Hebrews Study – Lesson 4 – May-August 2010 – Seacoast Community Church

Hebrews Study – Lesson 4 – May-August 2010 – Seacoast Community Church

May want to ask the class for a quick review of the first 3 lessons…..

· What were some of the major doctrines that we have seen so far in the book of Hebrews? (5-6 so far. #6 will be discussed in greater detail in today’s study)

· Chapter 1 mainly dealt with what? (Jesus = God. Jesus > prophets and angels)

· The beginning of chapter 2 focuses on? (Man and his relationship with God)

As we saw last week, the purpose for this writing to this Hebrew church/group was to begin to exhort these believers in the things that they were beginning to let slip away. He does this with a series of warnings. Depending upon how you breakdown the outline of the Book of Hebrews the writer of the Hebrews issued 5 or 6 warnings throughout this book. These warnings addressed KEY AREAS that were LACKING in their faith and lifestyle that were ESSENTIAL in order to have a strong MATURE Christian FAITH! The first warning comes in the beginning of Chapter 2.

· READ Heb. 2:1-18

· Does anyone remember what the first warning was? (Do not let those things which they first heard…slip away!)

· What were they in danger of losing? (The simple gospel message, replacing it with a works focused legalistic religion.)

· Does anyone remember another passage which dealt with a similar situation? Gal. 1:6-9 READ

These Jews (in Hebrews) are thought to not be very mature Christians and were beginning to drift back into their old ways…They had truly received the Gospel, but, probably because of the influence of persecution, were drifting back into their old lifestyle:

· Does anyone remember what that was? (Judaism and legalism)

· What was wrong with that? Read Romans 3:19-28 29-31

· What is the result of letting those things they were first told and had received slip or get replaced with something else? What hope would they have if they did not hold onto the simple Gospel? V. 3 How important is this kernel of truth? (The simple Gospel holds the universe together.)

· They were now beginning to count on their own good works…keeping the law. What did Romans 3 say? They could not keep it. If they could not keep to law…How shall they escape? The question comes when we attempt to justify ourselves before God, to what extent do we have to keep the Law to be good enough before God. The simple Gospel will stand be sufficient not only in this world, but throughout eternity. God’s Salvation is the only HOPE.

The writer of the Hebrews begins here…with the foundation…a simple but essential foundation that everything else is built upon. He continues in v.5 by reminding them of man’s special prominence and position in God’s creation. There was NO reason that man deserved this position or special attention from God. But he reminds them of things that they already knew form their heritage…I.e. that God gave man dominion over His creation and did not give these things to angels or any other created being. In v. 5 he makes the distinction that this dominion is not only in this world, but also in the age to come… we shall REIGN with Him. 2 Tim 2:15 Rev.:5:10 Rev. 20:4? Our rule, however, is WITH HIM, and according to HIS will!

This rule with Christ is not ALL cush and comfort! We typically want to Rule on High…, but we all to often forget that our Lord made Himself “A little lower than the angels for purpose of the suffering of human death.” For an angel does not suffer a physical death, therefore, taking on the form of an angel would not do. Also, taking on the form of another part of His creation would not do. He had to take on the form of human flesh to actually die for us and to “taste death for EVERY man” v. 9. Also, READ v. 16. The word EVERY in v.9 is not an accident. Did Christ suffer and shed enough blood for ALL men? In 1 Jn. 2:2 it says that HE did.

Why do you think that the writer of the Hebrews thought that it was important to bring up the topic of SUFFERING? They were probably suffering persecution. He calls Christ the CAPTAIN of their Salvation…PERFACT THROUGH SUFFERING… What do you think about this statement? In identifying with Him we are called to the same. Matt. 5:10-2 I Peter 4:12-9

Because He took on every aspect of His human creation…He was ONE OF US. In v. 11 he uses a VERY IMPORTANT TERM…brethren! Those who believe, became FULLY related to Him, when prior to this time we were aliens… I believe the word actually means ENEMY! Foreigners. Totally SEPERATED from God, unable to have fellowship with Him. In v. 12 it is like Christ is saying to God that He will be the spokesman and declare the name of God/make God’s Name known to His brothers, i.e. those who believe.

· READ Ps. 22:22 and Jn. 20:17

V. 11 Do we REALLY believe THIS!? He that sanctifieth and those who are sanctified are ONE. All to often we act like slaves, living according to a false standard of works, trying to gain His approval. READ Jn. 15:15-8

· HEIRS WITH CHRIST.

· Later in this book we will see that the New Covenant with believers is also referred to as the New Testament, as in last will and testament (Heb. 9:16), stating the INHERITANCE that is ours because of our relationship to Him.

NOW THIS IS A MYSTERY!

V. 14 DEATH had NO hold on HIM! He FULLY partook of death. The Gospel is that Christ DIED for our SINS! Did HE actually DIE! And, If He actually died, How can He come back to life again?? DEATH HAD NO HOLD ON HIM. THIS IS A MYSTERY!!

V. 15 A GREAT benefit to being a believer. We do not need to be in bondage to the fear of death.

In v. 17 an interesting word is used..RECONSILIATION. It says that in ALL things He was made like us. That He might be a MERCIFUL and faithful high priest. In the old system the high priest did not have the authority and/or power to offer mercy. He merely was required to execute his role as he was instructed. Christ having paid for our sins can and DOES show MERCY to those who come to Him. The Old Testament priest had NO ABILITY to pay for someone else’s sins. Christ made the payment for us… therefore, He is able to offer MERCY to ALL who come…

v. 18 He was tempted like us…therefore He understands how to help us with our plight.

· DOES this verse bring you comfort? How?

Chapter 3 THE CALL!!!!!!!! He suffered…WE shall also SUFFER. In chapter 2 the writer of the Hebrews identifies with his audience/those he is writing to. He reminds them in ch. 2 that like them Christ was known for His SUFFERING. Yet, HE was FAITHFUL and did not take the easy way out. He stood FIRM even after considering the COST. (Max Lucado’s study “Fearless” makes the analogy using the example of birth pains and the JOY to come)

3:1 Holy brothers of the Heavenly calling CONSIDER… – SAY THIS TO THE CLASS…this is a message to you…

NOW HE COMPAIRS CHRIST WITH MOSES…READ v. 1-6

Some basic distinctions between Christ and Moses v. 1-6: (READ)

· Moses’ obedience and work was commendable, BUT Christ was the Author of ALL and worthy of MUCH MORE respect and recognition.

· Moses was obedient in the task God had given him, but Christ’s task was SO MUCH GREATER and He/Christ executed His task FLAWLESSLY!

READ Heb. 3:7-19

V. 8-12 The Second WARNING….What was it?

· The sin of unbelief.

· They chose not to believe what God had told them. Instead they acted on their own reasoning and the world’s ways. Because of their unbelief they did not follow through with the ACTIONS necessary to obtain and enter into the blessings of the Promised Land.

· Do our choices of unbelief rob us of God’s blessings in our life?

· God’s ways were foreign to them and they chose not to believe and adopt them.

V. 8 THE ANSWER TO ALL man’s TROUBLES. Harden not your/our heart!! All to often God speaks plainly, But like Saul we carry out His command OUR way, not really obeying Him at all.

v. 10-1 We want God’s blessing living life OUR WAY.

· How common is this today?

· How does He want us to live?

· How will we know unless we read and study His word to us. 2 Tim. 2:15

Have WE known His ways?? Is the way that we are living in our current society causing God to be angry with us? And, BECAUSE OF THIS are we missing the “Sweet spot of life”, not entering into God’s REST and living in His peace? HOW IS YOUR STRESS LEVEL? Be honest. Is His “peace” the underlying foundation of your life? If not we need to ask the hard question. Are we believing God and following His leading in our life.

· Are we following God…or are we following the worlds prescription for happiness. How is it working?

· Jn. 13:16-7

V. 13 Are we HARDENED by the deceitfulness of sin?

· What does this mean?

· If we habitually follow the world’s approach to our life do we eventually begin to believe the lie that it has the answers to our life.

V. 14 The writer of the Hebrews goes back to his first warning to them…Hold onto what you heard in THE BEGINNING!

V.17 The RESULT of a SELF DIRECTED LIFE.

v. 19 We CANNOT enter into the Land of God’s blessing and will unless we believe and get up and go…following Him!!

What comes after this journey through the wilderness is shown in Ch. 4. A promise we do not want to miss.

Christ ACTUALLY DIED…DEATH had NO hold on Him. Because He rose from the dead we shall also live.