Cazenovia Park Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY
Sermons by Lonnie Atwood
How can we know that we are pleasing to the Lord?
Where is the believer supposed to find his/her comfort and assurance? Is it in their fruit? Circumstances? Desires? Our assurance is in what does not change- the person and work of Jesus Christ.
If we truly believe the truths taught in Scripture, it will result in a changed life.
In these verses we see the closing argument for the main point of this book- Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the OT sacrificial system. He is the “once for all” offering for sin, giving the redeemed true forgiveness and holiness, so that God’s people can be with Him.
Jesus’ death on the cross reaches back and pays the price for the transgressions committed
under that first covenant, and His death reaches forward to pay for the ongoing sins of the people of God under the New Covenant- making it possible for us to enter into the place where He now is- into the presence of God in the Heavenly Holy of Holies.
Jesus is a better priest, serving in a better place, providing better promises.
Who was this obscure character in the Old Testament named Melchizedek? And what connection does He have to Jesus? The author of Hebrews unravels the mystery, and grows our delight in God’s amazing plan of redemption.
Christians are called to trust the promises that God has given to us. Our circumstances may not make sense, but the Lord will keep His Word. This text from Hebrews shows us the example of Abraham, who learned, in great difficulty, to do that very thing.
The people of Israel, in the wilderness, serve as an example to the people of God today that we must persevere to the end. It is possible to see the amazing power of God, sit under the Word, and yet not believe. Israel experienced all this and more, and fell in the desert.
The original recipients of this letter had regressed in their discipleship to a state of immaturity. Can that happen to us too?