Christian Is Better
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
How do you identify yourself?
We live in an era where how we self-identify supersedes and and all other considerations. So much so, that many of us, if we will be honest, are kind of over it.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t do it on some, or even many, levels. For example, here are some ways I identify myself, some of which are ok, and some of which might be a little sideways
I am a Pastor
I am a Husband
I am a Father
I am a Gamer
I am a Cook
I am the only person who knows how to do my job right
I am awesome and deserve awesome
I am overweight
I am not mechanically inclined
I am a lover, not a fighter
Hopefully, you start to get the idea. These are all ways I could or do identify myself (some of these are made up, but I’ve heard them from other people). We all have ways we think of ourselves that, in turn, forms the basis of our identity.
Some of these thoughts become major aspects of our identity and some become minor but all shape who see ourself being.
And, sometimes our identity can change. Sometimes people change their identity in major ways (say transitioning gender) to minor ways (say taking up a new hobby or habit).
One way that people begin to change their identity is when they get saved and begin to follow Jesus. They add “I am a Christian” to their list of identifying features. This change frequently leads to other changes as we follow Christ closer and become more like Him. Assuming we do it correctly (and we don’t always), these changes help us become better people overall.
Transition
The Apostle Paul was directly addressing the issue of identity in Hebrews 7.
Illumination
A Reminder of Hebrews’ Original Audience
A Reminder of Hebrews’ Original Audience
Paul wrote Hebrews to Hebrew Christians who were considering returning to Judaism. Their identity had undergone a change when they became Christians and they were wondering if that was a good thing or not.
A Dangerous Level of Detail
A Dangerous Level of Detail
There are two danger we face when we look at a passage like Hebrews 7:
We kind of Gag at the amount of detail, ask the question who cares? and assume there is nothing here that applies to me.
We kind of Geek out over the amount of detail, ask lots of questions and get lots of information but miss how it applies to me.
Both of these dangers leave us with a passage that does not apply to me. But it does apply to me and you.
Here’s the main point of this chapter and this message: Being a Christian—literally, a Christ follower—is better than being what you were before.
He is going to dig into a fair bit of detail, but that is the big picture.
A History Lesson
A History Lesson
For context and personal study, there are three passages you may want to write down and visit later.
Genesis 14
Psalm 110
Hebrews 7-8
There was a war and Abraham’s nephew Lot was taken captive by the victorious kings. Abraham and his allies attacked the victors, defeated them, and freed Lot, along with everyone and everything that had been taken. As Abraham returned home he was met by a priest named Melchizedek. He gave Melchizedek a tithe of all that had been taken in the battle. Melchizedek, in turn, gave Abraham a blessing.
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
Melchizedek is something of an enigma as Genesis does not specify who he was, just that he was.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Paul makes an astonishing claim: Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and thus Levi through whom Moses and the priesthood of Judaism was given.
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies:
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
If Judaism were God’s ultimate plan than He would not have sown the seeds of promises and prophecies into it. But the fact is that He did because it was a means to an end: the end being Christ. Christ ushered in a better hope and a better relationship with God.
20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
“The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”),
22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Conclusion
There is a lot here, more than we can or should really cover. And Paul is going to continue this thread in chapter 8. But there is a conclusion here for us that centers around just a few verses.
7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
The Bottom Line: Being a Christian is better than being what you were before. Our identity in Christ in not just a different identity, it is a better identity.
Application
This is big picture application, not go and do this one thing. It is go and think about who you identify yourself as being. It is go and ask where does being a Christian factor in to your identity?
Done right, identifying as a Christian should become a foundational component of your identity that shapes the other aspects of who you are.
It is living in the knowledge that being a Christian is better than being what you were before.