Come to My Graduation!

You’re invited to my graduation – as long as the weather is nice!  (Otherwise, I have a select few tickets I will give out for an inside ceremony…sorry.)

Anyone who is willing and able to come may come to my graduation on Saturday, May 18^th at 10:30 AM at Drew University, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, NJ, 07940, behind Mead Hall.  (There are “refreshments” afterwards.)

Please feel free to bring or send large cash gifts.

Reformed Wisdom

from Calvin's comments on Hebrews 9:26 --

"And hence it is evident how frivolous is the distinction, in the acuteness of which the Papists take so much delight; for they say that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was bloody, but that the sacrifice of the mass which they pretend to offer daily to God, is unbloody. Were this subtle evasion adopted, then the Spirit of God would be accused of inadvertence, having not thought of such a thing; for the Apostle assumes it here as an admitted truth, that there is no sacrifice without death. I care nothing that ancient writers have spoken thus; for it is not in the power of men to invent sacrifices as they please. Here stands a truth declared by the Holy Spirit, that sins are not expiated by a sacrifice except blood be shed. Therefore the notion, that Christ is often offered, is a device of the devil."

Review: "Spark"

Jason Jaggard’s book, Spark, is the story of Jaggard’s founding of his Spark Groups, which he describes both through anecdotes and basic theory throughout its pages.  The purpose of the groups is to help people move out of ruts and fear and take risks that will help them to become happier, more fulfilled, better people.  The whole theory of Jaggard’s work can be boiled down to – as he says – asking oneself, “What one risk can I take this week to make myself a better person or the world a better place?” (12). From there, he tells success stories and pulls at how one might answer one or both of these questions.

Jaggard’s groups and theory may be very useful for those who can take the first step – either on their own or through encouragement.  It is easy to become stilted and stale, so one need to do something – anything – positive that will move one out of the stasis or pride, depression, etc., that one finds oneself in.

I wish this book were more Scripture-based, though I do find his ideas helpful – if, as I said, one can get past the first step and take the risk to do something.  Also, Jaggard makes the common exegetical mistake looking at 1 Corinthians 10:13, which is a promise that believers will not be tempted beyond what they are able to bear.  He makes the common mistake of interpreting this to mean that God will never give a believer more than one can handle, which is simply not true.  God will not allow a believer to be tempted such that it is impossible for one to refuse to follow the temptation into sin.  However, God does give believers more than one can handle.

Depending on the person and their current state of mind, thinking about the question that is the backbone of these groups may just be the spark that person needs to break free and move forward.

[This review appears on Amazon.com and on my blog.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.] 

"Execution by Blood" Sermon: Hebrews 9:15-22

“Execution by Blood”

[Hebrews 9:15-22]

May 5, 2013 Second Reformed Church

            Do any of you have a will?  Do you understand what your will does?  If you understand – even if you don’t have a will, you will understand a major point of this morning’s text.

            “Therefore”

            Last week we ended by looking at the fact that Christ’s Blood has greater – and eternal – effectiveness for purifying the believer.  Being sprinkled with the blood of animals was a temporary, though real, purification, but Christ’s Sacrifice offered up by Himself as the Final and Perfect High Priest is an eternal purification.

We also noted that the fact of the matter is that the best works we do, even as Christians are tainted with sin.  Yet, through Christ and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, we can and ought to strive to do the good works He has set before us, continually working towards the holiness we are called to. 

            “Therefore” – since these things are true:  Christ is the Final and Perfect High Priest Who offered up Himself as the Final and Perfect Sacrifice for the purification of sin, we are eternally purified and empowered by God the Holy Spirit to turn from sin and do the good works God has called us to – we are to strive towards holiness – towards sanctification.

            “Therefore [Christ] is the mediator of a new covenant,”

            The first Covenant made by God through Moses – the Mosaic Covenant – was a lesson that it is not possible for us to be saved by our works.  God made promises and called all to keep the Law perfectly.  But the Law was never meant to be a way of salvation – the Law was to show us that we cannot keep the Law, but our Only Hope is through the Savior that God had promised to send from the Garden.

            The first Covenant called the people of God to obedience – holiness – and made the promise of an inheritance based on the keeping of the Law – and that promise was confirmed through death – that is, through the blood of animals.  But the promise was forfeit every time they sinned – every time they broke the Law.

            The New Covenant – the Covenant through Jesus – the Gospel – also calls the people of God to obedience – holiness – but made the promise of an inheritance based on God’s call and Christ’s Work – that is, through the Blood of Christ.  This promise, since it is based on the Work of Christ, is eternal for all those who will believe.

            Notice there is a mediator for both covenants:  in the first Covenant, Moses was the mediator between God and the people.  As we read:  “Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.’ The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was” (Exodus 20:18-21, ESV).

            In the New Covenant, Christ is the Mediator.  “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5, ESV).

            Why was Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant?

“so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance,”

The problem with seeing the first Covenant as a way of salvation is that neither the mediator, nor the people could refrain from sin, and sin broke the Covenant.  In the first Covenant, the mediator could not expiate sin – he could not totally remove sin, the sin nature, the desire to sin, and the effects of sinning.  Moses did not have that power – and the blood of animals did not have that power.

Christ became the Mediate of the New Covenant so that in perfectly keeping the Law and through conquering of sin, all those who believed in Him would be saved from sin – their sins would be forgiven and they would be made holy through Christ’s Work.

God, through Christ’s Work, has adopted a people for Himself, so the inheritance we receive is not through biology or genealogy, but through being the adopted sons and daughters of God.

With Christ as Mediator of the New Covenant – Who kept the first Covenant perfectly and took upon Himself all of the sins of everyone who would ever believe in Him – all those God called to be His – we are delivered from the eternal wages of sin – eternal death – and received the righteousness of Christ as our own.

God has chosen a people to receive the eternal inheritance through the Mediator Christ Jesus:  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30, ESV).

Yet, there is one piece missing:  remember that the Old Testament is a foreshadowing or a type of what Christ would be.  Christ kept the first Covenant’s Law and, thus, was righteous and could impute that righteousness to us – to we who believe, so we would be reckoned as righteous by God.  But Christ’s Life alone does not deal with our sin – the imputation of Christ’s Righteousness to us does not deal with our sin – the wages of sin must still be paid for.  In the first Covenant, this was done with the shedding of the blood of animals.  So, the Law requires that there be blood again.

“since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

Christ had to die as the Sacrifice for the sins of His people for us to be forgiven of our sins and delivered from our slavery to sin.  Blood had to be shed to fulfill the Law.  Death – blood – redeems from sins committed under the first Covenant.  Blood cleanses us from our sin.

“and [we] are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins” (Romans 3:24-25, ESV).

The author of Hebrews now turns to some word play:  in Greek, the word for “covenant,” “testament,” and “will” all have essentially the same meaning, so, to make his next point, he switches from using the word “covenant” to the word “will” – as in, “last will and testament”:

“For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.”

If you have a will, you understand that it only takes effect after you have died.  I have a will and have explained what I want done with my stuff after I have died.  It does not take effect – my stuff is not taken and distributed as I would like them to be – until I have died.  A will is executed – it goes into effect – after a death.

In the case of Christ, He wills grace and glory to those who believe in Him.  All those who believe in Christ were willed His Grace – both the imputation of His Righteousness and the forgiveness for sin and freedom from slavery to sin.  And all those who believe in Christ were willed His Glory.  Again:  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30, ESV).  All those who believe in Christ Jesus Alone for salvation will be brought into His Glory.

“The goods and inheritance of the kingdom of heaven are bequeathed absolutely unto all of the elect, so as that no intervenience can defeat them of it” [Owen, Hebrews, vol. 6, 341].

“For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.”

So, in order for those who believe in Christ to receive the grace and glory that He has willed to them, Christ had to die.  Both in fulfilling the Old Testament Sacrifices and in fulfilling the legal working of a will, those who believe could not – in reality – receive the things He bequeathed to His people until he died.

OK?  So, if Shirley bequeathed $500,000 to the church in her will – which would be a very nice thing to do – the church would not receive it until she died.  Similarly, Christ willed certain things to every believer, but they did not receive it until He died. If Christ came to earth, lived a holy life, and ascended back to the Father, we would still be dead in our sins and without hope – it is only through Christ’s death that we inherit salvation and its benefits.

Now that we see the point of inheriting the benefits of Christ Work, the author of Hebrews resumes using the word “covenant.”  The author of Hebrews points us to the inauguration of the first Covenant – the Mosaic Covenant – to show the parallels between it and the New Covenant – the Gospel:

“Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.”

The summary of what happened, we find in Exodus:  “And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words’” (Exodus 24:6-8, ESV).

Of course we know this was not the blood of humans, but the blood of animals – as we have been discussing.  All the same, the first Covenant was executed with blood, just as the New Covenant was executed with blood.  Why?  Because a will cannot be executed until death has occurred.

Now, the author of Hebrews looks at some specifics of what happened in executing the first Covenant:

 “For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.’ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.”

First, Peter explained that Moses prefigured Jesus:  “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people’” (Acts 3:19-23, ESV).

Second, Moses and the priests slaughtered a number of animals – and there must have been quite a lot of them killed on that day to have enough blood to fling on all six million Israelites – and drained their blood into basins.  Half of the blood was thrown on the altar – the place where offerings were made for the forgiveness of sins.  The other half of the blood was flung on the Tabernacle, its vessels, the book of the Law, and all of the people.

Why was blood thrown on everything?  Because blood is symbolic of the execution of the Covenant and the forgiveness of sin and for the purifying of all those things, as well as the people, involved in the sacrificial ceremonies.

Jesus similarly said at the Last Supper, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, ESV).  The wine of the newly instituted Lord’s Supper was symbolic of the blood Christ Jesus would shed to execute the New Covenant.

Third, why was the blood mixed with water?  Perhaps to extend it so all six million Israelites could be sprinkled.  Certainly to keep it from coagulating as he sprinkled it from group to group.  John Owen notes, “But there was a mystery in it also” [Owen, 360].

When do we see blood and water associated with Christ Jesus? 

“Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe” (John 19:31-35, ESV).

The mixing of the blood and the water – which is why some traditions mix the wine with water in the Lord’s Supper – was done because it prefigured the blood and water which came out of Jesus’s side when He was pierced by the spear.

Fourth, why did Moses fling the blood – not just with his fingers – but with scarlet wool and hyssop?

For this we can only conjecture – if there is symbolism to be found here at all.  Certainly Jesus is called “the Lamb of God.”  The scarlet could symbolize His Sacrifice or royalty.  And hyssop is use to purify as an antibiotic.  But there is nothing blatantly clear in the Scripture as to why these were used.  So, we dare not go too far in conjecturing.

Our text for this morning ends:  “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Let us just quickly note this:  there are a number of ways to become legally pure in the Old Testament – through blood, through offering up of other items, through baptism, etc.  So, not everything is purified only through blood.

However, there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood.  There is no other way to be forgiven for our sin but someone be bled – that someone’s blood be shed.  This is the one and only way God has made for sin to be forgiven.

The first Covenant – the Sacrificial System of the Old Testament – surely makes it clear that we cannot be eternally forgiven of our sins through the blood of animals.  And if humans were coming with animals for forgiveness, mere human blood would never be enough.

No, only Christ Jesus, the God-Man, could make us right with God through His Life and through the shedding of His Blood.  As Paul wrote, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9, ESV).

            We covered a lot in a short number of verses:

Christ is Mediator of the New Covenant, because no mere human is capable to be the mediator.

As Mediator, Christ lived a holy and perfect life under the Law, imputing to us His Righteousness, and securing an eternal inheritance for all those God called to be His people.

Yet, Christ’s Blood also had to be shed to fulfill the shadow of the Old Testament sacrifices and to free us from slavery to sin.

In the New Covenant, Christ has willed all those who believe in Him grace to be righteous, forgiven of sin, and free from slavery to sin.  And He has willed that all those who believe in Him will be brought into His Glory in the Kingdom.

However, in order for Christ’s Will to be executed and the benefits of salvation to be given to those who believe, Christ had to die.

Just as Moses was the mediator of the Covenant, Christ Jesus is the greater mediator of the Covenant.

Just as Moses bled animals to execute the first Covenant; Christ was bled on the cross to execute the New Covenant.

Just as Moses mixed the blood of the dead animals with water, Christ Jesus’ blood was mixed with water in His death.

God told Moses there was not forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood, and without the shedding of the Blood of the God-Man, Christ Jesus, there is no eternal forgiveness of sins.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, splashing blood here and there seems very foreign to us, but we can understand the idea of a will and how it is not executed except by the owner’s death.  And we can consider that and hear the promises of the New Covenant – righteousness and forgiveness for sin and from slavery to sin, and we can understand that those promises which are willed to all those who will believe through Jesus Christ can only be received in His death – through an execution by blood.  Help us to take all the more seriously what You have done to save us and to live lives of humility and seeking after holiness.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

May Sermons

D.V., I plan to preach the following in May.  Join us at 10:30 AM for worship!

5/5/13
Hebrews 9:15-22  “Execution by Blood”
 
5/12/13 Ascension
Hebrews 9:23-28  "Once”
 

5/19/13 Pentecost          

Hebrews 10:1-10  “To Do Your Will”
 

5/26/13 Trinity

 Hebrews 10:11-18  “Three Witnesses”

Tonight's Study

I'm sorry to say, I have to cancel this evening's study.  We'll plan to resume next Tuesday evening.  Thank you.

Artie Beck Funeral

Artie Beck Funeral

April 29, 2013, Ltywyn & Lytwyn/Hollywood Cemetery

 

 

Psalm 23 (KJV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV)

            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, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

 

 

            I met Artie in 1995 when I began attending Second Reformed Church as a parishioner.  Artie was serving as a deacon and the property chairman – positions he held until his death.  I quickly learned that Artie was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Gasoline Retailers, the Planning Board, and so forth, and Artie knew everyone and had contacts for anything we ever needed done at the church.

            I quickly became a deacon and served alongside of him in the church. 

I think it was that first Christmas that I started to really know Artie – as we were setting up the Christmas tree – Artie was supervising – he asked, “Where’s the broad?”  I had no idea how to respond – there were women helping us set up, but I had no idea who he could be referring to, until someone found the angel.  To me – from then on – she has been “the broad.”

After our pastor left in 1998, I began preaching once a month and became much more involved in the church as a whole.  In 1999, I was called to be the pastor of Second Reformed Church, and Artie and I got even closer.

            Artie told me stories about his store and station, and I began meeting more of his contacts.  Everyone I talked to was willing to come or lend a hand if I mentioned the name, “Artie Beck.” 

Artie told me about First Reformed Church and how, when the merger came, they should have kept the building, rather than Second’s.  Even so, he was proud to tell the story of how – against all precedent – he got to keep half the money from the sale of First Reformed Church to use at Second.  Artie was a great negotiator.

I saw that played out among people as well.  One of our late women, Dorothy, would often express her opinion about what should be done or what needed improvement – a fence put up in the alleyway, for example, and often Artie would challenge her and say that he would put up half the money if she would put up the other half – and she often would.

Artie gave certain people nicknames – some of us know ours or others – I found out that my nickname was “pain in the ass” – though it was given in love.  Artie treated me to bottles of Grey Goose for my birthday and Christmas – we didn’t always see eye to eye – but we respected each other.

Artie was very generous, especially when it came to eating out – Artie loved going out to eat with others – and paying the bill.  And he got mad if we said we weren’t able to go out – if we had other plans we had to attend to – or if we tried to pay the bill.  Artie would take several of us to the Chamber dinners on his dime.  And, again, even once he was homebound, he would send money up so we would be able to go out to eat with him in spirit.

Through Artie’s generosity with food, I learned that the diabetic diet called for eating Dunkin’ Donuts, Philly Cheesesteaks, with extra onions and peppers, and drinking soda.

I am very thankful that I got to visit with him in his home about two weeks ago and have lunch with him and some of the others from our church.

Artie tried to help me be a better preacher and pastor:  on numerous occasions he told me my sermons were too long – he would time me and tap at his watch – when he was awake – and groan after service, and he told me that the best minister he ever heard preached for ten minutes – “get ‘em in and get ‘em out.” 

Also, since I prefer to dress casually – I only wear my clerics when I need to – Artie informed me that his previous minister always wore his clerics, except when he bowled.  He told me, “You look like a bum.  No one would know you’re the preacher; they would think you were a bum.”

Artie also told me that I had the easiest job in the world – “You only work one hour a week,” he would say.  Though, eventually, he had to admit, “OK, I was wrong, you work two hours a week.”

We shared a sense of humor – and I got joy out of telling bits from the TV show, “All in the Family,” and having Artie laugh at the and say, “they would never get away with putting a show like that on today.”

And Artie seemed pleased when I joined the Chamber – and I enjoyed being with him at the meetings – with him as the Treasurer, giving his monthly report – eating lunch with him and the other members.

Artie told me – us – stories about his family – Arty Jr., Heidi, Bob, Tim, Katelyn, Scott, and others.  Arties told me that he was not really a church guy to begin with – it was his kids who brought him and Doris to church, because they wanted to go to Sunday school – then Artie and Doris got involved in the church – and remained solidly involved until their deaths.

Artie really became a church guy – a guy committed to the institution and to seeing it run well.  It was not just his contacts in the business world that made him be involved with keeping the property in shape; it was his desire to keep it up for all of us.  Although the way he expressed it became something of a joke among us.

Artie enjoyed being one of the people who counted the money after worship.  Even after he was homebound, he wanted to be involved, and he often called before the service was over to ask, “What was the take?”  Very often, the comment after that would be, “Tell Peter we can’t afford to pay him this week.”

The Scripture I chose for this service is not one that is usually used for funerals, but it is the one that jumped to my mind when thinking about a text for Artie.

The author of the book of Hebrews was a first century Jew who came to understand that the Ceremonial Law of the Mosaic Covenant – the offering up of animal sacrifices – would never be enough to make him right with God.  In order to be right with God, the Only Hope was in the Savior – the Messiah – that God had promised to send.

The author of Hebrews explains in his book that Jesus is that Savior – the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and the sacrifices as the last High Priest and Sacrifice.  It is through Him and His Work – the New Covenant – the Gospel, that we can be made eternally right with God.  It is through believing in Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, that we find salvation.

That is the message of the Church.  That is the message I seek to preach.  That is the message of our faith.  And the author of Hebrews encourages us to hold fast to our confession – to what we believe – because God is faithful, even when we are not.

The text I read ends:  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Let us be people who stir each other up to love each other and to encourage love in each other.  Let us be people who stir each other up to do good works – things which will benefit all people and be pleasing to God.

Let us gather together in the Church – let us support the institution – because it is not a building, but a group of people.  Let us gather together as the people of God to encourage each other – by hearing the Word of God read and preached, by sharing our lives with one another, by laughing together, by working together despite differences, by eating together, by being there for one another – trying to make each other better people – people who are pleasing to God.

All the more so because the Day is drawing near – Jesus is coming back for His own.  The time is short – and either He will return first or you will die first – those are the options.

Artie lived a life of joy and love and encouragement – and one of the places he found to encourage was in the Church.  Let us see the value of his example.  For those who seek God and find Him, as David confesses in the 23^rd Psalm, will find that “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for the life of Artie Beck and for all the ways he encouraged us to be Your people and to support Your Church.  May we be inspired to look to the Church, to hear Your Word, and to know Your Savior, the only Hope for all people.  For it is in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"A Better Tent" Sermon: Hebrews 9:11-14

“A Better Tent”

[Hebrews 9:11-14]

April 28, 2013 Second Reformed Church

            Last week we looked at the earthly Tent – the earthly Tabernacle – the place of worship of the first Covenant, and we saw that as a means for salvation, the first Covenant was a failure.  Although the first Covenant was never intended to be a way of salvation, it was intended to show us that we cannot become holy or righteous on our own – by our works – our only hope is through faith alone in the Savior Whom God was sending and now has sent.

            We saw that the first Covenant failed in the following ways:

The debt that was paid through the offering up of animals was never adequate to pay for the sins of humans.  Only a human could properly pay the debt of a human.

The debt that was paid through the offering up of animals was never enough to satisfy the Wrath of God for sin – the offering was too small – it didn’t take into account the seriousness and the greatness of the affront of sin to God.

The debt that was paid through the offering up of animals never removed the dominion – the slavery – to sin which humans are born under.  Although God really forgave in the moment for the sins confessed, there was no forgiveness or deliverance from the sin nature through the first Covenant’s offerings.

The debt that was paid through the offering up of animals did not lead towards sanctification – it never got beyond forgiveness of the sin of the moment.

The debt that was paid through the offering up of animals was never meant to go on forever.  Not only could it not go on forever if the Tabernacle – and the Temple – were destroyed – as they were – eternal sacrifices of animals would prove fruitless – vain – for salvation for the reasons we have already stated.  After 70 A.D. – after the letter to the Hebrews was sent – the Temple was destroyed and the sacrificial system of the first Covenant came to its practical end – it was no longer possible to offer sacrifices in the Temple, because it did not exist.

Now, the author of Hebrews turns to look at the better Tent – the better Tabernacle:

            “But when Christ appeared as a high priest”

            We remember from the beginning of the book of Hebrews, the author writes, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (Hebrews 1:1-4, ESV).

            He begins by referring us back to his explanation that Christ (the Son of God) came to earth in the Person of Jesus (the God-Man) , fulfilling the word of the prophets and being the final Word from God, because He is God, the Savior, the Creator, the One Who made purification for the sins by living a perfect life under the Law of the first Covenant and then dying, taking on Himself all of the sins of all those who would ever believe in Him, and raising from the dead, victorious over sin and death.

            In fulfilling the Law and the Prophets, Jesus, the Incarnate God, appeared, not only as the Perfect and Final Sacrifice for sin, but as the Perfect and Final High Priest of the Sacrificial System – not of the line of Aaron or Levi – but of the greater priesthood of Melchizedek:

            “So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’; as he says also in another place,

‘You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek’” (Hebrews 5:5-6, ESV).

            We will remember that the priesthood of Melchizedek was one in which God chose individuals and finally, Jesus, to serve.  Melchizedek, the King of Salem, was the first priest of the line:

            “After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)”

(Genesis 14:17-18, ESV).

            So, God incarnated in the Person of Jesus, the Savior, at the right time, as the Final and Perfect High Priest

“of the good things that have come,”

And here we have a translation issue – the text could also read, “of the good things that will come.”  This may be ambiguous on the part of the author, because what Christ has done for us is “already” and “not yet.”  We are saved and we are being saved.  We are righteous and we are being made righteous.  We are holy and we are being made holy.  The Kingdom of God is here and the Kingdom of God is coming.  We have eternal life and we are will be given eternal life.

In the context, it would seem to make sense – since we are dealing with the change from the first to the second Covenant, to understand “the good things” as believers being led into Christ’s Kingdom and believers being made partakers of spiritual righteousness and eternal life.

On one hand, Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is right here – as if to be grasped – by all those who would believe:  “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15, ESV).  So, those who repent and believe the Gospel receive the Kingdom of God.

On the other hand, Jesus tells us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).  Jesus tells believers to continue to seek the Kingdom of God.

Paul tells us that believers are righteous: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:17, ESV).

Yet John, in his first letter, in which he says that all people sin – saved and unsaved – he writes, “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous” (1 John 3:7, ESV).

Jesus famously says that all those who believe in Him Alone for salvation have eternal life, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

And Jude tells us that eternal life will be received later:  “keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 1:21, ESV).

What can we say about this?  “Christ appeared as the high priest of the good things that have come” entrance into the Kingdom of God and being made partakers of spiritual righteousness and eternal life – and we receive these now – but we receive them in their fullness on the day of Jesus’ return.

Do you understand?  All those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation are members and in the Kingdom of God now, all those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation are righteousness now, all those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation have enteral life now, and we shall receive the fulfillment of what we have now when Jesus returns.

Similarly, we are saved from sin now.  But we all know we sin.  What has changed in our salvation is that all of the sins we ever commit are forgiven in Jesus, and we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, do not ever have to sin – God always makes a way of escape.  But when Jesus returns, we will receive the fullness of our being saved form sin, and we will be unable to sin evermore.  It is the same for being part of the Kingdom, righteousness, and having eternal life.

Through faith alone in Jesus Alone, we have blessings in this life which will be fulfilled when Jesus returns.  Jesus secured present and future blessings for us through being our High Priest.

“then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)”

Last week we talked about the Tabernacle – the tent in the wilderness where the people of Israel worshipped before they came into the Promised Land.  Now, the author of Hebrews tells us that Christ, as High Priest of those good things we just talked about – and we’ll see why it had to be as High Priest in a moment – did something through a better tent, a more perfect tent, a tent not made with human hands, a tent “not of this creation” – do you remember we talked about this a few weeks ago?

There is something else that is referred to as the “tent” other than the place of worship:  Paul writes, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV).  Our bodies are also referred to as “tents” – the place in which we live.

So, what is different about Jesus’ “tent” – His body?  We remember one of the Advent texts:       The angel said, “’And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end’ And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God’” (Luke 1:31-35, ESV).

Christ’s body was “not made with hands, that is, not of this creation” in the sense that Christ’s body was not made through the union of a man and a woman.  God miraculously caused Mary to become pregnant without the involvement of a man.  Christ’s “tent” was more perfect in the sense that it was created by God outside of the normal way of gestation.  It was a better “tent,” because Jesus, Who was born without man, is the Incarnate Son of God.  Christ, the Son of God, took on a real human body through the workings of God, the Holy Spirit, and remained God, as a real human being.

Now we need to ask ourselves, who entered the Holy of Holies and why?  We saw last week, that the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the day of Yom Kippur to make atonement for the people of God.  The high priest would enter the curtain, burn incense, sprinkle blood on the Ark of the Covenant, and pray for the sins of the people to be forgiven.

We saw that this was a temporary solution – it was never meant to be the way to salvation.  It was a shadow – a type – of what Jesus would do.  And so, the author of Hebrews tells us:

“he entered once for all into the holy places,”

So, we only need ask ourselves, when did Jesus enter the Holy of Holies?  And the answer is, “never.”  Unless we remember that Jesus was fulfilling the shadows – the Old Testament Sacrificial System that looked forward to Jesus and was fulfilled in Jesus.  So, how did Jesus fulfill entrance into the Holy of Holies?  When did He enter a place to plead on behalf of all those who would ever believe that we would be forgiven of our sins and be made right with God – that atonement would be made between God and us?

Paul tells us:  “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). 

Christ completed to work of making atonement by entered the Holy of Holies – which is Heaven – from whence He had come – the dwelling place of God.  And He resumed His place at the Right Hand of God – being Sovereign King over all – the place from which He has been from all of eternity, excepting the Incarnation.

But there was one more difference, was there not?  Christ was in one way different in ascending back to His throne – something had changed in the Incarnation:  Christ took on a tent – a real human body – and that real human body was received back into Heaven and is sitting on the throne with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.  Christ sanctified the flesh through His Ascension back to His throne, so now we know that our bodies will also be sanctified and received into the Kingdom of God which is here and coming among us.  Our flesh is also redeemed – it is part of who we are – and Christ has saved us in our whole person.

 “And when he 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).  This is Christ’s entrance into the Holy of Holies.

And just as Christ did not enter into the Holy of Holies on earth to provide us with eternal reconciliation with God, neither did He cleanse with the blood of animals, which, as we saw last week, would never be enough to save us from our sin.

“not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”

Christ did not satisfy the Wrath of God with animal blood, but with His Own Blood – the only Blood that would satisfy God and pay the debt that was owed.  Because the Blood of the Savior, Who is the God-Man, was shed for us, our sins are forgiven, and God has received us as His Own.

Paul, in giving instruction to the new ministers of the Gospel, said, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28, ESV).

Christ obtained a people for God through the shedding of His Blood.

“For 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,”

Remember, the sacrifices of the Tabernacle and the Temple were only temporary – you were forgiven for the moment, but then, once you sinned again, you would have to offer more animals, and Yom Kippur only came once a year.  The ceremonies of the Law were meant to cause people to look forward to the coming of the Savior – to the Promises of the Savior – they were never meant to be an end in themselves.

Sinful men offered up inadequate sacrifices to appease the Holy God:  “And [the high priest] 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” (Leviticus 16:14-16, ESV).

“how much more will the blood of Christ,”

The point of these rites was to cause the people to realize that the whole system was hopeless for making them right with God – it could never be enough.  They needed the Savior – they needed the Blood of the Savior to wash them clean – animals would never do – only the God-Man – promised from the Garden – could save them – and us – and provide eternal salvation.

Yes, the Ceremonial Law was a type – a shadow – they ought to have seen that they were sinners, that God required blood to be appeased, that animal sacrifices were not enough to save a human, and that their only Hope – our only Hope – is in the Savior Who would come and live and bleed and die and ascend back to His throne to intercede on our behalf.

The Sacrificial System could not do what Christ did, as John explains, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7, ESV).

The blood of the sacrifices cleansed for a moment – for a day.  The Blood of Christ, Who is the Eternal God and Holy Man, eternally cleanses us from all of our sin.

 “who through the eternal Spirit”

The sacrifices of the Ceremonial Law were participated in by being present – by offering an animal.  How do we participate in the Blood of Christ?  We are told – through the Spirit.  Christ’s death becomes saving for us through the Spirit’s Work in us. 

As Paul explains, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:11-14, ESV).

“offered himself without blemish to God,”

Christ was, as we have said, our High Priest and Sacrifice.  Unlike the sacrifices of the first Covenant, which were animals and even the best were not totally perfect, Jesus, the God-Man was the Lamb without spot or blemish – the Perfect and Final Sacrifice which pays our debt with God.

As we see in the vision of the worship of the Slain Lamb, Jesus Christ:  “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,         and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’           Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped” (Revelation 5:9-14, ESV).

 “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

The fact of the matter is that the best works we do, even as Christians, are tainted with sin.  Yet, through Christ and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, we can and ought to strive to do the good works He has set before us, continually working towards the holiness we are called to. 

As Peter writes, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2, ESV).

The end of all these things is that we should strive to sin no more and to sin no more by the Power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us, and, instead, to do those good works that we have been called to do and live lives of holiness which reflect the salvation that we have received through Christ, Who fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, and the seal we have received with the Holy Spirit, as people who are now forever marked as God’s.

So, what have we seen?

Christ, the Son of God, incarnated in the Person of Jesus as the Final and Perfect Sacrifice and High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, meriting for us entrance into God’s Kingdom and being made partakers of spiritual righteousness and eternal life, both now, and fully when Jesus returns.

Christ was incarnated by the workings of God the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, being both at the same time fully God and fully man – a better tent than any high priest before Him.

Christ entered the true Holy of Holies – the dwelling place of God – Heaven – after having lived and bled and died and risen and ascended back to His throne where He reigns in His glorified human body – so we know our bodies will be raised and glorified with Him – and He intercedes for us before the Father that we would be forgiven for all of our sins and received by the Father as His adopted sons and daughters.

Christ’s Blood secures for all those who believe an eternal redemption – forgiveness for all of our sins.  The blood of animals was symbolic and forgives by the mercy of God in the moment, but was given that those who offered it would look forward to the coming of the Savior Who would offer up the Final and Perfect Sacrifice for sin.

Christ’s Work is sealed in believers by the Holy Spirit.

Christ is the Lamb without blemish Who is offered up for the real, final, and full forgiveness of our sins.

Christ has made us able to turn from our dead works of sin, and even those only infected with sin, and instead, do those good works we have been called to in all holiness by the Power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.

So, let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for showing us how Christ Jesus, in His better tent, fulfilled the first Covenant on behalf of all those who will ever believe in Him.  Help us to believe, and help us to live out our belief in faith, clinging to the Truth of the Covent of Jesus – the Gospel – living lives that are pleasing and glorifying to You.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.