The Perfected Son who Perfects Us (Outline)

Hebrews 7:11 “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?”

Hebrews 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.”

Hebrews 7:25 “25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Hebrews 7:28 “28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”

This Passage

Perfection = Completion

High Priest = Mediate between God and man

Complete/Perfect One (High Priest) vs. Imperfect Ones

Illustration: “Perfect practice makes perfect” will not work here. Only a Perfect One can perfect the imperfect ones.

What is the goal of this sermon?

The goal of this sermon is to exhort people to actively draw near to the perfected One who alone can complete them.

Why is this goal needed?

This goal is needed because in our fallen condition we sense our nakedness and restlessness, out we try to fill these imperfections by turning to insufficient substitutes.

Big Idea:

We must trust in the perfected Christ who is perfecting those who are drawing near to God through Him.

Preview:

What does it mean that we’re not perfect?

How did Jesus become the perfected Son?

Who gets to participate in this perfecting process and how?

(1) What does it mean that we’re not perfect?

Hebrews 6:20 introduction to Melchizedek

Genesis 14 background - Abraham 318 servants

The blessing of Melchizedek upon Abraham

Melchizedek is: King of Salem, Priest of the most High God.

Abraham tithes of the spoils

Hebrews = or > 1900 years later reflecting

Hebrews 7:1-3 “1 For this Melchisedec, 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 by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”

Melchizedek = King of righteousness and King of peace

Summarizes what was lost in the Garden of Eden w/Adam & Eve (explanation)

Nakedness & Restlessness

Definition and application of Imperfect:

It is the loss of security and the loss of peace that makes mankind to be imperfect. To be imperfect is to be incomplete is to be missing some kind of trait or attribute or to have some kind of imbalance that makes us whole.

Illustration: How are describe perfection today.

Life today, in pursuit of these two things.

Imperfection requires a Mediator (priest)

Worst part of imperfection (before God)

Ill: Isaiah said, "I am ruined..."

App:

Do you see and know this about yourself - That before God you are ruined? That the reason you seek security and peace in other people and things is because you have a need for covering up and for peace?

Melchizedek

Abraham worships him through tithe

See Hebrews 7:4 “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.” The tithe of all Abraham had won as the spoils of war,

App:

The extreme thoughts about the tithe

The Legal Extreme: There are a few extremes when we begin to talk about the tithe. There is the extreme that sees this as a legal obligation. This person fears that God, as a police officer will stop and punish you if you don't pay.

The Liberty Extreme: Then, there is the liberty extreme. This person sees that the law has no bearing upon them.

Both are wrong in some way: The good news is that both of them are wrong in some way. The legal extreme misses love as the primary motivation and gives out of fear of punishment. The liberty extreme misses that Abraham lived pre-law and was giving in recognition of the worth of the PERSON.

Where should we land on tithe?

All should be giving

All should be giving of what they've gained. (Consider Abraham)

All giving should be in light of the value of who we are giving to.

All giving should be in light of the grace received. (Meaning that under guard 10% should be a starting point) - Hebrews 7:6-7. The blessing came first.

We who have a greater High priest in Jesus, One who has covered the imperfection of our nakedness with his righteousness and the imperfection of our restlessness with peace with God should see Him as worthy of faithful, regular contribution to the body of Christ.

Transition:

Answer: To be imperfect is to be naked and restless before God. It is to be missing both righteousness and peace. Now, I've already told you that Jesus meets the need of these imperfections, but how? He had to become the perfected Son.

(2) How did Jesus become the perfected Son? (v. 28)

First, we need to understand what it means that Jesus was consecrated or perfected. If to be imperfect is mankind lacking righteousness and peace, then there are three major things that the Son of God must do in order to be made perfect.

The Son of God must become a man

The Son of God must fulfill righteousness in his human state

The Son of God must be at perfect peace with God in his human state

*He was righteous and peace in his divine person, but he had to become this as fully human.

How does Jesus do all of this?

Answer: Jesus becomes the Perfected Son by obtaining righteousness and peace through His priesthood.

He fulfilled the priesthood that was expected historically and legally

Let's outline the argument of the author,

Melchisedec is greater than Abraham -v.7- 4-6

Melchisedec is greater than Levi -v.7- 10

Melchizedek's priesthood order was greater than Levi v.11-21

Jesus is the greater priest based on better covenant - one not dependent upon dying men- V.22-24 (according to oath)

Jesus is not a connection biologically but supernaturally.

How did Jesus fulfill this righteousness and obtain this peace?

Two things seen in verses 25-28. Answer:

He lived sinlessly and

died sacrificially.

In his life he fulfills righteousness and in his death he secures peace.

This makes him to be the perfect High priest who can cover our nakedness and calm our restlessness before God.

App:

Any misconceptions we have about finding Security and rest should be uprooted by this truth

Our security should not rest in knowing our selves first but in knowing Christ and ourselves through Christ.

Self-righteousness has a shelf limit.

The peace the world offers is different than what Jesus offers.

So, if Jesus has secured this righteousness and peace who gets perfected and how?

(3) Who gets to participate in this perfecting process and how? (v. 25)

(a) Notice that Jesus saves to the uttermost -

This means that He saves to completion, so this gives us the truth that salvation has a starting point, a process, and a completion. Because Jesus is this great High Priest, he is able to save completely.

But who?

(b) Jesus is able to save those who come unto God

The verb come is a present active verb meaning that the author is saying Jesus is able to save to completion those who are in the active coming to God through Jesus Christ.

Confirms that salvation has a starting point, a process, and a completion.

But, is this just a matter of praying? Does Those who are drawing close to God mean that Jesus saves those who pray? Not necessarily.

(c) To be drawing near to God by Jesus means that these are those who are drawing near based on the righteousness and peace that this High Priest has provided.

Answer:

Only those who are drawing near because their nakedness is covered by Jesus righteousness....

Only those who are drawing near because their restlessness before God has been replaced with Jesus’ peace with God...

Illustration: Polar Express; not you had a ticket but have a ticket...

You see, when you got saved, you were covered. When you got saved, you were given rest. But because you are being saved, you are continually trusting in Jesus’ righteousness and Jesus’ peace. The alternative is to get saved, and then revert back to trusting in your own righteousness and whatever you can do to get peace.

App:

So, today, are you drawing near to God based on Jesus’ righteousness or your good moral decisions, your political position, your hard work ethic, your identity in the work place, your disciplined living/self-confidence?

Are you drawing near to God on the basis of Jesus’ peace or are you trying to feel at rest by what you can control or what you can do?

Illustration:

How do you know that you are drawing near to God based on the righteousness of Jesus and the peace of Jesus with God?

Matthew 5:6 “6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:9 “9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

Jesus has clothed our nakedness with his righteousness so that now we could pursue a life of righteousness

Jesus has given us peace with God so we could now pursue peace with others.

Through Jesus’ priesthood, he has made us a holy priesthood so that we can mediate Christ’s righteousness and peace to the nations.

How are you doing with that?

Conclusion:

Really, the underlying thread of this whole chapter is that Jesus is this Greater High Priest, who now is interceding on our behalf. What does that mean? It means that He is alive and constantly presenting his own righteousness and the peace with God that He earned as ours too.

If Jesus has done that for 2,000 years, how much longer will he do that?

Well, He is the High Priest who will never die. So, He will do this until the salvation is complete.

If the underlying thread is this great High Priest who is righteousness and is peace, how did He make this available to those who are drawing near now?

He did so by being made sin for us. The righteous one became sin for us. This is what Martin Luther called the Great Exchange. He earned righteousness for us through his live, but then became sin and was treated as the unrighteous one?

How did the Prince of Peace earn peace with God for us?

His peace was broken. He endured restlessness so that we might gain peace.

It is in this way that the Son became the Perfected One who is now perfecting those who are drawing near to God by Him.