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Y’all Need Jesus (Hebrews 7:26-28) *All verses in NKJV*
– In Hebrews Chapter 7, the author is building the case for why Jesus is the ultimate high priest and spiritual leader, by comparing Him to the examples of priesthood that they understood already.
– They are all familiar with the Law of Moses and the Levitical Priesthood. They know about Father Abraham, of whom they are all his children. These are the most honored and revered men in history.
– There is a priest even greater than the priests and leaders they already know and give great honor.
– He tells them of Melchizedek, the “king of justice” and “king of peace”, and high priest of God Most High. There is no record of the beginning or end of his life, so his priesthood remains forever.
– Abraham paid a tithe to him, and received a blessing from him. The one who has the power to bless is greater than the one being blessed.
– The Jews paid tithes to the Levites, but the Levites paid tithes to someone with even more spiritual authority, Melchizedek, by proxy through Father Abraham, who pre-dates the law.
– Now Jesus is described as being a high priest in the order of Melchizedek. The illustration meaning to show that Jesus too, is greater than all others that came before him. He is worthy of all honor.
– Jesus is the King of justice and peace, no beginning and no end, and because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood remains forever.
– Hebrews 6:19-20, This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
– Jesus is greater than the Levite Priesthood. Even though they were chosen by God, they couldn’t really fulfill the requirements of the sacrificial systems because they were only human.
– Humans are inherently sinful and flawed. The high priest needed to offer a sacrifice for himself as well as for the people. It was never enough to truly pay the price for sin.
Hebrews 7:26-28, For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless (innocent), undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests, men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
1. Jesus is our perfect high priest.
Hebrews 7:26, For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless (innocent), undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens…
– The High Priest was the top spiritual authority to all of the people, even the rulers and kings.
– His job included being responsible for all of the subordinate priests, overseeing ceremonies and sacrificial offerings, and interceding, on behalf of the people, with God.
– The High Priest was the connection point between a holy God and sinful man.
– His most important responsibility was to conduct the service, once a year, on the Day of Atonement. Only he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before God.
– Having made a sacrifice of an unblemished animal, for himself and for the people, he then brought the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, or God’s “throne”.
– He did this to make atonement and gain forgiveness for himself and the people for all their sins committed, knowingly and unknowingly, during the year that just ended.
– The High Priest could only enter the holy of holies once a year, and only with the blood.
– Jesus is our perfect High Priest, undefiled, innocent, and deserving even more respect and honor.
– Because he is sinless, he may enter the holy of holies anytime, and is our connection to a holy God.
– John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
– Eph. 2:14, For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
– Jesus sprinkled his own blood on the mercy seat when he died on the cross, as the final blood sacrifice to atone for man’s sin.
– Hebrews 9:11-13, But Christ came as High Priest of the good things that have come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
– Because Jesus died on the cross, for the forgiveness of our sins, those who are born again have a direct connection to God Himself, through our savior Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin.
– Hebrews 7:27, (Jesus, our High Priest) who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
– Old Testament sacrifices were intended to signify more than mere homage. The significance was achieving forgiveness, making amends for sin, through the offering of a substitute.
– The animal being killed is an intermediary, a substitute, paying the price for sin in our place.
– Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin (what you have earned) is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– The person offering the sacrifice is fully aware that they are seeking restoration for the sins they have committed, and their sacrifice must be acceptable to God. (God doesn’t want leftovers.)
– This is not a casual thing. Its dead serious! Jesus had to die for YOUR sin.
– The New Testament uses many terms describing Jesus’ death as relates to the sacrificial systems.
– His life given as a ransom for many (It paid the cost to set us free).
– His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sin, saved by the blood, washed in the blood…
– The lamb that takes away the sin of the world… (The substitute for our own death for sin.)
– Romans 5:18-19, Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
– Jesus offered himself up on the cross, taking our place and paying the price for our sin, forever.
– Hebrews 10:11-14, And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
– 1 John 2:2, And He Himself is the propitiation (appeasement/atonement) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3. We follow our Pastors as they follow Christ.
– Hebrews 7:28, For the law appoints as high priests, men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
– God assigns spiritual leaders over His people. The Levitical Priesthood was ordained by God, but they were not perfect. They also needed a sacrifice for their own sins. All humans are flawed!
– Romans 3:23-24, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
– We are all striving to trust Jesus in every area of our lives, and are working towards sanctification, but often fall short. That in no way negates the spiritual authority that God has given to pastors.
– James 3:1-2, My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
– Church people often think this means that they are justified in calling out the pastor’s mistakes, but are insulated from someone calling out theirs. (“He’s the one held to a higher standard, not me.” )
– Don’t hold someone else to a higher level of accountability to God than you are holding yourself.
– We all need grace. No one is perfect but, praise the Lord, we have Pastor Matt to lead us!
– God has given us leaders, and a mission, but we need to understand “the commander’s intent.”
– There are many who look for spiritual loopholes to avoid being accountable for their sin, by saying a particular thing is not mentioned in the bible, or a Greek word’s meaning is slightly different…
– 2 Peter 1:3, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
– 2 Tim 3:16-17, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
– Every single thing is not dictated out in the bible for you to nit-pick, but there is plenty written for you to understand the commander’s intent, and what God desires from you.
– Example: I am not the Fire Chief, but I speak on his behalf. If my firefighters disobey me, they are disobeying him. I know the mission and what the chief would want, so I can operate independently. Knowing what your boss wants or would do is knowing the commander’s intent.
– My leadership at work, my FF knows my intent and can operate somewhat independently to accomplish tasks. You can be wrong for the right reasons. That is okay!
– If they made the plan without me, I ask myself, “Is it safe? Will it work? Then we will do it.” We can always talk about better ways later.
– They have permission to hold me accountable too. We are a team and need each other. (Safety issues, sharing an idea, suggesting a different plan…)
* I am ultimately in charge and they will do what I say UNLESS I want them to violate the written guidelines, or disobey the Chief.
– Jesus is the Fire Chief, the Pastor is the Captain, and we are the firefighters.
– You may not always agree with the plan but, “Does it match up with scripture? Does it meet God’s plan for our lives?” Then we do it.
– Luke 10:16, Jesus said, “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
– We follow the Pastor, as he follows Christ. (This is not blind submission!) Our ultimate allegiance is to Jesus. He has appointed a pastor over us. If the pastor doesn’t follow Jesus, we don’t follow him.
Conclusion: Y’all Need Jesus!
– Jesus is the Chief, the Commander, the ultimate High Priest. He deserves all glory, and respect, and submission, and obedience. This should be taken seriously.
– My testimony, trouble staying away from old life… “Do you really believe the bible is true? Do you really believe Jesus is who he says he is? Then you need to live your life that way!”
– You need to ask yourself; do you believe what the bible says is true? Is Jesus real?
– If you said YES, and you are a believer, repent of your sins and live like it!
– If you aren’t a believer, and you said YES, give you life to him tonight!
– prayer –
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