2018 12/23 Rescue -- The Threefold Mission of Christ Christmas

The Threefold Mission of Christ (Heb 9:23-28) December 23, 2018 Read Heb 9:23-28 – It’s Christmas – a time for family, fun, friends and perhaps a little more selflessness than usual. Good time of year. If Jesus is thought of at all, it is as a really intriguing, good guy, who was the ultimate example of how to live a good life, which He certainly was. But the Bible teaches that Christmas has a much deeper meaning than celebrating family and friends. And Jesus was much more than a wonderful example. The Bible teaches that Jesus came from heaven on a rescue mission – In to deliver our fallen race from the penalty, power and presence of sin. Who needs to be rescued? All of us. We’re all like that little boy who ran into a neighbor’s house shouting, “Please, Mrs. Jones. Give me a shovel. My brother is stuck in snow up to his boot tops!” Mrs. Jones replied, “Why doesn’t he just walk out?” The boy replied, “Because he’s in upside down.” Denials aside – so are we all -- buried up to our eyeballs in guilt caused by the constant careless words, deeds and thoughts that violate the character of our Creator. And the problem is way more severe than most of us realize, for as God says in Rom 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” That’s pretty ominous. So is there an answer? Yes, there is as per our text. But first, a little background. Th OT depicts deep truth in picture form – among those the system of law and sacrifices God gave to the Jewish people. He gave the Ten Commandments as a summary of His own character -- the goal of human existence – to image God on earth. Of course, both God and they knew they could never fully keep those commands, so God also prescribed a system of sacrifices by which they could be forgiven on the basis of substitutionary animal sacrifices. This all culminated on the Day of Atonement. The high priest would first offer sacrifice for his own sin. Then he took two goats. He laid hands on one symbolically transferring of the sin of the people to the goat which was then released into the wilderness -- depicting sin being taken away. The second goat was killed, and its blood was taken by the priest into the Holy of Holies to the ark of the covenant. Above the ark was the cloud representing the presence of God. Inside the ark were the Ten Commandments by which the people were rendered guilty. But in between was the mercy seat. And when the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on the mercy seat, God’s justice was satisfied, atonement was accepted and forgiveness offered to all who believed. The safe emergence of the priest indicated God’s acceptance of the sacrifice. Only one problem. Heb 10:4: “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Forgiveness by animal sacrifice was merely on credit until the real sacrifice could be made. Thus Heb 9:23: “Thus it was necessary for the copies of heavenly things (the Holy of Holies being only a copy of the real thing in heaven) to be purified with these rites (DOA rituals), but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” So residence in God’s presence would require more than animal sacrifice. Thus the 3-fold appearance of Christ to provide the real thing that all the OT sacrifices only anticipated. So -- the threefold rescue Jesus came to provide. I. Christ’s Past Appearance – To Die for Sin (Removes Penalty) 26b: “But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” If you don’t get this, you don’t get Christmas. Jesus didn’t show up to be the Great Example. He showed up to the Ultimate Sacrifice. He came to deliver on the promise depicted in every sacrifice since God first killed animals in the Garden of Eden to cover Adam and Eve when their own fig leaves wouldn’t cut it. As God answered His own justice for them, so in Christ He answers His own justice for all who believe. He came – by means of a rescue mission to die for sin. Yes, He had compassion on the poor. Yes, He loved those around Him, even enemies? Yes, He provided the most extraordinary example in human history of how to live a meaningful life? But that was all incidental to His primary purpose, stated many times. Lu 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That was the mission. Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He was crystal clear on His purpose. What every sacrificial lamb symbolized, He personified. By His life, death and resurrection in our place, He showed that while we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, we are more loved than we ever dared hope. That’s the message of Christmas. His death was “once for all.” 25) “Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly” like the OT priests. RC theology goes far astray on this point. The weekly mass is not just a meeting; since the Council of Trent in the 1500’s, it is considered a perpetual offering of Christ – a continuous reenactment of His death in our place. RC theologian Ludwig Ott writes: “The holy Mass is true and proper sacrifice. It is physical and propitiatory.” This false teaching is reflected in the crucifix. It represents Jesus continually being crucified – not once for all, but continuously, as opposed to the empty cross of Protestants representing Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice and resurrection for all who believe. God – the ultimate illustrator – pictured that truth, even as it happened. Just prior to Jesus’ death, the Romans prepared 3 crosses for 3 criminals. Two were for unnamed thieves. The third was for a murderous insurrectionist --Barabbas. But Barabbas never made it to his cross. He was guilty and condemned, but never executed. Someone took his place. In essence the guilt of all his wickedness was assigned to the perfect, sinless, Son of God. And Barabbas went free as tho he never committed a crime, acquitted of all guilt – thus becoming a picture of anyone and everyone who will be faith accept that Jesus died in their place, ask forgiveness and accept his gift of eternal life. Groucho Marx once got a letter from his bank with the cliched ending: “If I can be of any service to you, do not hesitate to call on me.” Marx wrote back: “Dear Sir, The best thing you do to be of service to me is to steal some money from the account of one of your richer clients and credit it to mine.” That’s just what Jesus did – only He didn’t steal anything. He bought and paid for the penalty for your sin and will credit it to your account the moment you humble yourself enough to ask. This was the purpose of Jesus’ first appearance – to die for sin. So we can be free of the penalty of sin. II. Christ’s Present Appearance – To Defend Against Sin (Removes Power) 24) For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” Having appeared on earth to effect our redemption, He is now appearing in the presence of God “on our behalf.” Doing what? Heb 7:25) Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” He’s interceding – praying. For whom? Those who draw near to God. Why? Bc we need it, right? For more reasons than we know. I Jn 2:1: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we (notice, Jn includes himself) we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” A lawyer? Why, if I’m a Xn, do I need an advocate? Rev 12:10b: “for the accuser [Satan] of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” What a glimpse behind the veil! It’s a courtroom. God is judge. The accuser, Satan, is the prosecuting attorney. Somehow, he is making sure that each new offense of yours and mine comes to the Father’s attention. Doesn’t even need to lie! “Did you see what Dave just did? Oops! There he goes again. How can you love and accept him? He violates your character faster than I can bring charges.” And he is absolutely right. That’s the reality of my life. But – I am represented! I have an advocate. The Father turns to him and says, “What say you?” And he says, “Yes, Dave did it, Father. But you gave him to me. He’s mine. I paid for his sin and it’s covered by my righteousness.” And the Father says, “Case dismissed.” It’s wonderful to have an advocate named Jesus Christ the righteous! My defense attorney has already covered my guilt!. I Tim 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, (not Mary, some saint, a pastor or priest, but) the man Christ Jesus 6) who gave himself as a ransom for all.” If you’re in Christ, you are well represented. When Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced in 1996, there was one major bone of contention. As Princess, Diana was addressed as HRH, but that title was being taken way. Her pleas of how important that was to her charity work fell on deaf ears. It simply could not be done. She got a lot of money, but at the price of her royal status. Diana was devastated. Prince Wm found her crying in her bed one night. He asked why and she told him she’d lost her HRH title. Wm put his arms around her and said, “Don’t worry, Mummy, I’ll give it back to you one day when I am King.” It pays to have friends in high places, doesn’t it? And none is higher than our advocate, Jesus Christ. Our status as a child of God can never be taken away. III. Christ’s Future Appearance – To Deliver From Sin (Removes presence) But there’s one more appearance! 28) so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” When the OT priest went into the Holiest Place, anxiety attached to the event. He actually wore bells on his garment so people would know all was well – and he had a rope attached in case he had to be pulled out from God’s presence. But it was all joy when he came out – a sure sign of God’s acceptance of the sacrifice for the sin. And so Jesus also is coming again, not to pay for sin – that’s already done – but to deliver from sin once and for all those who believe in Him. Of course, His sacrifice was ratified long ago with His bodily resurrection from the grave. But that is what assures us He is one day coming again – in a body, visible to all, to rule the earth. Just as the promises of Jesus’ first coming were fulfilled literally, so will the promises of His second coming. As the apostles watched Jesus ascend back to heaven following His resurrection, angels told them in Acts 1:11: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as your saw him go into heaven.” What you see is what’s coming again. You say, “But it’s been 2,000 years. Who believes that rubbish?” People were asking Peter the same question only 30 years after Jesus. He answered in II Pet 3:8) But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9) The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” So it’s been two days in God time. Don’t get antsy. He’s delayed for one reason – to give us the opportunity to repent and turn to Him. But His second coming is just as real as His first. It’s just a matter of time. Jesus described it in Mt 24:30) Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” And what will happen with those elect – and all the people of God who have preceded them in death? God answers in Phil 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21) who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” This is glorification – the final phase of salvation. And it is why all believers “are eagerly waiting for him.” I Jn 3:2) Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” This is the certainty that awaits every believing child of God – a new body, a new home and an eternal future – all when Christ appears the second time. This is exactly what every human heart cries for, and here is the one and only way to have it – by faith be in Christ. When it became clear early in 1942 that the Philippines, would fall to the Japanese, Pres Roosevelt ordered Gen MacArthur to leave. But as he left on March 11, 1942, he resolutely promised, “I shall return” which he did Oct 20, 1944, walking ashore under heavy gunfire to re-take what he’d left behind. So Jesus will one day return to deliver those who trust in Him. It may seem incredible from a human standpoint, but if there is a God who created the universe and sent His own Son to pay to redeem a fallen human race, then not only is such a return easily implemented – it is inevitable. Question is, are you one of those who are ready and eagerly awaiting that return. Conc – Jesus gave a parable in Mt 25 about a bridegroom who went away to get married. He left behind 10 virgins who were to keep watch for his return – 5 wise, 5 foolish. The 5 wise arranged extra oil for their lamps, not knowing when the bridegroom would return. The five foolish made no such provision. The bridegroom was delayed; the virgins went to sleep. But at midnight the cry arose (Mt 25:6b): “Here is the bridegroom! Come out and meet him.” The 5 foolish could not bc their lamps were out. They rushed out for more oil but the doors were closed on the marriage feast. When they sought entrance, the Lord said, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you. 13) Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Mt 25:12-13). We must be prepared by seeking forgiveness while it may still be found – this side of eternity. Sandy Koufax was my hero growing up. When we moved to CA from KS in late 1965, we were suddenly only 30 miles from Dodger Stadium. At my earliest opportunity in August, 1966, I gathered 3 cousins and we drove up to a game he was pitching against the Braves. But when we got there the parking lot was jammed. I let two of my cousins out to go find tickets while Stan and I tried to find parking. The other guys managed to get two scalped tickets, but we found no more. Stan and I listened to the game in the car. At the time I thought there would be more opportunities. Koufax was at the height of his career (27-9 that year). But an arthritic elbow forced his retirement at year’s end at age 31. I never saw him pitch in person. So near, yet so far. Listen, Beloved, the baby in the manager is going to appear for a return engagement – permanent this time – to rescue His Beloved. Those who love Him are eagerly awaiting; they’re ready, having put their faith and trust in Him. Are you one of those, or will you be one of the foolish ones – so near, yet so far. Let today be your day. Let’s pray.