Perfection Commands And Real Struggle

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Hello and welcome to the Westside Church's special podcast.

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Go ahead and turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 8 and get comfortable in the book of Hebrews. We are going to be there pretty much exclusively. So be in Hebrews and be ready to look at several passages in Hebrews. But before we get there, I want to bring up a couple of other scriptures that pose great challenges to every single one of us. Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Be holy in all of your conduct. How are you doing in that? Because chances are you look at those things and you look at your life and you think, boy, I'm struggling with every one of those verses. You know, you've read Matthew 5 and you know like I've got to get lust out of my heart, and so I'm doing good. And, you know, then I watch a college football game and they focus on the cheerleaders, and like, oh man, well, unless you're a Texas AM fan, I guess you're okay then. You know, you you're you're dealing with envy, and so you know, you think I'm gonna pray for my enemies. I'm not gonna I'm not gonna think bad about them anymore, and you get on Instagram again, and that girl posts again, I just can't stand her. And I go, there I go again. I'm I'm I'm not being holy in all my conduct. You're angry at the preacher for poking fun at Texas AM. Saw you. The reality is on our own, we're not making it. We're not fulfilling any of these passages. Because no matter how much we want, and no matter how devoted we are, we keep finding ourselves falling short. And that's why the truth that you can stand on, the truth that we're looking at as we conclude today, is the truth that the Hebrew writer wanted his audience to know, is that we've got somebody on our side. We've got, I think I skipped ahead too far. Which way do you there we go? All

The Main Point: We Have A High Priest

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right. We have a high priest. Hebrews 8 and verse 1. Now, the point in what we are saying is this we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. You know, it's great when an author says, okay, here's the point. Some of you are being tasked this summer, read this book and write for us what the point of this is. And you're reading Silas Marner, and you're like, I don't know. Well, the Hebrew writer says, here's the point. You have a high priest, it is Jesus. And why is that so significant? Well, let's look at what else Hebrews says about him. And by the way, if you get nothing out of this, I hope you'll just go home and read Hebrews. Hebrews is one of the most encouraging letters in all the New Testament because it tells you what Jesus is doing and doing for you now. So look back at

Confidence To Draw Near

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Hebrews chapter 4. We're going to look at these two passages really quickly. We're going to read them both because the point that the Hebrew writer is making is astounding. So Hebrews 4, Hebrews 4, and begin in verse 14, since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God. Let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Let us draw near then with confidence. Hebrews 10. Hebrews 10. Go over just a few pages. Hebrews 10. And notice what he says in verse 19. Hebrews 10 and verse 19. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God. Now, just

Why Approaching God Felt Dangerous

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think about this for a second. So the Hebrew letter is written to Hebrews. It is written to Jewish Christians. If you're a Jewish Christian, what do you think about approaching God? Think about that for a second. Alright, so if you're a Jewish Christian, then you probably know your Old Testament pretty well. And you remember back in the book of Exodus when God said to Moses, hey, when you bring my people out of the land, I want you to bring them back to this mountain. That's exactly what Moses does. Exodus chapter 19, they make their way back to Mount Sinai. And do you remember what God says in Matthew? I'm sorry, Exodus chapter 19? He said, Alright, Moses, I want you to put a fence around the mountain because anybody that touches this mountain, he's going to be put to death. I'm coming down on the mountain. Don't come near me. What would you think about approaching God? And then you remember these other stories out of the Old Testament. You remember Leviticus 16, and Nadab and Abihu approach God with strange fire, and fire comes out from the Lord and consumes them. Or what about Paul or Uzzah in 2 Samuel chapter 6? And he's just trying to make sure the ark doesn't fall off the cart, and so he steadies it and he's struck dead. And then you remember, you know, our ancestors, they had this tabernacle. Now, subsequently, we had a temple in Jerusalem, but there's this tabernacle, and only one family could even enter it. God said, only one family can enter into my tabernacle. Anybody else that tries, put to death. And of that family, one man. One man can come before my presence, and he can come once a year. And if he tries to come in any other time of year, he's going to be put to death. You know, just imagine, if you would, let's imagine that this is what the tabernacle was trying to represent. It's the throne of God. So let's just imagine for a second, we replace this nice lecture, and we're saying, all right, here's the throne of God. This is the holy of holies. Out in the foyer is the holy place, but all of us are outside. And God says, don't even touch the building. You go stand in the sun because you're not even worthy to come and touch the building. Now, for whatever reason, God's gonna say, okay, Big Ten football fans, you get to come into the foyer. You get to come that close. And Mr. Buckeye Mark Roberts, he gets to come in here, but he only gets to come in once a year. That's their notion of, okay, here's how we approach God.

Jesus Flings The Doors Open

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But what's Jesus? Those passages that we just read in Hebrews, Jesus is saying, fling the doors open. Come. I want you to come before your God. That is an astounding, astounding thought. And Jesus as your high priest is why you can do that. When you read through Hebrews, you see all these things that Jesus is doing for us. So consider going back to earlier texts in Hebrews, go back to Hebrews chapter 2. Because the writer wants us to know, you know, that's one of the reasons why Jesus had to become flesh. He can only be our high priest if he became

Why Jesus Became Flesh

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flesh. So Hebrews 2 and verse 14, since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so they might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For he's sorry, for because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Again, chapter 4 and verse 15. We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw nearer to the throne of grace. The role of the high priest was to be that intermediary between God and man. Now, think back again to that Old Testament high priesthood. Let's think about the original high priest Aaron. And Aaron's being told, okay, Aaron, you get to go into the presence of God and you're gonna make intercession for the people. Now, Aaron's got the humanity part down pat. He's got all kinds of failings. So you can read about them. But can you imagine? All right, Aaron, you're the one. You get to go into the presence of God and you're gonna kind of bridge the gap between us. And Aaron's like, what do I have in common with God? Nothing. We're gonna give you this robe that has some of the same colors that are in the tabernacle, and kind of, you know, you'll kind of look a little like the tabernacle, and you'll make some sacrifices and you'll burn some incense, and then off you go right into the presence of God, and you're gonna make intercession for us. Well, that's a tall task. But what if God becomes man? Perfect God becomes man and experiences everything that we experience. He doesn't sin, but he suffers. He's tempted. And the Hebrew writer says he can be sympathetic. Yeah, he didn't make the mistake, but he sure knows what it's like to be tempted. And he understands why people do. That's a pretty incredible high priest. The Hebrew writer goes on. He can sympathize with us because he became flesh. And he intercedes for us

A Priest Who Always Intercedes

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always. Very rapidly, let's again just look at these texts and notice again what the writer is saying. So, chapter 6 and verses 19 and 20. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Skip down to verse 23 of chapter 7. The former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office. But he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save, and I just love this phrase, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. And then again, chapter 8 and verse 1, notice how Jesus is even described in this role as high priest. We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. It's an astounding thought to think that in a couple of years, and we don't know exactly when, but in a couple of years, it's going to mark the 2000th anniversary of Jesus' crucifixion. Think about that. Two thousand years ago, he was crucified. And where has he been every day, well, since the ascension? Seated at the right hand of God. And what's he been doing every day for the last two thousand years? Interceding for his people. A high priest who knows what it's like to be you, who never has to leave the presence of God, who can always appeal our case before a holy God. That's the high priest you and I have. Again, contrast with the Old Testament, those Old Testament priests, they go into the Holy of Holies and they go once a year. And even the high priest had to make sacrifices for his own sins. And those sacrifices, well, the Hebrew writer wants to make sure we understand, still contain a consciousness of sin because they had to keep on being offered. Not your high priest. Your high priest has never left the presence of God. Your high priest has never stopped interceding for you right until this day.

The Better Covenant And Better Promises

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Well, there's a new covenant. And covenant's one of those church terms, one of those religious terms. We don't really use it that often outside of here. And all it really is meaning is here's God forming a relationship with man. And in those relationships, God is always providing blessings. That's grace. But he's asking man to follow him. There are covenant stipulations or covenant obligations. Well, the Hebrew writer wants us to make sure that we understand that the covenant that we now have with Jesus is a vastly superior covenant. It's greater than any covenant that's ever existed. So Hebrews 8 and verse 6, as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old, as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. The Hebrew writer then goes on to quote from Jeremiah 31, where God had foretold that there would be this new covenant, and just skip down to the very last blessing and promise of that new covenant. Verse 12. God promised, I'll be merciful toward their iniquities, and I'll remember their sins no more. Our high priest is mediating that covenant. Those big mistakes that God redeems, God doesn't remember them anymore. Your high priest has mediated that. Chapter 9 and verse 13, if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? These high priests of the Old Testament always offering sacrifices, a bloody mess. Even when they go into the presence of God, it is with blood, and yet our high priest offered one sacrifice himself. And because of that one sacrifice, you and I, we don't even have to have consciousness of those former sins. Yeah, like Paul, we remember. We knew how far we fell. What the Hebrew writer is saying is that that sin doesn't stand between you and God anymore. A perfect sacrifice to cleanse you. Because your high priest has pleaded your case.

One Sacrifice That Cleans The Conscience

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Well, I want to consider with you for a few moments what are the takeaways from this. What is it that this impacts us today? That we have this high priest, we have Jesus as our high priest. And the first takeaway is this that since we have him as our high priest, he's still working for us. And I want you to think about that, because I think if we began today by asking, what has Jesus done for you? It's not just our younger people over here, but everybody here probably responds with, well, he offered himself as a sacrifice for my sins. And that's a good answer. Maybe we would also include, well, he reigns over me, and so I have hope because he is king and I'm not subject to every whim of man. And certainly the kingship of Jesus is absolutely essential for our salvation as well. But the Hebrew writer says, don't forget he's your high priest. Don't forget that all those imperfections that you still see in your life, he's still mediating for you. He's still working for you. He's still cleansing and purifying you. And he's doing all of this in the presence of God, and he's doing it right now and today. He's never stopped working on behalf of his people. That's what it means to think of Jesus as your high priest. Now, that then requires something from us. That's really the point of the Hebrew letter. If you come to grasp what Jesus is and what he's doing for you, why would you ever think about leaving him? That's what the writer is asking the original audience. Why would you ever even think about leaving Jesus? The Hebrew writer, well, I think you can read it, and it's one of the most encouraging books in all the Bible. Yet it's also a book where the author is very upfront. He's not pulling punches. So Hebrews 2 and verse 1. Hebrews 2 and verse 1. Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable on every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,

What This Changes For Us

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how shall we escape if we Neglect such a great salvation. It was declared at first by the Lord and it was attested by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders. What hope is there going to be for us, the Hebrew writer says, if we ignore this great salvation that's available in Jesus? He returns to the same thought toward the end of the letter. Go over to chapter 12. Hebrews 12 and beginning in verse 25. Hebrews 12 and verse 25. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they do not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens. This phrase, yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shaken, that is, things that have been made, in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Don't refuse the one who speaks. Don't refuse to listen to him. Because our ancestors refused to listen to God when he spoke to them from the mountain. And we know what happened to them. Well, we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and that kingdom is ruled over by the very high priest who sits at the right hand of God. So what should we do? Well, we're priests. And priests offer acceptable worship. Certainly, that is what we have corporately done together last night and today. But if you continue reading chapter 13, he'll tell you, okay, here's what it means to still follow Jesus and to offer worship to God through his priesthood. And

Warnings About Drifting And Refusing

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so, verse one, let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers. Verse four, let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Verse five, keep your life free from love of money and be content with what you have. Verse 7, remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Verse 17, obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Application after application, but the Hebrew writer is putting it all in terms of this temple worship and saying, you're the priest now, because we have Jesus as our high priest, and now we're gonna stay with him, but what do we do as we stay with him? We worship. We worship by being the people that God wants us to be. Acknowledging that we still have failings, that's why Jesus is still working as our high priest, but we're going to offer to him the worship that he deserves. Changed lives, renewed perspectives, and a diligence to follow our high priest to the very presence of God. There's a rabbinical tradition that at some point the Levites began affixing a rope to the high priest. On the Day of Atonement, the one day out of every year, when the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies, they affixed a rope to him. And they did that for the concern that, well, what if the high priest was struck dead? And what if this high priest who's going in there and representing us before holy God? What if he goes in there and God strikes him dead? Well, we've got a rope and we can just pull him out. We'll pull the dead body out. I don't know if the Hebrew writer was familiar with that tradition because he keeps on talking about holding on. My favorite verse in all of Scripture is Hebrews 10, 23. Let us then hold fast the assurance of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Numerous times throughout the letter, the Hebrew writer said, Hold fast, hold fast. In fact, go back to chapter 6. Chapter 6 and verse 18. That's the last passage we're going to look at together this afternoon. Chapter 6 and verse 18. So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf and having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. It may be that the Jewish people, at the time that this letter was written, on the Day of Atonement, they were still affixing this rope to the high priest just in case we have to pull them out. But the Hebrew writer says, oh no, we're holding on for a different reason. Our high priest is anchored in heaven. He is seated at the right hand of God. He is sympathetic to you because he was a man, and he ever lives to make intercession. Hold on. In those days when you're struggling with temptation, hold on. Don't leave Jesus.

Worship As A Priesthood Life

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And all those things where you find life is hard, hold on. When you're tempted to turn away from Jesus, the Hebrew are saying, no, no, no, don't ever let go of Jesus because he's there in heaven with the Father. And he's there on your behalf. I asked our brother, go ahead and put up the invitation song. We sang this song as a part of our worship at the beginning before the throne of God. So we're basically about to sing in the first verse of the song the sermon that you just heard. Because that's what the song's about. And oftentimes in an invitation, we we focus on those who need to come to Christ, those who need to come to God through Christ for the first time. And certainly we want to do that. Because you need Jesus as your high priest. You need to receive the benefits of that sacrifice that was made one time for all. You need to have the consciousness of sins cleared from you, and that can happen through Jesus. But the main thrust of this invitation is for all those who are Christians. Why is it that Scripture implores us to confess our sins to God? To even confess our sins and faults to one another so that we can pray for each other. It's because you have a high priest. You and I have a high priest who's in the presence of God. And when we confess those failings to him, well, the sacrifice has already been made that forgives them, and intercession is taking place and taking place now. So it may be that you need prayers. It could be that

Hold Fast To The Anchor

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you want the prayers of all the Christians here, or it may just be, I need to make some things right and I need some help. And so you're going to go to a shepherd, or to your faithful, wonderful sister who's your Bible class teacher, or to your parents or your grandparents, or whoever it may be, and you're going to ask for prayers. And you're going to know those sins are forgiven because Jesus is still your high priest. And he ever lives to make intercession for you. If we can aid you, though, won't you come as we stand and as we sing?

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