Come! Christ Saves to the Uttermost

Hebrews 7:25-28 Come! Christ Saves to the Uttermost

References • The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Volume 2, Wiersbe • Hebrews, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, MacArthur • The New Testament Commentary, Thessalonians, the Pastorals, and Hebrews, Hendriksen and Kistemaker • Selected Scriptures reprinted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version • Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press, 1986

Come! Christ Saves to the Uttermost • Introduction to Hebrews • The Text • Therefore… • Separation – Our Sin • Salvation – His Sacrifice • Intercession – His Work • Glorification – His Character, Our destiny

Introduction to Hebrews • Authorship - Uncertain • Recipients • Not addressed • Those who were not suffering great persecution – liable to fall away from indifference and indolence • History • Written before AD 96 • Likely written after Nero’s death in AD 68 and after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem • Purpose • Doctrinal: Christ’s Priesthood & the New Covenant • Pastoral: Keep the faith, Obey the Word, Claim your Salvation “But who wrote the epistle, to be sure, only God knows.” – Origen, 3rd Century

The Text • [Heb 7:25-28 NKJV] 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermostthose who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, [appoints] the Son who has been perfected forever.

Therefore… • 1:1-4 Prophet, Creator, Image of God, Sustainer, Expiator, King • 2:9-12 Sufferer, Savior, Sanctifier • 4:14-16 High Priest • 5:1-6 High Priest, Begotten Son of God And, who is Melchizedek?

Therefore… • Old Testament Priestly Orders • Melchizedek • Hebrews 6:20 through 7:3 • Genesis 14:14-20 and Psalm 110 (esp. verse 4) • Aaron & The Levites – 7:11, 27a, 28a • Leviticus 16 • New Testament – Jesus’s Priesthood • Superiority • Establishment by oath • Durability for all time • Effectiveness of the sacrifice • Perfection of the priest

The Text • [Heb 7:25-28 NKJV] 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermostthose who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, [appoints] the Son who has been perfected forever.

The Text…details • Save = sōzō • to keep safe, to rescue from danger or destruction • to save a suffering one (from perishing) • Uttermost = pantelēs • completely, perfectly, utterly • Come = proserchomai • approach, come near, consent • Intercession = entygchanō • to go to or meet a person for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication • to pray, entreat • Fitting = prepō • to be becoming (suitable), seemly (proper), fit (acceptable)

Separation – Our Sin • Sin separates us from God • God is holy • Separate from sinners • God is righteous and just • Sin must be punished • Man cannot atone for himself • We need a mediator & sacrifice • Sacrifice insufficient & God perpetually dissatisfied • The text proves this in its description of Jesus • Able to save • Lives to intercede • Offered himself

Salvation – His Sacrifice • Sacrificial System • Priest • Sinful man • Sacrifice • Unblemished • Limited Application • Personal sin • Israel’s sin • Recurrence • Daily • Annually • New Covenant • Priest • Sinless Son of God • Sacrifice • Sinless Son of God • Unlimited Application • The sins of the world • Fitting • Recurrence • Once for all Was there danger?

Salvation – His Sacrifice Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient and satisfying.

Intercession – His Work • What is intercession? • Intercession = entygchanō • to go to or meet a person for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication • to pray, entreat • For whom does Christ intercede? • “those who come to God through Him [Christ]” • To whom does He intercede? • God the Father • Why does He intercede? • Does intercession work?

Glorification – His Character Our Destiny • Holy = hosios • undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious • Harmless = akakos • without guile or fraud, harmless, free from guilt • Undefiled = amiantos • free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigourimpaired • Separate from sinners = chorizo, hamartōlos • Sinners: devoted to sin; not free from sin

Glorification – His Character Our Destiny • Our lives must be a substantiating witness to Christ and the power of the gospel • We must live a holy life • Philippians 4:8-9 • 1 Peter 1:13-16 • Galatians 5:19-24 • Jesus is our example: the Spirit is our help

Conclusion • To proclaim with authority the good news of Jesus Christ who has ushered in salvation by repentance and faith through his death, burial and resurrection from the dead • Jesus compels us • Matthew 9:35-37 • Acts 18:1, 8-11 • Jesus sets the example (Luke 19:10) • Seek: zēteō, to seek after • Save: sōzō, rescue from danger • Lost: apollymi, headed for ruin & destruction

Conclusion • “…He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him...” – Hebrews 7:25 • Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners • Christ Jesus forever lives that the redeemed might grow into His likeness Come! Jesus Saves!

Come! Christ Saves to the Uttermost