6.7.42 9.15.2024 Holding Fast Hebrews 4.14-16

Start:

Entice:

Here is God’s Word for today:

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This text is pretty deep. It is unashamedly theological. That’s good for the Church.

There is no bad time for good theology.

Sound theology is never wasted.

Accurate theological thinking strengthens our faith, give us hope, and connects us with the past.

Ultimately sound theology points to Jesus.

Ultimately sound theology forms our faith.

Ultimately sound theology focuses our Spiritual formation.

Engage: Other than public worship how are you listening and responding to Jesus? What do you think of Him? How is it that you came to think of Him the way you do, and what is the source of what you think of Him?

Hebrews is full of encouragement. However, to really reap the practical benefits you’re going to have to engage the Hebrew author’s exegesis of Scripture and his profound theology.

Expand: This morning, Jesus’ High Priesthood represents once again, the practical application of profound theology.

And it’s not always easy to get how this works. Most of the known High Priests in the Bible were not exemplary characters. In the OT many that we know about were ineffective bumblers of questionable integrity (Eli). In the NT era they either downright opposed Jesus, or actively worked to undermine the work of His Church. For the Hebrew author to trot out the concept of High Priest is a little risky because for the Church High Priests were not generally admirable figures. He chooses this concept for a couple of reasons.

First, It’s kind of universal. Jews and Gentiles both understood the idea of a “boss” priest. Secondly, he wants to focus on the contrast. His point is lost unless Jesus is wholly different from human experience. Jesus does not disappoint—specifically because He transcends human experience. God incarnate will do that.

Excite: In today’s text the profound, transformative nature of Jesus priestly ministry explodes all those preconceptions. Because He is not merely a man, but also God’s eternal Son His priesthood achieves what theirs could not.

Explore:

Jesus redeems, represents, restores, and resources us to rightly respond in confident boldness.

Expand: Our faith responses are derived from His saving mission. So in vs. 14 he gives an

Body of Sermon:

1 Exhortation to Encourage us.

Hebrews 4:14 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

1.1 He exhorts us as a great high priest.

1.2 He exhorts us a a heavenly priest.

1.3 He exhorts us as the Son.

If that’s not enough…perhaps you should not be a Christian.

I cannot imagine what other encouragement you would need to Hold fast to our confession above and beyond WHO it is we confess.

Next, He gives us

2 Empathy to Empower us.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

2.1 He is sympathetic to our weaknesses.

2.2 He is sympathetic to our temptations.

2.3 He is sympathetic to our limitations.

We sin because we are fallen humans. His time in the flesh means that He knows and understands the very thing that prevents us from being sinless.

Finally, He provides an

3 Engagement to Encourage us.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

3.1 We are invited to approach God confidently.

3.2 We are invited to accept God’s benevolence

Mercy

and

grace

and

Timely help.

Shut Down

Jesus does not think for us.

He does not decide for us.

He does not choose for us.

His thoughts, His decisions, and His choices give us guidance as we follow Him.

It is tempting for preachers to do what Jesus did not do and to make promises that He did not make. It is a real and profound risk, and preachers must be wary.

The best we can do in this job is to highlight how and why Jesus did His. The best way for our Elders and me to get us all to the throne of grace is to make absolutely certain we are following Jesus and allowing His High-priestly ministry to always be the guide.

He engages us by exhorting us to be faithful. He empathizes with us not to coddle us but to empower our own life of faith. His example is not to discourage but to encourage us to live beyond our weaknesses and to embrace His sanctifying power.

All these statements are very

down to earth.

They are practical.

They are basic.

Because the best, most profound theological thinking should lead us into the presence of the

risen,

living,

sanctifying

High-Priest of our confession.

Even so, Come Lord Jesus!