Sermon Tone Analysis

Hebrews 10:11-14

Introduction:

- As I considered the title for this message, it kind of catches you off guard

- Most of us familiar with the Christian faith don’t immediately and necessarily think of Jesus as a Priest

- Prophet, King, Lord or Savior…yeah but not necessarily Priest

- The Book of Hebrews allows us to look at Jesus in just this way

- That’s what this passage is about, prior to Jesus, all sacrifices and priest’s dedication to duty was never enough

- It was never enough to allow us to appear good enough to a Holy God

- It was never enough for us to point to any of our actions as being sufficient enough

- Also, it was never enough to completely take away our sins

- The priest standing day after day was his duty and devotion but it was always a shadow of Who was to come

- Pastor and author Tim Keller writes this, “Here's the gospel: you're more sinful than you ever dared believe; you're more loved than you ever dared hope.”

- Initially, when you consider that, few people want to look at themselves as being even the least bit sinful

- Yet, one thing about God is that He never left us without a way out

- God never left the Israelites, the Jewish nation, or us without hope

- In fact, from the moment that Adam messed up God’s plan,

- God stepped in; He had another plan in place

- And, even deeper, before the foundations of the world,

- We find that man nor could Satan permanently disrupt God’s plan

- The Old Testament instituted moral, civil and ceremonial laws of how to approach and interact with God

- But there was the foreshadowing that God wanted that one on one relationship with mankind

- If you’re familiar with the Old Testament, there was a physical veil that separated man from God

- Thankfully now, there would be no more veil to separate God and man

- No longer would a mediator, like the priest, be needed

- You and I because of Jesus’ finished work;

- We have the most amazing opportunity that the Old Testament saints never had

- If we choose to believe in Him, Jesus’ righteousness before God

- It takes the place of our inherited and nurtured unrighteousness before Him

- So, in this message, we see “This Priest Jesus”…

We see that it was:

#1 – Christ’s Sacrifice

#2 – Your Perserverance

Message:

#1 – Christ’s Sacrifice

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.

14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

- One thing I admire is the service devotion of the Old Testament priest

- Due to our sin state from Adam, we needed a priest an intermediary before God

- Knowing that God required a sacrifice to cover our sins must have seemed tedious and demanding

- The sacrifice had to be specific; from the type of and age of the sacrifice to the time and manner in which it was sacrificed

- Each priest was groomed and trained to offer accordingly

- No one dare shortchange the tradition or disregard the manner

- If we overlook what it took to become an Old Testament priest,

- Then we might overlook the importance of Jesus for us today

- It was a duty but it was more than a duty

- The commitment and the wherewithal for each priest to minister after having been selected from the Levitical tribe

- The years of preparation and serving the people

- The nation was watching and looking for the priest to intercede

- Yet, and still, what the priests did daily and annually…

- In no way compared to all Jesus would accomplish

- The blood sprinkled on top of the Ark of the Covenant would not make us right in God’s eyes

- No doubt, He accepted it but He always envisioned a time when all of our sins would not just be covered

- They would be taken away

- It would take one final, perfect sacrifice

- The passage (v.12) says,

“when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.”

- Everything that the priests sought to accomplish in their regular duties day after day

- Jesus would most definitely fulfill for ALL TIME

- Whereas I might have had concern about salvation and heaven before coming to know Jesus,

- I no longer have that concern

- I can always look to the cross and what He completed

- I pursued the wrong way before but now I pursue the right way Yahweh

- And, though I will never be perfect

- I can trust in the One Who is, the One Who is sinless

- He now sits at the right hand of God waiting for God’s plan to play out

- Think of that for a second, Christ has sat down

- Often times, when I prompted to worry or get anxious;

- What if I, instead consider how Christ has now sat down, how he has rested because of what He has already done

- That’s not to discount any issue or concern that we have

- They can indeed be true and we have a responsibility to do our part;

- Yet, if we bring the idea to the forefront of our mind,

- That Christ has rested, and when it is all said and done

- All kingdoms will fall under the control of Jesus Christ

- I am always reminded that the things that we face physically, in this day and time, are temporary

- Whether my emotions are high—excited, stirred up and angry

- Or, when they are low—sad, distraught and challenged

- Feelings are not necessarily facts and often temporary and fickle

- However, I can trust that with Jesus; all kingdoms will be subject to Him

- It took His one sacrifice to save us; the countless priest offerings and sacrifices couldn’t do it

- What He has done has made you and I complete if we accept Him

- Isaiah the prophet said (Isa 53:12),

“He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

- Isn’t it comforting that Jesus Himself made and makes intercession for each one of us?

- We don’t have to walk around with a feeling of shame or guilt

- Because in God’s eyes His Son has already atoned or made up for our failure and lack

- We can always trust that God will do His part

- But, here’s the unanswered question…

- Can He trust us to do our part?

- And, what is our part?

Transition: Which leads me to my next point

#2 – Your Perserverance

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

- We each have a part to play in this journey and walk in life

- And, that’s our perserverance—persistence—our resolve to follow Him

- For many of us, that’s easy to do when things are going well

- Then, when times get tough we begin to wonder…

- About our faith and His faithfulness