2007 Book of Hebrews Series – “The
Point, Pattern & Promise”
Hebrews 8:1-6
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – May 27, 2007
Prayer Introduction: Prussian king Frederick the Great was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence – except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, “Why are you here?” “Armed robbery, Your Majesty,” was the reply. “And are you guilty?” “Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment.” Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, “Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it.”
And may the truth set you free. Jesus Christ is the truth who sets us free – sets us free to confess our sins, knowing we are forgiven; but just as important sets us free not to continue in that sin. True confession is linked to true repentance – all of which follows genuine faith. The Lord’s Table is for those who repent in faith. Let’s pray – Praise and glory to you, O Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit who makes our bread the communion of Christ’s body to heal and reconcile and to make us the body of Christ. You make the cup the communion of Christ’s saving blood to redeem the world, bringing us to faith and repentance. You are truth. Like the dawn you illuminate the world around us and the Word to us...We pray now for the preacher who now brings us Your Word. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!
I. The Point (vv.1-2)
Do you ever find yourself reading through some confusing words in the Bible and think, “I don’t get it; what is this saying; what’s the point?” The opening words of chapter 8 make me laugh – “The point of what we are saying is this.” Don’t you love it when the point gets summarized?
If you missed the last 3 sermons (on Hebrews chapter 7) – here is the point of all 3: “We do have a high priest who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven [our heavenly Father], and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.”
Jesus is our high priest, who serves in the heavenly sanctuary – the true tabernacle – not the earthly one that was set up by the Israelites under Moses’ leadership with Aaron as high priest.
Man set up the earthly tabernacle – first as a tent and then as a stone structure on the temple mount of Jerusalem. Those were earthly, and temporary. In fact, they no longer exist (you see Jews praying at the wailing wall – all that is left of the temple). Let’s not limit ourselves to physical things, but look to the heavens and the spiritual reality offered to us there.
Do not picture yourself, right now, just sitting in this earthly “sanctuary,” picture what is happening in the heavenly sanctuary – right now. The cherubim circling the throne of our heavenly Father – singing, “Holy! Holy! Holy! Is the Lord God Almighty!” The Son of God standing at the Father’s right side speaking words of intercession for you – the Father looking at Christ and pardoning you.
It is the Holy Spirit of God who dwells inside of us, that gives us this vision of the heavenly throne room. If we were to catch even a glimpse of what is happening in heaven, right now, on our behalf – we would never be eager for a worship service to be done.
When I was a child, I used to count the number of verses in the hymns. I used to sleep during pastoral prayers. I used to think about everything, but what the pastor was preaching. And I weep thinking about all of those missed opportunities to see God’s glory, while here on earth.
Even now I sometimes get fixated on nickels and noses – how many people are in church and how much is the offering – instead of fixating on the throne and the high priest and the true tabernacle.
Do you see green carpet, colored windows, stenciled paint, varnished wood – all beautiful – but utterly dull in comparison to the true tabernacle set up by the Lord in heaven.
Do you see a communion table with silver trays and cups, or do you see the Lord? Do you see “church” or do you see Jesus? Do you look to the law – “Just tell me what to do?” Or do you see the truth (Jesus) who sets you free? “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
II. The Pattern (vv.3-5)
The earthly tabernacle, and the
earthly high priests, foreshadowed the heavenly tabernacle and the eternal high
priest. They were the pattern of what was to come – what has come and is now the
reality. Verses 3-5 explain it like this READ
What is the high priest’s job description? The first verse of chapter 5 summarized it well: “Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
Verse 3 reiterates the important role of the high priest in bringing gifts and sacrificial offerings. Why? In the political world when a representative of the United States (a congressmen, the President, a celebrity [ugh!]) meets a dignitary from another nation they bring a gift. How much more should a gift be brought to the God of the universe?
What if you are meeting someone who is your enemy? What if the one you are meeting is right and you were wrong? What if you have been horribly oppressing the people of this foreign nation, but now you want to make amends – to atone – to make restitution for all the wrongs that you have done?
How big does that gift need to be, in order to atone for all the wrong that you have done toward God. “Against you, you only have I sinned, O Lord” – for every breaking of your commandments; for every act of injustice, selfishness; for the misuse of all that you have given me; for every time I thought about what I wanted as more important than what you wanted – “Against you, you only have I sinned, O Lord.”
And you were planning to atone for all of that how? We think coming to church this morning pays God back? We think coming to the Lord’s Table this morning can pay God back? We think anything we do can pay God back? We need a gift bigger than we can offer.
Only the offering of Jesus is enough – the blood sacrifice of one who is holy, pure, sinless – who is willing to take the blame for all of our sin, and give us credit for his righteousness.
We don’t come to church to pay God back, but because He has been paid back, in full, on our behalf by Jesus. We don’t come to the Lord’s Table to pay God back, but because He has been paid back by Jesus – whose body was broken, and blood shed, for us.
The sacrificial offerings of the earthly tabernacle were a foreshadowing of the truth that was to come. The elements of the Lord’s Table are a remembering sign of the truth that has come.
The pattern of the tabernacle is largely lost on American Christians today, because we do not reflect on our sin – and need for repentance. We take Jesus for granted. Since we don’t have to go to a temple, bringing our animal for sacrifice, we just figure a prayer of confession at the beginning of the “church service” ought to do it.
God does not call for simple confession – admitting, generically, that you are a sinner – but really don’t plan on turning away from those sins. Because the younger children at a parochial school often forgot their sins when they entered the confessional, it was suggested that teachers have the students make lists. The next week when one child came to confession, and unfolded the paper. The youngster began, “I lied to my parents. I disobeyed my mom. I fought with my brothers and...” There was a long pause. Then a small angry voice said, "Hey, this isn't my list!"
Generic confession is not genuine repentance. Before we come to the Lord’s Table, we are told, “A man ought to examine himself, before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29).
Generic profession of faith is not genuine profession of faith, which leads to repentance when a person examines himself. It also leads to reconciliation in the relationships of our life. Our Lord tells us, in the Sermon on the Mount, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).
Perhaps this sounds a bit extreme. Well, forgiveness didn’t come cheap; it was purchased by the blood of Christ. Perhaps this sounds like only perfect people can come to the table. This isn’t about perfection, but about living out the promise.
III. The Promise (v.6)
Verse 6 of our passage says, “But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and is founded on better promises.”
The ministry of Jesus as high priest is superior to the ministry of the high priests under the old covenant. Mediation, in the old covenant, happened as fallen men brought animal sacrifices into an earthly sanctuary. The mediation of Jesus, under the new covenant, is made by his own sacrifice; so that he now mediates in the heavenly tabernacle, standing at the Father’s side – for us.
The promise of the new covenant is founded on the person and work of Jesus Christ. The promise of the new covenant is a perfect and eternal promise.
The point of God’s covenant promises has always been, is, and will ever be – “I shall be your God and you shall be my people.” The new covenant makes this possible through the person of Jesus Christ – who consummates the covenant.
But as we saw in last week’s sermon – you have to come before the throne of God above, through Christ, to receive the promise.
How are we to approach the Holy God? With arrogance? “God ought to see me whenever I feel like it?” Would we even approach a king or official in such a way?
Steve & Vicki Cook sing a powerful song about how we come to God. In the chorus, they sing, “I come by the blood, I come by the cross where your mercy flows from hands pierced for me. For I dare not stand on my righteousness, my ev’ry hope rests on what Christ has done and I come by the blood.”
The Lord’s Table is the most vivid illustration of how we approach God. But O, the arrogance that would say, “Anyone should be able to come to the table whenever it is right for them.” The arrogance of coming, assuming forgiveness, though there has been no examination of heart; no genuine faith producing acts of repentance and reconciliation.
British comedian Dave Allen tells the story of his mother being unable to get her car to start. So she cleaned out the ash trays, the glove box, and cleaned off the windshield. To her amazement the car still would not start.
So is the church-goer whose spiritual life is dead and tries to start it by superficial acts of life cleaning. The engine, though, roars to life when you call on Jesus Christ as your Savior and surrender your life to Him as Lord.
Then you see the heavenly banquet prepared for you. Then you see the redemptive power that produces repentance of sin and reconciliation of relationships.
The ministry of Jesus is superior and so our lives should show this. Jesus said, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).
Come to the throne of God. Come by the blood of Christ. Come under the promise of the new covenant. Come as one who was God’s enemy, but is now a child of God because of the cross of Christ. Come as one who repents of sin and reconciles relationships, through the redemptive power of Christ. Come.
MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!