Untitled Sermon

(Heb. 4:14-16)

Introduction:

I. Do any of you like puzzles?

II. I love the meticulousness of doing a puzzle, and how every piece must be in it’s proper place to reveal the image.

III. God, in Leviticus, gave the Israelites the direct instructions on how to worship him.

IV. In the New Testament it is also laid out how we are to worship God today.

Body:

I. Worship of God was centered around ritual.

A. The entire book of Leviticus was centered around the giving of God’s ordinances to the people

1. They were to keep themselves from being unclean. (Lev. 18:24)

2. They were to go to the priests.

3. They were to offer sacrifices.

B. Now in the New Testament we are to worship in spirit and in truth. (Jn. 4:23-24)

1. To worship in spirit the worship must originate from the heart.

2. Worship is a literal declaration of how God is worthy.

3. With rituals it is just habit of you must do this, this, and this; however, true worship is done in sincerity. (Mt. 6:1-8)

C. Worship must also be done in truth.

1. The word of God is truth. (Jn. 17:17)

2. The scriptures inspired by God hold all the requirements for our worship and following of him. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

3. To ignore any of their commands is sin and separates us from God. (1 Jn. 3:4)

II. Worship of God was centered around the priest.

A. A priest under the Old Testament had to be a Levite. (Deut. 18:1-5)

1. A priest is one who serves in the worship of God.

2. However, under our New Covenant we have one high priest. (Heb. 4:14-15)

3. Everyone who follows him is a priest. (1 Pet. 2:7-10)

B. Our high priest was without sin.

1. Everyone has sinned. (Rom. 3:23)

2. Jesus however was the exception because he was tempted like us yet was without sin. (Mt. 4:1-11)

3. Now because of his righteousness he is our advocate to the father. (1 John 2:1)

C. We are priests even though we may sin.

1. None of us have lived up to the standard that our high priest has set.

2. However, if we continue to follow in his ways, he continually cleanses us from our sins. (1 Jn. 1:5-7)

3. Through him we can be made clean and justified before God. (Rom. 3:23-26)

III. Worship of God was centered around the sacrifice.

A. Under the old law a sacrifice to God was to be unblemished.

1. In essence it was to be perfect without any deformities or anything that might make it lesser.

2. They were expected to give God their best.

B. Jesus Christ is now our perfect sacrifice. (Heb. 10:10-14)

1. He was without sin or corruption.

2. He was offered up for our sins. (Heb.10:12)

3. He died bearing our sins upon himself. (1 Pet. 2:24)

C. Because he was the perfect sacrifice, we no longer need animal sacrifices. (Heb. 10:4)

1. His sacrifice for us should put into perspective what our sins cause.

2. In a way because of our sin even though we didn’t kill him we are the reason he came to die for us. (Jn. 3:16)

3. He does not desire anyone to parish but that all will repent and worship him in the way he commands. (2 Pet. 3:9)

Conclusion:

I. Our God has given us his word that we could know him and how he desires to be worshiped.

II. Are you worshiping God in spirit and in truth?

III. Are you keeping yourself clean from the defilement of the world?