Hebrews
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Today we are beginning a new series on the book of Hebrews. I prefer as a pastor to preach through entire books of the bible, verse by verse, rather than topically as I did last week - establishing spiritual disciplines - so we will go back to that methodology quite often as a church. I believe that preaching in that way helps me to be faithful to scripture as it was written, not just to pick out my own ideas and feelings and find scripture that fit those. I believe that has worked out for us so far - as it feels like we have dealt with issues in scripture right on time for things that have been going on in our lives.
So today we begin something new. We are going to study the Book of Hebrews. We won’t dive deeply into every verse, though I do believe this book probably warrants that kind of attention. This will be more of a survey of the letter,we will cover as much of it as we can.
A Christian couple should always refer to scripture when attempting to determine gender rolls, we talked about that a little bit in our bible study on Friday. So when it comes to morning routines - they should turn to scripture as well. Women should do their part, but men make the coffee. It says right here. Hebrews.
Introduction:
Who wrote it?
We don’t know. Church history has a list of guesses, but there is no proof. We give credit to this epistle to the Holy Spirit, to God for providing it for us.
Who was it written to?
Specifically - we don’t know. Again, there are clues. It was written to people who were expected to have an understanding of the Septuagint, that spoke Greek. There are priestly matters dealt with in this book - so it may have been written to priests who converted. We don’t know for sure who - other than that they were Jews who converted.
When was it written. - Evidence says that it was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.
The book of Hebrews. The original manuscripts title this letter “To the Hebrews” but like the Gospel of John we shorten things up a little bit to just say John… we call this - Hebrews.
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.
In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did he ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?
Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says, And let all God’s angels worship him.
And about the angels he says: He makes his angels winds, and his servants a fiery flame,
but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions.
And: In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands;
they will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like clothing;
you will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like clothing. But you are the same, and your years will never end.
Now to which of the angels has he ever said: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?
God Speaks. This is an incredible thing. It is amazing and graceful.
God Spoke through prophets
For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
“Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
God speaks through his son
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets.
The creator of the universe has decided that communicating with creation is worth his time and efforts. If he did not speak, we would have no opportunity for salvation. We would have no opportunity for grace.
God is there, and he is not silent. We don’t deserve it - it is grace.
Jesus is God.
He is the RADIANCE of God.
He is the Shekinah glory of the old testament
The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.
The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Inherits all things, the Heir of everything.
Means that the things that he said can happen, can happen.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Bigger than the Angels.
There seems to have been an issue with the understanding of angels within the original audience of this letter, which makes sense, there is still a lot of confusion about angels.
Some of that comes from bad country music, and pop culture. Every time a bell rings ?
FACTS: God created Angels. You don’t become one when you die, there is not Biblical reference to support that. We get a new body, but there is no indication that we will suddenly become angels. Jesus commands them. They are sent on assignment to serve “Those who are to inherit salvation.” My understanding is, that is you and me.
The fulfillment of the OT.
God wants to be known.
For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
The first three verses of this contain so many things. So many doctrinal things, important things for us to understand. We can dig so deeply into this. This chapter deals with so many truths that we should understand about who Christ is.
God went through extraordinary efforts to be known. This letter is part of that. The old testament - was written for that. Because God doesn’t change, if you rightly understand something about God from the OT, you rightly understand that about God. And the old testament was preserved - protected for generations so that we could have it.
If we know those things in our hearts - the world in front of us changes.
If I know that God speaks through Jesus - then I know that I have direct and open communication with the creator of the Universe. That his will is open to me.
If I know that Jesus is God, that He is Heir to all things and higher than all things… then I know that the things that He has said are truth.
If I know that God has a desire to be known - then I should have a desire to know Him. And not just in a superficial way. I should desire to know as much as I possibly can about the creator of the universe.
As I get to know Him, I can communicate who he is - better. Who is the best person on the earth right now to introduce someone to Eden?
I am. Because she is my wife. I know her better than anyone. I know her fears, her hopes.. I know who she is on the inside - or at least I hope to.
For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.