Better Than We Realize (manuscript)

App: Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what’s in front of us that we don’t see the greater - Life on earth can be pretty amazing, but we are meant for something better than things as they currently are...

What is the goal of the sermon?

To convince the hearers that what Christ mediates is far better than anything else.

Why is this goal needed?

Because trying circumstances reveal how often to live like the replica is most valuable.

Did you live this week as if what mattered most was invisible or eternal?

Because trying circumstances reveal how we tend to trust in the goodness of mankind.

How much faith do you have in the goodness of mankind?

Because there is something better that is completely available but only through Christ.

If you had access to the ultimate solution for living life well in a broken world, would you want it? Would you reach for it?

How will you go about to accomplish this goal?

Preview: By showing that the replica is evidence of the real, but that it is worse than the real. By showing that the real is better because of divine promises which Christ, as the better High Priest, mediates to us.

(1) The replica is evidence of the real (8:1-7)

(a) A Clarifying Statement (v. 1-2) - Exodus 25:40

(v. 1 - 2) The author gives a clarifying summary. Jesus is the high priest, according to the order of Melchizedek. He is exalted to the right hand of God. Second, Jesus Christ is the servant of the sanctuary of the true tabernacle. By tabernacle, the author is calling to memory the tent set up in the wilderness. To say that Jesus is serving in the true tabernacle means that it is the real tabernacle which the earthly one represented. This heavenly tabernacle is one that was erected by God.

To those who are not familiar with the tabernacle, in the Old Covenant times, when Moses went to the top of Mt. Sinai to retrieve the 10 Commandments, the Bible teaches that He received a pattern for the Tabernacle. Exodus 25:40 “40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.”

Dwelling of God

This tabernacle was set up on earth as the place where God would come to dwell among his people, and the high priest would offer the daily and annual sacrifices.

(b) Function of the H.P. & Evidence of the True (v. 3-5)

(v. 3-5) The author recounts the work that was done in the replica. I have referred to this as a replica because, it was patterned after the one that is in Heaven. Notice that the high priests on earth were to offerings according to the law — all of this was to serve as a shadow of heavenly things.

App:

(i) Doubters should think carefully

We should remember that the temporary, in this instance, is actually a replica of what is real. There are a few ways to consider this:

(a) Historically, one cannot deny the massive amounts of historical evidence that supports the Jewish history, the use of the Tabernacle and Temple (including Solomon’s Temple), the historical figures who lived as leaders and priests of the nation of Israel.

Illustration: Trip to Tunis

(b) Practically, the existence, in particular, of the Tabernacle, the sacrificial system, the priesthood is very real but is it just the whimsical, elaborate thought of mankind? Would mankind have come up with this kind of system where sin can be paid for by way of substitute? You see, mankind has come up with systems. In their systems, there are people sacrifices to satisfy the wrath of God. In their systems there are animal sacrifices to appease a God of anger. But that is not exactly what we have here. In the Tabernacle, we have a God who wants to actually be with his people, to save his people, to be merciful to his people so it is a system of sacrificial substitute with a person who can mediate between the two — called the High Priest. There are other religions that may look the same, but when you look at the details, you see that they are completely different. People who make arguments saying that the Jewish system is the same as the system in Ur of the Chaldees or in Mesopotamia, are simply not looking at the details of the religions.

If this Tabernacle and High Priest system is historically verifiable and practically distinct, where did it come from. The author here is telling is that it is a pattern of the true. One of the ways you know that Heaven is real, the presence of God is real, sin is real, Christ is real is by taking a thoughtful look at the things that are seen — in this case, the existence of the earthly tabernacle and the earthly High priest.

Answer/Meaning of Point: The replica is evidence of the real. This means that the earthly tabernacle, sacrificial system, and high priests were only copies of the TRUE in Heaven.

So, to the doubting ones, you are not merely doubting what you cannot see. You are doubting what is more real than what you can see.

Illustration: You see the trail, but you deny the destination. You are treating this like it’s some legend of Lucky Charms where you see the rainbow but deny the existence of the pot of gold; but it is no fairy tail. The evidence of the material does not deny the reality of the immaterial but it is the exact opposite...

You are actually doubting the true/the real by not taking time to ask, “Why does the replica even exist?” “What does the replica point me to?”

Many don’t believe it, not because they are thoughtful, but because they are emotional and do not want to believe.

Romans 1:18-20 says as much about the importance of creation. The visible creation points to us about the reality of the invisible God.

To the Christian who is tempted to love this world, tempted to return to religious moralism, tempted to quite because of hardship...the danger for us is to live like the replica is ultimate or the best, and we do this when we do not take time to reflect upon, consider, mediate upon the reality of God, Heaven, Jesus Christ. We do this when we seek pleasure for pleasures sake rather than seek pleasure for God’s sake. We do this when we allow our temporary lusts to speak louder in our hearts than the eternal word of God. We do this when we are so invested in this life that we cannot give ourselves for the purpose for which we have this life. Our immediate decisions for fast gratification often comes at the expense of serving Christ through serving the body.

Illustration: Is it not immature children who are thinking about getting the candy first, tasting the candy first, getting in line before others; but the mature Christian sees the value in laying down so that others can go first, in serving so that others can be edified.

Worse still, we have learned how to use the temporal as an excuse to not serve the eternal. We have learned how to use the temporary as a way to get out of feeling godly sorrow for not serving that to which the temporary points to.

Transition: Certainly, the existence of the tabernacle and high priest should point us to the true. We should also consider why the replica is worse than the real and why.

(2) The replica is worse than the real (8:7;8-9)

(a) The Second Covenant Covenant brings the Real to the place of the Replica (v. 7-9)

(v. 7) A first and second covenant connection is made.

The Old Covenant replica was worse the real for one primary reason.

(v. 8) See v. 8. The replica involved mankind who had faults.

Illustration: Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board - Executive Director Nina Jankowicz

The heavenly true involved the perfect God. Consequently God makes a promise of a second covenant to come,

in Jeremiah 31:31-34 “31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.”

Answer/Meaning of Point: The fault in the replica was not with God, but the fault was with mankind.

App:

(i.) Caution about Faith in Self...

We should be careful not to trust in ourselves. At our best, we are full of faults. We make promises that we often cannot keep. We cave in under pressure. We give in to temptation. Any form of religion that places faith in self, it bound to fail because we are not infinite beings.

(ii) Christian neglect shows your faith in self.

Christians too, we should not assume that we are immune to this. Every day you wake up and attempt to endure that day without a habit of time in the word, time in prayer, time in meditation upon Christ…we are declaring functionally that we are ok, and that we have trust in ourselves.

Let this be a reminder that, while mankind has many good, creative qualities that resemble the good God, we are sinners who fail to keep covenant.

Illustration: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are two talented, creative individuals…but there has been and exposure of what makes them quite imperfect.

Transition: So, what does God do? Remember that the chief distinction between the replica and the real is that one is in Heaven with the perfect God, and the other on earth with imperfect mankind. God gives something better based on better promises.

(3) The real is better because of divine promises (8:10-13)

In each of the promises of this new covenant, we are made more aware of what needed to happen.

(a) Better ‘cause healing of our deepest corruption…(v. 10-11)

(v. 10-11) He will heal our deepest corruption that makes us incapable of faithfulness to Him. Notice that how this is internal versus external. Manmade religion often begins with the external behavior. Notice that this is complete — addressing the thoughts, the very center of man in the heart. Notice the phrase “I will be their God”. This latter phrase implies that this new covenant will reorient our worship to Him. “And they shall be my people” - shows how deeply intimate this is that God would claim us as his own.

“God does not merely speak to us or offer terms of life through the preaching of the gospel. God really and effectually renews the mind to understand the gospel, renews the heart to believe it, and renews the will to desire and respond to God.” - Beeke, Puritan Theology

(b) Better ‘cause we will know the Lord (v. 11)

In addition, (v. 11) shows the extent of this true relationship and inner working. We will know the Lord. Rather than remaining in darkness, we will be in relationship with Him in this new covenant; and it is not only for the least but also for the greatest.

Do you see what is conspicuously missing from this new covenant? Because mankind is the one who is unable to fulfill his part in the first covenant, God says that He will do all of these things.

Answer/Meaning: Each of these “I will” statements are promises, and they are better because they exclude fallen mankind.

But what exactly is he talking about?

(i) Jesus coming to earth?

There are a couple of options here. First, some of you may immediately answer that He is talking about sending Jesus to earth, but that is only partly true, and if we don’t think carefully, we will miss something more than just Jesus coming to earth.

(ii) The New Birth

The language here, of the Hebrews author and the New Covenant, is the language of the New Birth. Scholars have referred to this as the doctrine of regeneration. Regeneration is the work of God’s Holy Spirit to bring life where there is death. In the story of Nicodemus, it is what it means to be born again.

John 3:8 “8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 1:13 “13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

So, in one sense, yes, the writer is referring to Jesus Christ coming to earth; but there is more. Now that Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of the Father, there is the dawning of a new time in which God giving new hearts to those who have the Son. And, these individuals do not need to enter through an earthly Tabernacle, but they have direct access through the Son.

Transition:

The replica is evidence of the real. The replica is worse than the real. The real is better because of divine promises. The real promises are mediated to us by the better High Priest...

(4) The real promises are mediated to us by the better High Priest (8:6)

I said to you that these promises are better because they exclude faulty mankind, but it was still necessary for humanity to live up to God’s expectation. How did that happen? Jesus, is that High Priest who now mediates a better covenant established on better promises.

You say, how can I get a new heart, a new mind, a new life? There is only One Source. A Mediator is an arbitrator or a go-between. This new life is only given to those who have believed in Jesus and called upon Jesus as Lord.

Now I must be honest with you. There are some who think that this is an act of manipulation that you can do.

(1) To those who feel no inclination but you have a concern, you must know that the Holy Spirit will not be manipulated.

(2) To others of you, you do believe that you are a sinner, and that Jesus Christ has paid for your sin; but you have not called upon the Lord as a confession of your faith. Romans 10:13 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

What are you waiting for?

(3) To frustrated Christians — frustrated with the battle against sin, the balance in life, the sinful thoughts…etc, You can do two things:

(1) Esteem what you have in Christ as better than anything else in your life

(2) Discipline yourself, in the strength of His Spirit, to make choices that reveal faith.

Give yourself to the spiritual disciplines. Say yes to serving the body through hospitality, congregational singing, faithful church attendance, nursery, children’s ministry, VBS…etc.

Did you live this week as if what mattered most was invisible or eternal?

I still have not answered how Jesus mediates this better covenant, but it is real simple. Jesus mediated this New Covenant:

(1) By being treated as unfaithful and faulty, for the truly unfaithful and faulty.

(2) We get new minds because Jesus was mentally pressed beyond measure.

(3) We get new hearts because Jesus’ heart was crushed.

(4) We get to belong to God because Jesus was forsaken by God.

In short, hear the words of Jesus regarding this new covenant, “the same night in which he was betrayed took bread…said, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you:…This cup is the new covenant in my blood...”

Answer/Meaning: The Son was birthed, broken, and excluded so you could be birthed, spared, and included.

Conclusion:

What we have in Jesus Christ is better than we realize.

But the more we realize what we have in Him, the more we love Him. The more we love him, the more we can endure by faith in this life.

Response Questions:

If you are the doubter, have you carefully considered (as opposed to purely emotionally) why the replica exists?

If you have believed that Jesus is Lord, have you confessed this truth to God?

If you have confessed this truth to God, have you confessed this truth through open baptism?

If you are a true Christian, then are you living in in light of the TRUE or the replica? What does you life reveal?

Link Tree:

I am a doubter, but I would like to know more about the truth.

I have chosen to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord, and have confessed this to God today.

I need to be baptized.

I am praying that the Lord will help me to live in the light of the true.

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