Genesis Church - Sermons

While writing to the first recipients of Hebrews, the author reminds them, “For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” Their belief in Jesus had real costs for their lives, yet they found that Jesus was worth it because Jesus is Better. What causes people to endure such rejections and suffering with joy?

The call to endurance is based on the reality that there is a prize at the end, and this prize is secure and real. So, the writer of Hebrews tells his readers to keep believing. He calls them to remember that they came to faith in the midst of persecution and suffering. Hebrews reminds those who have believed the Gospel to never give up, keep believing in Jesus, to hold on to our confession with confidence. Because faith in Jesus comes with a promise that in a little while the Coming One will come, and will not delay, and those who hold on to Jesus will gain what has been promised, a better and lasting possession.

For the last nine and a half chapters, the author of Hebrews has been building a case that Jesus is better than what the Jewish believers had before Jesus arrived on the scene by comparing who Jesus is and what He did for us compared to that of the Levitical priesthood and sacrificial system. Through the Old Testament, the worshippers could not come close to God. Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for us, we have open access to the throne room in heaven.

Some of the audience of this letter, because of growing persecution, are being tempted to reject the Gospel and return to a system that was never designed to work in the first place. It was meant to point them to Jesus, the coming Messiah. By rejecting the Gospel, they are putting themselves in a terrible position.

The author of Hebrews has been building an argument comparing the Old Covenant and its priests, sacrifices, and Tabernacle to the New Covenant in which all of the longings and purposes have fully come true in Jesus. But the question arises, “so what?” What does this mean for you and me?

The beautiful answer is that the life and death of Jesus has secured our forgiveness for all time, our perfection in the age to come, and our transformation in this life. We are people who have been made holy, are being made holy, and one day will be fully made holy and perfect. The Gospel accomplishes what the Law, religion, and self-discipline cannot. And it is all because of Jesus and His once for all sacrifice on the cross.

From the first stories in the Bible, including the story of Abraham, the offering of sacrifices is commanded by God to His people and forms a significant theme. In Leviticus, God gives His people multiple clear commands about a litany of animal sacrifices for sin and guilt. These sacrifices were to atone for sin and cleanse their filth. Yet, the death of bulls and goats were never a sufficient sacrifice, a truth that should have been obvious. And, the sacrifices were bloody, with blood everywhere. Seems extreme, yet God was showing the people the depth of their sin, the seriousness of His wrath, and the need for redemption. But the sacrifices could never fully cover the sin and depravity of the people.

On the other hand, the death of Jesus is a once-for-all sacrifice, and since Jesus is the Divine Son, His death is sufficient to cover all sin. Death is an appointment for each of us, but we can go to death knowing that the justice of God has been satisfied by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. As a result, we inherit all of God’s promises in this life and at Jesus’ return.

The author of Hebrews walks us through the construction of the Old Testament tabernacle, what the various furnishings represented and how the tabernacle system was inadequate.

Today’s text reminds us that the OT tabernacle was waiting for something better. When Jesus appeared, He fulfilled all that the tabernacle was representing. His blood sacrifice cleanses us inwardly vs. outwardly so that our consciences can be cleared and we have freedom to serve Him by way of worship and praise.

Access to God is no longer limited.

The love language for God is the language of covenant. A covenant is a divinely imposed legal agreement between God and people that stipulate the conditions of their relationship. It is a love relationship initiated by God and given to people.

The language of covenant is beautiful: “I will be your God, and you will be My people,” God declares. These covenants are filled with promises to be kept by God and conditions to be met by people. But the problem for every covenant is that the people never keep their end of the bargain. God is continually faithful, the people are not.

Yet, there are echoes of a New Covenant, promises that one day God will go from writing His Law on stone tablets to writing His Law on the hearts of those who know Him. For the New Covenant to be true, we first needed a covenant keeper, a person who actually keeps our side of the relationship on our behalf.

The author of Hebrews uses the comparison between Melchizedek and Aaron to make a clear point. Jesus is our Great High Priest, but not in the order of Aaron. God separated the line of the kings and the line of the priests in Israel as a way of protecting the people from the failures and flaws of each role, and therefore, unlike all the other nations, no one could be a King/Priest. The priests were flawed, their lives were short, and their sacrifices insufficient to truly cover sin.

Yet, Jesus is a better King/Priest, in the order of Melchizedek. As King, He is our King of Peace. As High Priest He offered Himself once for all. We do not have to come back again and again—the cross of Jesus makes us perfect and righteous, so that we, like the Son, are considered perfect forever.

On Easter Sunday, 2006, Genesis Church held its first worship service. And, so the adventure began.

Genesis was planted with the vision to be a safe place for anyone from any background, story, or struggle to explore Jesus and find faith. It was our desire to be a church on mission in Eureka and for Eureka.

For over 18 years this church family met in public schools, starting with Eureka High School, then Blevins Elementary, and most recently at Pacific Intermediate. The exception was in 2020 when our gatherings happened in parks, picnic pavilions, and parking lots. While there have been ups and downs, God has been so faithful and kind to us.

This morning we dedicate the building—the new home for this church to the Lord. While we are thankful for the faithfulness of God for all He has done in providing this space, we also want to be reminded that the church is not a building and that our central mission has not changed. It is still our vision to be a Gospel-centered church in community and on mission to Eureka, Pacific, and beyond.

As we close out 2024 and look to the new year, several of our Elders will be speaking this morning.

The author of Hebrews is one of several New Testament authors who quotes Psalm 110, making it the most referenced Psalm in the New Testament. This ancient song written by David pointed toward a future Priest/King for Israel. This is two of the four key human leadership roles given by God to His people; the others being Judge, and Prophet.

God, in His kindness towards the Hebrew people gave these key leaders—each one responsible for an area of Israel’s life and existence. But more than this, each stood in some way as a representative of God and His relationship with His covenant people. Furthermore, each of these roles pointed forward to the coming of one person who would rescue God’s people, offer the true sacrifice, usher in God’s Kingdom, and bring the very Word of God.

As we approach Christmas we will consider how Jesus is our True and Better Judge, Prophet, Priest, and King, and show how we all need each of these for a fruitful life.