And inasmuch as he was not made priest without an oath, for they have become priests without an oath, but he with an oath by him who said to him, the Lord has sworn and will not relent. You are a priest forever. By so much more, Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also, there were many priests because they were prevented by death from continuing. but he because he continues forever has an unchangeable priesthood therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to god through him since he always lives to make intercession for them so uh... one one topic that is uh... i'm finding very very deep in beneficial to think about. Surety is a financial term, if you will. We talked about in the sermon today that being the guarantor of our debt. So this idea of sin debt is very rich, and I'd like to explore that tonight. And I'll start by asking and you know, we've covered it lots, but how how how is it that we have this debt? to God How have we incurred our sin debt? Can anyone elaborate that for us? I Scripture says the wages of sin is death, and all men are sinners, so all men are accruing a sin debt that they cannot afford to pay. Well, but I have the Holy Spirit, so can't I become good enough and start paying off my debt? No. Why not? I have the Holy Spirit. He can make me better, right? I'm going to try to play pastor here since he's not here. So you need Christ. Christ has the ability to pay for the sin debt, not the Holy Spirit. Very good. Um, is, is there, isn't there some way I could pay my debt on my own so I wouldn't need Christ's help? There's one way to pay your debt and that is an eternity in hell. Ouch. That's good I want to there's some so we got this book at G3 it's called the truth of the cross by RC Sproul he's a wonderful author and has lots of great thoughts and Now we get to count him with the dead guys and he will be counted that as well for a long time. I'm sure of. Um, but in, in speaking about our debt, our sin debt, uh, he, he says this, uh, it's one thing to be in debt and to be on a debt retirement program whereby we pay off what we owe a little bit at a time. But the indebtedness that we have with respect to obedience to God is impossible for us to pay. on any installment plan, and he asks why. And then he asks the rhetorical question, how righteous are we required to be? How moral are we called to be? God demands perfect obedience and sinless perfection. And if I'm responsible to be perfect and I sin once, what can I do to be perfect? I can't add future perfection on the past imperfection and be perfect because future perfection is just keeping with the standard so so when we see and even if we just in once we have incurred in impossible debt to pay back on our own even if we somehow became perfect we can never pay that that back and that's uh... really really good for me to understand uh... especially uh... Tyler in the sermon mentioned that God doesn't help us become righteous. So the Holy Spirit isn't there to help me become righteous. a better me so I can somehow fulfill the law of God in the future. Christ became that righteousness for me. He can't help me learn how to pay off my own debt. And I thought about the the idea that a father will help his son in life and help him learn how to be a man and help him do these things. But the, the idea there is, is a view towards independence for that, for that child. Um, so the Holy Spirit and Christ don't help us in that fashion. Um, they're not made to help us to be able to learn how to pay off our debt. We, we need Christ as our surety, uh, to be able to do that. Another interesting thought that R.C. has in here is the Bible tells us that Christ is the one who cosigns the note. So as our surety, he's our cosigner, so to speak. He's the guarantor of our debt that he knows we're going to incur and he knows we'll never be able to pay off. But he willingly, before the foundation of the world, cosigns on that loan, so to speak, with us, knowing that he'll have to take the full brunt of that debt because we'll never be able to pay it back. And so those are the things that I think about when I think about Christ being our surety. As you listen this morning and kind of with a mind of focusing on thoughts or meditations or things that you could focus on out of today's sermon as you go throughout your week, what did you come up with or what impacted you as that's something worth thinking about? Bob? So this was something Kathy and I both talked about that struck us from the sermon this morning. We know, are we pretty confident that Christ is our mediator to God? And we'd never really thought much about the concept of Christ being the mediator between God and man. It's a little bit different concept and It's bi-directional I guess is and I guess I Haven't thought much about that and would like to even contemplate that more and and understand that a little bit better. Mm-hmm I think we think often that He helped bring us to God, at least that's the way I think. When I think of Christ as a mediator, I think, oh, He helped bring me to God. And the reverse is just as true, that He brought God, that He, God, came to us. Donnie? what was very impactful and really hit me. I kind of share with Jay after the sermon this morning, um, the text where it says that Christ is able to cleanse one to the uttermost and you know, there's just not salvation, sanctification, but also glorification and in a day to day life of temptations and how rich and how confident he is to only look to Christ and rest and be totally depend upon the spirit and be longing for that and just resting in that. and having that consume my mind, my thoughts, premeditation and prayer before I do something and just being overwhelmed with who God is and just dwelling richly on the beauty of that. You know, it's sufficient and it's in Christ and to continue to Seek him and seek his presence. Another scripture that talks about, referencing Psalms, you know, it says, when you ask me to seek your face, my heart said, your face, Lord, I seek. So that came to my mind as well, and very worshipful and just deep. Who else? Roy. There was a few things that stuck out, but one that really stuck out more than others, I think, is just the permanence, that unchanging, that unwavering, that, you know, I couldn't help but go to Christ on the cross and proclaiming, it is finished. You know, there was nothing more that needed to be done. You know, I think about – I also thought about the idea of Christ drawing men to God and God – and Christ drawing God to man, right? Is that kind of what you talked about? And I thought, you know, again, that importance of Christ being fully man and fully God to make that – to be able to accomplish that. I think that's, you know, it also helps me be more than confident. It just adds to that confidence that we cannot lose our salvation. It's a permanent transaction that God, that Christ took on, that we would be sealed, that we would be, He's a guarantor of our inheritance. There's nothing that can change that. I believe to tell a size a financial term to when you're a guy who's been in debt his whole life that's a really easy analogy to comprehend and understand. I wrote down a thought I wrote down is every time I Every time I look to myself and I start feeling this sense of spiritual independence, and I look at my own works, what ends up happening is I fall into despair, and I see my debt piled up. So it'd be like, look, opening up my bank account and seeing a negative $500 billion balance, and I only got $10 coming in every day, I'll never be able to pay it off. That's where it ends up. And it starts with pride, thinking that Um, I can do it on my own and I have the Holy Spirit to help me so I can, you know, I can muscle this up and then it ends up in that despair. But every time I look to Christ and look at his works, it's like opening up my, my bank account and seeing that $500 million debt being paid. And, uh, that's very comforting and it's a permanence that comes with that too. Mrs. Rowland, Bodie? There's a lot of different things, but some of them have already been touched on. But I would say the able to save to the outermost, the dynamite, that he can save us completely, and the thought of being completely saved from my anger or my wasting time. Shouldn't have been, but it's a new thought to me. And not saying that maybe I'm not going to have perfection in those areas, but he can do that. And what my responsibility in that is, is that I just would draw near to him. And so it's really encouraging. That's a huge mind shift, at least I think it can be for all of us, to meditate on that passage that He is able to save to the uttermost, and to bring that down into whatever your besetting sin is, right? Your anxiety, or your anger with your children, or your impatience, or your lack of thankfulness. And to constantly remind yourself that He is able to save to the uttermost. That He can completely eradicate that sin from your life, as you would draw near to Him through Christ. I mean, we... are so content with the salvation that gets us to heaven, but that doesn't give us victory over our sin now. And the truth of this scripture is that He is able to save in totality, entirely, completely, not just then, but now. That ought to, that ought to, encapsulate our minds as we're, you know, whatever it is, even just the silly worldliness that we want to toy with. or the entertainment or the occupation of our mind and our thoughts when we come to rest. That's a struggle for me. I just spend senseless, wasteless time. And I'm not saying that we have to be writing the 500 theses on the Reformation in 21st century America at every waking hour, but we spend so much time with useless things. And He is able to save even, He is able to even redeem that time that we might focus on Christ able to save to the uttermost in those moments. Mom? So, just thinking about the Old Testament and the New Testament again, and thinking about how we continually bring up Aaron and Moses, we bring up the law and the priesthood, and how my confidence continues to just grow more and more all the time as we see how the Old Testament points to Christ, how those systems couldn't save. Everything you know how the you know just putting yourself back in that time when the Israelites were hearing him talk about this new covenant and really starting to understand where their hope was and then Christ is here and you know kind of trying to put myself in their feet in their shoes and And, you know, kind of the difficulty of that, but then, you know, being so thankful that I can see the entirety of the Bible. And as I continue to read, it just continues to affirm itself, and my confidence just grows deeper and deeper of who Christ is and what He's done. Corey. Kind of going back to the subject of Christ having the power to not only save us for basically for salvation, but save us from the sin that wants to snare just as well. Make my mind goes to first Corinthians 10, 13. No temptation has overtaken you except such as coming to man. But God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. with the temptation will also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it. And just having that in my mind as those temptations come and know that there is a way out. God has provided a way for that sin to not be sin, right? It can be a temptation, but that's something that I'm commanded, we are commanded as believers to have our minds be focused on on Christ and to take every thought captive. And so as far as something to consider and to meditate on throughout the week, that's definitely going to be one for me. And he doesn't help Corey learn how to do that better so that Corey can handle that on his own next time. Christ dwells in Corey and that's where the power to say no to sin comes from. Amen. That's comforting to me. That's Tyler said this idea of surety is one of the most beautiful truths of the gospel and, uh, amen. I have a question. Why did Christ need to be a man in order to bring God to man? Why couldn't God have revealed himself in some other way in order to bring God to man for redemption? Josh, Mr. Josh Bokema. Because God was never satisfied with the blood of bulls or goats, He required a man, a man's blood be shed. Could God have dwelt on the earth in any other way than in a man's body? God can't be around sin, right? He's everywhere, I just did behold you God. Remember that next time you sin. What other musings, is that word common to everyone? It's common to Jay. Let Jay explain what Museans is. Excellent. I am, you know, all of the teachings and all of the truths are phenomenal about Christ, and I guess I want to give Hebrew 725 as the underrated verse of the year award, because I just don't recall us, me, citing that verse as one of reference to the truths of what Christ does. I don't recall it being common in our teaching or I can't think of one of us who claims it as a life verse, not that we require life verses, but it's just, it's worthy and that's what is I'm so unfamiliar with this text. It's whatever, it's just great to see this verse and then to see all that it means, the salvation to the uttermost, that that's just so much more than just being saved. It's salvation now and salvation eternally. And the always promise of Christ continually making intercession. It's just a very comforting verse and a very powerful verse. I'm very thankful for having that being raised up to my consciousness, I guess, of thinking about who God is. It's kind of like the John 3.16 of Hebrews. It's way better, really. It really seems, because the love thing gets all messed up in John 3.16. You know, uttermost, how are we going to screw that one up? I mean, I guess we'll find a way, but when you know what that word is, I guess when you know what love means, it works, too. But our culture hasn't messed up uttermost, I don't think, yet. So it's just really good, and we're thankful for that. It sort of pairs pretty well with 1 Corinthians 10, 13, doesn't it? If you're faced with a temptation and you're wondering where your escape route is, well, it's Hebrews 7.25. He's able to save to the uttermost. There's your escape route from the temptation. Jay, what's musings mean? It's coming. We can fix that. I really have no idea why you wanted me to try to define that, but it's kind of funny to me because I've wanted to start like a podcast and call it gospel musings or something. I've thought that for a long time when I, yeah. Have we talked about this? Maybe, maybe no. I taught a Bible study or previous previous church and I sent out like regular emails and called them gospel musings and they were just little tidbits for people to kind of think about. But, I think amusing is just like one concept to sort of chew on, an idea to mull over, right? Something to consider and meditate on. I guess since I have the microphone, I'll share something that was powerful for me this morning. You mentioned it briefly. I think it could be a sermon of its own and we've talked about it before, but just going back to the time of Israel in the wilderness in the 40 years and all of the the adults had to die out and you know you made the point that you know Moses the law the moral law couldn't bring the people into the promised land and you know Aaron the the ceremonial law the sacrificial system the blood of bulls and goats couldn't bring them into the promised land but Joshua Jehovah is salvation right which is also where the name Jesus comes from Jehovah is salvation. He can lead them into the promised land. So I was I was really thankful for that little musing tidbit Speaking of Joshua Yeah, you asked us a question like three quarters away maybe closer to the end and And it was so good that I forgot to write it down and I don't remember what it was. Do you remember? Three quarters of the way through. on which section? Something to do with... I'm not going to be able to give you any more than that. Wow. It's not going to be helpful. Why were there so many High Priests? Why were there so many High Priests? No, it was more challenging. That was an easy one. Maybe it was something about... seems to make some of what is the topic would help i know but it was more like direct more convicting is your god this or is remember what it was could have been uh... yet could have been off What thoughts did you have immediately after the question was asked? This is really good, I should write this down. In what way were you convicted by the question? I'm just being a detective now. Who is the complete and everlasting salvation for? No. I wouldn't have wrote that down. I think it had something to do with the power. Saving to the uttermost. I wish I could remember what it was. I'm sorry. Okay. You can maybe listen to the sermon on your phone back there and we can continue. Yep. Carry on. Do you know what Abel means? The word? Do you know what word is used for Abel? Dynamite? Anybody else? Thoughts? Questions? So what is the message that Christ as our surety speaks to God on our behalf and speaks to us on behalf of God? So I remember when you said that, I thought to myself, that's really good, I should write it down. So I did. It says to God, your people will be holy. And it says to man, your sins will be forgiven. What's the significance of that, either of those? So why is it significant that Christ declares to God, your people will be holy and declares to us that our sins will be forgiven? What importance does that have, Roy? To who? So the significance for me is that He said it. And that we can trust in that and that we can rest in that. And we can believe that. We can believe Him. You know, like you said a couple of times this morning, you know, when God says something, it's real. It will happen. Does it have something to do with fulfilling the covenant, both sides of the covenant, which was, I shall be their God, and we will be His people? I will be their God, and you will be my people. Right. We're going to look at this more, but in order for God to be our God, and in order for us to be His people, Why does it matter that we are holy and why does it matter that our sins are forgiven? Why is that necessary? Or is it necessary? I mean, God is the God of every single person on the face of the earth, isn't He? There's only one God. So why do What necessitates the need for God's people to be holy and the need for our sins to be forgiven? J. Simon. Then you, Donnie. Well, Habakkuk says of God that he is of pure eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong. So if Christ's sacrifice didn't perfect his people, didn't make them holy, then we would still not be able to abide with God and he would still not be able to welcome us into his kingdom. Donnie. understanding christ's role mom as mediator you cannot briefly touched on the world to me it is to reconcile two parties because god is holy and we are simple we naturally can't come to god so christ fulfilled obligation of being god yet he fulfilled obligation of being man and the mediator must be there that's necessary What attribute of God would be violated if God allowed unholy people to be his people? Natalie Bokema justice? Yeah. So God's a just God, right? So since he's just, and he's good, and we hear this a lot in Tony's preaching and everything, but he's just, and he's good. So if he can't let sin go unpunished, He must punish sin. He'll either punish you for your sin in hell forever or He punished Christ and in that transaction Christ also made you holy and able to be in the presence of God. Remember the aspect that all of salvation is accomplishing is to bring us to God. Not in this sense of His eternal, all-present, we're always with God, but to bring us into His very throne room, into the most holy place, into His inner chamber. That this is the means by which the Gospel is is functioning, that the whole purpose is to bring us to God. That the veil that was separating the most holy of holies from the holy place, from the outer court, from the people of Israel, these levels of God's presence or God's nearness, That the whole purpose is to bring us all the way to the very throne room of God. Yeah, I was really impacted by that and the parallel in Philemon about where Paul says, like, put it on my account. And then you said that the son says to the father, treat them as you would treat me, receive them as me, charge what they owe to me. And I don't think I often grasp that that's the relationship I have to God. that He views me that intimately or that closely that He would view His own Son and not being. I think that could really change if you realize that that's the love He has toward you. With confidence we now draw nigh that we see that we've been born of God. We see that we are children of God. And there's no greater hope That picture, I said it, I mentioned it at the end of Esther going in before the king and not knowing whether or not her life would be spared or pardoned. And when we go, we have an intercessor who always lives to make intercession on our behalf, who is at the right hand of God, that we come with that boldness of knowing that our pardon is sure through Christ. Not boldness coming on our own, but boldness to come in Christ. I hesitated to keep going into verse 26 and 27. I don't know if I'll start there next week or not. Usually how this goes, I think, what else could I talk about? By the time I get to Thursday, I'm like, next verse. But it goes into just His holiness and His perfections, and then in His sacrifice, of how much better Christ is in perfection, how much better He is in the sacrifices that, the sacrifice that He made. Holy, harmless, undefiled, once for all, He sacrifices Himself. There are so many good things. What is this New Covenant? We are going to get into this a lot on the next three chapters of Hebrews. What is the significance of the New Covenant? What is so new? What's the old covenant? Bob Fitzpatrick. So the old covenant was law and then they tried to make it right with sacrifices of animals and then in the new covenant is not to abolish the law but to fulfill the law that it was settled once and for all by human blood and then faith plays a part in being part of that covenant I think so the old covenant was the covenant of works And the new covenant, we call it the covenant of grace, but it's still of works, right? Because God's just and His justice has to be satisfied. So it's still of works, but whose works is it? Christ's, not ours. So that's where the grace comes in. He's the perfect priest. Yep. So he fulfilled the law. And our faith in him counts his righteousness to our account. I don't know if that's the answer Tyler was looking for, but that's the one we got. We're going to figure it out. Anybody else? Thoughts? Words of encouragement, questions, musings. You need to try out some musings. Just stand somewhere and stare off into nothingness and think to yourself, He is able to save to the uttermost. He's able to save to the uttermost. Over. Over. Over. That's a whole lot better than YouTube. Just gonna be honest. Whole lot better. Ouch. Then what? YouTube. Whatever. Had to learn how the soundboard works somehow. teacher. Anyone else before we are finished? So this just continues to just, you know, God just continues to grow in me this, this ever growing thought of what was accomplished at the cross. Um, you know, it's, it's easy, you know, that default of, you know, I've been saved, I've been reconciled to my creator, but that's just like the pinprick to the, to the entire magnificence of our high priest. Amen. Anyone else? Also, there were many priests because they were prevented by death from continuing, but He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.