The West Hills Church Podcast

Danger Ahead!

Danger Ahead!

Hebrews 6:1-8

 

A Call To Spiritual Progress (VV. 1-3)

 (repentance and faith) are Godward and mark the initiation of the spiritual life.

(baptisms and laying on of hands) have to do with a person’s relationship to the local assembly of believers.

(resurrection of the dead (Acts 24:14–15) and the final judgment (Acts 17:30–31)), have to do with the future.

No Second Beginning (Vv. 4–6)

Matthew 13:20, Philippians 1:6, Luke 14:28–32, Romans 8:38, 39

 

A Warning with Hope (VV. 7-8)

Matthew 13:23

 

So What?

Christ’s call is to plow the fields of our lives and to make the soil tender to the sweet rain of divine grace.

 

Slow To Learn

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 14

Slow to Learn

Hebrews 5:11–14

The Problem of Spiritual Immaturity (Vv. 11, 12)

Matthew 13:12, 14, 15,  1 Corinthians 2:16

The Cause of Spiritual Immaturity (Vv. 12b, 13)

Romans 3:22, Romans 1:17, Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Cure for Spiritual Immaturity (V. 14)

1 Corinthians 2:14-15, Ephesians 4:13

SO WHAT?

Spiritual maturity—being full-grown—is possible if we simply take God’s Word seriously:

• By listening with all we have.
• By becoming fully acquainted with its “teaching about righteousness” and living it out.
• By constantly applying God’s Word to the decisions of life.

High Priest, High Qualifications

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 13

High Priest, High Qualifications

Hebrews 5:1–10

Qualifications of the Earthly High Priest (Vv. 1–4)

Solidarity

Exodus 28:1; Numbers 8:6

Sympathy

 

Leviticus 16:6–14, Matthew 5:3–5

Selection

Exodus 28:1–3, Leviticus 8:1ff, Numbers 16:5; 20:23ff.; 25:10ff, Numbers 16:16–40

Qualifications of the Eternal High Priest (Vv. 5–10)

Could anything or anyone ever exceed this ideal in attractiveness or effectiveness? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”—Jesus Christ!

Selection

Psalm 2:7 Acts 2:36, Psalm 110:4, Genesis 14:18, Hebrews 7:1, Philippians 2:6, 7

Solidarity

Mark 14:33-36

 

SO WHAT?

 

It would be foolish for anyone to return to the inferiorities of the old Law when he could enjoy the superiorities of Jesus Christ.

 

This was their high priest, and our high priest in life’s uncertain seas today as well. Jesus persevered in submissive prayer in Gethsemane and was heard, and our prayers will be heard also if we persevere. What motivations! May we reward ourselves of him day by day

The Great High Priest

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 12

Our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14–16

Let Us Hold on Through Our Confession of Christ as Priest (V. 14)

2 Corinthians 12:2, Hebrews 10:23

Hold on Through Understanding Christ Our High Priest (V. 15)

The Fact of Sympathy

Matthew 6:9

The How of Sympathy

1 John 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Depth of Sympathy

Isaiah 53:3

Hold on Through Prayers to Christ Our High Priest (V. 16)

Ephesians 3:12

 

SO WHAT?

 

The writer has called us to hold on in life’s storms through three things: our confession of Christ, our understanding of Christ, and our prayers to Christ

 

On Fear and Rest

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 10

On Fear and Rest

Hebrews 4:1-11

 

Warning not to miss God's rest (1-5)

 Genesis 2:2, Deuteronomy 12:9; Joshua 21:43-45, John 3:16 Matthew 11:28-30

 

 

The only true rest for the souls of men is found in Jesus Christ.

Genesis 2:2; Exodus 20:11; 31:17

 

 

 

God's Today “Newness” (6-7)

2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21

 

 

Sabbath Rest (8-11) 

Psalm 95:11, Joshua 21:44; 22:4; 23:1

2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10

 

So What?

1.God is still true to His promises. His Word abides forever. We enter into God's rest because His promise still stands.

2. God fulfills His promises only in those who accept His Word in faith. No one can enter into God's eternal rest unless he puts His faith in Jesus Christ.
3. We who have believed enter into God's perfect rest. God's promise has become a reality according to His eternal purpose for the believer.
4. Who enters into God's rest? Only those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Starting and Finishing Well

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 9

Finishing Well

Hebrews 3:7–19

A Spiritual Warning Against Unbelief (7-11)

Psalm 95, Numbers 13–14, Matthew 13:20, 21

A Personal Warning Against Unbelief (12-19)

Protect Your Heart

Hebrews 10:31

Help Each Other

Persevere

1 John 2:19

So What?

• Have we experienced a spiritual exodus in Christ?
• Do we claim Christ as our true passover—our lamb without blemish and without spot who gave his life for us?
• Do we claim a baptism in Christ, the antitype of Israel’s passage through the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:1ff.)?
• Do we claim to spiritually feed on him by faith, as Israel was fed by manna from Heaven and water from the rock (1 Corinthians 10:3ff.)?
• Do we claim to look for a heavenly rest, the ultimate spiritual counterpart of the Promised Land?

If so, we will persevere in faith and obedience—holding “firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.”

Greater Than Moses

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 8

 

Superior to Moses

Hebrews 3:1–6

Moses was…

divinely chosen

deliverer

prophet

lawgiver

historian

 “more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3)

Focus on Jesus (1)

Luke 12:24, Psalm 27:4, Philippians 3:10

Jesus’ Superior Calling (2-4)

Jesus a Superior Person (5-6)

Exodus 14:31; Numbers 11:11; 12:7; Deuteronomy 3:24; Joshua 1:2, John 5:46, Luke 24:27, Galatians 3:13

So What?

Focus on Christ

Hold on to Christ

As believers, we know that God is taking us to heaven, and we should live in joyful confidence and hope.

 

One with the Perfect High Priest

One with the Perfect High Priest

Hebrews 2:17, 18

A Perfect Mediator

A Merciful Mediator

Mark 1:41; 8:2, 3; Luke 7:13

A Faithful Mediator

1 Timothy 2:5, 6

A Perfect Propitiator

Romans 1:18, Romans 5:10, Romans 3:24, 25, Revelation 6:16

A Perfect Helper

Matthew 4:1–11, Mark 3:21, Mark 8:33, Matthew 4:10, Mark 14:36, Hebrews 6:19, 20

 

So What?

 

Jesus Christ is both merciful and faithful: He is merciful toward people and faithful toward God. He can never fail in His priestly ministries. He made the necessary sacrifice for our sins so that we might be reconciled to God.

But what happens when we who have been saved are tempted to sin? He stands ready to help us! He was tempted when He was on earth, but no temptation ever conquered Him. Because He has defeated every enemy, He is able to give us the grace that we need to overcome temptation.

Oneness with the Rescuer

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 6

Oneness with The Rescuer

Hebrews 2:11-16

 The Fact of Oneness

Acts 17:26 Romans 5:12, 19

The Character of oneness

 Intimacy

Psalm 22:22

Dependence

Isaiah 8:17b, Luke 23:46

Confidence

Isaiah 8:18

The Liberation of Oneness

 

Why do we fear death? The reasons are many and of various weight: 1) the fear of pain 2) the fear of separation from what we know and from the ones we love; 3) the fear of the unknown—launching one’s vessel on an uncharted sea; 4) the fear of non-being

5) the fear of everlasting punishment.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, Revelation 1:17, 18, 1 Corinthians 15:55, 57,

Romans 8:35, 37

 

So What?

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 1.

What is thy only comfort in life and in death?

Answer.

That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with his precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready henceforth to live unto him.

A God-Worthy Salvation

Hebrews

“Jesus Is Greater”

Sermon Series

Part 5

A God-Worthy Salvation

Hebrews 2:10

“Fitting” Because It Corresponds to the Sovereign God of Creation

“Fitting” Because of the Perfect Savior It Gave Us

Matthew 4:1–11, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21

“Fitting” Because of What It Achieves for the Lost

Revelation 7:9, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17, John 15:20, Hebrews 4:16, 2 Timothy 3:12

 

SO WHAT?

 

• The suffering church needs to rejoice in its Savior who Why? Because suffering is a sign of their solidarity with him.
• There is proper comfort— Jesus shares His glory with all who trust Him for salvation (John 17:22–24). He is bringing many sons and daughters to glory!