🎵Music🎵
Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to Steadfast Baptist Church.
It's great to see everybody here tonight.
If we can go ahead and find our seats, we'll go ahead and get started.
And for tonight's first song, we'll start in song number 143 in your hymnal.
Song number 143, Blessed Assurance.
Song number 143, everybody sing it out together on the first.
🎵Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine🎵
🎵Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine🎵
🎵Air of salvation, purchased of God🎵
🎵Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood🎵
🎵This is my story, this is my song🎵
🎵Raising my Savior all the day long🎵
🎵This is my story, this is my song🎵
🎵Raising my Savior all the day long🎵
🎵Perfect submission, perfect delight🎵
🎵Visions of rapture now burst on my sight🎵
🎵Angels descending, break from above🎵
🎵Echoes of mercy, whispers of love🎵
🎵This is my story, this is my song🎵
🎵Raising my Savior all the day long🎵
🎵This is my story, this is my song🎵
🎵Raising my Savior all the day long🎵
🎵Perfect submission, all is at rest🎵
🎵I am my Savior and happy and blessed🎵
🎵Watching Him waiting, looking above🎵
🎵Filled with His goodness, lost in His love🎵
🎵This is my story, this is my song🎵
🎵Raising my Savior all the day long🎵
🎵This is my story, this is my song🎵
🎵Raising my Savior all the day long🎵
Alright, great singing everybody. Let's open up the service with a word of prayer.
Lord, we love you and we just thank you again for Steadfast Baptist Church.
We ask that you just bless the fellowship, bless the singing, and bless the preaching.
And it's in Jesus' name we ask it. Amen.
Alright, for our next song, let's go to song number 169.
169, Come Thou Fount.
Singing out real well in the verse, 169.
🎵Come thou fount of every blessing🎵
🎵Tune my heart to sing my praise🎵
🎵Strings of mercy never ceasing🎵
🎵Call for songs of loudest praise🎵
🎵Teach me some melody of sonnet🎵
🎵Flung by the flaming tongues above🎵
🎵Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it🎵
🎵Mount of thy redeeming love🎵
🎵Here I raise my Ebenezer🎵
🎵Hither by thy help I'm come🎵
🎵And I know by thy good pleasure🎵
🎵Safely I'll arrive at home🎵
🎵Jesus sought me when a stranger🎵
🎵Wandering from love full of God🎵
🎵Need to rescue me from danger🎵
🎵Interposed his precious blood🎵
🎵Oh to grace how great a debtor🎵
🎵Daily I'm constrained to be🎵
🎵Let thy goodness like a feather🎵
🎵Mind my wandering heart to thee🎵
🎵Grown to wander, Lord I feel it🎵
🎵Grown to lead the God I love🎵
🎵Here's my heart, oh take and seal it🎵
🎵Seal it for thine hearts above🎵
service up an hour to the 430 time and then we're also going to move our
Spanish service to 9 in the morning and so I'm really excited about that
change hopefully that will accommodate everybody a little bit better also on
the right there is several people you can be in prayer for are expecting
ladies as well as our prayer list on the back if you would like to attend
our preaching class it's April 27th the 29th is our homeschool trip the
fourth is the baby shower for the Hernandez family the fifth is the
spring swap that's just kind of in between services there and then also
May 11th is the Mother's Day tea there is a sign-up sheet out here in
the foyer so for all of you ladies that are attending please make sure you
do sign up for that and of course if you'd like to invite your mother your
grandmother sister anyone you're welcome to do so please just make sure
that you're adding them into your total when you sign up so that we have
everybody we have room for everyone also we had the congratulations to the
Oz family on the birth of Heidi Lorraine she was born on the 20th at
4 31 a.m. 9 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long congratulations them and
that's really all I have as far as announcements we're gonna sing our
third song Psalm 126 it's in our special handouts Psalm 126 all right
though Psalm chapter 126 sing it out together on the first
things for them the Lord things for us where we are
turn again our captivity Oh as the streams in the south they that so in
tears shall be enjoyed hey that's so in tears are we can
enjoy
he that go forth and weep it bearing precious seed
shout out let's come again shout out let's come again with rejoicing
bringing his sheets with him then said they among the heathen the Lord had done great things for them the Lord had done great things for us whereof we are glad
great singing everybody now as the offering plates are being passed around
go ahead and turn in your Bibles to numbers chapter 19 the book of numbers
chapter number 19
you
numbers chapter 19 the Bible says and the Lord spake unto Moses and unto
Aaron saying this is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded
saying speak unto the children of Israel that they bring thee a red heifer
without spot wherein is no blemish and upon which never came yoke and you
shall give her unto Eleazar the priest that he may bring her forth
without the camp and one shall slay her before his face and Eleazar the
priest shall take of her blood with his finger and sprinkle of her blood
directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times and one
shall burn the heifer in his sight her skin and her flesh and her blood
and her dung shall he burn and the priest shall take cedarwood and
hyssop and scarlet and cast it into the midst of the burning of the
heifer then the priest shall wash his clothes and he shall bathe his
flesh and water and afterward he shall come into the camp and the
priest shall be unclean until the even and he that burneth her shall
wash his clothes in water and bathe his flesh and water and shall be
unclean until the even and a man that is clean shall gather up the
ashes of the heifer and lay them up without the camp in a clean place and
it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water
of separation it is a purification for sin and he that gather at the
ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the even
and it shall be unto the children of Israel and unto the stranger that so
journeth among them for a statute forever he that toucheth the dead body
of any man shall be unclean seven days he shall purify himself with it on
the third day and on the seventh day he shall be clean but if he purify
not himself the third day then the seventh day he shall not be clean
whosoever touches the dead body of any man that is dead and purify
not himself to file at the tabernacle of the Lord and that soul shall be
cut off from Israel because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon
him he shall be unclean his uncleanness is yet upon him this is the
law when a man dieth in a tent all that come into the tent and all
that is in the tent shall be unclean seven days and every open
vessel which has no covering bound upon it is unclean and whosoever
touches one that is slain with a sword in the open fields or a dead
body or a bone of a man or a grave shall be unclean seven days and for
an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of
purification for sin and running water shall be put there too in a
vessel and a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water
and sprinkle it upon the tent and upon all the vessels and upon the
persons that were there and upon him that touched a bone or one
slain or one dead or a grave and the clean person shall sprinkle
upon the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day and on the
seventh day he shall purify himself and wash his clothes and bathe
himself in water and shall be clean at even but the man that
shall purify but the man that shall be unclean and shall not
purify himself that soul shall be cut off from among the
congregation because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the
Lord the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon
him he is unclean and it shall be a perpetual statute unto
them that he that sprinkles the water of separation shall
wash his clothes and he that touches the water of separation
shall be unclean until even and whatsoever the unclean
person touches shall be unclean and the soul that touches it
shall be unclean until even.
Let's pray.
Dear Heavenly Father thank you for this day.
Thank you for Steadfast Baptist Church and everyone
here.
Please help us to do great works for you.
Please bless Pastor Shelley as he preaches the word in Jesus
name.
Amen.
I wanted to talk about this chapter number chapter 19 where
it brings up this idea of a red heifer sacrifice and it's so
for some reason just very popular in the news and online
and social media these days because there are individuals
who are trying to supply the nation of Israel with red
heifers to perform sacrifices again.
Now this is actually big news in the sense that animal
sacrifices have essentially been nonexistent since 70 A.D.
since 70 A.D.
the children of Israel have not been performing daily
sacrifices or animal sacrifices.
This has not been something that's happening.
And you'd ask why why have they not been doing that.
Well it's pretty obvious that they rejected their savior
the Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ and as a result God
punished them and took away their temple and took away
their nation and took away the sacrifices because they're
blasphemous at that point because Christ was their once
for all sacrifice.
So to reinstitute any of that would be a rejection of Jesus
Christ as the lamb of God would be to reject Jesus
Christ and the symbol that he is found in all of the Old
Testament.
But at the same time you know it still doesn't mean
that this part of scripture doesn't matter.
It doesn't mean that we can't find some significance it
doesn't mean that it doesn't relate to us even
today it's just that we're not going to actually literally
find a red heifer and do this ritual or do this ceremony
or do this sacrifice.
That would be a rejection of the New Testament.
But let's understand what these verses are saying.
Verse 1 and the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron
saying this is the ordinance of the law which the Lord
hath commanded saying speak unto the children of Israel
that they bring thee a red heifer without spot where
in his noble omission upon which never came yoke.
Why is it so important that they find an animal
specifically this red heifer that doesn't have a
spot and has no blemish and upon which never came
yoke.
Well this is to signify things about the Lord Jesus
Christ because every animal sacrifice in the Old
Testament is a picture of Jesus.
Now not everything about Jesus can be encapsulated in
one sacrifice.
That's why we have so many different sacrifices is
because there's so many different things that are
going on with the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so God has used so many different animal
sacrifices to illustrate all the different things that
are going on with Jesus Christ.
So the red heifer sacrifice while it does foreshadow
and picture some aspects of the gospel and of Jesus
Christ it doesn't do everything.
So it would be wrong to think that everything is
encapsulated in Christ's sacrifice in this one
sacrifice or sometimes it's also to make the errors
to say that everything going on does directly
relate to Jesus.
Sometimes it's not going to always directly relate
either but much of what we're talking about does
have a direct correlation.
Keep your finger go to Second Corinthians Chapter
number five the Second Corinthians Chapter number
five.
Why is it that this animal could not have a spot
or blemish.
Well I would submit to you that everything that God
gave has at least a dual purpose.
It is a carnal on the surface for that time
purpose and then it has a significance from a
spiritual picture.
What is the purpose of them having this red heifer
without spot and blemish at that time.
Well God wants you when you sacrifice to
sacrifice the best.
God wants your heart and at your heart that there's
this battle over money that's kind of at the
heart of every single person.
And so when you're going to do it animal
sacrifice back then they don't have dollar
bills and they don't have Bitcoin they don't
have all these other monetary system their
money's tied up in their animals.
That is really a major source of what their
income actually is.
And of course their income is dependent on how
healthy the animal is.
How good of an animal it is.
They're going to yield a greater return or
greater profit.
So when you have to sacrifice an animal if
you sacrifice an animal that's lame sick
disease full of blemishes it wouldn't be
worth as much money as an animal that's
perfect spotless without blemish.
So on the surface if we're just examine why
God's saying this he wants them to offer
the best of the flock.
He wants them to offer the cream of the crop.
He wants them to take their most significant
thing that they could possibly sacrifice and
sacrifice that to God.
And of course when it comes to animal
sacrifices what is the cream of the crop.
It is the heifer.
The heifer is the best.
I mean this is where you get filet mignon.
OK.
This is where you get the t bone.
This is where you get the all the different
great cuts of meat ribs and brisket and
just everything.
I mean the cow provides the greatest meats
that you're going to have when it comes to an
animal and quantity the quantity I mean if
you were to slaughter a cow especially a
healthy large cow you get a lot of meat.
I mean these things yield so much food.
And so the heifer is kind of in a sense
the king of the jungle when it comes to
animal sacrifices it's the top it's the
cream of the crop it's the greatest.
So of course you're going to take the
best animal the best quality.
It doesn't necessarily matter that it's a
red heifer but just the fact that it is a
cow or a bullock.
Those are the greatest of the animals as
far as sacrifices go.
So just from a kernel perspective a lot of
those things make sense.
How would that then translate into pictures
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Well frankly speaking comparing him to us.
He is the cream of the crop.
He is the greatest.
He is the the best in every kind of possible
sense.
Additionally if we were to take the greatest
person they still have blemishes in the sense
that they've still sinned because the Bible
says for all of sin it comes short of the
glory of God.
There's not a just man upon the earth that
doeth good and sineth not.
No one is perfect and without spot.
We all have sinned.
But when we talk about Jesus Christ the
difference between him and us is that he
never sinned.
And so that's why it was important to find an
animal that had no blemish or had no spot.
And in Second Corinthians chapter number
five it relays this point kind of
indirectly but it tells us here look at
the end of the chapter.
Look at what it says in verse 18.
In all things are of God who hath reconciled
us to himself by Jesus Christ and have
given us the Ministry of Reconciliation to
wit that God was in Christ reconciling the
world unto himself not imputing their
trespasses unto them and have committed
unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we as ambassadors for Christ as
though God did beseech you by us.
We pray you in Christ said be reconciled
to God for he hath made him to be sin
for us who knew no sin that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him.
So the Bible says that Jesus Christ knew no
sin or it says he you know what that
means is he never had a sin.
He didn't he didn't ever try to sin.
He wasn't going to sin.
Nothing about sin in him happened.
He was perfect spotless without blemish.
And that is the foreshadowing we have
here with those animals that spiritual
picture go back to Numbers chapter 19.
So of course this is not limited to the
red heifer when we talk about the lamb
sacrifice of the Passover it's also
supposed to be a lamb that's without
blemish that's without spot.
And when you read a lot of the Bible as
far as the Old Testament you'll find
that often throughout history a lot of
Jews especially the worst ones they
would try to offer the worst animals
they would offer sick and blind and lame
and they were always trying to like
Jip God they're always trying to
offer him this lame animal sacrifice.
But you know what that pictures that
pictures work salvation because you
know you're offering you're offering
yourself and guess what you're lame
blind and have all kinds of blemishes
and everything and so instead of taking
the perfect spotless lamb as your
sacrifice you're offering yourself and
unfortunately yourself is not accepted
because your works are not going to be
accepted before God you cannot be saved
by your works because you're lame
blind you have blemishes you need a
perfect and spotless lamb which is
Jesus Christ and you know what you
need the red heifer spiritually
speaking Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is that picture of that
animal sacrifice.
Now look what it says in verse 3 and
he shall give her unto Eliezer the
priest that he may bring her forth
without the camp and one shall slay
her before his face.
Another aspect foreshadowing of Jesus
Christ is that this specific animal
sacrifice is done without the camp.
That's just meaning it's not in the
the main area of the city and that's
kind of a word that we are familiar
with it's out of out of town it's
kind of on the outskirts of the
society.
Now this is the foreshadow of course
and a picture the fact that Jesus
Christ how he would die that he was
not going to die in the city.
He was going to die on the outskirts
or outside of the city.
Now go to Hebrews Chapter 13 keep
your finger and go to numbers.
I'm sorry go to Hebrews Chapter 13.
Of course this foreshadows how
Jesus Christ was taken without the
camp and how he was slain.
He does not killed inside the city
limits or in their town
which is kind of incredible to think
about like how the Bible written
that far ago could tell us all
the precise details of Christ's
death at that time.
I mean to predict anything in the
future is very difficult let alone
something we're talking about
thousands of years in the future
with such precise detail.
And the writer of Hebrews is
explaining to us what that means.
Hebrews is probably the greatest
commentary on understanding the
Old Testament law understanding
the Old Testament law and
sacrifices Hebrews is basically
your commentary to tell you
what these things mean.
Hebrews Chapter 13 look at verse
9.
Be not carried about with divers
and strange doctrines for it is
a good thing that the heart be
established with grace not with
meats which have not profited
them that have been occupied
therein.
We have an altar where have
they have no right to eat which
serve the tabernacle for the
bodies of those beasts whose
blood is brought into the
sanctuary by the high priest
for sin are burned without the
camp.
Wherefore Jesus also that he
might sanctify the people with
his own blood suffered without
the gate.
Let us go forth therefore unto
him without the camp bearing
his approach.
So what the text was saying
is that these animals many of
the sacrifices were taken out
of the camp to be burned.
And that was a picture of how
Jesus was going to die outside
of the camp.
Now this specific red heifer
sacrifice is a burnt offering
is a whole burnt offering and
it is done without the camp.
But not only is it burned
without the camp it is slain
without the camp which is
interesting because some of the
animal sacrifices are slain at
the altar.
In fact they have them slain
at the altar and they burn
like some parts there and
they take the other parts
outside the camp and they burn
them.
When we talk about the red
heifer sacrifice specifically
it is taken outside the camp
and then killed outside the
camp which is exactly how
Jesus Christ was killed.
Jesus Christ was taken out
and put on the cross and he
died on the cross without the
gate.
And so that's a picture of
Jesus.
Now what's interesting about
this in verse 9 is it brings
up this idea of not being
carried about with divers and
strange doctrines.
Now the word divers is kind of a
strange word but all you have
to do is add the word E or
the letter E to the end of
it and then it starts making
sense because diverse you kind
of think of multiple or being
kind of different and that's
what it means by divers just
being multiple.
So it's just saying there's all
kinds and multiple and
strange meaning foreign not
common something that you're
not used to something you've
never heard before.
It's new to you.
Strange doctrines.
There is a lot of false
doctrine when we talk about
animal sacrifices.
And right now in America there
is a bunch of Christians who
are Zionists and they are
falling for divers and strange
doctrines.
They are somehow believing that
they should be giving money to
organizations to help bring in
red heifers into Israel and
then literally sacrificing those
animals in Israel.
That is a diverse and strange
doctrine.
And that is not what the Bible
says we should be doing.
In verse 9 it also says it's
good that our hearts be
established with grace and not
with meats meaning we
shouldn't be living for the
carnal.
Of course the animal
sacrifices the priests would eat
that specific animal the
Passover sacrifice is an animal
sacrifice that they ate.
And when we talk about the other
animal sacrifices they're eating
and they're eating the best
meats.
Notice what it says in the end
of this verse which have not
profited them that have been
occupied therein.
Meaning the priests that are
constantly I mean they do a
daily sacrifice they're
slaughtering cows and eating
beef every single day.
And what does it say.
It did not profit them.
People that are doing this
every day it didn't profit them.
Why because animal sacrifices
didn't profit anything.
They were foreshadowing Jesus
which was the only thing that
was actually profitable.
Notice verse 10 we have an
altar where they have no right
to eat which serve the
tabernacle.
Now this is important verse.
Let's break down what it's
saying.
It's saying that there's a
certain group of people that
are not allowed to eat.
Who are these people.
The ones that serve the
tabernacle.
Who are those who are serving
the tabernacle when the book
of Hebrews is written.
That is the Jews that are in
Israel doing the animal
sacrifices.
So unsaved Christ rejecting
Jews at the time when this
was written he's saying they
have no right to eat at our
altar.
What altar.
Well here's the thing.
To Jews and to the religion of
Judaism they believe that the
right altar should be in
Jerusalem in the temple.
And they would say oh man
we're not doing sacrifice
because we don't have all
that if we had that then we
would be offering the animal
sacrifices.
It'd be pleasing to God.
That's what God wants us to
do.
OK.
Well let's just go back in
time because back in time they
had the right temple and they
had the right carnal altar
and they were taking the
animals there and sacrificing
them.
But guess what.
That was wrong.
That was wrong back then.
And guess what it would be
wrong right now as well.
And when he says that we have
an altar which I again
believe the author of Hebrews
is most likely Paul.
But Paul was not concerned
with animal sacrifices that are
going on in Jerusalem or
having anything to do with
that.
He's saying that his altar is
somewhere else.
You know why?
Because his altars in heaven.
And he's saying the carnal Jews
of that day they have no right
to eat at that heavenly altar.
Why because they rejected
Christ they don't believe in
Jesus Christ.
This is a proof text that the
apostle Paul which again I'm
saying that I believe he's the
author of this but whoever the
author is of this and of
course it's intended for all
Christians anyways.
It's a proof that we don't
care about the animal
sacrifices going on in
Jerusalem.
We have nothing to do with that.
That is not for us.
We care about the altar in
heaven.
Where was a better sacrifice
the blood of Jesus Christ put
on and they have no right to
eat at that.
And of course what we were
sanctified by was the blood
of Jesus not any
animal.
And I like you know the fact
that it says that we're
supposed to also kind of go
out the gate.
Did you notice that it
says let us go forth therefore
unto him without the camp
bearing his approach.
There's probably a lot of
interpretations of this.
There's probably a lot of
applications of this verse.
But this is the one
application that I want to
make that I think is really
interesting and I think it's
really important for this
book specifically.
The Jews after they got
saved the ones that were
saved Peter John the
disciples they stuck around
in Jerusalem.
God did not want them to
stick around in Jerusalem.
You know what he wanted them
to do leave
and go out the camp and go
without the gate and preach
the gospel and all the world
and to go into the Gentiles
and preach the gospel.
And I believe what's kind of
being referenced here is the
idea of like get away
from the altar and get away
from that temple and go
without the gate go out into
the world and preach the
gospel to every creature.
You know what our calling in
this life is to not set up
some place to just eat
animal sacrifices.
We are here to go without the
game the camp and to suffer
for the approach of Christ
and to preach the gospel to
get people saved.
You know the book of Hebrews
if you study it in chapter
number 11 what is the big
deal chapter 11 people being
sojourners and traveling and
going somewhere to do the
works of God and you know
what to be honest with you
many times in order to get
people saved and do great
works for God you have to go
you have to be willing to go
instead of just setting up
shop and just hey I'm just
going to slaughter cow after
cow after cow and just eat my
heart's content.
Well what does the Bible say
in verse number nine.
For it is a good thing that
the heart be established with
grace not with meats
anything. I love meat.
You will never meet someone
that probably likes steak and
meat more than me.
But you know what that is not
what my heart should be
established on.
My heart to be established
with grace.
I should even be willing to
travel to countries where I
can't even have that just to
preach the gospel because you
know what it matters more
that we suffer for the cause
of Christ in this life and
that we do the will of God
then we just pleasure
ourselves and just satisfy our
bellies.
You know Christ didn't come
here to be ministered unto
but to minister and to give
his life a ransom for many.
And you know that's what
we're supposed to do is we're
supposed to give our lives
as a ransom for many.
Of course this is a complete
rejection of the Lord Jesus
Christ to go back to Israel.
There are Christians that are
obsessed with getting
sacrifices back in Israel.
It's like no you should be
obsessed with getting people
the gospel.
Not trying to bring animals
back into Israel.
That just doesn't make any
sense folks.
And of course those are the
people that crucified your
savior and now you want to go
give them more cows.
I mean it just doesn't make
sense. Go back to Numbers if
you would.
Numbers chapter 19.
We have an altar and that
altar is in heaven.
The reason why they can't eat
there is they have nothing to
do with heaven or God.
They don't care about the
heavenly altar.
They only care about.
They only care about the
carnal and their current
status.
Now I want to go back to
Hebrews so I should probably
told you keep your finger
there but I want to read
another verse here.
The Bible says in verse 4 and
Eliezer the priest shall
take of her blood with his
finger and sprinkle of her
blood directly before the
tabernacle the congregation
seven times.
So they slaughtered this
animal and then they take
the blood of this animal and
they sprinkle it seven times.
Now what would be the
significance of this.
Well if you kind of study
the Bible you get this
general idea that the word
seven or the number seven
references completion.
You have the seven days
of creation.
You have other things that
you know just the seven days
of the week is kind of
coming from creation.
Seven is often a number of
completion.
Well what in the world
with this blood being
sprinkled picture that would
come that would picture the
completion of our salvation
through the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ that everything was
completed through Christ's
sacrifice and through the
sprinkling of his blood
on the altar in heaven.
OK go back to Hebrews.
If you would I'm sorry go
back to Hebrews chapter 13
and the Bible makes it
abundantly clear that Jesus
Christ took his blood up
into the holy place and
presented himself in the
presence of God and
sprinkled the blood and
that's what gave us
forgiveness of sins.
That was the atonement.
That's why people say I
believe in the blood
atonement because we
recognize that it was the
blood of Jesus Christ that
gave us the forgiveness of
sins not an animal
sacrifice.
Therefore we don't
really care if you have
the right mentality.
We don't care about this
place and this world.
Yeah. In the Old Testament
if you wanted to be a
Christian and you want
to serve God you know is
important is important to
make pilgrimages to
Jerusalem is important
to go there.
That's where the Lord's
people were.
That's where he went to
find the word of God.
That's where God's
oracles were.
God was dedicated and
committed to that
specific area and it
was an important area.
And you know what if I
was a Christian at that
time I probably would
try to move there and
try to live there.
Right.
I mean if I was a
Gentile try to join one
of the tribes and try
to be part of those
people and try to live
in Jerusalem and try to
serve God.
And of course at times
you would still travel
into all the world to
preach the gospel.
I mean Jeremiah traveled
and left preach the
gospel to all kinds of
different people.
So it's not like you
wouldn't leave but you
would probably want to
live there.
But in the New
Testament there's this
idea of leaving
Jerusalem.
Jerusalem doesn't matter
anymore.
There is no specific
geographic location that
Christians need to live
in.
And that's why it says
in verse 14 for we
have no continuing city
but we seek one to
come.
Why are Christians
obsessed with rebuilding
Jerusalem?
We have no continuing
city.
We're just sojourners
here.
The only Jerusalem you
should care about is the
heavenly Jerusalem that we
seek to come.
And this is what's
emphasized in Chapter 11.
Go to Chapter 11 now
for a minute.
Well we've got to get
those heifers in
Jerusalem.
No no no no.
Who cares about that
place?
You know building your
local area is just as
important as building any
other local area.
It doesn't it doesn't
really matter.
And it's all going to be
burned up eventually
anyways.
We should stop worrying
about carnal things and
trying to usher in the
Antichrist.
And we should worry
about the things the
Bible actually says.
Now Hebrews Chapter 11 is
the Hall of Faith.
It's a very famous
portion of scripture.
Look at verse 10.
This is talking about
Abraham for he looked for
a city which has
foundations whose builder
and maker is God.
Abraham was not trying to
set up a heavenly
Jerusalem I'm sorry a
carnal Jerusalem.
He was not trying to set
up a physical
place that he could live.
He was looking for what a
foundation that was built
by God.
Abraham already had the
idea hey I'm living for
the New Jerusalem not for
this one.
And of course that's the
same philosophy that every
saved person should have.
Even David and Solomon
recognize that when they
built a temple that
wasn't really God's
dwelling place.
They're like how can I
build you a dwelling
place like you're you
you fill the heavens.
You know it's just a
representation or a
model but there will be
one day a heavenly
Jerusalem that descends
down out of heaven
and that's where God
lives.
You know what God's
building was made by
him folks sorry.
I know there's some
people that work in
construction here some
carpenters and plumbers
and whatever.
God doesn't want you to
build it.
All right.
We've seen your work.
OK.
No I'm just kidding.
He's going to make he
made it himself and it's
better.
It's got gold that's
transparent glass.
I don't even know what
that means but it sounds
cool.
All right.
I mean this thing is so
massive and so great.
And you know what he
made it.
And frankly speaking I'm
glad it wasn't made in
China.
OK that's just my you
know that's just my
opinion but hey
everything right now is
made in China.
But you know what the
heavenly Jerusalem was
not.
It was made in heaven.
All right.
It was made by God.
And that's the type of
city that we should be
focused on.
Look at verse 16.
Just skip forward a
little more.
And this is just
talking about in
general all the
patriarchs of the
faith.
It says but now
they desire a better
country.
That is and heavenly
wherefore God is not
ashamed to be called
their God for he
prepared for them a
city.
So again.
Before Jerusalem
even existed in the
context that we think
of it before David
prepared for that first
temple before Solomon
built that temple all
of the spiritual
patriarchs were saying
I'm seeking for a
heavenly city a
heavenly Jerusalem a
better country.
They didn't care about
the physical temple.
You know the
disciples are trying to
show Jesus like have
you seen the temple how
amazing it is.
And he's just thinking
like hey one stone is
not going to be left
upon another buddy.
Like who cares who
cares about this place.
And we talked about a
temple being destroyed.
He was actually talking
about his own body
because he's the temple.
Did you ever recognize
that the temple gets
destroyed and then
rebuilt.
What do you think that
represents how Jesus
Christ would die and be
buried and then
resurrect.
That's a picture of the
death burial and
resurrection.
And of course why would
that temple go away.
Well we had the real
temple come.
So we don't need that
second temple has been
destroyed.
What would this third
temple be.
That's a representation
of the Antichrist and
his blasphemous.
OK folks we don't need
that.
That doesn't make any
sense.
And in fact the New
Testament temple.
I don't have this in my
notes.
Keep your fingers.
I want to come back to
this.
Go to Ephesians chapter
number two.
You want to know what
the real temple is of
God in the New
Testament.
It's me.
You say that's weird.
Well it's not just me
it's you too.
OK.
All right.
Don't get all weirded on
me.
I'll prove this to you.
Look at Ephesians
chapter two.
And look what it says.
Let's read in verse
19.
Now therefore you're no
more strangers and
foreigners but fellow
citizens with the
saints and of the
household of God.
You know what I'm a
Jewish citizen.
I'm a Jew and a Jewish
citizen.
Verse 20 and are built
upon the foundation of
the apostles and
prophets.
Jesus Christ himself
being the chief
cornerstone.
And all the building
fitly framed together
growth unto an holy
temple in the Lord.
And you also are
building together for a
habitation of God
through the spirit.
So you know what.
We are the temple of
God.
We are the habitation of
God.
And God literally dwells
inside of us because
we're saved.
That is the temple that
Christians should be
concerned with.
And you know what.
They should be
concerned with
building the temple of
God which is the
church of God.
Which is the pillar and
ground of the truth.
Instead of Christians
building the temple of
God they're building
the temple of the
Antichrist in Jerusalem.
And they want to offer
a blasphemous animal
sacrifice when they
already had their once
for all sacrifice.
Jesus Christ.
It was completed.
The seven times of
sprinkling were
performed.
It's done.
We don't need it again.
It's over.
To offer such is just
so wicked and so
blasphemous.
Go back to Hebrews
chapter 11.
I want to look at it
another few verses here.
Stop getting your eyes
set on a carnal
Jerusalem.
Don't be like all of
our politicians.
Don't be like Donald
Trump who goes and puts
on the little hat and
bows at the wall.
Don't be like Joe Biden
to go put on the hat
and bow at the wall.
Don't be like Ron
DeSantis and Greg Abbott.
He can't even walk and
he still did it.
OK.
He's getting carted over
there.
Apparently Rand Paul.
You know I guess the I
guess you can't count on
sons being as good as
their fathers.
It's like Ray of Boem.
They call Ray of Boem
Paul.
So they should call him.
It's not Ron Paul.
That's for sure.
I mean it's just it's
just weird.
Why are all these people
going over to some wall
and bowing down and
putting on a little hat.
And in fact many of
them even claim to be
Christian.
It's so weird.
It's like you need the
book of Hebrews.
I don't even think many
of them are saved
probably it's probably
fake but I'm sure there
are saved people.
I know people that are
saved that are just like
enamored with Israel.
It's just like oh this
is so amazing.
You know I just can't go
I just can't wait to go
over there and buy
everything they have and
get all the souvenirs and
it's the Coke bottles
written in Hebrew.
It's still corn syrup.
Like it didn't magically
become better.
It still looks like the
Black Sea.
OK you know whatever.
Like the Dead Sea you
know it doesn't become
mystical because as
Hebrews letters on it.
Look at verse 32.
And what shall I say and
what shall I more say
for the time would fail
me to tell of Gideon
and of Barak and of
Samson and of Jephthah
of David also
and Samuel and of
the prophets.
You know when we talk
about all this group of
people that are looking
for this heavenly city.
It's David also.
That's an interesting
character.
David doesn't care about
your little Jerusalem.
Yet David built or
prepared to build this
temple.
You know what he was
thinking of a heavenly.
He wasn't only concerned
with the carnal.
And look at Chapter 12
20 verse 22.
The Bible says in verse 22
but you're coming to
Mount Zion unto the city
of the living God the
heavenly Jerusalem
and to an innumerable
company of angels.
You know we should care
about is the heavenly
Jerusalem.
I want to go one more
place go to Galatians
Chapter 4.
I'm kind of belaboring
this point but it's such
an important point that I
think is missed in our
society.
Quit worrying about a
carnal Jerusalem.
Like the carnal Israel
the physical Israel the
nation of Israel today is
not something we should
care about.
We care about the
heavenly Jerusalem.
That's the city that
matters.
You say oh there's a
bunch of Muslims
occupying physical Israel
today.
Who cares.
Let them have it.
I don't care.
I don't care who has
it.
I don't really because I
don't really want to be
over there.
I'm not interested.
Now of course I'm not
like pro Islam.
Obviously Islam shouldn't
even be a religion that
exists.
But of course I don't
really care who has
it or what's going on
over there.
But what I do care about
is the heavenly Jerusalem
and it's weird for
Christians to be so
obsessed with a physical
Israel a physical
Jerusalem.
That is it's never going
to be a place to go.
I don't know if you know
this but Tel Aviv is the
most faggoty place in
the world.
OK.
Israel is they just love
fags so much.
Not only that if you go
to Israel as a Christian
the Jews many of them
they will spit on you
literally.
If you go outside if
you're walking around in
the city they will walk
up you just hop loogies
on you and spit on you
and curse at you if you
walk up and down their
streets.
No not everywhere.
Obviously there's a lot
of tourist companies that
are trying to take you
to some really specific
places to make you
think it's all nice.
And they'll lie to you
like Wells Fargo and
treat you like your
customer or something.
But they're just trying
to get bucks from you.
They're just trying to
get your goyim dollars.
OK.
And at the end of the day
they hate Christians.
They hate you guys.
They just want to use you
like a whore like a whore
of Babylon.
OK.
You can imagine that.
And it just doesn't make
any sense because if I
build that temple guess
what's going to happen
then they're going to
offer blasphemous
sacrifices.
Why would I want to be
there for that.
And then pretty soon
there's another person
showing up.
He's called the
Antichrist.
I really don't want to
hang out there then.
There's really no reason
to ever be there.
I mean if you're going to
show up and give people
the gospel.
God bless you.
That's going to be rough.
OK.
If you want to do it
have fun.
You'll be you'll be in
for a ride.
All right.
But that's probably not
the next mission strip
we're going to take.
OK.
I don't know how many
will sign up.
But you know I mean
look I'm sure there's
some cool biblical sites
over there.
I'm sure there's some
cool stuff and fun
stuff to do.
I'm not against someone
that travels over there.
I'm not saying you can't
preach the gospel but
just generally speaking
it's not any better
than any other place.
And if I had to pick
like OK Bahamas beaches
you know all that
stuff or Israel it's
like let's go to the
Bahamas you know like
let's go somewhere else.
Like if we're going to
enjoy a missions trip
that's where I would
like to enjoy.
And if you really want
to suffer there's
always Africa.
You want to you want
to suffer.
That's a great place to
go to suffer.
But again Africa is
the one of the greatest
places to preach the
gospel.
Almost everybody's ever
gone there and said it's
like the most receptive
easy to get people
saved.
Great opportunity to get
a lot of people saved.
Israel doesn't have a lot
of things going for it.
It's also dangerous
apparently.
You know like I don't
highly recommend it.
But there's so many
Christians they're
so obsessed with this
piece of dirt over
there in the Middle
East.
And let me tell you
something there's
nothing to be obsessed
about.
It doesn't make any
sense.
Even at the time of
Christ or right after it
doesn't make sense.
Look at Galatians Chapter
4 verse 22.
For it is written that
Abraham had two sons the
one by a bondmaid and
the other by a free
woman.
But he who was of the
bondwoman was born after
the flesh but he of the
free woman was by
promise which things are
an allegory for these
are the two covenants
the one from the Mount
Sinai was gender at the
bondage which is agar for
this agar is Mount
Sinai in Arabia and
answer at the Jerusalem
which now is
and is in bondage with
the children.
Now this was funny.
I actually did a little
bit of a kind of a
debate recently where I
was arguing with a Jew
and like a Judaizer
and this this
Judaizer kept
saying that we as
Christians and we as
the church were
constantly spiritualizing
things and we're like
allegorizing things and
we have all this Roman
theology.
Well you know what it's
not me allegorizing
things when the Bible
says in verse twenty
four which things are
an allegory.
You know I'm not
allegorizing the Bibles
allegorizing things.
I didn't think like I
wonder if there's a
spiritual or
allegorization that I
can make out of this.
It's like the Bible is
like hey here it is
dumb dumb.
It's an allegory and
you want to understand
what the allegory is.
Well you know this
bastard child in
essence this
agar of agar
which is what you think
is Islam is you.
This is what's so funny.
Jews hate Muslims.
Jews just despise them.
They want to destroy
them. They think that
they're so wicked and so
evil.
And the Bible is
basically saying those
people that you hate
you're the one that
pictures them.
If we were going to do
an allegory you're
that person.
That's who you are
really.
And look what it says in
verse 25.
And for this agar is
Mount Sinai in Arabia
and answer it to
Jerusalem which
now is.
He's saying the
Jerusalem that was then
at the time after
Christ is
of agar is
Ishmael the
spiritual Ishmael is
the Jerusalem that was
then.
How much more than
today.
Because back then you
could you could say
without question
that they were the seat
of Abraham.
Jesus Christ when he
talked to the Jews he
did not contest the
fact that they were
the seat of Abraham.
Today there's some
legitimate questions of
all those people are
the seat of Abraham.
OK let's just say
that that's even true
even if it is true.
Well guess what they're
still spiritual is
Ishmael.
They're still agar
and they're still in
bondage.
So why in the world
would an eye care
about physical Jerusalem
today.
You know in the Bible
says cast out
him and cast out the
bond woman.
You know they have
nothing to do with the
children of the free
verse 26.
But Jerusalem which is
above is free which is
the mother of us all
for it is written
rejoice thou bearing that
bear us not break forth
and cry thou that
travail us not for
the desolate hath many
more children than she
which hath and
husband.
You know what that
means.
More people are going
to be in heaven.
That did not come
from the Jewish line
but are coming from the
Gentile line.
That's what it's saying.
It's saying hey or you
could even interpret
another way that the
people that are saved are
going to be more
numerable than physical
Israel was.
However many people
lived in Israel.
There's going to be
more saved people than
there was in that.
But it's just basically
saying hey there's a lot
of Gentiles that are going
to be populated in
heaven.
Either way however you
want to interpret that.
Verse 28.
But now sorry now we
brethren as Isaac was are
the children of promise
but as then he that was
born after the flesh
persecuted him that was
born of the spirit.
Even so it is now.
Nevertheless we'll say
the scripture cast out
the bond woman and her
son for the son of the
bond woman shall not be
heir with the son of the
free one.
Notice this shall not be
heir.
The Jews don't have a
special covenant.
The Jews are not the
chosen people.
The Jews are not going to
be heirs of the children
of Israel.
The choke the people in
Israel today are going to
be cast out into outer
darkness where there's
weeping and gnashing of
teeth.
They're not an heir.
They've never been an
heir.
They never will be an
heir.
It's not their land.
They keep telling me that
that's their land.
Oh we're the heirs you
know because of Abraham.
But you're not of Abraham.
If you were the children
of Abraham you would do
the works of Abraham.
You know what they're
not that so they're
going to be cast out.
They have nothing to do
with that.
Verse 31 so then
brethren we are not
children of the bond
woman but of the free.
Go back to Numbers Chapter
19.
I belabored that point.
But what's the point.
The point is that we
should not care about a
physical city called
Jerusalem.
We care about a heavenly
city Jerusalem.
And when you don't care
about a physical area
in Jerusalem you know
you're not going to care
about bringing them red
heifers.
Building their temple.
Doing you know giving
them unlimited foreign aid.
For them to just do
whatever they want.
Because you know if we
didn't just give them
unlimited foreign aid you
know what they would have
to do.
Stop bombing Gaza.
And you know if they
stopped bombing Gaza you
know what happened.
Less people would die.
And if less people are
dead you know you can do
you can give the gospel
to more people.
So if you're pro gospel
you should be anti bombing
places.
And if you're anti bombing
places well then you're
going to stop giving the
money.
And if you stop giving the
money you know you don't
care about that you care
about a heavenly Jerusalem.
You know Christians be
doing giving their money to
their church not giving
them to some foreign nation.
But of course our politicians
are bought and sold that's a
whole different sermon but.
When we talk about this red
heifer that sprinkling
of the blood seven times was
a picture of how the gospel
was complete with Christ.
We're done with the animal
sacrifices.
We're done with all that.
That was a only imposed
on them until the time of
affirmation as the book of
Hebrews says.
Verse 5 and one shall burn
the heifer in his sight.
Her skin and her flesh and
her blood with her dung
shall he burn and the
priest shall take cedarwood
and hyssop and scarlet and
cast it in into
the midst of the burning of
the heifer.
I think you could say there's
some loose pictures here
perhaps obviously the cedar
wood can picture things like
the cross hyssop and scarlet
could picture obviously
aspects of Jesus's death.
But of course the burning
and it's a whole burnt
offering would foreshadow and
picture the fact that Jesus
Christ went to help us.
And the Bible makes that
abundantly clear in all
kinds of places Acts chapter 2
verse 31 says that his
soul is not left in hell.
You can see in the book of
Jonah out of the belly
of hell cried I is what he
says in chapter number two.
You can see in Matthew
chapter 12 verse 40 for
his Jonas was three days
and three nights in the
heart of the earth.
So so the son of man I'm
sorry in the well's belly so
so the son of man be
three days and three nights
in the heart of the earth.
So Jonah was in the well's
belly for three days and
three nights just like Jesus
Christ was in the heart
of the earth for three days
and three nights.
And so that's a picture of the
burning a lot of people don't
like to bring up that a lot
of pastors will get mad about
the fact that Jesus went to
hell and I don't know why
that's so upsetting because
if that's what the text
says then why would I ever
be upset anything the Bible
says you should believe every
part of the Bible you know
doesn't offend me.
All it does is it makes me
have a greater appreciation
for what Jesus did makes it
even that much more real why
he's in the Garden of
Gethsemane saying let this
cut pass for me.
If there be any other way
you know because because
all of that's rough but
hell's even worse.
The humiliation the shame
the pain the torture all
of it was gruesome
and it's to show the
ugliness of sin is to show
that sin has to be dealt
with.
God doesn't just let sin up
the hook.
And so you have to take either
the bloody sacrifice of Christ
and his burnt offering or
you have to be the burnt
offering you have to go into
hell and to suffer and the
problem is you're never
going to pay it off.
The problem is you don't have
enough to pay it off.
You know it's like that idea
of you go to a restaurant you
don't pay they make you
clean dishes.
Well the problem is you're
never going to be done clean
dishes.
There's just too much.
And so that's why you need
to accept his sacrifice.
And what he did.
Verse 7.
Then the priest shall wash his
clothes and he shall bathe his
flesh in water and afterward
he shall come into the camp
and the priest shall be
unclean until the even
and he that burneth her
shall wash his clothes in
water and bathe his flesh in
water and shall be unclean
until the even and a man
that is clean shall gather up
the hedges of the heifer and
lay them up without the camp
and a clean place and it
shall be kept for the
congregation of the children
of Israel for a water of
separation is a purification
for sin and he that
gathers the ashes of the
heifer shall wash his
clothes and be unclean until
the even and it shall be
under the children of Israel
and under the stranger the
sojourn of among them for
a statute forever.
Now we've read in essence
everything about the red
heifer as we continue reading
in this chapter it's going
to bring up other aspects
of purification and
sin offering you know this
isn't the most prevalent
portion of scripture it's not
necessarily highlighted that
much but it's still a great
picture of the Lord Jesus
Christ and it's not to say
that it's not significant but
this is what Jews will do
they'll say we need the
red heifer sacrifice because
we need it for the
purification of sin.
Now this is where it of
course is confusing and
there is a Jew out there
that I talked to recently
and he's saying yeah once we
get this red heifer sacrifice
going people are going to
wipe out of comas and people
are going to be the blinds
going to see again and it's
like you know well that did
happen one time it was when
Jesus was here.
And here's the problem.
You have to understand how the
Old Testament worked in the
Old Testament when you sinned
in order to atone for that
sin in a carnal way you had
to offer a physical
sacrifice.
OK.
This is not really that much
different than how it works in
the New Testament.
OK.
And this is why I want to
explain to you when you
believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ you're saved.
That was Old Testament.
That was New Testament.
As soon as you put faith in
Jesus Christ you are
counter righteous.
Abraham had faith and it was
is imputed unto him for
righteousness.
That's when he was saved.
But what happens when you
sin tomorrow.
Well guess what.
You're going to be punished
potentially for that.
There's a punishment.
But you know what you do.
You should get on your knees
and you should pray and tell
God I'm sorry for that.
Please forgive me for that.
Please don't impute that unto
me and ask for grace.
And God can then not punish
you as he may still.
I'm not saying to get off
the off the hook for free
but it's likely and it's
possible that God will give
you grace and not
necessarily punish you for
that sin.
Well in the Old Testament
when you sinned you didn't
need an animal sacrifice
to go to heaven.
But you know what you need
to do the animal sacrifice
to get right with God again
just like we quote repent
of our sins or pray or do
these different things in
order to get right with God
in the New Testament.
They had to do these animal
sacrifices to get right with
God in the Old Testament.
You know that's another
reason why this is the
better testament that we
have a once for all
sacrifice.
The Bible does warn Hebrews
I'm not going through all
this chapter.
It does warn that if they
were punished harshly in that
system how much more are you
going to be punished in the
system that we have when
you're doing despite the
spirit of grace.
So it's important to take
seriously the commandments of
God even though you don't
have to take an animal
sacrifice.
And you know to some degree
you could see how the
animal sacrifice might
actually even help people
take sin more seriously
because of all the actions
they had to do in order
to cleanse themselves from
that particular sin.
So when they take this animal
sacrifice when they take this
red heifer and they perform
this ritual and they go out
and they sprinkle the ashes.
It said specifically in verse
number nine it is a
purification of sin.
It did not do anything to them
carnally.
It was a spiritual picturing
of how they're now right
with God again in that
current moment.
But here's the problem with
animal sacrifices in the
Old Testament law.
As soon as you sinned again
you need to do another
sacrifice.
And then you sin again another
sacrifice.
You know what this reminds me
of?
Catholicism.
Where you sin and now you
have to do penance and now
you have to go to the
confessional.
You just do this all over.
And again their view is like
you have to keep doing this
in order to go to heaven.
And if you die in a status
where you weren't right then
you won't go.
And it's like Catholics always
have to kind of pray and
try to do the rosary and do
all these things to try and
stay right.
I remember talking to a
Catholic priest about
salvation and I said are you
sure you're going to heaven.
He says Yeah I had a really
good confession today.
Like you're still on your way
to hell buddy.
You know your confession
didn't do anything.
OK.
And I'm sure you sinned since
then anyways all right.
But when we talk about this
purification it did not
purify them carnally.
No one took the ashes of a
red heifer and then all of
a sudden they're physically
healed or something or it
blessed them physically.
And you know why I know that's
true because when you read
this did you read what it said
in verse number seven.
It said that the person that
touches this stuff the priest
shall be unclean until even.
Did you notice the verse
number eight it says he that
burneth her shall wash his
clothes and water and bathe
his flesh and water and
shall be unclean until the
even.
Did you notice that
everybody's unclean when they
touch this.
Look at verse 10 and he that
gathered the ashes of the
heifer shall wash his clothes
and be unclean until even.
Touching ashes makes
you dirty.
Touching asses makes you
unclean.
And so if people are going to
go into Israel.
Take this red heifer slaughter
it and then start covering
their body and ashes.
They will be unclean
physically.
It will not bless them
physically.
It's there's no special
post.
Don't go out and think like I
got this new lotion called
black ash heifer.
You know.
Red heifer ash lotion
it's going to fix my problems.
No no no no no.
That's that is not what the
Bible is teaching.
The Bible is literally
teaching that touching this
stuff was dirty and it made
you unclean.
What it did do though was an
atonement for your sin.
And the thing that did make
you clean you know it was
water.
Praise God that's the most
abundant thing we have on
this planet.
You know when you're dirty
you know you need to do
wash yourself in water.
It's called the shower.
All right.
That's how you become clean.
And you know some people need
that message.
Take a shower.
OK.
If you're slaughtering animals
and dealing with blood and
dealing with ashes take a
shower.
OK.
That is how you get clean
and you know stay away from
us for a little while.
All right.
That's basically the advice
that it's giving.
But go back to Hebrews chapter
number nine go back to
Hebrews chapter nine.
If we look at it from a
purely carnal perspective
that's what's going on.
Now.
If someone in Israel did all
this stuff it's all hocus
pocus.
Nothing's been going to happen
but it is possible
that if this is around the
timeline of the Antichrist
that maybe there's some lying
signs and wonders.
But generally speaking there's
nothing if you go out and
kill an animal you're not
going to get any special
benefit from that.
There's no such miracle
that's going to be performed.
You're not going to see all
of a sudden.
Don't don't try this at home
folks.
OK.
But of course back
then in the Old Testament it
did provide some kind of a
spiritual benefit.
Today it would be the exact
opposite.
You're not going to get any
kind of spiritual benefit
from slaughtering animals.
God would look at you as
being wicked and
blasphemous.
Now another aspect
though is brought up in
Hebrews chapter nine.
Look at verse number eight.
The Holy Ghost this
signifying that the way of
the holiest of all was not
yet made manifest.
While as the first tabernacle
was yet standing which was a
figure for the time
then present and which were
offered both gifts and
sacrifices that could not
make him that did the
service perfect as
pertaining the conscience.
You know you Christians
you're always trying to
tell us that everything's a
metaphor and a figure.
No no no.
Look at the Bible say verse
nine which was a figure.
Did I allegorize the
Bible or is the Bible just
telling me that it's an
allegory.
The Old Testament sacrifices
were a figure.
They were not anything but
a figure.
What is a figure.
Think about a figurine.
What have you had a Batman
figurine.
Is that Batman.
No it's not Batman.
It's a doll is what
it is right.
And so when we look at the
Old Testament sacrifices did
that do anything.
No it was a picture.
It was a figure.
Only it's a model it's a
representation.
And it was only for a
specific time which was a
figure for the time then
present.
In which were offered both
gifts and sacrifices that
could not make him that
did the service perfect as
pertaining the conscience
which did only in meats
and drinks and divers
washings and cardinal
ordinances imposed on them
until the time of
reformation.
But Christ being come
and high priest of good
things to come by a greater
and more perfect tabernacle
not made with hands.
That is to say not of this
building 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.
So he's saying the blood
of these animals
did never never did
anything.
It was only a figure of
what Jesus would do.
Verse 13 for if the blood
of bulls and of goats and
notice this and the
ashes of a heifer
sprinkling the unclean
sanctify it to the
purifying of the flesh.
How much more shall
the blood of Christ who
through the eternal
spirit offered himself
without spot to God
purge your conscience
from dead works to serve
the living God.
He's saying if they felt
right with God for doing
those sacrifices how
much more should you
feel right with God for
the sacrifice that Jesus
Christ performed for you.
So again if I
sin in the Old Testament
I offer these animal
sacrifices and it was to
help purge my conscience
to feel right with God
again.
But how much more should
my conscience be purged
and feel right when I
pray to Jesus and I
think about what he did
for me.
That is what the New
Testament is trying to
emphasize and trying to
bring up.
You know in Hebrews chapter
number four it tells us
to have boldness when
we're asking for the
grace of God when we're
going to God the Father.
You know there was a
terrifying aspect of God
in the Old Testament
because if you went to
the sanctuary near the
tabernacle if you touch
the mount that God was
near death just complete
destruction.
So they're terrified of
the Lord.
They're afraid of his
presence.
But you know what we can
come boldly under the
presence of God through
Jesus Christ and we have
grace because of Jesus
Christ and we can stand
before God blameless
because of Jesus Christ
not because of some
animal sacrifice that I
did.
And boy it'll be a really
embarrassing day when Jews
stand before God and they
try to justify themselves
through their animal
sacrifices.
Well did you see the
red heifer.
I mean I didn't see a
white hair on it at all.
He's like you idiot.
It was an animal.
You were supposed to
accept the Lamb of God
you're supposed the real
red heifer is Jesus.
And it's not the the
ashes of this heifer
that's sprinkling you
and and literally causing
you to be right with God.
It was Jesus Christ.
Verse 15 and for this
cause he is the mediator
of the New Testament
that by means of death
for the redemption of the
transgressions that were
under the First Testament
they which are called
might receive the promise
of internal inheritance.
So of course Jesus Christ
is what brought us the
New Testament.
That's why we don't have
the Old Testament in effect
anymore.
That's why it's even
called old.
You know why it's called
old because it's no longer
in use.
It's over.
It's it's done.
It's been fulfilled.
We are now in the New
Covenant and in the New
Covenant there is no red
heifer sacrifice.
The red heifer sacrifice
was a figure of Jesus
and we already had that
sacrifice.
So us as Christians you
know we should stop
worrying about a carnal
physical Jerusalem and we
should worry about the
heavenly spirit of
Jerusalem.
And I know I'm probably
preaching the choir but it's
good to get your minds on
these things and try and
remind other Christians
because there's a lot of
Christians deceived by this
stuff.
A lot of Christians are
confused by this stuff.
And I'll tell you what the
greatest book on this
stuff is Hebrews.
Learn some Hebrews.
Remember some Hebrews.
And when you're talking to
a Christian when they're
bringing this stuff up
show them things in
Hebrews.
Hey you know we have no
continuing city.
Hey this is a once for all
sacrifice.
Hey for the priesthood being
changed there's also made of
necessity a change of the
law.
You know that's Hebrews is
your go to book.
Of course it's a little bit
difficult of a book but it
is the greatest commentary on
the Old Testament and really
helps people understand how
to interpret the Old
Testament.
And don't let these
Judaizers come in and try
to bring you back into the
law.
You know I'm afraid of you
at that point.
Let's go to prayer.
Thank you Heavenly Father so
much for giving us the
sacrifice of your son Jesus
Christ for his shed
blood for us.
I pray that we would not
be focused on the carnal or
this world or this city or
a city over in the Middle
East but rather we would care
about the heavenly Jerusalem.
We would seek to be pleasing
unto you and to do your
commandments and your will.
And I pray that you would
help us to be a bold
witness to get
many other Christians to
focus on building this
temple the house of God
and getting people to be
focused on the kingdom of God
that's here and alive now and
in Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
All right in closing let's go
to song number one hundred
and fifty five.
Song number one hundred and
fifty five.
Doxology song number one
five five.
We're going to sing it out
twice together.
One fifty five.
Praise God from whom all
blessings flow.
Praise him all creatures
here below.
Praise him of lovely
heavenly hosts.
Praise father son and
holy ghost.
Praise God from whom all
blessings flow.
Praise him all creatures
here below.
Praise him of lovely
heavenly hosts.
Praise father son and
holy ghost.
Great singing everybody you
are all dismissed.