Israel can be restored:

Hos 3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

This can only happen in the New Covenant!

This New Covenant is of such a high quality that it can never be replaced!

There can never be salvation by the Laws of Moses!

Legalism in our places of worship are hindering the growth of the Church!

We cannot remain "Babes in Christ" and do the work that Jesus has commanded us to do!

Missions are already suffering because we do not as hunger for the Word of God and remain as "babes"!

We cannot control what happens anywhere else but we are obligated to The Lord Jesus Christ to do what is right in this House where He has placed us!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Jesus Christ---Our Eternal High Priest

Jesus Christ-----Our High Priest

Text: Book of Hebrews Chapter 7

As we study this Book of Hebrews we should not forget the Lord has a purpose for every word of His Bible.

These Hebrew believers, when converted to Christianity were suffering much persecution not only from the world but from their own old friends and family.

That's the reason Jesus says He will be our friend and we can be in His family!

They had lost all their property and suffered public ridicule because of their faith!

That's the reason Jesus says to earn the things of Heaven that can never be lost!

It is a fact that many of them were discouraged!

We must all realize that Our Lord Jesus Christ is alive today.

Jesus died BUT He arose from the dead and He is now in His greatest ministry!

Jesus Christ has been shown to be superior to all the doctrine of the Old Testament because He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.

He is superior to the prophets.

He is superior to the angels.

He is superior to Moses.

He is superior to Aaron.

Jesus Christ is at the heart of the doctrine of this Book of Hebrews.

The entire Bible was given to us to show the superiority of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the Bible that separates Christianity from all religions.

Christianity is not a religion, IT IS SIMPLY THE TRUTH!

Jesus was sinless and therefore able to pay our sin debt!

Jesus is now in the presence of Our Father to intercede on our behalf!

Jesus will endure forever, so we can endure forever!

Jesus is Holy, Jesus is Innocent, Jesus is undefiled, Jesus is separate from all sin, Jesus is exalted to Heaven, and Jesus is our High Priest!

As our permanent High Priest, who also was made the propitiation of our sin, Jesus has shown us that He will always be a part of each believer!

Our Savior is alive, no religion can makes this claim!

There is no other sacrifice that Jesus will make for our sin!

There is only judgment that will come from being disobedient to His Words!

Jesus Christ provides a complete salvation!

This group of Hebrew believers had to decide how this Book of Hebrews was going to affect their lives and we should also.

Our Text:

Heb 7:1 [For] this Melchisedec, [king of Salem, priest of the most high God], who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

The word "for" reminds us of Hebrews 6:20:

Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

We have seen many "types" in our study of the Bible and Melchisedec is another "type" of Christ for us to learn from.

It was way back in the Book of Genesis where we met this Melchisedec:

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek [king of Salem] brought forth bread and wine: and [he was the priest of the most high God].

In the Old Testament, in the time of kings, the Throne of the King of Israel and the Levitical Priesthood were separated.

In fact no Israelite ever held the position of King-Priest!

No one but a descendant of Levi in particularly Aaron, could hold the office of the Levitical order of High Priest!

Abraham had been called of God to leave his home in what is now Iraq. It was full of pagan worship then and it is still full of false religion in our day.

Abraham was sent to look for a city that was built by The Lord!

Abraham was not sent to look for a city built by Allah!

Abraham would never have met Melchisedec had he not obeyed the Lord!

Not one of us will ever come to know the King of Kings, and the Prince of Peace, The Lord Jesus Christ, until we are willing to leave all pagan vain religions and all the bondage of our sinful past.

We should also note that this meeting with Melchisedec occurred as Abraham was returning from the defence of his family

God expects us to defend our families from those of this evil world that would cause us harm!

AND, We see that Melchisedec was not some counterfeit priest!

Melchisedec was truly a priest of the Most High God and he fulfilled his duties as a priest in the city of Salem at that time!

*****Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

We can see that "tithing" was in place for at least 500 years before the Law of Moses!

Tithing then is not a law BUT it is a principle of God!

God provides 100% our needs and only requires ten percent in return to Him!

The word "tithe" means a tenth!

The Bible states that Melchisedec was a King of Peace!

Melchisedec was a King of Righteousness!

Melchisedec was truly a Priests of the Most High God!

SO, What is the meaning of the name Melchisedec!

1.) The Hebrew word "Melek", which means "king"

2.) The Hebrew word "tsedek" which means "righteousness"

So the name Melchisedek means King of Righteousness.

The Prophet Jeremiah wrote these words to Israel:

Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The prophet Isaiah wrote these words:

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

All these things will be fulfilled at the Second Coming of Our Lord!

For He is the true King of Righteousness!

For He is the true King of Peace!

For He is truly our Great High Priest of the Most High God!

In the Book of Genesis it says that when Melchisedec came to Abraham, he also brought bread and wine.

The Bible says of Jesus in the Book of Mark:

Mar 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Mar 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

Mar 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

We can see again that there so many things we can learn from the Old Testament.

BUT, There are only three verses about Melchisedec in the Old Testament.

SO, Every Word of God is important!

*****Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Melchisedec was just a man but we have no record of a father or mother but he had to have a father and a mother!

There is no record of his genealogy!

There is no record of his birth nor his death!

We know that almost all great men of the Bible have a written record of their birth and their death!

AND, It was especially important for a priest to prove his ancestry.

It is not that Melchisedec did not have these things, it is that we have no written record of these things!

Melchisedec was not an angel!

He was real man, who was a real king, and who was a real priest of the Most High God!

This is the picture or a "type" of what we should see in our Great High Priest!

Jesus Christ did die BUT That cross was not His ending because He arose from that death and lives eternally!

When these things are applied to this message to these Hebrew believers, neither Aaron nor his descendants could claim to have an endless ministry!

They could also never claim to be King and Priest!

There is only one who could fulfill all these things and His name is Jesus, a name above all other names.

The Only Begotten Son of God!

In the words of Jesus:

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

*****Heb 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

The Jewish people believe strongly in "racial solidarity".

They were taught this by the Word of God.

Aaron and his descendants had not yet been born but would truly be formed in the loins of Abraham.

So, if Abraham acknowledged Melchisedec then they should have too.

If Abraham paid tithes then they should not object to paying tithes to the Priests of God.

Our Lord Jesus existed before the time of Abraham so this did not involve Him except to note that in His flesh He was of the line of Abraham:

Jesus said:

Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Joh 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, [I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am].

*****Heb 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, [and blessed him that had the promises].

Heb 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

Melchisedec was not from the line of Abraham and could not have come from the tribe Levi!

Melchisedec was truly a Gentile who was a king and priest of the Most High God!

We also see here that it was Melchisedek that blesses Abraham!

BUT, We need to realize that this Book of Hebrews is not comparing Melchisedec with the person of Christ Jesus!

IT IS, comparing Melchisedec in his role as priest only!

The point to be made here is that Melchisedec in his role as king-priest was in fact superior to the Levitical Priesthood of Aaron and his descendants.

The Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus is much greater than the priesthood of Aaron and his descendants AND, it is also eternal!

Abraham brought tithes to this man and received a blessing but he also received things to meet his needs, the wine and the bread!

These things also have a deeper spiritual meaning that we will have to take up at some other time!

We should also see that blessings do come to those that obey the Lord in tithing to the church!

*****Heb 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Heb 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Heb 7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Levitical tithing was based on a legal obligation under the law BUT here we see that Abraham's act of tithing was voluntary and spontaneous.

The Levitical priesthood was supported by God's people by law.

The Church is to be supported by God's people!

This Melchisedec had no rights under the law to receive tithes. So Abraham's actions puts Melchisedek's type of priesthood on another level from the priesthood of Aaron.

The Levitical priesthood did not bring blessings.

The Levitical priesthood never brought perfection.

The Levitical priesthood never gave redemption or acceptance of God to the people.

God blessed Israel because of the promises He made to Abraham!

AND, Because there was a New Covenant there also had to be a New Priesthood!

Melchisedec was a "type" of that new priesthood.

AND, Here again as a "type" of Christ, as we receive blessings because of the promises of God and those blessings are from His eternal High Priest!

*****Heb 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

It should be understood that God would not begin a new priesthood without terminating the old priesthood.

God will not ever continue in a system that does not bring perfection!

For the old Levitical priesthood to be abolished, the foundation which was the law had to be replaced!

The covenant made with Moses at Sinai was a conditional covenant!

The teaching, that salvation depends on our ability to keep a set of rules are called by the Bible, moral commands, that can never bring us spiritual maturity!

We know that The Lord Jesus came from the tribe of Judah not the priestly tribe of Levi so the priesthood had to be changed!

*****Heb 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

Since Jesus came from the family of David, the tribe of Judah, it would have been impossible for him to assume the office of a Levitical priest!

If Jesus Christ is to be a priest it would have to be a different order and this is why He was appointed by His Father as a priest in order of Melchisedec and not in order of Aaron!

*****Heb 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Heb 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Jesus Christ became a priest by His resurrection from the dead and His ascension back to Heaven.

Jesus Christ has an endless life!

The order which Christ was appointed will never be terminated!

If it cannot be terminated then it must be superior to what was before it!

The Scripture points out that this is also a fulfillment of prophecy!

Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Scriptures point out that today we should not attempt to draw near to God by the old and temporary and unprofitable ways of the Law but through the "new order" instituted by Christ's appointment as High Priest!

That New Order is by "Grace"!

The law could make nothing perfect!

BUT, Jesus is the perfect priest!

God has taken us out of Adam and put us in Christ:

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We are no longer joined to the sin of Adam but are joined to a sinless living Christ!

*****Heb 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Heb 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Got not only fulfilled prophecy but he made an oath!

No priest in order of Aaron was ever ordained and established on the basis of God's personal oath!

Jesus Christ's heavenly priesthood was established by his work on the cross!

The word surety in verse 22, means that the terms of this agreement will be carried out!

Jesus Christ is God's surety!

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In verse 22 we also see the word "testament". This word is usually translated "covenant" but here it is used as the equivalent to a last will and testament.

God changed the priesthood because:

1.) The priesthood and the law were not perfect.

2.) This priesthood could not continue forever.

3.) God had sworn by an "oath" that there would be a new priesthood!

4.) AND, God always does what He says He will do!

The Levitical priesthood was always interrupted by the death of the High Priest.

The Church has only One High Priest and He will live forever!

The Bible says, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever!

*****Heb 7:25 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).

The Lord Jesus Christ is not dead, but He Is Alive!

He is not Jesus that was on this Earth!

He is Our Great High Priests that sits at the right hand of God!

That sin-free body of flesh has passed away in payment for our sins!

It is the "Lord of Glory" that is now alive and interceding for those that know Him as God!

He died down here on Earth to save us BUT He Lives In Heaven To Keep Us Saved!

It is because He is alive that He can keep on saving us!

Intercession means Intervention!

Jesus Christ, Our High Priest, intervenes on our behalf while He is face to face with God!

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, [much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life]

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. [And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous]:

God knows we are still in this flesh and are still sinners but everything Jesus does is right and we are saved by His Life AND NOT BY OUR OWN LIFE!

Jesus sits at God's right hand and He says:

Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

When we are "saved to the uttermost", how can we ever believe we could loose such a salvation that we have no control over!

Jesus Christ can save any sinner, from any condition AND He saves completely, and forever, whosoever will put their trust in Him!

1.) We do not need an intercessor because God is still angry with us!

2.) The Father and The Son are in complete agreement with the plan of salvation!

3.) Jesus is not continuously offering up prayers because of our weakness!

4.) Jesus is not continuously offering a blood sacrifice, that work was completed on the cross!

5.) Our Lord Jesus Christ is our representative at the throne of God to receive our spiritual sacrifices that are offered up to Him!

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, [to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ].

This is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Heb 7:26 For such an high priest [became us], who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, [when he offered up himself].

Jesus [became us] because He knew this was what we needed to be saved!

We must also be "holy" to be in a relationship with God!

We must also be "harmless" to be free from all sin!

We must also be "free from immorality"!

We must also be "separate from all sinners"!

We could not do any of these things, so Jesus became us, and He does these things for us!

Christ Jesus took our place so that we can live!

Christ Jesus did not need to offer up anything for His own sin because He had no sin!

If Jesus had left anything off that had to be done, He would return to do that thing but He needed to sacrifice Himself only one time!

Jesus met all our needs then and He still meets all our needs!

We had to have a Priest like Jesus!

We still sin every day!

We need spiritual help every day!

Jesus gives us the "Grace" and "Mercy" we need because we are still sinners!

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

*****Heb 7:28 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 for evermore.

How could we ever turn away from such a great High Priests!

Our High Priests can be reached at any moment to meet our needs!

He is always there to help us!

He always understands what we are going through!

He has all the answers to our questions because He is the answer to all our problems!

Thank you Jesus for doing what I could not do!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Jesus Christ--The Forerunner

JESUS CHRIST, THE FORERUNNER

Text: Book of Hebrews Chapter 6

We as believers who want to become Christians must understand the message of the Book of Hebrews!

A believer is one that understands that salvation can only come through the work of Jesus Christ.

The Word of God stands alone as the truth. There is no agreement with the Word of God and Chrislam nor any religion.

Christianity is not a religion as much as it is the "TRUTH"!

There is no salvation without being "Born Again" and being washed in the "Blood of Jesus".

This is more than just knowing about Jesus!

This is accepting the facts of Jesus, the Son of God!

This is the key to Christianity. Jesus was not just some prophet!

To be a Christian is to be like Jesus Christ!

To be a Christian is to do the things that Jesus did and what He still does!

In fact Jesus said:

Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, [but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise].

It is a fact that Jesus, the Son of God said He did the things that His Father did!

If we want to know where to begin to serve Our Lord and look like a Christian then, wherever we see God working we need to join in!

Ask Brother Buddy why he goes to Hope Children's Home and you will find out that he sees that God is working in this place and he wants to be a part of that work.

This is where the heart of a Missionary has to begin!

Right here in this church, we can see places where God is working. These are the places we need to join in and be a part of!

This is what Jesus is teaching us all to do. See where God is working and be a part of that work!

This Book of Hebrews makes it very clear to the early Jewish believers that Christianity is "So Much Superior" to their own old religion of Judaism.

Remember they already knew God! They had accepted the Almighty God as the Creator. They had given Him many names such as Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord who provides.

But, They had rejected the teaching of the Holy Spirit and totally rejected the fact that Christ Jesus was truly the Messiah!

This is the downfall of all false religion including the Muslim!

This Book of Hebrews is to teach us all that when Jesus came to this Earth it was to begin a new order of worship and a new order of service which is now called Christianity because we are all to do the things that Jesus did!

We cannot become lazy after we are saved!

In Chapter 5 we saw the warning of becoming dull in hearing the Word of God.

In this Chapter 6 we will see that there is a great danger of going back to the old ways.

To those early Jewish believers they had learned the baby things of Judaism and it was now time for them to "Grow up in Christ Jesus"!

No one can escape coming into this world as a baby!

This is the only way to get here!

BUT, Every parent wants to see that baby mature and become an adult!

God has that very same desire for all of us!

*****Our text:

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, [let us go on unto perfection;] not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

That word "therefore" means from what we have learned in the previous 5 chapters of the beginning of Christ.

In other words since we have this great foundation it is time to build upon it!

It is now time to prepare for that trip through the wilderness of this world and on to that throne in Heaven!

We cannot spend our whole Christian life building on the foundation!

We must become mature Christians to be of any use to the Lord!

This writer list 6 foundational facts learned from the Old Testament:

1.) A repentance from dead works.

2.) Faith toward God.

3.) A doctrine of baptisms.

4.) The laying on of hands.

5.) The resurrection of the dead.

6.) Eternal judgment.

Those dead works were the works of the Laws of Moses!

No one could keep those old laws and it was foolish to try to believe those laws brought salvation when they had to continuously repent for breaking them.

The writer said this was baby stuff!

This is why all legalist are babes in Christ!

The Old Testament taught "faith toward God" so just to say you believe in God doesn't mean you have progressed in your walk with God.

This only shows you are a babe in Christ!

The Old Testament had rituals to present a faith by approaching God through the sacrifices and not through the High Priest. The Old Testament High Priest really only presented the sacrifices as we have already studied!

That phrase "let us go" really means "let us move forward".

If we are standing still in our relationship with God we are still going backwards!

*****Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

The Old Testament "doctrines of of baptisms" "or washings" has nothing to do with New Testament Baptism!

This is only referring to the ritual washings of the Laws of Moses by the priests!

Christian baptism is showing our new relationship with the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There was an Old Testament ritual of "laying on of the hands". When a man brought an animal in to be sacrificed, he laid his hands on the head of that animal which signified that he identified with that animal and that animal was taking his place on that altar!

In the Church the laying on of the hands simply means we are all want to share in a burden or blessing of one of our brothers or sisters or we all want to share in one who is set apart for the ministry.

The laying on of hands in both The New and The Old Testaments have never been about some power of God flowing from one person to another!

The "resurrection of the dead" was taught in the Old Testament but now they needed to realize the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the the living eternal Son of God.

All those that where resurrected in the Old and the New Testament had to die again!

Eternal judgment is taught throughout the Bible!

*****Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Knowing all these things it is time to move on to the real meat of the Bible!

*****Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Heb 6:6 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.

Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

These verses have caused many a reader of the Book of Hebrews to worry unnecessarily and have caused many a babe in Christ much concern!

These verses are also miss-applied by many a preacher as a means to frighten those that are still babes!

It is verse nine that is the key to this passage!

We must not think that this Book of Hebrews was written to believers who had lost their salvation.

This is impossible!

The only thing we did in salvation was provide God a sinner to be saved.

It is by the Work of Jesus we are saved and in is by the Work of Jesus that keeps us saved!

We cannot cause changes to this plan of God. It is His plan of salvation and we cannot change His plan!

There are to many people who are not sure of their salvation and therefore they have miserable lives.

This is another lesson we should learn from this Book of Hebrews, HOW TO AVOID THIS MISERY!

Rom 8:1 [There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus], who walk not after the flesh, [but after the Spirit].

Rom 8:2 [For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death].

To believe you can lose you salvation means you have to throw this scripture along with many others out of the Bible!

And also this one:

Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is God that justifieth].

To believe you can lose you salvation after being saved by the power of God is the same as saying Our God is a liar!

And Our God Has No Power!

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What do we do with this entire passage that was inspired by the Holy Spirit to the Apostle Paul?

There is absolutely nothing that can separate us from God, once we know Him as our Savior!

Those that teach that we can loose our salvation teach also that we can be restored!

This passage in the Book of Hebrews says that if salvation could be lost it certainly could never be restored!

So the Bible contradicts all the teachings of loosing your salvation!

The only thing we can do is be sure we understand where our salvation comes from and that is by the Blood of Jesus!

We need to listen to the Words of Jesus just as this Book of Hebrews tells us:

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and [no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand].

When we are saved it is the gift of eternal life that comes with the promise.

It is not eternal if it can be lost!

It is My God who has my salvation in His hands and I have no control of it anymore!

These believers in the Book of Hebrews are babes in Christ and God wants us all to be "Teachers"!

It is impossible to enter into Heaven by any means except through the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is Jesus that is the door to Salvation!

He is not just the door way but He is the actual door!

Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Joh 10:9 [I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

What we should believe from this passage in Hebrews is that it is about rewards after salvation and not about salvation it self!

The Bible says:

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

To fall away is to stumble. We will all stumble in our walk with Christ.! It is not so much that we will stumble, but IT IS "will we get back up and repent and go on serving the Lord with all our heart!

We must not ever quit on God because He will never quit on us!

*****Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

God promises in the Gospels that not even one cup of water given to some one in His name will go unrewarded!

Every tract that is sent out, Every testimony that is given giving God the Glory, Every offering made in His name, Every time you have tried to teach others about the Bible and to a Preacher, every sermon that is preached in truth, God will not ever forget!

God is not unrighteous to forget any good work that comes after our salvation!

This would be a fault in a Righteous God and Our God has no faults!

God can see into our hearts and He knows the intent of everything we do! If our hearts are sincere, we can be sure a reward will be waiting in Heaven!

Anyone that is truly saved will want to please Our Father in Heaven!

Every man woman and child that has been forgiven of their sin and adopted into the family of God will have the kind of works that will accompany their salvation.

The only work to do for salvation is to believe!

After salvation there is a work for every one of us and it begins with serving God's people!

The Bible tells us:

1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1Th 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

*****Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Even though God watches over each and everyone of us and provides our needs and will cause each and every one of us to become mature Christians, WE MUST DO OUR PART!

We must apply ourselves to the work God has given to each of us!

"Diligence" means to have a constant effort to accomplish the work of God!

"Diligence" means God does not have part time workers, we have a full time job in the Lord!

The wages of sin is death [But the wages of our labor of love after salvation is not only to inherit the promises of God but to be rewarded for doing so]!

The Apostle Paul said:

2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, [but unto all them also that love his appearing].

*****Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

Heb 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

What was God's great promise to Abraham?

Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Gen 22:18 [And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice].

Most of God's promises do not depend on our character or our motives but they do depend more on our "faithfulness"!

Every saved child of God has even greater promises than Abraham!

The only thing that holds us all back is that we do not "diligently" apply ourselves to maturing in our spiritual life!

When we ignore church fellowship, and we ignore our Bibles, and we forget to pray as we should we are never going to be mature Christians!

*****Heb 6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

God not only made this promise to Abraham but He also confirmed it with an oath!

God not only did this for Abraham, God gave His oath to all the heirs of Abraham's promise!

Every Born Again child of God is included in the promise to Abraham!

The Bible says:

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Our assurance of salvation is guaranteed by God's promise and God's oath!

*****Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which 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:

We can see that the Book of Hebrews was not only written to encourage those early Jewish believers but also to encourage every believer!

In the Old Testament, those that fled to the cities of refuge had hope that they would not die!

We must all flee to Jesus Christ who is our eternal refuge!

He is our eternal High Priest because He is our eternal Savior!

Because He is Eternal we have eternal salvation!

Not one of Satan's avengers nor Satan himself can touch a child of God!

*****Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

When Christ Jesus ascended back to Heaven, He became our High Priest.

As High Priest before God, He has become as an anchor of a mighty ship.

BUT< Our spiritual anchor is different from any ship's anchor:

Our anchor is anchored in Heaven and that is upward and not downward! Praise the Lord!

We are anchored not to stand still but to move forward! Praise the Lord!

Our anchor is a sure, it cannot break and it will hold! Praise the Lord!

And to top it all off, Our Savior is our Forerunner, who has gone ahead before us so that one day we can follow Him!

But we can now also go boldly before the throne of God because Our High Priest has passed inside the veil, into the throne room of God Himself!

If we will just anchor our selves to Our Savior, we will never drift into the shallow waters of this world and be destroyed!

When our foundation is laid on the Rock of our Salvation it is Eternal and it is Permanent!

For our house to grow we must not ignore our spiritual growth!

We must be busy about the work of the Lord!

Questions?

Let's Pray!