JESUS -The Source of Salvation - Studies in the Book of Hebrews #3

Text: Hebrews 5&6

Good morning to all who have gathered with us this day to honour our heavenly Father and His wonderful Son, our Redeemer and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jesus loves us and that is the thought that we need to remember as we go throughout our lives in times of difficulty and in times of joy.

We are going to continue this week with the third lesson in our monthly series on the book of Hebrews. This great book written with the pen of inspiration from God reveals to us how great and awesome Jesus Christ is in the grand scheme of things. It appears that one of the purposes of this book is to remind believers of this truth and give us warnings about leaving Jesus.

What we have seen so far from the first four chapters is that:

Jesus is God's final and greatest spokesman (1:1-3).

He is better than the angels (1 & 2).

He has offered a great salvation (2).

He is greater than Moses (3).

He is the Christian's High Priest who sympathizes and helps.

He is the Apostle of our faith as He is the only one sent by God to secure salvation for God's people.

He promises all of God's people a future rest from their labours.
So, because of this the Hebrew writer closed out chapter 4 with a beautiful passage of scripture- read with me vs.14-16.
The writer beginning in chapter 5 is going to deal with the concept of Jesus being our high priest and what that means in greater detail. The thought that will be brought to the forefront is the question that many Christians ask:
Can I be secure in my salvation?
My friends every Christian should have this next passage always in their mind:
John 10:27-29.
Let it be said we are not saying that apostasy is not possible as the writer will deal with this, but we are saying apostasy is not always probable!

Begin with me now in chapter 5!

Vs.1-4- In matters of man relating to God, the high priest works on man's behalf and is taken from men! (2:17).
Now, the priest is to be someone who can sympathize and identify with the weaknesses of the people because he himself is weak. Basically, the priest is neither to be too lenient or too severe with other people's failures!
Because all have sinned including the priest the high priest must make atonement for sin! In the Mosaic system, the priest's most important job was the Day of Atonement once a year where he offered unto God a blood sacrifice (Exodus 30:10).
In thinking about Jesus being our high priest how encouraging is it to note that even though he had no sin, the friend of sinners is the one who works on our behalf! Matthew 9:10-13.

No high priest takes this position for himself but is called by God.
Vs.5-10- In the same way then, Jesus did not glorify Himself in this way but was called by God to fulfill this role. (1 John 4:9,10 - God sent His Son).
Verses 7 through 9 are very crucial to all that have fallen in love with Jesus. While in the flesh Jesus prayed in earnest to His Father and was heard. He who was suffering deep anguish offered tears and cries to God. Our minds immediately go to the prayers of Gethsemane. Luke 24:41-45.
Now, it says God was able to save Jesus from death -look at Mark 14:36.
The prayer was not unanswered- for God heard him- Psalms 22:24!
Jesus was God's Son but learned obedience through His suffering, learned it by experiencing it!
He was made perfect- he was brought to the goal that God had fixed. He is now the source of eternal salvation to those who obey Him!
Can a Christian be secure in his salvation?
As long as we are following him, Yes!

Vs.11-14- the Hebrew Christians however had not grown as they should have.
They had to be re-taught the basic principles of Christianity. God wants growth- 1 Peter 2:2, Ephesians 4:14,15.

6:1-3- the first principles are the foundation on which we build, but we can't keep building the foundation!
We must grow!

Vs.4-8- what of those who apostasize?
Now, the writer says those who once enjoyed the blessings of Christ and now reject them, do two things:
crucify him again and put him to an open shame.
Basically, the apostate declares that he has put Jesus on trial and found him no true Messiah and worthy of death!
Who is the faithful child? (vs.7)
Who is the apostate? (vs.8)

Vs.9-13- there is a better hope though for these Christians.
We don't want that to describe you!
God does not forget what is done for Him. Keep on working for Him, keep on ministering to the saints, keep on having the hope of Christ as your guide.
Just don't give up.
Amos 6:1- woe to those who are at ease in Zion.
Understand that as you continue to live for Jesus, God will not forget!

Vs.13-15- Look, God gave a promise to Abraham and He swore by Himself.
What did that result in?
That it would for sure come true!
Do you ever wonder if that after living the Christian life, believing in Jesus as Lord, doing what He wants, trusting solely in Him, you'll not make it?
Does the thought of judgment day leave you wondering if your life that was purchased by the Son of God will have the same sentence as those who never wanted him?
Then, does this ever lead you to wonder if it has really been worth it?
Has the gospel truly been the good news?
Has the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ really brought joy and not discomfort to your soul?
Listen, as God promised Abraham and took an oath, He has done the same for us!

Vs.16-20- God has promised us through Christ Jesus that heaven is ours!
He has taken an oath as well.
These two immutable things- unchangeable, constant, permanent.
His promise and His oath- God cannot lie!
2 Timothy 2:13!
It will come true!

We now have great encouragement and comfort now that we have fled to God for refuge under the wings of His Son. This hope is an anchor for our soul and the storms of our lives may rage and the waves toss as high as a mountain but our anchor is the rock of all ages and we shall stand firm.
Our anchor is sure and steadfast as it will not topple, nor will it break under the heavy strain of this world's problems or the enormous stress of Satan's power.
Why?
Because our anchor, our hope is not down in the depths of worldly philosophies, it is not sunken in the strengths and weaknesses of mere men, it is cast into the highest of planes and it lies firm in heaven with God.
The promise we have is that our forerunner has run on- Jesus.
He has shown us the way- John 14:1-4 and more than that Jesus now stands as our high priest and he will always live to work on our behalf securing our salvation.

Can we know?
Yes, we can know!
Those who have anchored to the rock, those who live for Jesus will never falter or fail but they shall live forever more in the sweet by and by.
Do you have this hope?
Do you know Jesus to be the One who guarantees your home in heaven?
If you are a Christian, don't give it up- you don't want to be guilty of crucifying Jesus again do you?

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