Secure in Jesus

Introduction

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(GET AMERICAN FLAG) This weekend, all over this nation, you will see American flags just like this in all different sizes. What should we think about this weekend when we see those flags? Obviously, we think about freedom and this great nation we live in. But, this weekend, more than any other, we should think about promises and hope. You see, that flag represents promises made and promises kept. Millions of service men and women throughout the history of this nation have raised their hand and sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and abroad. For the last 250 years men and women have died on the field of battle because they made a promise. That flag represents promises made and kept. It also represents hope—hope in a free nation.

When we look at the cross and the empty tomb we’re reminded of promises made by God and kept by God. When we see the cross and the empty tomb we see hope.

MPS

The promises of God fulfilled in Jesus secure our hope.

The gospel is the good news that brings HOPE. The gospel brings hope to hopeless lives. It brings hope to a hopeless world. The gospel brings hope because Jesus fulfills our hope.

What are the promises of our hope?

Forgiveness of sin

The promise and hope that as sinners, we can be saved. As guilty and deserving of God’s wrath, we can be forgiven and justified before Him.

Access to God

The promise and hope that, because of the forgiveness of our sin, we no longer have to be separated from God—outside of His life and love. That we can be welcomed into relationship with Him and receive His life.

New creation coming

The promise and hope that the Kingdom of God is fully coming and with it, a new heavens and a new earth, where death will be swallowed up forever, there will be no more curse.

If we could summarize the Christian hope, that’s it. This morning, as we take a look at Hebrews 7:18-28, I want us to see how Jesus secures our hope of forgiveness of sin, access to God, and the coming Kingdom of God/New Creation.

Preaching Points

1. Our hope is secured by the promise of God about Jesus.

Hebrews 7:18–22 “For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.”

The author tells us, in verse 20, that the “better hope” introduced to us by Jesus is “not without an oath.” In other words, the hope that we have as Christians is accompanied by an oath made by God.

This “oath,” he says, didn’t accompany the priests of Judaism. See, the OT situation—life before Jesus—was pretty bleak. The people of God were deep in sin—idolatry. They were under judgment from God—exile.

But, God didn’t leave His people without hope! And, so, He made an oath—not for His sake…like there’s a chance He might back out on His promise and we can hold Him accountable. He made it for OUR sake. He made an oath/He made a promise because our faith is weak. Our sin is great.

Remember what the author has already told us—Hebrews 6:17–18 “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

He promised to send a Savior/Messiah. He promised forgiveness—through this coming Messiah. He promised access to God—through the coming Messiah. He promised deliverance from the curse—a new creation and the kingdom of God—brought by the Messiah.

So, what is he talking about? What is this “oath”?

In verse 21, the author, again (look at vs. 17) quotes Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.””

This is a prophetic promise from God made to David about the Savior He would send to be a Greater Priest—like Melchizedek—who would bring the forgiveness of sin, who would bring access to God, and who would bring the kingdom of God and usher in the new heavens and new earth. AND HE WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND.

**Guarantor (security) of a better covenant**—A guarantor is someone who takes responsibility to make sure an agreement is kept.

2. Our hope is secured by the indestructability of Jesus.

Hebrews 7:23–25 “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Lou Gehrig? Pope?

“The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office…”

Jesus is what none of the priests could be—indestructible. Death could not hold him down. Death could not defeat Him.

(vs. 25) “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

A) Forgiveness of Sins

Saved to the uttermost—no sin is too great for His blood to atone for.

Lives to make intercession—He is daily forgiving you. His scars bear the proof.

B) Access to God

Saved to the uttermost—more than going to heaven. It’s salvation that welcomes us into the life and love of God…a relationship with Him.

C) New Creation

He saves to the uttermost. His resurrection ushers in the new creation.

3. Our hope is secured by the sinlessness of Jesus.

Hebrews 7:26–28 “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”

Jesus is what NONE of the priests could be—perfect/sinless.

A) Forgiveness of Sins

Because He is the perfect, spotless, sinless Lamb of God, His blood alone can eternally make atonement for sin.

B) Access to God

God is holy. The high priest could only enter into the presence of God (Holy of Holies) once a year. ONLY ONE PERSON. He couldn’t bring the people in with him. The high priests weren’t sinless—they had to go through sacrifice and purification for themselves before they could go in.

But, Jesus…

C) Kingdom of God/New Creation

Conclusion

One of the most powerful examples of promise and hope comes from World War I. A young soldier named Martin Treptow left his job as a barber in Iowa to serve his country. He was assigned to the 168th Infantry and sent to the front lines in France.

In 1918, Martin was killed while carrying a message between platoons under heavy fire. When his body was recovered, they found a small diary in his uniform. On the inside cover, he had written something that became legendary. It was titled:

“My Pledge” “America must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the whole issue of the struggle depended on me alone.”

That was a promise, rooted in hope. And he kept it—with his life.

But friends—there is one greater who made a greater promise and kept it with His own blood. His name is Jesus.

When you see the cross, and when you hear about the empty tomb, you’re not just looking at a religious symbol—you’re looking at the evidence of God’s unbreakable promise.

He promised forgiveness of sins—and Jesus secured it.

He promised access to God—and Jesus opened the way.

He promised a coming kingdom—and Jesus, our risen priest and king, guarantees it.

Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant—not by force, but by faithfulness.

Jesus is the only one who:

Made the promise,

Sealed the promise,

Fulfilled the promise,

And lives forever to keep the promise.

He is our hope. He is our guarantee. And He will not fail.

“The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” (Hebrews 7:21)

Hold fast to Him—because He’s holding fast to you.