A Much Better Way

An overview of the Book of Hebrews

Text: Hebrews 1-13

Introduction

The evolution of car manufacturing has come a long way hasn’t it. Someone tell me something you appreciate your vehicle now that you didn’t have before.

How many of you did something one way, but then later figured out a much better way to do it? Can anyone give me an example?

What the book of Hebrews has to offer is not something manufactured that would later be replaced by something newer or a method that could possibly be obsolete by a more efficient method. The writer of Hebrews is presenting a truth of assurance that Jesus is the EXCLUSIVE & SUPREME WAY to enter into a covenant relationship with the Father.

KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER

KEY WORD — “Better”

WORDS TO KEEP IN MIND — eternal, perfect, once, blood, without, better, “we have...therefore let us,” sat down, and heavenly.

THE AUTHOR — Undetermined...However, I am more inclined to consider Paul as the author and Luke the penman. If you are familiar with Paul’s style and Luke’s style, and the fact Luke is considered to be with Paul during the time Hebrews was written, it is very plausible.

NICKNAME — The fifth Gospel; Describing Jesus ministry at the right hand of God.

If you want to fix your heart upon the GLORIES OF JESUS, this book will take you there — Notice 12:2 & 2:9

Q — Have you every had a challenge presented to you when you wavered in your faith? That is exactly the context surrounding the writing of Hebrews.

While other books of the Bible are largely about the apostles journeys, disciples, the Jews, pagans, and the church, Hebrews is lasered focused on the Lord Himself:

(1:1-3) Great than the prophets

(1:4—2:18) Greater than angels

(3:1-19) Greater than Moses

(4:1-16) Greater than Joshua

(5:1-10:18)(Most importantly) Greater than Aaron

All of these were crucially important in the Rabbinical teachings.

Q — Do you know the difference between Jesus being your Savior and being your Priest? You will understand it soon enough!

LISTEN...You CAN’T understand the New Testament without the Old Testament!!!

WHY WAS THEIR FAITH WAVERING?

Doubts caused by their persecutors

The Jewish believers had begun to think they had lost everything because of their new found faith in Jesus Christ.

Think for a moment about the Jewish religion. It was woven it to every fabric of their life.

What if trusting Christ meant you were rejected into the Jewish place of worship?

What if trusting Christ meant your family and relatives accused you of abandoning God?

What if trusting Christ meant nobody was coming by your small business stand in the market place?

Notice these passages: 5:11-12; 6:10-11

Hebrews was a letter to lead them into a more mature grasp of the superiority of Christ in order to prevent them from drifting back into their traditional religion and ceremonies.

This letter was an effort to extinguish the erroneous idea of a Jewish believer having “lost” some things because of their faith in Christ.

1) The Person Of Christ Is Superior

Focus = Chapters 1-4:13

A. The humanity and deity of Jesus (ch.1-2)

Chapters 1 & 2 emphasizes this truth more than anywhere else in scripture.

Notice the opening of chapter 1!

His deity, glory, a Creator, Heir of all things, superior to all things, and Savior.

We will learn more about Him being our Great Hight Priest.

He serves as knowing what we need and having experienced human life.

Hebrews 2:17–18 “17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

B. Having a more focus upon Christ (ch. 3&4)

The writer was instructing these Jews to get their spiritual telescope out and gaze upon Jesus.

Many Jews lived a bit confused about the ministry of Jesus.

Q — How could than impact your life?

They needed to understand that Jesus did not come to “enforce” God’s law, He came to fulfill it and provide a better way.

While Moses and Joshua were used to bring God’s people into the promised land, neither one were able to lead them into “perfect peace.”

Quote: (Saint Augustine) “No soul found rest until it found it’s rest in God.”

Psalm 37:5 “5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

a) There are a couple of warnings to consider

First — Don’t neglect salvation (2:1-4)

Second — Don’t depart from God’s Word (3:12)

C. Having a deeper reverence toward God’s Word (ch.4)

Notice 4:11-12

“Let us labor” = Give diligence

Ephesians 6:17 “17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

2) The Priesthood Of Christ Is Superior

Focus = 4:14-10:18

A. Jesus being a better High Priest is the main theme

Hebrews 8:1 “1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”

This is the “central” part of this book: Jesus’ eternal priesthood and sacrifice for the sin of the world.

We all need to grasp the POWER of the blood sacrifice of Jesus.

Notice 4:14-16

Here is a huge distinction between the earthly Priests and Jesus: They were guilty of sin, Jesus was not!

Notice how the writer defines the superiority of Jesus’ Priestly office:

A better covenant (8:13)

A better tabernacle (9:1-12)

A better sacrifice (10:18)

B. Jesus as Priest provided better promises

His sacrifice was a “once and for all” provision.

You and I are able to approach the Father because of Jesus’ Priestly office.

Notice these passages: 7:25; 8:1; 10:12; 9:24; 10:19-20

Chapter 9 presents three great appearing's of Jesus:

One the cross (9:26); At the right hand of God (9:24); In the clouds of glory (9:28).

C. Jesus as Priest provided a better sacrifice

The sin question is settled forever! (10:10-18)

This should lead us to remain obedient to the command never to neglect assembling together (10:25)

Illustration: Turn your phone light on and slowly dim it until completely out. When we do this life alone, our Christian faithfulness will slowly dim. You and I need each other!

3) The Life Of Christ Is Superior

Focus = 10:19-13:25

A. The kind of life a Believer should live

There are different levels of Christian living.

Illustration: It is like some choose to live on different floors of a home: Basement — no light, dark, and gloomy; First Floor — some light, focused on everything around them; Second floor — most light, warm, fewer disturbances, easier to breath.

God wants you live at a higher lever where you are able to focus on Him better.

B. You must have a faith that works

In simple terms, what does it mean to have faith toward God? — ANS: trusting God.

There is nothing mysterious about faith. Either you choose to believe God or not.

When God is believed with absolute faith, supernatural life enters the soul and power comes into our lives!!!

Notice 11:6

Faith is not about what we do for God, but a response to what God has done for us!

All of this is made possible only by Jesus Christ!