Good morning and greetings from
Kingsport and my family and your family. It's a privilege and a great
honor to be here and I appreciate the responsibility and trust
that you've placed in me. Thank you. If you would, turn
back with me to Hebrews chapter 13. When I'm called and asked to
come or to stand someplace, as often as I can, I know something
about where I'm going, where I'll be preaching at, and word
has sometimes reached of things that are going on. And in trying
to find the message, those things enter in as you're trying to
find what the Lord would have you bring. And in the last couple
of weeks, I've heard word from this congregation. Some of the
word has been good news. Some has been concerning news.
All of it has meant change. And the same can be said in Kingsport. In every corner of this globe,
change is the word. Continual change. And oftentimes
we'll hear of news or the concerns that affect other people and
we acknowledge it. We take some bit of action and
then we kind of move on with our daily life because it didn't
impact this realm. And we go about our day-to-day
responsibilities. But then, word comes. And it's a little word, but it
impacts this realm. Oh, what a catastrophe. Be it
good news or bad news, great catastrophe. My world is blown. Everything's not in order. Change
has come. As I thought about that, I think
we all probably react in the same manner. I got to thinking
about the changes that came into my life. My children being born. It's good news. It's going to
be a good change. It's a change. It's a huge change
you can't prepare for. And as I thought about how I
reacted back then, I realized there was something that I always
looked for in every little change. I looked for something stable,
something that wasn't going to be affected by this change. With
those kids' births, the assumption was, and thankfully came to be
true, my wife was going to be there with me. And we were going
to face this together. We would be supporting one another
for this change. In this life, there shall be
change. But, I have a reminder. I have an anchor for our souls. Jesus Christ, God the Son, is
the true, the one, living God. And here in Hebrews 13a, our
text says, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and
forever. The author of this letter is
coming to the close of his letter. And he is summing up the message
he wants to proclaim. He wants this to stay with you. Throughout the letter, he has
declared that Jesus Christ is better. He's better than the
types. He's better than the ordinances.
He's better than the law. The Lord Jesus Christ is better. He's declared Christ to be the
fulfillment of all those types, of all the ordinances, and all
the figures. And in this letter, he's declared
Jesus Christ who he is. Who Christ is yesterday, is who
Christ is today, and who Christ is tomorrow. In short, he says,
the Lord Jesus Christ is, I am. With that in mind, this morning,
I want us to just walk through this letter and be reminded one
more time of who our Lord is. Hebrews 1 verse 1. God, who at sundry times and
in diverse manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, By whom also he made
the worlds, who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on
the right hand of the majesty on high, being made so much better
than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent
name than they." The first thing this writer declares about our
Lord Jesus Christ is He is God. He is God the Son. God hath spoken
unto us by His Son, the brightness of glory, and the express image
of God. For in Christ dwelleth all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily. When we, with eyes of faith,
are allowed to see and to behold our Lord Jesus Christ, we see
God. In John 14, 8, Philip saith unto
him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith
unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou
not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen
the Father. And how sayest thou then, Show
us the Father? The man Jesus Christ is God Almighty. As God, our Lord is the great
revelator. Verse 2, God hath in these last
days spoken to us. Christ speaks to and shows unto
us the things of God. He is our great revelator and
He is the creator. Again in verse 2, God hath spoken
unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things,
by whom He also made the worlds. Christ is the creator of the
physical worlds, the planets, the stars. He's the creator of
the worlds of plants and animals. He's the creator of the worlds
of governments. And he's the creator of all spiritual
worlds. As we go about our daily task
living in this world, do you ever find a longing to escape? A longing for rest? A longing
for just to be done? Do you find you look forward
to gathering together like we are now? To sitting and opening
God's Word and, if the Lord's pleased to bless it, for a moment
block out that world of sin and change and just for a moment
contemplate on the hope of that world to come. It is by Jesus Christ that the
worlds are made. Verse three. Our Lord Jesus Christ,
being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his
person and upholding all things by the word of his power, when
he had by himself purged our sins. Our Lord Jesus Christ by
himself purged our sins. He, the eternal God, before the
foundation of the world, laid down his life for a sinful, rebellious,
wicked man such as I am, for those that he loved with
an everlasting love. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday
before the foundation of the world, purged our sins. Jesus Christ, the same today,
purged our sins. And Jesus Christ, the same forever,
purged our sins. Our Lord is the King of kings
and Lord of lords. Verse 3 again. who being the
brightness of his glory and the express image of his person,
and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had
by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the
majesty on high. In verse 8, But unto the Son he saith, Thy
throne, O God, is for ever and ever. A scepter of righteousness
is the scepter of thy kingdom. The first thing we have revealed
to us in Hebrews is that the Lord Jesus Christ is God the
Son. He's the revealer of the things
of God. He is the creator and sustainer
of worlds. He is the one who purged our
sins and he is the mighty king. The writer goes on to show us
Jesus Christ, the man. Chapter two, verse nine. But we see Jesus, who was made
a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned
with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, should taste
death for every man. But we see Jesus, who was made
a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. Is there more astounding news
to ever be told? When my youngest, Abram, was
about four, we were in the backyard doing some yard work. And I loved
when the kids were this age. As we get older, our pride gets
in our way, and we don't ask simple questions. And he looked
at me while we were working and he goes, Daddy, can God die? It's a great question. Can God die? We've just seen
declared, Jesus Christ is God. The eternal, true, living God. Having no beginning and no ending. And now we see, Jesus Christ
suffered death. Oh my soul, how can it be? Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,
and today, and forever, is amen. Paul wrote, without controversy,
great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. justified in the Spirit, seen
of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the
world, received up into glory. Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ is man, and He's
not half of one and half of the other. He is God manifest in the flesh. Manifest meaning to make visible
or known what has been hidden or unknown. Jesus Christ the
same has been revealed Mankind, due to our fall and
our rebellion against God, cannot and will not approach God. Even should we be willing in
this flesh, God would have no option than
to condemn us if we were to come in our natural state. There is
nothing good there at all. He would consume that man that
came in his natural state in his justice and his wrath, rightfully
so. Our Lord, God the Son, took on
himself our nature. He, as a man, came and fulfilled
his own law. He kept it in every imaginable
way. If not for himself, he had no
need. But he did it as our substitute. Then, to satisfy that law that
we had broken, that we disdained, that we hated, he took me, this
wretch, and all my sin and all my iniquity and he bore it himself. He took it as his own and he
suffered for the sin and shame I deserve. And he bore it on
that tree. He shed his blood and he died
in my stead for what I deserved. Let's read starting in Hebrews
2 verse 9. But we see Jesus, who was made
a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned
with glory and honor, that he by the grace of God should taste
death for every man. For it became him, for whom are
all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons
unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth
and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he
is not ashamed to call them brethren. saying, I will declare thy name
unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will
I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust
in him. And again, behold I and the children
which God hath given me. For as much then as the children
are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took
part of the same. That through death he might destroy
him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage. For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore, in all things it behooved
him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a
merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that
he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor
them that are tempted. Jesus Christ, God the Son, is
Jesus Christ, the Son of Man. Verse 3, Wherefore, holy brethren,
I mean chapter 3 verse 1, Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the
heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our
profession, Christ Jesus. Christ is the apostle, the messenger
of God. If we are to know God, it is
Christ who must reveal him to us. Our Lord said in Matthew
11, 27, All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no
man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither knoweth any man
the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will
reveal Him. Our Lord, God the Son, Christ
is the revealer of God. As man, he is the apostle, taught
of God with the message of God. Continuing in chapter 3, 1, consider
the apostle and high priest of our profession. Our Lord is our
high priest. Look over in chapter 4, verse
14. Chapter 4, verse 14, Seeing then that we have a great
high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of
God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
but was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday
and today and forever, is our unchangeable High Priest. Turn over to chapter 7, verse
24. But this man, because he continueth
ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore, he is able also to
save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest
became us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and made higher than the heavens, who needeth not daily, as those
high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then
for the people's. For this he did once, when he
offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests
which have infirmity, but the word of the oath which was since
the law maketh the son who is consecrated forevermore. Now
of the things which we have spoken, this is the psalm. We have such
an high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne
of the majesty in the heavens a minister of the sanctuary and
of the true tabernacle Which the Lord pitched and not man
What is the responsibility of that high priest Look at chapter
8 verse 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and
sacrifices. Wherefore, it is of necessity
that this man have somewhat also to offer." What did he offer? Chapter 7, verse 27. Who, our Lord Jesus Christ, needeth
not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first
for his own sins, for he has no sin. We read in verse 26,
he is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made
higher than the heavens. He has no need to offer up a
sacrifice for his own sins and then for the people's. For this,
offering a sacrifice for the people's sin, he did once when
he offered up himself. Jesus Christ himself is our sacrifice. Chapter 9, verse 11. Chapter 9, verse 11. But Christ, being come and high
priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building,
neither by the blood of goats and calves, But by His own blood
He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us. For Christ is not entered into
the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the
true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us. Nor yet that he should offer
himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place
every year with the blood of others, for then must he often
have suffered since the foundation of the world. But now once, in
the end of the world, hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many. And unto them that look for Him
shall He appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. Not only is He our sacrifice,
but He is our effectual sacrifice. And every priest standeth daily
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. But this man After he had offered
one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of
God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his
footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected
forever them that are sanctified. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God
the Son, the Man, the Apostle, the High Priest, who offered
Himself as the sacrifice, and because His sacrifice is accepted,
He is our rest. Hebrews 4, 9-11 says, There remaineth
therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered
into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did
from his. Let us labor, therefore, to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief. He is our rest, he is our surety,
Hebrews 7, 19. For the law made nothing perfect,
but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw
nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an
oath he was made priest, for those priests were made without
an oath, but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The
Lord swear and will not repent. Thou art a priest forever after
the order of Melchizedek. By so much was Jesus made a surety
of a better testament. He is our rest, our surety, He
is our mediator. Hebrews 9.13 For if the blood
of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifyeth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God? And for this cause, He is the
Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions that were under the First Testament,
they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. He is our rest, our surety, our
Mediator, and Christ our Lord is our faith. Hebrews 11 verse
32. And what shall I more say? For
the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and
of Samson, and of Japheth, and of David also, and Samuel, and
of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword,
out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned
to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead, raised
to life again. and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. and others had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn
asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered
about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented,
of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and
in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And these
all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the
promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that
they without us should not be made perfect." Chapter 12, verse
2. Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Look over in chapter
13, verse 7. Remember them which have the
rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose
faith, not the man who spoke, but the faith, or the Christ,
whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. What is the end of their conversation? Where did the pastors, the teachers
that came before us, where did they place their faith and their
hope? Jesus Christ, the same yesterday
and today and forever. One final thought. How glorious, how important is
it that our God, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday
and today and forever for our salvation. In Malachi 3.6, he says, the Lord Jesus Christ
says, For I am the Lord, I change not, therefore, because I change
not, therefore, ye sons of Jacob." Jacob. I know Jacob. I know Jacob well. I'm ever thankful, it says, ye
sons of Jacob, and not ye sons of Abraham, the friend of God. Not ye sons of Israel, sorry,
Isaac, the promised son. But Jacob, you trickster, you
supplanter, you sinner. I know him. Therefore, because I change not,
ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Jesus Christ, God the Son who
speaks to us the things of God, the Creator, the One who by Himself
purged our sins. the mighty King, Jesus Christ,
the man, the apostle, the high priest, the sacrifice, Jesus
Christ, our rest, our surety, our faith, Jesus Christ, the
same yesterday and today and forever. to those he chose, called,
justified, sanctified, loved. What is our response? Hebrews
13, verse 10. We have an altar, whereof they
have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. He is our altar. As our high priest, he took his
sacrifice himself and offered it upon his altar himself. And now we come to our altar,
adding nothing to it lest we pollute his redemptive work.
And we come to our altar, Hebrews 13 verse 15, By Him, therefore, let us offer
the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit
of our lips, giving thanks to His name. In a world of constant
change, when we need comfort, when we need assurance, when
we need help, may our Lord Jesus Christ Our God be pleased to
remind us he is the same yesterday and today and forever, an anchor
for our souls. I pray the Lord will bless that
to us.