"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; 2 He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. 3 For
He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as
the builder of the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end."
Father, we thank you for all these precious souls that You have chosen to gather here with us today, may You speak to each of their hearts, that they would be richly blessed. Grant us the strength through Your Holy Spirit to endure until the end.
In Christ's name we pray
Amen
Today's Message: Consider Jesus
Though we have advanced in many areas since the writer authored this letter, our world is not so very different from the world to which the letter to
the Hebrews was written. It appears that even among people who consider
themselves to be Christians, they seem to look everywhere except in
Christ for the answers to life’s harsh realities. Many Christians today, run from
one spiritual fix to another hoping against hope of getting ahead in
their spiritual life. Yet, I believe, that most Christians would have to characterize
their lives as more down than up.
On the basis of who Christ is, we must consider Him. Consider Him. He is our perfect
high priest. In Christ, there is nothing missing from our lives at all. I urge you to focus on the absolute sufficiency of Jesus. I invite you to discard all the other stuff. You don’t need it. Beloved, I encourage you to fix your eyes upon Jesus, He is all you need.
In our text, the Holy Spirit calls on us to gaze on Jesus, who is far
greater than Moses. And that’s the consideration right here for your
Jewish readers. If you think Moses is great, consider Jesus.
Now, in order for the Holy Spirit to present the evidence to support the superiority, the supremacy, and the sufficiency of Christ, he selects a three-fold presentation. This will be our outline. He says that Jesus is superior in His office, superior in His work, and superior in His person. In fact, the entire book of Hebrews is written to cause us to "Consider Jesus."
Now, in order for the Holy Spirit to present the evidence to support the superiority, the supremacy, and the sufficiency of Christ, he selects a three-fold presentation. This will be our outline. He says that Jesus is superior in His office, superior in His work, and superior in His person. In fact, the entire book of Hebrews is written to cause us to "Consider Jesus."
Open with me your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 3, we will be looking at verses 1-6. I believe this is a very important message for all of us today, it is my prayer that you will be richly blessed.
I invite you to follow along with me as I read to set the text in our minds, as we prepare our hearts, for a message from the Lord. Hebrews 3:1-6.
In verse 1, the Holy Spirit says Jesus is superior to Moses in His office. "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession"
Beloved, whether you are a Christian or not, I would ask you to consider Jesus. This is the central meaning to all of our preaching and teaching. Consider Jesus.
The writer begins with the word wherefore, which means he’s building on something that has come to
pass before this. In other words, "Wherefore, on the basis of what I have already said."
Wherefore points us backward. Based upon what I have told you, that He was made for a little while lower than the angels, He is author of salvation through sufferings, He is the sanctifier, Who calls us brother, He destroyed Satan and conquered death, He delivered us from sin, freeing us from the bondage of slavery. He is the high priest, He is the One sent from God. He is powerful, sympathetic, merciful, faithful, saving, reconciling, helping, He is all of that and more! Because of all that I have said about Jesus, "wherefore, holy brethren, consider Him." Consider Him.
There is so much more to consider about Jesus, far more than I could ever exhaust in a lifetime of preaching.
Most of us do not relate to Judaism, however, I do believe that we find ourselves often lured
into believing that our works, our religious trappings are what it’s
all about, that God expects more from us than just our faith and our love; He
expects us to do certain things in order to please Him. I believe that we have all fallen into that trap. While I believe that we accept that God's grace is complete in Christ, we still kind of hang on to a form of artificial legalism rather than live
the positive Christ controlled, spirit energized life. These statements
of Christ sufficiency certainly shatter all legalistic efforts, whether
Judaistic or any other kind.
So now let's look at what he says next, "holy brethren." Holy brethren, what a tremendous statement!
I'm sure we all understand this statement, because we have studied what brethren means, as believers we are brothers with Christ, because we’re identified with Him, we are brethren. As a footnote, many people assume that because he uses the word "brethren," that he is speaking to Christians. However, just because he uses the word "brethren" does not necessarily mean that he is talking to Christians.
If we look at the book of Acts, in chapter 2, verse 29, "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day." And, in Acts 13:38, "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you," In these verses, the Jews are referred to brethren. They are referred to as brethren. However, here, when He says, "holy brethren," we know whom He’s speaking about, He is speaking to believers.
This is referring to the believers in the sense of those who are true brothers, as described in chapter 2 verse
11, those who are sanctified in Christ, for which cause He’s not ashamed to
call them brothers. So this passage is written to the Christians, the
holy Jews, the holy brothers in Christ. They’re holy not because of
their practice, but because of their position. They are the real thing.
They are soul brothers, sanctified, set apart, and made holy in Christ. That is whom is He is speaking to here. And, just to add emphasis, He includes the statement, "partakers of the heavenly calling."
Allow me to further illustrate this to you by reading Hebrews 10:10, which says "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." The point is, when you received Christ, you were made positionally holy. We see that in verse 17, which says "And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." There is no more sin, positionally. We are holy, we’re set
apart, and pure positionally. All Christians are holy in
position their before God. However, we continuously strive to love holy in practice, don't we? It's an ongoing battle that we all face. We must be intentional in our pursuit of practical holiness.
The word "consider" means that we are "to fix the mind upon Jesus Christ." As a footnote, in the original language it is an imperative, which makes it a command! Essentially, it means if one were really to "consider Jesus" the result will be a radical change in thinking and overall outlook. So, He commands us to Consider Jesus.
In other words, we have a heavenly home, we have a heavenly Jerusalem, we have a heavenly calling.
He is making a distinction between the superiority of Christ and Judaism. Judaism was an earthly calling with an earthly inheritance. That's the distinction. Christianity is a spiritual and heavenly calling with a spiritual and heavenly inheritance. Christ is superior. Our home is in heaven. Our place of residence is in heaven. And spiritually, we live right now in the heavenlies. We look at our surroundings, and we quickly realize, that we really don’t belong here. So, consider Jesus.
In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul says "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained."
Perhaps some of you are struggling with whether or not you are saved, I invite you to "consider Jesus." You may be struggling spiritually to put one foot in
front of the other, without somehow failing miserably, "then consider
Jesus." I know that some of you have been wondering whether or not God could forgive you for your sin, and
unfaithfulness, "consider Jesus." You may be thinking that the
sin in your life is too big, just too despicable for God to forgive, so I ask you now, to "consider Jesus." Listen, no one needs that message any more than I do. Most of you likely do not know that, but I need it just as much as any of you. Because I am your pastor, many of you assume I've got it all together, don't be fooled, I am a long way from discovering all of His glorious, all of His beauty, all that He is.
If you stop and think about it, that's quite a powerful thing to say to these Jews. Since you are all citizens in the heavenlies, why don’t you let go of the earthly things? That is why I do not believe there should be any religious rituals in the church. We don’t need rituals, we have the reality! We are to worship our Father, in spirit and in truth, not in ritual. We are the partakers of the heavenly calling, we are sharers in the righteous nature of Christ, in his heavenly calling. We don't need rituals.
Paul tells us in Philippians 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus."
I have discovered, that many Christians created their own version of Jesus in their minds, however, He isn’t the Jesus of
the Bible. Their version Jesus is accepting and never judgmental, so when they sin,
which is quite often, their Jesus just hugs them and assures them that we all
make mistakes. Their Jesus loves them just as they are, that He doesn't expect them to change their behavior. Which is how
they like it, because they really do not want to be confronted with their sin, they do not want to be required discipline themselves for the purpose of godliness. The problem is,
their "Jesus" doesn't exist! The Jesus they have created in their minds, is not the Jesus of the Bible!
I implore you, as well as myself; Take time to consider Jesus and consider Him often!
Our confession refers both to the body of Christian truth that we call “the faith,” and to our obedience to His commands to obey His Word. The creeds and confessions of the Christian doctrine define in a concise way what we believe and the way we are to live. God sees everything we do, whether in private or in public. The key to being faithful is our obedience. Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
Now, I'd like you to notice in verse 2, "He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house." Jesus, who was faithful to Him that appointed Him. In John chapter 6, Jesus says "
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." Jesus is always about His Father's business!
In other words, "You can tell I’m a true Messiah because I don’t seek my own glory; I seek the glory of the one that sent me."
In other words, "You can tell I’m a true Messiah because I don’t seek my own glory; I seek the glory of the one that sent me."
Jesus was always about His Father's business. He always did the Father’s will. He was faithful.
When he slew the Egyptian in Egypt, even in the wilderness when he smote the rock instead of speaking to the rock.
Naturally, we move from a general call to consider Jesus to ask
ourselves, "What is it that the writer of Hebrews and the God who
inspired him wants us to consider about Jesus today?" And the answer is
the superiority of Jesus over Moses! When the writer turns to contrast Jesus and Moses, it really means something because Moses
was a one of a kind in his day. He had a more intimate relationship with
God than any other prophet. The Jews held Moses in such a highly exalted
state that one of their greatest Rabbi’s held Moses was so great that he comprehended more of God than
any man in the past or future ever comprehended or will comprehend.
All of us as Christians have a responsibility to witness to people in our communities that God has placed right around you, and
you’ve been an unfaithful steward of the trust that God’s committed you.
Others of you have been given a position of teaching the Word or instructing others,
and you’ve been unfaithful to study diligently and faithfully and
sacrificially, and consequent, you’re an unfaithful steward. Allow me to remind all of you, the Christian life is a sacred trust given to you by God, and it demands your faithfulness. I do not believe that any of us, have even begun to imagine what God can do through us if we’re willing to be faithful.
That brings us to verse 3, "For
He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as
the builder of the house has more honor than the house." Here, He makes the case for why Jesus more glory. Yes, Moses was faithful, but he’s is only a piece of the house. Jesus made the entire house.That marks the difference! Jesus is superior to Moses because He created Israel. He created Moses. All things were made by Him. Moses was only a member of the spiritual household which Jesus Himself built.Jesus built the church. Well, in order to do all that He would have to be God, right?
Let's look at verse 4, "For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God." There it is right there, Jesus is God. He’s God. Every house is built by Jesus, Who is God. You and I are part of God's house because someone shared the gospel with us. Some told us about Jesus Christ. And they’re responsible in a human sense for part of the house. So, who really created the house? God did. It was God Who did the work through them.
Now let's look at verses 5 and 6, so here is the climax. First, we see His office is superior and His work is superior, then the superiority of His person. "Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end"
In this passage you’re going to see that Moses is by person a servant; Jesus is by person a Son. Do you see it? "but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house." That's the difference, Moses is by person a servant, Christ was faithful as a Son. There is a huge distinction between a servant and a son.
In fact, John 8:35 says "The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever."
Moses conducted himself as a servant. He was a faithful, obedient, ministering, caring servant, and he was a good and faithful steward of God. I'd like you to notice something else here, he never compares Jesus with the failures of Moses. There is no need to compare Jesus with anyone's failures, He is only and always compared with the best of men to illustrate His greatness. If He were to
be compared with the worst of men, that would prove nothing. Would it? Judaism without Christ, is incomplete, it's not the whole story. So Moses pointed to Jesus. That's the point!
At the end of verse 6, "if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end."
Here he closes out this verse with a guarantee that we’re the spiritual house. Over the years I have a number of debates over what this means. I believe its pretty straight forward really. It means continuance is the proof of reality, the one who falls out, never belonged in the first place. For those who have come and never put their faith
in Christ, they fall away, they give evidence that they never did
really receive Christ.
It's like what Jesus said in John 8, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine."
In other words, true saints persevere all the way to the end. And, if you don't, then you never really were committed to Christ in the first place. That is the point!
In Closing...
Beloved, it is too easy for us to lose perspective in life. We can become so involved in doing good,
things we neglect the best thing. We let non essential goals consume most
of our energy. We can put our own comfort and ease ahead of doing the work of
Christ. We allow the business of daily living become our goal. We must "put
first things first" we must be intentional in following Christ and doing
His will, making it our first priority.
So I ask you now, Consider Jesus, I promise you that He is all you need.
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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