Be Devoted or Be Disciplined

Recap

Living out Jesus is Better - Working through Hebrews. (in companion to a devo we started a while back)

First section of Hebrews we saw Jesus as the Better Word of God (the better messenger)

Our focus, Drop Anchor or Drift.

The point, that Jesus is the Word of God and if we don’t drop anchor in His Word, we will drift.

And if we drift, it leads to doubt and disbelief.

Second section of Hebrews we saw Jesus as the better Moses and Joshua (the better leader)

Our focus: Do your Due Diligence or your Doubts will lead to disbelief. (heard heart)

Again, the point was for us to purposely move toward Jesus, because if we don’t, if we are not diligently coming to the Word of God, the doubts we face will lead us into unbelief - to having a heard heart.

And if we fall into disbelief, we will be led into dullness.

Third week and section of Hebrews we saw how Jesus was the better High Priest, the one who stands in the middle, between us and God and intercedes for us, justifies our innocence before God through a pure sacrifice.

The focus - for us to Dive In or Experience Dullness.

The point - we need to go to the throne of Jesus with confidence. so that we can receive grace and mercy in our time of need. But if we don’t fully surrender ourselves to Jesus and His Word, going all in, we will experience a dullness to His Word and his works. We won’t grow, we won’t be moved by God’s works in our lives, we won’t live life in Christ to it’s fullest.

And when we give into dullness, well, it leads to Despising and Discipline. Which is where we come today.

Just to recap one more time, when we aren’t coming to Jesus and His Word (the Bible) we will drift. Drifting leads to doubt, doubt to disbelief, disbelief to dullness, and dullness to despising and discipline.

So here is where we left off:

Hebrews 8:1–3 CSB

1 Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

This is what we focused on last week, Jesus as the Great High Priest, but we also explored how Jesus was part of a greater priesthood than that under the law. He was connected to the priesthood of Melchizedek.

But something that is explained is that the high priest had to bring an offering in the tabernacle and holy place. This was part of their covenant.

Hebrews 9:1–7 CSB

1 Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves. 3 Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place. 4 It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now. 6 With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. 7 But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

This is how this worked. A yearly sacrifice for sins and a daily ministry happening in the rest of the temple.

But Hebrews also says,

Hebrews 8:6 CSB

6 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

Just like the priest hood of Jesus is better, so is His sacrifice. But in order to get this, we once again have to go back to Genesis, back to Abraham.

Go to Gen 12

The Old Covenant

I want to start with this: what is a covenant?

Our dictionaries will define a covenant as: “an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.”

But in the Bible, a covenant is something bigger than just a contract made. And this is crucial to understand if you want to understand a bigger picture of what Jesus did for us.

Think of a covenant as a “relationship” - a sacred relational bond between two parties, kept by an oath made, a promise.

But for now, just hold onto the idea that a covenant, while it carries legal weight to it, is more about the agreed upon relationship between the two parties involved.

So a covenant is a relationship, a relationship between usually two parties. One group or individual will be considered the greater party. The other will be considered the lesser.

Here is a picture of it. It Jewish culture back then, if there was about to be a marriage, the father of a bride and the father of the groom would meet together to make a covenant between these two families.

And it would go something like this: the greater party, typically the grooms family then, would make the conditions of this relationship for both sides. “You will do this, and I will do this.”

Typically, they will say something along these lines, “Here is our condition. Our son will be faithful to your daughter and love her with his whole heart no matter what. Here is your condition, your daughter will do the same. She will stay faithful and love her husband.”

The conditions of this relational agreement is faithfulness.

The comes the penalty for breaking the conditions.

Then they would take an animal, like a sheep or something, and kill it, and they would say, “If your daughter isnt faithful, this is the consequence: death. And if my son is unfaithful, then you may do this to me and more, if the covenant is broken from our end.”

To make this covenant, the greater party would lay out the conditions, explain the penalties for breaking it, and then the lesser party could reject it or accept it.

If they accept it, then both people, both parties would walk through the blood formed from the dead animal. The greater party would go first, and then the lesser.

All to show, in this covenant relationship, if it is broken, blood will be spilt.

This is a blood covenant. And if one side fails to honor this covenant made, then the other side has the right to put them to death.

This is a covenant relationship. Understanding this, look at Genesis.

All of Abrahams story gives us a full picture of this covenant and it starts in chapter 12 and is really fulfilled in chapter 22 with the offering of Issac as sacrifice.

We can’t look at all of it today, but there is a part I want to show you.

Genesis 12:1–3 (CSB)

1 The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Remember a covenant is a relationship between two parties. Here we see this relationship between God and Abraham.

So what happens first in a covenant? The conditions are made.

Here is condition 1. God says “here is what I will do for you.

This is the promise given to Abraham - the condition God puts on Himself - “I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, I will make you a blessing to people.... all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

This is one of the first promises of the Messiah, of Jesus - that Abrahams descendant would bless the whole world.

This is condition 1.

Condition 2 - the condition for Abraham is explained more later, but it says:

Genesis 17:9 CSB

9 God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep my covenant.

in other words, all Abraham has to do is follow and obey God, along with all his family.

“I, God, promise this to make your name great, to give you land, and to give you a family. Even further I will give you descendants more numerous than the stars and from your descendants will come the Messiah; (That’s Condition 1, here is condition 2) What I want you to do is simple, you walk before me and be blameless. All you have to do Abraham, is be perfect. You be perfect and I will give you descendants and land, and bless the world.”

“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you.”

And Abraham says “yes, I agree to this relationship and its conditions.”

What else is part of the conditions made? The Penalty

And what is that penalty? Death or worse

They both, God and Abraham knew this.

Now comes the making of the blood covenant:

Genesis 15:9–12 CSB

9 He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. 11 Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.

Genesis 15:17–18 (CSB)

17 When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River:

Abraham knew exactly what God was asking.

Abram kills these animals, cuts them in half, and lays the halves across from one another. The result is the animals bleed and the blood runs together and makes a small pool of blood. (A blood covenant)

God has promised descendants, land, and a blessing for the whole world, the messiah. And God is so committed to this that He is ready to stake His own life on it.

because again, the penalty is death if God can’t keep His part.

What does Abraham have to do? Be Perfect that’s it. How easy right?

People asked Jesus the same thing: what does it take to fulfill God’s covenant, to be a part of the kingdom of God - Jesus said, just be perfect that is it.

And that is the deal made here - God will supply a blessing to the whole world, Abraham, just be perfect.

What happens in the text? It says the sun sat and Abram fell into a deep sleep and a great terror and great darkness descended on him. This basically means Abram was terrified and scared out of his mind. Why? Picture it with me.

Abram is standing there looking at this blood and he knows that even if he puts his little toe in the blood and says “If I am not perfect you may do this to me…” he is a dead man. There would be no descendants, no land, no Jesus and we would not be here today. So he stands there in the darkness, knowing this, afraid of what is about to happen.

But he trusted God knew what He was doing so, He agreed to these terms.

Then 2 symbols appear.

The first is a smoking fire pot and the image here is smoke. What does this symbol represent? God. Why?

1: Smoke is a symbol for God is scripture and 2: Because the greater party goes first.

Here is God saying “Abraham I love you so much I will bless you and give you numerous descendants and most importantly, one will be the Savior of the world and I’ll even give you a place to live your life out in obedience to me. And if I don’t keep My word to you Abram… you may do this to me or worse.”

The Almighty God (in symbol) comes down from heaven and walks in a blood covenant just to say “I LOVE YOU!” - this is that relationship part of the covenant.

It is an incredible moment and Abram doesn’t say a word. He is silent. And it is a picture here.

Then the 2nd Symbol appears and it is a torch on fire.

Who is the second symbol?

It should be Abram because he is on the other side of this covenant but not once in the Bible is fire a symbol for a human.

What is fire always a symbol of? GOD

The burning bush, the pillar of fire, God is a consuming fire!

Abramham, this old man is freaking out and scared to death. He raises his foot knowing that when he touches that blood, not only does he not get descendants or land, which is bad enough, but there is NO MESSIAH, no one to restore humanity back into right relationship with God.

And as he goes to put his foot down, God puts out his his hand out in front of Abraham and said “No.”

And then God steps in. “Abraham, if you and your descendants are not perfect you may do this to me or worse.”

And at that moment, Jesus Christ was sentenced to death, because he knew Abramham and his descendants would sin. And I can see Jesus in heaven, next to His Father, watching His father make this covenant knowing that if Abraham took a step, He would be a dead man. I can see Jesus, saying “I’ll take His place” and walking for Abraham instead.

And for the rest of the old testament all sacrifices were made to remind God of His promise.

When they threw the animal on the blood alter, it was saying to God, “You promised you would pay for my sin. Please, keep your promise,” and that is what it stood for. It reminded them that a long time ago, a covenant was made where God said “He would pay the price for my sin somehow and some way.”

This was the covenant. The relationship made.

So much more than an agreement, but a RELATIONSHIP with God that HE would take our place and we then would get to walk with Him freely. That was the promise of the old covenant.

The New Covenant

So every year the high priest would enter into the holy of holys and make a blood offering for sins, because this was the covenant relationship God started, in order to save His people.

But By the day of Jesus, this practice of remembering the covenant promise was at full force. So every day, at 9oclock and at 3oclock, a sacrifice would be made at the Temple.

So every day, you knew at 9 and at 3 an animal was being killed to say “God, please remember your promise!” Every day, at 9 and at 3.

By Jesus’ day this became an elaborate ceremony. As it approached 9 or 3 a priest would stand by the alter with a lamb and stand with a knife to its throat.

Another priest would stand on the highest point of the temple holding a shofar (a special horn).

Then somewhere in the courts another priest would hold a sundial or hour glass or something to tell the time. At 9 and 3 they would signal the priest on top of the temple to blow the shofar. The priest would blow it and everyone would know at that moment a lamb was being sacrificed saying to God. “PLEASE KEEP YOUR PROMISE. FORGIVE US.”

Everyone would stop, and stand silent because right after the shofar came the blood. “God please…”

Mark 15:21–33 CSB

21 They forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross. He was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull). 23 They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lots for them to decide what each would get. 25 Now it was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The King of the Jews. 27 They crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!” 31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with him taunted him. 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.

John 19:30 CSB

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

Matthew 27:51 CSB

51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.

It was a Friday, the only thing different is that it was also a Jewish holiday. And just outside the city were three crosses and the middle man looked dead.

The hour glass ran and it was 3 o clock.

And Just like His Father had promised, “it was finished.”

The promise had been fulfilled

the curtain torn and God’s Spirit set free to be on all of His people

And with the resurrection to come 3 days later - new life to come with it, for everyone who would believe and repent.

There are no words to describe the power of the picture of the blood of the almighty God dripping into the dust like He promised to pay for my sins. And that for hundreds of years it had been done every single day at 9 and at 3. And he was nailed to the cross at 9 and died at 3.

He was that ultimate sacrifice.

And it all started with the covenant made with Abraham where God, Jesus, chose to take the punishment for Abraham’s and humanities sin.

So we come back to Hebrews

Hebrews 10:11–18 (CSB)

11 Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. 13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:

16 This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds, 17 and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

It is done, It is finished

Hebrews 9:15 CSB

15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Jesus fulfilled the conditions of the old covenant and now extends a new one.

Instead of being perfect, all we need to do is run to the perfect One, who rescued us and can now restore us and perfect us.

Hebrews 10:19–25 CSB

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

BE DEVOTED OR Despise and Be Disciplined

Jesus has pursued you! And all He asks is for you to pursue Him back!

Not to be perfect, but just Be Devoted to Him and He will help transform your life. Jesus takes all the guilt away so you can pursue Him fully and freely!

He wants your devotion to Him and His Word.

Be devoted to Jesus and His Word, otherwise you will be lead to despise Him and His Word - which will only bring discipline.

Hebrews 10:26–31 (CSB)

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The believer who begins to drift from the Word (Heb. 2:1–4) will soon start to doubt the Word (Heb. 3:7–4:13). Soon, he will become dull toward the Word (Heb. 5:11–6:20) and become “lazy” in his spiritual life. This will result in despising the Word, which is the theme here.

And this despising is evidenced by willful sin. “For if we deliberately go on sinning”… An arrogant attitude of repeated disobediance.

Back under the Old Covenant, this kind of attitude led only to execution.

And the writer of Hebrews paint this kind of attitude as a picture of stomping on Jesus, cheapening the blood of Christ that was shed for them. An insult to the Spirit of God who calls us all to the blood of Christ.

This is the opposite of how we ought to live in Jesus! Instead of having a bold confession of faith, hope, and love, a despising believer lives in a way that his actions and attitudes bring disgrace to the name of Christ and the church.

What will come of this?

Discipline. - “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”

God is full of grace and mercy for anyone who repents, but to those who dont, God is full of justice, righteousness, and discipline.

Listen to proverbs

Proverbs 3:12 (CSB)

12 for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 4:1 (CSB)

1 Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

Proverbs 13:1 (CSB)

1 A wise son responds to his father’s discipline, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 15:5 (CSB)

5 A fool despises his father’s discipline, but a person who accepts correction is sensible.

The major theme of Hebrews is this “God has spoken—how are you responding to His Word?”

Are you drifting from His Word? Doubting His Word? Experiencing Dullness to His Word? or even Despising His Word?

If so, it is time to come back to Jesus and His Word

Back to the cross, to His blood bought promise.

A promise for life with Him, eternally and now!

Back to the throne of grace, so you can receive mercy and forgiveness.

To walk in faith and in perseverance.

Hebrews 10:35–39 (CSB)

35 So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.

Jesus has bought a new covenant, a new relationship, built on His grace and truth!

And continually extends this relationship to us and to the world through His better Word!

Again, The major theme of Hebrews is this “God has spoken—how are you responding to His Word?”

With faith? or spite?

But we can be confident! As we walk by faith, our Great High Priest will guide us and perfect us!

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