May 23, 2021

Our Great High Priest

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: The Journey of Faith Scripture: Hebrews 4:14– 5:10

Series: The Journey of Faith 
Message: Our Great High Priest 
Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-5:10

What comes to your mind when you think of a priest?

A Distinction:
• A Prophet speaks on behalf of God to men
• A Priest functions to bring men to God (1)

The Earthly High Priest (5:1-4)

1. Solidarity – oneness with humanity 

2. Sympathy – enabled him to deal gently with people 

  • His own Weakness 
  • His own Sin 

3. Selection – not earned or elected 

Our Eternal High Priest (5:5-10) 

1. Selection 

  • Priest 
  • King 

2. Solidarity

- Refers back to the garden of Gethsemane 
- Jesus was delivered from death through The Resurrection 
- “Learned obedience” – Understood fully through Experience 
- “Made perfect” - Describes perfection in the sense of completeness or Fulfillment 
- His solidarity with us means he can save us Completely 

3. Sympathy (4:14-16)

- The temple was a Shadow of what Christ came to do 
- Jesus did not Shield Himself from the brokenness of this world 
- Jesus experienced the full Range of temptation common to humanity 
- “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22, ESV) 
- “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17, ESV) 

So What? 

  1. We can rest secure that we are fully known, understood and Loved in Christ Jesus 
  2. We are to “hold fast our confession” even in the midst of challenges and Suffering 

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4, ESV)

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6–7, ESV) 

3. We can come boldly before a holy and powerful God in Prayer 

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25, ESV) 

  • Mercy – Forgiveness and cleansing
    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV) 
  • Grace – Provision for the abundance of life God calls us to
    “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” (2 Peter 1:3, ESV) 

4. We are to live as a Royal Priesthood 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV) 

What comes to your mind when you think of a priest? 

Making it Personal 

  • Have you come to Jesus, our Great High Priest, entrusting yourself to Him as Savior and Lord? Will you do that today? 
  • What does it mean to you that Jesus is your Great High Priest? How will this truth impact the way that you live your life this week? 
  • What will it look like for you to live this week as God’s chosen person, a royal priest? How will you represent God and proclaim His excellencies this week? 
  • What is your next step in response to these truths? 
  • Who can you share these truths with?

other sermons in this series

Jun 20

2021

Assurance and Warning, Part 2

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Hebrews 6:9–12, Series: The Journey of Faith

Jun 13

2021

Assurance and Warning

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Hebrews 6:4–12 Series: The Journey of Faith

May 16

2021

Heart Surgery

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Hebrews 4:12–13 Series: The Journey of Faith