God’s Provision for Perfection

Text - Hebrews 11.39-40

Hebrews 11:39–40 NASB 2020

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Main Idea

Perfection was God’s standard.

Matthew 5:48 NASB 2020

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

He said this after expounding the Law in such a way that the Jews failed to demonstrate the righteousness of God

Perfect means

complete - brought to full measure

blameless - without fault

God knew no one can attain to His high standard - so He provided the means to attain perfection.

Jesus was God’s provision for perfection!

He came to fulfill the Law - not abolish - Matthew 5.17

Matthew 5:17 NASB 2020

17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

abolish - to annul

fulfill - to satisfy, fill up

He came to fulfill all righteousness - Matthew 3.16

Matthew 3:15 NASB 2020

15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Questions

in what ways is Jesus God’s provision for perfection

in what aspects did God require perfection

Main Points

Jesus is the originator and perfecter of the faith

Hebrews 12:2 NASB 2020

2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

originator/author - grk. archegos

translated - author; prince; originator; captain; pioneer; champion; initiator;

Acts 3:15 NASB 2020

15 but put to death the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

perfecter - grk. teleiotes

translated - finisher; perfecter;

The Perfecter is also the Originator -

Jesus is the source of life - Acts 3.15

Jesus is the author of salvation - Hebrews 2.10

Hebrews 2:10 NASB 2020

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings.

Jesus is the source of true faith - Hebrews 12.2

And now, the Originator has come to “complete” what He has begun!

Jesus fulfills what the Old Testament system could not provide

The Israel nation did not really find their rest - Hebrews 4.4-8

Hebrews 4:4–8 NASB 2020

4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this passage, “They certainly shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice Do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

Prophetically, Psalm 95.7-11 points to another day in which God will give rest to His people.

Historically, the many wars in the land proved that Canaan was not “the rest” that God will ultimately give to His people.

JESUS CAME TO GIVE THE PROMISED REST

True rest is entered by FAITH - Hebrews 4.1-3

Hebrews 4:1–3 NASB 2020

1 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My anger, They certainly shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

True rest is not of the body, but of the soul - Matthew 11.28-30

Matthew 11:28–30 NASB 2020

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

The O.T. priesthood did not, and could not, bring Israel to perfection - Hebrews 7.11

Hebrews 7:11 NASB 2020

11 So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

Again prophetically, Psalm 110.4 points to a time in the future when God appoints another High priest in another order (Melchizedek).

JESUS BECAME HIGH PRIEST THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR SOULS

He was perfected so He can make us perfect - Hebrews 5.7-10

Hebrews 5:7–10 NASB 2020

7 In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His devout behavior. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, 10 being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:26–28 NASB 2020

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; 27 who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever.

JESUS BECAME THE PERFECT SON SO THAT HE CAN BE OUR PERFECT HIGH PRIEST!

The Law could not bring the worshiper to perfection - Hebrews 10.1-2

Hebrews 10:1–2 NASB 2020

1 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?

The blameless sacrificial animals could not perfect the worshipers.

The worshiper returned again and again to offer the sacrifice for their sins.

The high priest performed yearly atonement for sins.

JESUS BECAME THE PERFECT SACRIFICE SO THAT HE CAN PERFECT THE WORSHIPER!

Hebrews 10:14 NASB 2020

14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Q

Jesus came to perfect the faith of the saints

He was the fulfillment of their hopes, which was through faith

Hebrews 11:1 NASB 2020

1 Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.

How is faith perfected?

first, faith is demonstrated through obedience to God’s Word

then, as faith obeys, it looks forward, expectantly, to the fulfillment of the promise - that’s hope

finally, the promise is fulfilled - that’s faith perfected

Jesus was the embodiment of the hopes of the O.T. people of God

Abraham and Sarah -

the city made by the hand of God

the seed that will bless all the nations of the earth!

Joseph -

the land of rest

Moses -

Israel’s Redeemer

Jesus was the REALITY of the things they believed!

What is that “something better” that God has provided for us?

The O.T. believers had to die without realizing their hopes.

They had to wait in the grave

The N.T. believers did not have to die without receiving the promises of God!

because the Perfecter has come, we can receive the Promise right now!

the promise of salvation

the promise of rest

the promise of “help in time of need” - HELP ON DEMAND!

the promise of righteousness

the promise of the Holy Spirit!

Conclusion

WE LIVE TODAY IN A TIME OF PERFECTION

our time is not a time of types and shadows

our time is not a time of “hope against hope” (like Abraham’s)

The Son of God - The Perfecter of the Fath - has come!

Today your faith is perfected - when you die, you will go straight into glory, not in hades!

Today you are resting - not physical rest, but spiritual

today all your needs are met - Christ is your High Priest in heaven!

Hold firmly to your confession of faith

Hebrews 4:14–16 NASB 2020

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

Hebrews 10:21–23 NASB 2020

21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

Song

I Stand redeemed!