God's House

God’s House Hebrews 3:1-6 Emmanuel Christian Church 3.23.25 INTRODUCTION: “Silence Please! This is none other than the very house of God!” So read the sign hanging in the country church I found myself visiting 45 years ago in the state of Kansas! “Really?” I thought to myself. “Is this really the house of God? If it is, I wonder if He’s getting His mail here? Does the United States Post Office know that this is His address?” Listen, I get it. For generations, people have considered the church building to be the house of God. All kinds of traditions grew up around the idea. Men should always wear suits, but no hats- this is the house of God. Women should always wear hats, and never pants; strictly dresses of the appropriate length- this is the house of God. Children should never run in the halls- this is the house of God! Really? Is this really the house of God? Scripture clearly answers the question: Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. PROPOSITION: So, is there a place that God inhabits? Solomon (the wisest man to have ever lived) gives us an answer that doesn’t hold out much hope: 2 Chronicles 2:6But who is able to build a temple for [God], since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him? Having said all that, we now need to hear God’s Word from our text for today… Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. “And we are his house.” There’s our answer! End of discussion. Sermon’s over. Let’s all go home! WHOAAA! Wait a minute! Those six verses have a LOT to say on the subject! We need to take a closer look. Paul calls us to the side and points us to the BUILDER, the SERVANT, and the HOUSE OF GOD itself- so let’s take them one at a time. THE BUILDER

Before we even get to the whole subject of God’s House, Paul takes us back to Jesus. Hebrews 3:1Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
Remember, the entire book of Hebrews has one over-arching purpose: to demonstrate the SUPERIORITY of Jesus.
Paul uses a term that points back to something we’ve already learned about Jesus- He’s not ashamed to call us (REMEMBER?) “Brothers”!
In this case, not just brothers, but “holy brothers”. Every man with siblings is a brother, but “holy brothers” are literally members of a special group, an exclusive club- so to speak, a Holy Household!
Just how does one become a member of the special group, the exclusive “holy household”? You have to know Jesus!
That’s why Paul says, “fix your thoughts on Jesus”
Paul goes on to call Jesus “the apostle”- literally, the One sent on a mission- a mission to save us broken sinners from ourselves!
Next, Paul names Jesus as “High Priest”- the only Priest authorized to offer the sacrifice able to cover the sins of the people.
Skipping over verse 2 for just a minute, we also learn that it is indeed Jesus Who is the Builder of God’s House, and verse 4 makes it clear that Jesus shares in the Diety of God who is “the builder of everything”. APPLICATION: So, here’s what we need to know so far: In order for us to be “holy brothers” to Jesus- that is to say family members of Jesus, we need to clearly understand Him to be our Savior sent on God’s rescue mission for us (Apostle), our only High Priest, who alone is able to offer the suitable sacrifice for our sin, and the Builder of God’s house, who Himself is equal and one with God the Father. Wow! That’s a lot for us to keep in mind as we “fix our thoughts on Jesus”! I hope you were taking notes- they’ll be a test on this material at the end of your life! Let’s go back now, to verses 2 and 5 as we consider… THE SERVANT
These two verses have the same message: “Moses was faithful as a SERVANT in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future.”
There is no guessing about the identity of the “servant”- these verses name him for us: “Moses”.
Here’s the interesting contrast we have: Jesus is the honored Builder of God’s House and Moses is God’s simple household servant.
The word “servant” here means “a menial servant” in the Master’s household.
So, how was Moses this “menial servant” in the household of God?
Let’s ask another question first: “With what do we associate Moses?”
Answers: the Exodus from Egypt, and the receiving of The Ten Commandments.
In the Exodus, Moses led God’s people from slavery to the Promised Land.
In the Ten Commandments, Moses led Israel into a covenant relationship with God.
It’s that covenant law relationship that is the focus here (next week’s text will point us to the events of the Exodus).
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we find an even clearer connection between Moses’ role as SERVANT in God’s House: Galatians 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
Now, we don’t see the word “servant” in that verse- but it’s there. Actually, the Greek word is “paidagogos” and it refers to the household servant whose job it was to deliver the Master’s children to school.
In the case of today’s text, we could think of it like this: Moses (as God’s “paidagogos”) gave the Law, which we could not keep, to bring us to the school of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
In effect, the Law delivered by Moses served to lead us to Jesus.
One more interesting detail: Who was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration?
The Apostles: Peter, James and John (God’s servants of the New Covenant)
Elijah and MOSES. (God’s servants of the Old Covenant Law and Prophets).
What were Jesus, Moses and Elijah talking about? Luke tells us in his Gospel- they were talking about how Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to bring about the fulfillment of God’s plan for our redemption! (Luke 9:31) APPLICATION: Moses, along with all the prophets, priests and kings of the Old Testament were nothing more than servants in God’s household pointing us, taking us by the hand, to bring us to faith in Jesus as our Savior. All of them were used by God to lead us to Christ. This is why every Christian needs to be a student of the Old Testament. Yes, you can come to faith in Christ as Savior, if all you have ever read is the New Testament book of Romans, but learning of God’s pursuit through all the Old Testament will give you a deep appreciation for His love in leading us to Christ. Having said all that, finally we come to an understanding of… GOD’S HOUSE Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
The Church is NOT a building of bricks, boards and shingles. It IS a Holy Household.
The Church is NOT an organization of officers and bylaws, it IS a living, breathing ORGANISM comprised of Jesus’ own brothers and sisters.
The Apostle Peter makes it clear when he writes: 1 Peter 2:4 As you come to [Jesus], the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him — 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We are God’s house! BUT there is one more important word that demands our attention: it’s the word “IF”!
“If” What? “If we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”
What is Paul talking about? He’s pointing us back to Moses and Deuteronomy 31.
Moses has led the people of God right to the very threshold of the Promised Land.
Moses himself can’t take them there, but Joshua and Caleb will.
God has promised to clear the way and give His people the rest He has promised. Of them He will require only one thing… Deuteronomy 31:7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” CONCLUSION: Through Jesus, God has laid the foundation and built His Holy Household of faith. Those who have fixed their thoughts on Jesus, confessing that He is their Savior, and Great High Priest, having been washed clean of their sin through His blood sacrifice and having been adopted into His Holy Household of faith, have only one remaining task- to remain strong and courageous on their journey into God’s final, ultimate Promised Land. Later on Paul will say it again: Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. One final word: WE are God’s house- knowing that is an important first step. Knowing how to live in God’s house is the next step (and a whole other sermon). But let me leave you with this word from God’s Word on that subject: 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.