Podcast: http://redemption-clc.podomatic.com/entry/2015-10-19T15_10_20-07_00
Theme: Welcome to God’s Home
1) The Inheritance
2) The Son’s Blood
It’s often customary for Christians to
take a few moments in prayer to the Lord at night. Evenings are a typical time
of prayer because it marks the end of the day’s events. The most logical prayer
at the end of a day would be one of thanksgiving. Certainly, we have more than
enough reasons to thank God. But the end of the day provides more than just
reflection on the blessings of the day. It also provides us some quiet time to
think about the needs of others and to seek guidance and help from the Lord for
our own struggles. It affords us the opportunity to see a much broader picture
of life if you will.
These things are all true about the
evening, but there is another important reason for prayer and reflection at
night that is often overlooked. The evening is also the time that we lay our
heads down to rest. At times of rest, the gift of a home is a true blessing.
Without a home, nights are much more restless and sleep is harder to get. I
remember back in the Midwest I would think often about the blessing of my home,
especially at night, and especially in the winter. When it comes to winter in
the Midwest, a good home is not only nice, it’s absolutely necessary. On the
coldest winter nights, exposure to the elements for only a few minutes can mean
permanent danger or even death. Yet, in our homes we have comfort, food,
protection, and warmth. We can sleep peacefully, no matter the temperature
outside, because we are safe. What a blessing, especially to consider on a cold
evening as you prepare for bed!
But a home is much more than just the
walls around you or the roof over your head. In order for a home to be
complete, it needs people. Your family is even more vital to your home than a
fireplace or bed covers on a cold winter night. In this section of Hebrews, the
writer talks about the blessing being in God’s home. Hebrews 3:1-6: Therefore, holy brothers and companions in a heavenly
calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession; 2 He
was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was in all God's
household. 3 For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as
the builder has more honor than the house. 4 Now every house is built by someone,
but the One who built everything is God. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in
all God's household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. 6 But
Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if
we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.
Remember why this is called the book of
Hebrews. It has this title because it was written specifically for Christians
who were familiar with the Old Testament. Most of these people at the time of
the early church were Jews, or those of the Hebrew nation. Who better to use as
an example to the Hebrews than Moses, the great leader of the Jewish exiles in
Egypt? Many Jews around the time of Jesus considered Moses to be the most
significant figure in the entire Old Testament. As the writer says here, Moses
indeed was an example of faithfulness to the Lord. But don’t miss the most
important point, Moses was a member of God’s household.
But even as faithful as Moses was, he
was still a sinner who fell short of God’s holiness. There is one who was even
more faithful than Moses – Jesus Christ. Jesus not only was faithful to God’s
will, He was the perfect fulfillment and example of that will. He came on
behalf of sinful mankind and did what no other person could or has been able to
do since – He lived a perfect life as a human who was subjected to temptation
just as much as the rest of us. The intent of this section is clear. It’s okay
to give Moses honor. But Jesus deserves much more, because He did a lot more.
For the Jewish individual who might be led astray to honor Moses but reject
Jesus, he or she needed to wake up to reality. And to drive this point home,
the Holy Spirit emphasizes the aspect of our home.
To recognize the main difference between
Moses and Jesus, you don’t have to look far. Our text says it plainly in the
last two verses: Moses was faithful as a
servant in all God's household, as a testimony to what would be said in
the future. 6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. The
difference between a servant and a son may not seem that great when it comes to
the home. In that day, servants were granted the right to live in the home. In
many ways, they grew up in the home just as any son or daughter would. But when
it came to rights, there was a big difference. Remember that a home is more
than just the location where we live or the things we do there. A home is what
that dwelling represents and the significance it has in our lives.
Children in the home have a right to the
household by blood. They are the ones who inherit the home; who continue the
family name and legacy into the future. A servant is there for a time, but then
gone. There is no continuity among servants. They provide a need or fulfill a
purpose and then they are done; not to remembered. But children are the bearers
of the home for the next generation. They are meant to continue and to be in
the forefront.
It’s no strange mystery that Jesus is
God’s Son. But do we always consider everything that means? As the Son, Jesus
has access to God’s home. He is the most important figure. And as the One who
came to earth, He is the One who shares that home with others. Not just the
promise of eternal life in heaven; that certainly is God’s home and definitely
a great enough gift. But a home is not just the location. Jesus shares the
blessings of God’s household. Gifts we have today like: peace, joy, happiness,
forgiveness, and contentment. Some of the very gifts that should be at the top
of our lists every night for thanking and praising God.
As the Son, Jesus alone has the right to
distribute these gifts; because as the Son He alone earned them in our stead.
Later on in this book, the Spirit would go onto to explain why: Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the
Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive
the promise of the eternal inheritance. An inheritance is a special thing;
something that is largely lost on our modern culture. You can think of the
inheritance as the continuation of the family home. Think of everything that
your home means to you today. Think of both the material and intangible
blessings that come from the home. That is the inheritance, and it is passed on
from one generation to the next; and only the legal, blood heirs have access to
that right.
God tells us that through His only
begotten Son, the inheritance of His home is passed on to us. What connects us
to that gift is faith in Jesus, the one Mediator of God’s forgiveness. Moses
was a faithful and a good leader for God’s people. But the highest level he
ever reached on his own was that of servant. Yes, a member of the house in some
sense, but one with no real claim to any blessings; certainly not to any
inheritance. That too, is the highest level you can reach in life in your own.
The best you can strive to be is one that serves the almighty God.
That’s where the young man in our Gospel
lesson found himself. He was zealous for the Lord, even recognizing something
special about Jesus. He obviously strove to keep God’s Word or else he never
would have asked the question that he did. And clearly he tried to keep God’s
commandments. But he got off the track when he started thinking that he could
earn God’s inheritance. Not only is that impossible because of sin, it also
runs contrary to sound reason. God’s specifically calls heaven an “inheritance,”
something that we know is clearly not earned by works or effort. An inheritance
is given freely to children. The man didn’t realize the truth that no matter
how hard he tried, he could never be greater than a servant, and a very flawed
servant at that.
This prospect obviously leads many into
despair. If we can’t be anything greater than servants, then what’s the point?
If our works, no matter how good we feel about them, never measure up
perfectly, then what can we do? Well, remember what it takes to be a child. A
child is an heir by blood. As hopeless as we are on our own, we do have access
to God’s home, as children. Not because of our blood, but because of another’s.
When Jesus shed His perfect blood on the
cross, as true man (one of us) and true God (the very Son) he paid the price
that was needed for us to receive the inheritance. Paul wrote to the Galatians:
“You are all sons of God through faith
in Christ Jesus.” The blessings of God’s home are given to you through
Jesus. And later Paul would write this: “Therefore
you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ.”
As our text says, God builds the house.
He sets the rules. He determines the truth. And the truth is this: We are
helpless on our own. Like prodigal sons, we sacrificed our original inheritance
of righteousness on the altars of self-satisfaction and temptation. We chose
other ways to prosperity and protection and we fell from the path of God’s
Word. We are thoroughly corrupted and wicked; and on our own we have no inkling
to seek God. But the Father had a plan in place. He brought you back from the
dead by His own Son, the only rightful Heir that was left once sin entered the
scene.
Even with the advent of Jesus we were
still lost. Something more needed to be done. The Son also needed to bleed. He
needed to bleed so that we could be purified. That blood of Jesus cleanses us
from all unrighteousness. His blood paid the way for us to have the status as
sons and daughters again; rightful heirs of the inheritance of God’s kingdom.
Where we were faithless; stuck only as servants of the most high God; Jesus
came and made us children in the home.
Therefore we have the warmth of His love
and the comfort of His forgiveness amidst the cold nights of this sinful life.
We have the true treasure of His Word as a means to build and strengthen His
will in our lives; so that we take time to pray to Him in thankfulness and
humility. We have answers to the lingering doubts and concerns about being a
sinful person living in a world full of evidence for a righteous and holy God.
That’s what being part of the household means. Yes, ultimately we have hope for
heaven; a city that needs no protection from pain and sorrow, because those
things have passed away.
But even before we think of heaven, and
well before we get there, we are in God’s home today. Because a home is more
than we end our days and where we rest our heads. A home is the day-to-day
blessings, the joy and peace that need not be explained or reasoned, and the
presence of fellow family members. I pray for your courage and confidence
through faith in Jesus Christ. You are His child. You are a member of God’s
household; a blood-bought heir of eternal life. Amen.
The peace of God which surpasses all
understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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