Christ Our Everything

Take your Bibles if you would please and turn to Hebrews chapter 7 verse 26, 28, and 29 as we finish up this chapter. What a wonderful passage. What a wonderful chapter Hebrews chapter 7 is amazing. It has a crescendo-like climax today that we're going to lean into, and would love for you to focus with me if you would on this subject: Christ our Everything. If you're taking notes and you would like a title for today's message, the title is Christ our everything.

So read with me if you would in Hebrews chapter 7 starting in verse 26. The word "for" helps us to see all of this information is leaning into this reason. It's for this reason so for it was fitting for us. The information now is shifting toward you and I, those of us who are believers have Jesus Christ in His Mediatorial work, His priestly work, His kingship for us. It's fitting He is fitting. He's actually fitting for us. Everything that we need, He is perfectly fitted to meet. It's amazing, and so for it was fitting for us to have such a high priest. At this point, we should humbly think before ourselves. Who are we to receive something such that is holy like Jesus Christ? Who are we to receive something so fitting, so precious, so priceless? But for it was fitting for us to have such a high priest. The scripture says, and here is a list of His essence: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens as Christ here in this verse is exalted.

This is speaking to His ultimate purity, His ultimate authority, and His ultimate honor. And I'll prove it to you because the verse goes on to say that He's exalted above the heavens. That is, Christ in His position right now has been exalted above all earthly things that have been created—you, and I, and angels, and everything—and above the heavenly things, above every created thing. Christ has been exalted above this. His position here then means that the sacrifice that He gave on behalf of sinners who would repent and believe in His substitutionary death to pay for their sins—payment for the wages of sin is death. This means that God accepted His payment. So, His position is verified here with this phrase. The position that He now holds is one who is exalted above the heavens and above the earth is one who has made appeasement for God. God's wrath is appeased, and so now He justly sits on the throne.

In verse 27, it says, "Who does not need daily?" That's a reference to the Old Testament priesthood and the priests who have daily needs like you and I. We're so fallible, but yet Christ is infallible, and that describes His priestly ministry. Who does not need daily like those high priests to offer sacrifices first for their own sins? Jesus does not have to, and did not have to, and would ever not ever have to offer a sacrifice of itself or anything for His own personal sins. But the Old Testament priests did. The Bible says right here He didn't have to do that, but they did—first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. Because He did once for all, and this phrase "once for all" is very fascinating. I would lean into one particular area that I think is an important nuance in Catholic doctrine. It teaches transubstantiation, which then re-crucifies Christ over and over and over again, and that's not true because here it says that Christ died once for all.

Okay, and then He offered up Himself in this way. And then in verse 28, "For the law appoints men as high priests who are weak"—we know that—"but the word of an oath who made the oath? It was God. God made this oath, which came after the law." This is important because the law is what instituted priests according to the Levitical priesthood. And so, if you're of the line of Aaron, if you're a Levite, you could be a priest according to the law. But before the law, God made an oath, and so Jesus was instituted as a priest-king before even the law came by the oath of God. And so, after the law—that's very important—appoints a son made perfect forever.

Pause if you wouldn't. Let's pray. Lord, thank you for these three verses. I pray that you would help us today to see the glory inside these verses, and may you truly invade our hearts and minds. Change us, help us to see you for who you are, give us spiritual sight and insight. Not only to perceive who you are but to see exactly where we are deficient and you want us to step up our spiritual game and truly serve you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength because of who you are and what you've done. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

And so, these three verses are a climax. All of chapter 7 gives some detailed information for which the Hebrew culture would know specifically as to why it is so important. And as the author builds a case through chapter 7, it is very clear to the Hebrew audience who the king is and who the priest forever is. And so, this information in chapter 7 gradually increases in content to climax in Christ. It's very clear. So, this ending summation is about Jesus. So, it's all about Jesus, hence the title for today: Christ our everything.

In chapter 7 as it climbs and reaches its peak in Christ, it speaks pretty much in these three verses to Christ's essence, His death, and His permanence. And so, that is who He is in verse 26, and what He's done in verse 27, and how long He will in verse 28.

If you're taking notes, the first point is this: Christ's kingship was proclaimed, predicted, and pictured. And I'll say that again. Christ's kingship was proclaimed. But not only was it proclaimed, it was predicted. Not only was it predicted, it was also pictured.

And so, in chapter 7, verses 1 through 10, it starts with Melchizedek as a type of Christ pointing to His kingship. We've reviewed that, which is established in chapter 1, verse 3. Let's look at the kingship of Christ in Hebrews chapter 1, verse 3 together. Hebrews 1:3 says this, and He—speaking of Jesus—is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. And we had: when He had made purification—this is Christ on the cross. Christ made purification for those who would repent and believe on the cross. When He made purification of sins, He sat down. Right, He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. This is His kingly position. Kings, when they have a victory, they sit down. Christ is sitting on the throne. He is already victorious. The end has already been written. We need to just simply be obedient as we share the Gospel and make disciples and worship Him and get through this life faithfully because Christ is king. He is our everything. He's on the throne. He's ruling and reigning, and His history is unfolding. We believe in this, and so this is the proclamation of His kingship. Christ's kingship was proclaimed. But not only was it proclaimed, it was predicted.

Here, the verse is having sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. This is an allusion to Psalm 110:1, so this is a prophecy that has been predicted. Turn to Psalm 110, verse 1. See this for yourself. Psalm 110, verse 1. This is the prediction that came true. The author of Hebrews, underneath the inspiration of God, is alluding to this prophecy. And so, it has not only been proclaimed, but now it's being predicted. Psalm 110, verse 1: "The Lord says to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand.'" We just read that in Hebrews 1:3—same phrase: "Sit at my right hand." And so, this is an allusion. He's alluded to this passage which further verifies the kingship of Christ. "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool unto your feet." Oh, this refers to Jesus as Master. It's symbolic of strength. When He says, "Sit at my right hand," the strength of the Almighty God—Jesus, God Himself, is all powerful and on the throne. This is a sacred proclamation. Kingship is proclaimed, predicted, but also it's pictured in Melchizedek. Even here in Psalm 110, verse 4, look with me in Psalm 110, verse 4: "The Lord is sworn and will not change His mind. You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." And so, this has been pictured in the type of Christ, the man Melchizedek. And so, point number one: Christ's kingship was proclaimed, predicted, and also pictured.

Now furthermore, there's some reiteration that comes, some overlapping emphasis, which we need. As human beings, we need what's important to be repeated. Mothers know that you repeat what's important if you want it remembered. Then you have to repeat it and repeat it and repeat it until they got it and expect it. And if they don't remember it, then you help the remembering process. For Christians, the remembering process is unnecessary trials and tribulations, right? And so, look at the Hebrew culture intentionally and see the repetition. Not only is it the mother of learning, but it is intentional. God repeats Himself not because He needs to remind Himself of what He's already said. He's repeating Himself through these authors so that you get it, so that you learn it, so that you apply it. You need this repetition in your life so that you transfer it from your mind to your heart to your life. There's the digestion process of these concepts.

And I'll ask you this question: the ending of the process is living these truths out. Do you live as though Christ is your king and do you truly submit and lean upon His priestly ministry to minister to you in your needs? Have you not only comprehended His kingship and His priesthood but emotionally, volitionally, devotionally, and heartfully embraced who Christ is so much so that now it affects how you live, how you speak, how you respond? The stability that you have in Christ—do you know God, the God who is? This is not information that goes in one ear and out the other. I am saying to you: catch this information. Think and dwell upon who Christ is so that it changes you from the inside out. This is why God repeats Himself. These are why these things are reiterated for your good and God's glory.

Point number two, if you're taking notes: Christ's priesthood or priesthood. We're moving from kingship to priesthood. Christ's priesthood was again proclaimed, predicted, and pictured—same words, done again. It's almost like you have one author, God, who was communicating these concepts and reading these things in a way that we can truly get this. Christ's priesthood, point number two, was proclaimed, predicted, and pictured. Hebrews chapter 3, verse 1. Look with me, if you would, in this proclamation. I mean it's really all over the Bible, and it's really all over Hebrews, but here's a very clear proclamation of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 3:1: "Therefore, Holy Brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider Jesus, which by the way, if any of you—and I know a lot of you do—like doing word studies, this word consider. It's a really good one to dive into in Hebrews 3:1. Consider Jesus. The apostle and high priest of our confession. Christ is our confession. He truly is who we confess as Lord and Savior, who we confess is our priest-king here. It's a proclamation of Him being the high priest. And so, we see this in the text. He is the high priest forever.

Look in Hebrews chapter 5, verses 1 and 2, and see where the author reminds the Hebrews that God installed Christ as a high priest forever, chapter 5, verses 1 and 2. This is some more reiteration for our good and God's glory. Hebrews 5:1: "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins," okay, that's what the priests do. "He can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided since he himself was also beset with weakness, and because of his obligation to offer sacrifices for sins—it is for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes this honor to himself but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also did God not glorify Himself, but to become a high priest? But to He who said to Him, 'You are my son. Today I have begotten you.'"

Not only is it proclaimed in Hebrews over and over and over that Christ is priest, it is also predicted in Psalms chapter 2, verse 7. We see that the author of Hebrews alludes to this Psalm. Psalm chapter 2, verse 7: You can turn there with me, if you would. I'd love for you to see it for yourself and to have these things reiterated, ingrained in your mind that the author of Hebrews is not shooting from the hip. This scholarly preacher is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, and as these truths in Hebrews chapter 5 are reiterated, we see that it is reiterated, even not even in the book of Hebrews, but also restated again from Psalms chapter 2, verse 7.

And I will surely tell you the decree of the Lord. Psalms 2:7: "He said to me, 'You are my son. Today I have begotten you.'" This is a prediction of His son being all of who He is. And then, as well, not only do we see these reiterations in regards to it being proclaimed and predicted, but also again the priesthood is pictured in Melchizedek. And it's also pictured in the Levitical priesthood.

Back to Hebrews, I want you now to see the textual proposition from Hebrews chapter 7, and that is: Christ is sufficient for all of our insufficiencies. And not only is Christ our everything, but beings that He is fitting in verse 26, you should see and own the concept of the fact that Christ is truly sufficient for all of our insufficiencies. The author is building on Christ's perfect priesthood and perfect kingship to prove something to the Hebrews.

Now get what the author is proving to the Hebrews. The author is proving that Jesus is able and He is offering a better hope, a better covenant, a better law—that is His lordship. He's offering Himself. He's offering Himself. This premise is the foundational idea through chapter 7, and so you can say to yourself: Okay, I must stop resisting and start embracing.

You see, the Hebrews were drifting. In chapter 2, verse 1, the author says, and we all are the same. We cannot look at the Israelite culture with our noses up in the air with a chip on our shoulder because they're people and we're people. Thank the Lord for those who repent quickly, right? You can gauge how close you are to Christ and how mature you are in your walk when you sin—you repent on the spot. Don't delay in repentance, and don't go down different worldly, self-centered roads.

Christ is truly sufficient for all of our insufficiencies, starting with salvation. He is able. In Hebrews chapter 7, verse 25, the verse before today's text, it says: "Therefore, He is able to save forever those who draw near to Him." So, He's sufficient for our insufficiency in regards to salvation. But it doesn't stop there. His kingship, His rulership, His sovereignty does not stop with converting. It's also extended to conforming. And so, as Christ is Lord of our life, He doesn't just save us; He sanctifies us. These two points are inseparable to the lordship, to the kingship, to the forever ministry of the priest-king Jesus. He doesn't stop interceding. He doesn't stop ministering, and He is completely sufficient for even the slightest little insufficiencies in our life.

Oh, but we, like Israel, hold on to our sin and we try to do it ourselves and muscle our way through this world in the flesh. Don't we? And we rebel against God, and we find ourselves in painting ourselves in a corner. We find ourselves offending our friends and family. We find ourselves offending God. We find ourselves aloof and away from God for way too long. And so, the quicker you can repent and run to Jesus, the more spiritual you are.

Why Christ? Why, Christ? And we need to know why. The author's arguments are listed all the way through chapter 7. I'll skip across them and verse 1, and say to you: the author's argument about Christ is that He offers peace where there is no peace. Chapter 7, verse 1: "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham and was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him."

How Abraham must not have been at peace at all with his nephew, Lot, stolen. But Melchizedek paid him a visit, this king of Salem. Salem meaning peace, and delivered to Abraham just a wonderful amount of assurance. You're fighting the right fight here. You're doing the right things. You're glorifying God. You're not in this for selfish reasons, Abraham. Abraham did not fight this fight with the kings in the battle for gaining more wealth and more money. He did this because His God was a covenant God, and these heathens had stolen part of his covenant family, Lot. And Abraham went after him. And so, do we go after our family. It's a noble pursuit. But just know that this king-priest is also the king of peace, and He offers peace where there is no peace.

And so, when your peace is robbed from you, run to Jesus because He's the king of peace. Underneath the shelter of His wing is where tranquility, where harmony, where peace, where there is no peace, really, truly is. In a crazy and chaotic world, there is peace in Christ. But you have to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. First Timothy 4:7 says you have to discipline yourself to submit to Jesus. Oh, don't be a stubborn Israelite and keep yourself from Christ. Others suffer along as you will, too.

Not only is He offering peace where there is no peace in verse 2: "To whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all of his spoils." Okay, by the translation of His name, king of righteousness, He offers righteousness depicted here in this text where there is no righteousness. And so, we, being born in sin, are not ones who are righteous. We need His righteousness imputed into us. In our sins removed and covered, and so Christ is our righteousness. And not only is He our beginning of our righteousness when we're saved, but also He is our continued righteousness. Continue in His righteousness. Do what's right. Live in the light, and it'll be all right, right?

Just seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33. Seriously, I know that this Christian life is difficult here on earth, but it's really not that hard to just put one foot in front of the other and do the right things.

And so, Christ is our peace. He's our righteousness. Skip down to verse 11 with me and see how Christ offers a better priestly ministry. In chapter 7, verse 11: "Now purification was through the Levitical law. For on the basis of it, the people received the law. What further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not to be designated according to the order of Aaron?" There's a better priestly ministry here than the complicated, insufficient priestly ministry before. Okay, this is what Christ is offering: peace where there is no peace, righteousness where there is no righteousness, and now a better priestly ministry.

In verse 19, I want you to notice with me: He is offering a better law. In verse 19: "For the law made nothing perfect." Yeah, well, if you focus in and zero in on a law, you will be depressed. If you think it's up to you to fix things, you'll be depressed. It's a spiraling of downwardness and lostness. And Israel was often given to this. It is one of the reasons why the author of Hebrews is fighting so much for their faith. It's because he knows that following the law and Judaism ends in depression. It ends in heartache. It ends in lostness away from God. And so, rather than the law, you want the Lord Jesus Christ because here Christ Himself is offering you a better law.

And then in verse 23: a better covenant. In verse 23: "The former priest, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing. But Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, upholds a priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is able to save forever those who draw near to Him." Not only a better covenant but also to save you forever—those who draw near.

In verse 25, you see a better prayer warrior. In verse 25: "He prays for us. Through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. What an amazing priestly ministry. Just remember that when you're down and out, you have a priest—not temporal, but forever—who lives to pray and to intercede for you. And so, the things for which you fall short, in Christ is praying for you at that point. And so, yield to His lordship. Walk in His ways. Love His law, His words. Love, worship, sing, do it right. Do it right because it's right to do those things because we need to be obedient to the king. He's king. He's Lord. It's more to just understand this and to love this.

Our part is disciplining ourselves for the purposes of godliness, even when you don't feel like it, right? I mean, are our feelings your god or is God your God? Well, it was fitting for Him to become all of these things for us. A logical conclusion of the author's argument is that Christ offers all of who He is. So, we must then be all in for Christ.

Since Christ has offered all of who He is—didn't hold back anything, not even dying fully—He didn't hold back any of His priesthood, any of His kingship, any of His peace, any of His righteousness. He has held back nothing from you. Why would you ever hold back anything from Christ? And so, logically, just I mean, not only a super spiritual argument here—logically thinking according to Hebrews chapter 7, Christ offered all of Himself. Why would you not offer all of yourself?

If you want to put it in the phrase: be all in. That is point number three. Be all in. If you're taking notes: be all in. Not tipping your toe in a little bit over here. Not dancing with Christians over here. Not proclaiming Christian with Christians over here. Not worshiping some over here. Not a fragmented Christianity because we don't serve a fragmented God. Jesus is Lord of all or He's not Lord at all.

You're like that's a pretty strong statement, preacher. Prove it. Well, sure. Turn, if you need to, to Acts chapter 2, verse 36, and see that God has made Jesus to be both Lord and Christ. If you're going to be all in for a Savior who has given all of Himself, then you need to know who you are dealing with. He is both. He's not half. He's not just your Savior so that you could go and live like you want to live. He is Lord. And the Christ in Acts 2:36 is talking about how God made this Jesus—whom you crucified—both Lord and Christ. Lord meaning supreme ruler. Yes, folks, you have a supreme ruler, not one who wants to just let you do what you want to do some of the time. You have a supreme, all-powerful ruler, the ruler of the heavens and the earth, who was exalted above every created thing.

You have a supreme ruler. Think about my time. I'm an American. I get to do what I want when I want, make my money, get my retirement. I'm gonna die on the golf course. Come on, I am so sick of hearing the American dream. When I retire, I'm gonna do it my way, like Frank Sinatra saying no, come on. Listen, you have a Lord. You have a Master, a supreme ruler. All of your heart, soul, mind, and strength until you die belongs to Jesus Christ. And by the way, in your latter years when you have an accumulation of all of this wisdom is when you can be most effective. I mean, you can squeeze a ton of wisdom into a short statement and change a life forever. Those of you who are growing in Christ, keep growing, keep continuing because in your latter years, I'm telling you, there have been some very significant things happen in our recent history, especially in the woke days, that changed the course of churches just based upon a little old lady saying one little phrase that was tweeted and reposted and went viral.

It's amazing how God uses perhaps what we would consider the weaker of us, the weaker of these, which we all need to make sure that we humbly perceive ourselves as weak and needy. It's amazing what God can do. But you need to know that you have a supreme ruler because this is who Jesus is in Acts 2:36. Not only is He Lord, the supreme ruler, but He's Christ. This they would have heard: Messiah. They would have heard: Savior. He is Lord and Savior. This is who He is. But how many Christians, especially in the Southeast, proclaim to be a Christian but are Lord of their own life? They just check a box and come religiously attend church and say I went—fulfilled my duty. Preachers happy with me? The people are happy? I'm good? No, no, listen. It's not about the preachers. Not about the elders. It's not about the deacons. It's not. It's about Jesus. He is our everything.

Get the essence of chapter seven. He must be our everything. And so, we cannot reserve anything. Oh, I pity the foolishness in that you would die wealthy. What is that going to do? The president of our Bible college stood up in front of a packed auditorium on a big day and preached a message entitling that: pity the fools who die wealthy. How in the world would you stand before Christ and say that He has trusted this with you and you used it not but saved it up, stored it in your own barns? You built bigger barns and more barns. You just kept it for yourself. What did that do? Nothing for Christ, who was supreme. And I mean, have you not been bought with a price and is no longer you who live but Christ? And so, all of who you are—not just a lane that you think that you can be in and here get to there. I'm talking about all of life. And so, we serve Christ with all of our heart and all of our soul, all of our strength, all of our might. Be all in for Christ because He's all in for you.

The how is also mentioned all the way through this chapter, and I could go through verse by verse by verse. Just for the sake of time, let's continue moving on because I want you to see a predicament that everyone's in. In verse 26, Hebrews 7, verse 26: "For it was fitting"—you see how Christ and all of who He is was fitting for us. It's so humbling to think that Christ and all of who He is is completely sufficient for our insufficiencies, and it was actually fitting and good for Him to be for us to have such a high priest—whole, innocent, undefiled, and separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. Then at the end of verse 27, it says that He did once and for all when He offered up Himself.

The predicament that all are in is that He offered Himself when you can't offer yourself and accomplish anything. You're dead in your trespasses and sins if you have not been saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. And God is holy and He is righteous, and He must punish sin. The wrath of God abides on those who do not repent. John 3:36 is very clear. If you're not obedient—believing and obedient—then you still have the wrath of God abiding upon you. John 3:16 has been pitched cheaply our entire church lives. Just believe, just believe, just believe when it's not the full counsel of God.

John chapter 3 has not been preached expositionally. But when you see John 3:16 and verse 36 for what it is, Jesus is saying to Nicodemus: You must be born again and give yourself fully to the kingdom of God. Superficial stuff doesn't matter anymore. The law doesn't matter anymore. The Sanhedrin doesn't matter anymore. You can get kicked out of the Sanhedrin? It's fine. Because I'm your king. I'm your ruler. I'm your sufficiency. See, to be kicked out of the Sanhedrin in those days was to mean that you could no longer have a job, employment, or housing to be in with God. You're out. You're truly ousted. If the Sanhedrin ruled you ousted in those days, but Jesus is saying, so what? If they persecuted me, they'll persecute you. I'm your king now. I'm your sufficiency. I'm your priest. I'm your king. I'm your provider. Don't worry about retirement. Don't worry about your job. Don't worry about these things. Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry, don't worry.

To the people who lived hand to mouth in Matthew chapter 5, 6, and 7, Jesus preached to them: do not worry about your life. I'm your king. I'm your provider. I minister to you. Therefore, since we know that this predicament truly does exist and verse 26 is saying that He is fitting for our predicament, He's truly perfect to help us. Therefore, the person in work of Christ is perfectly fitting and suitable to meet the depravity of humanity and drifting people—not only depraved people but also people that are drifting away from Christ.

In the Greek, this word "fitting" would be better rendered: "was fitted to us." You see, Christ was He made purification. He made propitiation, which is to satisfy the wrath of God. He took on the punishment as propitiation. He took on the wrath. He took the punishment. He took it for you. The payment for sin, He took on for you—all of your sins. Have a just wage, a payment that is rendered to you and your account, past, present, and future sins. God knows them all, and Christ paid them all. It was fitting that He would do this for us. This is His substitutionary work. Without Christ you're in a bad predicament, but with Christ you're in a really good position. And so, He made this offering. It was He who had to do this on behalf of us. What was offered? Jesus Himself. Who offered it? God Himself. To whom was this offering offered? Unworthy, defiled, unreconcilable sinners.

Point number four: God gave Jesus to sinners. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Oh, this loving Heavenly Father whom we love and, oh, sometimes in a guilty position we use His love rather than love Him fully in return. Oh, forgive us. Help us to be fully devoted to Christ. God gave Jesus, His son, to sinners as a peace offering. Only Jesus could do that. I mean, this offering—it's an offering. He offered Himself as an offering to appease God and to save you. Do you accept this offering? You know, witnessing sometimes is difficult. Sometimes there are layers of falsities that someone would grow up in, especially in Judaism. There are just layers of false truths that someone—they can't see the truth of Jesus Christ. Judaism is definitely the case when witnessing to a Jew is very, very tough. I mean, they would think that we need Jesus. That's a crutch. We're weak. They're strong. They would think we're strong; you're weak. You need Jesus. We're good because we're of Abraham. We're the chosen one of the Father. They think that they're good and we're weak.

There are some things here in verse 26 that make it to show who Jesus is and who we are not. Jesus is everything that we are not. Look with me in the verse, if you would, chapter 7, verse 26 again. The list: He is holy. We're not holy. He's innocent. We're not innocent. He's undefiled. We're defiled. He's separated from sinners. We haven't been. And He's exalted. We're not exalted. And so, to be accepted by a holy God, we need to be covered by a holy Christ. To be made innocent, we need Jesus. To be undefiled, we need His word to wash us. It's important to be able to share with Jews who are trapped in their sin as truth. And Jesus, speaking to Jews, said this, and I want you to turn to see it for yourself in John 8:24.

In John 8:24, Jesus, speaking to Jews, said: "I say to you, and it's very specific and very potent, and this is to Jews, then it's to Jews today and forever. Therefore, I say to you that you will die in your sins for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." You know, it would have been appropriate at this particular moment when Jesus was speaking to the unbelieving Pharisees and Jews and such—when He said the words "I am"—maybe it with thunder from the clouds: I am! Because this is an allusion to Exodus chapter 3, verse 14, where God said to Moses: I am who I am.

Jesus is saying to the Jews: unless you believe that I am God, you're going to die in your sins. Unless you believe that I am king, you're going to die in your sins. Unless you believe that I'm your priest, your high priest, your sacrifice, the Lamb of God—unless you believe that I am the great "I am," you'll die in your sins. In the same way that you witness to a friend across the street, a neighbor, someone across the world is the same way that you witness to a Jewish person: the death and the burial and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Confess that He is Lord. Believe in your heart that Christ died on the cross for your sins, and He was raised on the third day. Repent of your sins, confess Him as Lord. It's the same way, even for a Jewish person. But this is rather interesting here as Jesus is speaking to the Jews himself in that He is everything that we are not. And so, He offered Himself, and this was fitting. Isaiah 53:7 says: "Like a lamb led to the slaughter, like a sheep silent before his shearers, so He did not open His mouth."

I'd like to offer you some contrasts in this chapter to Christ. Some contrast, as we start to wrap up a little bit here in verses 27 and 28. If you read it with me again, you'll see the contrasting that is being done, okay? The author is comparing things to Christ. Therefore, He is able also. Let's go to verse 26. Hebrews 7:26 says: "For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, and separated from sinners and exalted into the heaven. Who does not need daily?" Here's a contrast.

Let me just bury you from reading the scripture again and just go through it. If you go through more of Hebrews, you'll see these contrasts. The contrast of, perhaps, the law and the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay, the law was limited. Okay, it offered limited access to God, but Christ offers full access. Hebrews 4:16 says: "Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of God—full access to God." The law is limited, but the Lord Jesus Christ gives you full access.

Another comparison is that the law required priests to be of Aaron, when Christ was of the order of Melchizedek. In Hebrews chapter 7, verse 17, it says: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." And so, again, the comparison to Aaron and Melchizedek in the genealogy there and His genealogy not being needed in Hebrews 7:21. It says: "They became priest without an oath, but He with an oath." And so, you see that the law appointed priest, but God appointed Christ—a comparison again. The author of Hebrews is reaching the Hebrews who have layers of issues to get over to get to Christ, and He is defusing or debunking all of these things with these comparisons.

And then, as well, in Hebrews 7:19: "For the law made nothing perfect." And then in 7:25: "He is able to save forever." And so, the law is unable, but Christ is able. And then again, you see the contrast between the old law and the old covenant and the new covenant. The old was faulty, and the new was faultless. And then, as well, you see through all the types and shadows a contrast to the reality of Jesus Christ. And so, you have a type, and then you have the anti-type. You have a type, and then the reality, the actual substance of it. And so: limited, full; Aaron, Melchizedek; appointed by the law, or appointed by God; appointed by God; unable, able; old, new; type, reality.

It's almost like God has gone back to the basics for the Hebrews and said: black and white, black and white, black and white, black and white. Which is very, very indicative of who God is. In First John chapter 1, verse 5: "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." And so, the whole purpose of the book of Hebrews here is moving mankind from the old law to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That's the progression in Hebrews 1, 2, and 2. It's the law to the Lord. The law to the Lord.

I have only one take-home truth for you today, and that is this: partial commitment is rebellion. If we see truly who Jesus is in His glory and what He has done and given Himself—not part of Himself, all of Himself—not part, and then to be partially committed is rebellion. It's it's not a little bit of rebellion. You're rebelling against a king. What king would tolerate rebellion in his army? Even the least little bit. Oh, I just went over to the enemy camp for a day. What king would tolerate a soldier who was a turncoat? It's treason.

What king would tolerate partial allegiance? What about this? Christ, as a priest, gave all—not part of Himself, all of Himself. And if it took all of His humanity and all of His deity to offer the perfect sacrifice to be fitting for us, don't you think that it should be also reciprocated in our allegiance to a priest-king, a prophet, a priest, and a king? His humanity—it's like because He acted as our qualified substitute in the flesh, His humanity, deity wrapped in humanity, all of His humanity had to die, all of who He was had to be crucified, and then His deity as well because His infiniteness is what satisfied the infinite righteous wrath of God.

This is described as the hypostatic union of Christ—two natures, one person. The person of Christ has two complete natures. He was both fully human and fully God. And it took this God-man to be able to offer a perfect sacrifice on your behalf as a sinner, a human being, to be able to satisfy that fully. Hypostatic—hypo meaning under or the foundation, and stasis meaning standing or position—the hypostasis, the hypostatic union: who Christ is—fully God and fully man. And so, I would say to you: by knowing who Christ is, He's either Lord of all or Lord not at all. This is who Christ is.

Thank the Lord for His mercy and not punishing us severely where we need it, when we need it. Does this not cause you to want to worship Him? Because of how I just—I use the word: silly, sinful, stupid we are by shrinking back from our King. Does it? Doesn't it make you feel really small when you sin, especially you continue in your sin, as to how great and wonderful God is?

Thank, thank you Lord for Your mercy upon my life and thank you for extending Yourself. His patience is everlasting. How long was He patient with Israel? Oh, how long? If you were king, how long would you have been patient with the Israelites?

Thank the Lord for His mercy and His grace. In Romans chapter 10, verse 9, it says: "Confess Jesus as Lord, believe in your heart, and you will be saved." Isaiah 55:6 is: "Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near." As you are underneath the preaching of the word of God in the presence of church and the fellowship of believers in the activity of the Holy Spirit is working, come to Him while He is near. Don't walk away from Jesus. Don't turn your back and say I've got another day. I want to finish out my heresies, my sinfulness. Turn. Don't, don't say I want to drink this for another month. Don't say. Don't say, y'all, I want to do it my way for another day. Today is a day of salvation. Do not harden your hearts. Come to Christ. Truly confess Him as Lord and Savior. John 12:36 is it like this: "While you have the light, believe in the light."

Pray with me, if you would. Lord, thank you for this passage and the gravity of who you really are. Help us, Lord, to respond in like fashion with the same amount of intensity that you gave yourself for us. Let us respond to you intensely, wholeheartedly, not halfheartedly. And Lord, I pray, dear God, that you would continue to refine us with your word so that we would serve you and love you with all of our heart and all of our soul, with all of our mind and all of our strength, for this you have commanded for us to be and to do. This is life. You are our life. Dear God, help us to spread the true Gospel and not a cheapened, reduced Gospel. To think that someone could live that, live their own way and yet deny Your kingship in Your priestly ministries—it's simply ludicrous. Help us to spread the truth of who You are and the urgency to repent and believe and to follow You fully. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.