I invite you to take your copy of God's Word. Turn to Hebrews chapter 7.
Our text for today will be Hebrews chapter 7 verses 20 through 28.
! Before I read it, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's Word to us.
It was written for His glory and our good.
And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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 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.
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.
So we have been working through the book of Hebrews for quite some time now,
and have been for the last couple of weeks working through this idea of
Jesus being a priest after the order of Melchizedek.
I hope that you haven't grown tired of the name,
that you've begun to wrap your mind around the significance of this reality.
And if you wonder what I'm doing,
I'm trying to download my sermon notes onto my iPad right now,
which I typically do in advance and I forgot this morning.
So we're almost there.
There we go.
I've got notes.
So, this letter was likely written to a small church made up of Greek-speaking Jews
meeting on the outskirts of Rome, and its author is unknown.
But what we can be certain of concerning the author
is that he has great pastoral affection for these people.
This little church had suffered, and it would suffer.
Some of them were mocked and beaten for following Jesus.
We read of this in chapter 10 and verse 33.
Some of them were imprisoned for following Jesus.
Chapter 10 and verse 34.
Also in verse 34 of chapter 10,
some of them had had their property stolen for following Jesus.
None of them had yet died.
They hadn't shed blood yet.
But it seems the author of this letter believes that they will.
Chapter 12 and verse 4.
And because of the trial they were experiencing,
some of them had apostatized or abandoned their faith in Christ.
We see this in chapter 6, verses 4 through 6.
So this letter is a pastoral encouragement to persevere to the end.
Hebrews chapter 6, verses 11 and 12 says,
The author of this letter is taking great pains
to show his hearers the excellency,
the superiority of Jesus Christ.
He's working through their minds to their hearts to say,
Don't give up on this way,
because it is a more excellent way.
Recall that at the beginning of the letter,
he skips any form of salutation
and begins the letter in this way.
Chapter 1, the first three verses.
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.
And then he quickly sets about the work
of showing Christ's superiority,
beginning with his superiority to angels.
Verse 4, he writes,
Having become as much superior to angels
as the name he has inherited
is more excellent than theirs.
And he continues this theme
in showing that Jesus is superior to Moses
in chapter 3,
that Jesus is superior to the high priest
at the end of chapter 4 and into chapter 5,
and that Jesus is superior to the whole Levitical system,
which is where we find ourselves
in the text this morning.
As the author continues to make the point
that Jesus' priesthood
was not at all like the Aaronic
or Levitical priesthood,
because he was not a priest of their order,
but that his priesthood is superior to theirs
because it is of the order of Melchizedek.
And beloved, we have to have this foundation
if we have any hope in this life
or in the life to come at all.
We must understand Jesus
as a Melchizedekian priest.
And you don't have to walk around using that name,
but you have to understand that he's a priest
that was appointed by God with the promise,
that he's a priest who is permanent,
and he was the perfect priest
because he was the perfect sacrifice.
We must understand this
to have a foundation on which
to build anything of value before God.
Every person in the world,
whether they are willing to admit it or not,
builds upon some foundation.
Often it's a foundation of our own making.
In the case of the Hebrews,
it was a foundation of Judaism,
and they were very tempted
to go back to that foundation
rather than this new foundation
of Christ as this forever priest.
So we're going to have foundations.
If you've ever heard the term,
it's turtles all the way down.
It comes from a story of a teacher
posing the question to a small class,
young people,
what holds the world up?
She thought she'd get no answer to this question,
and she herself didn't have one.
But a little boy shot up his hand,
and he said,
the world sits on the back of a turtle.
And she said,
well, very cleverly,
what holds that turtle up?
And he said,
another turtle.
And she said,
well, and what holds that turtle up?
And he goes,
teacher,
it's turtles all the way down.
So when you hear me say that phrase,
it's turtles all the way down,
what I'm suggesting to you
is we have to build upon something.
We have to make some assumptions at some point,
but praise God,
because of the holy writ,
because of this inspired word,
there's an actual foundation,
a real foundation on which we can build.
I had a very difficult week,
and until the second,
I wasn't planning on sharing this with you,
but I think it's good and appropriate at this time.
I don't know exactly.
The diagnostics are still running
about why this week was so hard for me.
I haven't had a vacation since last January.
I think there's a tiredness
that's just soaked into my bones.
I think it's physical.
More than that,
I think it's emotional and spiritual.
I'm just tired.
There are good reasons for this,
and there are, I'm sure,
poor reasons for this.
I rolled into yesterday,
anxious,
that's the word to put on it.
I'm just feeling an anxiety
about what in particular I couldn't say.
I think what probably was causing me the most anxiety
is that I didn't feel ready to face today.
Here we are,
we're talking about this Melchizedekian priest again.
How do I say this in a meaningful way
that's new and fresh and helpful?
I don't know.
I've got an outline.
I think it's a pretty good outline for the text.
I think it makes sense,
but how is it going to be helpful?
How is it even helpful to me?
These are the kinds of things
that are going through my head,
and I'm fearing
the need to fake my way
through having anything useful
to do and say today.
And this caused me
what I can only describe,
I don't know if this is what it was or not,
but to have an anxiety attack.
Again, if you've had an anxiety attack,
what I felt may have been nothing like what you felt,
but I had heart palpitations,
my heart was beating extremely fast in my chest,
inexplicably,
and I just felt this overwhelming pressure.
And generally, for this morning,
I don't know.
And it took me
most of yesterday
and into this morning,
my wife very kindly gave me some space
yesterday evening
to work through
Philippians chapter 4,
running my mind through
beginning verse 4
all the way through
verse 8.
What is the remedy
for this type of feeling
that I'm having?
And so if you will,
turn with me to
Philippians 4.
I want to read it to you.
I just,
in a very unplanned way,
but hopefully this will help us
to consider today's text.
This is what Paul writes,
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again, I will say,
Rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.
The Lord is at hand.
Right?
So he's saying,
like,
why would you not rejoice?
Be reasonable.
Because God is near.
God knows.
God is with you.
Do not be anxious about anything.
But in everything,
by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known
to God.
And here comes the cycling of that.
I'm going,
I'm not even sure what to pray.
I don't even know exactly
what's going on with me right now.
How do I pray
that God would help me
in this feeling
that I'm having?
It's anxiety.
I know.
What am I even anxious about?
And in the promise of verse 7,
if we can make these requests known to God,
is that the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard our hearts
and our minds
in Christ Jesus.
Jesus.
And I suddenly went,
that Melchizedekian priest
who does what for us?
He always intercedes.
So Jesus takes
my messy prayers yesterday
and he brings them
before the Father.
He cleans them up,
makes them
understandable,
and he pleads on my behalf
before God.
Right?
It's in him
we have this greater hope
by which we draw near
to God.
Verse 19
of Hebrews chapter 6.
So,
if we don't have that foundation,
beloved,
we have no hope.
We have no hope in this life.
And we have no hope
in the life to come.
We need this
superior Christ.
And it's a reality.
It's not just some philosophy.
It's not an idea.
It's a reality.
There is this Jesus.
And he is in fact
superior.
And on this
we can build a life
that's filled with hope
and peace
and is pleasing
to God.
So,
the outline for our study
of this morning's text
is as follows.
Number one,
Jesus is superior
because of a promise.
Jesus is superior
because of a promise.
Number two,
Jesus is superior
because of his permanence.
And number three,
Jesus is superior
because of his person.
So,
he's superior
because of a promise,
because of his permanence,
and because of his person.
First,
Jesus is superior
because of a promise.
So,
just before our text today,
right,
we can read up
a little bit,
right,
that there has been
a priest
given to us,
a better hope
through which
we draw near
to God.
It's through this,
because the Deccan priest,
Jesus Christ,
that was a better hope,
better than
the Aaronic priesthood,
that we can
draw near
to Christ.
And then the author says,
and it was not
without
an oath,
a promise.
For those who
formerly became priests
were made such
without
an oath.
But this one,
Jesus Christ,
was made a priest
with an oath
by the one
who said to him,
the Lord has sworn
and will not
change his mind.
You are a priest
forever.
This makes Jesus
the guarantor
of a better
covenant.
The point of
Jesus' superiority
is first made
by drawing
our attention
to the fact
that Jesus
became
a Melchizedekian
priest
through a divine
oath
that was recorded
in Psalm 110
verse 4.
The author of Hebrews,
right,
through inspiration
and quite brilliantly
sees Psalm 110
and verse 4
as pointing
to
Christ.
A promise
that was made
that Jesus
would be
a forever
priest.
The Aaronic priests
were not appointed
with a promise.
They took their positions
because of their lineage
through divine
instruction
but not
through an oath.
The only other time
we know
of God swearing
an oath
is when he ratified
the covenant
that he made
with Abraham.
We noted this
and talked about it
at length
when we studied
chapter 6
verses 13
through 18.
And God is not
obligated
to make oaths.
He's God.
Humans may need
to make oaths
to say,
no really,
right,
we're flawed.
Even in our best efforts
we often lie.
So we would say
to somebody,
I mean this.
I'm making this
commitment,
right,
we make marriage
vows.
These are oaths
made to one another
because we're weak.
God is not.
He is in no way
obligated
to make oaths
but because of our
weakness
he does so.
His word is sure
so
when God serves
our feeble minds
by making oaths
we should pay
very careful
attention
to what it is
he's promised
to do.
The author of Hebrews
tells us
why God does this
in Hebrews chapter 6
verse 17.
So when God desired
to show
more convincingly,
right,
this isn't because
his word fails
but because we fail
to believe his word
more convincingly
to the heirs of the promise
the unchangeable character
of his purpose
he guaranteed it
with an oath.
He makes this
promise.
He swears by himself
he makes it sure
that Jesus
will be
a forever
priest.
And the author
is tying this together
for us
in verse 22
where he says
this makes Jesus
the guarantor
of a better
covenant.
Because he's
the forever priest
and he was
made so
by a divine
oath
this divine promise
he's
the guarantor
the guarantee
of a better
covenant.
There's two
very important things
to note
about verse
22.
First
in Greek
the sentence
ends
with the word
the name
Jesus.
It's at the very end
of the sentence.
Here in English
the translation
that we're using
most of us
this morning
ESV
says this makes
Jesus
the guarantor
of a better
covenant.
But in the Greek
it would have been
directly
this makes
the guarantor
of a better
covenant
Jesus.
And in Greek
emphasis
was placed
towards the end
of the sentence.
Greek sentences
drive to the point.
They drive to the end.
They drive to the weight
of that
sentence.
And so in the original
language
this is one of the
beautiful things
about knowing
it's not the case
for me
but at least
knowing how to
look up
these types
of things
that the author
of Hebrews
is placing
the full weight
of verses
20 through 22
on
Christ
on
Jesus.
Right?
This makes
the guarantor
of a better
covenant
Jesus.
Secondly
about verse 22
the author
using the name
Jesus
instead of in
other forms
which he does
throughout the letter
Jesus Christ
the Christ
is emphasizing
his humanity
and his work.
Jesus
right?
This
God
man
emphasizing
his
incarnation
that he came
and lived
as a man
that he had
an earthly
ministry.
And the author
of Hebrews
let me remind you
has made this
point.
We lose this
sometimes in our
verse by verse
study which is a
good and valuable
thing to do
but he means
for ideas to be
carrying as
this is a letter
opened and read
at one time.
So Hebrews
chapter 4
verse 15
he says
for we do not
have a high priest
who is unable
to sympathize
with our weaknesses
but one who in
every respect
has been tempted
as we are
yet
without sin.
So beloved
as you build
a foundation
on Christ
we can have
this confidence
that this
guarantor
of a better
covenant
lived also
as a man
took on
bodily form
experienced
the things
that we
experience
them to the
full
because he
never
sinned
all of the
temptation
that came
everything
that was
driving at
me across
this past
week
that I would
suggest
caused me
to sin
he didn't
give in
to
and he
doesn't
just
empathize
with me
in my
weakness
he sympathizes
with me
he's walked
in my
shoes
what a
foundation
to build
upon
what
a forever
priest
speaks
also
of
this
name
Jesus
to his
propitiation
that he
stood
in our
place
that he
took
the
punishment
of God
that was
due us
in
himself
again
in the
book of
Hebrews
chapter 5
verses 7
through 10
in the
days of
his flesh
Jesus
offered up
prayers
and supplications
with loud
cries
and tears
to him
who was
able to
save him
from death
and he
was heard
because of
his reverence
although he
was a son
he learned
obedience
through what
he suffered
and being
made perfect
he became
the source
of eternal
salvation
to all
who obey
him
being designated
by God
a high
priest
and this
is where
it's
originally
introduced
to us
after the
order
of
Melchizedek
Jesus
died
in our
stead
lived
a perfect
life
that we
might
have
his
perfection
so it
speaks of
his
incarnation
it speaks
of his
propitiation
and it
speaks
now
and where
we are
in our
text
today
of his
intercession
Jesus
God
man
put to
death
for our
sin
was raised
again
ascended
and seated
at the
right hand
of the
father
and in
his
session
his
current
rule
he
intercedes
or prays
on our
behalf
Hebrews
chapter 7
and verse
25
where we're
headed
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
and this
is all
true
because
of this
promise
Jesus
is superior
because
of the
promise
secondly
Jesus
is superior
because
of his
permanence
we can see
this in
verses 23
through
25
which I
just read
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
and then
verse 25
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
Aaron
then
Eleazar
then
Phineas
and so
on
and so
on
and so
on
there
was a
high
priest
who died
and then
another high
priest took
his place
and he died
and another high
priest took
his place
and he died
inevitably
all of the
biblical record
of these men
ends with
and he
died
human men
just as we
lose our
earthly bodies
one day
these men
could no
longer
continue in
the office
of high
priest
it was
insufficient
it was
inferior
in that
way
the historian
Josephus
records
that 83
priests
served
from Aaron
to the
destruction
of the
second temple
in AD
70
83
right
and then
he died
came another
and then
he died
and then
came another
in some other
historical
records
there are as
many as
300 plus
that served
in this role
so there's
even some
contradiction
in there
but the
point being
and simply
the point
that the
author of
Hebrews
is making
here
is that
they couldn't
continue
forever
and they
didn't
in contrast
Jesus'
priesthood
is permanent
that is
it is
non-transferable
it is
his priesthood
and he
will be
the priest
forever
Jesus is a
priest
after the
order of
Melchizedek
perpetually
right
in perpetuity
if you like
to watch
Shark Tank
and the
benefits
of this
reality
are massive
they're
massive
firstly
by faith
in Jesus'
eternal
perpetual
priesthood
we are
saved
totally
the author
of Hebrews
says that
he is able
to save
to the
uttermost
priesthood
it's not
a word
that's
common
in our
vernacular
today
and I
commend
the use
of it
in this
case
because the
idea of
completeness
is bound up
in the original
Greek word
but that's not
it
the idea
of
eternality
is also
bound up
in this
Greek word
and so to
use either
one
some translations
say for
all time
but that
falls short
and so
what I'm
guessing
is that
the translators
used a word
that would
make us all
scratch our
heads a little
bit
and do a
little work
to understand
that the
original word
combines these
ideas of
completeness
with
eternality
that really
to translate
it well
we'd have to
insert a
phrase
for that
single word
which would
be something
like
able to
save
completely
for all
time
that he
does a
work
that he
saves
us
it's not
a working
of our
own
right
we do
good work
now
because
he's
saved
us
but our
good working
adds
nothing
to
our
salvation
it
glorifies
the one
who saved
us
so he
saves us
completely
and he
saves us
securely
for all
time
so we
can add
nothing
to it
Paul writes
of this
in Ephesians
chapter 2
verse 8
and 9
for by grace
you have been
saved through
faith
and this is
not your own
doing
unless we be
unclear about
what grace
is
it's not
your own
doing
it's the
gift
of God
not a
result of
works
so that
no one
may boast
God
has
saved us
and this
has
present
implication
for us
in this
life
as we
are
even
now
saved
completely
yet
growing
up
in
holiness
this
thing
we
call
sanctification
Paul
writes
in 1
Corinthians
chapter 1
and verse
18
for the word
of the cross
is folly
to those
who are
perishing
but to
us who
are being
saved
it is
the power
of God
this
doesn't
mean
that we
are being
saved
in a
degree
we
are
saved
but we
are
continually
being
saved
we are
continually
being turned
from sin
and to
God
in
Christ
is able
to save
to the
uttermost
completely
for all
time
those who
place their
faith
in him
secondly
by faith
in Jesus
eternal
perpetual
priesthood
we are
interceded
for
totally
he does
it all
he catches
every
heavenward
prayer
and he
intercedes
for us
because he
always
lives
to make
intercession
for them
do you ever
grow weary
in your
praying
I do
I grow weary
in my
praying
my prayers
can be
so weak
just often
don't even
know
what
to pray
but praise
God
Christ
never
does
he is
self-existing
and self-sustaining
and he sits
at the right
hand of the
father
forever
he never
falls asleep
on the job
he never
takes a
bathroom
break
he never
ceases
to intercede
for us
that's a
reality
that you
can build
upon
if you
are in
Christ
he is
interceding
for you
the author
of Hebrews
chapter 9
verse 24
says
Christ
has entered
into heaven
itself
now to
appear in
the presence
of God
on our
behalf
Paul
Paul writes
in Romans
chapter 8
and verse
34
who is
to
condemn
not even
myself
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
he clothes us
in his righteousness
he gives us the
ability to draw
near to God
and he
cleans us up
and he cleans
up our prayers
so that we
would be
accepted
by God
he ushers
us
into his
presence
this is
astounding
Christ
is dumb
a 4th century
preacher
gives
a helpful
analogy
of this idea
of Jesus
interceding
for us
and I
quote from
Kent Hughes
commentary
on Hebrews
a young boy
whose father
was away
on a trip
wanted to
present his
father with
something that
would please
him
his mother
sent him
into the
garden
to gather
a bouquet
of flowers
moms I
don't know
if that's
really what
dads want
when they
come home
but
this young
boy's mom
did this
the little
boy
gathered a
sorry bouquet
of weeds
as well as
flowers
I think moms
have all
gotten one
of those
but when
the father
returned home
he was
presented with
a beautifully
arranged bouquet
for the
mother
had intervened
removing
all the
weeds
Jesus
cleans up
our
prayers
and he
most certainly
cleans up
us
so that we
can draw near
to God
in him
so Jesus
is superior
because of
a promise
and he is
superior because
of his
permanence
and lastly
he is
superior
because of
his
person
verse 26
and through
the end
of the text
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
now of
interest
these three
verses
it was
argued by
the ancient
Italian
commentator
Teodorico
something like
that
are an
old hymn
he called
it in his
commentary
a hymn
to the
high
priest
I hope
this was
true
it's very
possible that
the author
of Hebrews
is quoting
he's citing
a hymn
to this
little
Hebrew
church
they would
have been
familiar with
these words
in similar
fashion from
time to time
when we're
preaching
will remind
us of
something we
sing together
and we're
showing its
veracity
from the
scripture
it may be
that he's
intending to
sum up this
idea of
Christ's
priesthood
before he
moves into
him being a
priest of a
better covenant
with a
song
I like that
idea
whether or not
it's the case
the author of
Hebrews does
seem to
encapsulate all
that he has been
saying in
these final
three verses
he begins
this idea
of it being
fitting
that we should
have such a
high priest
and this is
better rendered
it's clunky
in English
but would be
better rendered
such a high
priest
exactly
befits
us
you see
the emphasis
here being
put on
what we
needed in
a high
priest
because of
our
fallen
condition
because we
are incapable
of pleasing
God
because no
man could go
to God
on our
behalf
because that
man is in
that same
fallen
condition
makes that
point in
verse 28
the law
points men
in their
weakness
and that
those high
priests
verse 27
had to
offer
sacrifices
daily
first for
their
sins
as humans
we all
find ourselves
in this
place
and so
no man
can intercede
for another
man
because of
our fallen
condition
such a
high priest
exactly
befits
us
because of
the
insufficiency
of the
law
to give
us
unfettered
access
to God
there's
no measure
of our
working
no amount
of sacrifice
that could
fully draw
us near
to God
the way
we can
in Christ
because of
this
condition
we need
a superior
priest
and Jesus
is that
priest
he is
holy
and
innocent
and
unstained
the text
tells us
he is
perfect
and this
is either
the author
of Hebrews
just building
upon that
idea
right
he is
without
sin
never
committed
it
he is
holy
like God
is holy
he is
unstained
not only
on the
outside
as the
Levitical
priesthood
had to
be
purified
on the
outside
but he
is also
unstained
on the
inside
his very
person
is without
stain
so he
may be
just
compounding
an idea
or
possibly
in relation
to God
he is
holy
like God
is holy
in relation
to man
he is
innocent
have never
committed
any crime
against man
and yet
tried
and condemned
and
in relation
to
himself
unstained
without
any
sin
either
way
idea
being
given
to
us
is
that
he is
perfect
right
he goes
on
to say
separated
from
sinners
most
likely
due to
the
context
of
this
letter
the
author
is
referring
to
his
distinction
from
the
Levitical
priesthood
some
suggest
that
because
he is
in
his
heavenly
session
he is
separated
from
sinners
but
the author
of
Hebrews
has
been
telling
us
that
we
have
this
very
near
priest
right
one
who
can
sympathize
with
us
in
our
weaknesses
this
does
not
seem
like
a
far
standing
off
separated
priest
but
a
close
priest
so
most
likely
he is
talking
about
this
distinction
from
the
Levitical
priesthood
because
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
so
see
how
distinct
he
is
as
a
mcculls
a
priest
massively
different
not
only
is
he
the
great
high
priest
but
he
himself
is
the
sacrifice
that he
offered
the
weightiness
of our
sin
the
eternal
weight
of it
against
a
most
holy
eternally
holy
God
could
only
be
met
with
an
eternal
sacrifice
and
this
was
Christ
himself
and
because
of this
he is
exalted
above
the
heavens
speaks
to the
triumph
of his
resurrection
of his
ascension
and
of his
session
for the
law
appoints
men
in their
weakness
as high
priests
but the
word
of the
oath
the
promise
which
came
later
than
the
law
appoints
a son
who
has
been
made
perfect
forever
brings
us back
to this
idea
of the
perfection
of
Christ
in
perpetuity
forever
and ever
and the
author of
Hebrews
intends
to root
his
original
hearers
and us
today
in this
foundation
Jesus
is superior
because of
a promise
because of
his permanence
and because
of his
person
Jesus
is superior
because God
promised his
priesthood
because his
priesthood is
permanent
and because
his person
is perfect
the outcome
for God's
people
is inevitable
and it
is eternal
so beloved
hold fast
persevere
to the
end
for we
have a
superior
high priest
it does
not matter
if you
are in
Christ
what
troubles
may come
your way
whether it
be physical
or emotional
what onslaughts
assail you
we have
a steady
a sure
anchor
of the
soul
and so
in application
this is what
the author's
working to
accomplish
in us
this morning
chapter 6
verse 11
and 12
and we
desire
each one
of you
to show
the same
earnestness
to have
the full
assurance
of hope
until the
end
so that
you may
not be
sluggish
but imitators
of those
who through
faith
and patience
inherit
the promises
I hope
you'll look
to the promises
with me
this morning
let's pray
together
let's pray