Hebrews

1. Hebrews Persevere in Jesus LESSON XIX

2. REVIEW • Let Us Persevere in Christ • Three main questions • Christ • Who is He? • Who is He not? • Us • What is our relation to Christ and God? • What should we do? • Persevere! • What does that look like?

3. REVIEW • God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJ)

4. Remember our Jewish Authorities • We have noticed in Hebrews that Jesus is the Word of God, and is greater than: • The Angels • Moses • Aaron • Joshua • The Temple • are messengers • is a prophet • is a priest • is a judge • is a means of worship • What about Jesus?

5. So Far... • We’ve seen how Christ is superior to all of the Old Testament figures and Jewish authorities. • As of Chapter 7 • the focus moves away from what • Christ is not • and who or what Christ is better than • to Who Christ really is and What He really does. • Christ is the means of the New Covenant • Christ is the New High Priest • Christ is the true Tabernacle (Temple) • Christ does the true service • Chris is the perfect once-for-all sacrifice

6. So Far... • All things made NEW. • In Chapters 8 & 9 the author introduces the New Covenant • the Old Covenant is still in the background • New Covenant, New service for God • In a NEW Place: a Heavenly Tabernacle; not made with hands (9:24)—not of this creation (9:11) • (that is: new for ministry on our direct behalf in that place) • A NEW sacrifice • not outward ordinances • but for the cleansing of the conscience • Not goats’ and bulls’ blood • but Jesus Christs’ blood • A NEW Testament: a will, not one that creates a nation, but one that opens the Kingdom—creates a Church. • A NEW way to offer the new Offering (Christ); one time.

7. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

8. 32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:19-39 NKJ)

9. Lettuce Make a Hebrews Salad Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 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. • “Therefore” • We’ve just spent four chapters (7, 8, 9, & 10) discoursing on Jesus Christ as the supersession of vitually every form of divine service in the Old Testament. • NOW, as has been his practice, our Author turns again to his readers—by extension to us. • This is what the sacrifice of Jesus means to us • We have access to the Holiest through the blood • The veil IS His flesh • Like Hark the Herald Angels

10. Lettuce Make a Hebrews Salad Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 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. • Not just a perfect sacrifice, • but also a perfect High Priest mediating for God’s whole family (whom we are). • We can be assured because our hearts are cleansed • such cleansing is seen outwardly in the sacrament of baptism. • This resonates with Paul • Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4 NKJ)

11. 22 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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Lettuce Make a Hebrews Salad • Kistemakerpoints out that these verses can be summed up in • Faith • Hope • Love • He furthermore points outthat they serve as an outline for the next three chapters 11, 12, & 13 • So we need to draw near • pray and obey • Hold fast the confession • we are brothers of Christ, heirs of the Promises • and get together

12. The Lettuce Alternative 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God • Don’t drift away • We need to expect that Jesus is it. • there is not another prophet coming to surpass Him in the way He surpasses all the others • there is not another king or high priest • If we turn away from Jesus there is no other salvation. • This doesn’t mean • we won’t fall down sometimes • He won’t ALWAYS be there when you repent. He IS! • It does mean that those who reach this point no longer care to repent.

13. The Lettuce Alternative 26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God • The author has already shown that • though Moses is great, • Jesus is Greatest! • A branch can be removed from the vine (Rom. 10). • the seed among thorns was alive, but could bear no fruit • Many in the desert were sprinkled and rebelled • and died.

14. 32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Remembering Helps us Forward • The Psalmist Remembers • And I said, "This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." (Psalm 77:10 NKJ) • How do we know we are saved? • 1st our faith. • It’s a gift not from us, if we believe Him it is so. • 2nd the same way we know anyone else is saved. • By the fruits. • No faith, no fruits: for certain. • No fruits—faith is questionable at best. • Fruits: that could be faith! • we charitably believe that it is until the fruits cease or change, or Judgment Day when doubt will no longer be an option.

15. 32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Remembering Helps us Forward • Remember also Romans 1 • 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Rom 1:32 NKJ) • This principle works both ways: • we can endure WITH those who are suffering persecution. • The Author prepares the way for his upcoming discourse on faith in chapter 11. • better possessions in Heaven.

16. knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Forward in Faith • This exhortation is in keeping with what the Author has been saying: • hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (3:6) • fear lest any of you seem to have come short of [the promise]. (4:1b) • We always need to keep going. • Just like in Ezekiel, if the righteous turns away from the righteousness he has done and does wickedness, his former righteousness won’t save him. • The Day is coming: • This certainly applies to Jesus’ return and Judgment Day for us. • For them, it probably applies more immediately to the destruction of the Temple.

17. knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Forward in Faith • Habakkuk is particularly germain, if the Author means AD 70. • (Again, this is used in Romans) • What’s happening in Habakkuk? • The Chaldeans, 586 BC (and 2 previous times) like Titus & the Romans of AD 70, are coming. • Habakkuk asks: why should those even less righteous than fallen-us get to destroy us? What about their sinfulness? • God answers: they’ll be destroyed too. • AND: the just shall live by faith!

18. knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Forward in Faith • So for us, • who seem to be living in a collapsing world of wickedness • being attacked on many social fronts • often marginalized and derided • We need to press on. This is only for now. • Any comfort we could have in this world doesn’t last anyway, • but we know a comfort that never ends. • God has gone to great lengths to save us. • God has gone to great lengths to reveal His salvation to us. • Lettuce trust in Him and persevere in Christ.

19. Homework Read Chapter 11. Check a couple different translations if you can