Hebrews 7 (Jesus is sufficient) (2)

Hebrews 7 (Jesus is sufficient)

Big Idea: We need to be Christ sufficient not self-sufficient the sufficiency of Christ

Engage (work on this more)

-How do we get to God? Our culture gives us many ideas about multiple ways to know and experience God,

-there are so many different religions out there that say, we have it figured out; we are right. If you have ever heard of universalism then that belief is that all people make it to heaven? It sounds pretty good does it not?

- another popular view is that if you’re a good person you can get to heaven (do enough things, self-reliance) only through Jesus,

- how much pressure does this put on a person?? Even if you do a lot of good things, it never feels like enough.

-but what scripture tells us is that the only way to God is through Jesus. The God of Christianity is a relational God! Unlike other religions, there is no relationship involved. But! Since our God is relational, He set up the priesthood and tabernacle to be able to dwell amongst his people. Yet, these point forward to something greater which Jesus fulfills

-today, we are going to explore why we need to be Christ-sufficient and not self-sufficient as it is how we can get to God! Be in a relationship with him. the example that scripture gives us is found in the 7th chapter of Hebrews.

- before i get into the text, there will be a lot of contrasting the Melchizedekian priesthood and the Levitical priesthood. The writer builds his argument from using Melchizedek as a type of Christ.

-you can turn with me to Hebrews chapter 7. It is after Philemon and before James

Instruct (read as I go)

V.1-10, Melchizedek, foreshadows Christ’s work

- (v.1) there is an important note to make in this first verse, Melchizedek is a priest-king. Important to note this because these were 2 major offices or positions that people held in the old testament. For priests, they had the role of interceding for the people, Kings also did that but in a more prominent position as helping guide Israel.

Continue and read verses 1-2

-(v.2) names are significant so this Melchizedek was a king of righteousness and king of peace. This points forward to Jesus. Peace with God (Shalom) is based upon the righteousness of God!

Continue to read verse 3

-(v.3) so here, the writer links Melchizedek to Jesus, how are they similar? Melchizedek is presented in Genesis as having no genealogy (in the story in genesis 15, he seems to appear out of nowhere, when normally, Biblical writers connect people to genologies), therefore, he resembles the eternal nature of Jesus. Now, he is not eternal like Jesus but he “resembles” Jesus.

Continue to read verse 4-7

-(v.4), 2 ways we see Melchizedek as superior to Abraham, first in the giving a “tenth” or his tithe to Melchizedek is important, Because the status of the Melchizedekian priesthood is superior to Levi who descended from Abraham (v.6)

-a tenth of the spoils or any plunder was to be given to God first, this was part of the priest’s role. This tithe would be set apart.

-second (v.7), the lesser is blessed by the greater. So in case we missed the point, the writer kindly states the center of these first 10 verses. Melchizedek being greater, mediated a blessing to the lesser who was Abraham and the priesthood which came from his line (levites)

-the writer is building his argument well, but he continues to go back to the same language of the eternal nature of the priest-hood of Jesus. words like eternal, forever, but here in the following verses, “declared to be living”

Continue to read 8-10

-Here we can see a contrast between Levi, the priesthood which came from Abraham and the priesthood which came from Melchizedek.

- (v.8) those from the line of Levi who were priests ended up dying, so there is a temporary nature to that priesthood. , Now Melchizedek (talk about how he still was human, but based on scripture he was without genealogy, he seems to just appear out of nowhere which the writer of Hebrews uses to explain a eternal aspect)

-what we know from Jesus is that he is seated at the right hand, he is reigning and ruling now as our priest-king! If we let this truth sink in, then shouldn’t we rely on Jesus more? He is the only way to get to the father.

- (v.8) “by him who is declared to be living” (Romans 6:9) “for we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery overhim”

Continue to read 11

-the writer continues to build his argument, Why was there still another priest to come?

-the priesthood which was established was just temporary. As we see from the garden. God has always made a way to be in relationship with his people. He is a relational God. (i will be their God, they will be my people and I will walk among them)

-it was never designed to forgive sins fully (once and for all), it does not transform human beings to be made alive again (through the spirit). Perfection is an eschatological reality (end times), so logically a human priest could not live long enough to present humanity to God (this is why there needed to be a greater priest in Jesus from the line of Melchizedek)

Continue to read 12-14

-Here the writer makes the argument that the Levitical priesthood could not provide the means of salvation. The reference to the law here is to show how foreshadowed Christ’s fulfillment of it. All of the old testament promises and symbols point forward to Christ!

-Paul uses the law in Romans to show how without it we would have no idea that we have sinned (it’s on our conscious). But through our own good works, we cannot save ourselves (we are imperfect beings). Thus, we needed another to come and take our place. If the Levitical priesthood was not good enough, then what is?

- Imagine if we had to continue to sacrifice pure animals today for our sins? I would be broke haha

-but thankfully we do not have to do that any longer. We Have a priest who makes a sufficient sacrifice once and for all!! Is that not great news? We do not need to be self-sufficient in that we do enough good deeds to earn God’s love, but we can trust in Christ’s work and that is sufficient to restore us into a relationship with God.

-his priesthood is from the eternal order, God established the line of Judah (verse 14) but the writer wants to bring to mind the kingly aspect as well. Jesus Christ served in two offices (add more here)

which is not made by human hands. The Levitical priesthood was temporary as it foreshadowed Jesus Christ

Let’s continue on into verses 15-19

- (v.16) here is that language again of eternality “based on the power of an indestructible life” Jesus is forever seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. The superior nature of Jesus’s priesthood is evident as he conquered death, the Levitical priesthood couldn’t as they were mortal! The priests kept on dieing and had to get someone to succeed them

-(v.18) Here again the writer interjects so we do not miss the main point, The sufficiency of Christ and his priesthood (from the Melchizedek line) in contrast to the Levitical priesthood (weak and useless, couldn’t make things perfect)

-the priesthood, sacrificial system and atonement put into place by God were temporary. There needed to be a perfect lamb that had the complete ability to save. What ability is this complete ability? The writer will expand this theme in the following verses.

(V.19) is important because this is the gospel. Through Jesus, we can be in a relationship with God (this is how we get to God!). We can come with boldness before the throne (that anchor, remember from last week?), this is first mentioned in Hebrews 4:16.

- But Jesus is our better hope. This is why we can trust him to save. Trusting ourselves is natural as it is ingrained in our society (the other religions are based on this too, its about doing). But when we are self-sufficient it leads to disappointment because we never feel as if we measure up enough. But those who put their hope in Jesus will never be disappointed.

Lets continue in verses 20-21

-Remember from last week? When God says something, he comes through with his promises. The oath he swore was to himself as he is the greatest in the universe.

-for the Levitical priesthood there was no oath given for it, meaning it would be obsolete. Jesus’s priesthood on the other hand lives on forever (the promise made to Judah). And this is confirmed by Gods word! Is that not awesome?

-Psalm 110:4 is important for this “The lord has sworn not to change his mind, you are a priest forever”

-Continuing on in verse 22

-we can have the assurance that Christ’s work is sufficient because of the new covenant that he brings. I will not go into detail as Pastor Micah will be explaining all that it entails (just a little teaser). But a main point of the new covenant is the everlasting forgiveness which is given! No condemnation

-but here we see the superiority of Jesus! all of these Old Testament promises of blessing, priesthood, covenant, and temple are all fulfilled by Christ!

-the writer spends a good chunk of time on this because the original audience they were tempted to drift away, back to their religious mindset. Yes, it is important to do good, but the self-righteous mindset does not lead to lasting hope. We can build our lives on the priesthood of Christ as our priest-king because of his sufficient work, these last verses drive this point home.

Let’s continue in verses 23-25

-How great is that word! “he is able to save completely those who come to God through him”

-I have already been hinting at it, but here the text makes it explicit, why is his priesthood superior? “He always lives to intercede for them”

-this is the best news humanity could hear. With our inability to save ourselves, we can fully rely on and trust in Jesus to save us. He can present to us before the father. Because Jesus defeated death, we do not have to worry about that anymore!

-He is the ultimate priest-king who is forever interceding on our behalf.

(Rev 1:18) “I am a the living one; i was dead, and now look, i am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys of death and Hades”

Verses 26-28

-(v.26) Now how is Jesus able to save completely? Verse 26 tells us that he is Holy, blameless, pure and set apart from sinners.

-Since Jesus added humanity to his human nature, he acted as a new Adam, where Adam failed, Christ succeeded. He lived a sinless life and died and rose again 3 days later.

- and because of that, the righteousness of Christ is imparted to us through faith alone in Christ. The technical term for this in theology is called justification. Picture a judge with a gavel. When we have faith in Jesus Christ we then are declared not guilty before God the father.

-honestly, I do not have to give much comment as the verses speak for themselves, but i want us to focus and really let these words sink in.

- continue reading (v.27-28)

-“he offered himself”this is a key theme in scripture, First made explicit in Isaiah 53 with Jesus as the suffering servant but spoken in the gospels in Mark 10:45 “for the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life for the ransom of many”

-This is our God who we serve! He freely offered himself to redeem humanity,

-but a question that I always like to remind myself and reflect on is how am i serving others? Paul says we are to be imitators of Christ!

Convict/Inspire

Transition: Now, it is important that we take what we have learned from the passage and apply it, How are we able to get to God??

- Unable to do it because we are sinful beings, “we all like sheep have gone astray, all have turned to their own way, but God laid upon him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6) Jesus was the spotless lamb which provided a sufficient sacrifice for all of humanity.

- Why as humans do we think we need to earn God’s love? Lets have some confession, I have fallen into to mindset at times in my Christian walk (its part of our human nature to please). This self-righteous mindset leads to a heavy burden of just never feeling like you measure up enough, but Jesus says my “Yolk is easy” (Matthew 11:30). He has taken our guilt and burdens away when we believe in him!

- the gospel says, you have been delivered from sin! Nothing out of your own work but by God’s grace and mercy. An example is found in (Exodus 20, and the ten commandments)

- But also in Ephesians 2:8-9 “for it is by grace you have been saved through faith, it is not from yourselves but a gift from God-not by works so that no one can boast”

- These are powerful texts, but they are in scripture to help us to get our of that religious mindset and trust God. Christ paid it all (like that hymn), this is why we can be Christ sufficient and do not have to be self-sufficient and stake our lives on it.

Inspire

- Tell a story about understanding my worth in Jesus (elaborate), and how I used to be really self-righteous. I thought the more I did more to God the more he would love me. Honestly thinking like that was exhausting. I always thought I had to prove myself to everyone as well because I’m a people pleaser.

- I still struggle with this from time to time, (add more)

- I hope that today church, we can rest and have peace in the sufficient work of Christ!! Not in our self-sufficiency

- The only way to get to God is through Jesus, the eternal priest-king, no one else is able to

- I challenge you this week to take some time and reflect on Jesus and his work as our high priest. Isa 53 is a good passage to read, also Leviticus 16

Let us pray!