Category: Christ
Subject: Christ
The Priest of God Most High
A wonderful lesson is taught in Hebrews 7, concerning our priesthood under the New Covenant. It surpasses in greatness the priesthood of the Jews, which existed as a type of what would come in the last days. The Hebrew writer argues this truth in a very interesting way. By using Melchizedek, the king of Salem.
Who was Melchizedek? We know his title and significance, but nothing of his life. In fact, he is described in the text as being “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life…” (7:3). This does not mean that Melchizedek was more than a man, it is simply noting that Melchizedek exists in the narrative of the Old and New Testaments to teach something about Christ. We don’t know or need to know anything about where he came from. We don’t know when he was born, or when he died. We just know him to be both the king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God. Because of this lack of information regarding Melchizedek in the pages of the Bible, it is as if he, “remains a priest continually”, thus foreshadowing the eternal nature of Christ’s priesthood. Continue reading “The Priest of God Most High”
Sermon: “If You are the Christ, tell us plainly”
In John 10:22-30, Jesus was surrounded by a probable hostile group of questioners, who demanded He clearly reveal whether or not He was the Christ. Jesus’ revealed their prejudice against Him and claimed, “I and My Father are one.”
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Mining the Scriptures: Hebrews 3:3-6
In the Hebrew writer’s general efforts to show the superiority of the new to the old, he here makes a central and strong argument. This would be especially stirring to the Jewish Christians, as our Lord is compared to perhaps the most significant individual in the establishment of their nation and old law — Moses.
First, Jesus was fully faithful to his Father in heaven, as Moses was faithful. But, as was written, “For this one has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses”! Why? Because of the fundamental difference between Moses and Jesus.
Moses was a man. A servant. Jesus is God the Son. Moses is described as “a house”, where Jesus is described as the Builder of the house, thus worthy of more honor.
When we contrast the Old to the New, it is not merely a consideration of the relative merits. They’re both from God, they are both Holy. But it was God’s plan to supplant, in these last days, a limited law with His supreme gift to mankind. His Son!
Sermon: The Suffering of Christ
Speaker: Justin Carrell. A discussion of how Jesus can empathize with us, as a man. He suffered greatly on the cross. Justin discusses that suffering that we remember as we observe His supper.
Sermon: Water to Wine (John 2:1-11)
A discussion of Jesus’ miracle, turning water into wine in John 2:1-11. We discuss the miracle, the conversation between Jesus and His mother, and the purpose of the signs Jesus performed.
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Sermon: Better Than the Angels (Hebrews 1:1-9)
A discussion of Hebrews 1:1-9. Jesus is better both as a spokesman for God, and as a Divine Being, compared to God’s servants, the angels.
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Sermon: Why Become a Christian?
We are to become Christians because of the nature and consequence of sin; because of who Christ is; because of the certainty of death and judgment; and because of the benefits to our lives, both here and in eternity!
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Being Deceived and Cheated
No one likes to be lied to, or to be cheated out of what they deserve. If this is so regarding worldly matters, how much more so spiritual concerns.
This concerned Paul, and he warned about those who would come in and do this to his brethren. He wrote in Colossians 2, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (8-10). Continue reading “Being Deceived and Cheated”
Sermon: The Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-36)
Luke 9 narrates an amazing event, the transfiguration of Jesus, and His conversation with Moses and Elijah. The event ends with the Father’s endorsement of His Son. “Hear Him.”
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Sermon: One Long Sentence (Ephesians 1:3-6)
An exegesis of Ephesians 1:3-5, which the apostle Paul, in one long sentence teaches three important points about God’s plan for redeeming man.
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Mining the Scriptures: Luke 1:46-56
Our text reflects Mary’s praise to God while she visited her relative Elizabeth in the preceding verses.
In the first three verses she gave thanks for God’s consideration for her. She was to give birth to the prophesied Messiah, the son of David, “Immanuel” (cf. Matthew 1:23), and she praised the Lord saying, “And holy is His name” (49).
Verses 50-55 are a statement of Christ’s purpose in being sent. God’s plan for redeeming man from their sins. God’s mercy is shown to those who fear Him. He resists pride and willfulness, but shows His mercy to the lowly, exalting them; and the hungry, feeding them. As Mary said, “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever” (54-55).
Verse 56 says Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months before returning to her own home. John the Baptist and Jesus were about 6 months different in age (cf. 36, 41, 56-57).
Sermon: King, Rod, Priest, Judge (Psalm 110)
A discussion of Psalm 110, the Psalmist identifies the coming Christ as one who would serve as both King and Priest, and rule with a rod (indicating authority and strength).
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Mining the Scriptures: Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus. He refers to Him as the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Thus, we have an introduction to God’s scheme of Redemption for man. The Redeemer would descend from Abraham, through Isaac, the son of promise (Genesis 12:3), and come from Judah, a descendent of King David (Jeremiah 23:5-6). This listed genealogy is an important piece of evidence that Jesus is our Christ, the Redeemer come from God.
Matthew’s observation of this lineage coming from Joseph, Jesus’ legal father, indicates that this lineage was used by Matthew to express Jesus’ legal right through genealogy to ascend to the position of King, as a descendent of David. The genealogy does not contain all Jesus’ predecessors, only 42 Generations, which served his purpose, and through its artificial grouping of 3 sets of 14 generations served the important purpose of establishing a means of easy memorization. See Luke 3 for a different approach.
Mining the Scriptures: Revelation 1:12-16
In Revelation 1, John saw a vision while “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”, on Patmos, while in exile. Jesus spoke to him in the vision, first in verse 11, then in verse 17-20.
John describes the one (the Lord) who spoke to him in verses 12-16. He saw seven golden lampstands, and in their midst was the Lord, with fine garments, a head and hair white like wool, eyes like a flame of fire, feet like fine brass, a voice as the sound of many waters, and holding in His right hand seven stars. A sharp two-edged sword proceeded out of His mouth, and His countenance was shining like the son.
This picture indicates the perfection of Jesus (the number seven), His purity (the color white, the eyes like a flame of fire, the fine brass purged from impurities ), His message (His voice as the sound of many waters), and His place (the One who influences and convicts, seen in the stars and the two-edged sword).
Truly, Jesus is the great Redeemer of all mankind!
Comparing High Priests
Aaron, the older brother of Moses, was appointed to be the first High Priest of the nation of Israel. This was an office established by God under the Old Covenant, the Law that God gave to Moses to govern the Jews. Aaron was the first of many men who served in this capacity before Jesus. He was a descendent of Levi, hence the priesthood is known as the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood. Put simply, these were mere men, themselves guilty of sin, who yearly had to offer the blood of bulls and goats for atonement, first for themselves, and then for the people of Israel, (cf. Leviticus 16:1-5).
In the letter to the Hebrews, the Holy Spirit makes clear the differences between Jesus as High Priest, and those who went on before. Consider the following: Continue reading “Comparing High Priests”
