Chosen, Called, and Led by Faith

Hebrews 11:8-12 

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Abraham is a leading example of exercising faith for us.  He was called to leave all he knew based on God’s promise of an inheritance and command to go, and it is written that he simply and willingly obeyed.  He went, even though he had no idea where he was going because he trusted God who called him.  Abraham ended up living as a nomad in tents in a strange land, and his descendants were given the promise also as heirs of God’s inheritance.  He was able to live by this faith because he was waiting for the certain promise of the eternal celestial city of God to come.  Sarah, his wife, also had faith and gave birth long past when it should be humanly possible.  She too took God at His word because she knew His faithful character in dealing with His people He calls.  Because they trusted God when He spoke and relied on His absolute promises, countless descendants resulted in both the physical people of Israel and the spiritual men and women who are the true Jews, God’s called out ones who are His church in Christ by faith.  We also have been called out by His choosing, led by His drawing of us (John 6:44) to an eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:4) by the faith given to us (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We also also look to that city whose builder and maker is God as descendants of Abraham by faith; we take God at His word and follow Jesus Christ as fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). 

Trust and Obey by Faith

Hebrews 11:4-7 

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Abel offered the gift (Genesis 4:4) that cost him something, an animal created to help him (Genesis 2:18-20), but his brother Cain only offered what he worked for out of the ground (Genesis 4:3).  God respected the gift and giver of the animal sacrifice, just as He had killed the first animal to cover their parents’ sin (Genesis 3:21).  The more excellent sacrifice was both the type of sacrifice and the heart of the one giving of all he had, knowing it came from God and pleased Him.  Then there was Enoch, who pleased God enough by his obedience of faith so that he did not die, but was brought straight to God from life to life.  Enoch pleased God by faith, the faith which we should also have - believing who He says He is, trusting in His promises and rewards, and trusting in order to please God, not to appease Him.  We should seek Him and all that He tells us diligently.  Then we come to the example of Noah who also trusted God.  He was told what God would do - execute judgement on the world by the flood - and he took the warning to heart.  Noah feared God and trusted His word, and so followed God’s plan in building the ark.  By trusting and obeying, he agreed with God’s judgement and was used to deliver those God chose.  This is how Noah inherited righteousness by faith.  We can see that our faith, our taking God at His word and relying on His grace and righteousness alone is the work of faith that pleases Him, is trusting His choice and willingly obeying what we know to do.  By doing this we save ourselves and others (1 Timothy 4:16). 

Faith is Absolute Because God is Faithful

Hebrews 11:1-3 

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith.  It is no mere intangible wish, wanting an outcome but unsure if it will come to pass.  No, the faith God gives and we rely on to exercise is an absolute certainty because it is based on God’s perfect and trustworthy character, as well as His promises demonstrated by example in the scriptures.  By taking God at His word, we go against the disbelief of Adam and Eve who did not fully believe and obey God; we instead rely on the word we hear and respond with action, no matter the cost.  That is trust, that is the faith described here.  We hold firmly in our hand what He has not yet given, and we are convinced by the evidence of what He tells us even though our senses do not perceive the things promised yet.  This is how those examples in scripture testified of God’s work and reliability.  Wuest says verse 2 literally reads, "for by it the elders were borne witness to." He describes this saying, “God bore witness to them that their faith gained victory for them.”  The examples show us we also ought to reflect His glory in our actions, testifying to His faithfulness.  We know that Genesis and other passages testify to God’s creation of everything out of nothing (ex nihilo), picture perfect in the way God spoke the physical universe into existence according to His perfectly intended design.  All we see from the smallest pieces of atoms to the furthest immense galaxy, all these came out of nothing except God’s will expressed by His word.  How can we not then trust Him completely, taking Him at His word by assent and action?  He is faithful and His word is certain.  This is the rock (Matthew 16:18) that the church stands upon!

Recall your Deliverance, Persevere to Eternity

Hebrews 10:32-39 

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Those of us who have been reborn understand how life was immediately afterwards; we struggled, sometimes with suffering of varying kinds and severity, scorned and ridiculed for identifying with Christ by friends and family.  There were even times we identified with other believers and were treated badly for standing up for them or just agreeing with their testimony of the gospel.  The author here recalls the readers helping him with compassion and support, and he was encouraging them to continue no matter the hardships for Christ’s sake, focusing on the gospel mission at hand and eternity’s riches to follow.  We all need to endure to do what we are called out to do, not running away as those who spring up quickly and fall away in the heat of the day.  No, we have taken the word to heart, God having planted it deep in a changed heart, and follow toward the certain promise of eternal life.  We are not those who hear and are unregenerate, drawing back to the everlasting destruction of agonizing torment; no, we have taken hold after our hearts and minds were opened, believing to the deliverance of our souls from certain wrath and eternal suffering with fire.  We recall how we were delivered, what we then suffer, and the glory of eternal promises because of Christ’s justifying righteousness keeping us through judgment into His grace and mercy.

Rejection of Grace or Regeneration?

Hebrews 10:26-31 

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

If we hear the gospel but are not regenerated to repentance through faith, and so choose to continue in sin, Christ’s sacrifice will not cover our sins.  This rejection of the gospel leads to certain judgement which will not be covered by Christ’s blood of His sacrifice, leaving the reprobate sinner to face what we all deserve apart from Christ.  Even those among God’s people who rejected the Law given by Moses before Christ came were put to death because mercy was not accepted from God’s word.  Therefore those who reject the gospel, who hear and refuse to repent and believe with the whole heart and not just empty words, these are counting the gospel covenant of His blood’s sacrifice as a common thing to walk over in pride of self instead of subjection in humility.  By so insulting God’s Spirit of Grace, they admit they would rather face judgment, which is truly a fearful thing never to be taken lightly.  This is why we must speak the gospel clearly and follow up with those only hearing the words to see if God’s Spirit will open the eyes of their hearts to transform them from within, giving them a new heart with the desire to follow His Law then written in it. 

Better Together by Reconciling Grace

Hebrews 10:19-25 

19 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Because Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice paid the price of admission to God’s inner sanctuary, we can come boldly, confidently holding nothing back as the word παρρησία (parrēsia) describes.  This new way to approach God freely is the way of life in Him who tore away the separating veil between us and the Holy One, allowing us to meet our High Priest at His throne of glory and holiness by His covering blood and justifying righteousness over us.  We can be fully assured of our salvation, our reconciliation, with cleansed hearts made new with the desire to live His Law and with a cleansed conscience able to trust we will persevere to the end because of His work and promises of effectual grace.  Why waver in believing when we know His promise to hold us forever (Isaiah 43:13, John 10:28-29)?  God is faithful and true, and we are assured by that faith given to us and witnessed by the Spirit given us.  This is why we meet together in reconciling grace to encourage and challenge each other, reminding ourselves of this Rock we confess we stand firmly upon.  We stir up the love and doing good we were made for (Ephesians 2:10) as we eagerly desire to come together in His name.  We do not find accusations and excuses to stay away from the local church, but make every glad effort to meet for these things, especially as time runs out and eternity approaches with the final judgement.  We are best together by God’s reconciling grace in Christ for our sanctification, the salvation of those who have not yet heard, and above all for God’s glory, honor, and praise! 

Offering for Sin with the Spirit’s Assurance

Hebrews 10:11-18 

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Jesus as our interceding priest offered the one perfect sacrifice for sins, and then sat down at the throne of sovereign power and authority.  He did not have to get up and come back to offer Himself again, for the Lamb of God took away sin forever for His people.  With this sovereign power and authority, Jesus our Lord now waits for His time when the world faces judgement and the enemies set against God are subjugated forever, the ones rejecting His gospel and Himself and His sacrifice.  But for those of us called out to Him (John 6:44), He has perfected us (sanctified, made us seen as holy and righteous in the righteousness of Christ by His sacrifice).  He also continues to perfect us by conforming us to the image of Christ; He sanctifies us—working out our salvation in our character, thoughts, and action—until His return.  We know this and are able to progress in holiness because He has put His own Spirit in us to bear witness of this truth, as well as to engrave His Law in our hearts by His hand (Exodus 31:18, Jeremiah 31:33) and He gives the will and way to obey (Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13).  His Spirit reminds us of forgiveness in grace wrought by Christ’s sacrifice.  He tells us that our sin no longer requires additional sacrifices to be offered.  We are absolved of sin by Him (though we still confess remaining sin to keep right and grow in holiness as 1 John 1:9 reminds us). 

The Justifying Grace of His Obedience

Hebrews 10:5-10 

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:  “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ ”  8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus Christ came into the world in a body, as both man and God, to do God’s will as planned and written in the scriptures.  He did not come to make continuous offerings and sacrifices to atone for His sins and ours; He had no sin to atone for, and our sin’s covering required more than sacrifices of the animals created for us.  He came to do the will of God by sacrificing Himself to fulfill the Law, not to redeem us by it but by Himself.  We futilely attempt to justify ourselves in keeping commandments, but always will fail no matter the effort.  He as God obeyed all the Law blamelessly to do the Father’s will as His Son for our justification in His righteousness by His obedience.  Therefore we have been made holy already in Christ by the offering of Himself in our place, a one time offering never needing to be repeated because it was perfect and complete.  The Son came to do the Father’s will by the obedience and sacrifice we could not do.  This is justifying grace. 

Wisps of Sacrifices Pointed to the Eternal

Hebrews 10:1-4 

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

The Law given to God’s people through Moses had wisps of what was in heaven to be revealed by Jesus Christ.  The sacrifices prescribed by the Law’s demands were weak representations of the true sacrifice and worship in God’s heavenly temple.  These earthly sacrifices which had to be offered every year could never make men perfect, could never make one holy.  These sacrifices only left the people with continuing awareness of sin and its guilt, and the yearly sacrifices served to remind them of these facts.  They knew that ultimately the blood of sacrificed animals could not take away their sin and give them a holy standing before the God who dwells in the true Holy of Holies.  With only the Law and Levitical sacrifices, there was no certain hope of forgiveness and acceptance by the holy and righteous God, but merely a wish to appease Him by these things.  Ah, but these shadows were based on something else that was the true sacrifice and eternal forgiveness which could not be earned by our efforts, but by God’s own perfect work and sacrifice. 

Do we Long for Judgement or Fear it?

Hebrews 9:23-28 

23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

The copy or shadow of the heavenly sacrifice and worship is made clean by the actual things in heaven as revealed in Christ and His work.  He entered into the heavenly sanctuary, God’s real temple, and that so He could be our interceding High Priest who stands in presence before God our Father and not in a crude representation here on earth.  Unlike the earthly priests, Jesus only had to offer Himself once to be effective forever; the Levitical priests worked hard to repeatedly sacrifice with only temporary results.  Jesus, however, does not have to repeatedly suffer and sacrifice Himself from creation to final consummation, but died once to pay sin’s price because He was the perfect and blameless sacrifice.  Each of us will die once and face God’s judgement; will it be met with the sacrifice once made for us and believed to be effectual, or will it be not believed and received, resulting in eternal judgement with the inevitable consequence of eternal torment?  There is no second chance after death - we die and face our Judge who can also be our Mediator if we know Him and His reconciling grace by faith in this life.  He offered Himself for many, those He calls, to take on our sin by His sacrifice, and we who know Him now will see Him without our sin when He returns.  We eagerly long for the final judgement because of His grace in His atoning sacrifice for us. 

New Testament Sealed in Christ’s Blood

Hebrews 9:16-22 

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

A testament, covenant, or will mentioned here is God’s agreement with His people which was sealed with the blood of certain animals which were deemed acceptable for this purpose by God’s command.  This covenant agreement was also as a last will and testament, and so required death for it to take force, as there is no testament until one dies to leave what is promised to the beneficiaries.  The blood was the death required to seal the deal and provide the promise of atonement for sins, and so the temple rituals highlighted its use on every important detail, sprinkling the book of the Law and God’s people of the book.  The priests also sprinted the vessels of ministry and even the tabernacle itself which held all these things in it.  The lesson foreshadowed here was that a blood sacrifice was needed to purify and take away the sin’s penalty for the promise of the covenant to be inherited by the beneficiaries.  Likewise in Christ as the fulfillment of the shadows had to shed His own blood for an eternal sacrifice which would give the new covenant force to effectually cleanse sinners forever and guarantee all He promised for eternity in His kingdom. 

Mediator and Priest of Good Things to Come

Hebrews 9:11-15 

11 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. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Christ as our perfect and sinless High Priest promises good things to come by ministering to us  heavenly tabernacle and not the temporal which has been destroyed already.  He offered His own blood instead of animal sacrifices (which only pointed as shadows of His perfect atoning sacrifice to come), that He could then go into the holiest place one time for all He died for, those He calls for redemption by His promise of a never ending inheritance.  Therefore, if the animal sacrifices purified our bodies, consider how much more Christ’s own divine blood can be shed one time to be effective forever.  He did this those called can have the conscience purified and not just the flesh.  He reconciled us through the eternal Spirit of the Almighty by His sacrifice which was our death in the death of Christ, leading to the death of death itself in Him by that sacrifice of Himself, shedding His blood in place of ours (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22, Romans 5:9).  He now mediates this new covenant of grace between our Father in heaven and us for our sin and when we sin, forgiving our transgressions pointed out by the Law and putting His Spirit in us with that Law as a new conscience as it were and the ability to obey willingly and effectively by that grace of His atoning sacrifice of Himself.  Christ assuredly is our High Priest of the good things in His presence forever to come! 

Reformation of the Priesthood and Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:6-10 

6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

Here the sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood is described as the shadow of things requiring God’s reformation.  The normal priests attended to the sanctuary services in the tabernacle or temple, while once a year the high priest alone would bring blood on himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the people.  He would sacrifice for both the people’s sins and his own, for He was also a sinner, and he was chosen and appointed for this service and allowed into the holiest place where God’s seat of mercy was found.  We have access now to that seat of mercy (Hebrews 4:16) by grace through the High Priest who is without sin and need never sacrifice for Himself.  This shadow of the Levitical system pointed toward the perfect High Priest and all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, the promised Messiah, who entered the Holy Place covered in His own blood.  The previous sacrifices, gifts, and rituals were symbolic, and they could only point to the One able to forever forgive and make us clean by His blood inside of His righteousness alone.  Neither the high priest nor God’s people could ever be permanently clean from sin in God’s eyes unless His work of the perfect sacrifice and justifying blood was given for eternal absolution (which no mere man has the power or authority to give).  These things changed by God’s reformation of the sacrifice by His perfect Son and eternal and effectual High Priest through His suffering, death, and resurrection. 

Shadows of the Holy and His Place

Hebrews 9:1-5 

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

The first covenant and the temple with its sacrifices and service are described in the beginning of this chapter to explain the contrast with the heavenly.  The sanctuary was outside the inner room hidden behind the veil, this holy of holies where God met the high priests at the mercy seat. In this holiest of places, the ark and mercy seat were covered in gold, symbolic of incorruptibility and purity.  This ark held the artifacts of the first covenant of Moses, and was overlooked by angels glorifying God and exalting His mercy.  He does not go into more detail here, for it is enough to know and see how this was a mere shadow of the heavenly throne and sanctuary of unending grace in the presence of the holy God and His Christ.  The chapter will go on to make this more clear, but it is sufficient to bring our attention to the symbolism and shadows of what is really important as revealed in Jesus Christ’s person and work. 

New Covenant, New Heart to Obey

Hebrews 8:7-13 

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”  13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Mosaic covenant had faults, primarily that it could not change hearts by obedience to commands (which also could never be followed without failing in many areas, even outwardly).  God therefore promised a new covenant to replace the old, making it obsolete with the surpassingly greater one to come.  He saw how they did not keep the old covenant from the day He delivered them out of bondage in Egypt, which disobedience continued from that time onward as well.  What God promised for the new covenant was a changed life, a new heart as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  He promised to take the rulebook off the stone tablets of Moses and write it personally on our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 3:3) and fill our minds with the desire to follow Him in them.  He did this to make a people for Himself who were holy in His sight (2 Corinthians 5:21), a people who would know Him personally and who would willingly desire to live as created and commanded.  These can know their God because of the covenant God makes in Christ which cannot be broken or taken away.  This is possible only by the mercy and grace to forgive sins through the reconciliation of justification in Christ alone apart from our efforts to earn salvation by the letter of the old demands of works we could never perfectly do (Romans 3:19-26).  This new covenant in Christ’s blood has made the old obsolete forever, and we stand by His work in it.

Our High Priest High and Lifted Up

Hebrews 8:1-6 

1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Our High Priest is at the right hand of God’s majesty in heaven.  He is the minister of the true place of worship, not on a throne in the earthly temple, but in the very presence of God in the realm of His rule.  This temple is not built by men, not by our skill or wisdom or might, but by God Himself in holiness and absolute sovereignty.  What our Priest offers is the new covenant God made with man in the God-man, Jesus Christ.  We therefore are not like Levitical priests serving the mere shadow and shape of the heavenly sanctuary in Jerusalem with the outward rituals, but we serve Him from a changed heart by grace through having the one true High Priest who ever intercedes for us in heaven.  This is the most excellent ministry, His ministry which is of His promise by faith that He gives and of the mediation of our sin, the perfect sacrifice once for all accomplished so no further ongoing sacrifice ever need be made.  That is our High Priest, High and lifted up, who has justified us.

The Sacrifice and Ministry of our Eternal High Priest

Hebrews 7:23-28 

23 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.

Jesus continues as our High Priest forever because He never dies as the Levitical priests, who were mere men, did.  On one hand this is obvious, yet the deeper implications tell us that He is divine, and that His eternal priesthood allows Him to continually and eternally stand before God the Father to plead our case against sin by His own righteousness and perfect sacrifice.  We are completely saved (to the “uttermost”), and completely secure, and so persevere to the end of time in Him who sits at the right hand of almighty power and authority.  He is holy, untouched by sin, not sinful as we are, and dwells on high.  Most importantly, Jesus has no need to continually offer more sacrifices; definitely not for Himself as sinless, but also not for us either, since His one perfect sacrifice of Himself atones eternally for us.  He is not an earthly priest with sin or weakness, but is perfect and forever perfected by who He is and what He has done on earth.  This never-ending Priest eliminates the need or requirement for any on earth to be called a priest, except we who are in Him (but we do not sacrifice for others’ sin as a high priest - Revelation 5:10, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9).  We minister praise to our God, He ministers grace by His sacrifice for salvation and its outworking of sanctification in and for us. 

Assurance, Evidence, and Confirmation

Hebrews 7:17-22 

17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.  20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

Jesus is our High Priest eternally, without beginning nor end.  He annulled the old covenant because it could not bring salvation from God’s wrath and punishment of sin.  But He replaced it with a new covenant of hope that allows us to finally come near to God without fear of punishment, a covenant of grace as He showed His people all along with the hints pointing towards this unbreakable and unending agreement with us.  Therefore we now can come to Him without fear of eternal punishment.  Jesus became our intercessory priest by God’s sworn oath to Him, and so to us in Christ.  This is why He is the assurance, evidence, and confirmation of this covenant with us.  We can then rest in this blessed assurance that we are always His whom He calls, and that He forever intercedes to ensure we remain His.

Perfect Priest, Prince of Peace

Hebrews 7:11-16 

11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.  14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.

The Levitical priesthood no longer administers sacraments to God, but a new priesthood outside of it now is in place.  The Law changed from a commandment of fleshly efforts to the work of resurrection with the promise of eternal life through the one true Priest, Jesus the Christ.  He came from eternity, unseen and unknown in the manner of Melchizedek, for we did not see or expect the Word becoming flesh, God and man in union.  This new priest is not new, therefore, but unexpected and perfect because He is perfectly able to forever intercede for His people because of His life, suffering, death, and resurrection in power.  God’s priest is the prince of peace reigning from the heavenly Jerusalem, echoing Melchizedek as an earthly prince of peace of what was to become the earthly Jerusalem.  God’s High Priest rules as proven by His work and as the firstfruits of eternal life ministered to us.  

Our Ever-Existing High Priest

Hebrews 7:4-10 

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

The comparison between the Levitical priesthood and that of the eternal priest in heaven is contrasted.  The unknown Melchizedek received tithes from God’s people as a shadow of those we give to Jesus Christ as our true High Priest in heaven, for He truly came from outside all God’s people and seemingly from unknown parts.  This is because before Abraham was, He is.  As the great I AM, Jesus showed Himself as both God and man to minister to us effectively and eternally as priest to His chosen people, which now adds the nations to Israel.  This promise was before Abraham and Israel to all He would call, and now we revel in knowing Him and give all we have to Christ as we find true Sabbath rest in His work of grace by faith. 

Anchored to the Rock of Hope

Hebrews 6:19 - 7:3 

19 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.  7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Our hope anchors our soul firmly in the tossing sea of sin and God’s wrath in judgment on us all.  Because Jesus Christ is our eternal High Priest ever interceding by His one perfect sacrifice, we can enter into the presence of God in Him in the temple’s inner court.  As the foreshadowing of Melchizedek, Jesus is a priest without known origin to us apart from His revelation of His divine eternal existence from the scriptures.  As our true King of Peace, Jesus has ripped the veil of separation from God caused by our disobedience of sin, and has sat down on the throne while ministering as Priest of our salvation.  He delivers us from God’s just wrath on our sin, freeing us by grace through faith in Christ alone for His glory as the scriptures bear witness above all reason and philosophies of man.  As the Son of God, He ever lives to intercede for us.  Therefore we tithe our lives and all we have to our Savior and great High Priest, Jesus the Christ.  He promises eternal security, preserving His saints, His chosen ones, and will never undo this unending work of His (Isaiah 43:13, John 10:28-29).  We are forever anchored to the solid and immovable Rock of our salvation by His promises. 

Eternal Salvation by Sovereign Promise

Hebrews 6:13-18 

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

God’s promise to Abraham was through him to all nations; He swore by Himself to Abraham that He would bless him, and that He would multiply him physically and spiritually.  We who are in Christ are the recipients of that promise of God.  Just as Abraham suffered long and endured patiently, so we have and do further endure all things for Christ’s sake and the gospel to eternal life’s consummation.  We have God’s solid promise of absolute certainty to persevere to the end, seeing how He confirmed His promises as the one who is always true and just and merciful.  Because He cannot lie, we rest assuredly and find peace in our reconciliation with God in Christ.  Therefore we have run to Him for refuge in this hope set before us, knowing it cannot be taken away or given up because His sovereign promises cannot be annulled or abrogated. 

Proof of Our Confident Inheritance

Hebrews 6:9-12 

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

We who are called out and have been regenerated through faith in Christ are not fearful of losing our standing before God like those previously mentioned who taste but do not participate in salvation.  We can have confidence because of Christ’s work in us and His promises that have changed and continue to change us into His likeness.  God sees the resulting works we were prepared to do (Ephesians 2:10) and His love in us for others (1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 John 4:7), and so should we see these things as evidence.  He sees our faith in action, our true faith evidenced by these works, and so we hold confidently to His salvation and promises.  We serve each other in love and persist with perseverance to the end, reminding each other from scripture not to become weary or lazy, but instead imitate the examples in scripture and life of those who keep trusting and patiently wait for eternity’s inheritance in Christ, whose inheritance we are (Ephesians 1:11-14, 18) to Christ our Lord and Savior. 

A Glimpse of Heaven Without Conversion

Hebrews 6:4-8 

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.  7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

For those who have the light of the gospel truth shone on them and get a taste of God’s Spirit calling out to them, yet who then turn away from that call, these cannot repent again if they reject His call.  Repentance which only turns away from sin but is not completed by then turning to Christ for regeneration and rebirth, this half hearted turning is the seed sown on rocky soil which only brings forth thorns as fruit (Hebrews 10:26, Luke 8:13, John 15:6).  You cannot ask Christ to be crucified over and over as you turn from sin and return to it apart from turning to Him in faith.  True conversion is like the rain falling on good ground, resulting in growth of good things; our will alone apart from God’s regeneration in us can only bear bad fruit, useless for nourishment of godly growth.  We cultivate good things when the soil is prepared by God and sincerely changed and kept.  Those who are not tilled by the heavenly gardener cannot do anything but bring shame to His name in their own efforts. 

Growing Further Together in Christ

Hebrews 5:12 - 6:3 

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

We ought to be growing as Christ’s disciples.  Here we see these who had known the Lord for a while were stuck in the basics of the scriptures; they needed to be taught the same elementary doctrines again and again, as babies who kept drinking milk even until years after when they should have been weaned.  We should be eating solid food as we grow in Christ, becoming skilled in the essential teachings from scripture, even able to teach others and make more disciples.  This solid food of the Bible is for maturing in Christ as we experience sanctification, being led and taught by God to know good and evil, right and wrong.  God uses His word by His Spirit in those who are His to teach and mature us, as well as others He is teaching and maturing; we are to make disciples (2 Timothy 2:2, Matthew 28:19-20) as we grow.  This is why we need to build on the basics of repentance, faith, baptism, praying, the resurrection, and eternal judgement, going deeper towards perfection of how to live the gospel and function as His body.  Our conformity to Christ is personal and corporate, therefore we are to grow together and serve Christ in the gospel together as He works in and through us as a people.  We do not neglect teaching the basics, but neither do we neglect growing further. 

Eternal Priest as Captain of Our Salvation

Hebrews 5:5-11 

5 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.

Christ did not point to Himself to prove His worthiness to be our High Priest to intercede for us; He was called as one always in that position as the Son of God, yet proven by the obedience of suffering as a man.  Like Melchizedek, Jesus was a priest who seemed to come out of nowhere, yet as the King of Peace and serving God and men as God appoints.  While among us a man, Jesus Christ prayed for us and to fulfill His work through the sufferings (Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:42).  He showed obedience to us which we failed at so that He could be blameless as He took on our sin and then offer Himself for us as a priest does, yet being the sacrifice itself as well.  He was perfected in this sense and able to be the creator and leader of salvation to captain our ships into eternity.  He delivered us from God’s wrath and punishment by His work as our High Priest, sacrifice, and Savior!  These things are difficult at times to grasp fully, but we are exhorted to listen in order to hear, and not to grow dull in hearing Him. 

Our Self-Appointed High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-4 

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Our High Priest is the one making an eternal sacrifice, similar to the priests Israel chose from among themselves to serve in the things of God, especially of the ritual sacrifices and the yearly ones to cover the people’s sins.  These offered prescribed gifts with the sacrifices to appease God’s wrath on sin, but the sacrifices had to be repeated year after year; they had no lasting effect as Christ’s sacrifice and offering of Himself.  But our high priest Jesus can know our state and exercise compassion when we wander off into sin, much more so than a human priest ever could.  Human priests had to offer sacrifices for their own sin as well because they also were as we are, and do not choose this honorable role themselves, having been chosen by God as all those of Aaron’s descendants.  Jesus was man, but also God, and willingly took on the role, appointing Himself to sacrifice and be sacrificed for us, once for all His people whom He called.

Our Priest and Mediator of Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16 

14 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.

We who are in Christ have Him as our Mediator and priest, but not an earthly one.  He died as our permanent sacrifice and lives forever to minister forgiveness and grace in mercy at the heavenly altar.  Because He shared in our humanity, He understands our frailty and propensity for sin.  Jesus knows we are tempted, for He endured temptation as a man also - but as God, He never gave into sin (Hebrews 2:18).  Therefore He can empathize with us and help us to put the desires for sin to death.  He intercedes daily for us so that we can hold nothing back in approaching His throne where grace reigns, finding the mercy in forgiving grace we need, unearned and undeserved, yet given out of His priestly love and ministry to we who are in such great need every day.  How can we hold back from coming to Him in our need as we fight to put sin reigning in these mortal bodies to death (Romans 8:13)?  We are being transformed into the image of Christ by His Will and work (Philippians 1:6, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18). 

His Word Gives Reconciling Rest

Hebrews 4:11-13 

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Ceasing from trying to work our way to God to attempt to establish our own righteousness, we find rest in the Just and Justifier, Jesus the Christ.  If we continue our vain attempts to rest in our ineffectual works, we are disobedient and continue to fall short of God’s standards of righteousness.  Only Christ’s righteousness brings us peace with God and rest in His work of grace.  This rest comes by faith given through His word, which reveals who we are in our sorry sinful state apart from Him, as well as exposing our spiritual nakedness before our omniscient and almighty Lord.  His word cuts deep within us because it is alive (John 1:1) and is God’s power to convict as well as to change us.  No sword ever created can cut cleaner and deeper.  His word pierces our pride and shows who we really are, both biologically and spiritually.  It shows our true thoughts and intentions we hide from the world and even ourselves.  We are laid bare by His word and are undone.  This should then show us we must rely solely on Christ and His work, entering the rest of God’s good grace and mercy in justifying reconciliation. 

Cease Our Work, Enter by His

Hebrews 4:6-10 

6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”  8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Peace with God, resting in Him, is for some and not all.  This is certainly not popular and even the thought of what God is saying here causes some to accuse Him of being unfair.  Why should not everyone be saved?  Is is not up to us simply by being good enough or choosing Christ out of our own will?  No, He says some enter that rest, and it is in Christ and His work and by His choosing of those given before the foundation of the world.  This rest was not given to the rebellious, but is set apart for those who, though chosen, enter into it at a certain point in time.  When God stirs the heart with conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment He gives the ability to respond in turn, and that is our “Today” as it is written here.  The rest for God’s chosen people means that we do not work for salvation, but that we enter the sheepfold by Christ as the only gate by His work on the cross.  Our work of attempting to do good falls ever short (Romans 3:10, 23), as does our work to try to generate enough faith to believe and choose apart from His work.  We cease our works as attempts to enter God’s reconciling rest and find it in Christ’s work and the Holy Spirit’s work in our souls to bring light and life. 

Finding Eternal Rest in Christ

Hebrews 4:1-5 

1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” 

God promised eternal rest, peace with Him, to His chosen people through the prophets and recorded in all of the scriptures.  The chosen seemed at first to be only those of Israel, but the promise in Eden and later to Abraham was to those called out of all nations, not just Israel out of slavery in Egypt.  The gospel preaches this faith of reconciliation and eternal Sabbath rest in Jesus Christ alone for as many as He calls out of every people, tribe, and tongue.  Hearing God’s word brings faith (Romans 10:17) as He opens deaf ears and blind eyes and stony hearts.  This is why here we are told the word of the gospel only profits the one who accepts the truth by that God-given faith, trusting Him who spoke and had those words written down for us.  We who believe, therefore, do enter His Sabbath rest from doing our works and resting on His complete work in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.  His work in us was complete from the beginning of creation, meaning that He laid out our salvation before we had faith to choose Christ.  Those without ears unstopped to hear and eyes opened to see cannot enter God’s rest as on the seventh day of creation.  We whom He gave understanding do see and hear and so stop trying to earn salvation by our works and instead enter into His finished work on the cross.  We then find rest for our souls in Him alone (Matthew 11:29).