God Does Care

Part 2

Hebrews 7:1-28

The problem is not usually the problem. The problem is often our lack

of information or our failure to focus on the information.



We're in the series, "God Does Care" and we're considering the letter

of Hebrews written to Christ followers of the First Century who were

discouraged. They entertained thoughts of giving up and turning back.



In this very encouraging correspondence God lets them know that there

is nothing "better" than following Christ. In the 7th chapter one of

the most mysterious characters in the Bible is used to show how much

God cares for us.



Hebrews 7:1 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a

priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning

a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him.

2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave

it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means "king of justice," and

king of Salem means "king of peace." 3 There is no record of his father

or mother or any of his ancestors no beginning or end to his life. He

remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.



The writer of the letter to the Hebrews goes on to recount how this

applied to his readers. The Levites, who received tithes from the

Jewish people, hadn't been born yet when this interaction between

Melchizedek and Abraham transpired. The point is, Melchizedek typifies

Jesus, who is not a priest like the Levitical priesthood, or even the

high priesthood from the family of Aaron.



Christ's priesthood is a "better" priesthood. There is no end to it. It

is not temporary. The priesthood of Christ is eternal. Why is this

important to a group of discouraged Christ-following Jews?



We pick up the story in verse 23:



23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented

them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his

priesthood last forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to

save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede

with God on their behalf.



26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and

blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has

been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other

high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did

this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But

Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice

for the people's sins. 28 The law appointed high priests who were

limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed

his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest

forever. Let's break this down further to see how we can let God care

for us.



REFLECT (Verse 24)



Reflect on the fact that Christ's care is forever!



We've all lost loved ones that cared for us. When you lose a parent or

spouse or friend that cared for you, you're partly sad for them and

partly for yourself. Someone who cared for you is gone. There's a void

there. An emptiness.



That will never be the case with Jesus! Yes, Jesus died. But He rose

again and is alive forever!



The Bible says in Romans 8:



35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no

longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or

hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 37 No,

despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ,

who loved us.



38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's

love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our

fears for today nor our worries for tomorrow - not even the powers of

hell can separate us from God's love. 39 No power in the sky above or

in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able

to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus

our Lord.



Reflect on that the next time you're tempted to doubt God's care.



One warning or caution, you've got to come to God in order to qualify

for this kind of care.



RECEIVE (Verse 25a)



In order to let God care for you, you've got to receive the free gift

of salvation that He offers.



The first part of Verse 25 says, "Therefore he is able, once and

forever, to save those who come to God through him."



If you "come to God through Him (Jesus)" you will have this eternal

care.



The big debate in our nation right now is health care. We don't know

the end result of this debate, but we do know the end result of the

eternal care of those who come to God the Father through Christ the

Son! When you come to Christ you are safe and secure in knowing that

Jesus conquered death and lives forever so that you too may do so!



You have eternal care if you have come to God through Jesus!



RELISH (Verse 25b)



Once you've received God's free gift of salvation through His Son

Jesus, you need to enjoy it! The last part of verse 25 says that Jesus

lives to intercede with God on your behalf.



This means that Jesus is your representative in heaven. He is there

since that is where God's throne is. He is there where his holiness,

his sinlessness, has been presented to the Father in place of our guilt

and sinfulness.



Christ's presence in heaven is much like the appearance of an advocate

in a courtroom. When someone has been convicted of a crime and the

sentence is being pronounced, a defence attorney may plead for

leniency. Is this case, Christ has presented Himself as the One who

already paid for our sins.



Each of us is guilty of breaking the laws of our Creator. But we enjoy

forgiveness because Christ intercedes for us.



You may not have all of life's comforts but if your sins are forgiven

you are a free man or woman!



REMEMBER (Verse 26)



In order to let God care for you remember that Jesus is the kind of

priest we need because He is holy and blameless, unstained by sin.



2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be

the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God

through Christ."



I'm always looking for good deals but I have never found one better

than this! When I came to Christ and admitted that I was a sinner in

need of forgiveness He in turn gave me His righteousness!



I came into God's presence a beggar and left a joint-heir with Christ!



REALIZE (Verse 27)



Realize Christ's sacrifice for us is complete and does not need to be

repeated.



Verse 27 reads, Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to

offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and

then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when

he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins. A veteran

friend of mine named John Barnacle died several years ago. He would

often rehearse to me (and to anyone else that would listen) the story

of the Air Force pilot on who crew he served in World War II. His eyes

would fill with tears as he told of how that pilot died saving his life

and the lives of the other crew members. Everyone got out alive except

the pilot who went down with the plane. He would say, "In that one act

of heroism, that man gave me the rest of my life!"



That's what Jesus did for you and me! In that one act of heroism on the

cross he gave us the rest of our lives on earth to live for Him and the

rest of eternity to live with him!



The levitical priests couldn't offer that. It took a priest of the

order of Melchizedek to do that! It took Jesus whose sacrifice in a

one-time act of heroism gave us an oportunity to live life to the

fullest!



We don't need anything else to be complete!



RECOGNIZE (Verse 28)



Trust Christ for your care because He is not weak in any area!



Verse 28 says, The law appointed high priests who were limited by human

weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an

oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.



Perfect.



There is nothing greater than perfection. The 1st Century Jewish

converts to Christ would be stepping backwards to trust their care to

anyone but Jesus.



So would we. We need to recognize Christ's perfection in order to let

God care for us through Christ.



He is perfect. We are not. We are weak. His is perfectly strong.