More Glory Than Moses (Part A)

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus is our high priest. We don't have a high priest among men any we have Jesus is our high priest. He is our apostle is the one that has all the authority they're going along with this is the hearing this, they're agreeing with this because they are believers, but he's going to challenge going to challenge them over and over years doing coral work in the hearts of those that he cares for this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. If you would please open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 3 let's join Pastor Rick for part one of his study more glory than Moses. We are in the book or the letter of the document Everett may be Hebrews.

So if you have your Bibles. Let's open to Hebrews chapter 3, we will take verses one through six. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him who appointed him as Moses also was faithful in all his house for this one has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses. In as much as he who built the house has more honor than the house. Every house is built by someone, but he built all things is God and Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant for the testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a son over his own house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hold firm to the end.

I often have to fight the temptation to comment reading more glory than Moses. That would be an emphasis placed on this morning's consideration last session in Hebrews. In Hebrews chapter 2 we discussed the captain of our salvation and what we see is the writer to Hebrews is pouring into his Jewish audience the superiority of Jesus Christ. And he's always doing it in layers is laying on one layer.

Then he lays on another layer is building this this argument up and it just gets more profound as we move through Hebrews, remembering that our theme is as we study through Hebrews the superiority of Christ.

He is better than the old system that he is the author of the old and the new. And he has fulfilled the old and brought us what we know as the New Testament Christianity but that he is superior even to Moses. That was the fact that his Jewish audience had to face. They were going to be Christians. They were going to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They would have to face that fact is for us today. If someone's going to be a Christian they going to have to face the fact their sinner in need of a Savior and if they do not face that fact.

They do not benefit from the salvation of Jesus Christ is not enough to acknowledge him as Lord. One has to also acknowledge their own sin. They are born in sin and that he alone is the Savior.

Now as we go through Hebrews you younger believers, especially should come away with this understanding that Christ is superior and that as you go into the world are going to be those sent by Satan or used by Satan. Even if they are not aware of it that are trying to tell you he is not superior, that there are alternatives there are alternatives the lead to hell and to guarantee your place in hell if you go for.

If you go to your grave believing Christ is not the only Savior and only the Holy Spirit could get you to face this fact and only the Holy Spirit can come alongside of an unbeliever and begin to woo their heart towards God. He does this, and in many ways, but in all the time. He is leading that sold to the cross of Christ which leads to the empty tomb, which leads to the throne of God. We are part of that process and so it is finished.

The Old Testament law fulfilled in Christ. There is no barrier now between God and the center that Christ has not overcome, and once again the Jew had to face this fact that Christ eclipsed all others, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, all of them put together that calorie place where he was crucified, spelled an end to the law Christ fulfilled the law and brought in the age of grace, so that's the introduction to this section because that's where the writer of Hebrews takes us in this third chapter is bringing up Moses to these people and will will take that under consideration now looking at verse one. Hebrews chapter 3. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.

Now that therefore that he begins what we know as the third chapter connected with the previous chapter, the thought is not broken, it did join together let's look at Hebrews 2, verse 17 and 18 and he says in all things he has, to be made like his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation that is forgiveness away to God for the sins of the people or and that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted. Therefore, verse one, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession. Consider who it is you are considering rejecting. That's what he saying remember this Hebrew letter/document the species is saying to the audience that among you, are those that are thinking about mingling Christianity with Judaism.

If you do that you will be damned, you better think about what you're doing because this Jesus Christ were you thinking about mingling with superior high above them all. He is God the son. That's the strength of this. Therefore, when we don't get the tone in the writing but if the writer were preaching this depending on his temperament.

This would be a good place for him to get excited when he says therefore because of who I just told you this, Jesus is this captain of our salvation better.

Consider he's going to be very firm as he rolls through the Hebrews is going to be hitting the very heart as we going to get some one at least this morning but he says here in verse one, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling visa Christians. He's writing to visit believers everything he is saying they're going to be those that you might read about or hear preaching that will say the well they were all safely saying that there partakers of the heavenly calling, no way to dismiss the twofold description that makes it clear that these are converted people were tinkering spiritual truths and that again will damn the soul only say damn so we mean hell forever with bridge worm does not die maternal judgment. God of grace offers this grace to any who would receive it, but he has nothing but wrath of those who thumb their nose at should be any other way. This could only be applied to people in God's family.

Those that are saved and in addressing these who are saved it is made clear again from the word partakers which is translated partners in another section of Scripture from the Greek reading Luke chapter 5 verse seven. This is when the apostles at so many fish they had to call for their brothers to come assist them in the other boat brothers from the other boat, system they signal to their partners in the other boat to come and help them network partners are believers.

As I mentioned no unconverted Jew or Gentile could ever be referred in such a way only the converted is a way of your your emphasizing this point. Yes I am because it has everything to do where everything else is going. He is not speaking to unbelievers speaking to churchgoing people.

Believers who trust in Christ alone for their salvation. Believe he was crucified for our sins and rose again sits at the right hand of God and so he says consider the apostle now of course we have to take a moment to talk about this word of possible using observe carefully this one that is sent apostle means the one that is sent in the New Testament.

Clearly there are given to us.

Three examples of apostles of those who are sent there were the 12 and then Paul Judas forfeited his position. 12 then Paul who were handpicked by Jesus Christ as apostles, and sent out we know them as the apostles of Jesus Christ.

There are no more then there are any that are sent out from the church. For instance, if someone is sent out from the church into the foreign mission field or to send out into the local mission field. In that sense, they are an apostle of the church. They have this authority under the reassembly to go out and conduct business for the kingdom which includes often times, the church also. And then of course there is this one instance the singular one, not plural. The apostles singular not apostles of the church not apostles of Jesus Christ. But the apostle the one sent from heaven to earth on behalf of those of us who are on earth, on behalf of of sinners. Apostle Jesus Christ in that sense, what the prophets word to the Old Testament, the New Testament apostles of Jesus Christ are to the church to Christianity into reaching lost souls. The Old Testament prophets they came with a message that came directly from the throne of God, to them for the people that, in contrast to the priest. The priest did not come up with a message from God.

They came to God with a message from the people that the people repent, and that is the greater the distinction between the two offices of priest and prophet or apostle in the New Testament, there are also pop prophets. I will take too much time on this.

We recovered we were in the Ephesians but here's what Peter says in his letter.

He says that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior. So there.

Peters is linking using the prophets and apostles of the same office Jew Chip Jude verse 17 but you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, so we understand by by looking at these cross references and taking the Scripture and the consideration that the offices of apostle trifold and of course Christ in his position is distinct, so when the writer says, consider the apostle consider the one sent from heaven before you think about jumping ship. Christ was sent by love. That's what sent Christ his own attribute.

The Godhead and for the sake of discussion, we say was sent by the father. That is true, that is not all the truth behind the Holy Spirit is totally in agreement to totally a part of that process, so we look at the dog just read it.

Hebrews 1 verse three that he had by himself purged our sins, set down at the right hand of Majesty on high. He is come to project since it says that he is the high priest of our confession is the great mediator. There is no other. There is no higher part me there is no higher go-between. There's no higher mediator between God and man than Jesus Christ. Again apostles go to God.

The two men for God priest go to God for men. One has a message coming from the throne, the other has the response to the messages coming from the throne and so in the high priest, for example, in the day of atonement would enter into the holy of holies in the in the Jewish Temple.

He would be bringing the repentance of the people he would go in there. Not without blood, said facet of confession sacrifice that was mandatory. So Israel's high priest came from man to God approaching the Mercy seat of God with blood in his hand representing the confession of sinners. Hebrews 9 into the second part of the high part me into the second part, the high priest went alone once a year. That is the day of atonement, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sin sets Hebrews 97 then Hebrews 1019 and so much more in between all of this with these other the punchlines for the point. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus see he is our high priest. We don't have a high priest among men anymore.

We have Jesus. He is our high priest.

He is our apostle. He is the one that has all the authority they're going along with this is the hearing this, they're agreeing with this because they are believers, but he's going to challenge going to challenge them over and over years doing a thorough work in the hearts of those that he cares for.

When it came to this writer's attention that there were believers not satisfied with Christianity, but wanting to embellish it or add to it or prop it up or mingle.

It he went to work on this verse to speaking of our high priest are apostle and high priest who is faithful to him who appointed him as Moses also was faithful in all his house.

What all believers want to be faithful to the one who appointed us. Of course Jesus said I always do those things to please my father, Satan is nothing in me.

We like to say the same thing. We can't but we spend our time and energy trying to be like Christ. Christ likeness faithful to all that is appointed to us and we can be faithful in the ministries in which we serve in most certainly can. He says, as Moses also was faithful in all his house. Moses was faithful in the house of Israel, God's house of Israel that's important because of the point he's going to make is a distinction between the house of Jesus Christ, which is also Israel.

But now the New Testament church, Gentile and Jew like repeatedly.

We read in Scripture that Moses did the commandment all that God told him to do. And Moses did it, read it again and again in the Old Testament, yet Moses had his failures.

Moses wrote down his own failures for all of us to do.

Examine to see recorded them himself. But God doesn't remember it that way he could but he does ops to not remember the failures of Moses. The Holy Spirit impresses upon the writer of this Hebrew document to note that God thought Moses was faithful in all his house. That's what stood out to God, and that's what God is going to do to each one of us were covered in the blood is not as yet have blood you did this and you did that. Now there isn't of course a time of judgment for believers before the bema seat of Christ, we will be judged for our service with the sins are washed away. Isaiah 43 verse 25 I even I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and I will not remember your sins away to be so foolish that that's only for the Jews and not for the church. Of course, is it.

Is it odd that Christians readily receive the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and they become Christians, we become converts and then we walk around. Not all of us. Some of us the sense of guilt as though we've not been forgiven being set up your being set up by health to tell you you are nothing in the church of Christ in the body of Christ that you are a loser to set up.

God doesn't see it that way and you should neither and so Moses also was faithful in all his house.

He just warming up all the punches coming verse three for this one has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.

Inasmuch as he will build the house has more honor than the house. There is more glory than Moses. They had to face this as Moses was way up at the top.

None were greater than him amongst the Jews dominant figure in Israel's history. Now when we finish our adult study and next month we should stay on schedule.

We begin the life of Moses the servant of God and of course I been prepping for this for months, which is quite daunting because he is how my ever going to remember to say any of these things, but in in preparation.

The magnitude of the man if I could have just an ounce of that is is what you come away with in reading about his life Moses the servant of God.

Dominant figure. As I mentioned, he was told by God. However, that another prophet would come and that profit would be greater, and whoever didn't listen to that profit which would suffer judgment. Deuteronomy 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you human. That is, from among their brethren and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command him and it shall be that whoever will not hear my words which he speaks in my name, I will require it of him. That's Jesus Christ, God was telling the Jews that I'm not done yet. This is not the end of my revelation that I'm giving to you through my prophet Moses. I have a whole bunch more to do this profit as I mentioned clearly identified in the New Testament as trite as Christ John's gospel chapter 1 Philip found a Faneuil and said to him, because there this is at the beginning of the apostles when they were first being introduced to Christ they knew nothing about him till John pointed him out and then economists spread very quickly amongst his circle of friends and when Philip goes to Nathaniel.

He is so excited.

We found him Nathaniel. On the other hand, mild-mannered reporter of the daily planet as a different response.

Can anything come out good come out of Nazareth and of course… Come see. Come see for yourself how many Christians don't want to say to someone come to church with me. I want to go to church why he was asked for money. I wear a suit yet.

I've limitation what you going to find in this church you should come and do not excited about Christ. Don't expect anyone else to be excited through your testimony either. Philip found Nathaniel said, and we have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Very very moving. I had goosebumps standing here thinking about that moment that really happened long ago and Israel, somewhere, somewhere on earth that spot with their feet were standing is still there and hope he knows where. But it was it was real, so the prophet names the writer named the prophet better than Moses, as I've been saying they had to face this fact has business center when when you come and say listen unless you are washed by the blood of Christ, you're dead in your sins, the wrath of God abides on you personally.

There's a way out rejection would send them back to a defunct religion.

If these Jews said yeah why here that is greater than Moses. But I still want to offer up she they were going back again to a defunct religion but worse rejection would leave them rejected by God. God was how dear you think I had my son to die on the cross and suffer all the stuff so you could bring sheep to me. So to stay in Judaism to offend God because he is opened up the second phase and he is closed. The first phases, ceremonial systems, not the moral law. Still, thou shall not kill, thou shall not live does or not I would commit adultery still not covered. Those things remain the other moral code, they were there before Jews came along. Malachi asked the Jews of his day. Will a man rob God they were robbing God of their tithes and offerings. Withholding whenever a man robs God that man is robbing himself even more. You've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website. Simply log on to cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick, you can subscribe cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio is your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of Hebrews right here on cross reference radio