The True Tabernacle

Take your Bibles, if you would, please, and turn to Hebrews chapter 8, verses 1 through 6. These are our text today. I would like to speak to you on the subject of "The True Tabernacle," which you will see in verse 2. As I read the text, I would like for you to also keep in mind that the close context, the continuing context, and the complete context all point to Christ. We will review that after I read the text. If you would, read with me in Hebrews chapter 8, verses 1 through 6.

Now the main point in what has been said is this: We have such a high priest. If you like to circle things in your Bible, I recommend circling the word "such." We will lean in on this word. We have such a High Priest who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the True Tabernacle. Again, if you circle, underline, or highlight "The True Tabernacle" is the title for today's message there in verse 2. "A minister in the sanctuary and in the True Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched," not man, "for every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, so it is necessary that the high priest also have something to offer. Now if He," speaking of Christ, "were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the law, who serve as a copy and shadow." Again, if you underline, circle, or highlight "copy and shadow" is a good point of reference here to keep in mind of what's going on in the text. "Who serve as a copy and the shadow of heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle. For," see, He says, "that you make all things according to the pattern," and that is another good word to underline, "pattern," "which has been shown you on the mountain, but now He," being Christ, "has obtained a more excellent ministry by as much as He," being Christ, "is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises."

Pause with me for a moment of prayer. Lord, thank You for this text. Help us to see it for what it truly is. We dare not get all of it out today, but that which we do explore, Lord, I pray that it would be pure and true and holy and faithful to You, dear Jesus. Help us, we pray in Christ's name. Amen.

It has been said by scholars that we should always pay attention to the context. In fact, we had a discipleship moment from Cayley on a Wednesday night. It is weeks in a row on talking about how context is king. If you would like to think through context from a scholarly perspective, you can think of it like this: There is a close context, and then there is a continuing context, and there is a complete context. Let me explain.

The close context has been said by Ken in our congregation oftentimes, and I agree with him, to read four up and four down and get the context—the immediate context, the close context, at the very least. You want to read four verses up and four verses down to make sure you have a grip as to what is going on. Now here, if you go back to verse 24 in chapter seven, if you go up four verses, you will see Jesus is referenced over and over, and over again. Turn to chapter seven, verse 24, and let us just put some emphasis on Christ as it is found in the text.

Hebrews chapter seven, verse 24 says, "But Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a High Priest." And there is that word, such, again. Such a High Priest. And He is such a High Priest, not only is He a high priest, but He is also holy, innocent, non-defiled, and separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. Who does not need daily, like those priests who offer up sacrifices for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once and for all. He offered up Himself. For the law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son made perfect forever.

It is very easy to see that if you highlight or circle the references to Christ, they are manifold in just those four verses. And this close context continues through the six verses that we just read, referring to Christ over and over, and over again. It is without a shadow of a doubt that the close context in this passage is centering upon Christ.

What about the continuing context? Well, what does this mean? The continuing context refers to the progressive nature of information throughout the whole Bible. God gives us information in a conceptual form. Think of the first Adam and then Christ as the last Adam, and how this idea develops over Scripture progressively. It gets more and more clear as Scripture goes on. Turn with me to Revelation 21 and verse 3. This idea of the True Tabernacle pointing to Jesus will culminate in this idea of us in heaven with Jesus. This continuing context culminates here. It builds up to a climax in Revelation 21 verse 3.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne." See now, we have already studied in Hebrews that Jesus is on the throne, right? And so here, "From the throne, behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them." This is the ending point of this continuing context. This idea of dwelling here in the text is the same as what is found in John chapter 1, the same as John and other parts, and it is also in Hebrews. It is the idea of ultimate fulfillment. This idea of dwelling with Christ, tabernacling with Him and dwelling with Him, is the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenantal plan for His people to be in Him. This is a permanent perfection here in Revelation—to be united eternally with Him in Christ forever. This is zero separation, zero sin, all pure bliss with Jesus. I look forward to this tabernacling with Christ for eternity, forever.

Back to Hebrews chapter 8, the closed context is obvious—it is about Christ. The continuing context with this idea of the tabernacle climax is in Christ. And then the complete context speaks to the whole canon of Scripture. What does the whole canon of Scripture have to say about this idea of a True Tabernacle, that which we are leaning in on today?

It is fascinating to think about this. There are 50 chapters in the Bible dedicated to the tabernacle. Did you know that? It is fascinating to see how much of the Bible, how much content focuses upon the tabernacle itself. There are 13 chapters in the book of Exodus focused on the tabernacle. There are 18 chapters in Leviticus, 13 in Numbers, 2 in Deuteronomy, and 4 here in Hebrews, totaling 50 chapters on the tabernacle. Now you would ask yourself this very easy elementary question. So all the children in here, I want to hear you say Jesus real loud. What is the Bible about? Jesus. That is exactly right. It is all about Jesus. And now you have so much in the Bible about this subject of the True Tabernacle. It is pointing to us tabernacling and dwelling with Jesus.

Point number one in your sermon today is this: We have Christ. We have Christ. In the text in verse one, "Now the main point is this." All of this preceding information builds up to this main point. Adding all this preceding information together reveals Christ as the main point—that He is King and that He is Priest. That is what is pointed out here in the text. "Now the main point in what has been said is this. We have such a High Priest who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens." Being that He is on the throne, He is King. And it states that He is high priest. You have two points here. These are the main points talking about who Christ is.

But if you go back to chapter seven and look at all the information that is adding up to who Christ is, the Hebrew author is obviously extracting these two points of His kingship and His priesthood as the main point. But what is the information that is building up to it in chapter seven? Well, in chapter seven, let me just summarize who Christ is and what Melchizedek reveals of Christ. He is a King of Peace. He is a priest forever. He is a blesser. He is a King of Righteousness. He is eternal. And then furthermore, in chapter seven, He is indestructible, the giver of hope, installed by the Father's oath, a guarantee, a Savior, an intercessor, wholly innocent, undefiled, separated and exalted.

This Christ, whom point number one, we have, according to verse 26, has been custom fitted to your needs, especially your deficiencies. This Christ and all of who Christ is has been custom fitted. Look at this word "fitted." It is amazing. Chapter seven, verse 26, "For it was fitting for us to have such a High Priest," or better yet said, "He was fitted to us. He became what we needed Him to be—the God-Man."

All of this information building up and who Christ really is, the main point is that He is such a High Priest and has a better ministry than everything put together. This is such a High Priest that He is not only a priest who ministers to you personally, but He is King. Have you ever met a King before? Have you ever met the President of the United States before? Have you ever met royalty before? Those people are nobodies compared to your personal interaction with King Jesus. Not only is He King, a ruler, not only of your life, but sustainer of the heavens and the earth—everything that you see, He keeps, He sustains. And you know this guy, you know him, Jesus, King, you know him.

Not only is He King, but He personally ministers to you in verse six, chapter eight, verse six. It says, "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry." He has a ministry not only of worship, like all of the Old Testament priesthood displays, but also ministering to you. And I would ask you this: Since we have this True Tabernacle to dwell with, since we have Christ to dwell with, and since He is a King, since He is a priest, since He is all of what I just mentioned—not only indestructible, the giver of hope, not only eternal, but a blesser, not only a King of peace who distributes peace, all of these wonderful things wrapped up in this one wonderful such being as He, do you dwell with Him delightfully in return?

Think, even in your own home, how delightful are you to dwell with? And so in return to such a one as this, Jesus Christ, how delightful are you to dwell back to Him as He is to you? How much do you commune with Jesus? We have this Christ. This Christ, we have Him, all of who He is. And He is reserving none of Himself in regards to opening up to you, interacting with you. We have this Christ. How do you respond, react, dwell, interact with this such?

It is amazing to think of this. You might think of it in simple terms. You can hardly compare. You go to somebody's house. They have a rare car. You are like, "Wow, how did you get such a car, an antique car? So rare." That is nothing. It is so cheapening even to compare Christ to a rare car. When you go over to someone's house and say, "Wow, such a house as this. This is such a big house. This is like a mansion. This is such a great... How did you get such a house?" You should say to yourself in better terms, "Such a Savior. Such a Savior." Forget about cars. Forget about houses. Forget about what you could see. You have got Christ. I mean, this is such a Savior. He is more than wonderful. You cannot even pack it into a sermon, into a book. This is not all the information about Christ that you have. You realize that. This is just what we may be able to try and comprehend if we study every single day until we die. Such a Christ as this. This is an amazing thing that we have Christ.

Point number one: We have this Christ. He is such a Christ that in the Bible, just to kind of tip your toe in an ocean of deity, in Genesis He is the Creator. He in Exodus is the Passover lamb. He in Leviticus is the high priest. He in Numbers is the clouds by day and the fire by night in Deuteronomy. He is the Shema in Judges. He is the lawgiver in Ruth. He is the kinsman redeemer in Nehemiah as a rebuilder in Job. He is the redeemer in Daniel. He is a stranger in the fire. And through the prophet sees the preacher calling for repentance and restoration in the Gospel. He is the incarnate God in the Messiah in Acts. He is the subject of all apostolic preaching in Galatians. He takes on the curse for our sin. In Ephesians, He is our rich blessing in Thessalonians. He is the coming King. And in Hebrews, we see He is the mediator, the priest, and the King in Revelation. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. This is who we have. We have Christ, those who have been saved.

Philippians chapter 2 and verses 5 and following give us just a snap of what He is. A snippet just a little bit in Philippians chapter 2 verses 5 and following say this: "Have this attitude in yourself, which is also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. But He emptied Himself taking on the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him the name which is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—of those who are in heaven and those who are on the earth and those who are under the earth—and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

Now if you cannot see that it is all about Jesus, you are blind today. I am telling you the Bible is about the Lord Jesus Christ and in every way, shape, and form. Not only is He King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but He gives Himself to us. We have such a Christ, and all throughout the Word of God you see that it is all about Jesus.

In verse 2, I want you to focus in with me again on this subject of Him being the True Tabernacle. Hebrews 8:2 says, "The minister in the sanctuary and in the True Tabernacle," which the Lord pitched, not man. Okay, so He is a priest forever out of this True Tabernacle and according to the word here, it is a pattern. This tabernacle is a pattern in verse 5 and in verse 5 it is also a copy and a shadow.

Now when you look at this True Tabernacle, in Luke chapter 24 and verse 39, the resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, in bodily form said to touch Him, His body. Okay, so His body is still there after the death and burial and resurrection. He still has His body. To prove this again in Acts chapter 1 verses 9 through 11, He was seen going up into the clouds in bodily form. Christ still has His body and in Philippians 3:20 and 21, we get new bodies like His body. My point is this: the human-like body is still in existence in Christ. Christ has the body, okay?

Now that this is established, I would like to state what John Owen states. He says the tabernacle mentioned in this text is referring to Jesus's body—the True Tabernacle, the True Tabernacle. Now you might think to yourself, "Prove it!" Oh, I just love with a little bit of pushback. Prove it! Let us talk this through and let us think objectively on this subject of the True Tabernacle.

Turn to John chapter 6 and verse 32 with me and I want you to see another aspect of where Jesus likens Himself to be true, okay? Not only is He the True Tabernacle here in Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 2, but in John chapter 6 and verse 32, Jesus refers to Himself as something else that is true. John chapter 6 verse 32, "Look with me and find it for yourself." Jesus said, "To them truly, truly I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the," what? "The True bread out of heaven." So what is the manna that was provided for Israel in the wilderness? It was a symbol. It was a type of Christ because Jesus is the True bread out of heaven.

Continue to read with me and see for yourself because it says it is the True bread. And verse 33, "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world." Pretty simple to understand this, right? "Then He said to them, 'Lord, always give us this bread.' Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not hunger and he who believes in me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me.'" So you see sovereign drawing, sovereign salvation here. And then in verse 40, you see personal responsibility. "I say to you, he who believes has eternal life." He is the True bread.

And so not only is Christ here as the True bread, but also turn to John chapter 15. I want you to see that not only does Christ claim to be the True bread of life, but also He claims to be something else that is very true. This is true. This is what Christ is claiming to be. This is typology on display for you to be able to see more about Christ through not only the tabernacle, not only bread, but here you see another illustration.

On your own time, I encourage you to really look into these subjects of Jesus saying that He is the bread of life. And now we are looking at tabernacling, but now we have another subject to look at in verse one of chapter 15. "I am the True," what? Vine. Who was referenced as the vine in the Old Testament? Israel. He is the True Israel. He is the True vine. "I am the True vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, He prunes so that it bears more fruit."

Abide in Him. Abide in Christ. Dwell in Christ. Tabernacle with Christ. Be one who is delightful to dwell with. Dwell with Christ for Christ and return to all of who Christ is, delightfully and wonderfully. Be a good house, partner, guest, whatever you want to word it. "Abide in me" in chapter, in verse four, chapter 15 verse four of John. "Abide in me and I in you. Be a good branch and abide in the vine in every way. Do not be one who is guilty of loose lips. Do not be one who is guilty of just stinking thinking, irrational thoughts running wild. Abide in yourself to irrational, flighty feelings."

You abide in the truth, the vine, Christ. Submit your thinking, submit your feelings, submit your life, submit your speaking, submit. Abide, dwell with Christ. It is not about you. It never was about you. It is always been about Jesus. "He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit. From apart from me you can do nothing." Get that into, I would just say, our thick skulls. Apart from Christ you can do nothing. It is going to fall apart if you try and do it your way. It is going to be awful.

Verse six, "If anyone does not abide in me, He is thrown as a branch, he has been dried up." "If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch and it dries up." It is just vivid imagery. This is great to be able to perceive yourself in this way. "And they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you."

And so those who are abiding in Christ have answered prayers. Is not that great? Answered prayers. Prayers that are heard for the husbands that do not live with their wives in an understanding way, according to 1 Peter chapter 3 in the family section, their prayers bounce off of the ceiling. They are not heard because that is a consequence for a husband who is not living with a wife in an understanding way. There are consequences when you do not do it God's way. When you do not abide in the vine, there are some consequences here: you dry up.

Have you ever lived a season of life in a state of hopelessness or dread? Or you feel like, man, it is just life is awful. That is the sense you get apart from Christ because Christ is hope. If you ever lived through a season of life where you just had no peace, Christ is our peace. Abiding in the vine takes care of all of these.

My point in bringing us to this passage is to see that Jesus is the True vine, He is the True bread, and also it is congruent contextually, scripturally, exegetically, with the subject of it being here as the True Tabernacle. So this tabernacle, to rule it out, is not the building. Has it been rebuilt in heaven? This is Christ's body, and that makes exegetical sense, contextually, in the continuing context, and in the entire canon. And out of this True Tabernacle, out of this body, out of whom Christ is now, He has a more excellent ministry. Verse 6, "Now He has obtained a more excellent ministry." He is our all-in-all. He is amazing.

Just one more point to kind of drive home this idea of it being the True Tabernacle. In Hebrews 9 verse 24, look with me and see: Can this scripture in Hebrews 9:24 fulfill an actual body as a tabernacle or an actual building as a tabernacle? And you decide for yourself. Here is the ruling verse for you. "For Christ did not enter the holy place," that is a reference to the tabernacle, okay? "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands," a mere copy of the True one, okay? Christ is the True Tabernacle, the True one, "but into heaven itself."

So now you have to ask yourself: This True Tabernacle, is it a building or is it a body? Well, the rest of the verse gives you the clear information. "Now to appear in the presence of God for us." Can a building appear? No. Can it be in the presence of God? No. The body. So for Christ, He entered the holy place. He, the Tabernacle, the True Tabernacle, entered into heaven itself. He now is in heaven, sitting on the throne and appeared in the presence of God. That is the final ruling there.

This more excellent ministry is performed by Jesus, and this still takes precedence today over the copy or the shadow of the Old Testament priesthood, where the Old Testament priest had duties that were typological as well for atonement and offering of sacrifices and maintaining lamp lights and oil continually and incense as a sweet-smelling aroma unto God. It symbolizes prayer to maintain fresh bread weekly, symbolizing the fresh presence of God, teaching the law, guarding holiness and monitoring everything on the inside. All of these priestly duties predict, foreshadow, and are types of Christ's ministry today.

Point number two: Not only do we have this Christ, but Christ is the True Tabernacle. We have conquered a lot of ground already in regards to the fact that Christ is the True Tabernacle. This Tabernacle is a symbol. And chapter 9 verse 8 proves that it is a symbol. Hebrews 9, let us go with 8 and 9. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place in the tabernacle has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol. The outer tabernacle is a symbol for the present time according to both gifts and sacrifices and according which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience. And so you see that this tabernacle is a type. In verse 11 it says, this is chapter 9 verse 11 continuing on, "But when Christ appeared as the High Priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands."

Point noted: The True Tabernacle is Jesus Christ. This Tabernacle has not been made with hands. Turn to John chapter 2 verse 19. Some may need further proof, and that is fine. John chapter 2 verse 19 through 22. Jesus referred to the temple as His body. This is important that you are good Bereans on this subject and find it to be true for yourself. So I am taking my time in these scriptural addresses so that you perhaps can take note and go home and see it for yourself.

In John chapter 2 and verse 19, Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple." What was He referring to? Yes. "And in three days, I will raise it up. The Jews then said, 'It took 46 years to build this temple.'" Did they understand what He was saying? There were tabernacle in Hebrew. Miss Ken, it means dwelling place. So Christ is now the dwelling place. In John 1:14 the Bible says, "The Word became flesh and what?" Tabernacled among us. That is the Greek word for dwelt. Tabernacled. Christ dwelt among us. He tabernacled among us.

In Revelation 21:3, we have already gone there: "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them." So to tabernacle with God, it can only be done in Christ. No wonder the phrase "in Christ" is repeated so many times in the book of Ephesians. Ephesians 1:4, "He being God chose us in Him that be in Christ before the foundation of the world." Ephesians 1:7, "In Him we have redemption." Ephesians 1:13, "You are sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit." Ephesians 2:10, "Created in Christ Jesus for good works." And then another good reference in Acts 17:28, "In Him we live and move and have our existence."

And so point number two then again is Christ is the True Tabernacle. This is a Tabernacle that has been not pitched by men in verse 2 of chapter 8, back to Hebrews chapter 8, but it has been set up by the Lord. In the Old Testament, men set up the tabernacle—stakes, poles, curtains, furniture. They set up all of these things. God, however, has set up a body. Hold your place in Hebrews 8 and see that God has set up a body as this Tabernacle. Chapter 10 verse 5, Hebrews 10:5, "Therefore when He comes into the world," He says, "sacrifice in offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared." A body you have prepared for me. God established this body. Men tore down the earthly tabernacle in the wilderness. Roman men tore down the temple in Jerusalem, but God raised up Christ Jesus after He was torn down and crucified. He raised Him up and now He stands eternally. And so it is God who has established Christ as the True Tabernacle.

Point number three is this: Christians are in covenant with Christ. We are just going to open this door. We are going to come back after vacation to continue in chapter 8. We will dwell on this subject all the more deeper. So if you are taking notes, point number one, we have Christ. Point number two, the True Tabernacle is Christ. Point number three, Christians are in covenant with Christ.

In chapter 8 and verse 6, I want you to notice how Christ's priestly ministry is connected to a better covenant. Okay, we are in covenant with Christ and you need to know that as ones who are in covenant with Christ, the priestly ministry is inseparably connected to being in covenant with Christ. Chapter 8 verse 6, "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises." This is amazing.

Where does this covenant come from? Who projected the fact that a new covenant would be established? Well, if you would like to turn with me to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and verse 31, you will see how the prophet Jeremiah foretold all of Israel that there would be a new covenant. This old covenant is going to go away and there is going to be a new covenant and you will be able to believe in that and be saved. In Jeremiah chapter 31 and verse 31 it says, "Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant, which they broke, although I was to them, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord."

And now, let me ask you a question. Do you think that this covenant for Israel stops with Israel? Do you think that the covenant that God made for His chosen people Israel stops with Israel? Well, I would offer to you two specific verses in Ephesians chapter 2 and Ephesians chapter 3 to prove to you that the covenant that God established, this new covenant is not just for Jews, it is not just for Israel, it is for those who are of Abraham. It is for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is through them to the patriarchs. It is through them to Israel and it is through them and it is so displayed clearly as one is also establishing a gospel for the nations.

In chapter 2 verse 14 it says, "For He Himself is our peace who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." And yes, this is talking about the covenants. In chapter 2 verse 12, look up a little bit in verse 12, "Remember that you were at the same time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, but now in Christ Jesus, you who are formerly far off, you Gentiles so far away from God you do not even know who He is, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace who made both groups," the Jews and the Gentiles, "into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall."

Ephesians 2:14 is a great verse and then as well in chapter 3 verse 6 of Ephesians, Ephesians 3:6 says this, "To be specific that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs," see that? Gentiles, fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body and fellow-partakers of the promise, fellow-partakers of these promises. Both Jews and Gentiles are brought into this one plan of redemption, the promises, the covenants. Gentiles are brought in.

Romans 1:16 makes it clear too: "For it is the power of the gospel and the salvation to the Jew first," right? It came through to the Jews, came through Israel, and now also for the Jews—for the Jews first and to the Gentiles, to the Greeks. Praise God for that because I was not born a Jew, but I can believe in Jesus and be saved.

So to tabernacle with Christ is also to be part of the new covenant. To tabernacle with Christ is essentially to then enjoy covenant promises. Some of these covenant promises that we are going to look a little bit more into as we continue in this vein to understand our covenant beliefs and benefits, and just a few of them is full forgiveness. Not only full forgiveness, but fellowship with God. Not only fellowship with God, but also knowledge of God. To be in covenant with Christ is to be fully forgiven, and guess what you can do? You can rest assured that you have been fully forgiven—past, present, and future—of all of your sins, past, present, and future.

What that does, not only does it set you free from the bondage of sin, it also sets you free from bitterness because in Colossians 3:13 it says, "Forgive as you have been forgiven." Now you are going to get through this life with plenty of people doing you wrong. People are going to steal from you, people are going to hate you, people are going to lie about you and accuse you and are going to do harm to you, all that kind of stuff. But guess what? You are free from bitterness. You do not have to be angry at them. You can forgive them just as Christ has forgiven you, and all you need to do to be able to forgive someone is to realize how much God has forgiven you. Remember your place. Remember who you are. Be a good branch, abiding in the vine, and just be who you are supposed to be. Do not go outside of Christianity and try and do it yourself.

Bitterness only destroys you from the inside. Unforgiveness only destroys you from the inside. Be a quick forgetter. I can do that. I can forget real fast. But as well, the knowledge that we have, oh of God, this is covenant benefits.

Take home truth number one, and there is only one. Are not you glad? I will say it in sentence form, and then I will give you a couple phrases. So children, if you want to wait for the second phrase, you can. But the first phrase here: take home truth number one, develop unbroken interaction with Christ. Develop unbroken interaction with Christ. Children, if you are taking notes, I know that is a mouthful. Just write down, abide in Jesus. Obey Jesus. Walk with Jesus. Any of these phrases work. Be with Jesus. Dwell, pray, talk, live with Jesus, interact with Jesus. If you want to use the word from our text today in Hebrews chapter 8 verse 2, write it down like this: Tabernacle with the True Tabernacle. Dwell with Christ. Tabernacle, dwell with the True Tabernacle, with Jesus.

We have already explored John chapter 15 verses 1 through 11, but I want to extract for you the benefits of abiding in Christ according to that text. In verses 1 through 11, if you develop unbroken interaction with Jesus and you abide in the vine, you tabernacle with Jesus, you dwell with, you walk with the Lord. Here is what is a byproduct of your obedience. In verse 2, more fruit. Verse 3, a clean life aligned with the Word of God. Verse 4, more fruit again. Verse 5, much fruit. Verse 6, not a dried up life or a burned life for eternity. In verse 7, prayers that are granted. And then in verse 8, much fruit again, and also proof that you have been saved and also glory brought to God. And then in verse 9, get this: if you abide, then you will receive love from God. You will be loved on by God. And then in verse 10, to continuously enjoy God's love. And this subject of joy is brought up again, and again, and again as John chapter 15 unfolds, but it is mentioned again here to have God's joy in you, not only to have God's joy in you, but also to have the fullness of joy.

Hey, I am telling you, it is totally worth denying yourself and abiding in the vine, because the fullness of joy is there for Christians to enjoy their covenant benefits with Christ. Tabernacle with the Lord forever to abide in the True vine has wonderful benefits. You can be sustained there in trials. You can be joyful, though everything outside is awful. You can be stable in Jesus, the firm foundation for which we have Christ. He disseminates peace to us, but you have got to be in and dwell with Him, close to Him. So tabernacle with the True Tabernacle. This is life in Christ.

How do you do this? Well, practical applications on the how—like, okay, you tell it, you say dwell, you say abide. These are spiritual terms. How? Practically, how you do this is very simple, but let me just rattle these off and I will close with you in prayer. Read the Word and think on those truths. You see, you cannot just read the Word and walk away from the Word. You have got to read the Word in such a way that you are looking for something to take with you and to dwell upon the Word of God.

When you read God's Word in the morning, I highly recommend starting your day with the Word of God. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Get your mind going on the things of God first. Otherwise the things of the world can overcome you and anxiety and worry and frustration. But if you are seeking first the kingdom of God and you are reading the Word in such a way, listen to me, to grab something to dwell upon—something of Christ, something of substance—what, as you are dwelling upon Christ and you are dwelling upon the precepts that you have read in the Bible, you are conforming into His likeness. You are interacting with Him. You are dwelling, and abiding, and walking with Christ. But if you get out of your bed and go on your way doing it, you are always thinking about the things that you want to do and do the things that you think you need to do in your way, I am telling you, there is an element of leaving Christ off to the side. It is not really developing full interaction with Christ. You are not dwelling with Him. You are not reciprocating your presence back to Him like He is divulging to you. You are not really tightly dependent upon Christ.

And so it is so simple to say, read the Bible, right? But I am pressing in to say, read the Bible in a way that you are getting the nutrients with you as you go. I would say not only read and think about what you have been reading, but contemplate what Christ has done and dwell upon that. Contemplate these things. Consider who Christ is and be in awe of Him, of what He has done, of what He has done for us. Who are we that He would do anything for us? That He would descend from heaven, from His throne and His holiness and His purity and take on our curse for sin? Who are we that He would do that for?

Well, when you think about these things, it brings you to shock, and awe, and wonder, and worship because you know that you are not worth dying for. But He did for you for His glory. You are part of something bigger. And now your attention is upon Him and not you, which is the lie of this world. Focus on you for happiness. Do what you feel you want to do to make you happy. Pseudo-churches preach pseudo-messages upon man, man-centered messages—not God-centered messages.

Hey, some other practical information here. Memorize a hymn and sing to Him. Have a melody upon your heart. That is being filled with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for help in every single way in your life. If you are not praying and asking for help, then that is demonstrating to God that you can do it on your own. I am telling you, develop like a child the dependence upon your Lord and rejoice and pray without ceasing and sing and worship and think and dwell upon Him.

God had to tell Job to be still and know that I am God. Stop everything and yield yourself to Him. Before you get out of bed, be dwelling upon the things of Christ. Pick up that Bible. Get something in your heart and your mind so that you are walking with the Lord and having a melody. It will change how you say what you say. It will change what you do. It will change where you go. It will help. It is called abiding.

Hey, as well, how do you do these things? Confess your sins as you do them. Do not let them bottle up. Be confessing. Be apologetic. You know, the world will say this: Apologies are a sign of weakness. That is what the world says. Do not apologize. That is weakness. That is revealing a weakness. No, but God says and His Word says to confess your sins as you do them. And if someone sins against you, go and show them their fault. These scriptures are everywhere all over the Bible and how we should be ones who are humble, and confessors.

If by chance we have such wonderful saints in this congregation that I have seen this over and over, and over again, by chance that I offend you the last time we talked, because I feel like I may have said something in a way that may have been a little bit off. If I offended you, I am sorry. You are the person on the other side saying, "You did not offend me at all. I do not know what you are talking about." Such a wonderful and sensitive spirit before God and before others in such a humble state to be able to say, if by chance I did, did you know in the Old Testament there are offerings for sins, not only for the sins that were actually committed, but the sins that might have been committed?

And then as well, invest time into getting to know God. Stop being so busy. Invest your time into studying God's Word. It is a worthwhile investment. If you are too busy, you are too busy. If you like acronyms, I have said it before: B-U-S-Y, being under Satan's yoke. If you are too busy, you are too busy. If you are too busy to not just read God's Word, but to study it, to do Word studies, to get this wonderful exegetical truth out of it and in you, you are too busy because Christ wants to tabernacle with you. How are you tabernacling back with Him? So calm your spirit, walk with Christ, and glorify Him in every single word and deed.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 31, it says, "Whether then you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Let us pray together. Dear God, thank You for the fact that You have drawn us closer. And for those who draw closer to You and are not saved, they can be saved according to Your Word in Hebrews. And those of us who are already saved, we keep drawing closer to You to enjoy Your presence and to benefit from being conformed into Your image. God forgive us for ignoring You. It is almost like we live in the same house and we hardly ever speak to You sometimes. God forgive us where we have not been delightful in dwelling with You in return.

God, thank You for Your everlasting love. Thank You for Your patience with us stubborn, mule-blooded saints—us Israelites. Lord, we are just like the Israelites. Help us not to look piously into the Bible and think we are better than them. Help us to see it as a mirror to expose where we fall short. Help us, dear Jesus, to dwell with You, the True Tabernacle. Thank You for all of this vivid imagery so that we can know You more. God, we love You. Jesus, we thank You for dying on the cross and being raised by God again for the salvation of souls that would repent and believe in Your death and burial and resurrection.

God, by the preaching of Your Word and the proclamation of Your truth, we call sinners to repent and to believe in the Gospel and be saved. And for saints to worship. God, we love You. It is in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.