Our Great High Priest Is In The Heavens

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you holding on to JESUS?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we have a part to play in our relationship with the LORD, continue focusing our spiritual eyes on JESUS, and continue in our declaration based on His WORDS.

IV. TEXT:

Hebrews 4:14 (Amplified Bible)

4:14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].

V. THESIS:

I am a royal priesthood of my Great High Priest - JESUS CHRIST in the Heavens. JESUS is holding on to me with His Words.

VI. TITLE:

Our Great High Priest is in the Heavens

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Date of writing: Before AD. 70

B. Style of writing: Best Greek style

C. Authorship: Not specific, but generally attributed to Apostle Paul. Can be also ascribed to Barnabas, Luke, Apollos

D. Audience: Hebrew Christians

E. Theme: Christ is superior to the prophets; Christ is superior to angels—J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

F. Purpose: The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

G. Keyword: better

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. JESUS, the SON of GOD is our Great High Priest in the Heavens

"Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,"

We are GOD's priests and JESUS is our High Priest.

1 Peter 2:9 (The Message)

2:9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—

Exodus 19:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

19:5 Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.

19:6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation [consecrated, set apart to the worship of God]. These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites.

Hebrews 7:25-26 (Amplified Bible)

7:25 Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

7:26 [Here is] the High Priest [perfectly adapted] to our needs, as was fitting—holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.

High Priest is "archiereus" in Greek meaning "used of Christ because by undergoing a bloody death he offered himself as an expiatory sacrifice to God, and has entered into the heavenly sanctuary where he continually intercedes on our behalf."

B. Let us hold fast to our confession

"let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]"

Let us hold fast is "krateo" in Greek meaning:

1. to have power, be powerful

2. to get possession of

3. to hold

Confession or profession is "homologia" in Greek meaning:

1. profession - Open declaration, public avowal or acknowledgment of one's sentiments or belief; as professions of friendship or sincerity; a profession of faith or religion

2. acknowledgement

3. professed

Let us remain and continue in our acknowledgement and declaration that JESUS is our Great High Priest as we are His royal priesthood.

Hebrews 2:1 (The Message)

2:1 It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off.

Hebrews 3:6 (The Message)

3:6 Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house!

Hebrews 3:14 (The Message)

3:14 If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.

Hebrews 10:23 (The Message)

10:23 Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.

Hold on to GOD's WORD - the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Lamb of GOD, unless we forget Him.

IX. CONCLUSION:

Keep our eyes focus on JESUS and let's continue with force and strength, declaring His Name.

Hebrews 12:2 (The Message)

12:2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.