“The Bridge

Builder”Hebrews 7:20-28

Bridge building…•Some people are just good at connecting folks who are hurting each other•They have an uncanny ability to see both points of view, and can lead them to mending•Imagine now that in this supposed “conflict”, one side bears no fault whatsoever for the division•Something radical must happen to fix that relationship– if all fault belongs to one party

Bridge building…•But here’s the problem: the one that caused the divide, doesn’t have the way or means to fix the problem, let alone mend the relationship•Now imagine that the “offended one” provided the way to mend the relationship and build a bridge for the other side to come across•Wouldn’t that be great?

“And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

‘THE LORD HAS SWORNAND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’);’

22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by

death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 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. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins

of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 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.”

Hebrews 7:20-28 (NASB)

A. Different, Better High Priest…•Vs 20-25,

“And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

‘THE LORD HAS SWORNAND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’);’

22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by

death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 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.”

(Hebrews 7:20-25, NASB)

A. Different, Better High Priest…•Vs 20-25, the Author writes out a comparison/contrast of the two priestly systems: Levitical, and Jesus as High Priest•The Levitical Priesthood gave entitlement to any male who was born in the tribe of Levi and fit for the physical and ceremonial requirements as a priest according to the OT Laws

•Jesus’ priesthood was established with an oath from God Himself

A. Different, Better High Priest…•Under the Old Testament, there was no guarantee of final salvation•The ministry of human priests was temporary because of their impending natural deaths

•Jesus Himself became the guarantee of salvation in the New Testament•The ministry of Jesus’ priesthood continues permanently and He always intercedes for us

2 Definitions we MUST get…•Before we go further, we need to understand a couple of things…

1. ‘Relent’ in v21– bad translation– that’s why the NASB says, “change His Mind”

•Some Bible versions even use ‘repent’ within the context of God repenting•God can not repent, because He can not sin; nor does He relent, because He knows how all time will play out!

2 Definitions we MUST get…•Before we go further, we need to understand a couple of things…

1. ‘Relent’ in v21– bad translation– that’s why the NASB says, “change His Mind”

•Some Bible versions even use ‘repent’ within the context of God repenting•God can not repent, because He can not sin; nor does He relent, because He knows how all time will play out!– Think like “U-turn”…

2 Definitions we MUST get…1. ‘Relent’ in v21– bad translation–

that’s why the NASB says, “change His Mind”

2. ‘Surety’ in v22– NASB again nails the right translation of the Greek word, “one who guarantees that the terms of an agreement will be carried out”

•“Dog” the Bounty Hunter•As our Chief HP, Jesus assures that the terms of the new Covenant will be carried out through His Grace and Mercy, rather than animal sacrifice

B. More Reasons of His Superiority…•Vs 26-28,

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 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.”

Hebrews 7:26-28 (NASB)

B. More Reasons of His Superiority…•Vs 26-28, the Author lists three more reasons Christ is superior to the Levitical Priesthood

1. Jesus is superior because He is sinless•Only thru the Lord Jesus can we reach God and know God– huge difference between knowing about God and knowing God •Anyone can have “head” knowledge…

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

John 3:17, NASB

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Romans 3:23, NASB

B. More Reasons of His Superiority…1. Jesus is superior because He is sinless2. His own sacrifice was offered

once, and for all•Since Adam’s sin, man is separated from the Lord and is under judgment because of our sins•We were separated from Him by what seems to be an unbridgeable chasm of sin – John 3:17-21; Romans 3:23

B. More Reasons of His Superiority…1. Jesus is superior because He is sinless2. His own sacrifice was offered

once, and for all•Many times during His earthly ministry, Jesus told us about eternal life and showed us a divine solution to this separation. – John 5:24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

John 5:24, NASB

B. More Reasons of His Superiority…1. Jesus is superior because He is sinless2. His own sacrifice was offered once,

and for all•Many times during His earthly ministry, Jesus told us about eternal life and showed us a divine solution to this separation. – John 5:24•But men in general try to build their own bridges with religion and self-righteousness that only lead to self-destruction. – John 5:39, John 1:13

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me...”

John 5:39, NASB

“…who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 1:13, NASB

B. More Reasons of His Superiority…1. Jesus is superior because He is sinless2. His own sacrifice was offered

once, and for all•Jesus is the bridge Builder-- He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one goes to the Father except through Him. He is the Perfect Lamb of God; He died for our sins so that we may have eternal life. He rose from the dead. He is our God. – John14:6; Romans 5:8; John 11:25

Take Home… •Our God loves us so much that He gave His Son to die for our sin. In His continuing love, after adoption, He makes us more like Jesus, less like ourselves, daily. Let it happen, don’t resist!•The greatest point of God’s Love is this; though we are un-worthy, He is determined to give to us!!!