Let us look at ways to build our confidence in Jesus Christ.Consider Jesus

Building your confidence Heb 3:1-8.

Paul says that we must consider Jesus. What does it mean to consider? Well according to the Pocket Oxford dictionary 1) contemplate mentally in order to reach a conclusion 2) examine the merits of and there are some more.

This morning we are going to examine the merits of Jesus Christ to build our confidence. Afterwards you can contemplate mentally and reach your own conclusion.

Capacity as Apostle

How does Jesus function as an Apostle? To answer that lets look at the function of an Apostle.
He was sent to lay a foundation.
We see that Paul in 1 Cor. 3:10 says that he is a master builder or architect and the he as laid the foundation or set in place the first principles. Jesus laid the foundation by which we all follow. Paul goes on in 1 Cor 3:11 and says that Jesus Christ is the foundation and it has already being laid. Then Paul says that we must be wary of how we build. Then Paul says that the way we build will be tested and even if everything we build is burnt in the first we will be saved. Why because we may have built wrong, but at least we build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
He is the Author and finisher of our faith.
He is the Author the Greek word here for Author is

747 archegos { ar-khay-gos’}
from 746 and 71; TDNT – 1:487,81; adj
AV – prince 2, captain 1, author 1; 4
GK – 795 { ἀρχηγός }
1) the chief leader, prince
1a) of Christ
2) one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer
3) the author
It is not author as in someone who writes a book, but someone who originates some thing. If you follow the origins of the Greek words back to 756 archomai { ar’-khom-ahee} to be the first or to make a beginning. In that Jesus is the originator of our faith. He originated our faith because we have faith in Him and He set the example by which we follow in terms of faith. Both concepts are embodied in the Greek word Archegos.
He is finisher of our faith. Again let’s look at the word for finisher. It is interesting to note that this Greek word is only used once in the Bible.

5051 teleiotes { tel-i-o-tace’}
from 5048; TDNT – 8:86,1161; n m
AV – finisher 1; 1
GK – 5460 { τελειωτής }
1) a perfector
2) one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith

He is also the perfector of our faith. It is He that perfects us. Again if you follow the Greek words back you the Greek word 5046 teleios which means brought to an end perfect. Now that word is used in Eph 4:13 where is says that “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: “

Paul says in 1 Cor 1:28 that it his job to present man perfect in Christ Jesus again same word being used there. So Jesus is an Apostle because He originated the faith and set the example. He is our perfector the one who will present us before the throne room of God on the great day.
He endured so you must not be faint.
Jesus endured the cross and despised the shame. Verse 3 says consider lest we faint. Jesus endured so we can push through. If we consider what He went through we will not give us so easily. We will not give in so easily. He pioneered a way through that we can gain strength and endure what we are going through.

Capacity as High Priest

Jesus did it once and for all
It never needs to be repeated. The writer of Hebrews contrast the old way with the new way. The way it was with Moses and the law and now the way it is with Jesus who has fulfilled the law. Up till Jesus they had to sacrifice every year for the forgiveness of sin. Yet the sacrifice of bulls and goats could not take away sin. (Heb 10:1-4) Jesus sacrifice was perfect in verse 12 it says that Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever and then sat down at the right hand of God. The blood of bulls and goats could not clean the sins of the past yet Jesus’ sacrifice cleansed the sins of the past and the sins of the future. Amen.

Hold fast our profession
The writer says because we have a High Priest who has passed through the heavens let us hold onto our confession. Because of the fact that Jesus has accomplished this phenomenal breakthrough for us, let us hold fast to our profession the King James says or confession in NKJV. Why because we do not have a High Priest who does not understand us. No Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, but without sin. Have you ever had something go wrong and then you someone tries to console you by says “yes I understand” and you respond “no you don’t, you have no idea what I am going through” You know what I am talking about. It is very difficult to sympathies with people when you have not being through what they have been through. Yet Jesus has being through the temptations that we have being through and are going to go through. So He is not some distant God He is a God who can sympathize with our weaknesses.

Capacity as Caller

Not may wise, mighty or noble (1 Cor 1:26 – 31)
It is important to remember that it is not us who makes us great. It is Jesus Christ, there are the ones who are wise, mighty or noble who are called, but on the whole it is people like you and me who God has called. Why because God uses the simple, the base the ordinary things in life so that we do not glory in our flesh. He became our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Why is this important, well you must never say I am not good enough to do this or that! When I was at school orals where my worst I was absolutely useless at them. Yet God chose someone who was useless at orals to preach for Him. I do not have the stage presence of Andre nor his ability to hold an audience. But God has chosen me to teach and preach so not by my own ability I do this my His ability. My brother is the orator in the family not me. I am the only one in my family who does not have a degree. My father has two doctorates, and two honorary doctorates. My mother has honors for maths and biology, my brother has a doctorate and my sister is a qualified doctor. And all I have is two diplomas. Yet God has chosen me to preach His word and be part of the work here. I look at where I am at work and the work that I do and am responsible for. I it can only be by God because I could not have got there by my own effort. No it is by the Jesus Christ who because for us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Eyes enlightened press to towards the mark (Phil 3:14, Eph 1:18)
“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”. This is Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians church that they may know the hope of His calling. We need our eyes of our understanding enlightened to see this otherwise all we will see is doom and gloom. We need to see hope we need to see that where Christ has called us to dwell there is where we need to be. Then we also need to see the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. If we cannot see Christ in the saints then we are missing a whole dimension of God. They are called just as we are.

Paul then says in Phil 3:13-14

3Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behin