Sermon Tone Analysis

The Eternal Significance of Jesus

Hebrews 1                   April 20, 1997

 

Scripture:  Unison Reading, Hebrews 1:1-4, page 1862-63, Pew Bible

 

Prayer:

 

Introduction:

 

          Hebrews is a most interesting book in the Bible.

It is shrouded in mystery.

No one knows for sure who wrote it, or to whom, or why.

It seems likely that it was written to Jewish Christians in Rome about 65 A.D. for the purpose of exhorting them not to abandon Christianity as the final and complete revelation of God for man.

They may have been a house church split off from the main group.

Persecution may have played a part in the temptation of the recipients  to  revert to Judaism, being more comfortable with its rituals and that it was a state protected religion at the time.

They were wavering in their commitment to Jesus.

But the biggest mystery is its author.

Various suggestions have been Paul, Barnabas and Apollos.

But this mystery actually enhances the credibility of the book in my estimation.

It is as it should be because the Holy Spirit was its ultimate author for which no man can take credit.

Hebrews is overflowing with solid doctrinal truth.

It intersperses this solid doctrinal truth with sweeping exhortation and encouragement.

In other words, it says here is the truth, and now here is what to do with it.

As such, it is a book of profound healing and cleansing through the agent of truth.

It is truth that confounds and combats the arch enemy of truth.

And like no other book, it reveals the divine healer, who called himself the truth.

And truth, when received, cleanses the soul from guilt.

It is guilt that separates us from God.  Therefore, Hebrews deals with the most important question of how man may approach God.

The answer is through Jesus as the Son of God.

As no other epistle (letter), it doesn’t begin like one, but it ends as one.

It is a sermon in written form, perhaps later written down as a letter, by a preacher of profound excellence who was quite well versed in his understanding of the O.T., often giving profound Messianic insight that would not have otherwise been this clearly available to us.

Hebrews helps us to discover the true meaning of the O.T., showing Christianity to have a better sanctuary, a better priesthood, a better sacrifice, and a better covenant than anything previously known before Christ.

Jesus is the ultimate in what God had to show us and say to us.

We can stop searching elsewhere.

Jesus is eternally significant.

In my last message in John 17, Jesus high priestly prayer before he went to the cross, he began with a prayer of purpose.

We saw what his intent was in going to the cross.

Here now beginning in Hebrews, we see what he accomplished.

*I.

Jesus is the fullness of God’s revelation.

(vv.