The Book of  HEBREWS
James J. Barker


Lesson 19
HE IS ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST

Text: HEBREWS 7:23-28


INTRODUCTION:


  1. One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 7:25 -- "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
  2. I think I was in chapel in Bible college when I first heard a preacher say -- "from the guttermost to the uttermost!"
  3. And I have heard it again and again over the years.  Truly God does save sinners "from the guttermost to the uttermost."

 

  1. AN UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD (7:23, 24)
  2. A SINLESS SUBSTITUTE (7:25-27)
  3. A PERFECT SALVATION (7:25-28)

 

I. AN UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD (7:23, 24)

  1. The Aaronic priesthood had one notable flaw -- it always ended in death (7:23).
  2. "But this man..." (7:24).  Christ rose from the dead and "continueth ever," therefore His is an unchangeable priesthood.
  3. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
  4. Hebrews 7:25 says our Lord "ever liveth to make intercession for" us.
  5. W. Griffith Thomas said, "It seems to be the thought of Hebrews, that Christ ever lives for the express purpose of guaranteeing the believer against sinning" (Let Us Go On).
  6. Christ died to save us from the power of sin, as well as from the penalty of sin.

 

II. A SINLESS SUBSTITUTE

  1. The Lord Jesus Christ is not only our Great High Priest, He is also our sinless substitute.
  2. The author of this epistle to the Hebrews has already mentioned that Christ was "without sin" (4:15).
  3. Now he says Christ "is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (7:26; cf. 7:28).
  4. First Peter 2:22 says, "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."
  5. First Peter 3:18 says, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."
  6. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin."
  7. First John 3:5 says, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."
  8. The Bible teaches that Christ died as our sinless substitute.
  9. The offerings of the high priest could not settle the sin question.  But our great high priest did not need to offer up sacrifices, because He is sinless.  Other priests offered up animal sacrifices, but Christ offered up Himself (Heb. 7:27).

 

III. A PERFECT SALVATION (7:25-28)

  1. Our Lord is able to save us completely and perfectly (7:25).
  2. Our Lord is able to save us completely -- "to the uttermost" (7:25).
  3. But in order to be saved, sinners must come to God "by Him" (7:25) -- not by their church, or by baptism, or by good works, or by Mary, etc.
  4. Our Lord said in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."
  5. And our Lord said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
  6. Peter said in Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

 

CONCLUSION:

  1. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest.  His is an unchanging priesthood.
  2. Christ is our Mediator.  First Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
  3. Therefore, we need no priests, because the Lord Jesus Christ is our great high priest and our only mediator.
  4. We need no pope.  Roman Catholics call their pope "holy father."  According to John 17:11, this is a title reserved for God alone.
  5. Our Lord said in Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
  6. Roman Catholics teach that since our Lord has ascended into heaven, their popes are here to represent Him here on earth.  That is why they refer to the pope as the "vicar (substitute) of Christ."
  7. But our Lord said He would send the Holy Spirit, not a pope.  He said in John 16:7, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."
  8. So we have God the Father.  He is our "Holy Father."  We have God the Son.  He is our Great High Priest.  And we have God the Spirit.  He is our Comforter.
  9. We have no need for popes or priests. The book of Hebrews refutes Romanism because the Roman Catholic system is built around their priesthood (7:27).
  10. The Roman Catholic mass contradicts the plain teachings of  Scripture (cf. Heb. 10:10, 12, 14, 18).


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