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Hebrews: Fate or Freedom?

Hebrews: Fate or Freedom?. John Oakes, June, 2008. Outline: Overview of Hebrews The history and the doctrine of predestination. Hebrews and the preservation of the saints IV. How to stay faithful and to grow in Christ to the very end. Introduction.

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Hebrews: Fate or Freedom?

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  1. Hebrews: Fate or Freedom? John Oakes, June, 2008

  2. Outline: • Overview of Hebrews • The history and the doctrine of predestination. • Hebrews and the preservation of the saints • IV. How to stay faithful and to grow in Christ to • the very end.

  3. Introduction • Audience: Christians in general, but especially those who are of Jewish descent • Second generation disciples who are tempted to lose heart in light of coming persecutions. • Remember those earlier days… Hebrews 10:32 • Date of writing: AD 60-70, probably closer to AD 70.

  4. Roman Emperor Nero AD 54-68 Christian Persecutions AD 64 Roman Emperor Titus AD 79-81 Destroyed Jerusalem AD 70

  5. By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13

  6. Purpose: To give heart to Christians who have endured but are being tempted to waver in their faith. • Warnings against “falling away.” • Theme: The preeminence of Jesus Christ!!! • His deity • The greatness of his ministry • The greatness of his sacrifice • The greatness of his covenant

  7. The Greatness of Jesus I Jesus is greater than all the prophets Heb 1:1-3 II Jesus is greater than the angels Heb 1:4-14 III Jesus is greater than Moses Heb 3:1-6 IV Jesus the great High Priest Heb 4:14-5:10 V The Priesthood of Melchizedek is superior to the Priesthood of Aaron Heb 7:1-3, 7:11-28 VI Jesus is greater than Abraham Heb 7:4-10 VII The New Covenant (in and through Jesus) is superior to the Old Covenant (through Moses) Heb 8:1-13 VIII The heavenly Tabernacle is greater than the earthly Tabernacle. Heb 9:1-10 IX The sacrifice of Jesus is of far greater worth than the OT sacrifices Heb 9:11-10:18

  8. Exhortations in Hebrews • Exhortation #1 Pay attention Heb 2:1-18 • Exhortation #2 Do not turn back. Persevere Heb 3:6-4:13 • Exhortation #3 Grow up. Become mature Heb 5:11-6:20 • Exhortation #4 Summary exhortation. Living by faith. Not making this world our home. Hebrews 10:19-12:29

  9. Question: Do you believe in Predestination?

  10. History of the Doctrine of Predestination • Augustine of Hippo AD 354-430 “The City of God” • Martin Luther (1483-1546): an Augustinian monk. • Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) Reformed Churches. • John Calvin (1509-1564) “Institutes of the Christian Religion” • A profound belief in the sovereignty of God • Double Predestination and TULIP

  11. TULIP • Total depravity • Unconditional election • Limited atonement • Irresistable grace • Perseverence of the saint (once saved, always saved)

  12. Q: Scriptures which appear to support the doctrine of predestination? • Is a believer in this false doctrine lost? • Q: Scriptures which prove free will and refute predestination?

  13. Hebrews and Falling Away • They shall never enter my rest 3:11, 4:5 • We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first. 3:14 • They were not able to enter because of their unbelief 3:19 • Be careful not to be found to have fallen short of it. 4:1 • Some… did not go in because of their obedience 4:6 • Let us make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience 4:11 • Do you get the point?

  14. OLD TESTAMENT TYPE NEW TESTAMENT ANTITYPE SLAVERY IN EGYPT LOST, SLAVE TO SIN WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS SAVED, BUT LIVING THE LIFE OF A DISCIPLE ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND ENTERING HEAVEN Historical type/antitype in the Exodus

  15. Hebrews 6:4-6 Who is he talking to? • a. been enlightened (NT church “enlightened” = baptized) • b. tasted the heavenly gift (salvation?) • c. shared in the Holy Spirit • d. tasted the goodness of the word • e. tasted the coming age (saved) • Yes, you can fall away! Conclusion: You had better move on toward maturity in Christ.

  16. Hebrews 6:4-8 • It is impossible… if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance. • They are crucifying the Son of God all over again. • Land that produces thorns… will be burned.

  17. Falling Away Hebrews 10:26-31 • Crucifying the Son of God all over again. • Subjecting Jesus to public disgrace • Trampling the Son of God under foot. (Heb 10:29) • Insulted the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29) • Blasphemed (spoken against) the Holy Spirit (Matt 12:32) • Committed the unforgivable sin (1 John 5:16 ) • What is the “unforgivable sin?” To willfully, deliberately continue in sin. (Hebrews 10:26) • Also; Hebrews 12:14-17, 12:25 you will not escape… if you turn away…

  18. God’s Assurance: Hebrews 6:9-20 Two unchangeable things: God’s Word God’s Oath (Genesis 22:16-18) Jesus, your anchor, is behind the veil with the Father

  19. God’s Assurance: Hebrews 10:19-23 We have confidenceto enter the Most Holy Place Let us draw near to God… in full assurance of faith. For he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:35-36 Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded…. You will receive what he has promised.

  20. Practicals: How can we be assured of making it into that Sabbath rest with God?

  21. 2:1-18 Exhortation #1 Pay careful attention! • “pay attention” = prosechein = to fix, moor a ship. • “drift away” = pararrein = to slip away, as with the tides, by careless inattention. • violation = parabasis = outright rebellion • disobedience = parakoe = careless hearing or unwillingness to hear • LISTEN UP!!!

  22. Exhortation #2 • Do not harden your hearts. (Hebrews 3:8) • Do not turn away. (Hebrews 3:12) • Do not let your bodies fall in the desert. (Hebrews 3:17) • Do not fall short. (Hebrews 4:1) • Make every effort to enter (do not rest). (Hebrews 4:11) • Don’t fall asleep at the switch. It takes work and attention.

  23. Exhortation #3 • Grow up! • Move on to maturity. • Mature in life and docrine (1 Timothy 4:16) • Do not be nothros (slow-moving in mind, torpid, witlessly forgetful, dull of hearing) • Are you on a diet of milk? • Read a book of theology, Read a commentary, Take a class • Let your Bible study time and your life with God be an adventure…. Part of a never ending story.

  24. Exhortation #4: Salad time! • 10:22 Let us draw near [to God] • 10:23 Let us hold to our confession of hope without wavering • 10:24 Let us be concerned about one another and encourage one another toward love and good deeds • 10:25 Let us not stop meeting together. • 10:25 Let us encourage one another.

  25. Hebrews 11 Heroes of the FaithThe key to perseverence is faith • Hebrews 11:1, 11:6 Definition of faith • Heb 11:1 Faith is being certain of what we do not see. It requires that we deny our senses.

  26. Why were these men and women commended by God? • They refused what the world calls greatness and staked everything on God. • They chose what is unseen rather than what is seen. Lesson: In many ways, our worst enemy is success and prosperity. What the world seeks is what will destroy everything that is important. Example: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Daniel chapter 3

  27. Those of whom the world was not worthy • Hebrews 11:13 Still living by faith (not by sight) when they died. • xenoi foriegners, aliens, strangers, refugees in this world. • parepidemos sojourners, temporary residents, green card holders, people who do not put down roots. • Lived by faith despite never seeing the promise fulfilled. • Therefore, God is not ashamed to call them his.

  28. Hebrews Ch. 12 If They Can DoIt, So Can We • Throw off whatever hinders you in the race. • What are you unwilling to throw off? • Keep your eyes on the goal: in heaven with Jesus. • Look at Jesus (and the cloud of faithful witnesses in ch. 11) • The pioneer, trail blazer, archegos. • The perfector, completer, race-finisher, teleios. • Accept hardship as discipline from a loving father/God.

  29. Attitudes Toward Discipline are Important • Accept it with resignation. • Accept it and get it over with as soon as possible. • Accept it with a “woe is me” attitude. • Accept it but think of it as punishment. • Accept it as it is; discipline given reluctantly by a loving Father who cares about you.

  30. Summary • Predestination, understood correctly, is biblical, but so is free will. • One thing for sure: Hebrews warns against “falling away.” The purpose of the book is to prevent this happening! • In order to prove faithful to the end and to make it to heaven two things are required: • Know and understand how unimaginable fantastic Jesus is. • Mature in your faith, with the emphasis being on your faith. • Listen to God! • Grow up! • Believe in things unseen

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