Temple Baptist Church - 8-24-2025
Hebrews 12:1-2
Introduction:
A. We have now seen:
1. Who Jehovah God, Christ Jesus the Word, was: the eternal, self-existing, all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent Jehovah God: the Word, the Creator, the Owner, and the Sustainer of all things. That is a mouthful that still does little justice to who the great “I AM THAT I AM” was! It is incomprehensible but teachable and knowable.
2. What Jehovah God became. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among men. The word “made” tells us that this was an act that would have never naturally occurred but was purposed and performed. The condescension of Jehovah God is incomprehensible but teachable and knowable.
3. Christology could be a long series as “In the volume (cover to cover) of the book it is written of me” speaks of Christ is found from Genesis chapter 1 as Creator to Revelation chapter 22 as our coming Lord! Therefore, this will be the last message on Christology.
B. In our text, we see that Christ Jesus is both the Author and Finisher of our faith! Our work is to faithfully run the race set before us with the joy of the Lord in our hearts.
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
C. This morning, we will take a look at who Christ is right now.
1. Jehovah God, who had no physical body before His incarnation, now has an eternal physical one.
Colossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
2. Born into a physical body that was prepared for Him.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
3. Resurrected with an eternal physical body.
Luke 24:39-40 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (40) And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
4. Coming again with a glorious, eternal body.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
D. Three specific offices that our Lord Jesus Christ holds: Prophet, Priest, and King.
1. Prophet. As Prophet, Christ Jesus, who knows the end from the beginning, declares unto us the Word of God. From before the beginning of time and creation until the beginning of eternity after the Revelation, the Word (Christ Jesus) told us everything that would transpire. You can read today’s news in a thousands of years old Word!
a) The Person. Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
b) The Preaching. Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
c) The Promise. Christ is the Word and Christ is God who knows all. He is the Person of prophecy. His Person is found in His Word, the Bible.
2 Peter 1:16-19 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
d) The Power. In His Word, Jehovah God revealed the truth about God, man, and the future.
Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Revelation 19:11-15 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
2. Priest. As the Apostles represented God to man, the Old Testament priests represented man to God. Today, there are no earthly priests, as every believer is their own priest. This is called the individual priesthood of man. But, when we go to God the Father in prayer, we are once again represented to God by our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. As our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ:
a) As our High Priest, He Sacrificed (Giving us both access and assurance). Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
b) As our High Priest, He Mediates ( A Mediator stands between two parties to bring reconciliation by bridging the gap). Jesus Christ is the “Buffer” between the Clean and the unclean. Though our sins are gone positionally, we are still sinful practically. One day, thank the Lord, we will be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
c) As our High Priest, He Advocates (An Advocate pleads another’s cause, a helper, a defender in judgment). Advocate-Christ Jesus represents the helpless before the throne of the Father. What we cannot do, what we cannot say, and what we cannot know is in the hands of Him that knows everything about us and pleads in our defense.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
d) As our High Priest, He Intercedes (Arbitrates and Facilitates). In John chapter 17, we find the Lord’s Prayer for His children. When we do not know what to pray for, Jesus Christ does!
John 17:9-11 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (10) And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. (11) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
3. King. As King, Christ Jesus reigns over all and everyone.
a) The Promise - Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
b) The Prophecy - Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (12) His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. (13) And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
c) The Prayer - Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
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