Category Archives: Sermon Notes & Announcements

Jan 14, 2024. Hebrews 10:19-25

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CONFIDENT and COMMITTED. Hebrews 10:19-25. 01/14/2024. #32.

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.

1. The torn veil

                a. The Holy of Holies could be entered only once each year by the High Priest

                                a1. There were specific tasks done in a precise order on the Day of Atonement

                                a2. No other person could enter the Holy Place

                b. Upon the death of Christ, the veil was torn from top to bottom by God

                                a1. No longer did the Holy of Holies hold any significance

                                a2. The Old Testament ministry was finished

                c. Now, all believers can enter the Holy Place boldly and with confidence

                                a1. Jesus has ushered us into the presence of God as a right given to all believers

                                a2. Jesus is now our High Priest, who makes intercession for us

                d. We are washed in the blood of Christ

                                a1. We have full confidence of our hope (not faith) of what the Lord has promised

                                a2. We are empowered and encouraged to draw close to the Lord as our right and God’s desire (opened door to relationship)

2. Hold on

                a. Due to Christ’s atonement, we should hold fast to our confession of hope without wavering

                                a1. If we were confident in our decision to receive Christ, we need to move on in full confidence to walk with Christ (Ephesians 3:14-21)

                                a2. Too many people profess Christ, but then back away from Him

                b. Unwavering confession in Christ demonstrates true faith and a regenerated heart

                                a1. The wavering believer might not be saved at all, since is not settled in His faith

                                a2. “Hold fast” (cling securely) = it is up to the believer to grow (it is not automatic)

                                                b1. “Put off the old man…put on the new”

                                                b2. “Put on the whole armor of God…”

                                                b3. “…be filled with Holy Spirit.”

                c. Jewish believers could not hold onto the confession of hope and the Old Testament law at the same time

                                a1. A full confession of trust in Christ alone

                                a2. We rely upon Christ’s promises and His faithfulness for our salvation and nothing else

3. Forsake not

                a. If we have full confidence in salvation in Christ, then we encourage and challenge one another to live a faithful life and grow in that faith

                b. Three important reasons to gather together:

                                a1. It is commanded by God (not an option)

                                a2. The assembly is where we teach, encourage, challenge, and help one another

                                a3. The Lord is returning (the Day Approaching) so there is an urgency to focus on Christ

                c. Hebrews bemoans the fact that there were believers who forsake the assembly

                                a1. Ministry is a corporate activity

                                a2. Challenge and growth come through the body of Christ (God’s design)

                d. It is easy to drift away from Christ when one stays away from the assembly

Key verse: Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Jan 7, 2024. Hebrews 10:11-18

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WRITTEN ON THEIR HEARTS. Hebrews 10:11-18. 01/07/24. #31.

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.

1. Jesus sat down

                a. A contrast is made between the ministry of the priests & that of the Lord

                b. The priests ministered daily, making sacrifices

                                a1. The priests stood all day long ministering before the altars

                                a2. Since their ministry was never done, they never sat down while in the temple

                                a3. The fact that they never sat down meant that the work was never completed, for sin never was atoned for

                c. “Stands ministering” (leitourgôn; Eng. word liturgy) is in contrast to Jesus’s ministry

                                a1. Jesus finished His work of atonement & then sat down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3; 12:2)

                                a2. Jesus now makes intercession for the saints (Hebrews 4:16; Romans 8:34)

                                a3. Since Jesus sat down in contrast with the priests who never sat while ministering,

                                       He indicated that His work of atonement was done

                d. 1 Cr. 15 Jesus will minister on behalf of the saints

                                a1. After all of Jesus’s enemies are destroyed, He will turn everything back to the Father, who will be over all things

                                a2. Even though the work of salvation is done, the work of sanctification still continues

2. Forever perfected

                a. Believers are sanctified (set apart) upon receiving Christ, but are still being sanctified (Rm. 8:30)

                b. Perfection (telos) = to be completed

                c. 3 levels of sanctification:

                                a1. POSTITIONAL SANCTIFICATION = upon receiving Christ all believers are placed into the body of Christ forever (Romans 8:1)

                                a2. PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION = believers are to grow in Christ, becoming more mature as saints (II Peter 3:18)

                                a3. PRESENTATIVE SANCTICATION = when we stand before God, we will be complete without sin, enticement, or flaws (I Thessalonians 4:1)

                d. “Are being sanctified” refers both to the progression of believers toward maturity & glorification and the fact that there are many more believers to be brought into the kingdom (harvesting is not finished)

                e. Once perfected, we are perfected for all eternity

3. Testimony of the Holy Spirit

                a. The Holy Spirit witnesses “to” or “with” us that the Gospel is true

                                a1. We are not left with a blind faith

                                a2. The Spirit witnesses through the Word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17) & within each believer (Ephesians 1:13-14)

                b. Hebrews now turns to the Jewish believer

                                a1. It is through Jesus Christ that the covenant promise of Jeremiah 31:33-34 is fulfilled

                                a2. God will write his law upon the hearts of the Jewish believer & remember their sins no more (Hebrews 8:17-18)

                c. We have ample witnesses to testify to truth of Word

                                a1. He awaits our full response

                                a2. Full sanctification is promised (confidence!)

Key passage: Jeremiah 31:33-34

33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had [a]by Himself [b]purged [c]our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Hebrews 8:17-18 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

Dec 31, 2023. Hebrews 10:5-10

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DIVINELY PREPARED SACRIFICE. Hebrews 10:5-10. 12/31/2023. #30.

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.

1. Unsatisfying offerings

                a. Psalm 40:6-10 before the foundation of the world, the Son knew that animal sacrifices would be inadequate so He offered Himself to be the satisfactory offering

                b. God took no pleasure in the OT sacrifices

                                a1. They were offered according to His will

                                a2. God was pleased when truly obedient faithful worshipers made sacrifices

                                c. However, the sacrifices fell short of satisfying God’s righteousness

                                                b1. God was not pleased with the quality of the offering (a cheap gift not worthy of God’s glory)

                                                b2. Impoverished common gifts

                c. The offerings were all that man had to give

                                a1. Nothing man could offer could please God

                                a2. Twice Hebrews states that God took no pleasure in the offerings that God willed

2. Infused holiness

                a. 3 points emphasized by Jesus offering Himself

                                a1. He volunteered: “I come…”

                                a2. He surrendered to God’s will

                                a3. God prepared a body for Him

                b. A prepared body is unusual language

                                a1. Genesis 2:7 Adam was “formed” out of dust

                                a2. Genesis 2:18-20 Eve was brought forth out of man

                                a3. All other people had been begotten

                                a4. Only the body of Jesus was prepared

                c. A body prepared within Mary

                                a1. Prepared (to furnish completely) = the Spirit made a sinless body for Christ

                                a2. This body could not contain sinful flesh, but had to be a descendant of David

                                a3. The union of man and woman produces a sinful human being (Psalm 51:5)

                d. Only by being joined to a sinless body could the Son be the perfect sacrifice

3. The last offering

                a. God did not desire (will) animal sacrifices for these had no ability to satisfy His will

                                a1. These sacrifices merely satisfied the Law as symbols of the one effective sacrifice

                                a2. The offerings were used to teach that men are sinners; they need to placate God; and they were in need of a better sacrifice

                b. Due to the fact that God desired a better sacrifice, He had to take away the one sacrifice which could not satisfy in order to replace it with the ultimate sacrifice that could satisfy for all times

                                a1. The two sacrificial systems could not exist side-by-side

                                a2. In 70 AD, the old sacrificial system was eliminated through the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Roman general Titus

                c. Since the OT sacrifices were offered by sinful men using mortal animals, they were ineffective

                d. Since Jesus’s sacrifice was completed by the holy Son of God using a sinless body, the offering is effective for all sin for all time

                e. All other religious systems, including the OT, fail to provide an effective means of salvation

                f. Romans 6 overwhelming sin is abolished by greater grace

Key verse: Psalm 40:6-10

6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;

My ears You have opened.

Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;

In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,

And Your law is within my heart.”

9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness

In the great assembly;

Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,

O Lord, You Yourself know.

10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;

I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;

I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.

Dec 24, 2023. Luke 2:1-7

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GUEST ROOM. Luke 2:1-7. 12/24/2023.

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

1. The journey of Joseph and Mary

                a. We do not know what time of year or how close to the birth of Christ the journey commenced

                b. Traditional understanding is the Mary was very close to delivery and that she delivered the night she arrived in Bethlehem in a stable

                c. Several things strike us as odd about the story:

                                a1. A women near birth traveling 75 miles over rough terrain by foot or donkey

                                a2. Staying in a stable where the innkeeper would be feeding the animals and cleaning the stall

                                a3. Since we find Mary and Joseph in a house when the wise men arrive, how long did they stay in the stable?

                d. Since both Joseph and Mary were both of the house of David, they may have been required to travel together, despite Mary’s condition

2. End run around the inn

                a. There is another possibility

                b. The word “inn” is actually “guest chamber”

                                a1. It can refer to an inn, but it usually means a guest room (like the Shunemmite built for Elisha)

                                a2. This is the same word used for the Upper Room where Jesus conducted the Last Supper

                c. Under this scenario, Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem where he had distant relatives

                                a1. Many other relatives would be in town for the census (tax registration) as well

                                a2. All the guest rooms would have been taken

                d. Many houses in Israel and throughout the Near East were built with an anteroom for the animals (sheep, donkeys, goats, and cattle), but most houses had few animals, since these were costly

                                a1. The word stable is not found in the text

                                a2. The word manger means stall or crib

                e. Joseph and Mary were given a stall in the anteroom where the animals stayed, for the guest rooms were full

3. No room

                a. All the guests were staying in rooms for there was no room for the King of glory

                                a1. Jesus was outside the main household

                                a2. There was no room in the house for Him

                b. When Jesus used the guest chamber for the Last Supper, the room was borrowed

                                a1. After He left the Upper Room, He was arrested, tried, and crucified

                                a2. The world still said that there was no room for Him in their lives either

                c. The world still says that there is no room for Jesus

                                a1. He must stay outside where animals stay

                                a2. The guest rooms are full of self and sin

                d. The question this Christmas is will you give Him your guest room in your heart to stay permanently     

                e. To leave Him outside your room is to be outside His