Text:
Hebrews 7:22-28:
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Theme:
Going Beyond My Self
Introduction:
- The Book of Hebrews has been debated as to its authorship with the resulting conclusion that the Apostle Paul is the author. However, regardless of the actual author it is agreed upon that it is definitely a Pauline epistle due to its writing style and content.
- Written to the Hebrew nation
- Written in the context of those who were raised under the Jewish law and traditions
- In this 7th chapter of Hebrews, we find the author making a comparison between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of Christ. à Jesus surpasses them all because of verses 26-27.
- Jesus was PERFECT while the Levitical priests are IMPERFECT
- The other priests have to make sacrifices for themselves and others while Jesus “offered up himself”
- Jesus was the PERFECT and FINAL Sacrifice!!!
- What does SACRIFICE mean here?
- The concept of Sacrifice in the Old Testament (Judaism, Greek & Roman paganism, Buddhism, Jainism)
- Sacrificial atonement of sins
- Blood shed for the remission, or taking away, of sin
- Sacrificial worship of God
- Giving God worship in the form of the best substance “sacrificed” or destroyed in His name
- What is Sacrificed?
- The Blood of Animals (lambs, sheep, goats, doves, pigeons, etc)
- Firstfruits (first of the crops during harvest)
- Spiritual “Blood”
- Psalms 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
- Sacrificial atonement of sins
- The concept of Sacrifice in the New Testament (Christianity)
- Jesus, the final Sacrifice, the ultimate Atonement for our sins
- Mark 10:45 (Matthew 20:28), “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
- God’s Creation, Mankind, sacrificed in the Name of Jesus toward eternal life
- Romans 6:8, “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”
- Mankind’s Sacrifice is a requirement for Salvation
- 1Corinthians 3:15, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
- Mankind’s sacrifice is a DAILY PROCESS within the process of conversion
- 1Corinthians 15:31, “… I die daily.”
- In summary, it is in Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn [process] them from darkness to [conversion] light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
- Mankind’s Sacrifice is a requirement for Service to God
- Mark 8:34 (Matthew 16:24 & Luke 9:23), “…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
- Mankind’s Sacrifice is then made synonymous with Salvation and Conversion!!!
- Jesus, the final Sacrifice, the ultimate Atonement for our sins
- What does Mankind’s sacrifice mean to the believer?
- Best summarized in a “Highest to the Utmost” devotional that I read in December 2005:
When I am born again, the Spirit of God takes me beyond myself
and my experiences, and identifies me with Jesus Christ.
- Here is where we find our topic for this study, GOING BEYOND MY SELF!
Body:
- The Holy Spirit is what takes me BEYOND MY SELF!
- Beyond my “self”
- We need to get BEYOND our SELVES à the Flesh!!
- Paul hits on this in Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
- The Flesh is a boundary that will not allow us to see beyond, move beyond, or live beyond SELF
- Beyond my experiences
- We have to leave the past in the past!
- 2Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- We are not defined by our present experiences when we are in Christ Jesus!!
- 2Corinthians 4:8-10, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
- We have to leave the past in the past!
- Beyond my “self”
- What does it mean to Sacrifice or GO BEYOND one’s Self?
- Repentance
- Definition à 1Chronicles 7:14, “…Turn from your wicked ways….”
- Ask forgiveness for sins à Psalms 25:18, “Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.”
- Be Quickened by God à made ONE with Him
- Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
- Self Denial à denying one’s self
- Mark 8:34 (Matthew 16:24 & Luke 9:23), “…Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
- Self Surrender
- Give up your self to God
- Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
- Be available to God
- Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
- Give up your self to God
- Repentance
- How do you feel when you Sacrifice or GO BEYOND Self?
- Uneasy à It ain’t easy at first to give “self” all up to God
- Revelation 10:10, “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.”
- Free à The Self is a manifestation of the Bondage of Sin in our lives
- Romans 6:18, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
- Focused à The Self causes confusion
- James 4:1, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
- Rested à The war leaves us tired
- Hebrews 4:9, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
- Compassionate
- Luke 22:32, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
- Forgiving
- Matthew 18:21-22, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
- Uneasy à It ain’t easy at first to give “self” all up to God
Conclusion:
- It is good and to our benefit to GO BEYOND OUR SELVES!
- Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
- What do I “gain” when I GO BEYOND MY SELF?
- I am IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST!
- God ordains it!
- Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
- People see it!
- You have a good reputation à 1Timothy 3:7, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
- You walk right à Ephesians 5:15, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,”
- You talk right à 1Peter 3:10, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”
- You live right à As Zacharias said to John, his son, in Luke 1:74-75, “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”
- You give right à Acts 2:44-45, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”
- I GO BEYOND MY SELF to get to JESUS!!!!
- God ordains it!
- I am IDENTIFIED WITH CHRIST!
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