Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 2:5-9 – “[God] hath not made the world, and then turned it off his hand, to stand on its own bottom in shift for itself; but there is continually, every moment, and emanation of power from God unto every creature, the greatest, the least, the meanest, to preserve them in there being an order; which if it were suspended but for one moment, they would all lose their station and being, and by confusion be reduced into nothing. ‘In him we live, and move, and have our being,’ Acts 17:28; and ‘he give us to all life, and breath, and all things,’ verse 25.”  – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 348.

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 2:5-9 – “[God’s] blessedness is absolute, because it is from himself and him himself, in his being every way self-sufficient. This it is to be absolutely blessed. Hence, God made not these things because he had need of them, for if he had need of any of them he could not have made them; or that they should add anything unto him, for that is not infinite unto which anything can be added; or that he might settle that rest and satisfaction in them which he had not in himself before, for that alone, which is infinite, must necessarily and unavoidably give eternal satisfaction unto that which is infinite: but only by most free act of his will, he chose by the creation of all things to express somewhat of his power, wisdom, and goodness and something without himself.”  – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 347.

Guest Preacher

Join us this morning as Rev. Dr. Solomon Tivade delivers the Word of God.  Worship begins at 10:30 AM.

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 2:5-9 – “[God’s] infinite self-sufficiency doth manifest itself in his works; for all these things are the absolute product of his power, and wisdom, and goodness. From the infinite stores and treasures of them did he bring them all forth. They had no previous matter whereof they were made; no reason, cause, or and was there why they should be made, but only what was in himself and from himself, Romans 9:36, Revelation 4:11.” – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 346.

Prayer Meeting

Since the pastor is away, there will not be a prayer meeting at the church today.  Please gather together elsewhere to pray.

Puritan Wisdom

“There is such a suitableness between the new nature that is wrought and created in believers, and the duties of the worship of God, that they will not be parted nor kept asunder, unless it be by the interposition of some disturbing distemper. The new creature feeds upon them, is strengthened and increased by them, finds sweetness in them, yea, meets in them with its God and Father; so that it cannot but of itself, unless made sick by some temptation, delight in them, and desire to be in the exercise of them.” – John Owen, Of Temptation, in The Works of John Owen, Volume 6:  Temptation and Sin, 122.

Review: "Suicide: Understanding and Intervening"

My question was: how do you counsel a person who can biblically and rationally say that suicide is a sin, and ought not to be committed, yet at times becomes so emotionally despondent that he considers it an option?

One resource that was recommended to me was Suicide: Understanding and Intervening by Jeffrey S. Black.

The author begins by explaining how difficult it is to understand the suicide of a Christian: how can the Christian commits suicide when a Christian has the hope of the Gospel?  His answer is that for a Christian to commit suicide, he or she must take his or her eyes off the light and truth of the Gospel (2).

He explains that the reasons a person commits suicide are legion, but the descriptions are largely the same: “psychological pain, interpersonal alienation, and hopelessness” (3).  Ultimately, he says that suicide is the choice to sin. If we are focused on Jesus, suicide is not possible, he argues (3-4).

He looks at Paul is an example of someone who endured great suffering and yet did not commit suicide. He says Paul did not commit suicide because (1) he saw purpose in his suffering, (2) he was future oriented, and (3) his life was daily renewed by the Holy Spirit (6).

He argues that telling someone who is suicidal that suicide is a sin is rarely helpful.  However, discussing suicide to reveal a person's worldview may be a way to reach into him or her (7). In examining the Christian worldview, one discovers that all people are creatures created and belonging to God, all people are created in the image of God, and therefore it is sin to commit suicide (10).

He defined suicide in this way:  “suicide is the product of a continuous transaction between the person's heart, his symptoms of depression, the levels and types of stressors in his environment, and the strategies he uses to cope with his depression and life circumstances” (13). The person believes that the pain he or she is feeling is too great to keep living. This pain is associated with some sort of “felt need,” and he or she believes there is no way to change his or her circumstance (14ff).

He argues there are five ways in which one can help someone who is suicidal: first, acknowledge that his or her pain is real. Second, help him or her discern that the pain being felt is due to the lack of a “felt need.”  Third, challenge his or her beliefs that are leading to suicidal thoughts. Fourth, help him or her discern that there is hope. Fifth, help him or her to understand that some “felt needs” are sinful or are caused by sin (18-23).

He then discusses how to assess the risk of suicide. In assessing the risk, the question is about being observant: what do you see the person doing, is he or she isolating him or herself, is he or she abusing drugs or alcohol, is the person talking about suicide, as the person attempted suicide in the past, and so forth (24-31).

I appreciate this work for its argument that it is biblically and rationally sinful to commit suicide. I also appreciate the end of this little book in which the author talks about our need to really know and care for those around us – to be observant and to be ready to help in times of need.

This is not a book I would give to someone who is suicidal: I have a feeling that this book is more likely to anger or upset someone considering suicide – of course, this book is written for those trying to help those who are considering suicide.

As useful as this book is, I'm not sure my question has been answered: perhaps the answer is “to love one's neighbor” – to be extremely intentionally involved with people around us, such that when a person is so emotionally distraught that he or she will receive our being there and listening, even if we don't know what else to offer.

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 2:5-9 – “Thoughts of God's omnipresence are of singular used to the soul in every condition. And who can sufficiently admire this excellency of the nature of God? How astonishable is this his greatness!  How are all the nations of the world as the ‘drop of a bucket,’as the ‘balance,’ as ‘vanity,’ as ‘nothing’ before him!  What is a little dust to an immensity of being? To that whose greatness we cannot measure, whose nature we cannot comprehend, whose glory we can only stand afar off and adore? What is a poor worm unto him who is everywhere, and who is everywhere filled with his own excellencies and blessedness?” – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 345-346.

Review: "Partial Seizure Disorders"

Partial Seizure Disorders: Help for Patients and Families by Mitzi Waltz is now the second book I've read about seizures since having another seizure last month. This book is an excellent complement to the first book I read on living well with epilepsy.

While this book does not have some of the details that the previous book I read has, this book has more information overall which is why I found them to be complementary.

The author begins by distinguishing between the different types of seizures, explaining the parts of the brain, and explaining how seizures work. She ends the first chapter by talking about what to do when you have a seizure or when you see someone having a seizure. This information was very enlightening to me because I didn't know that seizures are rarely harmful. If a person is kept away from anything harmful, and people around them, make sure that they do not suffocate on food or anything else in the mouth, unless a seizure goes on for a prolonged period of time, the best thing to do is be with the person and try to help them relax (15-16).

In the second chapter, she explains how to diagnose the type of seizure – if it is a seizure – that one has experienced. She incorporates first-hand accounts to flesh out the doctors and procedures that are used. She also discusses things which may look like seizures which are not.

The third chapter deals with how to live with having a seizure disorder, and she discusses ADA, discrimination, rates, and limitations that one will have to accept. She discusses how important it is to have support from professionals and family and/or friends.

The fourth chapter deals with seizures in children and has a wealth of information about how to deal with the school system and help that is available to children in schools. She not only talks about schools in the United States, but what help is available in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

The fifth chapter deals with medical intervention. She discusses antiepileptic drugs and has a detailed description of the most used ones, their side effects, and tips about them – which is immensely helpful when you're first trying out drugs. Whether it be this book or the PDR or some other drug handbook, it is important for the patient to do his or her own research and be able to discuss with the doctor what different drugs do and do not do. Some doctors will not like to be questioned, but it is the patient's right to understand what's going on and what might happen. The chapter continues looking at blood tests, EKGs, as well as other tests, surgery, and ongoing research.

In the sixth chapter she looks at dietary treatment, environmental triggers, vitamins and supplements, herbs, and general care of the whole person.

In the final chapter. She deals with issues of health insurance – and again she looks primarily at the United States but also looks at benefits and Canada, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. She also looks at alternatives to insurance. These issues become very important, especially when treating chronic condition – and because most health insurance policies have very limited mental health options.

The book ends with an appendix of resources – where one can find information about epilepsy, seizures, the ADA, support and advocacy, medical references, drug company assist programs, and on and on. This appendix alone would be worth the price of the book.

Second appendix includes an example of a seizure diary which can be helpful in keeping records as one diagnoses and treats seizure disorders.

Finally, there is an extensive glossary of terms, which will be very helpful for reading this book, talking to one’s doctor, and reading other books on this topic.

This is an excellent resource, and I have found it helpful as I am learning about what is going on in my brain and how to cope with it.

Puritan Wisdom

“There is such a suitableness between the new nature that is wrought and created in believers, and the duties of the worship of God, that they will not be parted nor kept asunder, unless it be by the interposition of some disturbing distemper. The new creature feeds upon them, is strengthened and increased by them, finds sweetness in them, yea, meets in them with its God and Father; so that it cannot but of itself, unless made sick by some temptation, delight in them, and desire to be in the exercise of them.” – John Owen, Of Temptation, in The Works of John Owen, Volume 6:  Temptation and Sin, 122.

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 2:2-4 – “Foolish men have always had tumultuating thoughts about the judgments of God.  Some have disputed with him about the equity and equality of his ways in judgment temporal, Ezekiel 18, and some about those that shall be eternal. Hence was the vain imagination of them of old who dreamed that an end should be put, after some season unto the punishment of devils and wicked men; so turning hell into a kind of purgatory. Others have disputed, in our days, that there shall be no hell at all, but a mere annihilation of ungodly men at the last day. These things being so expressly contrary to the Scripture, can have no other rise but the corrupt minds and affections of men, not conceiving the reasons of God's judgments, nor acquiescing in his sovereignty” – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 237-238.

"The Holy Spirit"

There will be no study this evening; we will plan to resume our study next week, D.V.

Puritan Wisdom

 “Let men look for it that are exposed unto temptations, as who is not? They will have a season wherein their solicitations will be more urgent, their reasonings more plausible, pretences more glorious, hopes of recovery more appearing, opportunities more broad and open, the doors of evil made more beautiful than ever they have been. Blessed is he who is prepared for such a season; without which there is no escaping.” – John Owen, Of Temptation, in The Works of John Owen, Volume 6:  Temptation and Sin, 98-99.

The Pastor

The pastor will be unavailable today through July 16th.  If you are in need, please contact a member of the Consistory or the church office.  Thank you.

"We Have a High Priest" Sermon: Hebrews 4:14-16

“We Have A High Priest”

[Hebrews 4:14-16]

July 8, 2012 Second Reformed Church

            We ended last week in our text looking at the Word of God – Jesus – Who is the Giver of Life:  Jesus gives spiritual life to all those who believe in Him Alone for salvation, and He also promises physical life – that our bodies – after they have died – will be raised in holy perfection to live eternally in the Kingdom of God.

            We also saw that Jesus is Omniscient – He knows everything – He sees into the deepest depths of our selves and knows everything that we have done and thought, and everyone will have to stand before Him to give an account when He returns; Jesus is Judge of the Creation.

            And we might come away from this trembling:  what hope do we have if the Almighty God knows everything we have done and all we have thought?  What hope do we have if the measure is perfection – holiness – and God will stand for nothing less? 

            The author of Hebrews tells his readers – including us – that we have reason to hope and believe the Gospel because Jesus is our Great High Priest Who Ascended:        

            “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.”

            We have reason to hold fast to our confession – to believe the Gospel – to live it out – and to hope in it.  Of all people on earth, we have hope because we know and believe that God came to earth in the Human Person of Jesus, lived a holy life under God’s Law, died for the sins of all those who believe, and  physically rose from the dead, ascending back to His Throne.

            Despite our sin – and the fact that God knows very well what sins we have committed – we have hope – a sure hope – that we will be received into the Kingdom of God if we hold fast to our confession – if we continue to confess the Gospel – if we do not apostatize – if we believe in Who Jesus is and what He has done.

            Why?

            Because Jesus is God the Son.  We have hope because Jesus is the God-Man – He is wholly human and and wholly God – He is 100% human and 100% God at the same time.  Jesus is a real human being, so He can really live under God’s Law and really be our Substitute before God in the Judgment, and He is really God, so He can live a perfect and holy life and credit that perfect keeping of the Law to all those who believe in Him Alone for Salvation and so He can survive taking on Himself the Wrath of God for our sins.

            This is how we understand Jesus as our Substitute – as the acceptable sacrifice that God received on our behalf that we might be made right with God and brought into His Kingdom – into that ultimate Sabbath Rest that we were talking about.

            He also “passed through the heavens” – as Paul wrote, “He who descended is the one who also ascended far above the heavens, that he might fulfill all things” (Ephesians 4:10, ESV).  And Luke reminds us, “And when [Jesus] had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:9-11, ESV).

            So we see that Jesus is God Who came to earth in the Person of Jesus and ascended back to His Throne and will return in the same way – descending though the clouds, with all eyes seeing Him, when He returns at the end of the age.

            But we have even more reason to believe – and be assured – that we will be received into the Kingdom – and that is due to the fact that Jesus is also our High Priest. And not just any high priest, but our Great High Priest.

            Do we remember what the main job of the high priest was?  It was to speak to God for the people and to offer sacrifices to God on behalf of the people.

            We do well to listen to God’s instruction and hear:

            “The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died, and the LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat. But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on. And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

            ‘Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

            ‘Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself. And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die. And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

            ‘Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.

            ‘And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

            ‘Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there. And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people. And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar. And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. Their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be burned up with fire. And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp’” (Leviticus 16:1-28, ESV).

            As the first high priest, Aaron was given instruction by God on how to perform the rites of the Day of Atonement:  Yom Kippur.  This was the day each year that the whole nation would come before God to confess their sins and receive forgiveness through the shedding of blood.

            We will remember that there was a place in the Temple called the Holy of Holies – this was the place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept – that ornate box which contained – among other things – the Ten Commandments.  The Holy of Holies was the place in the Temple where the Glory of God descended – and no one was allowed into the Holy of Holies – except the high priest on the Day of Atonement.  This was the holiest of places, and anyone who came unbidden into the Holy of Holies would die.

            The high priest was to bath and dress himself in white robes – symbolizing purity and holiness.  But since the high priest was a sinner like everyone else in Israel, he was told by God to take a bull and offer it up as a sacrifice for his sins and his family’s sins, before he came before God on behalf of the people – because that’s what the job of the priest was – to come before God on behalf of the people.

            Then he was to take two male goats.  And he was to cast lots – to throw dice – to determine which one was for God and which one was – effectively – given over to the devil.

            Then, he was to poke his hand into the Holy of Holies, with incense, and with blood from the bull, and waft the smoke of the incense in – which was symbolic of the prayers of the people – and flick the blood of the bull on the mercy seat – on the top of the Ark of the Covenant – symbolizing the sacrifice made for the atonement of the high priest’s sins.  Because God said,

“Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22, ESV).

            Then, he would kill the goat and take its blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle it as he had the blood of the bull:  the goat was killed to make atonement for God’s people – to pay the debt for the sins of God’s people.

Then the priest would come out of the Holy of Holies and take the rest of the blood of the bull and the rest of the blood of the goat and spread it all over the altar.  Then he would take the second goat and put his hands on it and confess the sins of the nation, symbolically transferring them to the goat, and then the goat would be sent out into the wilderness to die.

            In the performing of his duties, the high priest would have become covered with blood.  So the last thing he would do was to bath and put on new white robes, symbolizing that God had forgiven His people.  And so the people would be forgiven.

            Jesus also functioned as the High Priest – not merely as the Sacrifice, which we understand in His dying for the sake of the sins of everyone who would ever believe – Jesus freely offered up Himself – Jesus came before the Father in the Holy of Holies to offer up Himself – as both High Priest and Sacrifice.

            Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:14-18, ESV).

            So, Jesus was not merely the Sacrifice offered up for the sins of His people, but He was the High Priest Who came before God on behalf of the people to offer up the Sacrifice.  So, the Offerer and the Offering of the Sacrifice were holy and acceptable in God’s Sight for the first time.  Before Jesus’ Work, the sacrifices continued day after day, but with Jesus, the Perfect and Final Sacrifice was perfectly offered by the Holy and Great High Priest, so no more sacrifices are needed.

            But, then, there is an unspoken objection that the author of Hebrews answers:  “How can Jesus be the High Priest when He is God?  The high priest had to offer up a sacrifice for his own sins first, because he was one of us – he understood us – he could sympathize.  Being God, how can Jesus sympathize?”

            Here we have a question concerning the Jesus’ humanity raised again – was Jesus really human – as well as really God?

            The author of Hebrews answers, “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.”

            “Yes, the High Priest has to understand what it is to be tempted – to truly face human temptation – in order for him to mourn for his people and offer up the sacrifice on their behalf – as with one heart with them.  And Jesus does that!  Jesus is 100% human and 100% God.  Jesus was tempted – in every way humanly possible – so He is able to sympathize with us – He is able to understand the pressure and the strength of temptation and the accusations and misleading of the devil that we face every moment.  Yet, Jesus being God and filled with God the Holy Spirits, born sinless like Adam – He did not sin.”

            Putting what the author of Hebrews says in the positive:  We have a High Priest Who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses – He has experienced the weakness of being in human flesh, He has been tempted in every way imaginable, so He understands how you are tempted and how I am tempted, and He can sympathize – He can understand what we go through.   He understands our weakness – He understands every kind of temptation we face – He joins us in grief for our sin, He is concerned for us, and works for our relief – but He never sinned. 

            And that should give us hope and confidence:

We have hope in knowing that both our High Priest and His Sacrifice are holy, so they have been accepted by God.  All those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation have been saved through Jesus’s holy offering Himself up as the Final Sacrifice for His people.

“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.”

Matthew tells us, “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51a, ESV).

When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was torn open from the top down – the Holy of Holies was exposed before the people – which meant death – except through Jesus.

We are bidden to come boldly – with confidence and not fear – before the Almighty God one His Throne.  How?  Because Jesus is our Great High Priest – God and Man in One Person Who, as High Priest, offered up Himself, as the Perfect, Holy, and Final Sacrifice – that we would be forgiven for all of our sins and made right with God so we can now come before Him as our Father, not in fear of His Holy Wrath – Jesus has borne that for us – but in awe, respect, humility, and love.

Jesus calls us to come before His Father – our Father – and ask Him for mercy and grace – when we are confronted with temptation and need help to not sin, but to turn away and follow God – when we are in physical or mental or spiritual distresses and don’t know what to do or where to turn – when we feel as though God has abandoned us – when we are being afflicted or persecuted – when we are unsure of what is expected of us – when change is spinning around us – when death is looming at our door.

“Come, beloved!  Come before your Father in confession, in worship – you are restored through Jesus, the Great High Priest, the Lamb Who was sacrificed.  The Father will give you mercy and grace to help in your time of need!”

How shall we respond to this great news?

Let us give thanks that we have a Great High Priest, Jesus, the God-Man, Who intercedes for us before the Father – Who even offered Himself up as the Only Perfect and Holy Sacrifice that we would be forever forgiven and received as sons and daughters of God.

Let us hold fast to our confession of the Gospel.  Let us know what the Gospel is and not be afraid to tell it to others, because it is the Only Hope for everyone who will ever believe.

Let us give thanks that God came to earth in the human person of Jesus so we now have a God Who knows exactly what it is to be human – to live and suffer – as a human – the One God Who can sympathize with us as we live our lives.

And let us run to the Throne of God the Father when we are tempted or in distress or confused or hurting or lonely or discouraged – whatever is happening, let us go to our Father Who loves us and bids us to come to Him so He may give us the mercy and grace we need to live as the men and women of God He has called to be.

Let us pray:

Almighty God and Father, we come this morning having sinned against You, and we are bold to come before Your Throne, truly repentant and sorry for our sins, asking that You would forgive us for the Sake of Jesus.  We come having various temptations, struggles, sorrows, and concerns, and we ask that You would give us the confidence to come boldly before You to receive the grace and mercy that Jesus secured.  For it is in His Name, we pray, Amen.

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 2:1 – “He that shall consider the brutish stupidity and blindness of the generality of mankind in all things to God, the miserable fluctuating and endless uncertainties of the more inquiring part of them, and with all the greatness of their concernments in being brought unto the knowledge of the truth, cannot but in some measure, see the greatness of this love of Christ in revealing unto us the whole counsel of God”  – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 270.

Prayer Meeting

We plan to resume our prayer meeting today at 3 PM, D.V.  Please join us.

Reformed Wisdom

"I charge you never to neglect the duty of brotherly love, and practical, active, sympathetic kindness towards every one around you, whether high or low, or rich or poor. Try daily to do some good upon earth, and to leave the world a better world than it was when you were born. If you are really a child of God, strive to be like your Father and your great elder Brother in heaven. For Christ’s sake, do not be content to have religion for yourself alone. Love, charity, kindness, and sympathy are the truest proofs that we are real members of Christ, genuine children of God, and rightful heirs of the kingdom of heaven." -- J. C. Ryle  (Gently lifted from:  http://jcrylequotes.com/2012/07/06/leave-this-world-a-better-place/)

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 1:10-12 – “What we have not in ourselves, by an interest in Christ we have in another. In him we have stability and unchangeableness; for what he is in himself, he is on to us and for us. All of our concernments are wrapped up and secured in him. He is ours: and though we in our own persons change, he changeth not, nor our interest in him, – which is our life, our all. Though we die, yet he dieth not; and because he liveth, we shall live also. Though all other things perish and pass away that we here make use of, yet he abideth a blessed and satisfying portion onto a believing soul: for as we are his, so all his is ours; only laid up in him and kept for us in him. So that under all disconsolations that may befall us from our own frailty and misery, and the perishing condition of outward things, we have sweet relief tendered us in this, that we have all good things treasured up for us in him. And faith knows how to make use of all that is in Christ, to the comfort and supportment of the soul”– John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 216

Puritan Wisdom

“The efficacy of an antidote is found when poison hath been taken; and the preciousness of medicines is made known by diseases.” – John Owen, Of Temptation, in The Works of John Owen, Volume 6:  Temptation and Sin, 94.

Reformed Wisdom

"Do not forget that assurance is a thing that may be lost. Oh! it is a most delicate plant. It needs daily, hourly watching, watering, tending, cherishing. So take care. David lost it. Peter lost it. Each found it again—but not until after bitter tears. Quench not the Spirit; grieve Him not; vex Him not. Drive Him not to a distance by tampering with small bad habits and little sins. Little jarrings make unhappy homes, and petty inconsistencies will bring in a distance between you and the Spirit. The nearest walker with God will generally be kept in the greatest peace. The believer who follows the Lord most fully will ordinarily enjoy the most assured hope." -- J. C. Ryle (Gently lifted from: 
http://jcrylequotes.com/2012/07/04/protect-your-assurance-in-christ/)

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 1:8-9 – "The danger that there is unto man unskilled and on exercised in the word of truth, when, without the advice, assistance, or direction of others who were able to guide them and instruct their inquiry after the mind of God, they hastily embrace opinions which may be someone text or other of Scripture doth seemingly give countenance on to. By this means demand run themselves into the aforementioned danger every day, especially where any seducing spirit applies himself under them with swelling words of vanity, boasting of some misunderstood word or other. Thus we have seen multitudes lead, by some general expression, in two or three particular places of Scripture, into an opinion about a general redemption of all mankind and every individual there of; when, if they had been wise, and able to have searched those other Scriptures in innumerable setting forth the eternal love of God to his elect, his purpose to save them by Jesus Christ, the nature in and of his oblation and ransom, and compared them with others, they would've understood the vanity of their hasty conceptions” – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 188-189.

"The Holy Spirit"

Join us tonight at 7 PM, D.V., as we continue our study of the Holy Spirit.  Is the Holy Spirit a Person or a thing?  Does it matter?  Join us!

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 1:5 – “An argument, then, taken negatively from the authority of the Scripture in matters of faith, or what relates to the worship of God, is valid and effectual, and here consecrated for ever to the use of the church by the apostle” – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 131.

"Entering Rest: There Remains a Sabbath Rest" Sermon: Hebrews 4:8-13

“Entering Rest:  There Remains a Sabbath Rest”

[Hebrews 4:8-13]

July 1, 2012 Second Reformed Church

            What is the promised Sabbath rest?

            We have been looking at the idea that God promises entrance into His rest – into a Sabbath rest.  We looked at Israel in the wilderness and saw that most of the people who left Egypt – who were freed by God’s Mighty Right Hand – ended up dying in the wilderness and never entering the promised rest.

            We saw that the reason they didn’t enter into God’s rest was unbelief – in fact, the only unforgiveable sin – according to the Scripture – is unbelief.

            We saw the author of Hebrews argue that the seventh day Sabbath that happens once a week since the creation of the world is a type – a foreshadowing – of the rest which is to come – that all those who believe in the Gospel of God would enter.

            We explored the idea that God’s rest is life in the Gospel.  That is:  God’s rest is belief united with faith in obedience.  God’s rest is not doing nothing – it is not the cessation of action.  God’s rest is living out the Gospel through faith in obedience – living what Jesus said – striving towards holiness in all our lives – eventually becoming like Jesus through the Holy Spirit working in us and through us.

            And we said that this call to repent and believe was not just for those in the wilderness, but today is the day – every day – until Jesus returns – that each and every person throughout Creation is called to repent and believe the Gospel.

            And now, as we come to verse eight of chapter four, we find the author of Hebrews answering another unspoken objection:  if God’s rest was not entrance into the Promised Land, then why did Joshua say that in entering the Promised Land God gave them His rest? 

            And we read:  “At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them, ‘You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents” (Joshua 22:1-6, ESV).

            Notice the distinction the author of Hebrews makes:  “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.”

            The author of Hebrews has already stated that the seventh day rest is a type of the rest that God will bring all of His people into.  It is a foreshadowing of that rest.  The rest Israel was to have on the Sabbath was like the rest that would come to them finally, but it was not the ultimate rest.

            Similarly, the rest that Joshua led Israel into when they came into the Promised Land was a type – a foreshadowing of the rest – that God will bring all of His people into, but it was not the ultimate rest.

            And just as the Hebrews of the first century – and we now – enter into rest in believing the Gospel and taking on the light yoke of Jesus in striving to follow after Him in holiness – God’s rest is like this rest, but this rest – today – is not the ultimate rest.

            That’s why the author of Hebrews writes, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,”  God’s rest does not change – but our understanding and experience of it does – the day changes – we move from the day of the first seventh day Sabbath to the day of the entrance into the Promise Land to the day of our belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ – in living the Gospel Life – in taking what we believe and uniting it with faith and living it out in obedience – and we get closer and understand more fully what it means that there is a Sabbath rest promised for the people of God that all those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation will enter into.

            And let us remember:  the idea of the Sabbath rest – of God’s rest – is not the idea of inactivity.  It is not the absence of labor.  We do not die and go into a void.  We do not die and sleep.  We do not die and amuse ourselves for all of eternity.  The rest of God is the assurance we find in obedience and especially in worship.  The image that we have again and again in the Scripture is that in God’s rest – the primary thing we will be doing is worshipping God.

            Hear one description:

            “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

            “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

            “’Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed’” (Revelation 15:1-4, ESV).

            We will be in the Presence of God, our Savior, and we will be before His Glory, and we will respond with the only reasonable response to seeing God for Who He is in singing and praising, and glorifying and lifting up His Name, and crying out in thanksgiving – looking at and experiencing the wonder, the beauty, the awe, the power, the wisdom, the glory – the greatest religious experience we have in this life will pale away as we worship Him Who is and was and is to come.

            That is the Sabbath rest that remains – that is the fullness of God’s rest that remains – that is what everyone who ever believes throughout time and space will enter into.  That is real rest – in the Presence of God.

“for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”

The author of Hebrews tells us that whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his or her works in the same way that God rested from His.  What does that mean?

When God rested in Genesis, it was at the completion of the Creation.  Our rest comes when we believe and unite that belief with faith in obedience to Christ and His Gospel.  Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV).

When God gave the promise of rest in the Promised Land, it was completed as Joshua entered Canaan.  Our rest comes as we wait to be received into the new earth – the Kingdom of God – God’s rest.  As Peter wrote, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, ESV).

When God gave the promise of life through the death of Jesus, He declared, “It is finished” on the cross.  Our rest comes in knowing that we cannot stay dead, but we will rise in these bodies, perfected, like Him:  “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:42, ESV).

God rested from creating the Creation and giving us the Law to tell us that we can only be saved by God Alone.  Our rest comes in believing that we are saved by God Alone, and He will raise us from the dead and bring us into His Kingdom where we will live in the joy of eternal worship of our God.

And so, he continues:  “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”

Since we are moving towards that day of ultimate rest in God, in which we shall be perfected and brought into the Kingdom of God and an eternity of joy-filled worship, let us make absolutely sure of what we believe and that we will be received into that rest – lest, like the Israel in the wilderness, we assume everything is fine, only to find out that we drop off before we enter in.

Let us strive, not for salvation, which is the free Gift of God, but in response to salvation – let us work hard – very hard – to put to death sin in our flesh.  Let us do everything we can to be obedient and live Christ-glorifying lives in thankfulness for what He has already accomplished for us.

We are in a life-long fight against the flesh, the world, and the devil – not for our salvation – but for obedience in thanksgiving – in belief united with faith in obedience.  Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV).

Now, understand, salvation is completely God’s Work and God has already won against the devil – he is a defeated foe – but God has seen fit to allow him to work against us – to tempt us and to attempt to lead us into sin – to get us to be ungrateful for what God has given us and for taking more when God has said, “no.”

Please understand – we do not need to fight for our salvation.  Nor do we need to defeat the devil.  We fight for our obedience to prove ourselves God’s and to show God’s Salvation lived out through us to the world – that the whole world would see Jesus and have reason to believe and repent.

“For the word of God”

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.  For the word of God” – because the Word of God – what is the author of Hebrews talking about here?  Who or what is the Word of God?

More often than not, we would say that the Word of God is the Scripture – the Bible – but that is not what the author of Hebrews is talking about here.  If we notice, he writes some things about the Word of God in verse twelve, and then he writes, “and no creature is hidden from his sight” in verse thirteen.  So, the Word of God in verse twelve is a “He” – a Person – the Word of God in verse twelve – is Jesus.

So, we have the author writing to the Hebrews, telling them to spend the time in careful consideration of what they believe – proving and living out what they say they believe – showing the fruit that they are bearing as Christians – if, indeed they are! – and not being found not obeying – not believing – committing the one unforgivable sin.

Because Jesus – the Word of God – “is living” – Jesus is the Giver of Life – in this life and the next:  “for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring’” (Acts 17:28, ESV).

Jesus is “active,” – and the word there means “effective, able to cause something to happen, life-giving” [Bible Windows].  Jesus not only has life in Him, but He is able to give life – to effect life – to raise us from spiritual death in this life and raise us from physical death in the Kingdom.

Jesus is “sharper than any two-edged sword,” – we see this image used by John, as he described Jesus in his vision on Patmos:  “In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength” (Revelation 1:16, ESV). 

Why is the sword two-edged?  Because the sword has two purposes – and seen as His tongue – the sword – Jesus’ Word – is used both to cut through the opposition and to pass judgment on the opposition against God.  He cuts through the defense of pride and security and unbelief so Who He is is clear and no one has an excuse for not believing – and He judges based on the moral life lived.

It may seem like a trick question, but, “Are we saved by the keeping of God’s Law?”  The answer is “yes” – but we need to understand that we cannot keep God’s Law – we are saved by Jesus’ keeping God’s Law.  That’s why Jesus didn’t just come down from Heaven as grown Man and die on the cross – He had to live a perfect life under God’s Law so we could be credited with a perfect keeping of the Law – otherwise, no one could be saved.  God requires holiness – and Jesus is the Judge of humanity:  “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34, ESV).

And in Jesus’ Victory and through His Judgment – by His Word – “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,” the point here is not that the soul and spirit are different from one another and the joints and the marrow are different from each other.  The language is being used to say that Jesus – in His Wisdom and Knowledge and Judgment – reaches to the innermost parts – the deepest, darkest, most hidden, most intricate labyrinths of our selves fly open before Jesus.  It is no trouble for Him to see what is between two atoms of a thought.

“and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Jesus said, “and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23, ESV).  Nothing can be hidden from the God Who made us; we can fool each other about what we believe, but God is not fooled.

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

The author of Hebrews – in the expression of “naked and exposed” – is raising two images of the day before his readers:  the first is the image of the sacrifice, which, after it was killed, would be laid on its back, and then the priest would draw the knife down its belly and peel back it’s skin, exposing its insides – “naked and exposed.”

The second image is from a wrestling move – and wrestling was performed in the nude then – one wrestler would get another in a hold, whereby his back would be to the ground, and his head would be pulled back, with his neck protruding upwards – “naked and exposed.”

Nothing has changed from the Garden, has it?  After Eve had been deceived by the serpent, we read:  “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

            “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ And he said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself’” (Genesis 3:6-10, ESV).

            Not even lead fig leaves would have hid Adam and Eve and their sin from God!  God is the Almighty – the Creator – Who sees all and knows all.  And still we think, “Maybe I can get away with it; maybe God won’t know.”

            Brothers and sisters – there is an ultimate Sabbath rest – a final and full Sabbath rest – awaiting all those who truly believe in Jesus Alone for Salvation.  The day will come when we will rest from our works, just like God rested from His in the Creation – as He brings us into the Kingdom – into the restored earth – the restored Creation – when we will forever be before God is the joy of eternal worship.

            But be sure – be sure of what you believe – be sure that it is not just words, but that you really believe and that you are striving to live out that belief as you work, by the action of God the Holy Spirit in you to holiness.  Be sure you understand the Gospel and believe the Gospel – and understand that there is only one unforgiveable sin – everything you and I ever do against God and man is forgiven us in Christ Jesus if we believe.  But if we do not believe, we will never be forgiven.

            And let us understand that Life and Judgment are in the hands of the same One God, Jesus Christ, Who will judge the world and bring His Kingdom in all its fullness to earth, while banishing those who do not believe – even those who just casually do not believe – into Hell.

            Our God and Savior is with us now and He is giving us His Grace through the reading and the preaching of His Word – and He has also set before us the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper as a visible representation of the Gospel Message – Christ has come, Christ is here, Christ will come again. 

We have heard the warning not to receive the Sacrament if you do not believe, because God will not hold him guiltless who profanes the Sacrament – who takes it not believing the Gospel.

But for those who do believe, Jesus invites us to come – to meet with Him spiritually in these symbols that He might continue to meet with us and minister to us by His Grace – that we would be able to do and be all that He has called us to be and do.  The Lord’s Supper is not magic, but Jesus does meet us in it and give us the power and ability we need to be His people and to live lives which confess our belief and unite it by faith in obedience.

So let us pray:

Almighty God, we rejoice and give thanks that You are not some dime-store god, but You are the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, the Savior of Your people.  You are the One Who sees all and knows all and for the love that You have for us, came to earth that we might be made right with You through Your Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.  Help us to be sure of what we believe and to look forward with full assurance of the Sabbath rest which is to come in Your Kingdom.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

July Sermons

D.V., I plan to preach: 

7/1/12 Communion

 Hebrews 4:8-13  “Entering Rest:  There Remains a Sabbath Rest”
 

7/8/12

 Hebrews 4:14-16  “We Have a High Priest”

                                                      

7/15/15

 Guest preacher:  Rev. Dr. Solomon Tivade

7/22/12

 Hebrews 5:1-6  “Called to Be a High Priest”

7/29/12

 Hebrews 5:7-10  “As a High Priest”

Join us at 10:30AM!