Hebrews
3:1-2 KJV Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly
calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus; (2) Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as
also Moses was faithful in all his house.
Hebrews
2:17 KJV Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in
things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people.
John
6:38-40 KJV For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will,
but the will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father's
will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should
lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40)
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth
the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will
raise him up at the last day.
John
17:4 KJV I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the
work which thou gavest me to do.
Some thoughts:
God appointed His Son. God
ordained Him. When did God appoint His Son? God's Son was faithful
to Him. Christ is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. We
are to consider Him. Holy brethren and partakers of the heavenly
calling enjoy considering Christ. It encourages them as they sojourn
this earth. The main thrust of this passage is God and His Son,
Christ Jesus.
Outline:
Introduction:
- Thank you for asking me share some thoughts from Hebrews 3:1-2 and for the hospitality.
- Hebrews 3:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, (2) who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.
- Prayer
- Our identity in Christ.
- We are Holy Brethren.
- We are Partakers of the Heavenly Calling.
- Therefore we consider Christ Jesus.
- We desire to do this.
- We enjoy doing this.
- We wait in great expectation for the appearing of Christ.
Discussion:
- #1 God appointed His Son, Christ Jesus.
- When did this appointment take place?
- It took place in eternity before creation.
- God made a covenant with the Word who was God.
- What was Christ appointed to be and do?
- He is the Apostle of our confession.
- He is the Great High Priest of our confession.
- With this appointment comes holy work.
- #2 Christ Jesus was faithful to God who appointed Him.
- Moses also was faithful in all His house.
- Moses is a type and shadow of Christ.
- The LORD says in Numbers 12:7 of Moses, “He is faithful in all My house.”
- Hebrews 11:23-29 tells us that by faith Moses lived for God. He believed that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, (Hebrews 11:6).
- In Exodus 40:16 (NKJV) we have the outworking of the faith of Moses: “Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV) says, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
- In the four Gospels we see the faithfulness of Christ.
- As the Man Christ Jesus, He believed that God is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, (Hebrews 11:6).
- Luke 5:16 (NKJV) says, “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” The word prayed in the four Gospels (NKJV) always refers to Jesus: Matthew 26:39,42,44; Mark 1:35; 14:35,39; Luke 3:21; 5:16; 9:29; 18:11; 22:32,41,44.
- Christ fellowshiped with the Father through prayer.
- Out of this He was strengthened to do the will of His Father.
- As we fellowship with Christ and the Father through the Word, prayer, and the fellowship of the saints we will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to do the Father's will.
- Today as Christ is seated at the right hand of God's throne He experiencing His reward, “the glory which He had with God before the world was,” (John 17:5).
- #3 Christ was faithful to God as the Apostle of our confession/profession.
- Our profession/confession is this: Matthew 16:16 (NKJV) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
- He is the Anointed Son of the living God. We are those who believe this to the saving of the soul.
- Christ is God's Apostle who was sent to us so He could bring many sons to glory.
- Two prophecies in Isaiah that God would send His Son.
- Isaiah 48:16 (NKJV) "Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me."
- Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, (3) To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
- The fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-3.
- Luke 4:16-21 (NKJV) So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. (17) And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
- (18) "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
- BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR;
- HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED,
- TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
- TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED;
- (19) TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
- (20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
- The Gospel of John records the fact that Christ was sent by God to us.
- John 3:34 (NKJV) John the Baptist says: For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
- John 4:34 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
- God's work is that of bringing glory to His name through those who believe in Him and the Christ whom He sent.
- God is bringing many sons to glory through His Son.
- John 5:24 (NKJV) Jesus: Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
- John 6:29 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
- John 6:38-44 (NKJV) Jesus: For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (39) This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (40) And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." (41) The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." (42) And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, 'I have come down from heaven'?" (43) Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. (44) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
- John 6:57 (NKJV) Jesus: As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
- John 17:3-4 (NKJV) Jesus: And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (4) I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
- John 17:6-8 (NKJV) Jesus: I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. (7) Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. (8) For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
- John 20:21 (NKJV) So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
- #4 Christ was faithful to God as the Great High Priest of our profession/confession.
- Old Testament prophecies of Christ as our Great High Priest.
- Genesis 14:18 (NKJV) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
- Psalm 110:4 (NKJV) The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
- Zechariah 6:12-13 NKJV Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; (13) Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both." '
- The fulfillment of these passages is found in Hebrews.
- Hebrews 2:17-18 (NKJV) Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
- Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Hebrews 5:5-11 (NKJV) So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU." (6) As He also says in another place: "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK"; (7) who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, (8) though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. (9) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (10) called by God as High Priest "ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK," (11) of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
- Hebrews 6:19-20 (NKJV) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, (20) where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
- See Hebrews 7:1-8:6.
- Hebrews 7:23-28 (NKJV) Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. (24) But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. (25) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (26) For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; (27) who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. (28) For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
- Hebrews 9:11 (NKJV) But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
- Hebrews 10:19-22 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, (21) and having a High Priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Conclusion:
- So as we can see from the Holy Scriptures Christ, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession was faithful to Him who appointed Him.
- So we press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
- Because of Christ's faithfulness to God we who are in Christ can enter God's rest and see God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit in the fullness of their glory.
- Hebrews 2:10-13 (NKJV) For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (11) For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, (12) saying: "I WILL DECLARE YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING PRAISE TO YOU." (13) And again: "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again: "HERE AM I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
- Discussion and comments from the Brethren.
