Sunday Pm, Oct 13

Introduction

The Book of Hebrews:

probably written after Nero’s persecution in the late 60s.

written to a church of Jewish converts who were faltering and reverting back to Judaism.

The writer of Hebrews wants this church to be fully established in their faith. The Old covenant is obsolete and Jesus is the deliverer, initiator, mediator, and ruler of a better covenant.

For us:

We too tend to drift back to our ways before Christ. The New Testament continually acknowledges that Christians need to be reminded that they are saved. The gospel not only begins our faith journey, but it sustains it.

God’s Communication

heb 1

Hebrews 1:1–2 CSB

1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 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.

3 claims about God’s communication in Jesus

1. Jesus is the superior word of God

God communicated through Creation.

God communicated through Prophets.

Abel is the first prophet recorded.

49-

Luke 11:49–51 CSB

49 Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world— 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. “Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.

Moses spoke of a final prophet who would speak as God Himself. The people would be held responsible for what that Prophet said:

Genesis 18:15–19 CSB

15 Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said, because she was afraid. But he replied, “No, you did laugh.” 16 The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off. 17 Then the Lord said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham? 18 Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him.”

gen 18 15-

The writer of Hebrews is confirming that Jesus was the final communication from God.

His word is superior to the prophets, because He speaks the very words of God.

The writer of Hebrews establishes that everything that needs to be said is founded in Jesus. He does not annul what God has said in the past, but His word is superior to what has been said in the past.

What has been said in the past is truthful, but what Jesus has communicated is final. We are not to look for another. We are in the last days with a last word.

2. Jesus is Creator God

Hebrews 1:2–3 CSB

2 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. 3 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.

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He is the appointed heir of everything.

He made everything. He made the universe.

Jesus is the glory of God and exact same in character…He is God.

He upholds everything by the word of His power. Jesus’ word is the same as God the Father’s word. (Let there be light...)

Jesus made final atonement for sin. The sufficiency of His atonement was proven by the resurrection. Jesus sits at the right hand of the majesty.

3. Jesus is superior to the Angels

The writer of Hebrews wants the readers to understand that Jesus is God. He supports this truth by making an argument that Jesus is not just another messenger…He is greater than the angels…He is God.

There is a clear reason, the writer has chosen to begin his argument by declaring Jesus as superior to Angels. This reason sets up the rest of the book of Hebrews…we will unpack this reason in a moment, but for now, let’s look at the argument he makes.

Hebrews 1:4–14 CSB

4 So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 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? 6 Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says, And let all God’s angels worship him. 7 And about the angels he says: He makes his angels winds, and his servants a fiery flame, 8 but to the Son: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions. 10 And: In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like clothing; 12 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. 13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?

heb 1

vs 5. ,

vs6 (The angels worship Jesus as the announcement is made to the shepherds)

vs 7.

vs 8-9.

vs. 10-12.

vs. 13.

vs. 14. The angels are all ministering spirits who purpose is to minister for those who will inherit salvation.

The gospel is everything!

heb 2 1

Hebrews 2:1–4 CSB

1 For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.

Side note: The writer of Hebrews is definitely not Paul.

vs 1. The writer says that we must pay attention to what we have heard…he never makes the claim to have seen Jesus or heard from Jesus as a first person account.

see also vs. 3: “it was confirmed to US by those who heard Him.

Why is the gospel everything to us?

The gospel: That Jesus is God. He is the promised Innocent One who would die so the guilty could be saved. He died on the cross for the forgiveness of sin, He rose from the grave on the third day, and he will return to reward the church—those who have submitted to Him by faith. Jesus atoned for our sins as an act of free grace, not because we earned this. He commanded that this gospel be preached to every creature. He promised that all who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

This is not a message from God that only begins our journey of faith. It is a message that holds us in faith. It is a message that sustains us.

If we don’t pay careful attention to this final communication from God, we could possibly drift away:

Hebrews 2:1 CSB

1 For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.

heb 2 1

We are by nature drifters. We are forgetters. We may declare our love for the Lord today, then neglect the gospel and find ourselves 10 years from now with no fruit of righteousness that is in accordance with forgiveness.

The new testament writers never write that if you prayed a prayer or walked an isle then rest easy…you are saved. They always write things like: work out your salvation with fear and trembling, add these things to your faith so that you will never stumble, endure to the end.

Jesus articulated our tendency to drift by telling the parable of the sower:

Matthew 13:18–23 CSB

18 “So listen to the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. 20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 21 But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”

matt 13 18-

The writer of Hebrews is warning this Jewish congregation that they must cling to the gospel. They must dedicate their lives to understanding the gospel.

We drift away, because we don’t understand the gospel.

Clearly, according to Jesus, the one who hears and understands produces fruit.

So we are to cling to the gospel. It not only begins our journey of faith…it sustains our journey of faith and produces fruit.

The Gospel is superior to the old covenant. If we neglect it, we will not escape.

heb 2 2-4

Hebrews 2:2–4 CSB

2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.

remember, I told you that there is a clear reason the writer begins his argument by declaring Jesus superior to the angels? Lets explore this now:

vs 2. What was the message spoken through angels?

Deuteronomy 33:2 CSB

2 He said: The Lord came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; he shone on them from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand holy ones, with lightning from his right hand for them.

Stephen told the Jews that they had received the Law through the directions of angels:

Acts 7:53 CSB

53 You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.”

Paul said that the Law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator (Moses).

Galatians 3:19 CSB

19 Why then was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator.

Back to heb 2

Hebrews 2:2–4 CSB

2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.

the law was put into effect through angels and was legally binding. The Gospel, however, needed no angel, but was delivered by God Himself in Jesus.

The gospel was first spoken by Jesus

It was confirmed by those who heard Jesus

The Holy Spirit accompanied the spread of the gospel with signs and wonders.

THE GOSPEL IS FINAL AND SUPERIOR IN EVERY WAY

CLOSING

The book of Hebrews main theme:

The Gospel is God’s final and superior communication.

Jesus is the communication of the Gospel

He is superior to the prophets who spoke before with help from the angels.

He is superior to the angels who implemented the first covenant through a mediator.

The Gospel is a message that begins our faith journey and sustains it.

We must be careful to pay attention to it so that we do not find ourselves having drifted away, never understanding it.