All righty, once again, let's
go to the book of Hebrews. We're in chapter 3. We've looked
in great detail, not exhaustive, we could never exhaust God's
word. When we're speaking about the
grace of God and the love that he has for his people, we could
never exhaust that, at least not to his people. I never get
tired of hearing it, even if it's the same message, which
they are. They're always about Christ.
They're always about what He's done for you and I. They're always
about His grace and His love for us. It never gets exhaustive. It never gets tiresome to me,
to a sinner who needs it over and over and over again. So we
looked at verses 1 and pretty pretty extensively. Verse 2,
we took a look at last week, who is faithful to him that appointed
him. Speaking of this one that we
professed is Jesus Christ. He's faithful to him that appointed
him. And he gives an example of a
man in the flesh who is a picture of Christ, where he says in verse
2, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. And what I
want to do is I want to pick up with 3, 4, 5, and 6 this morning. So read with me, if you would,
considering those first two verses, because then it all goes together
as one when you take the Lord's Word together as one in context.
For this man, this one, Jesus Christ, who was faithful as Moses
was, was counted worthy of more glory, more praise, than Moses,
insomuch as he who had built the house hath more honor than
the house. He was counted worthy of more
glory than Moses, insomuch as he who had built the house hath
more honor than the house. All glory belongs to the Savior. Remember, this book of Hebrews
is all about something better. Let's go on for just a moment
here. For every house that is built upon is built by some man,
but he that builds all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful
in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things
which were to be spoken after, but Christ as a son over his
own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence
and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." Now remember,
this letter is all about something better. A better servant than
the angels of God is what we read about in chapter 1. A better
sacrifice than the bulls or goats, as we'll read in chapter 9. A
better apostle, as we read there in verse 1 of chapter 3. A better high priest. A better
one for us to profess. Christ is a saved sinner's all
in all, as I said in my prayer. He's our all in all. He's everything
to us. He's everything we need. He's everything... Well, I was about to say desire,
but that wouldn't be correct, because the flesh is always flaring
up with something stupid, isn't it? The flesh is always flaring
up with something. That was one of the points Kevin
made this morning. We don't ask for what we desire,
but that's not what's best for us. God knows what's best for
you and I, folks. And as one who has loved us from
before the world was, He's always going to give us what we need. That's what the whole message
of Romans 8 verse 30 is about. He spared not His own Son. How
shall He not give us everything? He gives us His Son who is better
than all things. He's our all in all. He is to
us. For He is God in the flesh, perfect
and holy in every way. He's a better foundation for
the church The strength of any building is found on its foundation,
and Christ Jesus and His crucifixion is our foundation. It's the message. Paul says, I wish to know nothing
of you save Christ and Him crucified. Why? Because that's the basis
for everything. The question is, what think ye
of Christ? What think ye of Christ? That's
the question for all of us. to always ask ourselves. I struggle
all the time, folks, with what am I doing here? How can God use a man like me to do what his people need to
do? And that's to worship him, praise
him. I struggle with that. But that's because I take the
eyes off of who it is that's really the one speaking to your
hearts. That's my flesh getting in the
way of my spirit who knows the truth. Mike Loveless knows very
well about the flesh getting in the way of the spirit. Very well. As do many of you
as well. He is our foundation. And when
Christ is your foundation, when He is that cornerstone to you,
when He has made Himself the foundation of your faith, it doesn't get any better than
Him. Because Christ is greater than
Moses, He's worthy of a greater glory than Moses. Religion magnifies
men, magnifies things, magnifies their creeds, their works, their
history, their rituals. But the book of God magnifies
the Son of God, the Lord Jesus. Listen to Hebrews chapter 3,
where it says, where we just read, for this man was counted
worthy of more glory than Moses, insomuch as he hath builded the
house, hath more honor than the house. Our Lord Jesus is considered
worthy of much greater honor than Moses, because Christ is
the builder of his house. That's what it's saying there
to you and I. If I go out and build a house, a magnificent
cathedral, and everybody looks at it, and they say, oh, look
at that, such a beautiful building. Who gets all the credit for the
building? The building didn't build itself. Christ is the one
who builds his church. In so much as he had built the
house, hath more honor than the house. Our Lord Jesus is considered
worthy of much greater honor than Moses because he's the builder
of his church. Moses is just a part of the house,
like you and I are. He's just a part of the house.
Christ and Moses are not to be compared any more than the builder
of a house is to be regarded on the same level as the house
itself. Moses, the law, was but a servant. Christ is the Son,
the Lord God, heir to all things. Look over at John chapter 9.
Look at verse 28 and 29 with me. Folks have decided to brag
on themselves in verse 28 where He said, then they reviled Him. They insulted the Lord and they
said, Thou art His disciple, but we are Moses' disciple. We know that God spake unto Moses,
as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. I'm sorry,
that was the blind man they were reviling. We see our Lord, turn
over to John chapter 5. John chapter 5, let's look at
this one real quick. Verses 45 and 47 of John chapter
5. We cannot compare Moses, but
yet the Jews did. They held Moses. Remember, we
looked at that last week about putting men on a pedestal. They put Moses on such a high
pedestal. They put Abraham on such a high
pedestal. We're the children of Abraham.
We're the children of Moses. We're the children of David.
Over here in verse 45 of John chapter 5, we read these words,
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father, there is one
that accuses you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye
believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of
me. But if ye believe not his writings,
how shall ye believe? So we see where the Lord Jesus
declares himself better than Moses, higher than Moses, even
there. He puts Moses where he belongs, as a man. We need to
put our ministers where they belong. Esteem them does not
mean you put them up on a pedestal and think more of them than they
are. Esteem them means you're thankful for God using them to
bring a message to comfort your heart, that's all. That's all. Moses, the law is of no value
unless he is put in his proper place as the Lord's servant.
In verse 4, we read there in our text in Hebrews chapter 3,
For every house is built by some man, but he that buildeth all
things is of God. A house does not build itself.
Someone conceives the idea, draws up the plans, and erects the
building. The planner and the builder of all things is our
God. This is a plain declaration of
Christ's divinity, of Christ's sovereignty as there is anywhere
else in Scripture. The Holy Spirit here states in
the most unmistakable terms, that the man Christ Jesus is
God Almighty in the flesh. That's who we're talking about
there, because back there, who's our profession? It's Jesus Christ. He who is faithful to him that
appointed him. For this man, that's the Jesus
Christ, was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, for he
is the builder of all things, it says in verse 4. The reference
here is to the building of the church. and the Kingdom of God
into the body of believers. Look over at Matthew chapter
16. Very familiar words. I quote
these words a lot, but I want you to read along with me this
time. This time, verse 18. Matthew 16, 18. The Lord had been asking the
disciples, the apostles, who do the men say that I am? And
Peter stepped forth after the Lord asked him directly, who
do you say that I am? And he said, thou art the Son
of the living God. And the Lord answered him. Let's
start at verse 17. And Jesus answered the sinner
to him, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood
hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this
rock Now, the Catholic Church has taken that verse and decided
that because Peter means rock, that that's who the church is
built upon. The very first church of God that was ever put together
was the Cathedral St. Peter over there at the Vatican. Folks, Peter was just a man just
as you and I are. We're talking about Christ, the
Son of God, the Son of the Living God, the very one who must be
revealed by the Father. This is the rock. Upon this rock,
the Lord says, I will build my church and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it. Does that bring peace to your
heart? Does that not open your heart up for some peace right
there? Christ is building His church.
Christ is the one who's calling His people together. We have
a small congregation. It doesn't matter. It doesn't
matter how many people the Lord has here in this church. This
is His church. And the gates of hell shall not
prevail against us. Look at another one if you would
over 1 Peter chapter 2. Go to the other side of Hebrews. 1 Peter chapter 2. One verse. The one who builds
the house is the one who is God Himself. Here in 1 Peter 2, verse
5, Ye also are lively stones. That's all we are, folks. Living
stones. We were dead stones at one time.
Dead in trespasses and sin, yet He who gives life gave life to
you and I. We are living stones. Living
stones. Ye also are lively stones, are
built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God by who? By Jesus Christ. the builder of his house. All
of God's elect, Abraham, Isaac, Japheth, and even Moses, all
of the prophets, all of the apostles, all believers are built by and
upon Jesus Christ, the Head Cornerstone. And we receive all their gifts
from Him as it reads over in 1 Corinthians chapter 1. 1 Corinthians
chapter 1, or chapter 3. 1 Corinthians chapter 3, we read
verses 4-9. 1 Corinthians chapter 3. For while one saith, I am a Paul,
and another, I am a Paulist, are ye not carnal? Is it not
the carnal mind that thinks that John Reeves has any authority
over what goes on in this pulpit at all? No. Verse 5, Who then
is Paul, and who is it that is Apollos? But ministers, by whom
ye believe, even as the Lord gave to every man, I have planted
Apollos' water, but God gave the increase. We're talking about
the one who builds the house, being greater than the house
itself. Verse 7, So then neither is he that planteth anything,
neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that
watereth are one, and every man shall receive his own reward
according to his own labor. For we are the laborers, for
we are laborers together with God, ye are God's husbandry,
ye are God's building." Could it get any more clear than that?
Who it is that builds the church, who it is that builds the building? Then we read back in our text
in Hebrews chapter 3 verse 5. And Moses verily was faithful
in all his house and as a servant for a testimony of those things
which were to be spoken after. Now Moses, the Lord's servant,
was faithful in what he was given to do. He served the Lord with
fear. He served the Lord with reverence and obedience and all
that God had called him to do. Yet his entire life and ministry
was a prophecy and a type of Christ itself. And all his writings
spoke as a testimony of the Lord Jesus. He wrote of Christ as
we read in scriptures. I forget where it was, but the
Lord said that some Jews, Moses wrote of me. Or no. I'm going to get that wrong. I'll look at some other scripture
here. He was a great type of picture
of Christ. Look over at Luke chapter 24. We'll look at that real quick.
Luke chapter 24. I've got to quit doing that. I'm trying to remember. I have
the weakest memory, I'll tell you. And all I do is error when
I do that. God help me not to do that, folks. If I'm going to quote Scripture,
I need to go to the Scripture and read it for what it is. That's
what a minister is supposed to do. Lord help me. over in Luke chapter 24, look
with me at verses 44 and 45. And he said unto them, these
are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled which were written of the law
of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning
me. Then opened he their understanding. Then opened he their understanding
that they might understand the scriptures. I'll read it for you, but over
in 1 Peter 1, we read these words from verses 9-12, 1 Peter 1. Receiving the end of your faith,
even the salvation of your souls, of which salvation of the prophets
have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that
should come unto you, searching what? Or what manner of time
the Spirit of Christ? which was in them did signify
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and
the glory that should follow unto them it was revealed that
not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things
which are now reported unto you. So we see here that even Moses
wrote of God. Back in our text in Hebrews chapter
3 verse 6, and we'll bring this to a close. But Christ, as soon
as a son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold
fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Now, the Lord Jesus is Jehovah's servant also. But
he's not a servant like Moses. Christ is the son, the master,
house we are. All who trust Christ, whether
Jew or Gentile, are living stones built upon a spiritual house
in whom Christ dwells by faith and over whom He reigns. If we
hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm
unto the end, now these words are not to be misunderstood or
understood as a condition of grace. It doesn't mean that grace
will come to you if you hold fast. Salvation, it does not mean that salvation
will come to you if you hold fast. But they do not indicate
that the Son of God might, after all, depart from Christ. What
did I do here? What it means is this. It means
that holding on to the Lord Jesus fast means that He's holding
on to you. It's the same thing as love.
If He's holding on to you, that's the fastness. It's the same thing as love.
We love Christ because He first loved us. If we do something
that God is telling us to do, it's because Christ has done
it for us already and we're doing it out of love for Him. If we hold fast the confidence
and rejoicing of the hope firm all the way to the end, it's
because God has done a work in us. I want you to look over one
more if you would, Ephesians chapter 2 verses 13 through 22. One more if you would. True believers
will continue till the end. False professing stones will
fall away throughout the way. Over here in Ephesians chapter
2, We read these words beginning at verse 13. But now in Christ
Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the
blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath
made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even
the law of the commandments contained in the ordinances, for to make
in himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that he
might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having
slain the enmity thereby, and came and preached peace to you
and I, to you which were far off and to them that which were
nigh, for through him we both have access by one spirit unto
the Father. Now therefore ye are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints
and of the household of God, and we are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief cornerstone. So folks, there's our builder,
there's our cornerstone, there's our peace. Everything wrapped
up into one bundle. If God has revealed that to our
hearts, how can we not Doesn't it say over in Romans chapter
8, doesn't it say these words, and we're going to look at these
again in the next message, but doesn't it say, let me just turn
over the reader. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. How do we know? If we hold on
to the end. And how do we hold on to the
end if we belong to God? Folks, he says, I will never
leave you, nor forsake you. Do you believe that? Do you believe
that? Even if all it is, is the size
of a mustard seed, that's what God has given you. And what God
gives us is perfect in every way.