WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:26.000 Good morning and welcome to Faith Evangelical Free Church. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:34.960 This morning we want to give you reason to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:40.159 And what better way to begin that than with ice cream for breakfast? 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:44.320 If you don't know what I'm talking about, you missed out. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:52.960 Thank you to all of our student ministry kids and volunteers who put on a great breakfast for us this morning. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:00:54.320 Thank you very much. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:56.159 Yes, you can. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:56.799 That's okay. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:08.879 Thank you too to all of our musicians who led us in worship through song and praise this morning. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:15.359 If you have your Bible, I encourage you to open it to Hebrews chapter 10, the passage that Anton read for us earlier. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:24.000 I want to continue that theme for a few moments of why we should celebrate Easter. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:29.760 And it's not just because we have ice cream for breakfast. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:37.680 Now, we have as a church have studied the book of Acts for about the last eight months or so. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:42.799 Did you know that the Lord's birth is not mentioned in the book of Acts? 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:51.200 Now, on the one hand, that makes sense if you know what Acts is about, because the book of Acts continues the story of Jesus. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.840 It doesn't begin it, it continues it. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:58.239 So then we might think, well, what about his death? 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:02.719 The Lord's death is mentioned about seven times in the book of Acts. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:16.879 But we really begin to see what the message of the early church is all about when we understand the concept of resurrection in the book of Acts. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:26.319 The Lord's crucifixion and death is mentioned about seven times, and resurrection is mentioned about 17 times in the book of Acts. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:36.319 So the early church is primarily focused on the message of an empty tomb. 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.560 And it celebrated that and proclaimed that. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:45.840 And so the gospel spread and churches sprung up all over the place. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:54.479 So our message is not primarily of a man born and died, but of a Lord crucified and risen. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:55.360 Amen? 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:06.479 Friday night in Hebrews chapter 10, we saw that the Lord's death ended the shadow of animal sacrifices. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:13.919 And so it brought to reality faith in a crucified and now risen Lord. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:16.560 This morning I don't want to look at resurrection from Acts. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:28.319 I want to look at resurrection again from Hebrews chapter 10 to see how the reality and the joy of our faith are grounded in the resurrection. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:37.199 Now, this chapter, chapter 10 of Hebrews, shows primarily how Jesus' death is the perfect sacrifice. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:42.479 And so it fulfills everything that the Old Testament had been pointing to. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:45.520 It brings it to a pinnacle. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:54.000 But I don't want to examine this passage from Friday night all over again. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:02.560 I want to look at this text from Sunday morning as we stand before an empty tomb. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:12.400 And we begin that in verse 12, where we begin to see several reasons here to celebrate and relish in the Lord's resurrection. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:24.480 It says in verse 12, but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:37.199 So we see then that the first reason that we should take delight in the resurrection is that it reassures us that Jesus' work on the cross is complete. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:43.680 There's nothing more for him to do in his work on the cross. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:51.519 Jesus said on the cross, one of his last sayings was, it is finished. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:53.600 It is finished. 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:55.680 But what was finished? 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:05.120 We could go on and on and on today, going throughout our Bibles from beginning to end, showing all that was accomplished. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:12.079 Here are just some small snippets of elements that are significant to Easter. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:15.600 One is from Romans chapter 3, verse 25. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:23.199 God put Christ forward as a propitiation by his blood. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:29.439 Propitiation is just a big Bible word that means, in essence, to be satisfied. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:34.800 You hopefully were satisfied by a very good breakfast. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:43.519 That concept of satisfaction is what's behind that word propitiation, but in a different kind of way. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:52.079 God's wrath, God's holy anger against sin had to be satisfied. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.040 It's an element of justice. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:06:06.160 And so God put forward his own son so that through his blood, God's wrath against your sin, my sin, would be satisfied. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:14.480 We also see in Romans chapter 5, verse 9, that there's this concept of being justified, declared right by his blood. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:20.879 When Jesus died and rose again, all of that was brought to completion. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:21.759 There's more. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.160 We can go on to Romans chapter 5, verse 10. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:28.319 While we were still enemies, we were reconciled. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:39.680 The fact that Christ died and rose again completed our reconciliation by faith to a holy God. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:45.040 Then there's Galatians chapter 4, another example. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:07:01.439 When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son to be born of a woman born under the law to redeem us, to buy us out of our slavery to sin, to rescue us, to ransom us. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:06.879 Friends, if the tomb is still full, those don't happen. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:15.759 If the tomb still contains the body of Christ, then the scriptures are not fulfilled. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:19.199 These things and more are done. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:26.959 Sunday morning's empty tomb is sort of the exclamation point to the end of the cross. 00:07:27.439 --> 00:07:29.040 It is finished. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:37.920 So remembering and celebrating the resurrection reminds us that what Jesus did on the cross is done. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:41.120 Friday's behind us. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:45.199 It does not need to be endured again. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:51.279 His finished work on the cross is complete. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.959 There's no need for another sacrifice to be offered. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:08:00.560 That is worth celebrating because his finished work can now be yours. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:11.839 But if you look carefully, and they actually back up a little bit to get a little bit of the context to verse 11, we see that there's another reason to celebrate. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:13.199 Look at verse 11. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:21.920 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:35.200 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:41.200 Another reason to celebrate is that Jesus is still working. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:48.080 His cross work is done, but he continues to work. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:53.200 Notice the contrast between verse 11 and verse 12. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:09:13.039 It says, every priest, that is, it's speaking of Israel's ancient sacrificial system at the temple in Jerusalem, every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, but Christ offered for all time, not repeatedly, a single one, and he sat down. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:20.080 So the regular priest in a temple offers sacrifices repeatedly, day after day, year after year. 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:24.720 But Jesus' sacrifice was once for all. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:29.360 A single, sufficient sacrifice. 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:35.600 So there's a contrast there between a regular earthly priest and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:40.399 But there's another contrast, maybe a little bit more difficult to notice. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:48.080 When serving in the temple, the Levitical priest stands daily at his service. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:55.600 But Jesus, when he offered himself, sat down at the right hand of God. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:00.000 How does a dead man sit down? 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:05.600 The resurrection is implied there. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.960 The priest stands daily. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:15.440 Jesus sits down, telling us that on the one hand, Jesus' crosswork is done. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:22.000 When he died, his sacrificial work of offering himself as a sacrifice for sin was done, complete. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:23.679 But it's not the end. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:28.320 Dying on the cross did not forever end Jesus' life. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:33.919 It did not end his activity, it did not imprison him to death or to the grave. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:39.200 He is alive and right now sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:44.080 It also tells us that he's still at work. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:54.799 In fact, as verse 13 says, he's going to remain in heaven seated at the Father's right hand until the time when he comes again as victor over all his enemies. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:05.279 And until that time, he's working right now on your behalf if you belong to him. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:11.519 We know that because of the concept in this passage of a high priest. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:18.159 And if we go back to Hebrews chapter 2, we begin to see a little bit more of an explanation of that. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:33.440 Because it says there that Jesus had to be made like his brothers, his human being brothers, in every respect, so that he could become a faithful and merciful high priest in the service of God. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:45.440 As a human being, as the God man, he could make satisfaction, propitiation for all of our sins because he himself has suffered. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:54.000 And because he's in that place, he can now help all of us who are tempted. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.240 He intercedes for us. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.559 He helps us this very moment. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:02.080 Jesus is working now on behalf of all who have trusted him. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:08.639 He is serving this very moment as our faithful high priest before God the Father. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:17.759 Simply because Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven does not mean he has ceased working. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.080 He's still working. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.799 For how long? 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.080 He says, a single offering. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:06.720 That's mentioned three times in five verses, and even once more if we go back to chapter 9 and verse 26. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.440 There was a single offering. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:17.679 And in contrast to the requirements of the Mosaic Law, where sacrifices were offered continually, Jesus offered himself once. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:24.320 And through that single offering, he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:26.960 Now we have a couple of words to explain here. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:30.320 One is sanctified. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:37.600 The writer to the Hebrews doesn't use that word in the same way that the Apostle Paul often uses it. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:49.039 Most often in the Pauline epistles, that word sanctified has the idea of a lifelong process of becoming more and more set apart to Christ, more holy. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:59.679 In Hebrews, though, the idea is more about the whole picture of salvation from beginning to end, all encompassed in one word. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:05.919 God in Christ has set people apart for himself and to himself. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:11.519 And when God begins that work, it's as good as done. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.679 Even though other parts are still in process. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.840 You are forever secure in his work. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:07.440 And no one can snatch you out. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:20.080 Once you have come to Christ and received his saving grace, you will need some occasional confession and repentance to the Lord to maintain your relationship with Christ because sin interrupts that. 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:25.919 But your sin can never again condemn you before a holy God. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:39.679 The righteous and holy God can never again hold the one who believes in Christ accountable for his sin because Jesus paid it. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:42.960 It was nailed to the cross. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:52.879 Satan can never condemn you before God because Jesus has finished purchasing your salvation, and the empty tomb solidifies that. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:44.159 This is a quotation from Jeremiah 31, verse 34. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:49.440 And the point is not that God is forgetful. 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:52.960 If God forgets, he's not God. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:56.960 God remembers. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:02.000 So what does it mean then to say, I will remember their sins no more? 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:05.279 It's not that God forgets. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:11.759 It means that he never remembers your sin in a way that makes him respond with judgment. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:23.359 It means that his normal, typical, holy, and righteous and just response to sin has been changed because Jesus took your sin. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:27.440 He became sin for you. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.240 He bore your sin in your place. 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:35.440 Therefore, the Father remembers your sin no more because Jesus took care of it. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:49.519 When it says, I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more, it means complete and utter forgiveness. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:54.720 That's better than ice cream for breakfast. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:11.680 If you've ever wrestled with a guilty conscience, if you've ever felt shame for your sin, then you get a taste of what that statement means for you in eternity. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:26.319 But through Jesus I'm forgiven. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:34.880 And I can stand before you guiltless and innocent because Jesus became sin for me. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:50.799 Resurrection Sunday then is the culmination of events beginning in earth history from Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden all the way through to the Lord's birth and then to his death and finally to the empty tomb. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:55.200 This work of the Lord Jesus gives us a unique privilege. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:59.680 A unique privilege that is the next reason to celebrate. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:06.720 It provides for us a certain kind of confidence before God. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:14.640 Specifically in verses 19 and 20, it says that we have confidence to enter the holy places. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:30.079 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain and through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:35.200 This is a picture of Israel's worship center, the temple. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:42.000 The temple was a series of segregated areas. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:48.799 So, for example, the greatest segregation was between Jews and Gentiles, non-Jews. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:54.640 Jews could only come into the court of the nations, into the outermost part of the temple area. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:20:01.440 All Jews could come into the next section, and then that was an area where only the women could go. 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:08.720 That's as far as the women could go, and then men could go a section further, and then beyond that, only priests could go as they get closer and closer to God. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:22.559 And then in the very central, most holy portion of the temple, only one man, the high priest, could go one day every year, and only with blood from a sacrifice. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:42.319 Between that holy of holies and the outer portion, just beyond that, so one man could go into that inner core, all the priests could go into this next section. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:47.200 In between that was a massive curtain that hung in the temple. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:51.759 Some historical records indicate that it was two inches thick. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:58.720 How many of you have seen a keep out sign? 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.799 Most of you? 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:06.240 Imagine that curtain as a massive keep out sign. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:13.920 You can imagine a great curtain going up from the front of this platform up to the ceiling. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.920 Keep out. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.720 That's what that curtain signified. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:30.880 Because from the time of the Garden of Eden onward, sinful human beings could not come into the presence of a holy and righteous God. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:36.480 That curtain served as a massive keep out sign. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:46.079 The Gospels record for us that when Jesus died, the curtain was torn in two. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.880 There are historical references for that too. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:57.359 Symbolizing that access to God's very presence is now open. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.039 It's available. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.759 Out sign is gone. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:05.440 And that's the essence of our celebration today. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:15.440 The Lord's resurrection gives God's people confidence to come right into his throne room before the throne of God above. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.680 Why? 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:33.359 Because we come as high priests did with blood, the blood of Jesus, saying, We can come because Jesus' blood has satisfied all of God's requirements for me to come to the throne room. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:36.319 We're no longer enemies kept at bay. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:44.799 We're no longer sinners who cannot enter God's holy place, but we're children who have access, direct access to daddy's office. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.240 I like the way C.S. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:50.079 Lewis said it one time. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:58.160 He said, Jesus has forced open a door that had been locked since the death of the first man. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:05.519 Jesus has met, fought, and beaten the King of death. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:11.279 And everything is different because he has done so. 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:16.799 Jesus flung open the door to God's presence. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:29.440 And since our salvation has been completed and we are forgiven and granted access forever, our confidence can be sure because we come with the blood of Jesus. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:36.480 Now perhaps you're here simply because you think you should attend church on Easter. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.599 That's great. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.119 I'm glad you're here. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:42.319 Hope you feel welcome. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:52.880 Maybe you've been religious all of your life, and it makes you feel good to celebrate these significant days in the church calendar. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:57.599 But let me make one thing very clear. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:12.160 There is only one way to be granted access with confidence to the throne room of God, and that is through the crucified, buried, and risen Lord Jesus Christ. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:21.599 If you think that being here today will gain points with God, then that curtain in essence still exists for you. 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:24.720 There's a barrier between you and God. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:34.559 But through Jesus, because he died and rose from the dead, you can be reconciled with him today by believing in him. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:42.960 And then you too can have the confidence to come boldly to the throne through the cross and the empty tomb. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:49.119 We can have that confidence to enter boldly because of the fifth reason that we honor this day. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.960 Don't worry, I don't have very many more. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.160 The resurrection ensures our cleansing from sin. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:02.799 Notice what it says in verse 21. 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:22.319 We have a great high priest over the house of God, and so since we have that, verse 22, let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:27.519 So we have here the assertion that Jesus is our high priest. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:31.359 Notice also that it's in the present tense. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:44.640 We have right now, this very moment, not a dead Lord, but a living Lord, who is our high priest this very moment. 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:48.559 We have him as our priest now. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:54.880 And since we have confidence to come before God, let us draw near. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.759 How? 00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:01.119 With hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:14.319 Priests had strict, and that's putting it mildly, strict washing requirements. 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:21.039 Whenever they came to serve in the temple, they had to go through ritual purification processes. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:27.839 But all of that cleaning work can only clean the outside. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.279 You know this. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:35.279 Whenever you take a bath or a shower, it only cleans the outside. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:42.480 Any kind of ritual cleansing doesn't clean inside. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:51.920 But believing in Jesus results in an inward cleansing and heart cleaning. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:27:01.839 The blood of Jesus washes away our sin so that you are clean on the inside. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:11.359 If Jesus were still in the tomb, he would be merely one of the other hundreds of thousands of Roman crucifixion victims. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:14.319 He couldn't be God if he was still in the tomb. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:25.440 He wouldn't be capable of purchasing our salvation, he wouldn't be able to satisfy God's wrath, and he wouldn't be able to guarantee our salvation or the forgiveness of our sins. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:29.839 But the empty tomb demonstrates that all of that is true. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:33.599 And we ought to relish in it. 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:46.640 This is our freedom day because it frees us from all that bound us before coming to faith in Christ. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:53.119 Let me give you a final reason in verse 23 to celebrate the resurrection. 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:59.440 Christ's resurrection gives us resolve in his faithfulness. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:16.000 What is the confession of our hope? 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:28.720 Jesus, crucified, buried, and risen, ascended to the Father's right hand, where he's sitting and working on our behalf. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:32.400 There's a significant command here. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:35.119 Let us hold fast. 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.839 Many of you been on a zip line? 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.359 Some of you have. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:59.039 If you don't know what it is, it's a thick cable stretched between platforms, one generally on top of a hill and another descending to the lower area. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:02.640 It's stretched out, it's secured above ground on both ends. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:11.200 And then somebody came up with the brilliant idea to strap a person into a webbed seat and attach that to the cable so that you can slide down from one end to the other. 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:15.359 Usually at high speed. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:37.039 Got all strapped in, and everybody had to make sure, double triple check that you're all connected. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:45.119 But because I'd never been down that zip line before, I didn't fully trust it. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.880 I didn't trust the cable. 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:52.480 I didn't trust the webbing that I was sitting in. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:58.720 And I don't remember exactly what I held on to, but I was holding on for dear life. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:13.200 Eventually, I would get all strapped in as quickly as I could, and then I would take a running leap off of that upper platform and not hold on to anything all the way down. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:18.559 Because I knew that there was nothing to be concerned about. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:21.759 I could trust in the faithfulness of the cable. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:25.599 Notice what the text says. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:33.759 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:40.960 It's like taking a running leap off the platform without wavering. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.720 Hold fast to that. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:49.359 Now, the confession of our hope is all that Christ has done, and that is guaranteed by the empty tomb. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:53.200 So how do we hold fast to that? 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:59.440 So often we do exactly what I tried to do on the zipline. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:05.920 We wrap our hands around whatever it is that we think we can control in life. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:17.680 And so we try to manipulate our emotions and our feelings to be able to feel as though we're trusting in something when all we're really doing is controlling life. 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:29.200 Because somehow we think that our lives and our eternity depends on our faithfulness, on our obedience, on our good works, on our holding on tightly. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:43.440 And so we ride the zipline of life full of uncertainty, full of fear, as though letting go will somehow send us crashing to the ground in pain and agony, perhaps even losing out of our place in God's kingdom. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:53.279 And then when difficulties and uncertainties arise in life, we become even more anxious and more uncertain. 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:58.000 Maybe we try to tighten our grip on whatever we can control. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:02.000 And then we start to worry about what we can't control. 00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:16.720 Friends, I couldn't truly enjoy the ride on that zip line until I could trust in the faithfulness of the cable. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:29.279 If I didn't, the time spent riding from the top of the hill down to the bottom of the hill was filled with stress and uncertainty. 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:42.720 But somehow, I can't tell you how, somehow in my young mind, I soon realized that the cable and the connections and the web seat were all there to ensure my safety. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.839 And so I could relax. 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:50.400 I could trust in their faithfulness to uphold me. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:57.279 I could relax and thoroughly enjoy the ride. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:04.319 Jesus is that cable. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:11.119 Jesus died and he was buried. 00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:23.279 But his empty tomb ensures, guarantees without question, that he is faithful to the very end. 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:33.599 And so if you have come to believe in him by trusting in his work and only his work, then he becomes the confession of your hope. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:36.319 And you can't hold on to him with your two hands. 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:39.200 So you must hold on to him in faith. 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:43.279 Casting your faith, your trust onto him alone. 00:33:43.359 --> 00:34:00.559 And when you trust completely in him, just as I trusted completely in that cable, you will be able to rejoice in the resurrection life of Christ that he gives to you, not because of your holding on, but because he is faithful. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:07.519 He demonstrated his faithfulness to you first by going to the cross. 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:18.239 He demonstrated his faithfulness to the promises of God by dying and being buried and rising from the dead. 00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:24.960 Your life in Christ is not secure because you hold on with both hands for dear life. 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:29.760 It's safe and secure because he is faithful. 00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:35.679 And that is a reason to relish in his resurrection. 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:44.400 So let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.000 Would you pray with me? 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:52.800 Lord Jesus, may we cast all of our trust on you and you alone. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:35:05.599 May we look to you as the fullness of our hope, as our strength and weakness, as our safety line in the midst of uncertainty. 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:16.400 And may we cast all of our faith on you so that in trust we hold fast to you because you hold fast to us. 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:28.960 Lord, one day we trust that you will demonstrate the reality of our faith when you return and take us to be with you forever. 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:38.880 Until then, we trust that you, our great and faithful high priest, intercedes for us daily. 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:41.760 Because you paid for our sin. 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:50.079 You bought us from our sin so that we can come boldly and with confidence before the throne of God above. 00:35:52.239 --> 00:36:06.800 And so we celebrate today, as we will throughout all of eternity, the greatness of our risen Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:07.760 Amen. 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:13.519 That concludes this sermon from Faith Evangelical Free Church. 00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:20.559 Our mission is to declare the Word of God and disciple believers into mature, devoted followers of Jesus. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:24.880 You can learn more by visiting our website at faithfree.com.