Everything We Needed

It’s Easter. You might likely expect me to read a passage today from the gospels that tells the story of Christ’s resurrection. But since as a church we have been going through the book of Hebrews all during the season of Lent, I am going to end that series today with a passage that comes from the end of Hebrews. And, yes, it also mentions the resurrection of Jesus. What I like about this passage from Hebrews is that it frames the resurrection of Jesus as something which has an immediate, right-now effect on our lives.

Hebrews 13:15–16 NIV

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Hebrews 13:20–21 NIV

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

For those of you who have been spending the last 40 days of lent reading through the entire book of Hebrews with us, I hope this has been an insightful journey. Hebrews is one of those books in the Bible from which we may be very familiar with a verse or a chapter here-and-there, but not many people have ever read it through completely. And we have seen over the weeks that a majority of Hebrews deals with this idea that Jesus has now become our great high priest mediating and interceding for us before the heavenly Father. It is no wonder, then, that much emphasis lands on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to provide atonement for the sins of God’s people.

Easter takes us one step past atonement for sin and points us to what happens next because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross

the resurrection of Jesus is a first fruits — Jesus was the first resurrection which now places all of God’s creation on a trajectory of resurrection

But today is Easter. This is resurrection day. This is a day which focuses our attention on new life. In other words, Easter takes us one step past atonement for sin (which happened on the cross a few days back on Good Friday). This day points us to what happens next because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. What happens in resurrection? What was considered dead is now brought back to life. Jesus was considered dead after he hung on the cross, but death could not hold Jesus in the grave; he was brought back from death. The apostle Paul calls the resurrection of Jesus a first fruits. Meaning, Jesus was the first resurrection which now places all of God’s creation on a trajectory of resurrection. Resurrection is the outcome of the atonement which Jesus provided on the cross.

Even though the book of Hebrews focuses mostly on that atonement, the author of Hebrews does not leave out or ignore this resurrection result. These closing words in the final chapter point us in the direction of resurrection. I want us to see how the author of Hebrews frames this mention of resurrection in a way that applies it to us—the ones who read these words today. It is curious that Hebrews 13:20 is the only place in Hebrews that explicitly talks about the resurrection of Jesus. Sure, we can logically assume it all throughout the book—how else could Jesus be the one who is eternally interceding for us before the heavenly Father unless he rose from the dead? But only in this one verse at the end is the resurrection of Jesus specifically mentioned. I think that makes the context surrounding this single mention of resurrection rather important; we should be paying attention to what Hebrews tells us here about resurrection.

Let’s look at these few short verses and note a few features. And then let’s consider what this means for people like us today who come into this place and celebrate Easter. Here is the framework we will use that comes in these verses. There are two offerings, and there are two responses.

Two Offerings

There is quite a bit if attention in Hebrews given to the sacrifices that the priests offered up to God on behalf of the people. These sacrificial offerings cover two categories which come out of the instructions back in the book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. There are sin offerings, and there are thank offerings. The thank offering sometimes go by a few different names: peace offering, or praise offering. Here is the way those offerings are separate.

sin offering — sacrifice of atonement

The sin offering was a sacrifice given by the priest to make atonement for the sin of the people. We have spent a considerable amount of time in Hebrews talking about that already. It is this sin offering which Hebrews tells us has now been given once and for all by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. There is no longer a need to bring sin offerings before the Lord—that sacrifice is now complete in the new covenant because of Jesus.

thank offering — sacrifice of praise

sin offering is no longer required because of Jesus — but what the thank offering?

But let’s talk about that other offering—the thank offering. This was a separate sacrifice that the priest would offer up to God on behalf of the people. The thank offering was—as the name implies—a response of gratitude to God on account of forgiveness received from God. Hebrews tells us that the sin offering is no longer required because of Jesus. But what this other offering? What about sacrifices for the thank offering? Hebrews has so far said nothing about that—until here in Hebrews 13:15. It is this thank offering that is being referred to here as a sacrifice of praise.

Hebrews 13:15 NIV

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

still a place among the people of God to give the thank offering, because we are still people who respond to God with gratitude on account of forgiveness received from God

There is still a place among the people of God to give the thank offering, because we are still people who respond to God with gratitude on account of forgiveness received from God. And this makes sense; this is nothing new or surprising to us. The church has an opportunity every week for people to give an offering. And we have always said that the offering we take is an expression of gratitude to God for the blessings we have received from God. This has been a regular part of our church habit for generations.

no longer priests who occasionally offer this sacrifice to God — now it is the people of God who offer this sacrifice, not occasionally but continually

At the same time, there is something different. The offerings of the Old Testament were sacrifices of crops and animals offered up by the priests on behalf of the people. But now Hebrews tells us it is no longer priests who occasionally offer this sacrifice to God. Now it is us—the people of God—who offer this sacrifice, not occasionally but continually. How is it, then, that we as people of God live in ways that continually offer up to God sacrifices of praise? Look at the two responses mentioned right here in Hebrews.

Two Responses

Verses 15 & 16 tell us what these two responses are. The first is this: “the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” And the second is this: “to do good and to share with others.” Our response has something to do with what we say, and with what we do—it is in our words, and it is in our actions.

The fruit of lips that openly profess his name. This might need a little explanation. It is not as though if I just walked around all day audibly saying the name of Jesus out loud, that this somehow qualifies as continually offering a sacrifice of praise by openly professing his name. Rather, let me be picky about two words in particular: fruit, and name. Fruit is often used in the Bible as a metaphor what is produced. Just as crops produce a fruit, so we—the Bible says—also produce fruit. Jesus says in Matthew 7

Matthew 7:16–17 NIV

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

what we say — “fruit of lips that openly profess his name”

thankful words of gratitude produce gratitude and thanksgiving in others, angry words of bitterness produce bitterness and anger in others

sacrifice of praise offered to God takes shape in words which produce the fruit of gratitude and thanksgiving

The fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Our words produce fruit. The words that we say are part of the sacrifice of praise we offer up to God. Do your words produce good fruit which echo the thanksgiving and gratitude of a heart redeemed by God? Or do your words produce bad fruit which echo a heart of bitterness. Not to be overly moralistic about it, but maybe we can think of it this way; thankful words of gratitude produce gratitude and thanksgiving in others, angry words of bitterness produce bitterness and anger in others. What kind of fruit is produced in what you say to others? Is it bitter fruit? Or is it the fruit of gratitude? Our sacrifice of praise offered to God takes shape in words which produce the fruit of gratitude and thanksgiving.

professing the name of Jesus is using words which also affirm the meaning of Jesus’ name

And what we profess with our lips is the name of Jesus. Let’s remember something very important about names. Remember that in the Bible, names have meaning, and the meaning of names tell us something about the person who has the name. And so, to profess the name of Jesus is more than just saying his name. It is more than just telling other people that you are a Christian and that you believe in God. Professing the name of Jesus is using words which also affirm the meaning of Jesus’ name. The name Jesus literally means ‘savior.’ Do the words that I say affirm that my life is secure in Jesus? The name Christ literally means ‘anointed.’ Do the words I say affirm that Jesus holds the highest place of authority in my life? Our sacrifice of praise offered to God takes shape in words which affirm God truly for who God is and the place God holds within my life. That is one response; the words we say, the fruit of our lips.

what we do — “to do good and to share with others”

sacrifice of praise offered to God takes shape in doing good which echoes the good that God has done for us

The other response we see as our sacrifice of praise shows up in our actions, “to do good and to share with others.” It should not be difficult to identify what doing good looks like, because it is directly connected to a sacrifice of praise as a thank offering to God. If we are truly grateful to God for the forgiveness we have received from God, then we will be people who show forgiveness to others. If we are truly grateful to God for the grace we have received from God, then we will be people who are gracious toward others. If we are truly grateful to God for the mercy we have received from God, then we will be people who are merciful to others. If we are truly grateful to God for the generous blessing we have received from God, then we will be people who show generosity to others. You get the idea; this is not hard to figure out. Our sacrifice of praise offered to God takes shape in doing good which echoes the good that God has done for us.

Maybe this feels like a lot. You showed up for church on this Easter not expecting to hear this message that loads you down with all these things that we need to do as a sacrifice of praise offered to God. Let’s circle back to where this discussion began. Resurrection. Before we get too buried over in legalistic dos and don’ts, remember that the author of Hebrews ties all of this to resurrection.

Hebrews 13:20–21 NIV

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

what the resurrection of Jesus means for us right now

equipped with everything good for doing his will

Brought back from the dead. Resurrection. I know we often point to the resurrection of Jesus as the promise that secures our own resurrection, our own salvation. And that is all certainly true. The author of Hebrews takes the resurrection of Jesus and also gives it a much more immediate effect. It is because of the resurrection of Jesus that we are what? We are equipped with everything good for doing his will. The resurrection of Jesus equips us right here and now in this world to do God’s will. And we are not just partially equipped with some of what we need. Hebrews tells us that in Jesus we have everything we need to do his will. Everything we need.

live like people who are fully equipped with everything we need to be the church that God has called us in his will to be

I don’t want us to be arrogant about that, but let’s not sell ourselves short either. Maybe there are times when following God and living in his will seems unattainable. Maybe that feels like an overwhelming task and we just don’t have everything we need to do that. Nonsense! Because of the resurrection of Jesus we have been equipped with everything we need to do God’s will. Do you believe that? Then live like people who are fully equipped with everything we need to be the church that God has called us in his will to be.

resurrection leans forward

resurrection does not turn around and look backwards at what was left behind. Resurrection leans forward into the new being that is brought to life

There are two details to point out here which help us make the resurrection of Jesus have immediate effect in our lives today. The first detail is this. Remember that resurrection is new life. Everyone loves the idea of new resurrection life; nobody loves the idea of dying in order to get there. If there is no death, then there can be no resurrection. Jesus only achieved resurrection because he first went to the grave. Resurrection does not turn around and look backwards at what was left behind. Resurrection leans forward into the new being that is brought to life.

our goal is not to go back to something that once was — our goal is to go forward to where God is leading with new life

Those of us who live here and now in the power of Christ’s resurrection do so leaning forward into the new being that is brought to life in us. Our focus is not on turning around and looking backwards. For resurrection people, the only thing behind us is the grave. We lean forward as resurrection people always looking ahead to the new life we have in Jesus. Our goal is not to go back to something that once was. Our goal is to go forward into where God is leading with new life.

we are equipped by God altogether as God’s church

‘you’ in verse 21 is plural, not singular

Here is the other detail which helps us make the resurrection of Jesus have immediate effect in our lives today. The ‘you’ in verse 21 is plural, not singular. Hebrews tells us that God will equip you with everything good to do his will. That’s not just you as in only you. That’s collective; it’s we, it’s us. We tend to be pretty individualistic people in our culture. Maybe you read that verse and think, I don’t feel like God has equipped me with everything I need to do his will. And you are exactly right about that, because it is not an ‘I’ or ‘me’ thing. It is an ‘us’ thing. You all by yourself are not equipped with everything you need to do God’s will. But altogether as God’s church, we are equipped with everything we need to do God’s will.

the resurrection of Jesus equips a people, not individuals

the only way we can do the will of God is together with each other

Here is what that means for us today. The full potential of living today in the power of Christ’s resurrection only happens in community. The resurrection of Jesus equips a people, not individuals. If you want to plug into the resurrection of Jesus with effect in your life right now, then you have to be in community with God’s people. We need each other. The resurrection of Jesus gives us the gift of community together. Here is what that really means. The only way we can do the will of God is together with each other. Whatever it is that you lack in order to do the will of God, somebody else here has it. And here is the most important part. You have been equipped by God with something that the rest of us here all need. Do not believe for a single moment that you have nothing of value to offer God’s people here. Because of the resurrection of Jesus you have been equipped. And because you have been equipped you have something to offer as your sacrifice of praise to do God’s will. And we cannot do it without you, just as you cannot do it without us.

This is the way we have been equipped by God to do his will. This is the way we are called by God to be a community together. This is what the resurrection of Jesus looks like in the church today. This is our sacrifice of praise offered in gratitude to God for the salvation we have in Jesus.