Untitled Sermon (2)

Introduction:

When considering the introductory matters of works within the New Testament few leave more questions than the letter to the Hebrews. We cannot say with certainty who wrote the letter, who the audience was, nor when the letter was written. The uncertainty of answers to these questions leads to some level of difficulty in understanding the main concern of the author of Hebrews. We know that the author is concerned with the perseverance of his hearers, but what is the nature of such perseverance?

Are they....jews going back. gentiles going back. jews not going further.

It will be argued in this paper that the answer to this question is determined by considering the authors theology of sacrifice. The author of Hebrews views the work of Christ as a fulfillment of the Levitical sacrificial system. The way of access has been decisively and exclusively opened through the once for all sacrifice of Christ. His audience, whether Jew or Gentile, is tasked with continuing the story of the people of God. The nature, then, of their perseverance is not merely to not go back to the shadow of Levitical sacrifice but also to press ahead in their union with Christ with full gospel assurance.

There are three intertwined assertions being made in this thesis. These will be proven in order. First, that the author of Hebrews views the work of Christ as fulfillment of the OT sacrificial system. Secondly, access to God has been decisively and exclusively opened by the work of Christ. And lastly, that because of his theology of sacrifice the author argues that eschatological salvation—entering into rest—is dependent upon continuation of faith.

The fulfillment of OT sacrifice

The story of the Bible begins with God putting humanity in a Garden to work it and keep it. His presence is there with them. They are his image-bearers. They have as good of access as creatures can have with an infinite and holy God. But it’s not long in the story before these image-bearers take on the sad identity of rebels. From the moment they take of the forbidden fruit they experience shame and and impulse to hide, to find covering. The sew together for themselves fig leaves but it doesn’t do the trick, their shame remains. Genesis 3 ends with the first couple being booted from the garden. Their access to God is denied.

As the story of the Bible continues God has, surprisingly, continued to relate to humanity. He has made a way for them to continue to have some semblance of access. It’s not the free and wonderful type of access the first couple experienced in the Garden of Eden but it is the best which can be offered to sinful humanity at this stage of the biblical story.

Even as early as Genesis 3, though, we see the compassion of God in provided atonement for access. Even though their fig leaves did not cover them God made clothes for them. “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Something died to cover their shame. This thread will be picked up with Aaron the high priest.

There is a great deal of detail given in Exodus and Leviticus on the sacrificial system. Consider the details given for what Aaron, and other high priests, must wear in order to come into the presence of God in Exodus 28:31-35. These are not mere suggestions either. You read in Leviticus 10 what happens when Aaron’s sons decide to bring “strange fire” to the altar. They themselves are consumed. Sacrifice leads to access but the sacrifice must be fitting.

Hebrews 5 outlines what is required for the sacrifice to be fitting. First, the correct person must make the sacrifice. It’s not a position you volunteer for. You must be appointed by God to serve as priest.

Nor is it something where the high priest could say, “I’m feeling a bit sick today, Wally can you fill in for me.” Nope. The guy has to be appointed by God to do this thing.

Secondly, the sacrifice that he makes has to be acceptable. That’s part of what happened with Aaron’s sons. You couldn’t just make the rules up as you go along. If the sacrifice required a bull you couldn’t show up with your donkey and sacrifice him because he just bit you the other morning and you’d like to give him what’s coming to him. No it had to be animal without blemish. The sacrifice had to be acceptable.

And the last thing—we will see this even more later on in Hebrews—if we’re talking about an eternal party then you have to have someone who is going to give you eternal access. His priesthood has to be eternal and his sacrifice has to be eternal. Otherwise you have to just keep doing it again and again. So what we see here in Hebrews 5 is that Jesus fulfills all of this.

Hebrews makes the claim that the sacrifice of Christ is decisively better than the Levitical priesthood. It is better in that the one making the sacrifice is better; namely, Christ is superior to the Levitical high priest. It is also better in that the sacrifice itself is better, being eternal and better than the blood of bulls and goats.

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Sacrifice in the OT

The argument of Hebrews

Fulfillment

Exclusivity of Christ

Way of access opened

Therefore...

What is the perseverance

Fulfillment

Exclusive work of Christ

The way of access opened

Therefore...

It is because of his

It is because the author is convinced that the once for all sacrifice for Christ

Some

There is a difference between having a ticket to an event and showing up at the stadium hoping there is an extra ticket available. One engenders confidence the other a blind hope. For the author of Hebrews the work of Christ has given unfettered access to God. Union with Christ gives confident access before God. Yet, the author is concerned that his audience

Rather than

Story of a ticket…happy authorization…we see the author of Hebrews theology and concern climax in Hebrews 10:19-39.

His theology:

His concern: