We've been studying together on the Lord's Day, the book of Hebrews.
And this morning our text will be Hebrews chapter 8.
! However, before you turn to Hebrews chapter 8,
! I'm going to ask you to join me in Revelation chapter 4.
The book of Hebrews was written by an unknown pastor
to a group of beleaguered Hellenistic Jews, Greek-speaking Jews,
who most likely lived on the outskirts of Rome
and had suffered much for their faith.
The text lets us know that they had been beaten,
some had been imprisoned,
some had had their property taken
because they were followers of Jesus Christ.
And some of them who had professed faith in Jesus
had left the church already,
and some of them were being tempted to do the same.
So the author of Hebrews writes to them this very pastoral letter
encouraging them to hold firm,
to stay steady,
because Christ is the great anchor of the soul.
And I know we've been spending a lot of time
talking about Jesus' priesthood,
his Melchizedekian priesthood,
and I know that it's easy for us to get lost sometimes
in all that that means.
The author of Hebrews finds it extremely important.
He's spending this great labor
to be sure that they understand
the significance of Jesus' priesthood.
And he continues that into chapter 8.
And so I thought this morning,
as we're going to consider further,
that Jesus is not a priest from the Aaronic priesthood,
but is rather a priest after the order of Melchizedek.
This massive significance,
him being able to save to the uttermost
those who draw near to God through him,
since he always lives to make intercession for them,
chapter 7 and verse 25,
that we would have a grander view
of what that looks like.
So to help expand our minds
and ignite our hearts to the glory of heaven,
I thought it would be good for us this morning
to read John's account of his vision
of Jesus Christ ascending to his throne
as our eternal high priest.
This has served me well,
Revelation chapter 4 and 5 this week,
and I hope it will do the same for you.
So beginning in verse 1,
Revelation 4 and following.
After this I looked,
and behold, a door standing open in heaven,
and the first voice which I had heard
speaking to me like a trumpet said,
come up here,
and I will show you what must take place
after this.
At once I was in the Spirit,
and behold, a throne stood in heaven
with one seated on the throne.
And he who sat there
had the appearance of jasper and carnelian,
and around the throne was a rainbow
that had the appearance of an emerald.
Around the throne were 24 thrones,
and seated on the thrones were 24 elders,
clothed in white garments
with golden crowns on their heads.
From the throne came flashes of lightning
and rumblings and peals of thunder,
and before the throne were burning
seven torches of fire,
which are the seven spirits of God.
And before the throne there was,
as it were,
a sea of glass like crystal.
And around the throne,
on each side of the throne,
are four living creatures
full of eyes in front and behind.
The first living creature like a lion.
The second living creature like an ox.
The third living creature with the face of a man.
And the fourth living creature
like an eagle in flight.
And the four living creatures,
each of them with six wings,
are full of eyes all around and within,
and day and night,
they never cease to say,
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come.
And whenever the living creatures
give glory and honor and thanks to Him
who is seated on the throne,
who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before Him
who is seated on the throne,
and worship Him who lives forever and ever.
They cast their crowns before the throne,
saying,
Worthy are You, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for You created all things,
and by Your will,
they existed and were created.
We're not going to unpack the significance
of all of that this morning,
but it is awesome.
Chapter 5.
Then I saw in the right hand of Him
who was seated on the throne
a scroll written within and on the back,
sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a mighty angel
proclaiming with a loud voice,
Who is worthy to open the scroll
and break its seals?
And no one in heaven or on earth
or under the earth
was able to open the scroll
or to look into it.
And I began to weep loudly
because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll
or to look into it.
And one of the elders said to me,
Weep no more.
Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Root of David,
has conquered
so that He can open the scroll
and its seven seals.
And between the throne
and the four living creatures
and among the elders
I saw a lamb standing
as though it had been slain
with seven horns
and with seven eyes
which are the seven spirits of God
sent out into all the earth.
And He went and took the scroll
from the right hand of Him
who was seated on the throne.
And when He had taken the scroll,
the four living creatures
and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the lamb,
each holding a harp
and golden bowls full of incense
which are the prayers of the saints.
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.
You have made them a kingdom
and priests to our God.
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 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 worshipped.
This
is our Christ.
And I think
he gets lost
so often
in our minds
with a
buddy Jesus
mentality.
He is our
high priest
who reigns
at the right hand
of the Father.
And none of us
have suffered
the way
these Hebrew believers
were suffering
or would suffer
for that matter.
So certainly
whatever we bring
to this room
this morning,
we can have
a great confidence,
an unshakable
hope
because we have
this
king
priest,
this
Melchizedekian
priest
who ministers
on our behalf.
I hope
that the book
of Hebrews
is not
getting boring
for you.
Our text
for today
is Hebrews
chapter 8
verses 1-13
which is the
entirety
of the chapter.
Please join
me there
with that
magnificent
scene
from Revelation
chapter 4
and 5.
Fixed in your
minds,
beloved,
let me remind
you that this
is God's
word to us
written for
his glory
and our
good.
So we would
all do well
to listen to it
in order to
believe its
promises
and obey
its commands.
chapter 8
and verse 1
and following.
Now the point
in what we are
saying
is this.
We have
such a high
priest,
one who is
seated at the
right hand
of the throne
of the majesty
in heaven,
a minister
in the holy
places,
in the true
tent that the
Lord set up,
not man.
For every
high priest
is appointed
to offer
gifts and
sacrifices.
Thus it is
necessary for
this priest
also to have
something to
offer.
Now if he
were on
earth,
he would
not be a
priest at
all,
since there
are priests
who offer
gifts according
to the law.
They serve a
copy and
shadow of
the heavenly
things.
For when
Moses was
about to
erect the
tent,
he was
instructed by
God saying,
see that you
make everything
according to
the pattern
that was shown
you on the
mountain.
But that as
it is,
Christ has
obtained a
ministry that
is as much
more excellent
than the old
as the covenant
he mediates
is better,
since it is
enacted on
better promises.
For if that
first covenant
had been
faultless,
there had
been no
occasion to
look for a
second.
For he
finds fault
with them
when he
says,
Behold,
the days are
coming,
declares the
Lord,
when I will
establish a
new covenant
with the house
of Israel
and with the
house of
Judah,
not like the
covenant that I
made with
their fathers
on the day
when I took
them by the
hand to
bring them
out of the
land of
Egypt.
For they
did not
continue in
my covenant,
and so I
showed no
concern for
them,
declares the
Lord.
For this is the
covenant that I
will make with
the house of
Israel after
those days,
declares the
Lord.
I will put my
laws into
their minds
and write them
on their
hearts,
and I will be
their God,
and they shall
be my people.
And they shall
not teach each
one his neighbor
and each one
his brother,
saying,
Know the
Lord,
for they shall
all know me
from the least
of them to
the greatest.
For I will be
merciful toward
their iniquities,
and I will
remember their
sins no more.
In speaking of
a new covenant,
he makes the
first one
obsolete,
and what is
becoming obsolete
and growing old
is ready to
vanish away.
A very short
outline for our
text today,
two primary
points,
and we'll have
some sub
points which I'll
try to carefully
spell out for
you.
But simply
this,
the overarching
structure today,
it's number one,
the supremacy
of Jesus'
priesthood,
verses 1-9,
and secondly,
the supremacy
of the new
covenant,
verses 10-13.
The supremacy
of Jesus'
priesthood
and the supremacy
of the new
covenant.
So let's look
first at the
supremacy of
Jesus'
priesthood.
In the first
subset,
A, if you'd
like to call it
that,
Jesus'
supreme
session.
And you'll
see this in
verses 1-2.
Jesus'
supreme
session.
And that is a
word that
means His
reign.
Jesus Christ
currently is
reigning over
all things.
And it is so
important to
note in this
text,
verses 1-2,
that He is
seated.
He is seated
at the right
hand,
which is the
place of honor,
of the throne,
of the majesty
in heaven.
He is seated.
And this
posture speaks
to His
completed work,
the finality
of the work
that He has
accomplished.
In John
chapter 19
and verse
30,
John records
for us,
when Jesus
had received
the sour
wine,
He said,
it is
finished.
And He
bowed His
head and
gave up
His
spirit.
The author
of Hebrews
makes this
point in
his introduction
to this
letter.
Hebrews
chapter 1
and verse
3,
he says of
Jesus,
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.
After
hanging on
that cross
for those
three brutal
hours where
the wrath
of God
for our
sin was
poured out
on Him,
after making
that purification
He declared,
it is
finished.
And He
sat down.
The temple
worship
of the
Jews'
day
was full
of sacrifice.
This gets
unpacked even
further as we
move into
chapter 9
of the
book of
Hebrews.
There was
constant
sacrifice
happening
in this
place.
For the
known sins
of Israel,
and there
was a
day once
a year
for all
of the
unknown
sins of
Israel
called
the
day
of
atonement.
Blood
flowed
constantly
from
this
place.
And in
all of
the
carefully
administered
instructions
for how
to erect
first the
tabernacle
and then
the temple,
every bit
of furniture
carefully
described,
there was
never once
a place
for sitting.
Priests
did not
sit.
Their shift
included
no rest.
When they
clocked in,
they made
sacrifice,
and they
continued to
make sacrifice
until they
clocked out
when someone
else took
over to
continue
making
sacrifice.
But Jesus
offered for
himself,
he offered
up himself,
excuse me,
once
for all.
A final
sacrifice,
right?
A perfect
sacrifice,
a completed
sacrifice.
So he
is seated,
magnificently
significant.
Maybe not
so much
to our
non-Jewish
minds.
This phrase
would have
just leapt
off the
page
at this
original
here.
But this
does not
mean
that he's
done
working.
That he
doesn't still
have ministry
to be
done.
It simply
means that
all that was
necessary to
accomplish it
has been
accomplished.
Verse 2
says that
Jesus is a
minister
in the
holy
places.
In the
true tent
that the
Lord set
up,
not
man.
And here
the author
of Hebrews
is referencing
the inner
part of
the tabernacle,
then the
temple.
That's why
he refers
to a
tent that
the Lord
set up
and not
man.
This place
that the
high priest
one day
of year,
this day
of atonement,
was allowed
to enter
into the
presence
of God.
This is
where Jesus
is.
In the
presence
of God.
And he
is ministering.
And he
is ministering
on our
behalf.
I think
it's an
astounding
thing
that our
eternal
Christ,
this priest
that lives
forever,
lives now
in service
to us.
And this
should be,
beloved,
massively
humbling.
It should
be incredibly
humbling.
It should
give us
no room
for boasting,
but rather
great humility.
What?
The one
who spoke
the world
into existence,
the world
was created
through Christ
and for
Christ,
he is
ministering
on our
behalf.
Hebrews 7
25,
we see
that Jesus
always lives
to do
what?
Make
intercession
for us.
He is
praying
now
on our
behalf.
The
finalized
work
is being
yet
actualized.
We still
live in
between
the times.
It is
all coming
to pass,
but all
that was
necessary
to accomplish
it
has
been
done.
All
that's
been
accomplished
is coming
to
pass.
This is
difficult
to wrap
your mind
around,
but if you
are in
Christ,
what a
space
for hope
because your
sanctification
is sure.
It's already
been accomplished.
Your final
salvation is
sure.
It's already
been
accomplished.
It is
finished.
You have
such reason
for hope
and confidence
because Jesus
is a
minister
in the
holy
places.
Now,
I want you
to turn
with me
again
to an
Old
Testament
reference
this time,
Daniel
chapter
7.
Turn
with me
there,
please.
Mark
Hebrews
chapter
8.
We will
come
back
to it.
He reminds
you we're
talking about
Jesus'
supreme
session,
his
supreme
reign.
Daniel
chapter 7
verses 9
and 10
and then
verses 13
and 14.
We have
recorded
these visions
that Daniel
saw.
Daniel
saw.
And there's
some astounding
stuff in
here.
Beginning
of verse 9
of Daniel
7.
As I
looked,
thrones
were placed.
Notice
there's more
than one
throne.
Thrones
were placed
and the
ancient
of days
took his
seat.
His
clothing
was white
as snow
and the
hair of
his head
like pure
wool.
His
throne
was fiery
flames.
Its
wheels
were burning
fire.
Notice
this is an
advancing.
It's a
moving
throne.
A
stream
of
fire
issued
and came
out
from
before
him.
A
thousand
served
him
and
ten
thousand
times
ten
thousand
stood
before
him.
The
court
sat
in
judgment
and
the
books
were
opened.
Some
of this
should
feel
familiar
to the
text we
read
previously
Revelation
chapter
4.
Verse
13
and
14.
I
saw
in the
night
visions
and
behold
with
the
clouds
of
heaven
there
came
one
like
a
son
of
man.
Now
I
want you
to
understand
that
in
Hebrew
this
was a
common
way
of
referencing
somebody
to
their
kind.
man.
So
what
Daniel
is saying
is
there
came
one
who
looked
like
a
human.
This
is what
he's
saying.
It's a
descriptor
in this
case.
But
this is
the
descriptor
that Jesus
picks up
as a
title
and he
calls
himself
this
more than
anything
else
in the
New
Testament.
He
calls
himself
son
of
man.
And
to his
listeners
and
if
you're
familiar
with
this
text
this
would
have
brought
up
all
kinds
of
imagery.
They
would
have
understood
clearly
who
Jesus
was
saying
that
he
was
from
here.
So
with
the
clouds
of
heaven
there
came
one
like
a
son
of
man
and
he
came
to
the
ancient
of
days
and
was
presented
before
him
and
to
him
was
given
dominion
and
glory
and
a
kingdom
that
all
peoples
nations
and
languages
should
serve
him.
His
dominion
is an
everlasting
dominion
which
shall
not
pass
away
and
his
kingdom
one
that
shall
not
be
destroyed.
So
again
here
Old
Testament
now
speaking
forward
to
Jesus'
session
right
thrones
were
placed
there's
a
second
throne
and
it
is
empty
in the
first
vision
but
in
the
second
vision
one
comes
he's
a
human
Jesus
says
that's
me
later
on
in
the
New
Testament
and
he
comes
and
he's
presented
and
he's
given
reign
he's
given
session
right
that
all
peoples
and
nations
and
languages
would
come
and
serve
him
sitting
on
this
throne
that
is
in
motion
and
his
kingdom
is
one
that
shall
not
be
destroyed
Jesus
surely
has
a
supreme
session
king
of
kings
and
lord
of
lords
sub
point
B
Jesus'
supreme
reality
I'm
chuckling
because I
normally
don't
outline
like
this
Jesus'
supreme
reality
verses
three
through
five
we
see
in
verse
three
every
high
priest
is
appointed
to
offer
gifts
and
sacrifices
thus
if you're
going to
be a
priest
is what
he's
saying
if you're
going to
be a
priest
it's
necessary
for
this
priest
Jesus
also
to have
something
to offer
and what
did he
offer
he
offered
up
himself
Hebrews
9
verse
11
and
12
but
when
Christ
appeared
as a
high
priest
of
the
good
things
that
have
come
then
through
the
greater
and
more
perfect
tent
not
made
with
hands
that
is
not
of
this
creation
he
entered
once
for
all
into
the
holy
places
not
by
means
of
the
blood
of
goats
and
calves
but
by
means
of
his
own
blood
thus
securing
!
himself
so
that
we
can
have
an
eternal
redemption
!
Verse 4
Now if
he were
on earth
he would
not be
a priest
at all
since
there are
priests
who offer
gifts
according
to the
law
he's
driving
us
to
this
point
that
there's
a
new
covenant
right
that
things
are
now
different
referencing
the
old
covenant
verse
5
they
serve
those
priests
who were
appointed
in the
Aaronic
priesthood
a
copy
and
shadow
of the
heavenly
things
he's
talking
here
about
service
in
the
tabernacle
and
then
the
temple
for
when
Moses
was
about
to
erect
the
tent
the
tabernacle
he
was
instructed
by
God
saying
see
that
you
make
everything
according
to
pattern
that
was
shown
you
on
the
mountain
right
so
again
he's
given
very
careful
instruction
for
what
this
was
meant
to
look
like
the
tabernacle
and
then
the
temple
which
was
meant
to
point
us
to
greater
reality
and
this
point
is
made
at
the
beginning
of
verse
five
they
serve
a
copy
and
shadow
of the
heavenly
things
right
all of
the
mosaic
worship
was like
a dress
rehearsal
for
our
worship
now
and
the
worship
that
will
happen
in
heaven
in
fact
the
word
pattern
denotes
more
than
just
verbal
instruction
we
don't
know
this
factually
but
it
suggests
that
Moses
was
actually
shown
a
model
when
he
was
up
on
the
mountain
with
God
that
he
saw
what
it
was
supposed
to
look
like
as
he
was
to
go
down
the
mountain
!
and
build
this
tabernacle
the
place
where
God's
glory
would
dwell
so
Jesus
has
a
supreme
reality
right
he's
a
better
priest
we've
been
making
that
point
again
and
again
and
again
and
I
hope
you'll
see
its
significance
sub
point
C
Jesus
supreme
covenant
Jesus
supreme
covenant
verses
6
through
9
but
as
it
is
Christ
has
obtained
a
ministry
that
is
as
much
more
excellent
than
the
old
as
the
covenant
he
mediates
is
better
since
it
is
enacted
on
better
promises
for
if
that
first
covenant
had
been
faultless
there
would
have
been
no
occasion
for
a
second
now
it's
interesting
to think
of
a
covenant
as
with
fault
which
is
the
case
that's
being
made
here
the
writer of
Hebrews
is
saying
that
covenant
had
fault
but
we have
to be
careful
at this
point
which
covenant
is he
referring
to
he's
referring
to
the
mosaic
covenant
the
promise
that was
made
on the
mountain
with
Moses
he's
not
referring
to
the
Abrahamic
covenant
right
we can
see
this
in
Exodus
chapter
19
verse
5
and
6
God
says
to
Moses
now
therefore
if
you
will
indeed
obey
my
voice
and
keep
my
covenant
you
shall
be
my
treasured
possession
among
all
peoples
for
all
the
earth
is
mine
and
shall
be
to
me
a
kingdom
of
priests
and
a
holy
nation
these
are
the
words
that
you
shall
speak
to
the
people
of
Israel
so
he
makes
a
sure
promise
and
that
sure
promise
is
if
you
will
keep
my
commands
then
you
will
be
my
people
so
where's
the fault
in that
it's
with us
the
fault
in it
is
with
us
because
ever
since
the
fall
we
are
entirely
incapable
of
keeping
the
commands
of
God
and
this
covenant
was
meant
to
point
us
to
a
greater
covenant
it was
meant
to
aim
us
at
something
better
it was
meant
to
expose
to
us
our
lostness
look
how
incapable
we
are
of
keeping
these
commands
of
God
so
we
have
to
be
careful
because
we
don't
want
to
suggest
that
the
law
itself
isn't
good
it's
very
good
God's
commands
were
meant
for
the
good
of
his
people
Psalm
119
is
all
about
this
how
very
good
God's
words
God's
commands
are
for
his
people
so
the
fault
in
it
is
that
we
can't
keep
it
so
the
occasion
for
the
second
is
our
failure
which
he
points
out
in
verse
8
for
he
finds
fault
with
them
when
he
says
and
this
is
a
long
citation
verses
8
through
12
from
Jeremiah
chapter
31
verses
31
through
34
behold
the days
are
coming
declares
the
Lord
when
I
will
establish
a
new
covenant
with
the
house
of
Israel
and
with
the
house
of
Judah
not
like
the
covenant
that
I
made
with
their
fathers
on
the
day
when
I
took
them
by
the
hand
to
bring
them
out
of
the
land
of
Egypt
for
they
did
not
continue
in
my
covenant
and
so
I
showed
no
concern
for
them
declares
the
Lord
connecting
that
right
the
old
covenant
was
flawed
not
that
it
was
imperfect
for
God's
law
is
perfect
but
it
was
flawed
because
it
could
not
be
kept
by
fallen
humanity
we're
starting
back
up
this
evening
project
grow
for
the
kids
and
we're
on
the
new
city
catechism
question
and answer
13
and the
question
is
can
anyone
keep
the
law
of
God
perfectly
and the
answer
is
since
the
fall
no
human
has been
able
to keep
the
law
of
God
perfectly
and I
think
they're
doing
that
way
for
simplicity
but I
really
want
to say
accept
the
God
man
Jesus
Christ
in
his
hypostatic
union
Christ
being
fully
human
is
the
one
and
only
perfect
law
keeper
he
fulfills
the
Mosaic
covenant
and
in
him
we
do
as
well
because
we
are
unable
to
keep
the
old
covenant
Jesus
Christ
keeps
it
for
us
this
is
the
new
covenant
this
is
the
new
covenant
that
we
are
found
in
him
we
are
given
his
righteousness
we
rightly
so
emphasize
the
death
of
Jesus
Christ
in
Christianity
right
we
should
spend
much
time
thinking
about
his
passive
obedience
on
the
cross
right
his
death
is
bearing
the wrath
of
God
for
us
right
but
that's
not
the
complete
picture
he
also
was
actively
obedient
he
kept
the
law
of
God
he
was
without
sin
he
was
righteous
that
he
would
grant
to
us
righteousness
so
we
fulfill
the
mosaic
covenant
by
faith
in
his
fulfilling
of
the
mosaic
covenant
and
this
is a
covenant
that
is
better
it
is
greater
because
it
is
enacted
on
better
promises
what
promises
what promises
is he
referring
to
I
believe
he's
referring
to
the
aforementioned
promise
to
Abraham
Hebrews
chapter
6
and
verse
13
for
when
God
made
a
promise
to
Abraham
since
he
had
no
one
greater
by
whom
to
swear
he
swore
by
himself
what
were
those
promises
!
What
were
the
promises
that
God
made
to
Abraham
that
he
would
make
him
the
father
of
a
great
nation
and
that
he
would
bless
all
the
peoples
of
the
earth
through
him
we
now
know
with
all
of
our
new
testament
commentary
that
what
God
promised
to
do
was
that
through
the
lineage
of
Abraham
to
build
a
church
a
people
for
his
praise
better
promises
!
And
the writer
of
Hebrews
is
carrying
that
thematically
through
chapter
7
verse
21
and
22
he
talks
about
the
oath
that
God
made
Psalm
110
verse
4
the
Lord
has
sworn
and
will
not
change
his
mind
you
are
a
priest
forever
and
then
verse
22
this
makes
Jesus
the
guarantor
of a
better
covenant
Jesus
who's
of the
family
of
Abraham
bringing
salvation
to all
the
peoples
of
the
earth
this
is
astounding
truth
Jesus
supreme
covenant
which we
should
talk
more
about
so
this
is
point
number
two
the
supremacy
of
the
new
covenant
which is
Jesus
verse
10
and
following
so
point
a
the
new
covenant
supreme
indwelling
the
new
covenant
supreme
indwelling
the
very
first
part
first
three
quarters
anyway
of
verse
10
for
this
is
the
covenant
that
I
will
make
with
the
house
of
Israel
remember
this
is
from
Jeremiah
chapter
31
after
those
days
declares
the
Lord
I
will
put
my
laws
into
their
minds
and
write
them
on
their
hearts
the
old
covenant
was
predominantly
externals
right
its
laws
!
after
all
were
written
!
on
stone
the
old
covenant
provided
no
power
for
obedience
it
required
obedience
but
it
provided
no
power
for
it
but
now
in
the
new
covenant
right
we
have
both
God's
word
given
to
us
and
placed
into
our
minds
that
we
would
read
it
think
about
it
meditate
on
it
and
it's
written
our
hearts
the
new
covenant
is
primarily
an
indwelling
covenant
through the
gift of
the Holy
Spirit
given
the
Spirit
of God
you've
been
baptized
into
him
and
now
we can
take up
and read
and
we
have
consciences
that
are
aimed
God
word
if
you
are
in
Christ
the
more
normal
compulsion
is
towards
obedience
we
now
being
in
Christ
having
been
saved
by
his
work
we
work
because
of the
rest
that we
have
in
him
we
know
how
to
labor
to
earn
salvation
a
thing
we
could
never
do
but
now
having
been
saved
from
a
place
of
rest
we
can
be
law
keepers
empowered
by
the
Holy
Spirit
the
new
covenant
has
a
supreme
indwelling
so
point
B
the
new
covenant
also
has
a
supreme
relationship
the
last
part
of
verse
10
and
I
will
be
their
God
and
they
shall
be
my
people
I
referenced
already
temple
worship
in
brief
and
I'm
trying
to
keep
it
brief
because
we're
going to
talk
about
it
quite
a bit
more
next
week
can't
give
away
all
the
material
this
Sunday
there
was
such
a
limited
access
under
the
Mosaic
covenant
now
we
have
unlimited
access
to
God
in
Christ
this
is
a
cool
reality
that
we
can
approach
God
and
not
be
utterly
destroyed
because
of
what
Jesus
has
done
and
his
current
ministry
on
our
behalf
and
I
hope
your
understanding
of that
is
thick
and
thickening
and not
thin
you
would
just
take
some
time
to
really
consider
what
that
means
for
you
the
ancient
of
days
the
creator
of
the
universe
draws
us
into
relationship
with
him
this
is
incredible
and not
as
just
individuals
but
as
people
a
God
who
has
a
people
my
mind
in
studying
this
was
drawn
to
Hosea
the
prophet
Hosea
who
lived out
a real
life
pageant
his
actual
life
displayed
the
unfaithfulness
of
Israel
he
took
an
unfaithful
wife
her
name
is
Gomer
he
has
textually
we
believe
one
son
with
Gomer
named
Jezreel
which
means
in
Hebrew
to
scatter
then
it
seems
that
she
has
other
children
which
he
calls
his
own
Hosea
calls
his
own
who
are
named
Lo
Ru
Hamah
which
means
no
mercy
and
lo
ami
which
means
not
my
people
young
people
are you
willing to
follow Christ
wherever he
leads you
Hosea
took a
wife
he knew
would be
unfaithful
named
Gomer
and he
!
named
his
kids
to
scatter
!
no
mercy
not
my
people
in
service
of
his
God
incredible
and
this
pageant
plays
out
Gomer
is
unfaithful
she
leaves
him
yet
he
continues
to
care
for
her
finally
in
chapter
3
he
buys
her
out
of
slavery
it's
all
such
a
beautiful
picture
at
the
end
of
chapter
2
beginning
at
verse
16
God
here
is
talking
about
the
way
he
is
going
to
beckon
back
his
people
draw
back
to
himself
Israel
and
in
that
day
declares
the
Lord
you
will
call
me
my
husband
and
no
longer
will
you
call
me
my
Baal
idol
of
the
day
for
I
will
remove
the
names
of
the
Baals
from
her
mouth
and
they
shall
be
remembered
by
name
no
more
and
I
will
make
for
them
a
covenant
on
that
day
with
the
beasts
of
the
fields
the
birds
of
the
heavens
and
the
creeping
things
in
safety
and
I
will
betroth
you
to
me
forever
I
will
betroth
you
to
me
in
righteousness
and
in
justice
in
steadfast
love
and
in
mercy
I
will
betroth
you
to
me
in
faithfulness
and
you
shall
know
the
Lord
and
in
that
day
I
will
answer
declares
the
Lord
I
will
answer
the
heavens
and
they
shall
answer
the
earth
and
the
earth
shall
answer
the
grain
the
wine
means
to
scatter
but
here
the
meaning
is
changed
to
sow
to
plant
verse
23
and
I
will
sow
her
for
myself
in
the
land
and
I
will
have
mercy
on
no
mercy
I
will
have
ruhamah
on
lo
ruhamah
and
I
will
say
to
not
my
people
you
are
my
people
I
will
say
to
lo
ami
and
he
shall
say
you
are
my
God
and
what
a
comfort
a
text
like
Hosea
chapter
2
verse
16
and
23
would
have
been
should
have
been
to
these
suffering
Christians
should
be
for
us
today
right
the
new
covenant
has
a
supreme
relationship
so
point
C
we're
getting
there
I'm
landing
the
plane
the
new
covenant
has
a
supreme
knowledge
it
has
a
supreme
knowledge
in
brief
verse
11
and
they
shall
not
teach
each
one
his
neighbor
and
each
one
his
brother
saying
know
the
Lord
for
they
shall
all
know
me
from
the
least
of
them
to
the
greatest
I
believe
that
we're
referencing
here
the
full
inclusion
of
the
church
we're
between
those
times
right
we are
gospel
proclaimers
we are
gathering
together
Christ's
sheep
right
we are
his
agents
in
his
earthly
ministry
of
gathering
together
his
church
one
day
that
task
will
be
completed
he
will
return
for
us
there
will
be
a
new
heaven
there
will
be
a
new
earth
there
is
a
supreme
knowledge
in
the
new
covenant
Jesus
in his
high
priestly
prayer
prayed
in
John
17
in
verse
3
and
this
is
eternal
life
and get
this
beloved
we have
we are
in
Christ
we have
eternal
life
now
and
we
will
have
it
forever
and
this
is
eternal
life
that
they
know
you
the
only
true
God
and
Jesus
Christ
whom
you
have
sent
you've
been
given
the
revelation
of
God
and
the
person
and
work
of
Jesus
Christ
and
we
are
bringing
about
that
revelation
means
to
that
great
end
that
one
day
the
church
together
this
tens
of
thousands
upon
tens
of
thousands
that
we
see
in
revelation
four
and
five
will
cry
out
holy
sub
point
d
and
finally
the new
covenant
has a
supreme
forgiveness
ending
I think this is best of all.
Verse 12.
God says, for I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.
I think we, as American Christians,
most of us, at very least,
grew up under some sense of morality.
Had some trajectory of goodness,
at least in our own thinking of it.
And I think because of that,
far too many of us have never really felt the weight of our rebellion
against a most holy God.
Not really understood his good reign
over us and our abject rejection of it.
Have not seen that if we have failed at any point of the law,
then we have failed at all points of the law.
We have been found imperfect for our God.
And what we do for that is his eternal wrath,
his eternal judgment poured out on us.
We think in small consequence, don't we?
There's great consequence for our sin.
And so when the author of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah chapter 31,
God saying, I will be merciful.
He's talking about being merciful towards enemies,
haters of his.
I will be merciful towards their iniquities.
And I will remember their sins no more.
That will be forgotten in this new covenant.
I have a hard time forgetting my sin
because Christ is a great high priest
who's ministering on my behalf.
God has forgotten my sin.
I have no need to carry around the guilt of my sin
because God's forgotten it.
What an incredible truth.
Psalm 103, verse 11 and 12,
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
immeasurable,
so great is his steadfast love
toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, infinite,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Because we have this Christ
as our great high priest.
The author of Hebrews concludes,
he's no longer quoting Jeremiah 31,
verse 13 of chapter 8 he says,
In speaking of a new covenant,
he makes the first one obsolete.
We never could and we are not required
to keep God's law to be accepted by him.
And what is becoming obsolete and growing old
is ready to vanish away.
What has replaced it
is the righteousness that comes
by faith in Christ.
Christ who has a supreme priesthood.
And because he has a supreme priesthood,
he is the priest of a supreme new covenant.
I pray this morning,
and I'll pray in a moment this morning,
that you can join with me today
and that we will forever be together
and we will cry out
to him who sits on the throne,
to the lamb be blessing
and honor and glory
and might forever and ever.
Amen.