The War for the Supremacy of Christ

Title: A War for the Supremacy of Christ

Title: A War for the Supremacy of Christ

Text: Book of Hebrews

Illustration:

The book of Hebrews was written some time before AD 70. The premise of the book is the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

When God spoke in the beginning, creation happened. When God spoke in the end a new creation happened. When God spoke at the beginning, the Sun of the sky happened. When God spoke in the end the Son of God came.

The opening verses set the tone for the content of the book. See . The balance of the writing expresses what this "Word" of God has accomplished, what our response should be to this "Word", and what the Christian's life should look like because of this "Word."

The name of the book (, ) and the contents of the book cause us to understand that the recipients were of Jewish descent. The contents would lead us to believe that they were believing Hebrews, although there seem to be some indications that some of these Hebrews were professing or close to faith but not quite there.

Because of their background, they were continually and evidently being tempted to return to the Jewish legal system as the way of life. So, it is that Hebrews is a doctrinal treatise to encourage these individuals to maintain faith in Christ to the rejection of this temptation that lay within their very upbringing.

This is a constant war in the early church. Paul had to address this in the region of Galatia. When Timothy was in Ephesus, Paul wrote warning Timothy as well. In simple terms, it is an attack on the supremacy of Jesus Christ because it teaches that Jesus Christ was not the complete fulfillment of the Old Testament. The heresy would teach that Jesus is not God incarnate. The heresy would teach that Jesus was not qualified by lineage to be the High Priest. The heresy would teach the superiority of angels or of Moses. It is a war that is constantly being battled.

Proposition:

We must war against all temptations that teach us to deny the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

(1) Take no prisoners in this war - Leave no stone unturned in this war ()

The stone of faith in the wrong savior

Angels - supernatural beings that are messengers () - an unhealthy belief in superstition

We see this when

Moses - () human instruments used of God who receive more of our attention than God does ().

Illustration: “Donald Trump saved me.”

Application:

How much have you spontaneously spent to go to a movie or to go to an event to see someone?

Illustration: going to see Sarah Palin in West Chester

Did you put at much planning & preparation into the service of the Lord week in and week out as you did to your last vacation?

The stone of restlessness ()

This is an internal refusal to believe Christ and trust Him. The life, as a result, reflects disobedience/unbelief (Hebrews 3:19).

Rest must be understood as two types:

Rest resulting from works in pursuit of personal pleasure (flesh)

Rest resulting from works in pursuit of personal righteousness before God (flesh) - this seems to be the primary one in consideration here.

It is a weariness that refuses to believe God’s word

It is a weariness that refuses to believe God’s living Word

- Summary

Application:

This is common by the anxiety we feel when we are trying to live up to expectations of righteousness.

We leave with feeling of inferiority or depressed rather than encouraged in the gospel.

The stone of Docetism ()

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine Docetism

docetism: The heretical teaching that Jesus was not really a man but only seemed to be one (from the Greek verb δοκέω (G1506), “to seem, to appear to be”). (26A.5)

See

Application:

This can happen when we so compartmentalize our lives that Christ is not really a reality or we don’t truly believe that he can sympathize with our sufferings.

The stone of Arianism ()

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine Arianism

Arianism: The erroneous doctrine that denies the full deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. (14C.2.a)

Application:

This tends to be more subtle. Denying the deity of Christ by a believer would be seen in behaviors that do not show Him as your Lord.

(2) Utilize the correct weapon in this war - Faith, in particular, is the only proven and acceptable weapon in this war ()

Illustration: Home Alone 3 - boy spray paints a gun black, robber picks up wrong one and shoots only to realize it’s a toy gun.

The pre-flood faith ()

The patriarchal faith ()

The Exilic faith ()

The Historic faith ()

Illustration: Home Alone 3 - boy spray paints a gun black, robber picks up wrong one and shoots only to realize it’s a toy gun.

Application:

(1) The Word of God is what calls us to faith

(2) The Living Word of God is the ultimate call to faith

(3) The preserved Word of God is what continually teaches us about the Word of God for strengthening of our faith

the real application for this is next....point:

(3) Inspect for the evidence of the use of the correct weapon ()

Illustration: bullet whole of a 9mm gun and 50 caliber rifle. The markings are distinct

Evidence #1 - Enduring faith ()

Evidence #2 - Enduring discipline ()

Evidence #3 - Enduring service [by grace] () (v. 28)

Evidence #4 - Enduring morality ()

Application:

(1) Have an expectation for suffering

(2) Have an expectation for discipline

(3) Have an expectation for morality