Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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from the 3ABN Worship Center
and the Fresno Central Church.
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Truths That
Matter with Stephen Bohr.
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Welcome to Anchors Of
Truth and to the fifth and final
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segment of this particular
series which is entitled,
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Truth That Matters.
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It is so important, my
friend, to know what truth is.
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The Bible says that
"you shall know the truth,
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and the truth
shall set you free."
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These are the words of
Jesus found in the book of John.
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And I believe with all of my
heart that the seeking of truth
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is more important than
simply looking at things
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and accepting things that we
may have heard that people say
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but that they cannot
prove from the Word of God.
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And certainly during
this series of five subjects,
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Pastor Stephen Bohr has
looked at truths that matter,
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truths that are very
important for these last days.
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I believe with all my heart that
Jesus Christ is coming soon.
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And I believe that you
believe that very same thing.
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And so it's more important even
now, today, than ever before,
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with all of the delusions that
we see; delusions in literature
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and the movies, even in
theology, that would lead us
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to have a different concept
of God, and to believe things
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about God that
simply are not true.
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And so in this subject
tonight, Pastor Stephen Bohr
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will be presenting the second
part of the Inward Outworking,
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which is a subject concerning
the state of the dead.
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And throughout this series,
he has been presenting subjects
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that he feels, and that we
feel, are extremely important
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in these times in which we live.
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I thank the Lord
for Pastor Stephen Bohr,
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for his commitment to
the Lord Jesus Christ.
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He is the Speaker and
Director of Secrets Unsealed.
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He is the Pastor of the Fresno
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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He is a man who is
sought as a camp meeting speaker
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and a convocation
speaker around the world.
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And we're so happy that,
even though it was impossible
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for him to actually be
here with us in Thompsonville
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or in West Frankfort, he is
joining us by the miracles of
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technology from his
church in Fresno, California.
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And we appreciate his ministry.
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And we know that you do
too because we receive a lot of
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cards and letters and emails
and phone calls that tell us
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that you appreciate the
ministry of Pastor Stephen Bohr.
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And when he comes
here to West Frankfort
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to our worship
center, he is one person that
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many people from
the area come to hear.
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But before Pastor Bohr speaks,
Tammy Chance is going to sing
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for us a song entitled, That's
When I Feel Amazing Grace.
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When battles are too hard
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for me to win,
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when Satan comes to tempt me
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with all sin,
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I know the Lord provides
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a secret hiding place.
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That's when I feel
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amazing grace.
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That's when I feel
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amazing grace,
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when I surrender all
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to His embrace.
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I close my eyes
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and then I see His face.
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That's when I feel
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amazing grace.
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He promised to be faithful
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to the end.
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And on His promises
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I now depend.
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He'll dry every tear
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and every fear erase.
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That's when I feel
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amazing grace.
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That's when I feel
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amazing grace,
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when I surrender all
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to His embrace.
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I close my eyes
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and then I see His face.
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That's when I feel
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amazing grace.
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That's when I feel
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amazing grace.
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We thank you for
this wonderful passage.
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We come pleading
for special wisdom
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to understand this
passage from Hebrews chapter 12
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and verses 22 through 24.
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We studied the
first part last time.
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And as we conclude this
study today, we ask for the
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presence of Your Spirit.
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Open our minds and
hearts that we might understand
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and receive the Word of truth.
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And we thank You for hearing
and answering our prayer,
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for we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
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Just a little review of what
we studied in the first part
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of this particular
study that we're doing.
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In our last study, we
noticed that the book of Hebrews
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has a central theme.
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And the central theme
of the book of Hebrews
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is a comparison of the
Old Testament religious system
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with the New
Testament religious system
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in the heavenly sanctuary.
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We noticed in our study
last time that the Old Testament
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system was good.
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It's not that the Old
Testament system was bad.
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It was good because it
pointed forward to the coming
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of the Messiah who
would shed His blood for sin,
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and then He would be the
intercessor for His people.
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But we also noticed
that the Old Testament system
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had mere human
priests, and the sacrifices were
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made of animal blood which could
not remove or take away sin.
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So the Old Testament
system was good because it
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pointed the minds of
people forward to the time
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when the Messiah would come.
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Now the New
Testament system is better
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because the New Testament
system is the fulfillment of
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that which the Old
Testament system pointed to.
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In other words,
what was promised by the
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Old Testament system was
fulfilled in the New Testament.
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Because in the New Testament,
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we have better
blood; the blood of Jesus,
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we have a better
intercessor; the God-Man.
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And therefore, we know
that the New Testament system
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is better than the
Old Testament system.
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Now we also noticed last
time that the spirit that is
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referred to in this
passage when it says,
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"the spirits of
righteous men made perfect,"
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those spirits actually
represent the personal identity
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or the character or the
life record of the heroes that
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we find mentioned
in Hebrews chapter 11.
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You know, in
Hebrews chapter 11, we have
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this long list of
Old Testament heroes.
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And some of them are
even called righteous.
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And so the spirit of
these individuals simply means
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their personal
identity, their life record,
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or their biographical
record which is contained
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in the heavenly book.
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Now, they're called
righteous because according to
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Hebrews chapter 11, they
were made righteous by faith.
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Time and again in Hebrews
chapter 11, we find these
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individuals referred to
as being righteous by faith.
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So we notice then, that this
passage in Hebrews chapter 12
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verses 22 to 24 is telling
us that there is this group
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of heroes that died
in Old Testament times
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and they were
made righteous by faith
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but their life record, or their
personal identity, or their
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biographical sketch
which is written in heaven
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needed somehow
to be made perfect.
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In other words, somehow it
needed to be made complete.
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But of course, the question
that begs to be asked is,
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why did the life
record, or the character,
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of these individuals
that was written in the books
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need to be made perfect?
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And how could this record
of their lives be made perfect?
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Now in order to understand
what it means that the spirit
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needed to be made perfect,
we need to understand what
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is meant by the word "perfect"
in the book of Hebrews.
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The word "perfect" in
Hebrews does not refer
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to moral perfection.
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It does not refer
to living a holy life.
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Basically, the word
"perfect" in the book of Hebrews
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means to be
qualified or to be complete.
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Now I want us
to understand that.
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I'm going to give
you several texts.
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In fact, we're going to
read all of the texts in the
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book of Hebrews that
uses the word "perfect".
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And we're going to see
that the word "perfect" means
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to be complete
or to be qualified.
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Now this word is used,
first of all, of Christ.
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And then secondly, it is
used of the followers of Christ.
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So what we want to do
first of all is look at the
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word "perfect" as it is
used in connection with Christ
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in the book of Hebrews.
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So go with me in your Bibles to
Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 10.
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Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 10.
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And immediately, you're going
to see that the word "perfect",
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as it applies to Christ,
cannot mean moral perfection.
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It cannot mean
perfection of character, because
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Jesus was morally
perfect all throughout His life;
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from the time of His birth
till the moment of His death.
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Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 10,
speaking about Christ says this,
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"For it was fitting for
Him, for whom are all things
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and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons to glory..."
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Now notice what
the objective is.
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He's going to bring what?
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He's going to
bring many sons to glory.
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Now did He have to
do something in order to
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bring many sons to glory?
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Absolutely.
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"...in bringing many sons
to glory, to make the captain
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of their salvation..."
which is Jesus Christ.
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God the Father had to
make Jesus Christ, what?
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"...perfect through sufferings."
00:13:58.61\00:14:02.35
Did Jesus have
to be made perfect?
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Yes.
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Does that refer
to moral perfection?
00:14:05.81\00:14:08.01
No, because Jesus
was not imperfect.
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Basically, what this is saying
is that in order for Jesus to
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be the Captain of the
salvation of His people,
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He needed to go through
suffering, He needed to die
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in order to be
qualified, or be complete,
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to be able to save them.
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Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:14:27.08\00:14:28.74
Now let's notice
a second example.
00:14:28.77\00:14:31.24
Hebrews chapter 5
and verses 7 through 9.
00:14:31.27\00:14:34.47
This is also
referring to Jesus Christ;
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the word "perfect" in
Hebrews as it applies to Christ.
00:14:39.48\00:14:42.98
In Hebrews 5 and
verses 7 through 9,
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speaking about
Jesus, it says this,
00:14:45.78\00:14:48.65
"Who, in the
days of His flesh..."
00:14:48.68\00:14:51.92
That means
while He was on earth.
00:14:51.95\00:14:53.60
"...when He had offered
up prayers and supplications,
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with vehement cries and tears
to Him who was able to save
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Him from death, and was heard
because of His godly fear..."
00:15:02.31\00:15:06.98
Now question, is this
talking about His passion
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and His suffering in
Gethsemane and on the cross?
00:15:09.37\00:15:11.90
Absolutely.
00:15:11.93\00:15:13.02
Now notice verse 8.
00:15:13.05\00:15:14.28
"...though He was a
Son, yet He learned obedience
00:15:14.31\00:15:18.73
by the things
which He suffered."
00:15:18.76\00:15:20.97
"And," notice,
"having been..." What?
00:15:21.00\00:15:24.00
"...perfected, He became
the author of eternal salvation
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to all who obey Him."
00:15:29.76\00:15:31.54
Do you notice once again what
the word "perfect" means here?
00:15:32.23\00:15:35.21
Is it talking about the
fact that Jesus was imperfect
00:15:35.24\00:15:37.85
and He had to become perfect?
00:15:37.88\00:15:39.21
Absolutely not.
00:15:39.24\00:15:40.42
Because Jesus was perfect
from the moment of His birth.
00:15:40.45\00:15:43.95
What this is saying is that
Jesus, according to verse 9,
00:15:43.98\00:15:48.74
had to be perfected
in order to be the author
00:15:48.77\00:15:51.97
of eternal salvation
to all those who obey Him.
00:15:52.00\00:15:55.21
Did Jesus have to
suffer and did He have to die
00:15:55.24\00:15:58.69
in order to be qualified, in
order for Him to be complete,
00:15:58.72\00:16:02.93
to be able to save His people?
00:16:02.96\00:16:05.23
Yes or no? Absolutely.
00:16:05.26\00:16:06.72
And that's what
the text is saying.
00:16:06.75\00:16:08.16
It's saying, He suffered.
00:16:08.19\00:16:09.51
Through His
suffering, He's made perfect.
00:16:09.54\00:16:11.61
And therefore He
is able to, what?
00:16:11.64\00:16:13.55
He is able to bring
eternal salvation to His people.
00:16:13.58\00:16:16.90
In other words, Jesus
becomes qualified to save.
00:16:16.93\00:16:20.93
That's what the word "complete"
means or the word "perfect"
00:16:20.96\00:16:25.02
means in this sense.
00:16:25.05\00:16:26.34
Let's notice one other
verse where the word "perfect"
00:16:26.37\00:16:29.39
is used in
connection with Christ.
00:16:29.42\00:16:31.49
Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 28.
00:16:31.52\00:16:34.98
It says here, "For the law.."
00:16:39.13\00:16:41.30
This is the Old
Testament system.
00:16:41.33\00:16:42.99
"For the law
appoints as high priests
00:16:43.02\00:16:46.06
men who have weakness..."
00:16:46.09\00:16:49.51
So what is the
first group of priests?
00:16:50.15\00:16:52.45
It's the priests from when?
00:16:52.48\00:16:53.82
From the Old Testament system.
00:16:54.21\00:16:56.16
"For the law appoints as high
priests men who have weakness,
00:16:56.19\00:16:59.98
but the word of the oath..."
00:17:00.01\00:17:01.85
And the oath that it's referring
to is, "you are a priest forever
00:17:02.25\00:17:05.05
after the order of Melchizedek,"
which is regards to Christ.
00:17:05.08\00:17:08.65
It says, "...but the word of the
oath, which came after the law,
00:17:08.68\00:17:12.63
appoints the Son
who has been..." What?
00:17:12.66\00:17:16.04
"...who has been
perfected forever."
00:17:16.07\00:17:19.35
What does that mean that Jesus
has been perfected forever?
00:17:19.38\00:17:22.92
Does it means that His
character had to become perfect
00:17:22.95\00:17:27.02
because it wasn't perfect?
00:17:27.05\00:17:28.34
Absolutely not.
00:17:28.37\00:17:29.46
Because His character was
perfect all the way through.
00:17:29.49\00:17:32.25
What it means is that
Jesus Christ, as the Priest
00:17:32.59\00:17:36.99
who shed His blood, when
He shed His blood He became
00:17:37.02\00:17:40.92
qualified or He was complete
in order to bring... What?
00:17:40.95\00:17:45.02
...in order to bring
salvation for His people,
00:17:45.05\00:17:48.33
and in order to
intercede for His people.
00:17:48.36\00:17:50.97
So in other words, the
word "perfect" with regards to
00:17:51.00\00:17:54.37
Christ, means that He suffers
in order to be qualified,
00:17:54.40\00:17:59.74
in order to be complete,
to be a Savior for His people
00:17:59.77\00:18:04.43
because the Old
Testament system did not
00:18:04.46\00:18:07.74
bring that kind of perfection.
00:18:07.77\00:18:10.41
Now let's notice the
verses in the book of Hebrews
00:18:10.86\00:18:14.25
that refer to us now.
00:18:14.28\00:18:17.16
Because we've already noticed
the texts that speak about
00:18:17.19\00:18:19.68
Jesus being made perfect,
or Jesus becoming qualified,
00:18:19.71\00:18:23.48
or Jesus being a
complete Savior by His suffering
00:18:23.51\00:18:27.12
and by His death.
00:18:27.15\00:18:28.28
Now we need to know how this
word is used with regards to us.
00:18:28.31\00:18:32.65
Now we're going to look
at several passages from
00:18:33.04\00:18:36.23
Hebrews chapter 7
through chapter 10.
00:18:36.26\00:18:39.55
And the first passage we
want to take a look at is
00:18:39.58\00:18:42.29
Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 11.
00:18:42.32\00:18:45.15
And we're not going to
read the whole passage.
00:18:45.18\00:18:47.30
We're going to jump
down to verse 19 and then
00:18:47.33\00:18:50.27
verses 25 and 26, where
the word "perfect" is used
00:18:50.30\00:18:54.08
with regards to God's people.
00:18:54.11\00:18:55.80
So it says in
verse 11 of Hebrews 7,
00:18:55.83\00:18:59.67
"Therefore, if
perfection were through the
00:18:59.70\00:19:03.96
Levitical priesthood, for under
it the people received the law,
00:19:03.99\00:19:08.59
what further need was there
that another priest should rise
00:19:08.62\00:19:13.14
according to the
order of Melchizedek,
00:19:13.17\00:19:15.78
and not be called according
to the order of Aaron?"
00:19:15.81\00:19:18.67
Now let's stop there.
00:19:18.70\00:19:19.82
How many priesthoods
are being compared here?
00:19:20.02\00:19:22.38
Two priesthoods.
00:19:22.80\00:19:23.85
What is the first priesthood?
00:19:23.88\00:19:25.89
The priesthood of Aaron.
00:19:25.92\00:19:27.97
And what is the
second priesthood?
00:19:28.00\00:19:29.98
The second priesthood is
the priesthood of Christ.
00:19:30.01\00:19:32.51
Could the first
priesthood bring perfection?
00:19:32.54\00:19:35.64
Absolutely not.
00:19:36.07\00:19:37.23
Can the second
priesthood bring perfection?
00:19:37.26\00:19:39.80
Yes, but remember that the
word "perfection" does not refer
00:19:39.83\00:19:43.60
to moral
perfection of character.
00:19:43.63\00:19:45.71
What it means is that
the sacrifice of Jesus under
00:19:45.74\00:19:49.45
the new system is
complete and can truly... What?
00:19:49.48\00:19:53.47
...and can truly save.
00:19:53.50\00:19:56.28
In other words, we are
saved because Jesus Christ
00:19:56.31\00:20:00.34
shed His blood on the cross.
00:20:00.37\00:20:01.74
The Old Testament
system of human intercessors
00:20:01.77\00:20:05.36
and of blood of
animals could not save at all.
00:20:05.39\00:20:09.97
And so what it's saying
here is that perfection...
00:20:10.00\00:20:12.93
In other words, full forgiveness
of sin, legal forgiveness of sin
00:20:12.96\00:20:18.00
could not take place in the
Old Testament system, because
00:20:18.03\00:20:21.34
as we'll see, the blood of
bulls and goats cannot... What?
00:20:21.37\00:20:24.84
...cannot take away sin.
00:20:24.87\00:20:27.23
Now let's go down to verse 19.
00:20:27.26\00:20:29.45
It says here, "For the
law made nothing..." What?
00:20:29.48\00:20:33.87
"...perfect."
00:20:33.90\00:20:35.11
What is the author of Hebrews
trying to tell us by saying
00:20:35.14\00:20:38.45
that the law
made nothing perfect?
00:20:38.48\00:20:39.94
What he's saying is that
the law did not legally... What?
00:20:39.97\00:20:44.09
...take care of sin.
00:20:44.29\00:20:45.71
The law did not
legally forgive sin.
00:20:46.11\00:20:48.89
Why not?
00:20:48.92\00:20:49.95
Because the blood of
bulls and goats cannot... What?
00:20:49.98\00:20:53.02
...take away sin.
00:20:53.05\00:20:54.08
And human priests,
mere human priests,
00:20:54.11\00:20:56.82
cannot intercede for sinners.
00:20:56.85\00:20:59.30
They were just symbols
or shadows of Jesus Christ.
00:20:59.33\00:21:02.81
And so it says in verse 19, "For
the law made nothing perfect."
00:21:02.84\00:21:07.82
In other words, it didn't
deal once and for all with sin.
00:21:07.85\00:21:10.85
And so then he says, "On
the other hand, there is the
00:21:10.88\00:21:14.52
bringing in of a..." What?
00:21:14.55\00:21:16.84
"...of a better hope, through
which we draw near to God."
00:21:16.87\00:21:21.37
What is that better hope?
00:21:21.40\00:21:22.71
It's hope that
comes through whom?
00:21:23.18\00:21:25.27
Through Jesus Christ.
00:21:25.30\00:21:26.76
So the Old Testament system
did not legally forgive sin
00:21:26.79\00:21:30.46
because the blood of
animals could not take away sin.
00:21:30.49\00:21:32.92
And so it was
necessary to have a better hope,
00:21:32.95\00:21:35.44
which is the blood of... Whom?
00:21:35.47\00:21:36.95
...the blood of Jesus and the
intercession of Jesus Christ.
00:21:36.98\00:21:40.39
Now I want us to
notice also verse 22.
00:21:40.87\00:21:44.16
Let's read verse 22.
00:21:44.19\00:21:45.49
I said we were going to
jump to verses 25 and 26,
00:21:45.52\00:21:48.16
but let's notice verse 22.
00:21:48.19\00:21:50.10
It says, "By so much
more Jesus has become a surety
00:21:50.40\00:21:55.19
of a better covenant."
00:21:55.22\00:21:57.20
Was the old
covenant a good covenant?
00:21:57.23\00:21:59.18
You know, some people
say, "Oh the old system,
00:22:00.29\00:22:01.99
that was bad and
this system is good."
00:22:02.02\00:22:04.07
No. Do you know
there is a key word
00:22:04.10\00:22:05.52
used in the book of Hebrews.
00:22:05.55\00:22:06.60
That's the word "better".
00:22:06.63\00:22:07.78
It's not bad and good.
00:22:08.54\00:22:10.55
It's good and better.
00:22:10.91\00:22:12.67
The old system was good,
because as the people sacrificed
00:22:12.97\00:22:16.82
the animal, they were
suppose to see in the animal
00:22:16.85\00:22:19.43
a symbol of... Whom?
00:22:19.46\00:22:21.14
...of Jesus Christ.
00:22:21.17\00:22:22.27
That was good because
it pointed to the future,
00:22:22.30\00:22:25.03
to the coming Messiah.
00:22:25.06\00:22:26.12
But the new system is better.
00:22:26.42\00:22:28.44
Because that which
the old system pointed to
00:22:28.47\00:22:31.11
has taken place in Jesus Christ.
00:22:31.14\00:22:33.90
Are you following me?
00:22:33.93\00:22:34.96
Now let's notice
once again here verse 22.
00:22:35.23\00:22:38.56
"By so much more
Jesus has become a surety
00:22:38.59\00:22:42.01
of a better covenant."
00:22:42.04\00:22:43.23
Verse 23, "Also there were
many priests, because they were
00:22:43.26\00:22:47.41
prevented by
death from continuing.
00:22:47.44\00:22:49.67
But He," that is Jesus, "because
He continues..." How long?
00:22:49.70\00:22:53.59
"...forever, has a..." What?
"...an unchangeable priesthood.
00:22:53.62\00:22:58.10
Therefore He is
also able to..." What?
00:22:58.13\00:23:01.95
"...to save to the
uttermost those who come to God
00:23:01.98\00:23:05.29
through Him, since He
always..." that means forever,
00:23:05.32\00:23:08.30
"...since He always lives
to make intercession for them."
00:23:08.33\00:23:11.27
What was the problem with
the Old Testament priests?
00:23:11.30\00:23:13.54
They all died.
00:23:13.96\00:23:15.09
What's the characteristic
of the priesthood of Jesus?
00:23:15.12\00:23:17.95
Once He resurrected, He... What?
00:23:17.98\00:23:19.74
He never dies again.
00:23:19.77\00:23:21.31
And He is ever able to intercede
for us and deal with sin.
00:23:21.34\00:23:25.11
Are you following me?
00:23:25.14\00:23:26.20
Let's notice verse 26.
00:23:26.65\00:23:28.69
"For such a High Priest was
fitting for us, who is holy,
00:23:28.72\00:23:32.45
harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners, and has become
00:23:32.48\00:23:36.75
higher than the heavens;
who does not need daily,
00:23:36.78\00:23:41.56
as those high priests,
to offer up sacrifices,
00:23:41.59\00:23:45.38
first for His own sins and
then for the people's sins,
00:23:45.41\00:23:49.56
for this He did..." What?
00:23:49.59\00:23:50.98
"...once for all when
He offered up Himself."
00:23:51.01\00:23:54.79
So in the Old Testament,
you had a repetition every year.
00:23:54.82\00:23:57.29
A repetition, a
repetition of these sacrifices.
00:23:57.32\00:24:00.03
They reminded
Israel that the Messiah was
00:24:00.06\00:24:02.69
going to come in the future.
00:24:02.72\00:24:03.83
But when Jesus
came, how many sacrifices?
00:24:03.86\00:24:06.88
One.
00:24:06.91\00:24:07.94
And Jesus Christ
now intercedes forever
00:24:07.97\00:24:10.91
because He is not prevented
by death from interceding.
00:24:10.94\00:24:14.32
Now, what is meant
then by the word "perfect"?
00:24:14.73\00:24:18.01
"The law made nothing perfect."
00:24:18.04\00:24:19.92
It simply means that
the Old Testament system
00:24:19.95\00:24:22.65
did not deal
definitively with sin.
00:24:22.68\00:24:25.63
In other words, it did
not legally take care of sin.
00:24:25.93\00:24:29.49
It was incomplete.
00:24:29.85\00:24:31.76
It wasn't complete.
00:24:31.79\00:24:33.35
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:24:33.38\00:24:34.86
When Jesus comes, He
now becomes qualified
00:24:34.89\00:24:38.97
to truly and legally
save and to forgive sin.
00:24:39.00\00:24:42.78
So the Old Testament
system was imperfect;
00:24:42.98\00:24:46.84
the New
Testament system is perfect
00:24:46.87\00:24:49.03
in the sense that
it truly can save.
00:24:49.06\00:24:51.72
Now let's go to
Hebrews chapter 9
00:24:51.75\00:24:53.97
and read verses 9 through 12.
00:24:54.00\00:24:57.23
Here once again, the
word "perfect" is used
00:24:57.26\00:24:59.42
in the same sense.
00:24:59.45\00:25:00.78
Here, Paul, I believe was behind
the book of Hebrews, says,
00:25:05.11\00:25:08.57
"It," that is the old
system, "was symbolic for the
00:25:08.60\00:25:12.05
present time in which both
gifts and sacrifices are offered
00:25:12.08\00:25:17.11
which cannot make him who
performed the service perfect
00:25:17.14\00:25:21.59
in regard to the conscience."
00:25:21.62\00:25:22.83
So could the old system
make people perfect with
00:25:22.86\00:25:25.07
regard to the conscience?
00:25:25.10\00:25:26.23
Could it make their
conscience free of sin and say,
00:25:26.26\00:25:28.02
"Okay, sin is taken care of."
00:25:28.05\00:25:29.56
Absolutely not.
00:25:29.59\00:25:30.76
Because every time, they
had to sacrifice all over again.
00:25:31.39\00:25:34.93
Which meant that sin
was not taken care of.
00:25:34.96\00:25:37.35
Because if sin was taken care
of, one sacrifice would do it.
00:25:37.38\00:25:40.60
And the priests would die and
they couldn't intercede anymore.
00:25:40.90\00:25:43.55
And then you had another priest.
00:25:43.58\00:25:44.63
It was an ongoing system.
00:25:44.66\00:25:46.57
But what the apostle
Paul is saying here is that
00:25:46.60\00:25:49.42
in the Old Testament
system, you had many sacrifices
00:25:49.45\00:25:54.29
and you had many priests.
00:25:54.32\00:25:55.94
But with regard to
Christ, you have one sacrifice
00:25:55.97\00:25:58.71
and you have one eternal Priest.
00:25:58.74\00:26:01.05
And the Old Testament
system could not make perfect
00:26:01.08\00:26:04.45
in regard to the conscience.
00:26:04.48\00:26:06.31
In other words,
people knew that the blood of
00:26:06.34\00:26:08.39
bulls and goats
could not actually legally
00:26:08.42\00:26:10.67
forgive their sin.
00:26:10.77\00:26:11.81
They believed that Jesus
would come in the future,
00:26:11.84\00:26:14.28
and by His sacrifice sin
would be legally forgiven.
00:26:14.31\00:26:17.51
But they knew that when
they offered those sacrifices,
00:26:17.54\00:26:20.13
they were symbolic,
or they were shadows.
00:26:20.16\00:26:22.46
Now notice what
it continues saying.
00:26:22.76\00:26:24.61
Once again beginning at verse 9.
00:26:24.64\00:26:27.43
"It was symbolic for the present
time in which both gifts and
00:26:27.46\00:26:31.03
sacrifices are offered which
cannot make him who performed
00:26:31.06\00:26:34.63
the service perfect in
regard to the conscience."
00:26:34.66\00:26:37.85
And why?
00:26:37.95\00:26:38.98
It says because these things
were, "concerned only with
00:26:39.01\00:26:41.49
foods and
drinks, various washings,
00:26:41.52\00:26:44.81
and fleshly ordinances
imposed until..." When?
00:26:44.84\00:26:48.61
"...until the
time of reformation."
00:26:48.64\00:26:50.86
When is the time of reformation?
00:26:50.89\00:26:52.56
By the way, it's not
referring to Martin Luther.
00:26:53.03\00:26:55.46
It's the moment when
Jesus Christ died on the cross.
00:26:56.69\00:26:59.41
So this ceremonial system
was to exist until... When?
00:26:59.44\00:27:02.76
...until the
time of reformation.
00:27:03.06\00:27:04.66
In other words,
until Jesus came.
00:27:04.69\00:27:06.60
Now verse 11
further explains this.
00:27:06.63\00:27:08.96
"But Christ came as High Priest
of the good things to come."
00:27:09.26\00:27:15.00
Are you seeing the
contrast between what was
00:27:15.28\00:27:17.36
and what was to be?
00:27:17.39\00:27:18.60
So it says once again,
"But Christ came as High Priest
00:27:19.14\00:27:24.30
of the good things to
come, with the greater and more
00:27:24.33\00:27:27.31
perfect tabernacle
not made with hands,
00:27:27.34\00:27:29.81
that is, not of this creation.
00:27:29.84\00:27:32.08
Not with the blood of goats and
calves, but with His own blood
00:27:32.11\00:27:36.81
He entered the
Most Holy Place..."
00:27:36.84\00:27:38.46
As we've seen, the
better translation, He entered
00:27:38.49\00:27:41.62
into the "Holy Place".
00:27:41.65\00:27:43.26
"...once for all,
having obtained..." What?
00:27:43.29\00:27:46.44
"...eternal redemption."
00:27:46.47\00:27:48.19
So does Jesus have to
continue dying and dying
00:27:48.22\00:27:50.66
and dying and dying?
00:27:50.69\00:27:51.82
Absolutely not.
00:27:51.85\00:27:53.09
It took place once for all.
00:27:53.12\00:27:54.95
Did Jesus, when He died on the
cross, legally take care of sin?
00:27:54.98\00:27:58.61
Can people now say, "If I
repent and I confess my sins
00:27:58.64\00:28:02.72
and I trust in Jesus
Christ, I can have the assurance
00:28:02.75\00:28:05.92
that Jesus Christ forgives
those sins and cleanses me
00:28:05.95\00:28:09.26
from all unrighteousness."
00:28:09.29\00:28:10.33
Absolutely.
00:28:10.36\00:28:11.57
Now let's go to
Hebrews chapter 10.
00:28:11.92\00:28:14.09
Once again, the
word "perfect" is used
00:28:14.12\00:28:15.98
with regards to God's people.
00:28:16.01\00:28:17.78
Hebrews chapter 10 and
we'll read verses 1 through 4,
00:28:17.88\00:28:22.89
and then we'll jump to 11
and 12, and then 14 and 18.
00:28:22.92\00:28:25.97
Notice Hebrews 10 verse 1.
00:28:26.37\00:28:28.48
"For the law..." it's referring
to the ceremonial system,
00:28:28.85\00:28:31.97
not the ten commandments.
00:28:32.00\00:28:33.50
" For the law,
having a shadow of..." What?
00:28:33.53\00:28:37.31
What was the ceremonial system?
00:28:37.71\00:28:39.72
A shadow of what?
00:28:39.75\00:28:40.78
What are those
good things to come?
00:28:41.74\00:28:43.36
Jesus Christ, that's right.
00:28:44.10\00:28:45.64
"...and not the
very image of the things,
00:28:45.67\00:28:48.22
can never with
these same sacrifices,
00:28:48.25\00:28:52.22
which they offer
continually year by year,
00:28:52.25\00:28:55.23
make those who
approach..." What?
00:28:55.26\00:28:57.74
"...perfect."
00:28:57.77\00:28:58.80
Is that talking
about moral perfection?
00:28:59.36\00:29:01.11
Perfection of character?
00:29:01.14\00:29:02.41
No. It means that their sins
could not legally be... What?
00:29:02.71\00:29:07.06
...forgiven by the
Old Testament system.
00:29:07.09\00:29:09.38
Because Jesus had
not become qualified yet
00:29:09.60\00:29:13.28
in order to do that.
00:29:13.31\00:29:14.42
And so it continues saying,
"For the law, having a shadow of
00:29:14.61\00:29:17.97
the good things to come, and not
the very image of the things,
00:29:18.00\00:29:20.82
can never with these same
sacrifices, which they offer
00:29:20.85\00:29:24.12
continually year by year,
make those who approach perfect.
00:29:24.15\00:29:29.21
For then would they not
have ceased to be offered?"
00:29:29.24\00:29:33.14
In other words, if they
made a person perfect then why
00:29:33.17\00:29:35.30
continue offering and offering
and offering and offering?
00:29:35.33\00:29:37.87
"For the worshipers,
once purified, would have had
00:29:38.32\00:29:41.80
no more
consciousness of..." What?
00:29:41.83\00:29:43.34
"...sins."
00:29:43.37\00:29:44.40
They would say,
"Sins are taken care of.
00:29:44.43\00:29:46.06
We don't have to
worry about it anymore."
00:29:46.09\00:29:47.69
Verse 3, "But in those
sacrifices there is a..." What?
00:29:47.72\00:29:52.09
"... a reminder
of sins every year.
00:29:52.12\00:29:55.39
For it is not
possible that the blood of
00:29:56.20\00:29:58.97
bulls and goats could..." What?
00:29:59.00\00:30:01.08
"...take away sins."
00:30:01.11\00:30:02.27
Did the Old Testament
system legally forgive
00:30:02.30\00:30:05.84
the Old Testament saints?
00:30:05.87\00:30:07.27
No, not legally.
00:30:07.30\00:30:09.01
But only on the basis of what?
00:30:09.04\00:30:11.11
Of the promise of
the coming Messiah.
00:30:11.14\00:30:13.37
God accepted their
faith in the coming Messiah.
00:30:13.40\00:30:16.32
And then we're going to
notice that when Jesus came,
00:30:16.35\00:30:18.86
those sins were taken
care of and their record
00:30:18.89\00:30:22.39
was made perfect.
00:30:22.42\00:30:24.35
Now let's continue
reading at verse 11.
00:30:24.38\00:30:27.45
"And every priest stands
ministering daily and offering
00:30:27.85\00:30:32.09
repeatedly the same sacrifices,
which can never..." What?
00:30:32.12\00:30:36.10
"...which can
never take away sins."
00:30:36.13\00:30:38.28
See, there's the idea again.
00:30:38.31\00:30:39.86
"But this Man, after He
had offered one sacrifice
00:30:39.89\00:30:44.38
for sins forever, sat
down at the right hand of God.
00:30:44.41\00:30:48.42
For by one
offering He has..." What?
00:30:48.45\00:30:51.27
There's the word again.
00:30:51.30\00:30:52.94
"...He has perfected forever
those who are being..." What?
00:30:52.97\00:30:57.00
"...sanctified."
00:30:57.03\00:30:58.10
What does it mean that,
"He has perfected forever
00:30:58.13\00:31:00.08
those who are being sanctified?"
00:31:00.11\00:31:01.49
Is he saying that He's giving
them a perfect moral character
00:31:01.52\00:31:04.47
that doesn't sin anymore?
00:31:04.50\00:31:05.95
No, what he's saying
is that their life record
00:31:05.98\00:31:09.18
has been... What?
00:31:09.21\00:31:10.28
...legally taken care of.
00:31:10.51\00:31:12.47
Because the sins
were written in the books
00:31:12.50\00:31:15.17
and when people repented
and confessed their sins,
00:31:15.68\00:31:18.61
Jesus basically
said, "I'll pay."
00:31:18.64\00:31:21.74
But there was an IOU.
00:31:21.77\00:31:23.98
Are you following me?
00:31:24.01\00:31:25.35
An IOU is written and Jesus
said, "I'll take care of it.
00:31:25.38\00:31:29.19
I'll pay for it."
00:31:29.22\00:31:30.25
Were they saved on
the basis of the promise
00:31:30.60\00:31:33.07
of the coming Messiah?
00:31:33.10\00:31:34.34
Absolutely.
00:31:34.37\00:31:35.50
Now notice once again verse 14.
00:31:35.80\00:31:37.82
"For by one offering
He has perfected forever
00:31:37.85\00:31:41.31
those who are being sanctified."
00:31:41.34\00:31:42.83
Verse 18, "Now where
there is remission of these..."
00:31:42.86\00:31:46.46
The word
"remission" means forgiveness.
00:31:46.76\00:31:48.44
"Where there is
'forgiveness' of these,
00:31:48.47\00:31:50.33
there is no longer..." What?
00:31:50.36\00:31:52.04
"...an offering for sin."
00:31:52.07\00:31:53.41
Jesus does not have to, what?
00:31:53.44\00:31:55.62
He does not have to die again.
00:31:55.65\00:31:57.35
Because when He died, He
made perfect provision for
00:31:57.38\00:32:00.84
God's people to be perfected,
in the sense of the record
00:32:00.87\00:32:03.76
of all these Old Testament
saints being set straight
00:32:03.79\00:32:07.86
and their sins legally forgiven.
00:32:07.89\00:32:09.97
In other words, all
of the IOU's wiped out.
00:32:10.00\00:32:12.97
Raise your hand if you're
understanding what I'm saying.
00:32:13.27\00:32:15.13
Praise the Lord.
00:32:15.35\00:32:16.41
So this word "perfect"
is very important, isn't it.
00:32:16.84\00:32:20.43
Now let's notice
another couple of passages
00:32:20.72\00:32:23.36
that we find, one in Romans
and the other in Colossians,
00:32:23.39\00:32:27.20
that help us understand
this particular concept.
00:32:27.23\00:32:30.36
Romans chapter 3
and verses 25 and 26.
00:32:30.39\00:32:34.77
Romans 3:25-26
00:32:35.23\00:32:37.42
And Romans 3 is
the great chapter on
00:32:37.45\00:32:40.52
righteousness by faith.
00:32:40.55\00:32:42.25
Here is where the apostle
Paul uses the example of Abraham
00:32:42.28\00:32:45.97
to show that Abraham
was justified by faith.
00:32:46.00\00:32:49.19
Now notice Romans 3
beginning with verse 25.
00:32:49.52\00:32:54.36
Actually, let's begin with verse
24 for a little bit of context.
00:32:54.39\00:32:57.63
It says there in verse
24, "Being justified..."
00:32:57.83\00:33:01.90
That means forgiven, by the way.
00:33:02.20\00:33:03.78
Same thing as forgiven.
00:33:03.81\00:33:04.88
"Being justified freely by
His grace through the redemption
00:33:05.18\00:33:10.29
that is in Christ
Jesus, whom God set forth as a
00:33:10.32\00:33:14.72
propitiation by His
blood, through faith..."
00:33:14.75\00:33:18.36
Now, Jesus shed His blood.
00:33:18.39\00:33:20.46
Why did He shed His blood?
00:33:20.49\00:33:22.11
Well, so that
people could be saved.
00:33:22.14\00:33:23.49
But what had God done in
the Old Testament period?
00:33:23.52\00:33:26.44
Let's continue reading.
00:33:26.47\00:33:27.71
Verse 25 again, "...whom
God set forth as a propitiation
00:33:28.24\00:33:32.42
by His blood, through faith..."
00:33:32.45\00:33:33.98
Now listen carefully.
00:33:34.86\00:33:36.61
"...to demonstrate His..." What?
00:33:36.64\00:33:38.47
"...His righteousness,
because in His forbearance..."
00:33:39.37\00:33:44.05
Do you know what
forbearance means?
00:33:44.08\00:33:45.81
In His patience,
in His long suffering.
00:33:46.11\00:33:50.00
"...God had..." What?
00:33:50.46\00:33:52.19
"...passed over the sins
that were previously committed."
00:33:52.22\00:33:56.67
What had God done during
the Old Testament period?
00:33:57.56\00:34:00.04
He had passed over what?
00:34:00.76\00:34:02.70
He had passed over the sins
that were previously committed.
00:34:02.73\00:34:05.58
But when Jesus died, is the
righteousness of Christ shown
00:34:05.61\00:34:09.48
to take care of those sins?
00:34:09.51\00:34:10.97
Absolutely, the text is clear.
00:34:11.00\00:34:12.93
And then it says in verse
26, "...to demonstrate at the
00:34:12.96\00:34:16.76
present time His righteousness."
00:34:16.79\00:34:18.59
See, the contrast is, He
passed over all these sins,
00:34:18.62\00:34:21.68
they were not
legally taken care of.
00:34:21.71\00:34:24.21
But now it says He did
this when He died on the cross
00:34:24.24\00:34:27.85
"to demonstrate at the
present time His righteousness,
00:34:27.88\00:34:31.48
that He might be just
and the justifier of the one
00:34:31.51\00:34:35.09
who has faith in Jesus."
00:34:35.12\00:34:37.15
Are you following the
argument of this passage?
00:34:37.46\00:34:39.79
What did God do in
the Old Testament period?
00:34:39.82\00:34:41.86
The blood of bulls and
goats cannot take away sin.
00:34:43.03\00:34:45.16
So what did God do?
00:34:45.19\00:34:46.32
God said, "I'll forgive you
on the basis of the promise,
00:34:46.35\00:34:51.18
but it's not
legally taken care of.
00:34:51.49\00:34:53.45
You have faith in
the coming Messiah."
00:34:53.48\00:34:55.27
He passed over those sins.
00:34:55.77\00:34:57.64
But when Jesus dies on
the cross, are all those sins
00:34:57.67\00:35:00.72
definitively taken care of?
00:35:00.75\00:35:02.45
The faith that all those Old
Testament saints had in Jesus.
00:35:02.48\00:35:05.27
Absolutely.
00:35:05.30\00:35:06.33
Sin is dealt
with once and for all.
00:35:06.36\00:35:08.90
And are the records of
those individuals set straight?
00:35:08.93\00:35:12.19
Next to those sins is
written the word... What?
00:35:12.22\00:35:14.96
...forgiven by the
blood of Jesus Christ.
00:35:14.99\00:35:17.66
Are those people made perfect?
00:35:17.69\00:35:19.17
They're made
perfect, absolutely.
00:35:19.64\00:35:21.44
Now there's another passage
that we need to take a look at.
00:35:21.84\00:35:24.45
Colossians
chapter 2 and verse 14.
00:35:24.48\00:35:27.33
And I'm reading this in
the English Standard Version,
00:35:27.36\00:35:31.12
which is becoming one of
the more popular versions.
00:35:31.15\00:35:33.55
It's not a paraphrase,
it's actually a translation.
00:35:33.58\00:35:37.20
And it's a very good
translation, if I might say so.
00:35:37.23\00:35:41.76
Colossians
chapter 2 and verse 14.
00:35:42.55\00:35:46.02
And Let's read
verse 13 for the context.
00:35:47.09\00:35:49.96
We always want to get a
little bit of the context.
00:35:49.99\00:35:52.43
It says there, the apostle
Paul speaking to the Colossians,
00:35:52.73\00:35:56.79
"And you, who were
dead in your trespasses..."
00:35:56.82\00:36:00.81
What were they?
00:36:01.23\00:36:02.40
Dead in their trespasses.
00:36:02.83\00:36:04.61
"...and the
uncircumcision of your flesh,
00:36:04.64\00:36:07.48
God made alive together
with Him, having..." What?
00:36:07.51\00:36:11.50
"...forgiven us
all our trespasses..."
00:36:11.53\00:36:15.22
So what has Jesus done?
00:36:16.27\00:36:17.89
He has forgiven us
all our trespasses.
00:36:18.64\00:36:21.77
Now how did He do this?
00:36:21.80\00:36:23.51
Verse 14, "...by
canceling the..." What?
00:36:23.54\00:36:28.04
"...the record of debt..."
00:36:28.81\00:36:30.76
This is the ESV.
00:36:30.79\00:36:31.98
And by the way, many
of the modern versions
00:36:32.01\00:36:33.60
have similar translations.
00:36:33.63\00:36:35.32
"...by canceling the record
of debt that stood against us
00:36:35.72\00:36:40.92
with its legal demands.
00:36:40.95\00:36:43.26
This He set aside,
nailing it to the cross."
00:36:43.29\00:36:47.62
Now this word "cheirographon"
that is used here, which is
00:36:48.11\00:36:53.68
translated in the
King James Version,
00:36:53.71\00:36:55.66
the handwriting of ordinances...
00:36:55.69\00:36:57.38
See, when the King
James translators translated
00:36:57.41\00:36:59.63
this word, there were certain
archeological discoveries
00:36:59.66\00:37:03.05
that had not been made yet.
00:37:03.08\00:37:04.14
But it's been discovered
that this was a commercial word
00:37:04.17\00:37:07.44
that was used in
the days of Christ.
00:37:07.47\00:37:09.57
Basically what the word
means is, a bond of debt.
00:37:10.28\00:37:14.87
What is a bond of debt?
00:37:15.59\00:37:17.48
Do you know what
a bond of debt is?
00:37:19.65\00:37:21.79
It's an IOU. Right?
00:37:21.82\00:37:24.08
Now in the Old Testament,
what happened when a person
00:37:24.11\00:37:27.14
confessed their sins
and they repented of sin
00:37:27.17\00:37:30.42
and they sacrificed the
animal, and through the blood of
00:37:30.45\00:37:35.12
the animal they looked forward
to the sacrifice of Christ.
00:37:35.15\00:37:38.28
What did Jesus say?
00:37:38.97\00:37:40.31
"Okay, this is an IOU.
00:37:41.47\00:37:44.34
I'll sign it,
I'll be the co-signer.
00:37:44.77\00:37:47.28
I'll take care of it."
00:37:47.31\00:37:48.34
What did Jesus
nail to the cross?
00:37:48.37\00:37:50.52
Jesus took all of the IOU's,
the bonds of debt if you please,
00:37:50.55\00:37:55.69
that had accumulated.
00:37:55.72\00:37:57.01
He grabbed all of these IOU's
and He nailed them to the cross,
00:37:57.04\00:38:01.20
legally, because His
blood truly could forgive sin.
00:38:01.23\00:38:04.62
And so basically, what the
apostle Paul is saying is that
00:38:05.13\00:38:09.16
the record of sin was
canceled, the debt was canceled,
00:38:09.19\00:38:14.10
"that stood against us
with its legal demands."
00:38:14.13\00:38:16.73
He set this aside,
nailing it to the cross.
00:38:16.76\00:38:19.78
He didn't nail the ten
commandments to the cross.
00:38:19.81\00:38:21.98
He nailed our bond
of debt to the cross.
00:38:22.01\00:38:25.96
Now I need to go to a
few other issues relating to
00:38:26.26\00:38:30.08
chapter 12 of
the book of Hebrews.
00:38:30.11\00:38:32.63
It's interesting to notice
that in Hebrews chapter 12
00:38:33.22\00:38:37.66
and verse 24, it says
there that the blood of Christ
00:38:37.69\00:38:43.10
speaks better
than the blood of Abel.
00:38:43.13\00:38:46.55
In all translations that
I checked, it says that the
00:38:46.58\00:38:50.32
blood of Christ speaks better
things than the blood of Abel.
00:38:50.35\00:38:55.63
But I need to tell you
something very interesting.
00:38:55.66\00:38:57.94
The part of the translations,
and it's all of the translations
00:38:58.68\00:39:03.06
that I could find, all of
the known translations today,
00:39:03.09\00:39:06.20
there's a portion of this that
is not in the original text.
00:39:06.97\00:39:10.43
The part of the verse that
says, "speaks better things
00:39:10.89\00:39:15.23
than the blood of
Abel," the part that says,
00:39:15.26\00:39:19.86
"than the blood of," is
not in the original text.
00:39:20.85\00:39:25.30
It's added by the translators.
00:39:26.22\00:39:28.58
In other words, the translators
think that the contrast
00:39:28.61\00:39:31.19
is between the blood
that Abel was shed as a martyr
00:39:31.22\00:39:35.13
and the blood of Jesus Christ.
00:39:35.16\00:39:37.93
And basically, many translations
say that the blood of Abel
00:39:37.96\00:39:41.32
cries out for vengeance and
the blood of Jesus satisfies
00:39:41.35\00:39:45.94
what Abel cried out about.
00:39:45.97\00:39:47.82
In other words, they say
that the contrast is between
00:39:47.85\00:39:50.30
the blood that Abel shed and the
blood that Jesus Christ shed.
00:39:50.33\00:39:54.12
But once again, I must tell
you that the text does not say,
00:39:54.53\00:39:59.02
"than the blood of Abel,"
00:39:59.05\00:40:01.33
"that speaks better
things than the blood of Abel."
00:40:01.36\00:40:03.76
It actually says, "it
speaks better things than Abel."
00:40:03.83\00:40:09.22
It doesn't say,
"than the blood of Abel."
00:40:09.25\00:40:11.17
Are you understanding my point?
00:40:11.20\00:40:12.43
Now you say, why
is this important.
00:40:12.46\00:40:13.88
Allow me to read you a
very interesting statement by
00:40:14.31\00:40:16.92
a Bible commentator.
00:40:16.95\00:40:18.02
He's not an Adventist.
His name is Albert Barnes.
00:40:18.05\00:40:21.20
And he understood very
well what this is talking about.
00:40:21.78\00:40:24.34
Albert Barnes.
00:40:24.77\00:40:26.62
Notice what he had to say.
00:40:26.65\00:40:28.90
And let me see here, I
might be missing a page here.
00:40:28.93\00:40:32.55
Oh, here it is. Okay.
00:40:36.62\00:40:38.38
This is what he says.
00:40:39.53\00:40:40.72
"The meaning here is
that the blood of Jesus,"
00:40:40.75\00:40:44.86
listen carefully, "the blood
of Jesus speaks better things
00:40:44.89\00:40:49.53
than Abel did.
00:40:49.56\00:40:50.80
That is, that the
blood of Jesus is the reality
00:40:51.20\00:40:56.00
of which the
offering of Abel was a type.
00:40:56.03\00:40:59.98
Abel proclaimed by the
sacrifice which he made,
00:41:01.06\00:41:05.38
the great truth that
salvation could be only
00:41:05.41\00:41:08.77
by a bloody
offering that he did.
00:41:08.80\00:41:12.40
This only in a
typical and obscure manner.
00:41:12.94\00:41:16.19
Jesus proclaimed it in a
more distinct and better manner
00:41:16.22\00:41:21.27
by the reality."
00:41:21.30\00:41:22.48
Let me read that again because
it's a very important concept.
00:41:22.51\00:41:25.17
Barnes says the meaning here
is that, "the blood of Jesus
00:41:25.73\00:41:28.92
speaks better
things than Abel did.
00:41:28.95\00:41:31.62
That is, that the
blood of Jesus is the reality
00:41:31.65\00:41:34.94
of which the
offering of Abel was a type.
00:41:34.97\00:41:38.94
Abel proclaimed by the
sacrifice which he made,
00:41:38.97\00:41:42.33
the great truth that
salvation could be only
00:41:42.36\00:41:46.08
by a bloody offering.
00:41:46.11\00:41:47.74
But he did this only in a
typical and obscure manner.
00:41:47.77\00:41:51.76
Jesus proclaimed it in a
more distinct and better manner
00:41:51.79\00:41:57.38
by the reality."
00:41:57.41\00:41:58.80
In other words, the contrast
is not between the blood
00:41:59.33\00:42:02.15
that was shed by Abel...
00:42:02.18\00:42:03.46
In other words, his blood
that was poured out as a martyr.
00:42:03.49\00:42:06.36
...and the blood of Jesus.
00:42:06.39\00:42:07.82
The contrast is between
the sacrifice that Abel offered
00:42:07.85\00:42:12.19
in comparison with the sacrifice
that Jesus Christ offered.
00:42:13.10\00:42:16.97
Now you're saying, did
Abel offer a sacrifice?
00:42:17.00\00:42:19.82
He most certainly did.
00:42:20.12\00:42:21.48
Notice Hebrews chapter
11 and verse 4, the context.
00:42:21.78\00:42:25.02
It says here, "By faith
Abel offered to God a..." What?
00:42:28.06\00:42:34.81
"...a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain."
00:42:35.11\00:42:38.40
Now what kind of sacrifice did
Abel offer, if you go back to
00:42:38.43\00:42:41.32
Genesis chapter 4?
00:42:41.35\00:42:42.59
He offered a what?
00:42:43.09\00:42:44.68
A blood sacrifice of an animal.
00:42:45.38\00:42:47.66
Was that sacrifice good?
00:42:47.69\00:42:49.59
Yes it was, it was good.
00:42:50.41\00:42:52.14
Was there a sacrifice
that was better than that one?
00:42:52.17\00:42:54.76
Absolutely.
00:42:55.12\00:42:56.15
Which one? That of Jesus Christ.
00:42:56.18\00:42:58.83
And so it says, "By faith Abel
offered to God a more excellent
00:42:58.86\00:43:01.98
sacrifice than Cain, through
which he obtained witness
00:43:02.01\00:43:05.63
that he was righteous,
God testifying of his gifts;
00:43:05.66\00:43:09.55
and through it he
being dead still speaks."
00:43:09.58\00:43:14.02
So are you understanding
what the contrast is here?
00:43:14.05\00:43:16.55
The contrast is not that
the blood of Abel was shed
00:43:16.85\00:43:21.21
as a martyr, and then the blood
of Jesus was shed on the cross.
00:43:21.24\00:43:25.32
That's not the contrast.
00:43:25.35\00:43:26.52
The contrast is between
the offering that Abel offered,
00:43:26.55\00:43:30.26
the blood in the
offering that Abel offered,
00:43:30.29\00:43:32.78
and the blood that
Jesus offered on the cross.
00:43:32.81\00:43:36.44
Does the blood of Jesus
Christ speak better things
00:43:36.47\00:43:40.24
than the blood that
was offered by Abel?
00:43:40.27\00:43:43.13
Absolutely.
00:43:43.16\00:43:44.23
Does this fit with the
theme of the book of Hebrews
00:43:44.26\00:43:46.82
where you have a contrast
between the Old Testament
00:43:46.85\00:43:49.06
sacrificial system and
the New Testament death of
00:43:49.09\00:43:52.40
Jesus Christ on the cross?
00:43:52.43\00:43:53.69
It fits much better than
thinking that it's comparing
00:43:53.72\00:43:56.20
the death of Abel with
the death of Jesus Christ.
00:43:56.23\00:43:59.53
Now let's put the
icing on the cake.
00:43:59.97\00:44:02.23
Go with me to Hebrews
chapter 11 and verse 39.
00:44:02.71\00:44:09.25
Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 39.
00:44:09.28\00:44:12.65
And let's notice something
very very interesting here.
00:44:12.68\00:44:15.96
It says there, speaking
about all of these heroes
00:44:18.27\00:44:21.81
from the Old Testament.
00:44:21.84\00:44:22.87
If you look at the context,
you're going to see all of these
00:44:22.90\00:44:26.19
Old Testament heroes.
00:44:26.22\00:44:27.44
By the way, not only men
but also women are mentioned
00:44:27.47\00:44:31.43
among those heroes.
00:44:31.46\00:44:32.58
And that's why it's
important to realize that
00:44:32.61\00:44:34.83
in Hebrews chapter 12, the
word "men" does not appear;
00:44:34.86\00:44:38.68
where it says "the spirits
of righteous men made perfect."
00:44:38.71\00:44:41.93
The word "men" is
added by the translators.
00:44:41.96\00:44:44.01
Really it's, "the spirits
of the righteous made perfect."
00:44:44.26\00:44:47.66
In other words, it
refers to both male and female.
00:44:47.69\00:44:51.35
The word "men"
is not used there.
00:44:51.38\00:44:53.36
There are females in the list of
heroes from the Old Testament.
00:44:53.39\00:44:56.89
So after mentioning Abraham
and Moses and Enoch and Abel,
00:44:56.92\00:45:02.10
and all these
great heroes, and Noah,
00:45:02.13\00:45:04.09
notice what we find in verse 39.
00:45:04.12\00:45:07.44
"And all these, having
obtained a good testimony
00:45:08.07\00:45:12.92
through faith, did
not receive the promise."
00:45:12.95\00:45:18.47
What promise?
00:45:19.52\00:45:20.77
What promise
didn't they receive?
00:45:22.16\00:45:23.82
They did not receive
the promise of the Messiah.
00:45:24.35\00:45:26.88
In other words, they
looked at the promise from afar.
00:45:27.73\00:45:30.89
They saw the Messiah in
the symbols and in the figures
00:45:32.84\00:45:35.74
and in the shadows
of the Old Testament.
00:45:35.77\00:45:37.40
But they did not, what?
00:45:37.43\00:45:39.11
They did not
receive the promise.
00:45:39.14\00:45:40.94
So let me ask you, was
their experience incomplete?
00:45:40.97\00:45:43.39
In the sense that their
sins were not definitively
00:45:43.88\00:45:46.41
legally taken care of.
00:45:46.44\00:45:47.92
Absolutely.
00:45:47.95\00:45:48.98
They looked forward to it, but
it had not taken place legally.
00:45:49.01\00:45:54.43
Now I want you
to notice verse 40.
00:45:55.18\00:45:56.80
Verse 40 is a
critically important verse.
00:45:56.83\00:45:59.03
In the next verse, we're
told that we have something
00:45:59.68\00:46:03.10
better than they did.
00:46:03.13\00:46:04.35
What do we have
better than they did?
00:46:06.43\00:46:08.01
Well, we have
Christ in fulfillment.
00:46:10.38\00:46:13.21
Notice what it says in
Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 40.
00:46:13.24\00:46:18.14
Let's read verse
39 for the context.
00:46:18.68\00:46:21.03
"And all these, having obtained
a good testimony through faith,
00:46:21.06\00:46:24.13
did not receive the
promise, God having provided
00:46:24.16\00:46:28.13
something..." What?
"better for..." Whom?
00:46:28.16\00:46:32.02
"...for us..."
00:46:32.46\00:46:33.86
And now this is a
critically important phrase.
00:46:34.05\00:46:36.63
It says, "...that
they..." Who does that refer to?
00:46:36.66\00:46:39.60
The Old Testament saints.
00:46:40.17\00:46:41.82
"...that they should
not be made..." What?
00:46:41.85\00:46:44.88
"...perfect apart from us."
00:46:45.50\00:46:49.51
Are you understanding what
the apostle Paul is saying here?
00:46:52.41\00:46:54.50
They could not be
made perfect apart from us.
00:46:55.82\00:46:59.24
Now are we the ones
who make them perfect?
00:46:59.27\00:47:00.94
No.
00:47:01.34\00:47:02.37
When does Jesus
make us perfect in Him?
00:47:02.47\00:47:06.36
When He died on the cross and
when we claim Him as our Savior,
00:47:06.39\00:47:10.01
and we receive His
life and His death.
00:47:10.04\00:47:12.82
Then is my record clean?
00:47:13.41\00:47:16.20
Am I legally forgiven?
00:47:16.23\00:47:17.99
Absolutely.
00:47:18.02\00:47:19.15
That's something better for us.
00:47:19.18\00:47:21.72
But they were not made
perfect until Jesus, what?
00:47:22.82\00:47:25.99
Until Jesus died on the cross.
00:47:26.02\00:47:28.31
Then they were made complete or
whole or qualified for salvation
00:47:28.34\00:47:33.60
because the death of
Jesus truly dealt with sin.
00:47:33.63\00:47:36.98
Raise your hand if you're
understanding what I'm saying.
00:47:37.01\00:47:39.02
Now, what does this
have to do with our text?
00:47:40.51\00:47:44.13
Let me provide an example so
we can understand this clearly.
00:47:44.16\00:47:47.92
We're all acquainted
with one of those great heroes
00:47:48.71\00:47:51.11
that is in this list.
00:47:51.14\00:47:52.55
Moses.
00:47:52.88\00:47:54.42
The story of Moses
is very interesting.
00:47:55.25\00:47:57.30
You know, he's the only person
in the Bible where we're told
00:47:57.86\00:48:00.58
that God buried him.
00:48:00.61\00:48:01.88
And there's something else
that's strange about Moses.
00:48:05.68\00:48:07.73
It says that nobody
knew where his grave was.
00:48:07.76\00:48:10.22
Interesting.
00:48:12.07\00:48:13.34
Because, the Jews, they marked
the graves of their heroes.
00:48:13.37\00:48:16.72
Everybody knew
where Abraham was buried;
00:48:16.75\00:48:19.70
in the Cave of Machpelah.
00:48:19.73\00:48:20.91
They knew where David was
buried; there in Jerusalem.
00:48:20.94\00:48:23.87
They kept a record of
where their heroes were buried.
00:48:23.90\00:48:26.58
But the Bible says
that God buried Moses,
00:48:26.61\00:48:28.52
and nobody knew
where his tomb was.
00:48:28.55\00:48:30.75
That's in Deuteronomy
chapter 34 verses 5 and 6.
00:48:31.37\00:48:34.25
Let's read it.
00:48:34.28\00:48:35.31
"So Moses the servant of
the Lord died there in the
00:48:35.34\00:48:37.72
land of Moab, according
to the word of the Lord.
00:48:37.75\00:48:40.40
And He" that is God, "buried him
in a valley in the land of Moab,
00:48:40.43\00:48:44.93
opposite Beth Peor; but no one
knows his grave to this day."
00:48:44.96\00:48:49.85
But the interesting thing
is, the Bible tells us that when
00:48:50.56\00:48:53.00
Moses died, there was
a battle over his body.
00:48:53.03\00:48:55.50
Do you think God
fights over dead corpses?
00:48:57.50\00:48:59.72
Do you think God is
some kind of heavenly vulture
00:49:00.55\00:49:02.62
that comes and fights
with the devil over a dead body
00:49:02.65\00:49:04.89
that's in the
process of decomposing?
00:49:04.92\00:49:06.75
Absolutely not.
00:49:06.78\00:49:08.51
Notice Jude 9.
00:49:09.09\00:49:12.61
It says, "Yet Michael
the archangel, in contending
00:49:13.72\00:49:17.45
with the devil, when he disputed
about the body of Moses..."
00:49:17.48\00:49:22.04
What was the
devil disputing over?
00:49:22.07\00:49:23.73
The body of Moses.
00:49:24.30\00:49:25.54
What had Michael, the
archangel, come to do?
00:49:25.57\00:49:28.26
He had come to resurrect him.
00:49:29.03\00:49:30.52
We're going to see
that in a few moments.
00:49:30.55\00:49:32.19
"...dared not bring against
him a reviling accusation,
00:49:32.22\00:49:35.61
but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
00:49:35.64\00:49:38.11
Now what was the
devil's argument?
00:49:38.14\00:49:39.51
What the devil was
saying is, "Moses sinned when he
00:49:39.54\00:49:43.18
killed the Egyptian.
00:49:43.21\00:49:44.24
And Moses sinned when
he struck the rock twice.
00:49:44.80\00:49:48.09
And therefore,
because he sinned, he's mine."
00:49:48.87\00:49:52.22
And God said to the
devil, Jesus said to the devil,
00:49:53.62\00:49:56.53
"True, Moses did sin.
00:49:56.56\00:49:58.71
But I have promised to
offer My life to legally
00:49:58.74\00:50:03.05
take care of his sin."
00:50:03.08\00:50:04.25
And the devil says, "But You
haven't done it yet, have You."
00:50:04.28\00:50:07.23
He says, "But
I'm going to do it."
00:50:07.82\00:50:09.43
And so the Bible tells us
that Moses was taken, where?
00:50:09.84\00:50:14.60
He was taken to heaven.
00:50:15.11\00:50:16.41
And the devil railed against
God and railed against Jesus,
00:50:16.45\00:50:20.19
because They had taken
Moses to heaven when his sins
00:50:20.22\00:50:23.95
had not legally
been taken care of yet.
00:50:23.98\00:50:26.86
That was the devil's argument.
00:50:26.89\00:50:28.15
Jesus said, "But I
will take care of them.
00:50:28.18\00:50:30.12
Moses trusted in Me
in the future sacrifice."
00:50:30.15\00:50:33.39
Interestingly enough,
when Jesus was on this earth,
00:50:34.14\00:50:37.80
both Moses and
Elijah appeared to Christ on
00:50:38.61\00:50:41.50
the Mount of Transfiguration.
00:50:41.53\00:50:42.90
So Moses must have resurrected.
00:50:42.93\00:50:45.15
In fact, let's
read in Luke 9:30-31,
00:50:45.18\00:50:48.75
what it was that Moses and
Elijah spoke with Jesus about.
00:50:48.78\00:50:53.20
This was about six months before
the death of Jesus Christ.
00:50:54.03\00:50:57.02
Let's see what their
topic of conversation was.
00:50:57.05\00:50:59.85
Luke 9 verses 30 and 31.
00:50:59.88\00:51:03.35
Here, Jesus is on the mount
and it says, "And as He prayed,
00:51:04.19\00:51:07.46
the appearance of His face
was altered, and His robe became
00:51:07.49\00:51:11.23
white and glistening.
00:51:11.26\00:51:13.44
And behold, two men talked with
Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
00:51:13.47\00:51:18.86
who appeared in glory,"
and now listen carefully,
00:51:18.89\00:51:21.73
"and spoke of His..."
What? "... of His decease."
00:51:21.76\00:51:26.16
What were they
talking to Jesus about?
00:51:26.19\00:51:28.27
About His decease.
00:51:28.30\00:51:29.63
In other words, His what?
00:51:29.66\00:51:30.95
His coming death.
00:51:30.98\00:51:33.32
"...which He was about
to accomplish..." Where?
00:51:33.35\00:51:36.20
"...in Jerusalem."
00:51:36.23\00:51:37.48
What do you suppose
Moses and Elijah said to Jesus?
00:51:37.51\00:51:40.18
"Well Jesus, You
know we're up here
00:51:42.01\00:51:43.85
based on what
You're going to do.
00:51:45.33\00:51:47.19
If You don't do it, we'll
have to get a return ticket.
00:51:48.62\00:51:51.03
And not only us, but every
person who has every claimed
00:51:52.45\00:51:56.14
Your name during the
Old Testament period,
00:51:56.17\00:51:58.24
they will remain incomplete
and they will be lost.
00:51:58.27\00:52:01.07
But if You go through
to the cross and You die,
00:52:01.58\00:52:03.93
and You legally forgive
sin, You'll be able to bring
00:52:03.96\00:52:06.81
all of Your people home."
00:52:06.84\00:52:08.07
Ellen White, in Early
Writings, page 164, had this
00:52:09.08\00:52:12.25
incisive statement.
00:52:12.28\00:52:13.43
She says, "Satan railed bitterly
against God, denouncing Him
00:52:28.87\00:52:33.22
as unjust in permitting
his prey to be taken from him.
00:52:33.25\00:52:37.56
But Christ did not rebuke
His adversary, though it was
00:52:37.59\00:52:41.76
through his temptation that
the servant of God had fallen.
00:52:41.79\00:52:45.25
He meekly referred
him to His Father saying,
00:52:45.28\00:52:48.06
'The Lord rebuke thee.'"
00:52:48.09\00:52:49.90
So this is a real life example
of the relationship between
00:52:51.12\00:52:54.94
those who lived in
the Old Testament and the
00:52:54.97\00:52:57.13
need for Christ to die so that
they could legally have a right
00:52:57.16\00:53:01.23
to be in the heavenly
kingdom because their sins
00:53:01.26\00:53:03.75
have been taken care of.
00:53:03.78\00:53:05.16
Now let's return
to the expression that
00:53:05.63\00:53:07.68
we have been studying;
00:53:07.71\00:53:08.74
the spirits of just
men or righteous men,
00:53:08.77\00:53:12.89
righteous, not men, but
righteous, made perfect.
00:53:12.92\00:53:16.08
Do you understand what
this text is really saying now?
00:53:16.11\00:53:18.19
What is the spirit?
00:53:18.90\00:53:20.59
The spirit is their what?
00:53:21.23\00:53:22.85
Their life record,
00:53:23.61\00:53:24.98
their identity,
00:53:25.79\00:53:26.98
their biographical
record in the heavenly books.
00:53:27.40\00:53:30.27
Did that record
need to be cleared,
00:53:30.30\00:53:34.05
did all the sins need to
be legally forgiven in it?
00:53:34.08\00:53:39.03
Absolutely.
00:53:39.06\00:53:40.29
And so, the spirit
is the life record.
00:53:40.59\00:53:42.82
The righteous are whom?
00:53:43.78\00:53:45.48
Hebrews 11 says that
the righteous are the
00:53:45.96\00:53:48.56
Old Testament saints.
00:53:48.59\00:53:50.45
And in what sense was their life
record made perfect or complete?
00:53:51.04\00:53:57.36
It was made perfect because
their sins were legally... What?
00:53:58.22\00:54:02.55
...because their sins
were legally wiped out.
00:54:02.58\00:54:05.96
Is this passage saying anything
about disembodied spirits
00:54:06.36\00:54:09.84
being in heaven and hovering
over there and singing praises
00:54:09.87\00:54:14.99
to the Lord up there?
00:54:15.02\00:54:16.19
Absolutely not.
00:54:16.22\00:54:17.44
The passage clearly says that
the church of the first born
00:54:17.74\00:54:21.68
are written in heaven.
00:54:21.71\00:54:23.79
It does not say
that they are in heaven,
00:54:24.31\00:54:26.93
or that the
spirits are in heaven.
00:54:26.96\00:54:28.87
It simply says that
their names are... What?
00:54:29.60\00:54:32.82
...their names
are written in heaven.
00:54:32.85\00:54:35.52
Now to conclude, I'd like to
read 1 Thessalonians chapter 4
00:54:36.13\00:54:39.43
and verses 15 through 17.
00:54:39.46\00:54:41.61
Do you know, on the
Mount of Transfiguration,
00:54:41.64\00:54:43.69
you really have a mini kingdom.
00:54:43.72\00:54:45.19
You have a kingdom in miniature.
00:54:46.08\00:54:47.83
You have three persons standing
on the Mount of Transfiguration,
00:54:48.72\00:54:52.40
which have great symbolic
meaning or symbolic value.
00:54:52.43\00:54:55.92
You have Jesus Christ and you
have Moses and you have Elijah.
00:54:55.95\00:55:00.93
Moses died and
resurrected and went to heaven.
00:55:01.39\00:55:04.98
Elijah was translated to
heaven from among the living.
00:55:05.01\00:55:08.92
And Jesus Christ is the One
who made all of this possible.
00:55:09.25\00:55:14.15
1 Thessalonians 4 brings this to
mind when the apostle Paul says,
00:55:14.48\00:55:18.24
"For this we say to you by the
word of the Lord, that we who
00:55:18.27\00:55:21.32
are alive and remain until
the coming of the Lord will by
00:55:21.35\00:55:24.26
no means precede
those who are asleep."
00:55:24.29\00:55:26.18
See, there you have
Elijah representing the living
00:55:26.21\00:55:28.57
and Moses representing
those who died in Christ.
00:55:28.60\00:55:31.68
Verse 16, "For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven
00:55:31.71\00:55:35.44
with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel,
00:55:35.47\00:55:38.04
and with the trumpet of God.
00:55:38.07\00:55:39.88
And the dead in
Christ will rise first."
00:55:39.91\00:55:42.65
And then notice verse
17, "Then we who are alive
00:55:42.68\00:55:46.02
and remain shall be
caught up together with them..."
00:55:46.05\00:55:48.53
That is with those
who died and resurrected.
00:55:48.56\00:55:50.66
"...in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air.
00:55:50.69\00:55:53.37
And thus we shall
always be with the Lord."
00:55:53.40\00:55:56.84
And who made all
of this possible?
00:55:57.16\00:55:59.21
Jesus Christ.
00:55:59.68\00:56:01.10
Will there be Old
Testament saints there?
00:56:01.13\00:56:03.08
Will there be New
Testament saints there?
00:56:03.47\00:56:05.75
All of the heroes of Hebrews 11.
00:56:05.78\00:56:07.82
Because when Jesus
died on the cross, He set
00:56:07.85\00:56:10.45
the record straight.
00:56:10.48\00:56:11.64
He got rid of the bond of debt.
00:56:11.67\00:56:14.42
And since Jesus has
died, when we confess our sins,
00:56:14.45\00:56:18.40
when we repent, and
when we trust in Jesus,
00:56:18.43\00:56:20.85
our sins are also forgiven
by the great sacrifice that
00:56:20.88\00:56:25.79
Jesus Christ made on the cross.
00:56:25.82\00:56:27.92
So those who
interpret this passage as being
00:56:27.95\00:56:30.70
disembodied spirits are
taking the text out of context,
00:56:30.73\00:56:34.07
and they're injecting in
the text what is not in there.
00:56:34.10\00:56:37.86
Because they have an agenda.
00:56:37.89\00:56:39.44
They already believe that
the soul of man is immortal.
00:56:39.47\00:56:43.18
Praise the Lord that we have
a wonderful Savior who saves us.
00:56:43.46\00:56:47.86