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| HEBREWS ~ SUFFICIENCY AND SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST *~*~*~* WHO WROTE HEBREWS? ~ Paul, Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, Silas, Philip, Priscilla, and others have been suggested because the name of the author is not given in the biblical text itself. Whoever it was speaks of Timothy as "brother" (13:23 ~Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. TO WHOM WAS IT WRITTEN? ~ Hebrew Christians (perhaps second-generation Christians, 2:3 ~How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;) These Christians may have been considering a return to Judaism, perhaps because of immaturity, stemming from lack of understanding of biblical truths; and all believers in Christ. DATE WRITTEN? ~ Probably before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, because the religious sacrifices and ceremonies are referred to in the book, but no mention is made of the Temple's destruction. WHY WAS IT WRITTEN? ~ These Jewish Christians were probably undergoing fierce persecution, socially and physically, both from Jews, and from Romans. Christ had not returned to establish his Kingdom, and the people needed to be reassured that Christianity was true and that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. KEY VERSE ~ Hebrews 1:3 ~ 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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high; KEY PEOPLE? ~ Old Testament men and women of faith (chapter 11) Although Hebrews is called a "letter" (13:22,) it has the form and the content of a sermon. *~*~*~* THE SUPERIOTY OF CHRIST Chapter 1:1-10, 18 ~The superiority of Christ over everyone and everything is clearly demonstrated by the author. Christianity supercedes all other religions and can never be surpassed. Where can one find anything better than Christ? Living in Christ is having the best there is in life. All competing religions are deceptions or cheap imitations. Christ is greater than the angels, greater than Moses, greater than the Old Testament preisthood, and the new covenant is greater than the old. THE SUPERIORITY OF FAITH Chapter 10: 19 --- 13:25 ~ Jews who had become Christians in the first century were tempted to fall back into Judaism because of uncertainty, the security of custom, and persecution. Today Believers are also tempted to fall back into legalism, fulfilling minimum religious requirements rather than pressing on in genuine faith. We must strive to live by faith each day. Jesus alone can forgive our sin. He has secured our forgiveness and salvation by his death on the cross. We can find peace with God and real meaning for life by believing in Christ. We should not accept any alternative. Jesus guarantees our access to God the Father. He intercedes for us so we can boldly come to the Father with our needs. When we are weak, we can come confidently to God for forgiveness and ask for His help. Christ removed sin which barred us from God's presence and fellowship. But we must accept his sacrifice for us. By believing in Him, we are no longer guilty but cleansed, and made whole. His sacrifice clears the way for us to have eternal life. The process of maturing in our faith takes time. Daily commitment and service produce maturity. When we are mature in our faith, we are not easily swayed or shaken by temptations or worldy concerns. If we trust in Jesus Christ for our complete salvation, He will transform us completely. A life of obedience and complete trust is pleasing to God. We can have victory in our trials if we don't give up or turn our back on Christ. Stay true to Christ and pray for endurance. *~*~*~* CHRIST AND ANGELS Hebrews 1; 5,6 ~ For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? ~ And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Refer also to (1:7, 14); (1: 8,9); (1:10); (1:13;) Check these references along with these in the Old Testament regarding Christ and Angels......(Psalms 2:7; 104: 4; 45:6; 102:25; and 110: 1.) The writer of Hebrews quotes from the Old Testament repeatedly as demonstration Christ's greatness in comparison to the angels. This audience of first-century Jewish Christians had developed an imbalanced belief in angels and their role. Christ's lordship is affirmed without disrespect to God's valued angelic messengers. *~*~*~* THE UNIQUENESS OF HEBREWS This book does not begin as the other Epistles (with an address), although it closes as one (with a benediction and saluation). It is like a miniature Bible in that it begins with God (as in Genesis 1:1), and ends with the heavenly Jerusalem (as in Revelation 21), with Christ from beginning to the end. Hebrews is the commentary of Levitucus, showing Christ is the fulfillment of the ceremonial law....the superiority of Christianity over Judaisn. Christ is better than anything (types) which pointed to Him. It is the "Faith" book, which shows the fallacy of works to save (declare one righteous) or for one to please God apart from faith (Ch. 11, especially vs. 6 ~ But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.) The names inscribed in this chapter are there, not because of their fulfillment of the law, but because of their faith. No other book in the Bible defines faith as does this book. Romans, Galatians and Hebrews are all three based on the great text of Habakkuk (2:4) ---"The just shall live by faith." Romans emphasizes the first two words----"the just,"---and answers Job's question, "How then can (an unclean) man be justified with God?" Galatians deals with the next two words ----"shall live,"---and shows how faith produces life or evidence (James 2:14-26). Hebrews deals with the last two words---"by Faith"---and exhibits the purpose of faith---that of pleasing God, and illustrates the nature and power of faith from Old Testament characters and events. Romans and Galatians shift from law to grace; Hebrews shifts from shadow to substance. *~*~*~* GRACIOUS EXHORTATIONS This Epistle, though argumentative in nature, closes with tender appeals to its readers to be Loyal to Christ, and to Follow Him in all the Ways of Life, especially in Brotherly Love and Kindness and Purity and Goodness, and with Unceasing Prayer and Unwavering Faith in God. As Malachi was the Old Testament's final message to the Nation founded to bring the Messiah into the world, so the Epistle to the Hebrews is the New Testament's final message to the Nation after the Messiah had come. Written shortly before the Jewish State was swept away by the Fall of Jerusalem, one of the most appalling events in all history. For fifty years following, the destruction in Jerusalem, and its disappearance from history, in A. D. 135, Barcocheba, a pretended Messiah, led a revolt, got possession of the city, and attempted to rebuild the Temple. The revolt was suppressed by the Roman Army. 580,000 Jews were killled, and Judah desolated. Jews were forbidden to reenter Jerusalem , on pain of death. A temple to Jupiter was erected where the Temple of God had stood. Under Constantine, A.D. 326, the temple of Astarte was torn away from the site of the present Holy Sepulchre; and the city again became a leading Christian center. In the 5th century it became the seat of one of the Five Patriarchs who quite largely dominated Christendom, the other cities being Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria. In the year A. D. 637 Jerusalem fell to Mohammedans, and remained a Mohammedan city, except for about 100 years in the Crusade Period, till 1917 it returned to control of Christendom. *~*~*~* LAYMEN Leave it to the minister, and soon the church will die; Leave it to the women folk and the young will pass it by. For the church is all that lifts us from the coarse and selfish mob, And the church that is to prosper, Need the Layman on the job. It's church's special function to uphold the finer things, To teach the Way of living From which all that's noble springs. But the minister can't do it Single-handed and alone, For the Layman of the country Are the church's cornerstone. When you see a church that's empty, Though its doors are open wide. It is not the church that's dying, It's the Laymen who have died. For it's not by song or sermon That the church's work is done; It's the Laymen of the country Who for God must carry on. Compiled by Shirley Barr November 12, 2005 Ref: Halleys Bible Handbook World's Bible Handbook Copyrights Reserved |
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