#436 The Jesus Trip, Jesus Is Better

#436 The Jesus Trip, Jesus Is Better
By: D. Karl Thomas

(Sermon notes and PowerPoint Slides links at the bottom of the page)

Hebrews 8:6 “But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.”
Kreitton:— more excellent 17x’s in NT and 12x’s in Hebrews

Who are these Hebrews and why is he writing to them?
They are clearly people who have experienced a close exposure to the Good News about Jesus and need to be cautioned on what they do with this revelation. The writer is concerned with BELIEF and not BEHAVIOUR.

Jesus Is Better — More Excellent
Author is contrasting Jesus with the believe of Judaism. Embrace Jesus! He is the fulfilment of it all.

Better than prophets. Better than angels. (Du 33:2) 3. Better than Moses. 4. Better than Joshua.

5. Better than High Priests. 6. Better than Abraham. 7. Better than Aaron’s priesthood.
8. Better than Old Covenant. 9. Better than Tabernacle. 10. Better than OT sacrifices. 11. Better than Mt. Sinai.

Hebrews 2:1-3 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”

Hebrews 10:38-39 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NLT)

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first instalment that guarantees everything he has promised us.”

The word “guarantee” means a down-payment or pledge, part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest. So either God has nothing but more good stuff planned for you, guaranteed!, or he is a liar.

The fire to do in the Christian life comes from being soaked in the fuel of what He has done.
Assurance of where you stand with God is the fuel for everything else in the Christian life.

Hebrews 4:2 “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Hebrews 6:4-6 (NKJV) “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

It’s impossible to fall away. It would be like having to crucify Christ all over again.
“There is nothing further which can be done to persuade them to accept Christ: they have already seen and experienced all the things designed to draw people to saving faith,…” R.J. Anderson

Hebrews 6:9 “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. … The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God,…

“… and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

Hebrews 2:14-15, 17 “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

“Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.”

The Jesus Trip, Jesus Is Better, Sermon notes to print, PDF

The Jesus Trip, Jesus Is Better, PowerPoint Slides, PDF