by I have been reading through the book of Hebrews in the last week. The author clearly has the intention to make much of Jesus. He, the author, argues how Jesus is much more superior than the angels and Moses. Also, what Jesus enacts through his sacrifice is greater than the Old covenant. He also notes the difference between the priests’ service vs. that of Christ’s service. Hebrews 10:11 states, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.” But with Jesus, he offered a “single” sacrifice once and for all. Imagine the amount of sacrifices performed over more than a thousand years. Think about it. If anybody could work for the forgiveness of sins, or have a system in place where so much sacrificing and offerings were being made that could cure the curse of sin—the priests’ service, under the Old Covenant, would be it.
Furthermore, as the author points out, it was impossible, and still is, for these sacrifices and offerings to take away sins (Heb 10:4). However, with Jesus’ sacrifice, offering himself as the blameless, sinless, and pure sacrifice for the sins of the world, accomplished something more powerful or potent than any religious system, including the Old Covenant, could ever do. Through his sacrifice, he offers a better covenant, a better way to God; a way and covenant that imputes his righteousness within sinners. The author of Hebrews quotes from Jeremiah 31 regarding the amazingness and awesomeness of this new covenant: “This is the covenant that I will make with them…I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds…I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more” (Heb 10:16). Jesus’ act ushers in this new covenant. One act, one time, for all! Simply amazing!
The author, as best as he knows how, elevates Christ and his work to super status. He, throughout his letter, is constantly putting on display the supremacy and superiority of Christ and what Christ accomplished. He methodically, point by point, shows that Christ is better than the angels, better than Moses—he institutes a better covenant because he offered a better sacrifice than the priests. Why does he do this? So that the believers, the recipients of his letter, will “hold fast” and continue to place their confidence in Christ. He exhorts them to continue in their faith, under this new covenant, resting in the finish work and person of Jesus Christ.
We live in a day, especially in North America, where [consumer] confidence comes and goes. Whether that consumer confidence comes in the form of economic turmoil or prosperity, moral religiosity , or the success or failures of governmental entities. However, when it comes to Christianity and the fundamental truth of the gospel; Christ is the anchor and foundation of a person’s, a church’s, life. And who he is, and what he accomplished validates and solidifies the fact that we can put our faith and trust and confidence in him. He is never changing. He is consistent. He does not fluctuate. He is superior to anything and everything. When this (placing our faith, trust and confidence in Christ) happens, the world, who fluctuates in their consumer confidence, see a people who are firm, secure, and confident through the winds and storms of this life. A people who hold fast to their sovereign Savior and God who has the whole world in his hands—guiding and directing it to his final act of redemption; an act where he will completely restore the world to a pre-fall, pre-sin state.
What or Who are we placing our confidence in? Who are What are we holding fast to?
Josh Laxton 
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