Let us - Pt. 2
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As we follow up from the first 13 verses of that we looked at last week, we come to verse 14 and gain another helpful perspective.
Often, we feel like we "have to" do things because we are Christians. We have to pray, have to tithe, and have to be obedient. In this three-part mini series, we are going to look at three places in the Bible where a different phrase is used: "Let us."
When we look at biblical teachings as opportunities instead of obligations, we're able to grow into the life God has planned for us so much more easily.
Look with me again in at vv. 11-14.
These verses take up again the strong current of the writer’s thought which he had introduced in 3:1—Christ as the great High Priest of His people.
They present Him as the great resource of His needy people, able to keep them from falling.
Also they change the emphasis “from the word as scrutinizer to the Lord as Sympathizer.”
When the word has thoroughly exposed us (vv. 12, 13), we can go to Him for mercy and grace.
Notice the excellencies of our wonderful Lord:
1. He is a great High Priest. There were many high priests under the Mosaic economy, but none was ever called great.
2. He has passed through the atmospheric heaven and the stellar heaven to the third heaven, the dwelling place of God. This speaks, of course, of His ascension and glorification at the Father’s right hand.
“Passed through” speaks of his exaltation
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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3. He is human. Jesus was the name given to Him at His birth and it is the name that is particularly linked with His humanity.
Yet theologically, we understand Him not only as fully human, but as fully divine. HYPOSTATIC UNION
4. He is divine. The Son of God, when used of Christ, speaks of His absolute equality with God the Father. His humanity qualified Him from our viewpoint; His deity, from God’s viewpoint. No wonder He is called a great High Priest.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3
The earliest Christian confessions include that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:42; 9:22), that He is Lord (1 Cor 12:3; 2 Cor 4:5), and that He is the Son of God (Acts 9:20; Rom 1:3–4). These assertions summarize early Christian teachings. The author later exhorts his audience to hold fast, which is likely part of the confession he references here (Heb 4:14; 10:23).
The earliest Christian confessions include that Jesus is the Christ
William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (ed. Arthur Farstad; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2169.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
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Acts
, that He is Lord
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
; ), and that He is the Son of God (; ). These assertions summarize early Christian teachings. The author later exhorts his audience to hold fast, which is likely part of the confession he references here (; ).
, and that He is the Son of God
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
; ). These assertions summarize early Christian teachings. The author later exhorts his audience to hold fast, which is likely part of the confession he references here (; ).
concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
). These assertions summarize early Christian teachings. The author later exhorts his audience to hold fast, which is likely part of the confession he references here (; ).
These assertions summarize early Christian teachings. The author later exhorts his audience to hold fast, which is likely part of the confession he references here (;
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
).
It is here we find Hebrews’ Author encouraging us to remain steadfast and perseverant in what we believe. WE are to hold fast, or hold tightly to our confession. What do we confess? We confess what we believe. And what do we believe? That Jesus is who He said He was.
We believe Him in our confessional statements, and we are to believe Him with our confessional actions.
Do you know what you believe?
Do you know what the Bible says about salvation (our life to come) and sanctification (our life today)?
This next year we are going to get extremely intentional in grounding the church in the Gospel. Each week’s sermon and focus throughout the week will be tying in what we believe and why. It’s going to be great.
But what is the spirit behind v. 14?
Let us hold tight to what we believe.
When it comes to learning Biblical truth - Get at it.
When it comes to loving Biblical truth - Grasp it.
When it comes to living Biblical truth - Give it.
Know what you believe and why.
Too often we give excuses to our lack of knowledge. With all of the resources we have today at our fingertips, we don’t have a good excuse.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Hold tight to what you believe. Not viewed as an obligation, but an opportunity to glorify God.
It begins with an intentional spirit. Setting time aside in our busy schedules to get in the Word. And to dwell on it’s truth.
And it continues with perseverance in the face of difficult opposition.
Robert Benchley said Triumph is is just umph added to try.
Spurgeon mentioned that by perseverance the snail reached the Ark.
Two Frogs In Cream
Two frogs fell into a can of cream,
Or so I’ve heard it told;
The sides of the can were shiny and steep,
The cream was deep and cold.
“O, what’s the use?” croaked No. 1.
“Tis fate; no help’s around.
Goodbye, my friends! Goodbye, sad world!”
And weeping still, he drowned.
But Number 2, of sterner stuff,
Dog-paddled in surprise,
The while he wiped his creamy face
And dried his creamy eyes.
“I’ll swim awhile, at least,” he said—
Or so I’ve heard he said;
“It really wouldn’t help the world
If one more frog were dead.”
An hour or two he kicked and swam,
Not once he stopped to mutter,
But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked,
Then hopped out, via butter!
—T. C. Hamlet
Dear friend, Christ is the ultimate victor. He has passed through the heavens and is exalted as King of kings, Lord of Lords and has a name above every name.
Don’t be ashamed to identify with him in public, or too busy to spend time with Him in private. Hold fast to your confession this week. Persevere in your faith and bring glory to God.