1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Thank you Jim for your ministry of music. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,240 The young people who played earlier had another engagement to get to by 7 o'clock and that's 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:18,160 why they had to slip out the side and we wanted you to know that. 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:25,360 What a person or a church believes about Jesus Christ is crucial. 5 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:34,880 It is not a give it, a leave it or take it rather doctrine. 6 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:43,140 It is one of those matters of theology that is absolutely essential. 7 00:00:43,140 --> 00:00:49,880 I was talking with someone recently who said that he was going to a fine Christian church 8 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:55,560 and I asked him which it was and he named it here in the city, and I won't give you 9 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:01,280 the name, but it was one of the Unitarian churches. 10 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:06,520 Well I didn't realize that my friend was as confused as he exposed himself to be at 11 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:13,060 that point because a Unitarian church is in no sense a Christian church. 12 00:01:13,060 --> 00:01:19,340 There is a denial of the deity of Jesus Christ as an essential part of their doctrine that 13 00:01:19,340 --> 00:01:24,840 puts them utterly opposed to what we teach regarding the word of God and the person of 14 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:25,840 Jesus Christ. 15 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:32,800 Of course the same would be true regarding the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Mormons. 16 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:38,640 We completely disagree with them regarding what they teach about the Lord Jesus Christ. 17 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:45,880 The same would be true regarding liberal churches who talk about Jesus Christ in their doctrinal 18 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:55,080 statements but who denigrate him, who lure him to a position of being merely a moral 19 00:01:55,080 --> 00:02:00,000 teacher, a good example. 20 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:06,960 If that is all that a church believes about Jesus Christ, it ought to change its name 21 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:12,560 and call itself a country club or a social club or anything else it wants to call itself, 22 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,840 but it should not call itself a church of Jesus Christ. 23 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:23,640 What do we at Grace Church Roosevelt teach regarding the person of Jesus Christ? 24 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:29,800 Our doctrinal statement puts it this way, we believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten 25 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,420 Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. 26 00:02:34,420 --> 00:02:41,240 We believe in his virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. 27 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:48,000 We believe in his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into 28 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:55,800 heaven, perpetual intercession for his people, and personal, visible return to earth. 29 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,920 I'd like to expand a little bit upon that statement tonight as we think about where 30 00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:06,080 we stand regarding this doctrine of Christology or the theology of Jesus Christ. 31 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:11,720 I'd like to examine four areas, first of all who Jesus Christ is. 32 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,520 Let me say that to do this, we're going to limit ourselves to the book of Hebrews. 33 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:22,160 If you brought only the book of Hebrews with you tonight, you're in good shape. 34 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:27,440 We could probably do this with several books in the New Testament, but we're going to 35 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:33,600 choose the book of Hebrews tonight and limit our discussion regarding what it teaches concerning 36 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,720 Jesus Christ. 37 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,440 That will save you from wearing out other parts of your Bible. 38 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,880 It could be that Hebrews is under-exercised anyway. 39 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,480 It is in a lot of people's Bibles. 40 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:51,840 Let's look in the book of Hebrews as we think about, first of all, who Jesus Christ is. 41 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:54,640 That statement can be answered with two sub-statements. 42 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,560 First of all, he is God. 43 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,280 Secondly, he is man. 44 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:04,800 In saying that, I am not saying that he is 50 percent God and 50 percent man. 45 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,400 I'm not saying he's 90 percent God and 10 percent man. 46 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:16,080 What I am saying is that he is 100 percent God and 100 percent man. 47 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:21,640 He is the theanthropos, the God-man. 48 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:26,560 In him is the fullness of deity, he is God. 49 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,340 The fullness of humanity, he is man. 50 00:04:30,340 --> 00:04:36,960 As you open the book of Hebrews, turn to chapter 1. 51 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,700 If you were to find some paragraphs in the New Testament regarding the person of Jesus 52 00:04:41,700 --> 00:04:46,560 Christ, you would turn to this passage as one of the key ones. 53 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:52,880 Also John 1, Colossians 1, Philippians 2, Revelation 1. 54 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:54,200 Hebrews 1 fits in the list. 55 00:04:54,200 --> 00:05:01,080 It says, God, after he spoke long ago to the fathers and the prophets in many portions 56 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:11,920 and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in his Son. 57 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:17,740 Now notice what it says about this one who has the title, the Son. 58 00:05:17,740 --> 00:05:27,720 It says, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world. 59 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:33,000 That last word is not the earth, the inhabited earth, but it means the ages. 60 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,800 That is everything that exists in the universe and all of its organization and its flow of 61 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,300 history. 62 00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:43,940 The Lord Jesus Christ is the agent of that. 63 00:05:43,940 --> 00:05:49,880 Not only is he the agent of creation, but he is also the heir of all that has been created. 64 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:57,820 That goes on to say in verse 3, and he is the radiance of his, of God's glory. 65 00:05:57,820 --> 00:06:03,800 That means the outshining of the glory of God so that in the person of Jesus Christ 66 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:10,680 we see shining forth the very nature of God himself. 67 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:18,560 Not just a moral teacher, not just a good example, but we see in him the very shining 68 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:25,200 forth of God, the very radiance of God's glory is in him, his teaching, his miracles, 69 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:26,200 etc. 70 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:34,720 And then it says, and he is the exact representation of God's nature. 71 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:40,400 That word representation there is used in the book of Matthew, the 22nd chapter of the 72 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,040 30th verse, where it is translated image. 73 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:48,760 Jesus held up the coin and said, whose image is on this coin? 74 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:57,560 He was using a word there that refers to the process of stamping a die on a piece of metal. 75 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:05,520 If any of you have worked with metal, you know something about that process. 76 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:14,560 A die is used and when the metal is heated, the die is pressed into the metal, and in 77 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:22,760 the case of Matthew 22, it leaves the impression of Caesar on the coin, the image of Caesar. 78 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:32,600 Now what it says here is that the invisible God can be seen in Jesus Christ for all that 79 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:42,080 the invisible God is, was impressed into the person of Jesus Christ so that he is the exact 80 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,980 representation of the invisible deity. 81 00:07:46,980 --> 00:07:53,320 When you look at Jesus Christ, you are looking at God himself as he is in his nature. 82 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:54,320 So he is God. 83 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,120 Hebrews chapter 1 teaches that. 84 00:07:56,120 --> 00:08:01,800 It goes on to say, he upholds all things by the word of his power. 85 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:07,080 When he had made purification of sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty 86 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,040 on high, the place of supreme authority. 87 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:11,920 So he is God. 88 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,880 But secondly, he is man. 89 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:21,480 Turn over a page or two to chapter 2 and look at verse 14, where it says, since then the 90 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:28,080 children share in flesh and blood. 91 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:34,360 He himself likewise also partook of the same. 92 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:41,080 That phrase flesh and blood is a way of expressing human nature, humanity. 93 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:46,280 What the writer of Hebrews is saying is this, since we, those who are the children of God 94 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:53,680 now through faith in Christ, since we share humanity, he himself, who? 95 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:56,300 The son. 96 00:08:56,300 --> 00:09:01,080 He himself likewise also partook of the same what? 97 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,320 Humanity. 98 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:07,600 So that not only is he God, but he is man. 99 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:18,460 All that man is, except for his sinterhood, is found in Jesus Christ. 100 00:09:18,460 --> 00:09:26,520 He is not only God, he is fully, completely human. 101 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:27,760 Who is Jesus Christ? 102 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,160 He is God and he is man. 103 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:36,400 One cannot be an orthodox Christian. 104 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:41,480 One cannot be a Bible-believing Christian and deny either of those truths. 105 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,700 They are essential. 106 00:09:44,700 --> 00:09:50,880 One must believe that he is fully God and fully man. 107 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:55,520 The second area that we want to talk about is what Jesus Christ did. 108 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,040 There are really six sub-points to this if you're writing them down, so leave room for 109 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:00,040 six. 110 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:01,280 What Jesus Christ did. 111 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,240 In the first place, he came. 112 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:09,020 Now I'm putting it that way because I want you to notice that I'm not saying he began. 113 00:10:09,020 --> 00:10:10,020 He came. 114 00:10:10,020 --> 00:10:12,840 He pre-existed before he came. 115 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:21,000 He always was as God the Son, but he came into the world through the incarnation, the 116 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,480 miracle of the virgin birth. 117 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:30,220 Now we're here in Hebrews 2, begin with me in verse 5 where it says, for he did not subject, 118 00:10:30,220 --> 00:10:36,280 God did not subject to angels the world to come concerning which we are speaking, he 119 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:37,280 says. 120 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,840 But one is testified somewhere and that somewhere is psalm. 121 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:41,840 I kind of like that. 122 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:46,640 Did you ever get to the point of saying, well it says in the Bible somewhere. 123 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,920 Now why he did not know the exact text, I don't know. 124 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,780 There's a similar phrase found again a couple of chapters later, but I kind of identify 125 00:10:53,780 --> 00:10:57,160 with him when he says one is testified somewhere. 126 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,040 But then of course he quotes it. 127 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:05,020 He says, what is man that thou rememberst him, or the son of man that thou art concerned 128 00:11:05,020 --> 00:11:06,680 about him? 129 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:11,200 Thou hast made him for a little while lower than the angels. 130 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:15,400 Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor and hast appointed him over the works of thy 131 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:16,400 hands. 132 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,200 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. 133 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,200 He said, who's it talking about? 134 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:23,540 Man. 135 00:11:23,540 --> 00:11:27,080 Man was created to rule and to reign over God's creation. 136 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,200 That is what David says in psalm 8. 137 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,760 Now it goes on to say in verse 8 here, for in subjecting all things to him, who? 138 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:36,760 Man. 139 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:41,440 Only God left nothing that is not subject to him. 140 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:47,280 But he says, we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 141 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:55,180 One part of God's glorious plan of redemption is that someday, redeemed humanity is going 142 00:11:55,180 --> 00:12:03,100 to rule and to reign under Jesus Christ over what God has created. 143 00:12:03,100 --> 00:12:10,320 Our father and mother lost that for us, namely Adam and Eve. 144 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:17,000 They lost the right to reign, although God had given it to them. 145 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:26,040 Jesus Christ, who comes now as the last Adam, has restored to humanity, redeemed humanity, 146 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:31,560 what our father Adam lost in his disobedience and sin. 147 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:38,460 But we do not yet see all things subjected to man. 148 00:12:38,460 --> 00:12:47,120 While we do not see that, he says in verse 9, we do see him, Jesus Christ, who has been 149 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:54,160 made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus. 150 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:58,520 So notice it says that while we do not see yet the full consummation, the full purpose 151 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,720 of redemption, we do see Jesus. 152 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:09,280 Now it does say about him here that he was made for a little while lower than the angels. 153 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:17,360 He came as a man to a position in creation that was lower than the angels, where man 154 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:22,060 is as God has created him in this world. 155 00:13:22,060 --> 00:13:23,060 So he came. 156 00:13:23,060 --> 00:13:28,400 In verse 14, we've already pointed out the fact that he shares our flesh and blood. 157 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:29,400 So he came. 158 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,960 Secondly, he lived without sin. 159 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:34,400 That's important. 160 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:37,040 Not once did he sin in all of his life. 161 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:42,220 As a child, as an adult, not one thought, not one word. 162 00:13:42,220 --> 00:13:47,320 There was nothing about him that was sinful. 163 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:54,080 Turn to the fourth chapter of Hebrews in verse 15, where it says, we do not have a high priest 164 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,280 who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. 165 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,720 Or to put it another way, we do have a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses. 166 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:09,680 But it goes on to say, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without 167 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:10,760 sin. 168 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,420 So please notice the distinction between temptation and sin. 169 00:14:14,420 --> 00:14:16,880 It is not a sin to be tempted. 170 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,320 Jesus was tempted, but he did not sin. 171 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:23,880 Indeed, he could not sin because he was God as well as man. 172 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:33,240 And because he could not sin, when he was tempted, the tempter gave him the fullest 173 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:40,080 possible temptation. 174 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:45,320 He sunk his fangs into him and gave him all the venom there was, so to speak, to try to 175 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,520 get him to sin. 176 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,440 Because he could not sin, he did not sin. 177 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:58,800 Sometimes, we get the feeling that because we have been tempted, that we have already 178 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,500 failed God. 179 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:06,340 There are people who are laboring under a load of guilt. 180 00:15:06,340 --> 00:15:10,060 That guilt has been produced not by sin, but by temptation. 181 00:15:10,060 --> 00:15:15,920 They feel that by going through the temptation, by the thoughts that have come into their 182 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:22,440 minds, by the urge that they had, that that itself was sin. 183 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:24,880 It is not sin. 184 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:30,040 If we play with it, if we yield to it, it's sin. 185 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:34,400 But the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted, just as we are tempted. 186 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:35,760 But he was without sin. 187 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:37,800 None of us can say that. 188 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:44,160 Sin has never given us, or rather the tempter has never given us, the fullest of temptation 189 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,040 because we yield before that. 190 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,920 But Jesus Christ never yielded once to temptation. 191 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,600 A similar thing is said in chapter 7 and verse 26. 192 00:15:53,600 --> 00:16:00,360 It says, it was fitting that we should have a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, 193 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,640 separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 194 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:08,320 He's innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, holy. 195 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,240 That is our Savior. 196 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,840 So he lived without sin. 197 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:18,120 And therefore, he could be the sin bearer in our place. 198 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:23,000 Thirdly, he revealed God to men. 199 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:28,060 We've already read the verses in Hebrews 1 where it says, while God spoke in the past 200 00:16:28,060 --> 00:16:36,420 in portions and pieces of revelation, and through many various ways, he has now put 201 00:16:36,420 --> 00:16:37,600 it all together. 202 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,520 He has finished his revelation. 203 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:47,340 He has fully and finally spoken in his Son. 204 00:16:47,340 --> 00:16:48,920 So what did Jesus Christ do? 205 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,440 He came to reveal God to us. 206 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:58,860 And we've already expressed some of those words, explained some of those words and expressions 207 00:16:58,860 --> 00:17:04,360 that deal with how he revealed to God the exact representation of all that God is. 208 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:08,960 Fourthly, he died a substitutionary sacrifice for man. 209 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:16,960 Let's go back again to chapter 2 of Hebrews and finish the verse 9. 210 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:23,720 Says we see Jesus, because of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that 211 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:29,640 by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone. 212 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:30,960 Notice that it's for everyone. 213 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:32,520 He did it on behalf of others. 214 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,640 He tasted death on our behalf. 215 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:41,920 Now this is expanded upon in the first few verses of Hebrews chapter 10 where it says 216 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:46,520 that his offering was once and for all for us. 217 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:51,400 And by that offering on our behalf, we have been sanctified. 218 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:53,160 Hebrews 10.10. 219 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:54,800 So what did Jesus Christ do? 220 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,920 He died a substitutionary sacrifice for us. 221 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,440 Number five, he rose from the dead. 222 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:06,640 Now this morning as we closed the service, I read that benediction to the book of Hebrews, 223 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:13,160 which is my favorite benediction of all of those in scripture, where it mentions the 224 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:19,960 God of peace who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep. 225 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:24,360 So you see again in the book of Hebrews, we find this truth about him, that he rose from 226 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:25,360 the dead. 227 00:18:25,360 --> 00:18:27,440 It's emphasized in other places. 228 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:32,680 It says, for example, he ever lives to make intercession for us. 229 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:33,680 He is not dead. 230 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:38,840 He has been raised from the dead and ever lives on our behalf. 231 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:45,840 And finally, number six under this title of what Jesus Christ did, he ascended to heaven. 232 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:53,240 Now from the viewpoint of earth, we see it in the gospels, we see it in the book of Acts. 233 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:59,000 And Jesus being taken up from the Mount of Olives into the very presence of God. 234 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,000 But here in Hebrews, we have a different vantage point. 235 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,400 We see it not from the viewpoint of earth, but from the viewpoint of heaven. 236 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:12,980 Notice with me Hebrews chapter four and verse 14. 237 00:19:12,980 --> 00:19:17,120 The writer puts it this way, talking about his ascension. 238 00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:28,920 We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God. 239 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:35,200 He passed through the heavens of the clouds, the atmosphere of the earth. 240 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:40,440 He passed through the starry heavens of the universe and into the heaven of heavens, the 241 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:43,920 very presence of God himself. 242 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:49,200 And so we have in the book of Hebrews from heaven's viewpoint, the fact that he passed 243 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:55,320 through the heavens to intercede in the very presence of God for us, as it says in the 244 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,120 next couple of verses. 245 00:19:57,120 --> 00:20:01,240 Now look in chapter six and verse 20. 246 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:06,760 It speaks about the veil in the heavenly sanctuary. 247 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:12,560 And it says this, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us. 248 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,720 Now you would not know that from earth's vantage point. 249 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:20,520 You do not see that in the gospels, in the first chapter of Acts, because all they saw 250 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,120 was him being taken up into heaven. 251 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:25,740 And then a cloud took him out of their sight. 252 00:20:25,740 --> 00:20:30,840 But here from heaven's vantage point, it says that he came into the heavenly sanctuary after 253 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:32,860 he disappeared from earth. 254 00:20:32,860 --> 00:20:38,200 He came into the heavenly sanctuary and he entered in behind the veil to the very holy 255 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,280 of holies in the heaven. 256 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:46,760 And it says there he has been a forerunner for us and has become a high priest forever. 257 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:50,760 You say, what is a forerunner? 258 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,800 Have you ever watched the president speak to Congress? 259 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,880 There's that dramatic point. 260 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:01,160 The commentators are chattering away talking about the fact that we're in Congress and 261 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:03,040 the president's about to enter. 262 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:09,760 And then they cut away and you get a view of the sergeant arms in Congress. 263 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:15,000 And he comes into the chamber and he says, ladies and gentlemen, the president of the 264 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,520 United States. 265 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:24,480 And then we have the march is played and the president enters and he is greeted by Congress. 266 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:29,840 Now you see what that sergeant arms does is to act like a forerunner. 267 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:34,560 He goes in there to announce the coming of the president. 268 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,440 Now folks, I tell you that's what this word means. 269 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:42,440 It means that our savior has entered into heaven itself and there he has announced that 270 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:47,480 we are on the way. 271 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:54,120 He is the forerunner, the announcer who has gone before us to represent us before God 272 00:21:54,120 --> 00:22:00,280 and to say that we are coming. 273 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:07,440 Chapter 8 in verse 1, it says, now the main point and what I've said is this, we have 274 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:13,200 such a high priest who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the majesty 275 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:14,560 in the heavens. 276 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:17,920 Where is he in the heavens? 277 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:18,920 Where is he there? 278 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:24,000 He's seated at the right hand of God, an expression that means he has given the place of supreme 279 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:25,840 authority and power. 280 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:33,880 Then in chapter 9 in verse 24, it says, Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, 281 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,880 but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. 282 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:39,880 That's where he is tonight. 283 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,520 He's ascended to heaven. 284 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:48,080 That explains from the language of the book of Hebrews what Jesus Christ did. 285 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:54,320 Thirdly, let's talk about what Jesus Christ is doing. 286 00:22:54,320 --> 00:23:00,120 We have that before us here in verse 24 that we've just read and we've read several other 287 00:23:00,120 --> 00:23:02,200 verses that tell us. 288 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:03,960 What is he doing? 289 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:08,720 He is there representing us. 290 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:13,680 He is appearing in the presence of God on our behalf. 291 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:24,200 He is acting as our intercessor so that we have one who perpetually prays for us. 292 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:29,880 Our doctrinal statement puts it this way, perpetual intercession for his people. 293 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,360 That's what he's doing. 294 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:36,720 The Virgin Mary is not there interceding on our behalf. 295 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:42,000 There are no saints in heaven interceding on our behalf. 296 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:50,000 There is one intercessor, one great high priest, and that is Jesus Christ. 297 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,280 He appears there for you and for me. 298 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:58,840 He acts not only as our intercessor, but as our advocate, which means our defense attorney, 299 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,360 our lawyer. 300 00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:05,840 First John 2 verses 1 and 2 uses that term of him. 301 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:15,400 When we sin, we have one who stands in the presence of God as a literal reminder that 302 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:23,280 the price has been paid for our sin so that when the accuser comes to attack us, there 303 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:32,000 is one in heaven who acts as the defense counsel and who says the price has been paid. 304 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:33,840 The price has been paid. 305 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:39,440 Thank God for that advocate of ours who stands there on our behalf. 306 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:46,360 Not only is he interceding and advocating, but thirdly, he is preparing a place for us. 307 00:24:46,360 --> 00:24:53,480 Now, of course, we think of John 14 when we think of this and Jesus' words, but I think 308 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,800 we see a suggestion of it here in Hebrews 2. 309 00:24:55,800 --> 00:25:00,720 Look in Hebrews 11 and verse 10. 310 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:09,200 When talking about Abraham, it says he was looking as he was walking as a pilgrim through 311 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:14,920 life, living in tents in a foreign land. 312 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:23,200 It says he was looking for the city which has foundations, not a tent that's thrown 313 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:28,880 up or even a city of tents, but the city that has foundations. 314 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,840 In other words, it's permanent. 315 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:36,160 He says, whose architect and builder is God. 316 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:41,200 The designer, the construction agent is God himself. 317 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:49,720 Now, it goes on to say in verse 16, they, the patriarchs who died before, verse 16, 318 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:54,240 they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. 319 00:25:54,240 --> 00:26:02,240 Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for 320 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,240 them. 321 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:10,400 And we have another word about that city in chapter 12 and verse 22 where he says, not 322 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:17,560 only the patriarchs, but we too, we too who follow after them in the train of faith. 323 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:27,560 He says, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. 324 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:32,160 That is none other than the same heavenly city that John describes to us in the last 325 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,560 two chapters of the book of the Revelation. 326 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:42,000 But again in chapter 13 and verse 14, it says here, we're just like the patriarchs. 327 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:48,040 Here we do not have a lasting city. 328 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:53,960 Minneapolis, St. Paul is not a lasting city. 329 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:58,320 There is no lasting city on this earth. 330 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:05,360 We do not have a lasting city, but it says we are seeking the city which is to come. 331 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:07,680 Now, what is that place? 332 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:11,960 That's the place that Jesus is preparing for us right now. 333 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:18,360 That's heaven, the Father's house, what David called the house of the Lord. 334 00:27:18,360 --> 00:27:19,360 So what is he doing? 335 00:27:19,360 --> 00:27:21,240 Well, that answers the question. 336 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:26,580 Now, I want to close with this area of study. 337 00:27:26,580 --> 00:27:29,400 What Jesus Christ will do. 338 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,080 We've talked about what he's done. 339 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:34,520 We've talked about what he's doing. 340 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,920 Now in closing, let's think about what Jesus Christ will do. 341 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,640 And again, keep our remarks to the book of Hebrews. 342 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:48,840 The very next thing that Jesus Christ will do in terms of this earth is to return for 343 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:52,640 his church, to return for his people. 344 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:58,920 Turn to Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 28. 345 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:07,400 It says, so Christ also having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear 346 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:19,340 a second time for salvation without reference to sin to those who eagerly await him. 347 00:28:19,340 --> 00:28:24,700 When he comes the second time, he is not coming to deal with sin. 348 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:28,520 He has already done that in his first advent. 349 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:32,080 He thoroughly dealt with sin then at his cross. 350 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:38,080 The next time that he appears, he is appearing for his people, those who eagerly await for 351 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:39,080 him. 352 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:43,400 And he is appearing to catch us away. 353 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,840 The following that will be judgment. 354 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,920 Judgment for the church, the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. 355 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:57,920 When we as people will be examined for our lives, how we've served him in this world. 356 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:07,280 Turn over page to chapter 10. 357 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:11,160 I was going to start reading in verse 26, but for time's sake, just look on down to 358 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:12,160 verse 30. 359 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,880 You say, does this passage talk about Christians? 360 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:16,880 Yes, it does. 361 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:20,560 That is my conviction that it does talk about Christians. 362 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:24,200 But in verse 30, I want to just pick out this phrase. 363 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:28,480 We know him who said, vengeance is mine, I will repay. 364 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:32,600 And again, the Lord will judge his people. 365 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:37,320 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 366 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:41,920 The previous verses talk about a believer. 367 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:50,760 Not who loses his salvation, but who is so careless and so carnal and fleshly in this 368 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:58,720 world, that he commits the atrocities that are mentioned in verse 29. 369 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:04,680 And the warning is of the terrible judgment, not the judgment of hell, but the awful judgment 370 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,120 that that believer is in for. 371 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:14,120 For the Lord will judge, not the world here, notice, but his people. 372 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,440 And then he says, and especially with regard to people who live that way during their lifetime, 373 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:24,240 it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 374 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:30,360 It will be a terrible experience to face the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ, having 375 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:37,880 wasted life's day, abused the opportunities that he's given us in this world. 376 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,360 So there is that warning in the book of Hebrews. 377 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:45,640 And it's a warning that appears time and time again in the book of Hebrews, regarding being 378 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:49,400 careless in our attitude toward the things of God. 379 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:51,640 What will Jesus Christ do? 380 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:57,080 Not only will he judge his church, but the Lord will send tribulation and judgment upon 381 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:58,080 the earth. 382 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:03,720 That is described in detail in Revelation chapter 6 and following, up through chapter 383 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:04,720 19. 384 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:15,680 But take a look here in Hebrews at chapter 12 and verse 25. 385 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:19,760 He says, see to it that you do not refuse him who is speaking. 386 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:24,960 For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall 387 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:29,920 we escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven. 388 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:36,880 And his voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, yet once more I will 389 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:41,400 shake not only the earth, but also the heaven. 390 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:46,960 Now he says in verse 28, we have a kingdom which cannot be shaken and therefore we should 391 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:51,420 serve God acceptably with reverence and awe. 392 00:31:51,420 --> 00:31:57,640 But notice that he warns in the context here that there is a day that is yet to come when 393 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:04,560 our God is going to shake not just the earth, but the heavens as well. 394 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:09,760 I can't help but believe that this is a passage prophesying of those things that will take 395 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:13,800 place in the tribulation period on the earth. 396 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:20,800 When there will be a shaking of everything that is, that men call secure, that the heavens 397 00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:27,640 and the earth themselves will be shaken by the authority and the power and the judgment 398 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:32,520 of God in that tribulation period that shall come upon the earth. 399 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:40,200 And as a result of that, Jesus Christ will, number four, destroy the world system and Satan 400 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,200 by his return in glory. 401 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,320 Now it won't all happen at once. 402 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:46,600 We know from the book of Revelation. 403 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:53,600 But I've already read to you Hebrews 2, 14, where it mentions that he came that he might 404 00:32:53,600 --> 00:33:01,080 destroy the works of Satan, that he might render Satan inoperative. 405 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:07,200 And then it says in 1 John that he might destroy also the works of Satan, the devil. 406 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,000 That includes the world system as it is. 407 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:13,840 That order of things that is now anti-Christ. 408 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:18,920 By the way, an order of things that is becoming more and more prominently anti-Christ in our 409 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:20,680 society. 410 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:27,120 The ugliness of it, the anti-God aspect of it is more and more exposed. 411 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:32,240 It's just like there are curtains going up all the time in our society. 412 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:37,480 And we're able to see through them more and more and more clearly the real nature of the 413 00:33:37,480 --> 00:33:38,480 world system. 414 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:44,960 While Jesus Christ will come and one day all of that is going to be done away with. 415 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:48,780 And then finally, what will Jesus Christ do? 416 00:33:48,780 --> 00:33:51,940 He will establish his righteous eternal kingdom. 417 00:33:51,940 --> 00:34:01,640 Go back to chapter 1 again of Hebrews where it says in verse 8, but of the Son, he says, 418 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:08,160 thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. 419 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:13,300 Please understand that this is God the Father who is speaking to God the Son. 420 00:34:13,300 --> 00:34:18,920 And notice that he calls him God, a statement of his deity. 421 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:24,400 But as he remarks about that, he says, thy throne, O God, is forever and ever and the 422 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:29,640 righteous scepter is the scepter of his kingdom. 423 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:36,200 Our Lord is going to establish a literal earthly kingdom. 424 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:41,720 During the millennium, the thousand years that will come upon the earth, there will 425 00:34:41,720 --> 00:34:47,100 be peace and righteousness through the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. 426 00:34:47,100 --> 00:34:48,280 What will he do? 427 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:51,400 He will establish a righteous kingdom. 428 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:57,320 And not just for a thousand years, but that thousand year kingdom will then give way to 429 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:03,880 the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 430 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:10,240 Now in a nutshell, in a brief, in summary, that is what we as a church believe regarding 431 00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:11,240 Jesus Christ. 432 00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:18,260 So much more could be said, but shan't be said tonight because of the time. 433 00:35:18,260 --> 00:35:19,660 What if we believe these things? 434 00:35:19,660 --> 00:35:23,120 So what is the bottom line? 435 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:25,080 We say we believe them. 436 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:26,800 What is the implication for us? 437 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:28,320 Well, I believe it's threefold. 438 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:36,920 In the first place, if we say we believe these things, it must affect our lifestyle. 439 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:42,480 If we say that we confess what is written in our doctrinal statement and those things 440 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:48,560 that we have exposed in the book of Hebrews tonight, then it has to affect the way that 441 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:50,840 we live. 442 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:58,640 If we believe what we do about Jesus Christ, we cannot go on living as sovereigns of our 443 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:01,680 own lives. 444 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:10,080 But he must have in our lives what he deserves, the right to rule and to reign as Lord, to 445 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:15,880 sit upon the throne, not just of a kingdom that will come upon the earth, but of your 446 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:18,560 life and my life tonight. 447 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:20,360 And the question is, is he Lord? 448 00:36:20,360 --> 00:36:24,580 Is he reigning in that place of authority in us? 449 00:36:24,580 --> 00:36:30,280 If we say that we believe what we do, folks, then it must affect our lifestyle. 450 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:36,320 We cannot any longer live selfishly, but we must live for him who died for us and rose 451 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:37,320 again. 452 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:40,520 And secondly, it must affect our world view. 453 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:46,040 If we say that we believe what we do about Jesus Christ, it has to affect the way that 454 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:50,720 we look at our world. 455 00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:56,480 It tempers the way that we see world events. 456 00:36:56,480 --> 00:37:03,660 As history unfolds, rather than becoming anxious and worried, you and I who believe what we 457 00:37:03,660 --> 00:37:07,880 do about Jesus Christ can relax. 458 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:14,280 And we can know that it is in his hand and it is moving in the God-old, ordained direction 459 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:20,460 where Jesus Christ will return to earth. 460 00:37:20,460 --> 00:37:25,720 As we see the collapse of the United States of America, which I believe is imminent, I 461 00:37:25,720 --> 00:37:30,300 am sorry to say. 462 00:37:30,300 --> 00:37:39,600 I believe it is imminent morally and I believe it is imminent economically. 463 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:41,980 I don't know what's going to come next. 464 00:37:41,980 --> 00:37:43,520 I am not a prophet. 465 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:53,360 But the United States of America, as we have known it, has but years at the most to exist. 466 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:59,480 As we look at that and think about it and what its implications are for us individually 467 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:08,000 and for our children and our grandchildren, the lordship of Jesus Christ and the fact 468 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:13,400 that these things must come to pass so that he can come again can give us assurance and 469 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:14,400 comfort. 470 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,600 It is not out of his control. 471 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:20,520 The Lord will provide for his people. 472 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:24,600 I tell you what, we do not have a lasting city here. 473 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:32,080 And if our security in this world is wrapped up in the Constitution of the United States 474 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:38,160 or in the democracy or the republic actually under which we live now, if that is our security, 475 00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:44,200 then we are going to be miserable people shortly. 476 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:50,760 Our security had better be in the city which is to come and the Lord which is soon to return. 477 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:56,320 And finally, if we believe what we do about Jesus Christ, it must affect our priorities. 478 00:38:56,320 --> 00:38:59,440 What is really important in life? 479 00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:03,580 In the decisions that we make, the way that we spend our money, the way that we spend 480 00:39:03,580 --> 00:39:06,040 our time in the world. 481 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:10,940 The priorities of life must be impacted if we say that we believe what we do about Jesus 482 00:39:10,940 --> 00:39:16,400 Christ because there is nothing then, there is nothing more important than that his will 483 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:19,720 be done in us and through us. 484 00:39:19,720 --> 00:39:25,360 That must claim every priority in every area of life, Jesus Christ first, preeminent above 485 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:26,360 all. 486 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:34,500 So you see this is a practical doctrine we are talking about. 487 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:44,600 If we believe what we say we do, then we cannot live like other people live. 488 00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:50,920 I think Francis Schaefer had the right question, how should we then live? 489 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:53,560 Important question to ponder. 490 00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:59,240 And as we say we believe what we do about Jesus Christ, let's allow that to trickle 491 00:39:59,240 --> 00:40:05,660 down beyond the doctrinal statement and beyond our mental understanding of what it says into 492 00:40:05,660 --> 00:40:08,320 our hearts and into our lives. 493 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:14,960 So that all that we have, all that we are, and all that we hope to be in life's brief 494 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:20,600 day under his Lordship, let's bow together. 495 00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:27,160 And now Father, I pray that you will seal to our hearts the application of the word 496 00:40:27,160 --> 00:40:31,720 we've studied tonight. 497 00:40:31,720 --> 00:40:40,400 I pray that we will follow in the train of the patriarchs of old, that we will set before 498 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:47,560 ourselves the hope, the blessed hope of our Savior's return. 499 00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:56,440 That we would gird up the loins of our minds and live holy lives to make a difference in 500 00:40:56,440 --> 00:41:03,960 our generation, because it could be the last one in this age. 501 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:11,080 And as we think about the shaking of everything that the world counts as permanent and as 502 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:22,840 secure, may we tonight find our rest and our comfort and our security in the kingdom which 503 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:25,760 cannot be shaken. 504 00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:30,960 In the kingdom of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 505 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:59,520 We pray in His name, amen.