My name is James. I'll be bringing the reading this morning from Hebrews chapter 7.
We'll be reading the whole chapter together.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God,
met Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.
And to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything.
He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness,
and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life,
but resembling the Son of God, he continues a priest forever.
See how great this man was, to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the spoils.
And those descendants of Levi, who received the priestly office,
have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,
through the, though these are descended from Abraham, are also descended from Abraham.
But this man, who does not have his descent from them, received tithes from Abraham,
and blessed him who had the promises.
It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
In the one case, tithes are received by mortal men,
but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Now, if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood,
for under it the people received the law,
what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek,
rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
For the one of whom these things are spoken belong to another tribe,
from which no one has ever served at the altar.
For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah,
and in connection with that tribe, Moses said nothing about priests.
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
who has become a priest not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent,
but by the power of an indestructible life.
For it is witnessed of him,
you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness,
for the law made nothing perfect.
But on the other hand, a better hope is introduced,
through which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath,
for those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath.
But this one was made a priest with an oath,
by the one who said to him,
The Lord has sworn, and I will not change his mind.
You are a priest forever.
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number,
because they were prevented by death from continuing in office.
But he holds his priesthood permanently,
because he continues forever.
However,
consequently,
he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him,
since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,
holy, innocent, unstained,
separated from sinners,
and exalted above the heavens.
He has no need,
like those high priests,
to offer sacrifices daily,
first for his own sins,
and then for those of the people,
since he did this once for all,
when he offered up himself.
For the law appoints men in their weakness,
as high priests.
But the word of the oath,
which came later than the law,
appoints a son,
who has been made perfect forever.
Well, good morning, everyone.
My name's,
well,
you all know,
anyway,
don't you?
I was too slow,
wasn't I?
For those who don't know my name,
it's David.
I'm one of the staff here.
Well,
the passage we're looking at this morning
is hinged around the word
perfection.
And it occurred to me
that perfection
is something
that we
all crave,
especially in relationships,
and perhaps especially
in our homes.
So I think we crave perfection
as husbands,
as wives,
father,
mother,
as children.
And I think we crave perfection
in our wider friendships.
And at work.
And even in our leisure pursuits.
And I think the source of that
is that deep in our innermost being,
I think we sense
that we're made for something
much better
than the imperfections
we see in ourselves
and the imperfections
we see in others around us.
The imperfections,
in fact,
we see at every point
in our world.
And
the problem is,
I think,
that striving for perfection
makes us
anxious.
Because
as we strive for perfection,
and I think in our world today,
we fear being judged
for imperfection.
And I think that may also,
then,
in part,
drive the current
focus
on the need
for resilience.
resilience.
We even have got
official government people
whose job
is to
pursue
resilience
in the nation.
And resilience,
I think,
is a measure of perfection.
Now,
back in the day,
a long day ago,
when you had physical bookstores,
does anybody remember
physical bookstores?
Oh,
a couple,
even Simon remembers them.
You're older than you think,
buddy.
Or older than you're prepared
to admit,
maybe.
If you get into a bookstore,
a physical bookstore,
by far and away,
the largest section
was always
the self-help section.
That has been replaced today
by online.
Endless online
influencers
and podcasters
who are constantly
giving us
stuff
to help us
be better.
Chase perfection
or,
in the terms
of today,
I think,
help us to be
the best version
of ourselves
in whatever context
that is.
Now,
of course,
like everything else
we do in life,
our measure of perfection
is usually individualistic
and self-centered.
Recently,
just last week,
in fact,
I saw a lady
at the supermarket
wearing a T-shirt
and I couldn't help
because the words
were large,
but it said,
I'm living my best life,
don't get in my way.
And I thought,
the two phrases
sort of jarred.
Her best life
wasn't that relaxed
for her,
I don't think.
Then last week
in Outback Magazine,
I read about
a 15-year-old girl,
PLC Armadale,
and they run
a program
for their year nine kids,
a 28-day program
of really challenging
outdoor tasks.
And the design
of the course,
by their own words,
is to build confidence
and resilience,
to make the girls
feel confident
and comfortable
with themselves.
Anyway,
this girl,
when she was asked
to report on her
at the results
of that course for her,
she said,
I thought it was
a really interesting
phrase for a 15-year-old.
I used to be
really scared
of imperfection.
It's quite interesting
for a 15-year-old girl,
isn't it?
I used to be
really scared
of imperfection.
And then she goes on
to describe
how the course
had reduced
her anxiety
and increased
her happiness
because,
as she said,
I've begun
to like this
new version
of myself
that appeared
during this 28-day
program.
Turn it aside again,
just thinking more
about this perfection.
We're very quick
to call out
and condemn
imperfection
in others around us,
I think.
Including those
closest to us.
Now,
in part,
I think that's
probably because
that we
need people
around us
to be perfect
as a sort
of reinforcement
or an offset
of our own
imperfection
to give us
peace of mind.
So,
when they
show imperfection,
that really
unsettles us,
unnerves us,
and perhaps
even disappoints us.
And so,
we express
almost a demand
that they get
their life
life in order
and become
more perfect
for us.
But partly,
it may also be
because
if I can point
out somebody
else's imperfection,
then I can
actually reassure
myself that I'm
up the scale
a bit
in the quest
for perfection.
And so,
I can build
my sense
of achieving
perfection
as I expose
the imperfection
of others
around us.
And again,
the familiar
word is a
very common
word in our
society today.
Anybody who
impacts my
sense of
perfection
by their
imperfection,
we often
just call
toxic people.
And of course,
we all know
what we have
to do with
toxic people.
We get rid
of them,
unfriend
them,
just move
away from
them.
Now,
for those
who have
been struggling
to engage
with the
story of
the letter
of Hebrews,
I think
the idea
of perfection
is a really
good point
of engagement.
Because this
was a letter
written to a
bunch of
Christians with
a Jewish
background who
were also
seeking
perfection so
they could
live the
best life
possible for
them in
their situation.
and that
best life
possible for
them clearly
included how
much Jesus
would figure
in their
lives, how
much Jesus
would shape
their lives,
how much
Jesus would
shape their
thinking and
living.
Especially
as they
started to
realize that
the cost of
serving Jesus
was getting
greater and
greater,
excluded from
family,
excluded from
their local
community,
excluded from
the local
synagogue,
not able to
be part of
the society
which was
built around
the Jewish
religious
calendar,
and increasingly
the reality
of brutal
persecution,
even death,
at the hands
of the Roman
masters.
So they
were trying to
work out,
well, what is
perfection for
us?
Yes, it
involves Jesus,
but how much
Jesus?
The argument
of the letter
of Hebrews is
very simple.
Don't be
tempted to
move away
from an
all-in
identification
and commitment
to Jesus.
That's the
argument.
Don't do it.
Don't be
tempted to.
Very simple
argument.
The answer
and the
reason, as
it were, is
also quite
simple.
Don't do
it because
Jesus is
the perfection
you crave.
Right?
To put
your hope
or confidence
of acceptance
with God
in anything
other than
the perfection
of Jesus
is to put
your hope
in
imperfection
and indeed
actually denies
the perfection
of Jesus.
Jesus.
And that
takes us
into chapter
seven, which
continues to
establish the
perfection of
Jesus as
God's long
promised and
uniquely
qualified high
priest.
So here we
go.
We have to
dive into
the bit that
sort of makes
it hard for
us.
Priests and
sacrifice in
the Old
Testament Jewish
religious system.
Well, priests
and sacrifice
were at the
center of the
Old Testament
Jewish religious
system.
They had a
very responsible
role.
And the role
was actually, it
was called a
mediator.
Mediator is
somebody who's
in between two
or more parties.
And the
priest's role
was to bring
dirty, rebellious,
sinful people
together into
relationship with
a clean, holy,
perfect God.
No mean
feat.
To do that,
the priest's role
meant he had to
deal with the
sin of these
dirty, sinful
people so that
they'd be
acceptable in
relationship with
the clean, holy,
sinless God.
And he did that
through sacrifices.
But also he
needed to pray for
these dirty, sinful
people because he
prayed to the
Lord for them
because he said,
Lord, you know
the weakness of
these people.
You know they
can't keep their
promises.
You know they
might mean well
but can't deliver.
So the priest's job
was to pray for
his people.
And help them
in their struggle
for obedience.
So the
argument of the
letter written
primarily to
Christians with a
Jewish background
is dominated by
the background
question of
which priest
will you
trust to
make you
acceptable to
God?
But
and ensure
you make it
home safely
to heaven.
Now from the
opening paragraph
of the letter
Jesus is
presented as
God's
unique
or purpose
built
perfect
high priest
who has been
perfectly
successful
in his role
as mediator.
and that
has been
set up
in contrast
to the
imperfection
and ultimate
failure of
every other
priesthood
and indeed
the whole
Jewish
religious
system.
That's the
contrast that's
operating right
through the
letter.
Jesus has dealt
perfectly with
sin.
He knows
and understands
our situation
perfectly.
He is
constantly
praying for
us.
He stands
ready to
help his
people be
faithful.
and ultimately
he will lead
us home to
glory or
the word that
we've been
introduced to
us in
Hebrews chapter
three and
four is the
word rest.
He will lead
us home to
rest.
Now what is
rest?
It is the
enjoyment of
the perfection
of God
from our own
point of
having been
made perfect.
So perfection
is everywhere
in Hebrews.
And the
letter is
saying we
can have
absolute
confidence
before God
because of
Jesus because
the refrain
is he's
our better
high priest.
Chapter
four verse
16.
So last
week we're
forever
anchored
his
perfection.
That was
where the
end of
Dave's
passage from
last week
chapter six
verse 20
18 through
20.
He's that
good.
Perfection
how do you
describe
perfection
except to
say perfection
is perfection
and Jesus
is perfection.
So we can
be totally
confident
totally
relaxed
to as
aware
just
wander
into the
presence
of God
as his
child.
to pick
up
what
Alan
said
this
morning.
Sorry to
kill you
Alison.
What could
be offensive
about that
Alan?
Okay I
don't know
where that
came from
I'm so
sorry.
Having said
all that
there's a
question
lurking in
the background
for those
who knew a
thing or two
about the
Old Testament
Jewish
religion.
And that
question
hitherto has
been unspoken
in the
letter but I
want to try
and bring it
out this
morning because
I think it
helps us
understand
chapter 7.
That is
how can
Jesus be
this bigger
and better
high priest
when in
fact he's
not qualified
to be a
priest at
all?
Now
God's law
was really
clear about
two things.
God's law
was really
clear that
priests had
to be from
the line of
Aaron and
Levi.
Clearly
our text
chapter 7
tells us
Jesus was
from the
line of
Judah.
So he
didn't have
that
qualification
therefore he
couldn't be
a priest.
The other
thing that
God's law
was really
clear about
was that
the role
of priest
and king
had to be
kept
separate.
Now
surely this
means that
Jesus being
a descendant
of King
David from
the line of
Judah and
given that
he's already
been described
multiple times
in this letter
as the
king and
lord of
this world
king of
kings and
lord of
lords.
Then
surely given
that he
can also
claim to
be a high
priest.
So in
two accounts
as it
were
Jesus
could not
properly be
considered a
great high
priest.
Dilemma.
Enter
Melchizedek
or as
Lachlan
introduced him
to us a
couple of
weeks ago
Milky
Joe.
Melchizedek
Melchizedek's
this mysterious
figure who
pictures or
gives us a
sneak peek
of the
into God's
plan for
an alternative
perfect
priest-king
figure.
I'll try and
unpack that a
little bit for
you.
Last week,
two or three
weeks ago,
in chapter 5,
verse 6 and
10, we were
introduced to
this guy,
Melchizedek.
And the
writer found
Melchizedek
back in
Psalm 110.
10.
And he uses
Melchizedek to
explain the
unique qualification
and perfection
of Jesus as
God's high
priest.
So Melchizedek,
as it were,
is a sneak
peek or a
video clip,
a real life
lesson, as it
were, something
like that.
And it goes
like this, I
think.
Just as King
David, back in
Psalm 95, and
Alan read that to
you this morning,
just as King
David in Psalm 95
had written of
the need for a
better rest than
the promised land
had ever
delivered, even
under his rule.
Remember, King
David was the
pinnacle of the
life of the
promised land.
So King David,
even then, said,
we need a better
rest.
We don't have
that enjoyment of
perfection in
God's presence.
It just didn't
deliver.
We couldn't
deliver it.
And that was
discussed back in
chapters 3 and
4.
But just as he
said that, so
also, in Psalm
110, King
David wrote of
the need for a
new and better
priest-king
figure to
deliver that
rest to God's
people.
So we need a
better rest, and
we need someone
who can deliver
us into that
rest.
In Psalm 110,
David envisages
this priest-king
figure to
who would do
that, in the
order of
Melchizedek.
The same
connection at the
end of Dave's
passage last
week, 620.
Melchizedek was
a sneak preview
of God's plan to
deliver the
perfection of
rest or
salvation, a
sure hope of
acceptance before
God, and
direct access to
him forever.
Now, the
background, the
backstory to
Melchizedek is in
Genesis chapter
14.
We're
introduced to
Melchizedek, and
he was
unusually both
a king and a
priest.
And as you
read that story,
and you should
go and read it,
very interesting
story.
As you read
that story, you
find that not
only was a
king and a
priest combined,
but he was
actually a
model of both
roles, a very
good model of
both roles.
You'll see when
you read Genesis
14 that as
king, he
was concerned
to recognize
and honor the
Lord.
And in
Genesis 14,
that makes
him stand in
sharp contrast
to another
king that was
mentioned there,
the king of
Sodom, who
was entirely
self-interested.
And then
again as
priest,
Melchizedek
brought God's
blessing to
Abraham, and
in turn
encouraged Abraham
to be thankful
to the Lord for
the victory he
had just won
against all odds.
So the priest
was actually
doing what a
priest was
meant to do.
He was
bringing the
clean God and
that sinful,
rebellious Abraham
together.
His name,
we're told in
chapter 7 here,
which in Old
Testament terms
always describes
a person's
character,
highlights his
desire to rule
his people in
righteousness,
and to
ensure rest
or peace,
that's in his
name,
exists between
the Holy God
and dirty,
rebellious people.
He's there on
the job praying
for his people,
encouraging
thankfulness and
obedience.
He is, in a
sense, the
model priest.
God, he
was really
good, but he
wasn't the
best.
But he does
give us a
sneak preview to
the one who
would be the
best, the
Lord Jesus.
Now then,
after that,
various other
things are made
to sort of
build the
point.
verse 4,
the authority
of Melchizedek,
because he just
bursts onto the
scene, and he's
not the normal
pattern for a
priest, but the
writer to the
Hebrew is saying,
well, look,
clearly, he was
recognized as a
priest by one as
great as Abraham,
the father of
all Jews.
He was
recognized and
honored as
Abraham accepted
a blessing from
him and offered
a tithe to him,
which was the
legislative response,
the entitlement
of a priest.
Verse 9,
it's an idea,
an argument that's
not familiar to
us, the
argument of
solidarity.
So the
argument is
this, that
Abraham approves
and endorses
and honors this
priestly
Melchizedek,
Levi, who
would be his
great grandson
because of a
principle of
solidarity, that
is what the
father of the
race gets,
then flows
right down
through to
everybody it
comes from.
In that
basic argument,
the writer says,
well, in that
sense, Levi has
also endorsed
and recognized
a greater
priesthood than
what he came
from.
But ultimately,
so he comes
with high
validation, but
ultimately,
verses 3 and
8, the
ultimate validation
of Melchizedek
is from the
Lord by the
way in which
the Lord brings
him into the
picture unannounced
and equally
quickly takes
him back
out.
So he's a
priest and
a king, but
because the
record doesn't
tell us anything
else, essentially
then he's a
priest and
king forever.
Melchizedek
is one who
was purpose
built as
God's savior
figure, a
king priest
with forever
authority.
Perhaps, is it
too much to say
he was purpose
built to give
us a sneak
peek of the
best priest
that would be
to come, the
best king that
was still to
come?
Whatever we
want to say
about Melchizedek,
he does actually
give us a sneak
peek of Jesus.
He is all that
God's people need
to be delivered
into rest.
a king that
will rule over
them and take
them to God, a
priest who will
deal with their
sins and pray
for them.
Pray for them
rather, sorry.
He is the
unique, purpose
built, perfect
priest who would
resolve the
problem of sin
once for all and
who would also be
a perfect king
figure as he looks
forward to Jesus,
leading his people
safely home to
glory or heaven.
Now all of that
in the first 10
verses of chapter
7 builds to
the main point,
the conclusion
that the writer
wants to get to.
And if you get
stuck on Melchizedek,
well then leave
him behind at
this point.
Come with me
through verse 11
to 28 because
that's where the
writer really wants
us to focus.
He sort of starts
to dig into now
the various
aspects of the
perfection of
Jesus as our
great high priest.
the conclusion
is that God's
perfection is
won for us and
gifted to us in
Jesus.
Now again, the
argument goes
something like
this.
Since God's
rest or heaven
is perfection,
and since God's
people are dirty,
rebellious,
imperfect,
perfect, then
how can we
achieve perfection
such that we
will be
acceptable in
relationship forever
with the perfect
Lord, perfect
God?
Answer,
Jesus is just
what the doctor
ordered.
not only was he
perfect,
which is
something remarkable
in itself,
not only did he
show us God's
perfection,
if you've seen me,
you've seen the
Father, which is
even more
remarkable,
most remarkable
of all,
he delivers
perfection to
his dirty,
sinful people
in such a way
as to guarantee
forever
perfection for
God's people
and therefore
complete
acceptance
before the
Lord.
Jesus delivers
what no other
others before
him could only
point to.
That's the
argument of
verses 11,
12, 13,
14.
So,
why does
Jesus turn
up with a
high endorsement
that he has
as God's
alternative
priest after
the order of
Melchizedek
when there was
apparently a
perfectly good
Levitical
priesthood system
already in
operation?
Answer could
only be.
The only one
logical answer
because that
existing system
was imperfect
and always
anticipated
something better
coming along
to do what
it couldn't
do,
to achieve
what it
could never
achieve.
The Old
Testament system
could never
bring God's
people to
perfection.
verses 18 and
19 sort of
flesh out that
a little bit.
Talking about
the weakness
of the law.
The law
made nothing
perfect,
but on the
other hand,
a better hope
is introduced
through which
we draw near
to God.
So,
how does it
work?
God's law
introduced by
Moses was
intended to
make people
aware of
their sin
or imperfection
and to
make them
aware of
their inability
therefore to
be acceptable
in relationship
with God.
So,
the Old
Testament law
highlighted the
vast gap
between dirty
sinful people
and a
clean holy
God.
The
sacrificial
system then
was God's
temporary
provision
to bridge
that gap.
Allowing
dirty
sinful people
to come
and have
fellowship with
them, but
in the
context of
pretty strict
limits because
they were
mixing as
dirty people
in a very
very dangerous
situation as
they fellowshiped
with the
holy God.
So,
there was a
guardedness,
a contingency.
Yes, it
brought God
and people
together,
but under
pretty strict
guidelines.
So,
you see,
at best,
God's,
sorry,
I jumped
ahead of my
paragraph there.
So,
add to that
weakness
the failure
of the
priesthood
itself.
Look at
verse 23.
So,
you get
an imperfect
system
run by
imperfect
priests.
Their
imperfection
and weakness
was obvious.
Every single
high priest
died.
Josephus,
the Jewish
historian,
has done
the hard
work and
he reckons
there was
83
high
priests
from
Aaron
through to
the time
of Jesus.
And guess
what?
Every one
of them
died.
And then
there was
thousands of
other priests
and all of
them died
too.
The
priesthood
itself
was part
of the
problem
of sin.
So,
at best,
that system
could only
point people
to God's
future
perfection.
It could
never deliver
perfection.
It could
make people
anticipate
perfection.
It could
make them
desire
perfection.
It could
make them
cry out
to God
for perfection,
but it
couldn't
actually
deliver it
in itself.
Jesus
is God's
purpose-built
perfect
replacement
for that
whole
imperfect
system.
And at
every point
his superiority
is obvious.
At every
point it
is clear
that he
is
perfection
and wins
perfection
for his
dirty,
needy
people.
Verse 16,
and then
21 and
24.
Verse 16,
he has
become a
priest not
on the
basis of
a legal
requirement
concerning
bodily
descent,
but by
the power
of an
indestructible
life.
Same idea
in 21 and
24.
Jesus is
God's
forever
priest
because he
is God's
forever
person.
His
sinlessness
meant he
didn't die
like every
other person
before and
since.
he comes
with God's
specific
backing,
God's
special
oath,
which is
a really
big emphasis
there because
when God
says something
it's as
good as
done.
God
doesn't
have to
back up
his promise
with an
extra promise
saying I
really will
do it.
I mean
that's what
we have
to do,
that's what
kids do,
isn't it?
I really,
really,
really promise.
But God
in this
case is
so determined
to give
us people
confidence
that he
set this
path in
motion and
it will
never change.
It is
perfect.
He adds
another
promise to
it.
It's sort
of ridiculous
in a sense
but it's
there to
tell us
how serious
God is
about this.
Jesus
comes with
God's
specific
backing
and is
fit for
task.
He does
not need
to be
replaced.
He will
never need
to be
updated.
There's
no new
or better
priest to
come
because he
is now
in heaven
with an
endless
role
continuing
daily
from heaven
to call
his people
home,
to lead
them
home,
to pray
for his
people.
Verse 27,
he has no
need like
those high
priests to
offer
sacrifices
daily,
first for
his own
sins and
then for
those of
the people
since he
did this
once for
all when
he offered
up himself.
Jesus
is God's
solution.
He's
never
been,
never
will be
part of
the
problem.
Yes,
like other
priests,
Jesus did
die.
But unlike
other priests,
he didn't
die as a
consequence
of his own
imperfection
or sin.
Jesus died
voluntarily as
a perfect
sacrifice
to deal
finally and
completely with
the sins of
his people.
And that will
be unpacked
more in
chapters 9
and 10.
Verse 25,
Jesus saves
us completely.
He meets
our every
need and
he never
leaves us
alone.
consequently,
verse 25,
consequently,
there you
go,
that's the
arguments
bringing
forward.
Given all
that's been
said,
consequently,
he is
able to
save to
the uttermost.
Now,
that's not a
word we use
very much,
but to
save us
completely,
perfectly,
meeting our
every need,
never leaving
us alone.
He has
unique power,
unique ability,
unique desire
to deliver
perfection to
his dirty,
imperfect people,
making them
acceptable to
God forever.
And that's a
really important
thing in there
because some
people have the
power to do
good in this
world, but
don't.
They apply
their power
for their own
benefit.
Jesus has
power and
ability and
authority,
all of which
has been
applied through
his own
death and
resurrection
to bring
perfection to
his dirty,
imperfect people
so they
might be
acceptable to
God and
in turn enjoy
the perfection
of God,
rest or
heaven or
glory forever.
Jesus does
it.
He follows
through every
step of the
way of
salvation.
From in
eternity, we're
told in other
parts of
scripture, as
he planned
this great
salvation of
horribly dirty
people, to
the other end
of eternity
when we're
sitting beside
him in
perfection,
enjoying the
perfection of
God, like
Jesus and
with Jesus
forever.
every step
of the way,
he's done
it, he's
followed
through.
One
confession to
Jesus in
contrast to
the old
Jew system,
one confession
to Jesus is
enough to
bring us to
God.
Jesus, only
you can do
for me that
which I know
I can never
do for
myself.
I could
never deal
with my
own sins.
I recognize
my sin, that
which I know
about, and I
recognize it's
far, far worse
than even I'm
aware of, but
all of it I
confess to you
now and I
beg that you
will show me
grace and
mercy and give
me perfection
confession that's
not mine to
demand.
Just one
confession
makes you a
person acceptable
to God
forever.
Put that
against the
daily burden
of sacrifice
after sacrifice
after sacrifice.
The worry
of it, have
I done
enough?
What if I
missed out
some sins?
What if my
sacrifice wasn't
quite right?
What if the
priest didn't
offer the
sacrifice in
quite a right
way?
What if he
did that
without his
heart being
in the right
place?
Does my
sacrifice still
work for me?
Anxiety,
fear,
against one
confession to
Jesus.
Perfection.
Jesus never
forgets his
responsibility.
He never
forgets that
his people are
constantly at
risk of
failure.
So he's
constantly praying
for us and
helping us in
our struggle.
And because
Jesus'
relationship with
his father is
perfection,
therefore it's
always real,
it's always
immediate.
And therefore
his prayer
requests to
his father are
always for our
good.
and they
cover anything
required to
get us safely
through this
life and
home to
heaven to
be with him
forever.
That's a
heck of a lot
more broad
than my
prayers are
for the few
people I
pray for.
And it
even includes
his prayers
even include
things that
might trip
us up,
which we're
not even
aware of.
He's going
to stop us
as it were,
picture language,
he's going
to stop us
perhaps,
and I won't
go down that,
it could be
misunderstood,
it was a
non-scripted
thing so I'll
leave it out.
It was ill
thought.
Verse 28,
I'll finish
on this.
Since Jesus
is God's
son, he
is perfection.
Since he is
God's purpose
built Messiah,
his priest,
king, saviour
figure, he
has won
perfection for
us, has
gifted it to
us, and has
the power and
authority and
the means to
deliver us in
his perfection
home to
heaven.
Amen.
he has done
for us what
we'd never
do for
ourselves.
So, I
finish on this
word.
Back to the
start.
Where are you
looking for
perfection?
The
perfection you
crave and so
desperately need.
do you
think Jesus
is the
perfection you
need?
Do you
think his
perfection is
able and
willing to
meet all your
needs?
Very simple
way to test
your answer in
the quietness of
your own mind.
The evidence of
your answer will
be, do you
go to Jesus
for protection
and for your
needs?
Or are you
still searching
elsewhere?
Why look
beyond Jesus?
He is
perfection.
You can't
improve on
perfection.
So, Jesus
is the man
you're looking
for.
Thank you.