2024.01.21 I Don't Make The Rules

I Don’t Make The Rules

Hebrews 6:13–20 NLT

13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: 14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” 15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

I really had to whittle down the Scripture reading today. I’m really using about a chapter and a half surrounding that passage, but I figure there’s a limited attention span for being read too … even when it’s Scripture. :)

I’d like to begin today with a clip from the show Everybody Loves Raymond. The episode begins with Ray’s daughter Ally showing him a drawing she made in school. She draws her dad in Hell. She explains that Grandpa said Ray was going to Hell because he doesn’t go to church.

So Ray goes and talks with his dad, and Frank didn’t exactly say Ray was going to Hell. I’ll let them tell it…

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[play video]

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I Don’t Make The Rules

Ray's dad goes on later to tell his son how it breaks his heart to think of him going to Hell.

Here in America, we think of religion as something very personal and it is. But we fail to see how it impacts those around us. Ray's daughter was upset about her dad going to Hell. His dad was upset about it. His wife was upset about it.

And Ray’s request to his dad is a common one. He says, "I want you to go over there and tell my daughter I'm not going to Hell!" And his dad says simply, "I'd love to, but I don't make the rules."

The world wants you to change the rules for them.

The world wants the Church to change the rules for them.

The world wants pastors to change the rules for them.

But Church, I want you to know … I don’t make the rules either. I can't wave a wand or pour water or oil or grape juice or anything else on you and save you from Hell. I didn't make those rules, but I can definitely tell you the rules I see in Scripture.

Hebrews 6:13 – 7:27 NLT [edited for time and effect] Paul writes about God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: 14 "I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number." 15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

You see, I can’t change the rules to make you feel okay about yourself. I can only tell you about the the source where I find hope knowing I’m not all okay, either. Paul continues ...

19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

And then into the next chapter, Paul continues...

7:1 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. 2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means "king of justice," and king of Salem means "king of peace."

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Don’t miss that … Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a priest and a king. One role makes him “king of justice”, the other makes him “king of peace”. Jesus is King of Justice and King of Peace. Back to Hebrews...

16 Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek." 18 Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. 19 For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

21 For God said to him, "The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow: 'You are a priest forever.' " 22 Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God. 23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.

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Hebrews 7:25 NLT

25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

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26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins.

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I Don’t Make The Rules

The old system was blood for sin, and the blood offered in the Temple was not sufficient for all sin.

The difference Jesus makes in the priesthood:

he offered ONE Sacrifice, and it’s effective because Jesus lives forever (7:24)

So Jesus is able to save those who come to God through Him (25)

The new system is still blood for sin! But the blood has already been offered on your behalf and mine — PRAISE THE LORD!

Now, let me correct one thing about the TV show … going to a church building or worship service cannot and will not save you. But it's a place you can learn about how to be saved, so the logic of "if people don't go to church they're going to Hell" goes a long way toward the truth.

A wise man once told me, “It’s true that you don’t have to go the church to be saved. But it’s also true that you don’t have to go to school to learn, and where do we send our kids?”

There is really only one place you can go to be saved.

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The Cross of Jesus Christ! It is the only place, and He is the only way.

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John 14:6 NASB 2020

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

No one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ! So, if you are hoping to have favor on the day you depart Earth's company … there is only one way.

I don't make the rules, but now you can't say you weren't told what the rules were.

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Recognize your need for salvation.

Come to Him and submit your life to Him.

He will save you and begin a miraculous process of perfecting you!

The world continues to demand the Church and everyone else change the rules for their bent toward sinning. I pray we continue to stand firm and recognize the rules are not ours to change!

But what about our own sins? What about your sins?

Are you hanging your hope on God looking the other way when you see him face-to-face? That’s not a good plan.

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The better plan is surrender …

… and just because many of us have “been there, done that” doesn’t mean we don’t still need to surrender … again … and again … and again.

If you’ve never taken the opportunity to surrender control of your life to Jesus and experience real hope, I want to invite you to come.

If you’ve been here a billion times, but today you recognize you still need Jesus to break sin’s grip on you in a particular place, I want to invite you to come.

If you’re confused, and you’re feeling things you don’t understand. Maybe you’re scared or nervous. I want to invite you to come.

This altar rail is the representation of the Cross of Jesus Christ. It’s a place we know we can come and meet with him. We can wrestle with him, we can cry out to him … and we can surrender to him.

If you’re coming and you want somebody to pray with you, I just ask you to raise your hand or wave at me, and I’ll come pray with you. If I get too busy, someone else may come pray with you … right, Church?

But if you can hear my voice … I invite you to come, and meet Jesus right here as we stand and sing.

I Don’t Make The Rules