Consider Jesus

Paul Hamilton

Exposition of Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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READ Heb. 3: 1-6 > PRAY

What do you think about? Work, family, decisions, day-dreams, nursing old grudges, rehearsing come-backs, the future, worries… we think about a lot of things.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV) — 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

There are lots of things that we should not think about at all, we need to repent of our holding on to the grudges that we nurse, and the anxieties that freeze us with fear, we need to flee from lustful thoughts. There is nothing good in those.

But a lot of life is good to think about, we need to think about family, and plans, our work. Beauty is good!

But the more we think about JESUS, the more our hearts will be captured by what is true, honorable, just and pure. Lovely commendable, excellent, worthy of praise – JESUS is all of that!

And the more we consider him, the more we will think rightly about everything else. In his love and forgiveness we forgive others, his love shapes how we think about family, his truth shapes how we think about the world, his excellence shapes how we think about work. His beauty shapes how we think about his creation.

So thinking more about Jesus doesn’t mean we only think about Jesus, it means we think about Jesus in relationship to everything else.

In our text this morning, the writer to the Hebrews is instructing us – to think more about Jesus. CONSIDER JESUS. And as we consider him and his worthiness and faithfulness, he will strengthen us to be faithful and so we hold on to him and glorify him by living lives impacted by him in every respect.

Is that what you want? Then more you know JESUS the more you will be convinced that living a life, impacted by him in every respect is the best thing you can do.

If you don’t yet want that, I pray that today God will use his word to stir up in you a deep desire to know Christ better and live more fully for him!!

We’re just going to walk through the passage today, and these six verses are pretty full! But at the center we are just going to be thinking about JESUS. Focusing on him and admiring him, that is our Goal! So let’s jump in.

I. Remember Who You Are

Hebrews 3:1 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus…

The writer begins and ends this paragraph telling us who we are. He begins by reminding us of two things, you are a HOLY FAMILY and you have a HEAVENLY CALLING.

A) Holy Family

We saw that last week, we are sanctified by Christ and he calls us his brothers. and BECAUSE WE are CHRIST’S BROTHERS that means we are brothers and sisters with each other! The writer addresses the readers now as his family. brothers, sisters.

We are family. That is the core of who we are and how we should consider one another. CHRIST calls us brothers and sisters – so that is who we are. We Don’t choose our family, we are family!!

We are a Holy Family. So, as we love one another, as we accept one another and bear with one another, we do so as family set apart for GOD!! As a holy family we have a…

B) Heavenly Calling

That idea of calling could be the call to heaven. Or the vocational calling because we belong to Christ.

But really those things are so closely related I don’t think you need to separate them. As Christians we’ve been called to heaven, so that calling is on our lives – as citizens of heaven live like it!

Ephesians 4:1 (ESV) — 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

The calling of God on our lives calls us to heaven and spurs us on to live for him, to press on towards that goal!

Philippians 3:14 (ESV) — 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

That calling means we don’t belong here anymore, we have been bought, we belong in heaven! So walk in a manner worthy of that calling! Press on towards the goal!

We are set apart for God, members of his family - and we all together share in this calling, this destination and this vocation— this way to LIVE in all we do -

the calling to rest in God, and in his love, and in his truth, and live for him.

That is who we are! And what are we to do?

C) Consider Jesus!

As we come to understand who we are because of Christ, we will be drawn to think of Christ and consider him more and more. He is our life!

Colossians 3:1–3 (ESV) — 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Look and see! There is your life… not here. these things of the earth, these are not your life. They are good, maybe bad, hard or easy. They need attention through Christ, and our love, but our LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD!

That is our life. Consider Jesus! When we know our life is safe there, we can live faithfully and boldly here!

Romans 12:2 (ESV) — 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Our minds are renewed as we are fixed on Christ and on his word! Then, By the Spirit, we are transformed! As we KNOW MORE OF CHRIST - we know more of the Truth and the Way and LIFE that IS CHRIST!

Consider Jesus! You are brothers and sisters, members of a heavenly kingdom, with a Heavenly Calling!

Consider him, consider him together. Consider him and let us all grow together in our love and commitment to our life in him!

The writer then shifts to write about Jesus himself. First his ROLE.

II) Jesus Is the APOSTLE and HIGH PRIEST of our confession (vs 1)

FF Bruce writes: “[Christ] is marked out as being both God’s representative among human beings and their representative in the presence of God”

As the Apostle Jesus represents God to us. He brings Gods’ word to us. He is the ultimate SENT ONE. Though this is the only place in the New Testament where Jesus is called Apostle. But that is certainly applicable to Jesus.

We saw last week the he Speaks God’s Name among his brothers. He is the very word of God and he brings God’s word to his people.

John 17:6–9 (ESV) — 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. ... 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

As the TRUE APOSTLE - Christ is sent to us with God’s Word and God’s Name!

As High Priest he represents us to God. The priest brought the sacrifices to God, the made intercession for the people. We saw, again, last week that Jesus as High priest makes propitiation for the sins of the people (removing the sin so mercy can be experienced)

Christ did that with his own body, the perfect High Priest with the ultimate and final sacrifice!

And he adds – of our confession. He is the one we confess. He is the truth we confess, his word is our confession. Confession can be used as what we believe - but it is almost always tied to the idea of profession we believe it so we speak it.

the word is often used that way in the New Testament, we see that in 2 Corinthians where Paul is writing about giving to meet the needs of others the saints then will...

2 Corinthians 9:13 (ESV) — 13 … glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, ….

Jesus, here is the summation of our confession, he is whom we confess! That is who he is! He is the ultimate sent one that we all emulate as we are sent by him. He is our High Priest, bringing us to God.

That is his ROLE

III. Jesus IS Faithful!

Hebrews 3:2 (ESV) — 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.

Here Jesus is now being contrasted with Moses. This contrast will be significant for the argument of Hebrews.

Here he begins by highlighting Christ’s Faithfulness. As Moses was faithful, Christ was FAITHFUL. He was faithful to him who appointed him.

You can think of the servant in Jesus’ parable of the talents, to the servants that took the masters money and invested it well, the master said:

Matthew 25:23 (ESV) — 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

They were faithful to their master, the accomplished the masters purpose, they understood what was good to do for the master and they did it! That’s the idea!

A) MOSES – the Faithful Servant

It says Moses was faithful in all God’s house! Probably referring to Numbers 12 - God is confronting Aaron and Miriam for their opposition to Moses.. God says

Numbers 12:6–8 (ESV) — 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord.

God spoke to him face to face and Moses faithfully brought those words to God’s people. He was faithful in leading God’s people, judging with God’s wisdom, he was faithful in pleading for God’s people when they sinned – in all that he was faithful. But it is the speaking God’s words that is most in views.

The writer picks up that theme again in verse 5. The phrase is repeated:

Hebrews 3:5 (ESV) — 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later,

Moses was faithful to deliver GOD’S LAW. And that was good and necessary. But those types and shadows always pointed ahead to Christ. They were testifying to things spoken later.

Galatians 3:24 (ESV) — 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Moses was a faithful servant to speak God’s words but they testified of Christ! As our Lord himself said..

John 5:46 (ESV) — 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

So yes, Moses was a faithful servant, and his faithfulness only and always pointed to the greater word and glory and power of Christ Jesus our Lord!

B) Jesus – the Faithful Son!

Hebrews 3:6 (ESV) — 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. …

Moses and Jesus were both faithful, but the relationship with God was vastly different – no comparison!! Jesus was the eternal God- made flesh! Of him and him alone does God voices break out into the world:

Matthew 3:17 (ESV) — 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Mark 9:7 (ESV) — 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Jesus is the Son!! Just think how a father may be pleased with a faithful servant, but what is that compared with the delight in a faithful SON? JESUS is the SON!

And as the faithful Son, Jesus was faithful. He loved doing God’s will!

John 4:34 (ESV) — 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

He loved doing it! And in his faithfulness, he accomplished all the work God gave him to do.

John 17:4 (ESV) — 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

He was a faithful SON. He brought the word of God to us, he manifested that word, he manifested God’s love. He was obedient to the point of death on the cross. Moses was faithful in guiding and teaching and speaking God’s word to God’s People.

CHRIST was faithful in so much more! he suffered and died for God’s people. He was utterly faithful - even to death! This is foundational to our assurance. Not our faithfulness, his faithfulness!

2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV) — 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

He was the faithful SON who brought us to GOD, so that we too would be called the Sons and Daughters of God. No longer servants, but family. Because of Christ’s faithfulness, God’s delight rests on all who believe on Christ as his CHILDREN!

IV. Jesus IS More Worthy of Honor and Glory!

Hebrews 3:3–4 (ESV) — 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)

Moses and Jesus were both faithful, but there really is no comparison. Christ has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses! As a builder of a house is worthy of more honor than the house itself.

When I lived in North Carolina we visited the Biltmore estate in Asheville NC, it is an astonishing house. The number of rooms, the views from every window, the furnishings, it is all astounding.

But at no point did I ever think, “Good job house! Way to go! You knocked this one out of the park!” I admired it, but I thought about the architect, the family and their vision, the builders. They are worthy of the honor! The house just displays their creativity, excellence and accomplishment!

That’s the point here. Moses is worthy of honor, all God’s people who serve God are – but Moses only had the grace, gifts and power God gave him. Perhaps one of the greatest men of God of all time, but he was nothing, except what God made him to be!

Jesus is the builder!

Ephesians 4:10–12 (ESV) — 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Jesus ascended to fill all things and how is he doing that but GIVING apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers - for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry - so the body is built up!

All those pieces are working & building – but it is CHRIST building us up!

1 Corinthians 3:7 (ESV) — 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Christ said “Apart from me you can do nothing!” But though Christ – we can do all things! So, all the honor Goes to Christ.

Whatever glory Moses received, and whatever glory you may receive or I may receive it all goes back to Jesus!! IN Revelation there is the glorious scene where the 24 elders cast down their crowns before the throne of GOD… all glory goes back but they turn to the LAMB..

Revelation 5:12–14 (ESV) — 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

See how worthy Christ is! This is your confidence, this is your hope! This is our confession! CHRIS IS FAITHFUL! He is WORTHY of ALL GLORY And HONOR!

Consider him! See how Glorious our Savior is! but the writer ends by considering who we are again.

V. WE ARE CHRIST’S HOUSE

The writer returns to us. We are the holy family with a heavenly calling but we are also Christ’s house…

Hebrews 3:6 (ESV) — 6 … And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

A) the Privilege

We are the house of GOD!

Ephesians 2:19–22 (ESV) — 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Christ’s house, God’s house, Christ as builder, Christ as cornerstone. Don’t get bent up on the different images, just take it in – we are the house of GOD, we are Christ’s dwelling place on earth. When he says he will be with us to the end of the age, he comes and dwells in us. Christ IN US the hope of Glory.

SO get the privilege – Christ dwells in you. And we together are his home, his dwelling place. We have the privilege to represent him in this world - his body/his home/his temple –

All that connects us to the great reality of who we are IN JESUS CHRIST.

We are God’s Holy Ones in the world! Because of what Christ has done! Do you get that? Do you feel that calling on your life?

B) The Responsibility

“if we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” What is the work? As the house of GOD. HOLD ON TO CHRIST!

John 6:29 (ESV) — 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

You have a privilege – and a responsibility. The responsibility is to fix your heart on Christ, look to him, set our mind on him, rest in him, trust in him… DON’T MOVE FROM HIM. HOLD FAST your confidence in CHRIST!

That’s what it means to believe in him. To know with all your being you don’t deserve God’s love on your own, but in Christ you cannot lose it! So in your failure and weakness you turn back again and again to TRUST in HIM! To believe with all you heart

John 6:37–39 (ESV) — 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

This is our confidence – he will hold us fast! LIVE LIKE IT!! We hold on to that!

He is faithful, he is worthy – that is for you today, if you will repent of your life of sin and come and rest In Jesus! Come and live!!

PRAY

Sing - He Will Hold ME FAST

2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV) — 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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