Well, good morning and welcome to Grace Church. We're delighted you're here this morning. If you are here for the first time or would uh Would like some information about our church. If you would just lift your hand, our ushers will see that you get an information packet. about who we are and what we believe.
And we're delighted to have you with us this morning. Just a few announcements before we begin our time of worship. We will be collecting this morning at the close of our service our annual shoebox offering. This year's offering will be divided between two of our missionaries. Uh the uh Mark Ferris family in Alaska, Will and Martha's son, they Extensive medical bills this year, as have also the other family we'll be sharing this with, Tom Smith family that serves the Cherokee Nation.
And so we'll be dividing the shoebox offering between those two, and that'll be collected at the close of our service today. Tonight at 6 o'clock is a special time when We present our nine lessons in carol service. And uh the choir has been working really uh diligently on this and uh We had our final rehearsal yesterday, and just it was a glorious time. I think you're going to be. Really blessed by this time together as we read scriptures, as we hear music that presents.
uh the gospel and the coming of Christ. And so uh bring your family and friends and uh neighbors to anyone that uh you can encouraged to come and hear the gospel through music and scripture and song tonight. On Tuesday evening, we'll be having our Christmas candlelight service, Christmas Eve service. Uh at five o'clock. uh early enough uh uh get all the kiddos home and get everything out for them.
But we'll be having that service at five o'clock. on December 24th. No Wednesday activities this week. We have the Tuesday night service and then no activities on Wednesday. And so look at your bulletin for the office hours and that sort of thing through this special uh season of holiday uh celebrations.
And then finally, if you need tithe envelopes for the coming year, there's a sign-up sheet in the for you. You can make that provision so that you have those uh in time for the new year. And let's prepare our hearts and minds for worship. Would you please stand with me now for our call to worship? Psalm thirty-four.
I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord. Let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Let's pray together. Father God. By your word you have created all that is. You spoke. He said, let it be, and there was.
Lord Jesus, you as The Word of God. You, Lord, were with God in the beginning. You were... God with him together. And you became flesh.
and dwelt among us and revealed the glory of the Father. in human form. Blessed Holy Spirit, across the centuries you have. inspired and moved men to write down the record of all that God has done in our behalf, We rejoice today. and the great gift that is ours in Christ.
And as we come together today to worship and to sing and to pray and to hear the word proclaimed. We ask Holy Spirit, that you open our minds, our hearts. teach us, change and transform us. Renew us. By your word.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus our Savior. Our Lord. Amen. Today we're thinking about the incarnation, God taking on flesh. and dwelling among us.
I don't know what words come to mind as you contemplate the incarnation, perhaps mystery. Maybe it's awe or love and grace. The truth is, it's all of these things and more, that God would leave the glories of heaven. Take on human flesh and walk among us, put himself under the law. To redeem those who are under the law.
Let's contemplate this amazing, gracious mystery as we sing this morning: Let all mortal flesh. Keep silence. Bye. Where all mortal flesh keeps silence and with fear and friendly stand under nothing earthly minded for with blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descend our full homage to thee land King of kings and war of Mary as of all order he stood Lord of Lords in human pasture In the body and the love, he will give to all the faithful his own self for handly food. Rank on rank, the host of heaven spread his van on the way as the light of mighty descendant from the realms of heaven let us say that the powers of hell may bandish as the darkness clears away and deceived the six weeks.
Share of it with sweet sigh. Fill their faces to the presence as with ceaseless voice they cry: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord knows how God is so gracious that He would. become man to save sinners like us. and even we who have been redeemed by that amazing, mysterious act. Of love, break his law.
We break covenant with him. We transgress. And it is good and right in our worship of this. incredibly gracious God to run to him for mercy. And he delights to give mercy.
To his children.
So, church, would you join me as together we pray this morning our prayer of confession. Lord God, Eternal and Almighty Father, We acknowledge before your Holy Majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in guilt and in corruption. Brown to do evil. unable of our own power to do good. Because of our sin, we endlessly violate your holy commandments.
But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and turn away from all our offenses. We condemn ourselves and our evil ways with true sorrow. asking that your grace will relieve our distress. Have compassion on us, most gracious God. Father of mercies.
for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. and removing our pills. Also, grant us daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit. and produce in us the fruits of holiness and of righteousness pleasing in your sight. through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Okay. Take a few moments now to silently confess your particular sins to the Lord. God is incredibly gracious. He forgives all who come to Him in faith. Through the blood of his Son on the merits of his Son, Jesus Christ.
And so we read in John 3:16 that God so loved the world. that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish. but have eternal life. God is merciful. God gives us his word, and we come this morning to our Old Testament reading from Micah chapter 5, verses 2 through 5.
This is an Old Testament prophecy that looks forward to the coming, the first advent of the Messiah. And in this prophecy, that Messiah will come from a very unlikely place. Let's hear now the word of the Lord. Micah 5, beginning at verse 2. But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah.
From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel. whose coming forth is from of old. From ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth. Then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel, And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord.
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. and they shall dwell secure. For now he shall be great to the ends of the earth, and he shall be their peace. Peace. The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Our Psalm this morning reminds us that God is our rescuer. He's the one who saves us from all of his enemies, our enemies. He is our protector. Let's stand as we sing together.
Psalm 4. Oh hear my cry, my righteous God, believe me I'm distressed, display your mercy to me now and answer my request for the glory of my name, oh men. How long will you dist? How long will you be? Yourselves still searching after lies.
Though that the Lord has set apart on God He asks His own The Lord will hear me when I come and find request made known in break God's love, God's Savior and He still praises the righteous. And wait upon His will. Oh, who can show us any good I hear so many say, Oh, Lord, shine on us with your light, show us your face and praise You fill my heart with greater joy than other days they have found as they rejoice. That harvest time when great and wide abide, I will lie down and sleep in peace. My heart will rest and go for you alaught will keep me safe and sure.
Let us pray. Lord, thank you for the gift of this day. Thank you for the privilege that we can come together. body of Christ and worship you and give you praise. Thank you for each one here, Lord.
Lord. Thank you for your provision of our needs. With every morsel of bread, we should say, this is God's gift to me. With every night's sleep, This is the Lord's goodness. Lord, your hand is there from the morsel of bread.
to the shadow of the valley. The same love that brings us everlasting life also gives daily bread. With her blessings, or afflictions. May the joy of our Lord be our greatest possession. In Jesus' blessed name we pray.
Amen. The deep hush. Might be true splendid. Blessed is our Lord Benedict to Spanish to spoil his single chosen first among the priests to serve within the temple walls, Sacaria stood in awe when he heard the angel's fall, blessed is our. Lord, then at deep truth, then at deep truth, welcome his sin Jesus Christ.
Christ, the Lamb of God will come salvation's hold in God's garment where earth and church shall be born and deep truths, then and deep truth, blessed in his Lord, then and deep truth, vanity truth, dwell on his infant world. Christ refreshed to sins like night, his dream from on high. Saints and angels sing God's praise all the earth and heavenly God Lennon choose men and he choose Blessed is our Lord Lenity truth in truth welcome his in God Blessed is our Lord Lennet truth welcome this in God Let each truth, leave tools welcome his sin towards it. Let's go to God in. prayer.
O God of our righteousness, please answer us now as we call upon you. We come to you today with confidence and hope. Because you are the one. who has given us relief. from distress over and over and over again.
So we ask that you would be gracious to us once again. Hear our prayer. Lord, we live in a world that...
So often stands in frightening opposition to you. A world That takes honorable things and turns them into shameful things, takes wickedness. and glories in it. But you, God of our righteousness, are the one who. As we sang just a few moments ago.
who sets the godly apart for your pleasure and delight. You make us holy. that we might fellowship with you in everlasting happiness. And so what grace is ours? And Lord, you have made us holy by sending your Son.
The ancient of days into the world. born under the law to redeem those condemned by the law? You've sent your Spirit into our hearts, giving us light. Where we once walked in darkness. And so, having our unholiness washed, having our dark night turned into the joy of morning, we can come with joy to you and say, Show us your goodness, lift up the light of your face.
upon us For no other light brings a purer Joy or a more lasting peace. In your light, we can both. Lay down and sleep. For you, O Lord, are our protector, our hiding place, our safety.
So Lord, since you are our protector and hiding place, We ask that you would watch over your people. In this coming year, guard us from the onslaught, from the attraction of the world. Guard us from the sinful tendencies of our own flesh. Lord, guard us from the discouraging accusations of the devil. Remind us every day that we are raised with Christ, the one who is seated even now at the right hand of God.
Lord, I ask not only that you would guard your people. but that you would prosper us in this coming year. Enable us to grow in grace. to mortify our sin. with success.
To walk by the Spirit whom you have given us. We're to benefit frequently and deeply from the many means of grace that you've given. May your word be understood and believed and upheld with zeal in this body of believers. May a strong, effective witness to the gospel go forth from our lips and from our lives that many souls might come. to saving faith in Christ, to the glory of your name in all the earth.
Lord, please send a pastor to assist this, your church, in the tasks to which you've called us to do. Raise up a man who knows and loves your word. Who loves your sheep and who bears The skills and the insight, the courage and the joy to shepherd your flock here. Lord with eagerness Not domineering over those in their charge, but being examples to the flock. that when the chief shepherd appears, he might receive the unfading crown of glory.
Help us, Lord, to be in godly subjection to each other. Help us to clothe ourselves. From the very youngest to the very oldest, with humility towards one another. Knowing that you oppose the proud, but you give grace to the humble.
So, Lord, we look to you, for you are our God. We are your people. To that end, we pray. According to how your Son has taught us, saying. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Let's stand again as we sing, prepare our hearts to hear. The word of the Lord this morning. What child is this?
Who is this incarnate Christ that we've gathered this morning to worship? Let's think about that as we sit. What child is this who laid to be flabby sleeping, who made us breathe with bands sleep while shepherds walk? Are he this is Christ the King, whose shepherds God and angels sing this to bring him love the name, the Son of Merry's health where us and masks are feeling good Christian fear for sinners dear the silent word is clean their spirit shall pierce in through the Cross be born for me for you. Hail, hail the word made flesh, the babe, the son of merry.
So bring him in sense, gold and burn, come present here to own him. The king of king salvation brings that loving hearts enthroned in. Praise, praise the song on pride. The virgin sings her love alive. Joy, joy for Christ.
Christ is born of me, the Son of Mary. Amen. You see it. Please turn with me this morning. Please turn with me this morning to Hebrews.
Chapter 10. As we consider The advents. of Jesus Christ. And I say Advents because there is more than one. The word Advent is a word that we've borrowed from.
from Latin, which means to come. or to arrive. When we speak of the advent of Christ, we're most often perhaps perhaps referring to his incarnation some 2,000 years ago. But Jesus himself. as he completed that first coming.
said that he would come again. And so the church has thus been eagerly Looking for and anticipating the second coming of the Lord.
So let's consider for a few moments. On this last Sunday of Advent, the significance of both the first And second comings of Jesus Christ. Our text is Hebrews chapter 10, and we'll read verses 5 through 13 this morning. Hebrews 10. Verses five through thirteen.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired. but a body you have prepared for me. In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, I have come to do your will, O God. as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.
When he said above, you have neither desired nor take pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings. These are offered according to the law. Then he added, Behold, I have come to do your will. He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. waiting from that time. until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. Let's pray.
Father in heaven, you have fixed a day on which you will judge. The world in righteousness by the man whom you have appointed, the Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate. We know this to be true because you have raised him from the dead.
So, Lord, since it is true that we will face judgment, help us to understand and believe. That What your only begotten Son accomplished in his first coming. is the only hope any sinner will have at his second coming. May the reality that God has come to earth lead us to repentance and faith. that we might be saved on the last day and for all eternity.
Holy Spirit, open our eyes now to behold wonderful things from your word. I pray in Jesus' name. A man. Yeah.
Well, the book of Hebrews is about the superiority of Christ. Hold up any knowledge or revelation, any religious ceremony or sacrament, any person of importance or place of worship or authoritative figure, and Jesus Christ is better. That's the point of this book. Here in chapter 10 of Hebrews, the author is explaining the superiority of Christ over the ceremonial law, specifically over the sacrificial system mandated by the ceremonial law.
Now, in its proper place and at its proper time in redemptive history, the ceremonial law of the Old Testament with its requirements of animal sacrifice was a good thing. It was a mandated thing. It was a necessary thing. But with the coming of Christ, everything that these old ceremonies pointed to was fulfilled. And so anyone who thought they were doing the right thing by continuing to trust in the shadows was self-deceived, and they were actually misusing the shadows and disdaining the very one to whom the shadows were pointing.
If I insist on staring at a picture of my wife. And mediating my conversation with her through that picture when she's sitting in the chair next to me, I'm misusing the picture. I'm actually dishonoring my wife. Our text this morning confronts us then with the sufficiency of Christ. We don't need the shadows anymore because God has come in the flesh.
In his first coming, he has shown himself. To be a sufficient priest for us, in his second coming, he will show himself to be. King of kings and lord of lords. And here's the truth that we need to understand and believe today. The way we relate to Christ in His first advent...
will determine how we will relate to him at his second advent. The way we relate to Christ in His first advent will determine how we will relate to Him at His second advent.
So let's begin. By first looking back in time to the first advent. And it begins with a great mystery: God is a spirit. A spirit is not a body, it doesn't possess material existence as we know it. And yet, somehow, God, who is spirit, took on flesh.
He became material with a physical body. His voice became audible with vocal cords and everything. His hands became necessary for moving things in time and space. God became a man who needed a blanket to keep warm and food to stay alive and parents to take him home and raise him and nurture him. Verse 5 describes this mystery as a coming into the world.
Do you realize that Christ is the only person of whom it can be said he came into the world? None of us. can make that claim. The instant we began to exist, we were already in the world. We have never existed apart from this creation, but Christ is eternal.
He existed outside of time and space.
So He and only He has come into the world. Spirit became flesh. God became man. Christ came into the world. And what an incredible mystery that reality is.
But setting aside for now the mystery of how the incarnation happened, we might ask the philosophical question: why did the incarnation happen? Why did God become a man? Many people have given answers to that question.
Some have answered it better than others.
Some have said, well, God wanted to show mankind how to behave virtuously. He became one of us to teach us how to be good. And while it is true that his life and behavior were a perfect example of virtue, that isn't the reason Hebrews 10 gives for why God became a man. Others have said God didn't actually become a man. Humanity just really needed something to believe in.
And so the mythology of a divine being becoming one of us was invented. God became a man, so to speak, to just give us an ideal to hope in, a transcendent goal to shoot for.
Well, that's not the answer. According to Hebrews 10, why did God take on flesh and blood? Why was the incarnation necessary? The answer is there in verse 5. Verse 5 says, Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired.
But a body You have prepared for me.
So, verse 5 begins with the word consequently, which points back to verse 4. Verse 5 is describing a conversation that took place between God the Father and God the Son. It's a divine conversation that is grounded in the assertion of verse 4. That conversation then went something like this. The Son says, Because animal sacrifice cannot wash away sins, you, Father, do not desire any more animal sacrifice.
It has served its purpose. Of getting man's attention and confronting him with the devastating effect of his sin. What then does God the Father provide in the place of animal sacrifice? Christ tells us. But a body.
a body you have prepared for me.
Well, the implication is that the body of Christ exists for the purpose of doing what the blood of bulls and goats could not do. God the Son needed a physical body in order to die. God the Son, like God the Father, is an eternal Spirit with no beginning and no end. But a spirit cannot die. If Christ were to be able to do what animal sacrifice could only symbolically portray, if Christ were to be able to wash away sin.
through the punishment of death. He would need a physical body that could die. That's why the incarnation was necessary. That's why he became one of us in order to die for us.
Now, this statement that Christ makes as he comes into the world is a quotation of Psalm 40, verses 6 through 8. It's always interesting to compare New Testament quotations to their Old Testament counterpart, especially when there are differences between the New Testament quote and the Old Testament source. When the New Testament alters something from the Old Testament, it's interpreting the Old Testament passage for us, much like a commentator might do in a commentary as he explains the meaning of a passage. In the case of Hebrews 10, verse 5, There is one significant alteration from its Old Testament source in Psalm 40.
Now, David is the human author of Psalm 40, and we know that David is a type of Christ. He's a symbolic representation of the Messiah who would one day come. I'm going to read Psalm 40. And I want you to read along with me from Hebrews 10, verse 5, and notice where these two passages differ. Yeah.
Psalm 40 verse 6 says, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. In Psalm 40, David is given listening ears, and the Psalm goes on to explain that the purpose of those listening ears is so that David will listen to God in order to obey God. It's about King David being faithful to the will of God through obedience to that will. But when these same words are on the lips of the incarnate Christ, the listening ear becomes an entire body.
Well, the implication is that while David was called to obedience, not sacrifice, he failed. He didn't listen. He disobeyed God's voice. Therefore, when Christ came to fulfill what David failed to do, he was given not merely an ear. To listen and obey, but a body.
Why? In order to be the sacrifice that atones for sin. He came in order to die. For David's sin, for my sin, for my sin. For your sin, Christian.
The incarnation then was necessary in order that God the Son might make atonement for sin through his death.
Well, what then is the effect of the incarnation? Verses 8 through 10 describe its effect. Christ's incarnation, leading to his death, first removes the law's condemnation against us. The ceremonial law was never intended to remove sin. Verse 4 makes it clear that it could not remove sin.
Rather, the ceremonial law, with all of its bloodiness and gore, was given to teach sinners that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission, no forgiveness of sin. The law confronts us with our guilt. It makes our sinfulness undeniable, but it doesn't wash anything away. And this leaves us in an awful state, doesn't it? God's will for us is revealed to us in His law.
He gives us listening ears so that we can hear what that will is, which means we're without excuse when we don't listen to God and obey Him. But look at what Christ in his coming Does. It's that beautiful statement there at the end of verse 9: He, Christ, does away with the first in order to establish. The second. In other words, Jesus does away with the ceremonial law with all of its condemning requirements, and in its place, he lays down his own life.
He shoves aside all of those bulls and goats and climbs up on the altar himself. And this Hebrew says, is the will of God. the Father. Not dead animals. Not symbolic sacrifices.
Rather, God's will is that his son be provided with a body with which to die. and by dying to wash away the sins of his people. Verse 10 says it plainly. By that will we have been sanctified. Washed of all unholiness.
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Once for all. Beloved, when it comes to being pleasing to God, there are only two options. Perfect obedience to his will. or the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of having disobeyed.
His will. No human being since Adam's fall, Christ accepted, has been able to offer God perfect obedience. And it's not because we didn't know better. God has revealed His will, and He's even given us ears to hear that will. This means that our only hope.
of ever becoming pleasing to God is through the second option. the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins. Christ came into the world. To break the trend of Adam's race, he came into this world and obeyed God's will to perfection. This means he didn't have to die because he had no sin.
But he came to die because it pleased the Father. It was, verse 9, the will of the Father. And so, in fulfilling both options of pleasing God through perfect obedience and appeasing God through his death. Christ has earned the favor of the Father not only for himself, but for himself But for us, for sinners. The effect of the incarnation is holiness.
for the unholy. It's favor for the condemned. It is sonship for the outcast. It is a well done, good and faithful servant for the one who deserves a depart from me, you worker of iniquity. I never knew you.
Jesus came to die. And with his death, the hammer of the law also dies. We have been sanctified. Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.
So, in his first advent, Christ came in order to have a body and to offer up that body as a sacrifice for sin, leading to the salvation of sinners. But now, the focus of our passage shifts to what happened after Christ's first advent. He came to die, but then he left. Where did he leave? Where did he go?
And the answer begins in verse 11. Where the writer of Hebrews dismisses the necessity of that old Levitical priesthood by pointing to their ineffectiveness. It says, every priest from that old order stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. They keep doing it because it doesn't seem to be working. And we know that it doesn't work because it cannot work.
But then comes verse 12. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins. That is, when the very purpose for which the first Advent occurred had been accomplished, Christ sat down at the right hand of God. Yeah.
If I were to ask you, what is Jesus doing in heaven right now? You would probably say something like, Well, he's interceding for his church. Or he's being worshipped by all the saints who have already died and are in his presence. And those answers would be correct. What I suspect you wouldn't think to say is: he is sitting and waiting.
And yet that's exactly what verses twelve and thirteen tell us he's doing. He's sitting and he's waiting.
Now before we spend a few moments considering why he's sitting and what he's waiting for, let me just point something out to every Christian here this morning. Regardless of the state of our world, or the religious confusion of our nation. Or of the inexplicable craziness of our culture, the unpredictability of the trajectory of our current historical moment. In spite of all those things, listen to this. Our Savior is not panicking.
He is not fretting. He is not wringing his hands in heaven with uncertainty. Our Savior is sitting and waiting.
Now just let that image sink in for a minute. That is not the posture of a worried God who has lost control of his universe. I can remember numerous times growing up being worried or uncertain about some uncontrollable circumstance in my life, and I would look at my father and see calm on his face, and his calmness would make me calm. He wasn't panicking. If he wasn't panicking, then I didn't need to panic.
And my dad's not even sovereign. Beloved, if Jesus, who is sovereign, is not panicking, if he is not fretting about what might happen tomorrow or happen with my job or happen in this relationship or that circumstance, then his children, the ones for whom he died, the ones for whom God the Father resurrected his Son, the ones in whom the Holy Spirit of God indwells, do not need to panic or fret or act as if the sky is falling. Even the sky can only fall at his permission. And if it falls, it will be right and just. and it will be for the good of the redeemed.
I think we often forfeit great peace and assurance. By forgetting that our priest is not sitting in some mere governor's mansion in Raleigh. or in some White House in DC, Our priest is sitting at the right hand of God the Father.
Now, of all the verbs that could have been used to describe what Christ has been doing since he left. Why does Hebrews choose sitting?
Well, this activity indicates a couple of very significant realities. First of all, it indicates that Christ's atoning work is complete. It is finished. Christ said. When the case has been made, the attorney sits down.
When the redemption price for sinners is paid, there is nothing left to atone for. And so Scripture says, in a glorious display of victory, Christ sat down. His atoning work was complete. Do you know what a mic drop is? I guess it's sort of an arrogant thing for a musician to do at the end of a concert, and nevertheless, it's a thing.
And it has become a term that encapsulates the idea of there being nothing left to say or do. Google defines a mic drop as a gesture where a speaker or performer intentionally drops the microphone at the end of a speech or performance to indicate triumph. I don't mean to be crass or base, but when I read Hebrews 10:12, my mind thinks of a mic drop of cosmic proportions. If anyone could claim utter triumph. Without pretension or presumption or arrogance, if anyone could legitimately declare that there is nothing more to be said, it would be the resurrected Christ sitting down on heaven's throne.
It's the posture of one whose atoning work. is complete. But not only did Christ's departure indicate that his atoning work is complete, it also indicates that his atoning work is superior. It did the thing. It accomplished what it was supposed to accomplish.
And we know this because, on the heels of him accomplishing the work, he wasn't sent back to try again. Like all those Levitical priests over the centuries. No, he was welcomed into heaven and given a seat, a throne at God's right hand. In this regard, Jesus Christ is superior to all others. In fact, he is the king of all other kings.
He is the lord of all other lords. He is the priest of all other priests. Paul describes it this way in Philippians 2.9. After Christ completed his work as a priest, God highly exalted him. And bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.
In heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Hebrews 10:12, you see, is a coronation of a king, a coronation of the king.
So in his sitting, we see that Christ's work as priest is complete and that his work is superior. But what else does the text say he's doing? Verse 13 tells us that Christ is waiting. And this implies that there's more to come, doesn't it? Christ is waiting for something.
And as we're about to see, Christ is waiting. to come again. He will come again. A second advent, another coming in the flesh is on the horizon for Jesus. And it will occur just as soon as the waiting is over with.
So the big question is: why is he waiting? What is he waiting for? In short, he is waiting for that glorious moment when his total victory over everything evil and wicked becomes apparent to all. Verse 13 says of Christ that he is waiting from that time. From the time of his ascension after his first advent, until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
There's coming a day when every enemy of Christ, every person, every thought, every system that is opposed to Christ will be soundly and manifestly defeated. Paul describes it, as we just read, as a day when every knee will bow. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. There's a connection between Christ's priestly work and his kingly work. And somewhere between verses 12 and 13, the focus of the text has shifted from his role as priest to his role as king.
You see, through his death and resurrection. Christ dealt the death blow to all his enemies. He toppled the first domino.
Now, every domino will inevitably collapse, and every enemy who has dismissed his priestly work, the priestly work of Christ, will have to contend with the kingship of Christ. That day, that second advent, will not go well for those who have rejected and disdained the superior priestly work of Christ. It is appointed for them all to join the footstool pile of judgment under the mighty feet of King Jesus. But for all those who have been washed by Christ, the high priest. For them, this day will be a day of triumph and of joy as their faith becomes sight.
How we relate to Christ in His first coming will determine how it will go for us. at his second coming. You see, there is a sense in which Hebrews 10 Not only does it describe two advents of Christ, it also describes two advents of the sinner. We can come to God on the grounds of our own. works and sacrifices.
the the bulls and goats of our own merit. But if we do that, we will fail. In fact, we have already failed. God gave us open ears to listen and obey, but we have shut our ears. To His will.
We have sinned. and fallen short of the glory of God. On the other hand, we can come to God on the grounds of Christ's priestly work on our behalf. We can come to God through the merits of Jesus Christ. When we do that, we come in the only manner by which it is acceptable for sinners to approach a holy God.
And that's really what Hebrews 10 is all about. It's about running to Christ as priest.
so that we can enjoy him as king. If we reject him in his first advent, He will reject us. in his second advent. If, on the other hand, we come to his atoning altar in faith, And we can also come to His majestic throne in boldness. Hebrews 10 goes on in verse 19 to say, Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, By the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh.
And there's Christmas and Easter, all rolled into one. And since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with the true hearts in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. And then here's the application: verse 23: In light of these things, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. If Jesus Christ is your priest. You are secure.
And if you are secure, you have no legitimate reason to waver. In your hope, in your confidence, in your joy. In your obedience, Christ. Christ will come again. And we know this because He has already come once and demonstrated His perfect love for those who belong to Him.
So this morning, Christian. Look forward. to Christ's return by looking back. to his incarnation. And in looking back, let these words bolster your faith.
and fill you with awe and wonder. A body. You have prepared for me. and being found in human form. He humbled himself.
and became obedient to the point of death. even death on a cross. Christ came once to die. But he's coming again to rule and reign for all eternity.
So church, hold fast to your confidence in him. Our priest is also The king. Let's pray. Lord, we are a scared people. Because we're a guilty people.
How fitting then for the angels of heaven. In announcing your birth, to begin that announcement with the unimaginably gracious command to fear not. Because good tidings have come. And Lord, what good tidings have come that we who deserve hell have been given peace and light. We've been given joy and rest.
We've been given innocence. And life. Because of you, Lord, we need not fear the grave. You indeed were born to save. You have opened heaven's door, and we are blessed.
Forevermore.
So we thank you and we hold fast to you. In Jesus' name. Amen. Let's stand as we respond to the truth we've heard this morning. Mm-hmm.
Though he comes with love to his melody, all favor savers. Thou's the strength in solitary melody. Swell the triumph of his trade. All the world are the Lord. All the Holy God appears on the way everywhere, but steam those who stand and art and soul him stand there to the dream, deeply, deeply.
Shall the true silence I am still glory claim the king of Lord of free me. God, come on.
Well, thank you for being here to worship with us this morning. Encourage you to come back tonight as we continue to worship. our incarnate Savior. Six o'clock, it'll be a service of scripture readings and music. And it'll be followed by a Tom of Finger.
Food Fellowship.
So come, bring your friends, bring your family, 6 o'clock tonight. Also, remember Tuesday at 5 o'clock is our Christmas Eve service. I encourage you to come and be a part of that special time as well. After the benediction this morning, we're going to take up our shoebox offering. And we've got ushers at the doors, so just remember that.
And give generously as we seek to help out our missionaries here at the end of the year. As we conclude this morning, would you receive the Lord's benediction from Hebrews chapter 10? Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. And all God's people said, Amen.
