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“But on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:19)
It is far too easy in the life of a Christian to do something and have no idea why we are doing it. Things get over complicated. As a church we just concluded Lent. Probably the busiest time of the Christian calendar. Schedules are packed full with a “Maundy Thursday” service, “Good Friday,” community outreach and last but not least Easter Sunday. (Not to mention small groups and prayer meetings. We corporately take time to observe disciplines, like communion, fasting and fellowship. There is a lot going on! Right after encouraging the readers to “leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity” (6:1), the author of Hebrews brings up Melchizedek again, after already doing so just a couple of chapters prior. Why is he going back to it? Why does this mysterious person need to be talked about again? Afterall in the entire Old Testament, all this king got was a few verses from a narrative in Genesis and a mention in a Psalm of David. After that, centuries go by without another word about him! On the other hand, the scriptures tell us a lot about Abraham. He’s the patriarch of God’s chosen people, followed God faithfully and his descendants would go on to be a great nation. But the text tells he was inferior to Melchizedek (7:8). When Abraham crossed paths with him, he gave him “a tenth of the spoils.” (7:4). Abraham tithed before the instructions on tithing to the Levitical priests even happened. Before Levitical priests even had the chance to descend from Abraham himself. Melchizedek was given the role as a priest. He was a representative from man to the one true God, the same God Abraham had worshipped. He wasn’t born into this position like all the other Old Testament priests (7:6). But because of his righteousness, he was qualified. God has appointed him to this position (5:5). He was an Old Testament picture of what was yet to come in Christ. This was a big deal to the people of Israel! The priests had the most important responsibility of the entire law. They were representatives of the people to God. They made sacrifices to God on their behalf. Without the priests there would be no atonement for sins. Without atonement there is no hope. There is no hope, because there is no access to God. Since the very beginning, way back in Genesis, God had made this truth very clear: men need representation to access God, as a result of sin. Yet even with that representation a change had to be made. A change in priesthood and the law was coming, because despite all their effort perfection was still not attainable (7:11). Obeying the commands of God written on stone tablets was expected in Exodus. Following kosher rules and regulations throughout the Pentateuch was very important to their faith. Observing the feasts and worshipping God was essential to Israel’s obedience. And throughout the rest of the Old Testament, it becomes very clear to Israel how serious God is about dealing with sin. All the “stuff” they did was important, but without atonement and representation it would not matter. There sin was still there. The people of Israel would end up suffering in exile and losing everything, because of the consequences of their sin. They may have continued attempting to serve God through rules and laws, but they had forgotten why they had done it. “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me…” (Isaiah 29:13) Jesus is a greater Melchizedek. He is a greater representative to God on our behalf. He offers a greater sacrifice. But for what purpose? “For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduces, through which we draw near to God.” (7:18-19) The author of Hebrews meant for this information to be jaw dropping to his ancient Hebrew audience. Abraham, the father of Judaism, paid tithes to Melchizedek. He was greater than Abraham, and Jesus, who they are now learning about, is far greater than Melchizedek! What makes Him so much better? Because he offers “better hope” and an opportunity to “draw near to God.” Don’t lose sight of the purpose. Christ did not step down from heaven so we can be busy. He did not offer himself as a sacrifice for sin so that we could continue to walk in our sinful ways. The author of Hebrews spends a lot of time establishing Christ as our perfect and final priest for a purpose. The purpose is not to feed us with empty knowledge and make us experts in Christological thoughts. Understanding Jesus’ role as a priest is about hope and being close to Jesus. (7:19) We have eternal hope in the fact that through the sacrifice of Christ we have access to God! No matter what you are going through right now, we have a priest that “always lives to make intercession.” (7:25). Yes! Jesus is interceding for you now! Whatever physical pain you are going through, He is interceding. Whatever sickness you are suffering, He is interceding. Whatever sin you are battling, He is interceding! Whatever emotional turmoil you are feeling, He is interceding. And because He is interceding, you have hope. A hope that can be found nowhere else. So be encouraged. Draw near to God! Through Christ we have access, and through access we have hope. He is the “guarantor of a better covenant.” (7:22). Don’t lose sight of what you are doing and why you are doing it. He is the prize! He is the reward! He is our hope! Go to Him in His word, rely on Him in prayer, surround yourself in the fellowship of His people. Allow Him to pour on you the everlasting fountain of grace in His presence. Rest in the hope we have in our access to God our Father.
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Hebrews 6
“Without faith, proximity to God in the fellowship of His covenant is no blessing, rather it subjects apostates to more sever judgement.” (R.C. Sproul). What a sobering warning the author of Hebrews is giving his audience in chapter six. Contrary to the popular teachings of Sunday Schools, Children’s Church and Youth Groups across the globe, merely professing faith in Jesus doesn’t automatically result in a person’s change eternal destiny. You do not get to repeat some magic words of a preacher and get an instantaneous change in your judicial standing before the Creator of the universe. There will be plenty of people in hell who at some point in time said with their lips “Jesus is Lord.” I am in no way suggesting that salvation is earned by works. We are saved by faith alone. The only work that saves is the work completed by Christ on the cross, but Jesus Himself taught us that you can learn a lot about a person by their fruit (Matthew 7:21). There will be plenty of people who stand before Him, professing Him to be their Lord. And His response to them will be “I never knew you; depart from me.” (Matthew 7:23). The author of Hebrews wants the church to demonstrate the genuineness of their faith through perseverance. Specifically, being a mature Christian. He had a higher expectation for them. They should have been further along than they were. They should have a better understanding of Jesus. They should have understood the priestly ministry of Christ, after the order of Melchizedek, but it has become “hard to explain.” (5:11a). Why? Because “you have become dull of hearing.” (5:11b) Progressing in our faith, allowing the Holy Spirit the sanctify us and increasing in our knowledge of God is a noble task. In fact, it is a necessary task if you are a disciple of Jesus. Our goal should be maturing in our faith. Moving on from milk to solid food (5:12). But what does maturity look like in the life of the saints? Is it having some kind of rich understanding of all things theological? Is it being an expert in all areas of apologetics? Does it require stopping everything you are doing in life to go to seminary? In chapter six, the writer makes it clear. Being a mature Christian means demonstrating patient faith. “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12) He gives us the example of Abraham who “patiently waited” and thus “obtained the promise.” What does a persevering, patient faith look like in the life of the believer? It trusts in God’s promises. God made a promise to Abraham. “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” (6:14) Abraham persevered in the faith because he trusted that if God swore to do something, he could rest in the hope that it will be done. Scripture is full of rich promises from God to His people. Promises of provision, protection, salvation, hope, joy… The list could go on forever! An essential part of demonstrating your perseverance and faith, is to truly rely on His promises. Trust in Him through prayer. Seek His guidance through the word. Rest in knowing that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) It trusts in God’s person. God reveals to His people the “unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie…” (6:17-18) When God makes a promises, He does through two unchangeable things: His word (promises) and Himself. The value of His oath is found in His being. His character provides for us a reason to be encouraged and hopeful (6:18b) in any and all circumstances. The world around us is always changing. The season of life you find yourself in is always changing. The people around you are always changing. But God Himself does NOT change. That means He never ceases to love you. He never ceases to be sovereign over all matters in your life. He never ceases to be there for you. And He never ceases to be faithful to you. “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6). It trusts in God’s path. Jesus is the forerunner through which we get to receive an eternal inheritance. (6:19-20). That means if He does not go before us, it is impossible for us to get the place where He goes. If He goes before you, follow Him! Sometimes that path is difficult. Trials arise. Your faith takes a hit. Loved ones get sick. You experience physical turmoil. You lose your job. Your car breaks down. You experience depression and loneliness. These things are real. And your difficulty to endure them is just as real. But do not let that stop you from following Jesus! “We have this sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” (6:19). When all else fails, there is one anchor alone worthy to be relied on. Stay close to Jesus. The mature Christian life is more simple than we often think, it is staying close to Jesus. Be a person of patient faith, waiting on Jesus to deliver you. Trust in all His promises. Trust in the nature of His person. And trust in the path He has set before you in this life. Receive the promise of the complete and perfect work of Christ. Pastor Liam Grzasko Living Word Church Elmira, NY Fasting: What is it, and why should I practice it?
First things first, nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to fast. God does not require of it or demand it from us. At the same time the bible describes is as something profitable, beneficial, and good. In the same way that my car will continue to run if I don’t wash or vacuum it, it will be a more pleasurable experience driving when it is clean and vacuumed. It is not necessary for your salvation however it is extraordinarily profitable for you and your sanctification. So, what is fasting? Fasting in scripture is almost always in reference to abstaining from food for a short period of time and turning your attention and devotion during that period completely and totally to God. In its fullness fasting can be anything given up temporarily to focus all our attention on God. (In first Corinthians 7 we see abstaining from sexual relations with your partner is a type of fast.) Fasting should be planned as a limited set time. Too much time without food can be detrimental to your health. Fasting is not about punishing your flesh or your body. It is meant as a time to redirect your focus on God. David Mathis explains in his article “Fasting for Beginners” That, “We fast in this life because we believe in the life to come. We don’t have to get it all here and now, because we have a promise that we will have it all in the coming age. We fast from what we can see and taste, because we have tasted and seen the goodness of the invisible and infinite God — and are desperately hungry for more of him.” When we take our eyes off the things of this world and the desires of our flesh, we can more totally turn our focus to Christ. We do not fast because it will manipulate God into giving us what we want, because the act of fasting changes us and not God. We do not fast to appear to be more holy or spiritual than others. Fasting needs to be from a place of humility and with a joyful attitude. Matthew 6:16-18 says “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Why do we fast? As mentioned before, we fast to turn all of our attention more completely to God. Its not a diet plan or some religious duty. It’s done from a place of recognizing the full sufficiency and supremacy of God. The purpose of a biblical fast is to gain a deeper fellowship with God. Fasting is almost always linked to prayer. In the book of acts we see the believers prayed and fasted before they made any important decision. (Acts 13:2; 14:23). Fasting is not about abstaining rather about drawing close in prayer and worship. It’s important to replace the time you would be eating or enjoying the things of this world with prayer and drawing closer. I am attaching a link to David Mathis’ article that will help you to start fasting! https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fasting-for-beginners Blessings In Christ Pastor Max. |
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June 2022
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