Christ Giving Himself As Our High Priest in Hebrews

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Christ has been said to be given for us in three ways: through his death, his resurrection, and his life. The knowledge of his high priesthood fills in the details of how he ministers to us intimately and personally, making constant intercession, and dealing with us in a sustained and constant manner. Through his high priesthood, Christ takes on the responsibility of the entirety of the Christian life, and ministers everything to us in a detailed way. As our high priest, he softens our hearts, speaks to us in sonship, and announces his victory for us. He also announces the spoils that he has taken, spoiling the principalities and destroying the devil who had power over death through his death. He releases us from the spirit of bondage and fear and brings us into the liberty of the sons of God, which is called rest in Hebrews. His high priesthood helps us to understand the depths of his self-giving in our everyday lives as believers. Through faith in him, we can enter into all the blessings of the Christian life and enjoy our portion as sons and heirs of the Great Salvation.

Outline

I. Christ’s Obedience and Faith Through Suffering (Hebrews 5:7-9)

  • Identifying with Humanity (Philippians 2:7-8) – Christ willingly took on human nature and experienced the limitations and struggles of humanity
  • Acting as a Sympathetic High Priest (Hebrews 2:17-18) – Christ is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and has experienced temptation, yet without sin

II. Jesus’ Life and Sacrifice (John 1:14)

  • Experiencing the Pains of Humanity (Isaiah 53:3) – Christ suffered rejection, persecution, and physical pain in order to identify with humanity
  • Remaining Faithful to the Father (John 8:29) – Despite facing trials and temptations, Christ remained obedient to the Father’s will
  • Providing Comfort and Guidance to Believers (Matthew 11:28-30) – Christ offers rest and refreshment to those who come to Him and invites them to take on His yoke
  • God’s View of Humanity as Love and Sacrifice (John 3:16) – Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was a demonstration of God’s immense love for humanity

III. Christ’s High Priesthood (Hebrews 4:14-16)

  • Ministering to Us (John 13:1-17) – Christ served His disciples by washing their feet and calls us to follow His example by serving others
  • Strengthening and Renewing Us (Isaiah 40:31) – Christ provides strength to those who wait on Him and renews their strength
  • Author and Finisher of Our Faith (Hebrews 12:2) – Christ is the beginning and end of our faith journey and is able to perfect our faith
  • The Means of the Christian Life and Sanctification (John 14:6) – Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and is able to sanctify us through His work on the cross

IV. Discerning the Voice of the Shepherd (John 10:27)

  • Growing in the Knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18) – Growing in knowledge of Christ allows us to better discern His voice
  • The Living Word Discerning the Heart (Hebrews 4:12) – The living Word of God is able to pierce our hearts and reveal what is hidden
  • Recognizing and Heeding the Gospel (Romans 1:16) – The gospel message is able to reveal the righteousness of God and is the means of salvation

V. Obedience of Faith

  • Jesus as the Obedient High Priest (Hebrews 5:8) – Christ demonstrated obedience to the Father even unto death in his faith
  • Abraham’s Faith (Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11:8-12) – Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness and he demonstrated obedience by offering Isaac
  • Trusting in God’s Promises (2 Corinthians 1:20) – God’s promises are trustworthy and are fulfilled in Christ

VI. Following the Voice of the Shepherd (John 10:4)

  • The Two Aspects of the Spirit (Romans 8:9-11; Acts 1:8) – The Holy Spirit enables believers to hear and follow the voice of the Shepherd
  • Jesus’ Prayer on the Cross (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) – Christ’s prayer on the cross demonstrates His reliance on the Father and His trust in His plan
  • The Power of Jesus at His Baptism (Matthew 3:16-17) – The power of the Holy Spirit was evident in Christ’s baptism, empowering Him for ministry

VII. Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, and Sanctification (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

  • Display of Inner Strength and Power (2 Corinthians 12:9) – Christ’s death and resurrection demonstrated His divine power and strength
  • Preaching Victory and Gaining Keys to Hell and Death (Revelation 1:18) – Christ’s victory over death and hell is a source of hope for believers
  • Coming Forward Boldly to Be Renewed by God’s Grace (Hebrews 4:16) – Through Christ, believers can confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace

VIII. Jesus’ Identification with the Marginalized (Matthew 25:40)

  • Psalm 22 and the Revelation of God’s Love (Psalm 22:1-31) – Psalm 22 portrays Christ’s identification with the suffering and marginalized
  • God’s Presence in Times of Difficulty (Psalm 46:1) – God is a present help in times of trouble and is able to provide comfort and strength

IX. Jesus’ Prayer and Faithfulness (Luke 23:46)

  • Demonstr

IX. Jesus’ Prayer and Faithfulness (Luke 23:46)

  • Demonstrating Total Faith and Obedience (John 5:30; Hebrews 11:17-19) – Christ’s prayer on the cross demonstrated His total faith and obedience to the Father
  • Encouraging Praise and Worship (Psalm 22:22-23) – Christ’s victory on the cross is a source of praise and worship for believers

X. Sanctification Through Knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:8-10)

  • God’s Work in Us (Ephesians 2:8-9) – Sanctification is the work of God through Christ and is a result of grace
  • Resting in Jesus (Matthew 11:28) – Christ invites believers to come to Him and find rest
  • Rejecting Accusations and Embracing Truth (John 8:32) – The truth will set believers free from accusations and feelings of guilt.

Topics

  1. Self-giving of Christ
  2. Humanity and identification with mankind
  3. Importance of faith
  4. Removing burdens from the flesh
  5. Resting in Christ
  6. Joy and liberty in Christ

Test Understanding

  • . In what ways has Christ Given Himself to us?
  • Why is it important for believers to rest in Christ through faith?
  • How does the high priesthood of Christ minister to those who have experienced religious abuse?

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