Hebrews 3:1-6 Jesus is Faithful

Intro: Car air fresheners

My son Toby got a job at a car wash this summer

It has uncovered some really cool traits and shown him a side of himself he didn’t know was there

One of the perks of his job is that he gets one free car wash a week

Since he drives my car to work I get a cleaner car on the outside

He also gets some other things like dash wipes and air fresheners

While I’m thankful for a clean car there is one area in every teenage boy that hasn’t been developed, their sense of smell

There is a reason that companies like Axe Body spray makes billions of dollars, teenage boys think more is better

I got into my car on Tuesday morning to go to the gym and it smelled like a cinnamon roll had exploded inside

Now I like cinnamon rolls and I am not gonna lie that I was craving them later in the day, but inside my Subaru was gross

I noticed that he had taken two fresheners and placed them in the air vents

Sometimes we think more of something like the real thing equates to the real thing

That’s how the Jews looked at religion

More laws, more sacrifices, more rituals and they would check the box

Unfortunately those were inadequate substitutes to the real thing Jesus Christ

Today we are challenged to consider Jesus and to hold fast to our faith

Read Hebrews 3:1-6

Transition: Jesus is More than Religious Rituals

In Judaism, Moses represented the pinnacle of faith

Not only did Moses bring the people into the promised land, but he delivered the Law

In the Law was all of the rituals of the Jewish faith

People found comfort in the rituals because doing them gave a sense of accomplishment and made them feel closer to God

The Jews in Rome are longing for the old rituals they used to practice

They are referencing Moses a lot more in their discussions because they harken for a simpler day

The writer of Hebrews shows them the difference between a religion where they go through the motions and one that is filled with life and power

Moses was a great man and faithful to God, but Jesus is more

Consider Jesus vs. 1

The writer of Hebrews implores his readers to Consider Jesus

The word consider originally means to contemplate the stars in the Latin

It gives the idea of a quiet, patient, concentrated gaze seeking to discover all that can possibly be known

The reason so many Christians are weak and worried is that they do not keep considering Christ, and so His full strength and comfort and guidance are not theirs

Why should we consider Christ

The writer gives us several reasons just in verse one

vs. 1a Holy Brothers

First is that He considers us Holy Brothers

In chapter two we saw that Jesus is the one who sanctifies us, which means to make us holy

We also saw that he is not ashamed to call us brothers

The writer of Hebrews is reminding us of our standing before Christ

He sees us this way even if we don’t see ourselves that way

God is known for His holiness

Psalm 93:5 ESV

Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

Holiness means pure, without blemish

Our great high priest has opened the way for us into the most holy place

We must know that we are holy in Christ

This will give us courage to enter the holy of holies, to have God’s holiness take complete possession, and fill our whole being

vs. 1b Heavenly Calling

The second reason we should consider Jesus is our Heavenly calling

Heavenly calling is more than having a ticket to heaven

It is experiencing the presence and the power of Jesus here on earth

The Jews found their purpose in obeying the law

Christians find their purpose in being filled with the Spirit

While Jesus was on earth the kingdom of heaven was at hand, after he ascended and received the kingdom from the father, the kingdom of heaven came to earth in power through the Holy Spirit

Judaism was an earthly calling with an earthly inheritance.

Christianity is a spiritual and heavenly calling with a spiritual and heavenly inheritance

Philippians 3:20 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

The writer is saying to his Christian Jewish readers, “You are citizens of the heavenlies, so why don’t you let go of the earthly things? Why do you want to hang on to the earthly rituals, the earthly symbols, when you have the heavenly reality?”

The heavenly calling is that which the power of the heavenly life works to make our life heavenly

vs. 1c Apostle & Priest

The third reason we should consider Christ is that he is both our Apostle and Priest

Moses and Aaron together represented God in Israel

The one as messenger or apostle. The other as high priest

In the person of Jesus, the two offices are united

The word apostle means messenger

Moses was the great apostle or messenger of God

He had access to God and brought the Word of God to the people

Jesus is the great apostle of the New Covenant

He spoke of himself as the one whom his father sent

As an apostle he is God’s rep making God known to us

As a high priest he brings us into the presence of God

Jesus was faithful in all that God appointed him

More Honor Than Moses vs. 2-4

Because of that Jesus has more honor than Moses

The writer of Hebrews starts to use the metaphor of a house

Moses was a faithful servant in the house, but Jesus is the builder of the house

The builder will always get more honor than a servant

vs. 2 Faithfulness of Moses

Moses was very faithful

Faithfulness is trustworthiness

Moses in every respect was a OT type of Christ

Numbers 12:7 ESV

Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.

Jesus was more faithful than Moses

vs. 3 Builder Has More Honor

While Moses was faithful he was just a servant

Jesus was the one appointed by God

When a house is built it is the developer who puts it all on the line

The framer may be the best in the business but he just puts wooden sticks together

The electrician may bring light but he doesn’t make the toilet flush

It is the builder who gets credit for building the house

He coordinates all of the trades, gets permits, and takes all financial risk

Moses was the best leader outside of Jesus, but Jesus is the creator

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

In all of this you have to see that the writer is trying to push people beyond being mediocre

The law had created people who were going through the motions, it wasn’t personal

Jesus came and removed the law, the sacrifices, and rituals to reestablish the connection between man and God

We can be indwelt with the Spirit permanently

Hold Fast to the Faith vs. 5-6

We need to hold fast to our faith because Jesus is Faithful

vs. 5 Moses left a faithful testimony

Now the writer switches it on the Jews

They idolized Moses but didn’t have the faith Moses did

Exodus 40:16 ESV

This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did.

Moses testified to everything God told him

He went before the Lord while everyone else stood at a distance

vs. 6 Hold Fast to the Faith

The writer finishes this section with a challenge

If you are the house of the Lord

Essentially he is asking, “Are you in or out?”

You know you are in by holding fast to your confidence in Jesus

You believe that He has made you holy, filled you with His Spirit, and continues to minister to you

Notice all those things are what Jesus has done for you?

We need to hold fast to our faith

How do we do that?

John 15:4 ESV

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Abide means to dwell or remain

Abide in Jesus

Spend time in your Bible and prayer

But hone your faith thru trusting Him

Find your sustenance in Jesus

Walk in His light

Avoid temptation and sin