1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,880 Okay, so Hebrews chapter 4 starting at verse 14 2 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:12,160 Therefore since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven Jesus the Son of God 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,980 Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess 4 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,660 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses 5 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:25,320 But we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are yet. He did not sin 6 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:33,600 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need 7 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:41,040 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God 8 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,560 To offer gifts and sacrifices for sins 9 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:51,080 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray since he himself is subject to weakness 10 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:57,700 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people and 11 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:03,140 No one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God just as Aaron was 12 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,800 In the same way Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest 13 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:14,640 But God said to him you are my son today. I have become your father and 14 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:20,320 He says in another place you are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek 15 00:01:20,320 --> 00:01:23,440 During the days of Jesus life on earth 16 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:29,280 He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death 17 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,080 And he was heard because of his reverent submission 18 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:38,920 Some though he was he learned the obedience from what he suffered and once made perfect 19 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:50,760 He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek 20 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,400 Morning everyone 21 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:58,480 It is wonderful to be together this morning and to be going through this 22 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:06,760 Incredible part of scripture, which I hope will be a great encouragement for you as we go into 23 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,760 our new year 24 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:15,000 Just a couple of things for you to take note of I am going to be away this coming week 25 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,040 So if you need to get hold of anyone at the church, then please 26 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:26,240 Get hold of either Gary or Eric and their contact details 27 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:31,680 Are in the newsletter and you'll notice that they're under the title our elders 28 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,760 Which means that Eric after a well 29 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,240 deserved and very long break 30 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:43,120 Will be serving on our session in that capacity with the gifts that God has given him I 31 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:50,880 Think that's all I need to say so with that said before we come to the words of God 32 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:55,960 Let's come to our God and ask for his help this morning. Would you pray with me? 33 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:02,960 Father we are thankful that you have bought us through 34 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,960 another year that you have gathered us together 35 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,800 That you have grown us that you have conformed us 36 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:22,480 Father as we've already heard in our confession this morning that there are parts and times when we know that we have not walked in the way 37 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:28,120 That is pleasing to you but we can testify that you are a God of grace 38 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:34,400 that you have shown mercy and grace to us continually your children for the sake of Christ 39 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:39,960 This morning father as we come to your word. We ask that by your spirit 40 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:42,520 You would give us ears to hear 41 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:48,360 Hearts to receive and that you would transform us by the work of your Holy Spirit in our midst 42 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,560 We ask for this in Jesus name. Amen 43 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,000 One thing if you do have your Bible with you this morning 44 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:01,120 Could you please have it open to the passage that we're going through because I'll be referring to it 45 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:07,120 Quite a bit so it will be helpful for you to have the passage in front of you 46 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:15,360 Judge if you've ever taken an exam you know how incredibly intense the time has been 47 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:20,360 How incredibly intense the time leading up to it can feel 48 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,360 Why are exams so stressful? 49 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:31,360 Because exams determine if you have understood and digested the material correctly 50 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,360 That you have been learning over the semester 51 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:40,360 It's intense because all the hours of study and planning 52 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:46,360 Dedication and sacrifice can in a way be fruitless 53 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,360 Because there is a very real risk that you can fail 54 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:59,360 Well church let me tell you the difference between good advice and good news in this situation 55 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:05,360 Good advice is okay you have exams coming up they're going to be hard 56 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:11,360 But if you study as diligently as you can and study as much as humanly possible 57 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,360 You have a real chance of doing well 58 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,360 That's great that's good advice 59 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:23,360 But what if you study as hard as you can put all the hours in 60 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,360 But then you get to the exam and all the pressure gets to you 61 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,360 What if you forget everything 62 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:37,360 Well good advice would be don't panic take a deep breath just write everything that you can remember 63 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:43,360 There's bound to be something in there that will hopefully be worth some kind of mark 64 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:48,360 And it's so much better than just freaking out and doing nothing 65 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:50,360 That's good advice 66 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:59,360 But there is a world of difference between good advice and good news 67 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,360 Let me explain 68 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:10,360 Good news would be you're in the exam the teacher can see that you don't have anything in you to pass 69 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:18,360 So they come over to you and they announce to you that they're going to take the exam on your behalf 70 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:23,360 This my brothers and sisters is indeed this is great news 71 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:34,360 Now I'm telling you all of this because this is the type of message that our author is saying over and over again in the book written to the Hebrews 72 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:41,360 And as we'll see this morning this passage that we have before us is no exception 73 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:56,360 You see the author isn't giving us good advice about how we are to approach God with a set of rules so that maybe just maybe if you're good enough 74 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,360 Well God will let you into heaven one day 75 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:16,360 No he's telling us the good news that God has come to us in Jesus and that he has taken all that it is to be human and to take his taken our exam on our behalf 76 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:25,360 And he passed it perfectly freeing us from death and slavery to sin 77 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:38,360 But not only that the author wants us to see that because of Jesus and what he has done for his people we are welcomed by God to come boldly to him 78 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:49,360 So why church why would you ever want to reject all of that and go back to the entanglement of sin and its wages 79 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:55,360 That said would you look with me at verse 14 80 00:07:55,360 --> 00:08:09,360 Our author says therefore since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven Jesus the Son of God let us hold firmly to the faith we profess 81 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:20,360 Now you might ask yourself here straight off the bat why do we in 21st century Australia still need a great high priest 82 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:34,360 Well simply put because God is still holy and we are still sinful that's why we need a high priest because of our sin 83 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:43,360 We read in Genesis that humanity was created to be in the presence of God and in perfect relationship with him 84 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:58,360 We see this in the first couple of chapters of our Bibles where our first parents were in the presence of God enjoying him in uninterrupted fellowship 85 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:11,360 But things didn't stay that way for long no we go on to read that through the temptation to be their own gods to make their own rules our first parents rejected God 86 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:23,360 That's right at that moment in that action to rebel against our creator sin was bought into this world and because sin and holiness can't exist together 87 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:30,360 Can't cohabit the same space they were cast from God's presence 88 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:44,360 In other words their sin killed our relationship our friendship with God and you don't have to read Genesis for very long to see the devastating effects that sin had on all people 89 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:58,360 It brought destruction, pain, carnage and ultimately death and we see this through the whole Bible but this is a thing it wasn't just their problem 90 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:12,360 No sin has become inherent to the human experience to our human experience however church thank God that's not all we read about in our Bibles 91 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:24,360 No we also see that God is gracious and merciful and we see that he chose a family and promised from that family to make a nation and bless the world from them 92 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:37,360 And it was to the nation of Israel that God gave a law so that his holiness might be revealed and our sin our lawlessness shone for what it is 93 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:51,360 In other words God resurrected friendship with us in his grace in his undeserved favour he came to us 94 00:10:51,360 --> 00:11:02,360 Now we see in the law how we might draw close to God's holiness through the shedding of blood in another in our place 95 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:20,360 For example we read in Leviticus 1711 for the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life 96 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:30,360 Essentially what this passage is saying is that atonement for sin comes through the blood of a sacrifice 97 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:39,360 And this has to be done in order to maintain friendship relationship with God 98 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,360 Yet this wasn't something anyone could just do 99 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:57,360 In fact our author this morning he points that out in our passage in chapter 5 verse 4 he says no one takes this honour on himself but receives it when called by God just as Aaron was 100 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:15,360 In other words shedding the blood of a sacrifice before God was a ministry given specifically to the priestly family of Aaron who was appointed by God to intercede for sinners intercede means to stand in the place of 101 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:17,360 Kind of like a lawyer 102 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:34,360 Now there was a special day of the year called the day of atonement where the high priest was allowed to enter the most holy place in either the tabernacle or the temple to stand before God in his presence 103 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:50,360 And his role was to take the blood of the sacrifice into the most holiest place in the building and make an offering for all the people so that their sins would be symbolically covered 104 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:55,360 That's what's on view in chapter 5 verses 1 through 2 105 00:12:55,360 --> 00:13:08,360 We read every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins 106 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:17,360 He's able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray since he himself is subject to weakness 107 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:26,360 But I want to point something out for you this morning this system wasn't perfect in a couple of ways 108 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,360 We see the first issue in verse 3 109 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:43,360 The high priest who represented the people to God who entered the holy of holies with the sacrificed blood symbolically atoning for the sins of the people 110 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:56,360 Now we notice it here he himself was a sinner and had to offer sacrifices for his own sins before he could offer sacrifices for the sins of other people 111 00:13:56,360 --> 00:14:00,360 That's what our text is getting at there in verse 3 112 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,360 The high priest was himself a sinner and needed forgiveness 113 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:14,360 And so as a sinner this meant that not only would his sympathy be imperfect but his presence in the holy place with God will notice it 114 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:19,360 It was limited to just once a year 115 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:27,360 It also meant that he would die because death is the wages of sin 116 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,360 He would have to be replaced 117 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:42,360 This means that he could never guarantee an ongoing presence with God to intercede for the people 118 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:48,360 There's a second problem and it's to do with the blood that was sacrificed 119 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:57,360 You see Hebrews 10 will go on to tell us that it's impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins 120 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:06,360 Why? Because the law is just a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of those realities 121 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:16,360 It can never by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year make perfect those who draw near 122 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:21,360 Otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered? 123 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:27,360 I don't want anyone to misunderstand me with what's going on this morning 124 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:32,360 This priesthood was graciously given by God 125 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,360 It's a needed ministry, it was a needed ministry 126 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:39,360 First Samuel 2.25 a question is asked 127 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:45,360 If someone sins against the Lord who can intercede for him? 128 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:49,360 The answer is the priest that God appoints 129 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:54,360 As it's an intercessory role that has to happen between God and his people 130 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:59,360 So that relationship, friendship might be maintained 131 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:03,360 But when saying that, what have we seen this morning? 132 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:08,360 Under the Old Testament through the Levitical priesthood 133 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:13,360 It was imperfect, it was incomplete 134 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:20,360 Why? Why? Because God never meant for that to be the final solution 135 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:26,360 That was never the plan to be the final solution in regards to our relationship with him 136 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:35,360 No, it was set up to point forward to something greater, to someone perfect and complete 137 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:46,360 It was all pointing forward to God's mercy and grace coming in the person of Jesus Christ 138 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:52,360 And church, that's what our author wants us to focus on here this morning 139 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:59,360 He wants us to focus on Jesus Christ, our great high priest 140 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:06,360 It's all about Jesus and his eager to tell us what kind of high priest that we have 141 00:17:06,360 --> 00:17:15,360 Look with me at verse 15, we read, for we don't have a high priest who's unable to empathize with our weaknesses 142 00:17:15,360 --> 00:17:21,360 But we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are 143 00:17:21,360 --> 00:17:25,360 Yet he didn't sin 144 00:17:25,360 --> 00:17:38,360 Now, temptation is an interesting word that is used there because we actually get a glimpse into just how incredibly grim our Lord's temptation was 145 00:17:38,360 --> 00:17:45,360 When he faced the cross, if you have your Bibles, look with me at 7 through to 10 146 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:56,360 We read, during the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death 147 00:17:56,360 --> 00:18:00,360 And he was heard because of his reverence and submission 148 00:18:00,360 --> 00:18:19,360 Son, though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be a high priest in the order of Mokazatec 149 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:36,360 It's here that we clearly see that Jesus put his complete trust in his Father while he was being led to the cross to shed his blood for the sins of his people 150 00:18:36,360 --> 00:18:53,360 And it's because of his perfect obedience through every temptation to disobey even when faced with the wrath of God that we have a perfect sacrifice who never gave in to sin 151 00:18:53,360 --> 00:19:00,360 And I want to pause there for a moment because you might be here this morning and thinking to yourself 152 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:09,360 If Jesus is God and he's able to be tested and tempted, why did he need to learn obedience? 153 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:16,360 Well, dear one, Chapter 8 of the Westminster Confession is actually incredibly helpful here 154 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:28,360 It sums up the whole Council of Scripture and it says that God, the eternal Son, really took on human nature and came to dwell with us in the flesh 155 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:35,360 He really became like us in every way yet his human nature wasn't fallen like ours 156 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:47,360 This means he had a real human body that had to grow, a real human mind that had to learn and real human emotions that could be tempted and tested 157 00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:56,360 Therefore, his perfect obedience through temptation on our behalf, it wasn't an act 158 00:19:56,360 --> 00:20:00,360 It was real in every way 159 00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:08,360 And the eternal Son of God came to us in that way for a reason 160 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:16,360 The author has told us in Chapter 2, verse 14 of his book which we actually looked at briefly on Christmas Day 161 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:28,360 He says, since the children have flesh and blood, he, being Jesus, too, shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death 162 00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:30,360 That is the devil 163 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:36,360 And free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death 164 00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:41,360 For surely it's not angels he helps but Abraham's descendants 165 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:46,360 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way 166 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:53,360 In order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service to God 167 00:20:53,360 --> 00:21:02,360 That he might make atonement for the sins of the people because he himself suffered when he was tempted 168 00:21:02,360 --> 00:21:07,360 So he is able to help those who are being tempted 169 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:27,360 Simply put brothers and sisters, our author wants us to know that Jesus, he had to take on flesh so that he could be both the perfect sacrifice and the perfect human high priest that we needed 170 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:30,360 I want to think about that for a moment more 171 00:21:30,360 --> 00:21:40,360 Jesus, the divine Son of God who created the heavens and the earth 172 00:21:40,360 --> 00:21:43,360 Think about this for a moment 173 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:52,360 He shed his blood for the sin of his people, his innocent blood 174 00:21:52,360 --> 00:22:00,360 This is what gives the sacrifice on the cross its infinite worth 175 00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:05,360 But we all know here this morning that death couldn't hold him down 176 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:09,360 We've already seen that in chapter 4 verses 14 177 00:22:09,360 --> 00:22:13,360 We read that he passed through the heavens 178 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:26,360 Which makes us think of the ascension in Christ's resurrected body when he rose through the clouds into the heavenly realms into the presence of God the Father 179 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:38,360 This means that right now at this very moment he is with God in the heavens, in the holiest place in the universe 180 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:44,360 And he is pleading our case with his perfect life 181 00:22:44,360 --> 00:22:51,360 Church, I hope that doesn't fly over your heads this morning 182 00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:54,360 I mean think about that for a moment 183 00:22:54,360 --> 00:23:04,360 Jesus didn't take the blood of bulls or goats into the heavenly realms 184 00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:08,360 He didn't even take the blood of a mere man 185 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:16,360 He took his own precious blood, the blood of the sinless Son of God 186 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:25,360 Which means when God the Father sees his Son who gave himself for our sin he says that's enough that death's been paid 187 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:31,360 My righteousness vindicated 188 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:41,360 Which means he overlooks all our transgression and counts us as his beloved children in Christ 189 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:46,360 The apostle Paul, he says it like this in Romans 3 190 00:23:46,360 --> 00:23:56,360 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of blood to be received by faith 191 00:23:56,360 --> 00:24:04,360 He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished 192 00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:19,360 He did this to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus 193 00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:24,360 There is one who has taken the exam for you in your place 194 00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:27,360 Incredibly church, this was never planned B 195 00:24:27,360 --> 00:24:36,360 This is always being God's plan for his people to have a perfect sacrifice and eternal high priest 196 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:48,360 And we see that in verse 10 how our author says that Jesus was designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek 197 00:24:48,360 --> 00:24:53,360 Let me explain why that's really important and we'll fly over this part 198 00:24:53,360 --> 00:25:07,360 You see in chapter 7 and 8 our author will go on to tell us that this order of Melchizedek is the perfect and eternal priesthood that Jesus was appointed to by God 199 00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:14,360 And that he is the fulfillment of what the entire priestly system was just a shadow of 200 00:25:14,360 --> 00:25:25,360 As before Christ came the holiest place in the temple was only entered into once a year and that by a sinful high priest 201 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:32,360 But as we know that was just a type of the true holy place in heaven where God dwells 202 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:38,360 It's in this heavenly temple now where our sinless high priest lives today 203 00:25:38,360 --> 00:25:51,360 And unlike all the other high priests that ever lived and died, Jesus lived and died and rose again from the dead, never to die again 204 00:25:51,360 --> 00:26:03,360 And because Jesus has this indestructible life and internal priesthood, he has immediate access to God in heaven with our interruption 205 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:16,360 That's why Christians proclaim that it's through Jesus alone that our relationship with God has been permanently restored 206 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:24,360 It's one of the definitions of the Reformation cry, Christ alone 207 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:32,360 This is why the whole Old Testament system of priesthood is over 208 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:39,360 It was only a shadow pointing to the reality that we have in Jesus Christ now 209 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:42,360 In church we have to be warned 210 00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:50,360 That's what verse 14 is talking about, it's a warning to hold fast to our confession 211 00:26:50,360 --> 00:27:05,360 That confession that's on view here is our faith that God has done everything that is needed to be done in His Son to bring us into that final rest and joy 212 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:15,360 Church God has made our adoption, our friendship, our relationship with Him possible only because He first came to us 213 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:30,360 He in His mercy, in His grace has sent us a perfect and final sacrifice in His own Son who is an eternal high priest who really loves and cares for us 214 00:27:30,360 --> 00:27:36,360 And He is alive at this very moment, there is nothing more to do 215 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:41,360 And this is incredibly, incredibly important to live in light of 216 00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:49,360 Because this good news doesn't just tell us that our great high priest has dealt with our sins 217 00:27:49,360 --> 00:27:56,360 But that he's personally, lovingly involved in our lives today 218 00:27:56,360 --> 00:28:04,360 Personally involved in our struggles as we resist going back to our old way of life 219 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:10,360 Where we were in bondage to sin, dead in trespasses 220 00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:14,360 It's there in verse 15, I want to read it again 221 00:28:14,360 --> 00:28:20,360 We don't have a high priest who's unable to empathize with our weaknesses 222 00:28:20,360 --> 00:28:30,360 We have one who's been tempted in every way just as we are, yet he didn't sin 223 00:28:30,360 --> 00:28:37,360 You see, because Jesus is alive, because Jesus is in heaven right now 224 00:28:37,360 --> 00:28:44,360 Because Jesus intercedes on behalf of His blood-purchased people 225 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:53,360 This means that He can offer compassion and help to us because He is shared in what it is to be human 226 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:58,360 Having been tempted like us in every way 227 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:06,360 I think it's here that we see the difference between being tempted and giving into temptation, right? 228 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:16,360 You might be here this morning and thinking, Jesus hasn't gone through what I've gone through 229 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:22,360 He's never been tempted with the things that I'm tempted with 230 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:28,360 With drugs, the addiction to pornography 231 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:36,360 And yes, though the instruments of sin that we deal with in our culture haven't always existed 232 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:41,360 Sin's essential destructive nature has always been the same 233 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:49,360 Things like cheating, stealing, murder, lust have always been out to destroy humanity 234 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:57,360 And the author wants us to know sin was really out to destroy Jesus 235 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:04,360 Yet as we're told here, He never once sinned 236 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:09,360 I love how C.S. Lewis helps us here 237 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:16,360 He once heard someone say, if Jesus never sinned, then he doesn't know what temptation is really like 238 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:23,360 He lived a sheltered life and is out of touch with how strong temptation can really be 239 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,360 This is what C.S. Lewis had to say 240 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:33,360 A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means 241 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:35,360 Well, this is an obvious lie 242 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:42,360 Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it actually is 243 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:49,360 A man who gives into temptation after five minutes simply doesn't know what it would be like an hour later 244 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:55,360 This is why bad people in one sense know very little about badness 245 00:30:55,360 --> 00:31:00,360 They've always lived a sheltered life by always giving into it 246 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:07,360 Christ on the other hand, because he was the only man who never yielded to temptation 247 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:15,360 Is also the only man who knows to the fullness what temptation really means 248 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:20,360 The only complete realist 249 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:26,360 Brothers and sisters, this should bring us incredible comfort when tempted 250 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:33,360 When tempted with the very real destructive sin that we face 251 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:38,360 Because our Lord has felt the same urges and temptations like we here have 252 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:44,360 And He personally knows the battle that sin wages against our soul 253 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:48,360 Yet He always resisted, He never failed 254 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:55,360 This means He really can help us when we're tempted to turn to those sinful behaviors 255 00:31:55,360 --> 00:32:00,360 That so easily entangle and destroy us 256 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:06,360 Or when temptation seems too strong to handle 257 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,360 What do we do with all of this? 258 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:17,360 What do we practically do with all this wonderful knowledge that we have learned of our God this morning? 259 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:21,360 Well that's the last point I want to land on as we wrap up 260 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,360 It's there in verse 16 261 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:29,360 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence 262 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:36,360 So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need 263 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:41,360 Listen carefully to this because this is incredibly important 264 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:44,360 Every one of us in this room needs help 265 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:47,360 We are not God 266 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:52,360 We have needs, we have weaknesses, we have confusion 267 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:58,360 And we have limitations of all sorts and we need help from God 268 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:04,360 But every single one of us in this room has something else and that's sin 269 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:13,360 Therefore we really know at the bottom of our hearts that we don't deserve from God what we really need 270 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,360 So you can feel trapped 271 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,360 You might say I need help to live my life 272 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:26,360 I need help with my family, my spouse, my children, my loneliness, my job, my health, my finances 273 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:33,360 I need help but I know I don't deserve the help that I need 274 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:36,360 So what do we do? 275 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:39,360 There's two ways to live dear ones 276 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:44,360 You can try to deny it all and pretend that you don't need help 277 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:52,360 Or you can try to drown it all and throw your life into a pool of carnal pleasures 278 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:59,360 Or you can simply give way to the paralysis of despair 279 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:03,360 Church, God declares something this morning 280 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:11,360 He declares something in his living and active word over these hopeless conclusions that our flesh draws us into 281 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:18,360 Jesus Christ became a high priest to shatter that despair 282 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:24,360 With the hope to rescue a wretch like me 283 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:27,360 It's true, we all need help 284 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:34,360 Yes, none of us deserves the help we need but look at what God has told us this morning 285 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:39,360 Because we have a perfect sacrifice 286 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:43,360 Because we have a perfect high priest 287 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:48,360 The throne of God isn't a throne of judgment 288 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:52,360 It's a throne of grace 289 00:34:52,360 --> 00:35:01,360 And the help that we get at that throne is mercy and grace to help us in our time of need 290 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:09,360 Grace, undeserved favour to help, not deserved help, gracious help 291 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:15,360 This is the whole point of Christ's intercessory role on behalf of these people 292 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:21,360 I'm not here today to give you good advice on this New Year's Eve 293 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:24,360 I'm here to tell you good news 294 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:34,360 God planned from eternity past for a saviour, a redeemer, a rescuer, a gracious helper to live perfectly on our behalf 295 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:42,360 To die in our place and to live forevermore as the high priest of his people 296 00:35:42,360 --> 00:35:49,360 You are not trapped in a hopeless situation that's life from the pit of hell 297 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:55,360 We all need help, we all don't deserve it, but we can all have it 298 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:59,360 You and I have it right now 299 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:09,360 If you will receive and trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and draw near to our heavenly Father through him 300 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:13,360 So as we end, I just want to ask a few questions 301 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:21,360 Maybe you're here today and you're stuck in a sin that is causing you to run from your high priest 302 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:28,360 You're like Adam, you hide behind the proverbial bush trying to cover yourself, ashamed to come out 303 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:31,360 Maybe pointing fingers at other people 304 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:34,360 Listen to these words this morning 305 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,360 Run to him 306 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:44,360 He is for you and not against you because of Jesus, because of the beloved, because you're in Christ 307 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:47,360 You will find his mercy 308 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:52,360 Maybe you're here and you're tempted with something every single day 309 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:58,360 You're fighting, you're hurting, ashamed, feeling tired 310 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,360 Run to him 311 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:06,360 Brother, sister, run to him, he knows what you're going through 312 00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:11,360 It is his word that tells us you will find mercy and grace 313 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:18,360 Maybe you're here today and you would say you have no sacrifice for your sin 314 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:24,360 No high priest, no hope 315 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:30,360 Well friend, you're not headed towards the throne of grace 316 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:33,360 You are heading to one of judgment 317 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:38,360 And it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God 318 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,360 But this is the good news 319 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:49,360 There is hope for you and Christ is really being held out to you today 320 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:56,360 All you have to do is call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved 321 00:37:56,360 --> 00:38:02,360 If you're not sure how to do that, then please don't leave this place wondering 322 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:04,360 Come and speak to me after the service 323 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:08,360 I would love to meet with you and pray with you 324 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:13,360 Church, let's pray 325 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:18,360 Father, we are so thankful for the cross 326 00:38:18,360 --> 00:38:25,360 We are so thankful for the life and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ 327 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:32,360 That right now as we pray, as right now you are convicting, as you are stirring your people 328 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:36,360 With the sin that so easily entangles in our own lives 329 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:41,360 Father, that you have given us grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy 330 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:45,360 That we are invited to come to you 331 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:51,360 And so I pray today as we go into our new year, Lord, that your children 332 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:58,360 Don't look to the things of this world, to the despair, to the hopelessness 333 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:00,360 But to you 334 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:06,360 I pray, Father, that this year coming would be a year that we know personally 335 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:12,360 If we haven't already where we experience and know you 336 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:21,360 Father, I ask that you would draw your people in closer and closer and in more intimacy in Christ 337 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:27,360 That we would know who you are so that out of the overflow of our changed hearts 338 00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:31,360 We might proclaim good news to others 339 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:36,360 This is a work of your spirit and we plead for it and we ask for it in Jesus' name 340 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:42,360 Amen