As Long As It Is Today, Listen!

Rev. Jeff Hemmer, pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, IL, and assistant to the president of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 3:7-19. The author of Hebrews reminds his congregation what the Holy Spirit says to them in Psalm 95. As they come into God’s presence in the Divine Service, they dare not do so lightly. As unbelief attacked the people of Israel in the wilderness, so it would attack the congregation if they do not take care to hold onto the confidence they share in Christ. God has appointed “today” as the day to listen to His Word in faith, lest the deceitfulness of sin gradually harden the hearts of Christians. The Israelites wandering in the wilderness serve as the warning of those who failed to enter God’s rest; the preacher of Hebrews calls his congregation to receive rest from God who is present among them now so that they will have rest in His presence eternally. “The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes on Him.