Category Archives: Sermon Notes & Announcements

Nov 26, 2023. Hebrews 9:11-15

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ONCE FOR ALL. Hebrews 9:11-15. 11/26/2023. #26.

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

1. The Perfect Sacrifice

                a. Hebrews spent much time demonstrating how inadequate the sacrifice of HP were to remove sin

                                a1. The HP was an earthy flawed man using earthy instruments to sacrifice mortal animals on a perishable altar in a tent

                                a2. Temporary means can’t yield eternal solutions that resolve spiritual issues

                b. Christ was a High Priest of good things to come (eternal salvation, reward, fellowship with God)

                c. Christ entered the perfect tabernacle not made of earthy materials by the hands of man

                                a1. Jesus’ work of redemption was complete on the cross (“it is finished”)

                                a2. He offered his blood (figuratively) before the eternal heavenly altar to declare that the work of salvation was complete

                                a3. God (the Father) accepted the offering

                d. A perfect sacrifice made by a Perfect person before a perfect altar in the presence of God

2. The contrast

                a. The OT HP could offer only goats & bulls

                                a1. These animals had no spiritual power

                                a2. Animal sacrifices could only satisfy the ceremonial aspect of the Law to cover sins until the perfect HP & sacrifice could redeem

                b. Blood of goats & bulls were of the earth & so could not apply spiritual remedies for the guilt of sin

                c. The ashes of the red heifer, used in purification rites could make the guilty ceremonial clean, but not spiritually clean (Num. 19)

3. From the shadow to the genuine

                a. If the sacrifice of spiritual animals could make one ceremonial clean by providing the required offering as specified in the Law, how much more effective is Christ’s sacrifice as accepted eternally by God

                b. The conscience of the believer is cleansed by the application of God’s perfect sacrifice (Jesus) to the account of the believer

                                a1. The blood sacrifice was via the One who could apply eternal cleansing to us

                                a2. Through the indwelling the Holy Spirit, we are now sealed unto the day of Redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14)

                c. The OT could mediate for man under the Law in earthy things (cleansings, coverings, offerings)

                d. Jesus could mediate in eternal things

                                a1. Heb. 4:14-16 Christ’s mediation is effectual for interceding on our behalf for forgiveness

                                a2. Revelation 12:10-12 Christ’s sacrifice of blood overcame the devil who makes accusations against the brethren day and night

                e. Since mediation under the first covenant was inadequate, the new covenant could accomplish what the Old Covenant could never accomplish

                f. By the first covenant, nothing eternal is received, but through the new covenant we receive the eternal promise of God

                                a1. The Law can only bring death (1 Cr. 15)

                                a2. Under Christ, the Lord brings eternal life

                g. Since Christ is complete, other things we depend on must be abandoned (hinders rather than helps)

Key verse: Revelation 12:10-12 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Nov 19, 2023. Hebrews 9:1-10

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AN EARTHY COVENANT. Hebrews 9:1-10. 11/19/2023. #25.

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the [a]sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the High Priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various [b]washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

1. Of the earth

                a. The author of Hebrews now turns to logic to prove his point

                                a1. All the rituals and offerings of the old covenant were done by men using implements made by men from materials of the earth and performed in tents fashioned by men

                                a2. Since the offerings and rituals continued year after year by men who died using animals who were slain, there was no permanent remedy for sin that came through the old covenant

                b. “The first” has no noun with it, but covenant makes more sense than tabernacle or priesthood

                c. Hebrews describes the placement of the furnishings within the tabernacle in relation to the divisions within the tent (courtyard, holy place, and holy of holies)

                                a1. The author uses the tabernacle, rather than the temple to illustrate his point because it came first and traveled with Israel

                                a2. It was full of displays, symbols, and rituals

                d. The central part of the tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant overlaid with gold

                                a1. Contained the tablets, manna, and Aaron’s rod

                                a2. Contents = testimony to God’s stated will and His faithfulness to Israel

                                a3. Above the Ark was the cherubim over the Mercy Seat where the blood was sprinkled

2. The High Priest = a mere man

                a. The High Priest was limited as to what he could do

                                a1. He could enter the Most Holy place just once each year under prescribed conditions

                                a2. The High Priest must offer for his own sins first and then the sins of the people

                b. The High Priest could not violate any restriction under the threat of death

                c. High Priest could perform only the exact services prescribed

3. The holiest of all

                a. Even when all the proper sacrifices in all the proper order were made, it could make no one holy

                b. The sacrifices were necessary to satisfy God’s holy requirement of service and worship, but could not satisfy the sin debt of man

                c. All that was by the priests were symbolic of what was to come, so that what could not save from sin could yield to Him who could save to the uttermost

                                a1. The ministry satisfied the conscience, but could not satisfy the sin debt

                                a2. Doing what was required was to plea for God to provide what was necessary

                d. Galatians 2:11-21 while the tabernacle still stood (also, its predecessor, the temple), the fulfillment of the symbols to the real Redeemer could not be made manifest, for both could not co-exist

                                a1. Jesus fulfilled the payment for sins, so the shadow of the payment was no longer needed

                                a2. Shortly after the manifestation of the payment (Pentecost) the temple was destroyed

                e. To try to return to the symbol (offerings, candles, incense, showbread…) is to deny Christ’s full payment for sins

                f. To follow Christ is to let go of all other worship and superstition (I Corinthians 1:29 won’t share His glory)

Key Verse: Galatians 2:11-21

11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Nov 12, 2013. Hebrews 8:7-13

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A NEW COVENANT WITH ISRAEL. Hebrews 8:7-13. 11/12/2023. #24.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

1. Second Covenant to Israel and Judah

                a. The second covenant with Israel and Judah was necessary because the first covenant was flawed

                                a1. The Law was perfect

                                a2. The covenant had no provision to pay for and remove the guilt of sins

                                a3. Israel rebelled against God and His covenant

                b. God set aside the old covenant to make a new one

                                a1. He disregarded (“no longer cared about”, neglected, rejected, abandoned) those who rebelled against Him (led out of Egypt)

                                a2. With the coming of the new covenant, the old covenant was abandoned as obsolete

                c. God replaced the old covenant with a new one to Israel and Judah (different from church’s, but related to it)

2. The 2nd Covenant to Israel = different than church covenant

                a. Romans 11:11-27 Israel was taken out of the olive tree (covenant) so the Gentiles would be grafted in

                                a1. Israel will be again grafted in

                                a2. When the Gentile (wild olive branches) are taken out (Rapture), Israel will be re-grafted

                b. The New Covenant had certain provisions

                                a1. Believe on Jesus to receive eternal life

                                a2. Ephesians 1:13-14 the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit

                                a3. Romans 8:30 justification, sanctification, and glorification of the believer

                c. The 2nd Covenant to Israel and Judah = different provisions

                                a1. God will put His Law on their hearts

                                a2. Will not have to learn about God

                                a3. Knowledge of God will be fused in them

                                a4. Isr. will no longer rebel against God

                                a5. Israel will be God’s people

                                a6. God will show mercy to their ungodliness

                                a7. He will remember their sins no more

                d. Other provisions to Israel and Judah:

                                a1. Jeremiah 31:31-34 they will have their kingdom

                                a2. Revelation 21 Christ will rule from Jerusalem

                                a3. Zechariah 8:23 they will be blessed of the Lord

3. 2nd Covenant tied to the New Covenant

                a. Zechariah 12:10 in that Day (during the Tribulation), Israel will gaze upon the One they had pierced (the crucifixion of Jesus) and mourn for Him as an only son

                b. Daniel 9:27 after the Antichrist breaks the treaty with Israel, the nation turns to Christ as the Messiah who their ancestors had rejected

                c. Belatedly, Israel comes to the Lord and so a 2nd covenant is established with the nation, leading to the establishment of their Mill. kingdom (Jeremiah 31)

                d. The preparation of the end time events is underway

                                a1. Ezekiel 20:33-38 God will gather His people back to the land in preparation for judgment

                                a2. Matthew 25 after the judgment of the nations (Joel 3), Christ sets up His kingdom with believing Israel and Judah at the center

                e. Matthew 25 as the church age saints rule during the Millennium in their glorified bodies, Israel serves the Lord in the Promised Land

                f. As believers we take comfort in our salvation

                                a1. The Lord has chosen us and we are spared the horrors of unbelief and the Tribulation

                                a2. We entered eternal life with no Law ties

Key Verse: Romans 11:11-27

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

Oct 29, 2023. Hebrews 7:20-28

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THE FINAL PRIEST. Hebrews 7:20-28. 10/29/2023. #22.

20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’”), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

1. A priest by oath

                a. Aaron was established as a priest without an oath

                                a1. God did not swear to make Aaron’s line

                                       permanent priests

                                a2. Unlike David (II Samuel 7:14), who was promised a continual line, no promises were given to Aaron as to his line’s longevity

                b. Psalm 110:4 the priest after the order of Mel., Jesus, was promised his position forever (“unto the ages”)

                                a1. The oath was sworn by God (the Father)

                                a2. God made Jesus a priest, just as He “gave” (John 3:16) Jesus to be the sin offering for man

                c. The oath is irrevocable (God won’t change his mind)

                                a1. Salvation is an eternal certainty

                                a2. Our assurance rests on the integrity of God

2. A far better covenant

                a. The New Covenant is far superior to the Old Covenant

                                a1. The Old Covenant couldn’t remove sin guilt

                                a2. The Old Covenant mediated through sinful priests and mortal animals

                b. The Old Covenant was flawed from its inception

                                a1. Though the Law was perfect, it only could define sin, but couldn’t redeem the sinner

                                a2. The Old Covenant couldn’t be permanent

                                a3. Covenant is used here for first time in Hebrews, but is used sixteen more times (most in New Testament)

                c. The High Priest could never continue in office, since he died, as did each new high priest

                d. Jesus continues forever

                                a1. At His resurrection Christ overcame

                                       death for all believers (I Corinthians 15:50-58)

                                a2. His continuation guarantees ours

                e. While still in our sinful state, Christ makes intercession for us, opposing the Accuser (Hebrews 4, Revelation12)

                f. Jesus is our surety (guarantee) of a better covenant

                                a1. Ephesians 1:13-14 the Holy Spirit is our deposit, assuring of full payment (eternal life)

                                a2. Jesus is the guarantee behind the deposit

                                a3. Surety (enguos) only used here in New Testament

3. A permanent high priest

                a. The Old Covenant high priest was flawed

                                a1. He was not permanent

                                a2. He had to offer for his own sins first

                                a3. He could not remove the penalty of sin

                b. Jesus is far better than the high priest

                                a1. He did not need to offer for His own sins

                                a2. His intercession for us is continual and effectual for all time

                                a3. Unlike the HIGH PRIEST many ineffectual offerings, Christ offered one effectual offering for all

                c. Christ has a better appointment

                                a1. The HIGH PRIEST was appointed as a weak intercessor, flawed and dying

                                a2. Christ was appointed after the Law was established, being greater than the Law

                d. Jesus has become higher than the heavens

                                a1. Lit., “is having become”

                                a2. Jesus was always higher than the heavens, but by redeeming believers his eternal resume’ now includes Redeemer of mankind

                                a3. By gaining redeemed man, He has been made perfect (complete), fulfilling His mission

Key verse: 1 Corinthians 15:50-5850 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.