IBCD Sermon Weekly

This week the author circles back around to the idea of entering into God’s rest. He calls the guidance of Moses to the Hebrews a “gospel” or “good news” which the people had been told, but which they had refused to act upon. He compares that to us hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and warns that to reject to Gospel of Christ is to reject the entering into the rest for one’s soul now and for eternity.

Anytime we try to approach Jesus Christ as an accessory to our life, or a means to an end, our faith will eventually come to a failing point because Jesus Christ is not the foundation of our life. In the passage today the author compares the rebellious hearts of the Hebrew people during the time in the desert to the people in the church.

Hebrews 3:7-9 7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did.

Human history has brought forth many great people. Some of them were Old Testament prophets such as David and Moses. However, none of them were as great and humble at the same time as Jesus. He exemplifies what true excellence looks like in person. So in all circumstances, let us consider Him.

Hebrews 3:1-6

1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.

One of the big questions of our faith is the question of the “incarnation”, the question of “the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Why was this necessary for “the Christ”, the Messiah, to leave the glory of heaven and walk upon the dirt? How does it affect our lives today? What does it mean when we say in our theology that Jesus was fully God and fully man?

Hebrews 2:17 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Something we see in the Bible is a constant reference to the nations. Even though the Bible follows the history of the Jewish people and Israel, from Abraham to Jesus to Revelation there is an emphasis that God’s work through the Jews is ultimately for all humanity. At IBCD we have a unique foretaste of what it means to have several nations gathered to worship the Lord. This Sunday we celebrate our “Cultural Sunday” where we take the day to express our appreciation to God for allowing us to be part of this amazing place, some for a short time, some for a long time, all eventually for eternity!

Act 2:39 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will call."

This sermon unpacks the essential doctrine of Christ's full humanity. We examine why Jesus becoming man is crucial for our salvation, discussing His role as our perfect representative and merciful high priest. Join us to discover how Christ's humanity bridges the gap between our sinful state and God's holiness, deepening our understanding of the Gospel and inspiring a fresh appreciation for the incarnation.

Satan often tries to keep people from relating to Christ, and receiving salvation, by misrepresenting Christ. He gives a little bit of truth than smears that truth with lies to deceive people into hell. Should you run into people who want to insist Jesus is an angel in the order of Michael or other distinct beings created by God, take them to the first chapter of Hebrews and walk them through it. The answers we need to know our God, in a way which allows our lives to be changed now and for eternity, are right before our eyes.

Hebrews 1:5 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?

We might not know who exactly the author of Hebrews is, but the writer knows who Jesus is in a personal, historical, and Biblical sense. This is something to appreciate because misunderstanding Jesus has been, and still is, an issue people claiming to be his followers deal with to this day. The Book of Hebrews gives a very deep look into Jesus as our High Priest and sacrifice.

Hebrews 1:3 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

We are going to be starting a sermon series through the book of Hebrews next week, but before we do so, we need to explore the idea of “covenant” in the scripture. Why? Because the book of Hebrews makes many references to the covenants of the Old Testament and compares it to the new covenant found in Christ.

Have you ever thought about alternatives to the Christian God? Looking at the world and the injustice that is prevailing, we might question our faith sometimes. Psalm 73 shows us that while it is normal to go through these phases, at the end of the day no alternative can ever be better than our God of mercy. He is the solution to all evil.