I preached this overview of the book of Hebrews in February 2001, while taking a seminary class on Hebrews.
Introduction: The text for my message this morning is the Epistle to the Hebrews. This semester at school I am taking a class on the book of Hebrews and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I have found that the book basically deals with two themes, and that the entire book can basically be divided into these two categories. These two themes however are not unrelated, but rather they unite to form one whole theme. One theme is positive and the other more negative. One is the solution to the problem of the other. What I would like to do in the message this morning is to present the two themes and briefly trace them through the book. And then show how these two themes are related to each other. There is no possible way that I can deal adequately with this book in such a short amount of time. But hopefully you will get a clear look at the book as a whole. And hopefully I can wet your appetite for further study in this book. It will do you heart much good. I will be reading a lot of the Scripture, so do your best to listen well.
I believe that the two themes are:
(1) The superiority of the person and work of Christ to the OT types and shadows.
(2) Encouragement to continue in and warnings of defecting from Christianity back to Judaism.
These two themes are come together in the following way:
Ø The basis for continuing in the faith is a proper understanding of the superiority of Christ.
PRAY
The Purpose and Occasion of the Epistle to the Hebrews:
This book was written to Jewish people, probably in Rome, who were converted to Christianity in spite of much Jewish pressure to reject that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah which was foretold in the OT. Although many Jews had rejected this Jesus as a fake, a number had believed in Him. Being in Rome there was probably an acceptance for Judaism, but Christianity was not tolerated. Many of the unbelieving Jews were most likely putting pressure on believers to reject this Jesus and go back to the sacrifices of the old covenant. The may have been in the form of mockery and personal rejection, or possibly even physical sufferings. This pressure was evidently having an affect on many in the church and thus this letter was written to warn them of the danger of such a turning away and encourage them to persevere because of the superiority of Christ to the OT types and shadows.
I. Christ is superior in His person and work to the OT types and shadows.
Christ, the Son of God, is clearly a dominant theme in the book of Hebrews, if not the dominant theme. Nearly the whole book is taken up with setting forth the excellencies of His person and work.
God 73
Lord 17
Christ 13
Jesus 14
Son 23
Blood 22
Offer(ing) 30
Sacrifice 17
Priest 26
Once 11
A. The Excellencies of the Person of Christ
1. He is God
Chapter 1 deals mainly with proving the deity of Christ. He is not a created being, like man, and not even like the angels, for he created all that is (1:2, 10). Yes, he is superior to angels, the highest of created beings, because he is God himself (1:3, 6, 8).
2. He is man
Chapter 2 deals mainly with proving the humanity of Christ. There is continual emphasis on his real humanity. He took on real human flesh and was made like his brethren so that he might redeem us.
2:9, 14 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 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. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
3. Christ is superior to Moses
Chapter 3 deals with Christ’s superiority to Moses, one of the greatest of OT men. Moses was merely a servant in God’s house, but Christ is the son over God’s house.
B. The Excellencies of the Work of Christ
1. Christ is superior in his kingly work.
a. 10:12–13 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
b. 1:3 “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
c. 2:7–8 “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.”
d. 8:1 “who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”
e. 12:2 “and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
2. Christ is superior in his priestly work.
a. The superiority of his intercession.
(1) 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
(2) 9:24 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:”
b. The superiority of his sacrifice.
(1) It was a sinless sacrifice.
Ø 7:26–27 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”
(2) It only needed to be offered once.
Ø 10:14 “For by one sacrifice he hath perfected for ever them that are being sanctified.”
(3) It really satisfied the wrath of God.
Ø 10:4, 11, 12 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
II. Believers must continue in the faith and heed the warnings of returning to Judaism and rejecting Jesus as the Christ.
Faith & belief 36
Obey 4
Endurance 8
Patience 4
Hope 6
Faithful 5
Unbelief 4
Profession 3
Diligence 3
Confidence 3
Steadfast 3
Hold fast 3
Take heed 3
Assurance 2
Unto the end 2
Faith is a major issue in this book and the battle against unbelief.
A. Warnings against departing from the faith
1. 3:12–14 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”
2. 4:1, 2, 11 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
3. 6:4–6 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
4. 10:26–29 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
5. 10:38–39 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
6. 12:14–15 “Follow peace wit all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
The issues at stake in turning from faith in Christ are very serious. If one defects from his belief in Christ as the Son of God, the only mediator between God and men, nothing but destruction awaits him. I do not believe that a true believer can lose his salvation, but we all must heed the warnings of slipping away and turning from Christ. If one does fall away, I believe it is proof that he was a fake.
B. Encouragements to persevere in the faith.
1. 4:14 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
2. 5:11–12 “And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but flowers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
3. 10:19–24 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”
4. 10:35–36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
5. 12:1–3 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
Conclusion: What is the solution to help encourage those whose faith is weak? Clearly the author of Hebrews saw the setting forth of Christ as the remedy for those whose faith was wavering, especially his high priestly work of intercession and offering of himself as the sacrifice for the sins of his people. Notice the continual connection between the person and work of Christ as the basis for perseverance in the faith. Probably for you, it is not an issue of going to Judaism, but maybe you are questioning if the Christian religion really is the right religion. Fighting for continuing faith and battling against unbelief is a struggle that all of us go through. As the author has clearly set forth, this perseverance in the faith is not optional. Guarding against unbelief and departing from the living God can only successfully be done in the light of a proper understanding of Jesus Christ and the superiority of His person and work to anyone or anything else. The AH continually points his readers to Christ, and so this morning I point you to Christ. Look to Him. Find your assurance and confidence in Him. He alone is a trustworthy and reliable object for your faith. We as believers may have confidence and assurance that we are accepted with God, in as much as Jesus is accepted with God. I close with these verses from chapter 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever…. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”