Hebrews chapter 7 verse 7. And without all contradiction. The less. Is blessed. Of the better. Now we're going to begin a study
through the book of Hebrews. Who wrote Hebrews? We don't know
the answer to that question. Evidently, it's not important
or that we would know. I know that the Apostle Paul
did not write the book of Hebrews, because in every one of his epistles,
it begins with what? Paul. Every single one of them. And look in 2 Thessalonians chapter
3. Verse 17. The salutation of Paul
with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle. So
I write. So Paul personally signed every
epistle he wrote. So we don't know who wrote the
book of Hebrews. And evidently, it's not important
or that would have been revealed. Now, the overriding thought of
this book is perseverance. Not falling away. Continuing in the faith. Not quitting. Not going back
to the law. Because evidently that is what
was taking place with these people. These people he was writing to
were seeming to go back to the law. They were in danger of not
persevering in the faith. I want to read you several scriptures
from the book of Hebrews. Look in Hebrews chapter two,
verse one. Therefore, we ought to give the
more earnest heed to the things which we've heard. Lest at any
time. We should let them slip. Leak
out. For if the word spoken by angels
was steadfast in every transgression, disobedience received a just
recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect? So great salvation. Look in chapter three, verse
six. But Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are
we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm
unto the end. If we don't hold fast the confidence
of the hope firm unto the end, what is the result of that? Look
in verse 14 of the same chapter. For we are made partakers of
Christ. Oh, that's what I want to be, don't you? I want to be
a partaker of Christ. We are made partakers of Christ
if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. Look in chapter four, verse one.
He says, let us therefore fear. Lest a promise being left us
of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short
of it. Look in chapter five, verses
11 and 12. of whom we have many things to
say, talking about Melchizedek, and are hard to be uttered, seeing
you are dull of hearing. For when for the time you ought
to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again, that
which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are
become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Look
in chapter 6, verse 4. He says, For it is impossible
for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted
the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,
if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing
they crucified themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an
open shame." Verse 11, and we desire, chapter 6, verse 11,
we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to
the full assurance of hope unto the end. Look in chapter 10,
verse 26. He says, for if we sin willfully. After. That we have received
the knowledge of the truth. And when he's talking about willful
sin, understand he's he's talking about leaving the gospel, that's
what he's talking about. Every time you sin, you sin with
your will. And if that means every time
you commit a sin and you knew what you were doing, there's
no more sacrifice for sins. Nobody in this room is going
to be saved. I'm sure of that. What he's talking about is leaving
the gospel. Look, look what he says in verse
23 of the same chapter, and this will demonstrate that. Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. For he
is faithful to the promised, and let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting
one another. And so much the more as you see
the day approaching forth, we sin willfully. After that we've
received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for judgment
and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses,
of how much sore punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted
the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing,
or a common thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace."
Look in verse 35 of this same chapter. He says to these people,
cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which hath great,
great recompense of reward. Verse 38 and 39. Now the just
shall live by faith. But if any man draw back. My soul shall have no pleasure
in him. Look in chapter 12. You see how
this is the thought throughout this epistle, this thing of persevering,
continuing in the faith. He says in verse one of chapter
12, wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great
a cloud of witnesses. Let us lay aside every weight. And the sin which does so easily
beset us. And let us run with patience
the race that set before us Looking unto Jesus, the author and the
finisher of our faith. Look down in verse 14. Follow,
pursue peace with all men and holiness without which no man
shall see the Lord. Looking diligently Lest any man
fail or fall or reject of the grace of God. Lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled. Lest there be any fornicator
or profane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his
birthright and he left. Look in chapter 13, verse 9. Be not carried about. with diverse
and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the
heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not
profited them that have been occupied therein." Now, you see
from these scriptures I read, and there are other scriptures,
that the main thought in this book is that of perseverance,
continuing in the faith. These people were living. They were leaving. And they,
in their own mind, had a reason to do it. I mean, if we go back
to the law, we'll still believe in grace. We'll still believe
in Christ. But if we go back to the law, it's going to help
us a lot. Our family will like us better.
We'll escape persecution and so on. They had reasons for doing
this. So that is the overriding thought. Now, if somebody's going
that direction, It's only when you see something
better that you will let go of what you're holding onto to take
that which is better. Now, if you're going in a certain
direction, it's only when you see a better way than the way
you're going that you change directions. And that's the theme
of this epistle is the writer of the Hebrew showing these people
Christ is better. That's the theme of this episode. Christ is better. The direction you're going is
not worth it. It's wrong. Christ Jesus is better. He's better than the law. He's better than... Actually,
you read the book of Hebrews, twelve times we find this word
better. Christ is better. Now, if I tell you, if you go
out that door, there'll be a thousand dollars waiting on you. I bet
just about everybody in this room would go out that door to
get that thousand dollars. But what if I said while you
were going in that direction, if you go out this door, there's
a million dollars waiting on you? Well, you'd change directions,
wouldn't you? When you see that which is better. That's the key word to this book.
And I love that scripture that we just read in Hebrews chapter
7, 7 without any contradiction. The less is blessed of the better. I think it's kind of interesting
when I know people mean well by it, and I know they, I don't
think they're thinking anything, but I think it's interesting
when someone says bless you. Bless you. Bless you. Oh, can
you do that? The less is blessed of the better. The only one who can truly bless
us is the Lord himself. Without all contradiction, the
less, that's me, is blessed of the better. The Lord Jesus Christ
himself. And there are no exceptions to
this rule. Whatever the subject may be,
Christ is better. I read that verse of Scripture
from Philippians 3. What things were gain to me? Those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless. And when Paul
said, yea, doubtless, I said, yes, doubtless to me too. Yea,
doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excellency,
the surpassing excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,
my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things and do
count it but done that I may win Christ and be found in Him. Not having my own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faithfulness
of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Do
we know anything about that? Well, if we're believers, we
do. We count all things but loss. But that excellency now in Hebrews
chapter one. I'm going to look at how this
word is you this word better is used Hebrews chapter one. Verse four. Beginning verse three,
who being the brightness of God's 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, he
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." Now here's the first point. Christ
is better than angels. Somebody says, do you believe
in angels? Sure I do. Sure, I do. They're created beings.
And I don't have any doubt that there's angels in this place
right now. Don't have any doubt about it. Wherever the Gospel
is preached, there's a great company of angels. And they're
mighty beings. You know, as far as that goes,
Peter said they're greater in power and might than we are.
Sure, I believe in angels. Let me show you a passage of
Scripture in 2 Kings 6. I love this verse of Scripture. 2 Kings 6. Beginning in verse four. I mean, verse 14. Therefore, since he did their
horses and chariots and a great host, and they came by night
and encompassed the city about, I mean, they thought we're in
trouble, this great company encircling the city, and they thought they
were going to destroy this army. And when the servant of the man
of God was risen early and gone forth, behold, and host compassed
the city, both with horses and chariots, and a servant said
unto him, Alas, my master, how shall we do? What are we going
to do about this? And he answered, Fear not, for they that be with
us are more than they that be with him. And Elisha prayed and
said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And
the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw and behold,
The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around the
Battle of Aisha. A great company of angels at
that time were surrounding them. Now, the guy couldn't see it
at first, but when his eyes were opened, he saw. And I have no
doubt, I have no doubt that there's a great company of angels in
this place right now, wherever the gospel is preached. That's
a wonderful thing to think about, but angels, they're servants
of God. Their purpose is to be minister. Well, let's look what Hebrews
4. He says, Christ is obtained in more excellent name than they
Hebrews 1, 4, and to which of the angels said he at any time,
thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. And again, I'll
be to him a father and he'll be to me a son. He never said
that to any angels. Look in verse 13 of Hebrews chapter
1. But to which of the angels said he, at any time, sit on
my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Are they
not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who
shall be heirs of salvation? Now, Christ is better than angels. Now, I have great respect for
angels. I don't know much about them. I know very little about
them. Like I said, I know they're here
and I know they're God's servants. And I know they are in part of
God's purpose and plan. But what's an angel compared
to the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you noticed, you know, there's
even TV shows right now about angels, people real interested
in angels. And anytime people have an empty heart, when they
don't really know the Lord Jesus Christ and see the glory and
excellence that's in him, they get infatuated with other things.
And they had an unhealthy view of angels. What can an angel
be in comparison to the Lord Jesus Christ? They can't even
be compared. Christ is better, infinitely
better, than angels. And second, Christ is better
than Moses. Look in chapter 3, verse 1. Wherefore, holy brethren,
partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high
priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him
that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house,
for this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, insomuch
as he who hath built the house hath more honor than the house.
For every house is built by some man, but he that built 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 house, whose house are
we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope
firm unto the end. Moses was a faithful servant.
What a man. But Christ is infinitely above
Moses. Infinitely above Moses. I think
it's very interesting that, remember that scripture where the devil
contended with Michael the archangel about the body of Moses there
in the book of Jude? And the scripture points out
that the Lord took Moses and buried him in a place where nobody
could find his grave. And the devil was disputing about
that. I'm sure the devil would love
to know where Moses was buried. And you know what he'd do if
he found that? He'd put a big shrine there. And everybody would
start worshipping Moses. The Lord was very wise. What
do you mean the Lord? Of course he's very wise. Everything
he does is very wise. I need to be careful when I say
something like that. He's all wise. And he hid Moses' body
because he knew people would end up worshipping Moses. Moses
is just a man. Christ is infinitely better than
any man. Think of John the Baptist. He's
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. As far as those born
of women, the Lord said, none have risen greater than John
the Baptist. Greatest man to ever live by
the Lord's own testimony. And yet the Lord said, notwithstanding,
he that's least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Now, who's least in the kingdom of heaven? Who became least in
the Kingdom of Heaven? Christ Himself. That's what happened
on the cross. He became least in the Kingdom
of Heaven. And because of that, He's the greatest in the Kingdom
of Heaven. And He's infinitely greater than Moses and the Law. The Law. I love God's holy Law. I love the Ten Commandments.
It's a reflection of God's holy character. But what are they
in comparison to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? I love that song
we sang. All that thrills my soul is Jesus. He is more than life to me. And the fairest of ten thousand
in my blessed Lord I see. That is how I see the Lord Jesus
Christ. He's better than Moses. Look
in Hebrews chapter 7, verse 19. For the law made nothing perfect,
but the bringing in of a better hope did. By the witch, by that
better hope, we draw nigh. unto God. Now Christ is a better
hope. Paul called him in 1 Timothy
1, 1, our hope. Christ our hope. He himself is
our hope. Now what is hope? It's a confident
expectation with regard to the future. A confident. Not a, I hope so,
I hope it'll end up this way, but I mean a confident expectation. Regarding the future, I have
a confident expectation when my name is called on Judgment
Day. He's going to answer for me. He's going to answer for me.
And in answering for me, nothing else needs to be said. I'll go
into glory. Accepted, justified, sanctified,
perfect in Christ Jesus. Now that's a hope with regard
to the future, isn't it? That's a confident hope. I really
believe that what Christ did is enough. I don't need anything
else. I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough
that Jesus died and that he died for me. I need nothing else. I go into glory in this hope. Now this is a better hope. I
love the way he calls it a better hope. Now there's only going
to be two hopes. You can hope you'll be saved because of something
you do, because of something you believe, because of something
you intend to do, because of something you didn't do. You
can have a hope of some kind. It'll all be okay for me because
of something or the other. Or there's the hope that I will
be accepted because of what Christ did for me alone. Now, which hope is a better hope? That's a no-brainer to a believer.
Christ is that better hope. Hebrews chapter 7, verse 22. By so much was Jesus made a surety
of a better testament or a better covenant. Look in verse six of
chapter eight, but now he has obtained a more excellent ministry
by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was
established upon better promises. Now this word covenant is the
same word that's generally translated testament. It's the same thing.
He is the surety of a better covenant. What's this all about?
Let's stay here in Hebrews chapter eight. I think it'll explain
it to us. Verse seven. For if the first covenant talking
about salvation by works, for if the first covenant had been
faultless. Then should he should no place have been sought for
the second. Now, what was the fault with the first covenant?
God, it's for God. What's the fault with it? The
fault's not in the covenant itself, the fault's in us. The false
sin, my inability to keep God's holy law. If I could be saved
by that covenant, it would be a good covenant. But that covenant
cannot save anybody. If it's up to you, if salvation
is ultimately dependent upon you, it won't do you any good
at all. The only way I can be saved is if Christ undertakes
for me, not something I do. Now let's go on reading. For
if the first covenant had been faultless, then should no place
have been sought for the second, for finding fault with it. He
saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I'll make
a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house
of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them
out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant,
and I regarded them not, saith the Lord." Now in this first
covenant, God took them by the hand and He led them out of Egypt
into the promised land. That's a good thing. But they
didn't continue. They didn't continue. Now here's
the point I want to make. Anything that is dependent upon
or contingent upon or conditioned upon you or me is bound to failure. You believe that? You know yourself
well enough to know that if it's up to you, it's bound for failure. That's what he says. Okay, let's
go on reading. He says, I took them by the hand,
but they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them
not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I'll make
with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord. I
will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts. Now, when he's saying I'll put
my laws in their mind and write them in their hearts, he's not
talking about the Ten Commandments there. You know, the Ten Commandments
are written on everybody's heart. That's what Romans 2.16 says.
It talks about the work of the law written on the heart. Everybody
born into this world knows it's wrong to lie. Everybody born
into this world knows it's wrong to steal. Everybody that's born
into this world knows it's wrong to commit adultery, it's wrong
to murder, and everybody knows these things. Somebody says,
we need to be taught to live. You already know how to live. I have no doubt
about that. Everybody here knows the difference between right
and wrong. You're born with that. Now, you can, through wickedness,
harden your conscience and so on to where you can't tell the
difference. I realize that. But everybody's born into this
world with some knowledge between the difference of good and evil
and what's right and what's wrong. When he says, I'll put my laws
in their hearts and write them in their minds, he's talking
about giving a new heart. He's talking about a new nature
written on the heart where He gives you a heart to love God.
It's a heart that wasn't there before. He gives you a heart
to believe the Gospel. Something you couldn't do before.
He said, I'll write my laws, my principles in their minds
and in their hearts. He's talking about the new birth.
Regeneration. Being born again. Now let's go
on reading. He says, I'll put my laws in their mind and write
them in their hearts. I'll be to them a God. And if
God's for you, Who can be against you? He said, I'll be to them
a God. He says to me, He's my God. I
got a maid. He's my God. He's for me. In the person of His Son, He's
for me. He doesn't have any reason to be mad at me. I'm perfect
in Christ Jesus. Now, let's go on reading. Here's
why. He says, I'll put my laws in the right hand of the heart.
I'll be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And
they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me. from the
least to the greatest. You see, he's such an effectual,
all-powerful teacher that everybody he teaches is taught, and they're
taught to know him. You know, I know the Lord. I
know Him. He knows my name. I know His
name. I know it's through the Lord
Jesus Christ, but I actually know the Lord. I'm not name-dropping
when I talk about the Lord. He knows me. I'm His child. I'm His beloved. I'm the apple
of His eye. And that's true regarding every
believer. That's not just me. I'm talking
about every single believer. Now let's go on reading. Here's
how it comes. He says, For I will be merciful. And that word is
propitious. I will be propitious to their
unrighteousness. I will be appeased. The blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ propitiated my sin. It put my sin away. God
doesn't have a reason to be mad at me. Well, it's hard to get
hold of, isn't it? God has no reason to be mad at
me. My sins have been propitiated through the blood of Christ.
They've been put away. They've been wiped out. And here's
how much so. He said, for I will be propitious, I will be merciful
to their unrighteousness and their sins. I'm not denying my
sins. I'm ashamed of my sins and I
don't want to sin anymore. I hate my sin. But look what
he says about our sins, their sins, not talking about the reality,
saying that those sins are not real, but it says their sins
and their iniquities. I'll remember no more. Wouldn't you love to be able
to totally forget it when somebody does you wrong? Just never even think about it.
Actually forget it, to forgive so as to forget. Never even bring
it up. Embrace them completely like
it never happened. Wouldn't you like to be able
to do that? I would. I want to. Ought to. But I'm not real sure that I've
ever done it. Oh, I forgive, but I'm watching out for you.
I'm watching out. I'm watching out. But you know, when the Lord forgives,
He doesn't do it that way. He says there are sins and iniquities
I will remember no more. Now, how is that? Because there
is nothing there to remember. That's how that propitiatory
blood of Christ put away to my sin, to where there's nothing
there to remember. Now, can you see where this is
a better covenant than the covenant of works? I mean, that's so clear. Salvation contingent upon something
you do or salvation contingent upon something Christ has done.
Which is better? I love the way he's called a
surety. I love this. He's a surety of a better covenant. What in the world is a surety?
A surety is somebody who takes full responsibility for somebody
else. If you borrow money and they
won't loan it to you and a surety signs for you, a cosigner signs
for you, that person is completely responsible. And that doesn't
really give the picture of Christ's suretyship. Turn to Genesis 43. Genesis 43. This is one of my favorite stories
in the Bible, Judah being a surety. Verse eight. And Judah said unto Israel, his
father, send the lad with me and we will arise and go that
we may live and not die, both we and thou and also our little
ones. I will be surety. for him. Of my hand shalt thou
require him? If I bring him not unto thee,
and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever." Jesus Christ, my Lord, before
the foundation of the world, said, I will be sure of thee. for Him. And do you know at that
time, all that God requires of me, He looked to my surety for. Now is that a better surety,
a better testament or what? Salvation by what Christ has
done. It's just so clear. This is better. It's a better promise. Which
promise is better? I'll be saved if I do my part
or I'll be saved if Christ does my part. Which promise is better? That's an easy one, isn't it?
I'll be saved if Christ does my part. Truly, this is the better
testament with better promises. Look in Hebrews chapter 9. Back
to Hebrews chapter 9. Verse 18. Whereupon neither the first testament
was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every
precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood
of calves and of goats with water and scarlet and wool and hyssop
and sprinkled both the book and all the people saying this is
the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover
he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels
of the ministry and almost all things are by the law. purged
with blood, and without the shedding of blood is no remission. It
was therefore necessary that the pattern of things in the
heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these." You see, the sacrifice
of Christ is a better sacrifice than the sacrifice of bulls and
goats. Look in chapter 10, verse 1.
For the law Having a shadow of good things to come, and not
the very image of those things, can never, with those sacrifices
which they offer year by year, continually make the comers there
into perfect. For then would they have not ceased to be offered,
because if the worshippers once purged, should have no more conscience
of sin. Their conscience would be clean.
But in those sacrifices, there is a remembrance made again of
sin every year, for it's not possible that the blood of bulls
and of goats could take away sin. But Christ took away sin.
Look what Hebrews 9 verse 11 says. But Christ, being come
in high priesthood, good things to come, by 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. Now, Christ is a better
sacrifice for these two reasons. Better than the blood of goats
and calves. Here's the first reason. Because his sacrifice
actually puts away sin. And secondly, his sacrifice satisfies
my conscience. You're the only thing that gives
me a clear conscience. Now. I want to say this right. I. I walk with God by faith. He's the Lord of my life. He's
my master. Obedience to Him is not an option
with me. I must walk with Him. I love
Him. He's my Lord. He's my life. We sang that hymn and I really
meant it. All the thrills. My soul is Jesus. He is more than life to me. and
the fairest of ten thousand in my blessed Lord I see. He is my life. I walk with Him. That being said, I know exactly what Paul meant
when he said, I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth
no good thing. When I would do good, evil is
present with me. It's always there. I feel it. I feel it breathing on me. I
hate it. And the only thing that gives me a clear conscience and a satisfied conscience is
the blood of Jesus Christ. Nothing else satisfies my conscience.
I don't care what I do. I don't care if I've done my
best. And I do my best. For instance, I can't get up
in the pulpit not having known that I've done my best and that
I sought the Lord, I sought His face. I study. This is my life. I can say with
a clear conscience, this is my life. And as soon as I say that,
Did you really do your best? The only thing that satisfied
me is not me doing my best. The only thing that satisfies
me is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the only thing
that gives me a clear conscience. And you know, the blood of Christ
makes me really believe I'm holy before God. And I am. Holy before God through the blood
of Christ. Now, that's why this is a better
sacrifice. It's the answer of a good conscience toward God
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Look in
Hebrews 9, verse 14. How much more? Well, it says
in verse 13, 14. The blood of bulls and of goats
and ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies 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? Now, you purge your conscience
from your dead works. to serve the living God. Truly, His blood is that blood
which speaks better things than that of Abel. Look in Hebrews
chapter 12. You've come, in verse 23, to
the general assembly and church of the firstborn which are written
in heaven, even all of God's elect. and to God the Judge of
all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus
the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling
that speaketh better things than that of Abel." Now, do you remember
what Abel's blood had to say? Do you remember after Cain killed
his brother Abel? Abel, the first Christian martyr.
The first man who died for the cause of Christ. Do you remember
what God said to Cain? Your brother's blood cries to
me from the ground." What did it cry? Vengeance. Justice. Put him to death for
what he did. That's what it cried. The blood
of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cries a lot better things than that.
Yes, it cries justice. Justice. My sin has been put away. It
cries forgiveness. And it's a way of justice being
honored. You see, the blood of Jesus Christ,
it cries better things than that of Abel's blood, doesn't it?
It cries for my forgiveness. Oh, the blood of Christ is better. Look in Hebrews 10. Verse 34. For you had compassion of me
and my bonds. And you took joyfully the spoiling
of your goods, the confiscation of your goods, knowing in yourselves
that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Look in chapter 11, verse 16. But now they desire a better
country, that is, an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a city."
Now, in turning back, what these Hebrews were doing, they were
turning back, obviously. That's why this epistle was written. They were leaving. They were
going back to the law. They were going back to their
old way of life. They were going back. And they had a good reason
to, in their own minds. If I go back, I'm going to have
a better life. I'm not going to be persecuted.
I'm not going to have my goods confiscated. Things are going
to be easier. I'm going to have a better relationship
with my family. Everything's going to be better if I go back.
So they had a reason in their mind for going back. Things will
be better. And what the writer of the Hebrews
is saying, what if your life is good in this life? What can
that be compared to eternal glory? Heaven is a lot better place
than this. It's an infinitely better place
than this, being in the very presence of Christ. What does
this life have that can be compared with being in the presence of
Christ eternally? It doesn't have anything. I mean, heaven
is a better place. This place, God's going to burn
it all. He's going to burn it all. Everything
you see, is going to be burned up. It's not. It's so temporary. It's transient.
It's just it's just not that it's not that important, is it?
It's not. What if what if what if you do
lose everything, but you gain eternal life? So what? What would
it profit a man if he would gain the whole world? And lose his
soul? What would a man give in exchange
for his soul? If you save your life here, you
know what you'll do? You'll lose it. But if you lose
your life for His sake, you'll find it. And look in Hebrews 11, verse
39. And all these. 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. Do you know that we have it better
than all these Old Testament worthies right now? Do you know
what the best time to live is? right now. Oh, it was better way back when.
No, it wasn't. No, it wasn't. The best time
to live is right now. This is better. You're where
God's placed you. Isn't that the best place to
be? It's better now. You know, people,
you know, we wish we were back in the good old days. These are
the good old days. These are the best days. Because this is the day the Lord
has made. And it's best right now. You're in the best place
you could possibly be. Do you believe that? It's so. God's provided something
better for us than these Old Testament worthies. You know
what? People talk about the second coming of the Lord and I do look
forward to His second coming. I'll be so happy if He comes
back tonight. That'd make me real happy. But
if I knew He was coming back Tuesday, I wouldn't change Monday's
plans at all. I'd do the same thing. You see,
just looking for His return, remember this is the better day. This is the best day. This is
the best time Look to the Lord Jesus Christ. We've got something
better. Now, Christ is better than everything,
isn't He? Because Christ is the best, there
is nothing this world has to offer that can be compared to
Him. You know, somebody read in the back, I'd rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of the Lord. than to dwell in the tents
of wickedness. And I would. I'd rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of the Lord. And it is so infinitely
better to be saved by Christ, to have
Him do it all, and to simply rest in Him. And right now, oh,
may God give everybody in this room the grace to do this. I
am resting in the Lord, my Savior. He is better. He's the best. Let's pray.