Not Left Out | Pastor Jeff Williams

The Open Door Church 337

Message: We will never be left out when we call on the name of Jesus. Jesus was taken outside the city according to Roman and Jewish customs of the time, after the the trial for sin, to be crucified. The place is referred to as Golgotha, Skull Rock and Calvary. They mocked Him and led Him out of the city to be crucified, a process used in Exodus and Leviticus for the consecration and purification of priests. Hebrews is showing the need for a Savior, a parallel to the priests process for sacrifice of sin which occurred outside the city, then the blood transported back into the city for the offering. Isaiah 53:3 prophesied the treatment of Jesus and the perspective of the people, though He was to bear their sin. Culture says "you are either with us or against us", put out because you are not conforming to the thoughts of the culture. Mosaic law was based on conforming to the law to give the appearance of godliness, where behavior was controlled by guilt and shame with the threat of social rejection. It is important to hear God's voice when various and strange doctrine are present, because we have a heart established through faith by grace. There is no profit in other doctrines, they have no place to put problems, whereas we have an altar of sacrifice to the holy righteous God. We have the sacrifice of Jesus where we can place our sin before the throne of mercy, justified before God. Therefore, offer a sacrifice of praise continuously, stirring yourself with His goodness, grace and mercy. Despise the shame of the world, we have access to the city of God, through Jesus. We cannot be cast out, but will suffer for a better thing, not of our own merit, but of God. See Jesus as ever-present and see yourself included in a city, not made with hands. There's a hymn by E.E. Hewitt (1898) which sums it up like this, "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory!"

Scripture: Hebrews 13: 11-12 "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." KJV