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Fighting Indifference Hebrews 1:1-2:4

Fighting Indifference Hebrews 1:1-2:4. Background: The first century Messianic Jewish community faced two problems: Persecution within the Land of Israel and in the Diaspora (Jews outside the land) Hebrews was written to deal persecution in the Land

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Fighting Indifference Hebrews 1:1-2:4

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  1. Fighting Indifference Hebrews 1:1-2:4

  2. Background: • The first century Messianic Jewish community faced two problems: • Persecution within the Land of Israel and in the Diaspora (Jews outside the land) • Hebrews was written to deal persecution in the Land • James and 1 Peter were written to deal with persecution outside the Land. • False doctrine • 2 Peter and Jude were written to deal with false doctrine

  3. The Date: Heb. 13:23 mentions Timothy so the book had to be written after A.D. 50, the year Paul Led timothy to the Lord (Acts 16:1-3) It was written before Timothy died since the writer talks about him the presence tense. The recipients were second generation Christians (Heb 2:3)

  4. The author notes the sacrificial system in the present tense which means it was written before the Temple was destroyed in A.D. 70. In Heb 3:17, the author implies it has been almost 40 years since the crucifixion. Hebrews 12:26-29 makes statements concerning “shaking” in the Land, which had already begun. The Jewish revolt had began in A.D. 66 but there were a series of attacks against the Jews from A.D. 64-66. The book was probably written between A.D. 64 and 66.

  5. Authorship: • The Author is unknown but we know: • The author is masculine (Heb. 11:32) • The author was Jew since he has intimate knowledge of Judaism and because the written Word of God is given through the Jews either directly or through either Jewish or Gentile amanuensis. (Rom 3:2) • He is a second generation Messianic Jew (a believer in Yeshua ha Mashiach) (Heb. 2:3) • He excludes himself from being among the Apostles who were eyewitness (Heb. 2:3)

  6. The Readers: • They are second generation believers and are distinguished from eyewitnesses. (Heb. 2:3) • They were Jewish because: • They were respectful of OT authority • The writer heavily quotes from the OT. • The quotes from the OT settles the argument, which would only do for a Jewish audience • The were believers • The danger they face is going back into Judaism. Brethren Heb 3:1, 12, beloved Heb 3:1; partakers of Christ Heb 3:14;

  7. The Readers: • “Falling away to an evil heart of unbelief” and a “hardening by deceitfulness of sin” are only applicable to believers. • They have been believers for a long time and they should be teachers of the Word. (Heb 5:11-14) • They have remained spiritually immature and have not progressed in their faith. (Heb. 5:11-14) • The readers are wavering in their faith because of persecution (Heb. 10:32-38)

  8. The Readers They lived close enough to Jerusalem to participate in Temple worship since there was the temptation for them to go back into the entire sacrificial system. They were undergoing tremendous persecution, short of martyrdom. Due to this persecution, the believers were seriously considering going back into Judaism until the persecution subsided

  9. They mistakenly thought that they could temporarily lay aside their salvation and once the persecution was over be saved again. • They thought this new salvation would erase their apostasy and start their spiritual lives anew. They were seriously wrong • The author will point out that they do not have this option available to them. • The author is writing in the context of the coming judgment of A.D. 70 on Israel for its national sin---the judgment for the unpardonable sin. (Matt. 12:22-45; Acts 2:38-41)

  10. The national sin is not an individual one and is only applicable to the Jewish generation of Jesus’ day. Never subsequent generations. • The judgment of the unpardonable sin was the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the world-wide dispersion of the Jewish people. • If the readers go back to Judaism, they will re-identify themselves with the generation guilty of the unpardonable sin and place themselves back under physical judgment of A.D. 70, even though they are spiritually saved.

  11. Therefore, when the judgment strikes, they will die a physical death because of divine discipline/chastisement. • The only way of escaping the coming physical discipline of AD 70 was to make a clean break with Judaism. • Historically, in God’s dealing with His covenanted nation, Israel, once a generation reaches a point of no return and makes a irrevocable decision, no amount of repentance can change the fact of coming judgment.

  12. God will and can forgive Israel’s sin but Israel still pays the physical consequence of their irrevocable decision. (e.g. Num 13-14 • Remember, the Jewish usage of the term “save” or “saving” can mean either physical or spiritual. • Therefore, the writer will offer five warnings to combat apostasy and encourage spiritual growth in order to avoid physical judgment.

  13. The author will show the superiority of the messiah over Judaism and how the Messiah supersedes it. • The author will contrast between good vs. better, not bad vs. good as far as the Mosiac system vs. the Messiah. • The theme of Hebrews is the Superiority of the Son of God, the Messiah. • The author will show the superiority of the messiah over Judaism and how the Messiah supersedes it.

  14. The author will contrast between good vs. better, not bad vs. good as far as the Mosiac system vs. the Messiah. • The theme of Hebrews is the Superiority of the Son of God, the Messiah.

  15. The New Testament carries more weight and obligation because: • It is the Goal of the Old Testament. V.1-2 • It marks the termination period of in which God is speaking to men. V.1-2 • The messianic days (not Messianic Kingdom) have dawned since the Messiah has come. V.1-2

  16. God is speaking in “Son-ness” -the means in which this new revelation came is through the one Son. (The definite article is missing so it is emphasizing the nature and quality rather than the personality) • The Son is eligible to be the final revealer and authenticator of divine revelation because of seven truths:

  17. He is the focal point of the universe, the goal of history, and exercises universal Lordship. Therefore, he cannot be less than God. V2b • He was in control of God’s plan and program and everything that exists since time began. V.2c • The Son brought time into being and controls all things connected to time. • The Son is the one who operates the universe through successive ages and dispensations. • The unfolding of the plan and purpose of God are controlled by Jesus. Everything is subject to Him.

  18. He has co-essence of deity. He possesses deity. It is the Son who reveals the fullness of God’s attributes because He has an unbroken connection wit the Father. The Messiah is the Shechinah Glory. V.3a • He is the very character of God’s substance (Gk. Perfect representation of the divine essence). The Son is the true personality of deity. V.3b (Col 1:15 makes this same point) • He is the sustainer and governor of the universe. He is moving the whole universe to predetermined goal set by God the Father by His spoken Word (command). V. 3c (Col. 1:15-17)

  19. He is man’s redeemer and High priest by dying to provide purification of sins. V.3d • He is sovereign over humanity, His work is finished, he intercedes for us, and He is equal with God. V.3e • Therefore, the Son is qualified to be the unique revealer, superior to the prophets. He is qualified to be the final revealer bringing the goal of the Old Testament prophecy to its finality in Him. He is also qualified to authenticate all of the previous revelations that God gave in the past.

  20. Since Jesus is God, He is superior to angels • Even in His exalted humanity He is superior to angels. V4. • Psalm 2:7 points to the positional dignity of the Son and Jesus has always had this. The term “only begotten” is a legal term that stresses the rights of the firstborn. Jesus has always been the eternal Son but he was appointed or declared a Son in a unique way at His resurrection. V. 5a (Rom 1:4) • 2 Samuel 7:14 emphasizes His position as the fulfiller of the Davidic Covenant. Jesus will rule over saved Israel from the Throne of David during the Messianic Kingdom. v.5b

  21. Deuteronomy 32:43 or Psalm 97:7 call angels to worship Him. The context of the passage emphasizes the Son at the final revelation of the Son of judgment. V.6 (Second Coming) • Psalm 104:4 stresses the fact that angels are servants and are subject to masters. The Master in this case is the Son of God.v.7 • Psalm 45:7-8 emphasize the deity of the Son and His authority in the Messianic Kingdom. V.8-9. • Psalm 102:25-27 emphasizes that Jesus is eternal and will one day dissolve the universe since it is temporal. The Son will remain unchanged.

  22. Psalm 110 emphasizes that Jesus is equal with God. • Angels are still busy doing their work by serving those who inherit salvation. Guardian angels? • They are assigned in infancy (Matt 18:10) • This care continues throughout our lives (Psalm 91:11) • Their guardianship means that they will not allow anything to happen to a believer outside the will of God.

  23. They observe what we say. (Eccl 5:6) • They observe our sufferings (1 Cor 4:9) • They observe what we wear (1 Cor. 11:10) • They escort us to Heaven when we die (Luke 16:22)

  24. The First Warning: The Danger of Drifting (2:1-4) • Do not allow the new revelation (the N.T.) from the Son of God to flow away, disappear from memory, or slip away because Jesus is superior to angels and His revelation (the New Testament) carries far more solemn obligations than previous revelation mediated through angels or men. • The new revelation (the N.T.) that comes from the Son of God carries heavier obligation and judgment if one (neglects) has an attitude of indifference to it.

  25. The word “neglect” carries the idea of complete indifference to what one has and indifference in carrying out what faith demands. • There are people who are saved (possess it) but they are neglecting it. They become indifferent to it. (no care or concern for it) • God does not tolerate believers becoming apathetic to their salvation. These believers are so apathetic they are considering going back into their old life (Judaism).

  26. If every sin under the Mosaic Law mediated out through angels received a just punishment, (meaning physical punishment) then it will be impossible to escape (physical punishment) if we neglect (become indifferent) this new revelation (the N.T.) mediated to us by the Son of God. (Greater to the lesser argument) • Believers who get into this state do not face losing salvation (this is impossible) but face the loss of physical life.

  27. Principles: • Understand that failing to progress to spiritual maturity, could possibly bring physical discipline in this life and loss of reward for the Messianic Kingdom. • Unbelief (not in terms of salvation) but in failing to carry out what faith demands does not change our relationship with God as His children but a refusal to move forward in spiritual maturity forfeits the enjoyments of our spiritual blessings.

  28. Application: • How do you know when some or yourself is drifting from the Word of God? • Lack of time in the Word • Their commitment and faithfulness to God wanes. They only remain committed if their needs are met. • Understanding of it is shallow even after many years. • The kind of preaching or teaching they enjoy is typically short in time, shallow, self-help, and pragmatic at the expense of neglecting theology.

  29. They are easily seduced by the world, cults and occult. • They start to believe that Christianity originates in their own minds and becomes their reflections on God (bottoms up theology) • They believe that Christianity or religion only has value as a social expression and not at arriving at an ultimate, universal, normative Truth. • They diminish the nature of Jesus the Christ.

  30. They only stay committed if God and the community of believers helps them “self-actualize” or “get and keep it all together.” If not, their autonomy (the drive to control their own life and destiny) is threatened and they drift.

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