Indestructable
Notes
Transcript
The Right Tool for the Job
The Right Tool for the Job
As we turn our Bibles over to Hebrews 7:11-19 this morning I will admit that I don’t spend as much time with my tools as I would like, to. I have shared with you that I very much enjoy the hobby of woodworking and one of the things that can be a barrier to entry for the hobby of woodworking is not having the right tools for the job.
I have heard it said recently that when you purchase a tool you are best to buy a cheap tool from a place like Harbor Freight and use it until it breaks. If it breaks or you get tired of the drawbacks of using the more cheaply constructed product, then you know that it is a tool that you are going to use often so you should then go out and buy an expensive version of that tool.
I don’t know if that is good wisdom or not, but planned for or not you will find instances of this in my garage.
I own 2 circular saws. One is a nice cordless Dewalt and the other is an entry level corded saw. I usually grab my Dewalt when I need to cut a board.
I have countless screwdrivers, very few of which are actually in the drawer in my workbench set aside for screwdrivers or even in the holder I built for my more often used tools. When I need a screwdriver I usually have to look through about 10 drawers throughout the house until I find the one I am looking for. — But with all of those screwdrivers I typically like to grab my nice Klein drivers with it’s rubberized handle
I would tell you about my socket sets but honestly my set is in bad enough shape I am just happy to find the right socket at all at this point!
But you get the idea. I mean I am telling you about tools but this is a truth that you can apply to almost every part of your life. When I got a new phone I stopped using my old phone. When I got a new watch I stopped wearing my old watch, When I get new shoes I stop wearing my old shoes. You can apply this concept I am sure to many many things.
Hebrews
Hebrews
As we will read in Hebrews this morning, what we find is that there was something old, that served its purpose for a time, and just like tools or what have you, it needed to be put aside for something that would be much more effective.
Follow along as we read Hebrews 7:11-19
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Our message this morning is entitled Indestructible
Let’s Pray
A Broken System
A Broken System
Outmoded
Outmoded
The priesthood was outmoded. But more than that it was broken. It wasn’t due to any deficiency in God’s design for the Levitical priesthood, it had simply served its purpose and its time had past.
Evidence of the breakdown was all around. The High Priest Caiaphas was appointed not because of his priestly lineage, but because he was selected by the Roman prefect Valerius Gratus. He was the prefect that preceded the more infamous Pontious Pilate. But this was nothing new. The position had been filled for 2 centuries before hand as a result of bribery or political appointment. Religion was being bought and sold.
Imperfect
Imperfect
But simply by the fact that a new priest from a different order was present, that demonstrated that the old priesthood was outmoded. I'm going back to the analogy was earlier when my new circular saw arrived it was pretty obvious that the old one was going into disuse.
In a few chapters from here we are going to look more into what Hebrews chapter 10 says, but for now I just want to point out what we read in Hebrews 10:4
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
verse 18 of Chapter 7 is a little more blunt about it:
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
I know that really isn’t a word you use too often, disannulling. It just means to make invalid. What this verse is saying is that the former priesthood was set aside because it was useless.
The nearest comparison I can make to this is ranking up. I know there are people who have been through scouting programs like the American Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and others. My only context is from when I was a scout and I had the rank of ‘Life Scout’ my former rank was not invalidated when I earned the rank of Eagle. It was incomplete. Yes, the rank of Life Scout was still earned but the new rank said more.
If Life Scout had perfectly described my rank, then there would have been no need of being given a new rank, of Eagle.
What does Hebrews 7:11 say?
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
If the old priesthood were sufficient in communicated grace under the completeness of the New Testament there would have been no need for a new Priest.
A Better Hope
A Better Hope
What makes Priesthood of Christ better than the Levitical Priesthood? That answer is in v19
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Remember that strange word in v18 disannulling? In the Greek it is μετάθεσις (metathesis). It’s a term that is often used in the ancient papyri referring to the cancellation of a debt.
So when we speak of a disannulling or the cancellation of the old commandment what we're saying is that the debts required by the old law are canceled. That is the better hope.
You and I we are in the church age and if you like me have grown up in church you have heard nothing but grace for your entire lives. You have to understand how foreign of a concept this idea of grace was to the Jewish mine to the Hebrew that was being written to in this chapter. The law was a millstone around their neck. Turn with me over to Galatians chapter 3 and look at verses 10 through 13.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
The law of God is a curse. It's a curse because it shows you that you cannot live up to the standard of God. I mean what does Galatians say cursed is everyone the continuous not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Who is it can say that they have continued in all things which are written in the book of the law. Who can say that they have not sinned?
1 John 1:10 gives us the answer if we are to ashamed to admit it ourselves
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The disannulling, the canceling of that sin debt under the law by Christ’s work on the cross is what Hebrews 7:19 says gives us a better hope.
This is where Christianity breaks from every other world religion. The Jews had to hope that all of their sins were properly atone for if they were going to be righteous before God. They did this by making continual sacrifice in the temple.
In Islam they just have to hope that the good outweighs the bad in that they have pleased they are God. I mean this is reminiscent of what even some Christians that believe that they can lose their salvation believe.
Years ago I knew a woman who went to a free will Baptist Church. There aren't many free will Baptist out there but there certainly are some. See most Baptists no matter what affiliation or theological bent they might have believe that you cannot lose your salvation due to sin. Now we see relatively clearly in scripture that there are some provisions for intentionally apostatizing but nothing to suggest that you can sin your way out of the grace of God.
And like I said I knew this woman that was a member for free will Baptist Church she worked with me at engineering firm years ago. And she and I were talking about her face and I asked her aren't you afraid that you're going to sin, not repent of it, and end up going to hell? Her response to me was yes, I am very afraid.
You have the same problem if you were lying on your works to keep you saved that you have if you believe this idea that if you are good at Ways you're bad then you get to go to heaven, that you get to have a relationship with God. The problem is that you can never be sure. You are always going to be under the weight of hopelessness against the onslaught of temptation that is the human experience. And so we need this better hope.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Drawing Nearer
Drawing Nearer
It is by this better hope that we draw nearer to God. Let's review quickly Hebrew 7:19.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Under the Levitical law it was only the priesthood who could approach God. That is what a priest is, sort of a liaison between God and Man.
Through Christ that changed
1 Peter 2:4-5 says the following
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
See through this hope in Christ we become the priesthood. The theological terms for this are the priesthood of the believer or the Royal Priesthood if you will. If you were to look through history you will find that one of the Christian doctrines that was most persecuted by the Catholic Church was this doctrine of the priesthood of the believer. And that should be no surprise because it's a great threat to power for common people to be able to bypass the church and have direct access to God.
Now I want you to follow this: Christians are a priesthood, a holy priesthood, and our high priest is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is priest after the order of Melchizedek.
A Claimed Hope
A Claimed Hope
I would probably out of caution stop short of saying that our priesthood is an under priesthood in that same order of Melchizedek but I want to close with some thing that should give you hope.
See, we share with Christ we read in verse 16.
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
You and I become the recipients of endless life. Not because of our adherence to carnal commandment, But rather by our faith in Jesus Christ our high priest.
There is only one way to enter into this Priesthood It's not by birth, this isn't like the Levitical priesthood where you're born into it. Now it's often been said that there are no such thing as second-generation Christians.
The only way to enter into the priesthood of the believer is to be a believer. If you examine your heart know that you do not measure up to God standard. If you will repent, meaning to confess and turn away from your sins, and put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your savior, as your high priest. And you will be saved. The weight of the curse of the law that is hanging around your neck will be canceled.
My hope is that if you've heard this message this morning and you have not put your faith in Christ that you will see me after we close in prayer in just one minute if you're watching from home if you would send a message through Facebook or some other means, let's have a conversation. I would love to tell you more about my savior. We aren't promised tomorrow so I hope that you make the decision to follow Christ today.
Let’s Pray