HEBREWS - IBCLR...Exod. 19:12-13 Deut. 9:19 Hag. 2:6 Deut. 4:24 Deut. 31:6 Ps. 118:6 8 HEBREWS...

P E R S O N A L S T U D Y G U I D E

J E S U S I S B E T T E R

H E B R E W S

B O O K 1 � L E S S O N S 1 - 1 3


H E B R E W S

Dr. Daniel Hinton, author

S U N D A Y S C H O O L | B O O K 1 | L E S S O N S 1 - 1 3



H E B R E W S

a letter from Ste ven W. Sm it h , Ph D

JESUS IS BETTER.

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.

There is quite a bit of good theology in that lyric. The love of Jesus is affirmed, while holding a high view of the Scriptures. This is enough for a child to get started. It is beautiful in its simplicity. It would in fact be quite enough, but there is more…so much more to who Jesus is. We start there, but we do not stop there because Scripture does not stop there.

Having a simple faith is a virtue but being simple minded is a vice. Therefore, Scripture gloriously leads us to love Jesus by a deepening appreciation for His nature and His work. When we see Him closely, we see that Jesus is better.

Jesus is better.

He is superior to the Old Testament prophets that lead to him. He is superior to the angels. He is superior to the temple and to the old ways of thinking about salvation. He is so much better.

Because of His superiority we are drawn to Him. This superiority is also a call to beware. If He is superior and we neglect His word or His message, then there is no hope for us.

Hebrews

The book of Hebrews toggles between passages that exalt the name of Christ and passages that warn us. We are called to see Jesus above all else, and we are warned about the folly of rejecting Him.

This next year we will celebrate the fact that Jesus is better than anything else in life. We will also encourage one another not to drift away from the faith. We will heed the warnings provided in the book. My prayer is that our church will love Jesus more deeply with a richer appreciation of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Jesus is the pinnacle of God’s plan for us. He is at the top and all else is in His shadow. May God give us eyes to see Him in 2019!

Blessings on your new year!

Steven Smith, Senior Pastor

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S


6 LESSON 1 Introduction to Hebrews

14 LESSON 2 Jesus is Better 1 (1:1-4)

22 LESSON 3 Jesus is Better 2 (1:5-14)

32 LESSON 4 Drift (2:1-4)

40 LESSON 5 The Plan, Part 1 (2:5-9)

48 LESSON 6 The Plan, Part 2 (2:10-18)

58 LESSON 7 Jesus is Faithful (3:1-6)

66 LESSON 8 A Warning to Believe (3:7-19)

76 LESSON 9 Let us Fear (4:1-11)

84 LESSON 10 Saved by the Word (4:10-13)

92 LESSON 11 The Greater Priest (5:1-10)

100 LESSON 12 Warning, Part 1 (5:11-14)

110 LESSON 13 Warning, Part 2 (6:1-8)

6 HEBREWS Personal Study Guide | Book 1

H I STO R I C A L C O N T E X T: R E F E R E N C E G U I D EIntroduction & Context

• Scholars place the writing of Hebrews between 50 and 96 AD. Of course this is quite a large date range. When considering the historical context, references to various biblical and historical events and figures, some have suggested it was written in the early 60’s just before the escalation of tension between Judea and Rome in the mid 60’s.

• The authorship for the book of Hebrews remains contested. Barnabas, Paul, Luke, Apollos, Phillip, and evidently as many as 8-10 others have been claimed by scholars as the author of Hebrews. This debate originated during the time of the early church and has endured through modern scholarship. During our study of Hebrews, we will suggest that in fact Luke is the author of Hebrews. For more on the support for this, see "AUTHORSHIP: Why Luke?”

• “Establishing the historical setting for Hebrews involves at least four issues: the spread of Christianity to Rome, the Jewish people in Rome, the emperor Nero and the Jewish people in Rome, and finally Judea during A.D. 60s. All four play a role in understanding, interpreting, and applying the letter to the Hebrews for today’s readers, teachers, and preachers of the book.”1

L E S S O N 1

I N T R O D U C T I O N T O

H E B R E W S

Personal Study Guide | ibclr.org HEBREWS 7

R E A D • R E V I E W • R E F L E C T • R E S P O N D L E S S O N 1

L I T E RA RY C O N T E X T: R E F E R E N C E G U I D E

Tracing the Message

I. PREVAILING THEMES

a. Endurance- believers must persevere in their faith as they grow in Christ-likeness

b. Jesus as Son- Jesus is one with the Father, a member of the Holy Trinity.

c. Jesus as Ruler- Jesus is enthroned, ruling over the earth

d. Jesus as High Priest- Jesus came to make ultimate atonement for sin and he intercedes on behalf of believers.

e. Apostacy- turning away, walking away from God, or failing to hold fast to faith

II. THE USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT2

The author relies heavily on the Old Testament to build his message. This is one reason scholars believe this reads more like a “midrash” (see Literary Structure and Elements), as an explanation of the Old Testament. One commentator suggests that approximately 18% of the total words of Hebrews are direct references to the OT. This does not include the many other indirect references.

DIRECT QUOTATIONS

Hebrews Reference

Old Testament Quotation

Hebrews Reference


Hebrews Reference


1:5

1:61:71:8

1:10-121:132:6-82:122:13

3:7-113:15

Ps 2:72 Sam. 7:14Deut. 32:43

Ps. 104:4Ps. 45:6-7

Ps. 102:25-27Ps. 110:1Ps. 8:4-6Ps. 22:22

Isa. 8:17-18Ps. 95:7-11Ps. 95:7-8

4:3, 54:44:75:55:66:14

7:17, 218:5

8:8-129:20

10:5-910:16-17

Ps. 95:11Gen. 2:2

Ps. 95:7-8Ps. 2:7

Ps. 110:4Gen. 22:17Ps. 110:4

Exod. 25:40Jer. 31:31-34Exod. 24:8Ps. 40:6-8

Jer. 31:33-34

10:30

10:37-3811:1812:5-612:2012:2112:2612:2913:513:6

Deut. 32:35Deut. 32:38Ps. 135:14Hab. 2:3-4Gen. 21:12

Prov. 3:11-12Exod. 19:12-13

Deut. 9:19Hag. 2:6

Deut. 4:24Deut. 31:6Ps. 118:6


R E A D • R E V I E W • R E F L E C T • R E S P O N DL E S S O N 1

III. LITERARY STRUCTURE & ELEMENTS3

A MIDRASH The term midrash (çrdm) comes from darash (çrd) which means “to search,” “to seek,” “to examine,” “to investigate.” For some midrash is: (1) literature about the Bible, that is, a literature on literature; (2) literature that attempts to make Scripture understandable, useful, and relevant for a later generation; and (3) literature that is predominantly creative in its handling of biblical material. For others, midrash is an indefinable Jewish way of thinking and interpreting Scripture that utilizes whatever methods needed so that Scripture remains a living, breathing book relevant for everyday life.

Yet it seems more appropriate to define midrash as both a literary genre and exegetical process.

A LETTER Hebrews has at least two affinities with epistolary literature.

First, Hebrews makes several personal allusions to the readers.

Second, Hebrews has a typical Greco–Roman postscript. It concludes with a benediction (13:20), personal remarks (13:22-24), and a farewell (13:25). Yet the lack of a prescript is problematic. Greco-Roman letters tend to include: a salutation, sender, and addressees.

Finally, it’s been argued that “The author’s concluding remark, ‘I have written to you briefly’ (13:22), does not necessarily imply that the writing should be classified as a letter in the strict sense” (Holladay, 2017, 698; cf. Trudinger, 1972, 128-30).

Nevertheless, there is no escaping the fact that Hebrews has characteristics of an ancient Greco-Roman letter.

A SERMON First advocated by J. Berger in 1797, those who hold the homily view suggest that Hebrews has several affinities with first century homilies.

IV. AUTHORSHIP: Why Luke?

For the purposes of this study, the sermons nor the curriculum will make a dogmatic case for authorship. We recognize the various strong arguments from capable scholars. Dr. Smith aligns with Dr. David Allen in suggesting that Luke is the author of Hebrews, or that perhaps Paul is the author, using Luke as his scribe. Some in the early church attributed Hebrews to Luke. Scholars have also observed some linguistic similarities between Hebrews and Luke/Acts. And some make the case that Luke was in fact Jewish, making him a suitable candidate to write something with such Jewish content.4



V. AUDIENCE: Why ‘Jewish Christians’?

“Admittedly, the recipients of Hebrews could be one of three possibilities: (1) a mixed group of Jew and Gentile Christians , (2) Gentile Christians, or (3) Jewish Christians. Most commentators, however, ascribe the recipients of Hebrews to be Jewish Christians. Initial support for the Jewish Christian perspective began with Clement of Alexandria circa A.D. 180, Tertullian circa A.D. 220, and Jerome in A.D. 419 or 420. Yet “to the Hebrews” (πρὸς Ἑβραιους) can be understood simply as a way to distinguish Jews from Gentiles. Or it can be descriptive for Jewish people of Judea in contrast to the Jewish people of the diaspora (Acts 6:1). So the real debate here concerns whether the recipients of Hebrews were Jewish Christians who lived in Judea or to the Hellenistic Jewish Christians who lived somewhere in the Roman Empire, presumably Rome.”5

VI. THE MESSAGE OF HEBREWS6 (Chuck Swindoll)

“Hebrews clearly lays out the present priestly ministry of Christ in the life of the believer. Jesus is both the divine Son of God and completely human, and in His priestly role He clears the way for human beings to approach the Father in heaven through prayer (Hebrews 4:14–16). The priesthood of Jesus is superior to the Old Testament priesthood of Aaron, because only through Jesus do we receive eternal salvation (5:1–9). Furthermore, Jesus became the permanent and perfect High Priest, going beyond all other priests by offering Himself as a sinless sacrifice on behalf of the sins of human beings (7:24–26; 9:28).

Throughout its pages, Hebrews makes clear that Jesus Christ exceeds all other people, pursuits, objects, or hopes to which human beings offer allegiance. Hebrews pictures Jesus as better than the angels, as bringing better lives to humanity through salvation, as offering a better hope than the Mosaic Law could promise, as a better sacrifice for our sins than a bull or a goat, and as providing a better inheritance in heaven for those who place their faith in Him (Hebrews 1:4; 6:9; 7:19; 9:23; 10:34). Jesus is indeed superior to all others.

This message of the superiority of Jesus would have been particularly important to Jewish Christians in Rome, who were struggling under Nero’s persecution and were considering moving back toward the Mosaic Law. The writer to the Hebrews showed these Jewish Christian believers that, though they were faced with suffering, they were indeed following a better way . . . and they should persevere.”

“And to this persecuted suffering group of Jewish believers and unbelievers, he writes to reveal the merits of Jesus Christ and the new covenant as opposed to the old covenant.” -John Macarthur



R E D E M P T I V E C O N T E X T: R E F E R E N C E G U I D E

HEBREWS IN REDEMPTIVE CONTEXT

Scholars believe that Hebrews was written after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ during the time of the early church. Take a moment to walk students through some of our most recent studies.

God Story (Spring 2018): Remind the students that the Bible tells one overarching narrative.

Psalms (Summer 2018): Remind the students about the era of the Kings, before the Kingdom split, when David wrote many of the Psalms.

Nehemiah (Spring 2018) : Remind the students where we were in the storyline when we walked through Nehemiah. During the exile, Nehemiah was granted permission by Artaxerxes, a foreign ruler to return and rebuild Jerusalem.

Lamentations (Fall 2018): What did we just finish? Well, we have moved backward chronologically. It may be helpful to think of it this way. Remember when Nehemiah and God’s people joined together to rebuild the walls, and re-devote their lives to faithfulness? Rewind the story backward to when the city was first destroyed. This is when Lamentations is written. This is the beauty of the Bible. As disciples of Christ and students of the Word, we can read Lamentations through the lens of Nehemiah. We know what happens next in redemptive history. Jeremiah laments and rightfully so. And not too long after, Nehemiah weeps for the city, repents on behalf of the people and God uses him to do a tremendous work.

Christ Exalted: Christmas Hymns (Winter 2018): O Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here. Christ came to earth to become the ultimate rescuer from the ultimate exile. God, who is faithful to his word, sent Jesus as a ransom for the sins of the world.



Hebrews (Spring 2019): It may feel refreshing to you to be back in the sometimes-more-familiar pages of the New Testament. How will the early church carry the name of Jesus to the nations? How will this newly formed Church endure persecution? How will God instruct his people to conduct themselves?

HEBREWS AMONG THE OTHER EPISTLES

Remember that the New Testament consists of 5 historical books, 21 epistles (letters) and 1 prophetic book. In terms of genre, it is important to remember that the first five books of the NT are historical. They tell a story. The middle 21 books are instructive letters. They do not tell a story. Rather, they provide doctrine, instruction, rebuke, and inspiration to the churches. Paul’s letters are typically titled in the Bible using the recipient (i.e, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians). The General Epistles (non-Pauline) are titled using the author (i.e, James, Peter, John). Since the authorship of Hebrews is unknown, it is typically placed as one of the General Epistles, although it is titled for its recipients, the Hebrews. Of course some scholars prefer to list Hebrews under the authorship of Paul, giving Paul 14 letters.

THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Historical BooksEpistles (Letters)

Prophetic BooksPauline Epistles Non-Pauline Epistles

Matthew Romans Hebrews Revelation

Mark 1 Corinthians James

Luke 2 Corinthians 1 & 2 Peter

John Galatians 1, 2 & 3 John

Ephesians Jude

Acts Philippians

Colossians

1 & 2 Thessalonians

1 & 2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon


WHO IS JESUS? H.B. CHARLES, JR.

Persecution tempted the readers of this letter to forsake Christ and return to Judaism. The writer exhorts the troubled church to continue in the faith because of the superiority of Christ. What they have in Jesus is infinitely better than they had in Judaism. But Hebrews 13:8 makes it clear that the bottom-line is trust, not theology. Doctrine is essential to faith. You are what you believe. But faith is more than knowledge and assent. It is trust in a person, not agreement with a creed. Christianity is Christ and Christ is God. Nothing else matters if Jesus is not who he claims to be.7



SOURCES1 Commentary on Hebrews. Bateman, Herbert, and Smith, Steven in Kerux: An Integrative Commentary for Proclamation

New Testament Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2020.. p.102 Bateman & Smith,. p.19-20

3 Bateman provides scholarly sources on these views on p.17-20. Descriptions in the cited chart are taken directly from Bateman & Smith,. p.17-20

4 For more on Luke as the author of Hebrews, see Dr. Allen’s work, Lukan Authorship of Hebrews, NAC Studies in Bible and Theology 8. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2010. For a brief review of this work, visit http://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/review/lukan-authorship-of-hebrews

5 Bateman & Smith,. p.76 https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-general-epistles/hebrews

7 https://hbcharlesjr.today/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/The-Changeless-Christ-_-SBC-Pastors-Conference-2015.pdf



L E S S O N 2

J E S U S I S B E T T E R 1

H E B R E W S

R E A D T H E T E X T

Today’s Text: Hebrews 1:1-4

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

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R E V I E W T H E T E X T

CONTENT(1) God speaks.

God is a God who speaks. He is a God of revelation. He shows himself to his creation. In this earliest part of Hebrews, the author will focus on Jesus, who he is, how he relates to the Father and what his function is within the Trinity. Pay careful attention to the way the author begins. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets…” The author is likely Jewish and is clearly addressing a Jewish audience. “Our fathers,” he says. In the Old Testament God spoke in various ways though his prophets. The author seeks to draw the distinction between “then” and “now.” God spoke through the prophets, but now God is speaking through his Son. Our God is a God who speaks and he still speaks. But in the context, the author is not referring to God’s verbal revelation. He is referring to the revelation of Himself, his character, his nature, through Jesus.

What does it mean that Jesus is the supreme revelation?

(2) God speaks through Jesus, the Creator.

So God speaks. He spoke in the past through the prophets. But now (in the New Covenant) he speaks through Jesus. The author describes Jesus as the one “through whom” God created the world. The one who came to earth to reveal and carry forth God’s plan of redemption for the world was the Creator himself.

“These last days” is a reference to the end times, but also to the first coming of Christ which set into motion the “last days.”

(3) God speaks through Jesus, the Sustainer.

The one who came to reveal and carry forth God’s plan of redemption was the one who “upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Jesus was present and active in Creation. And here, Jesus is the sustainer of the universe. He created all things and he sustains all things. The author is describing the inescapable reality that Jesus is God. Jesus is one with the Father.

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“Think about this, if the distance between the earth and the sun (92 million miles) was the thickness of one sheet of paper, then the distance from the earth to the nearest star would be a stack of paper 70 feet high. And the diameter of our galaxy would be a stack of paper 310 miles high. Our galaxy is only a speck of dust in the universe, and if there is a person who holds all that together by the word of his power... is this the kind of person you ask into your life to be your personal assistant?” - Elisabeth Elliot


How does Jesus hold all things together?

Colossians 1:15-17

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

(4) God speaks through Jesus, the Savior.

Jesus, the creator and sustainer is also the one who became our Savior as he “made purification for sin.” By way of his death on the cross, he became the atoning sacrifice, the just penalty paid for the sins of the world.

What do you think of this thorough depiction of Jesus? What do you suppose the author wants the reader to know early on in Hebrews?

Romans 3:23-26

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

(5) God speaks through Jesus, the Sovereign.

Jesus, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Savior sits at the right hand of the Father. He has been granted this high position because of who he is. He stands alone as sovereign. No man or angel can exist in the same divine position as Jesus. The author highlights Jesus’s majesty, holiness, and grandness by positioning him high above all others, even the angels. God is speaking to the world through his Son, the Creator of the world. He is speaking to the world through his Son, the one who holds all things together. He is speaking to the world through Jesus, the one who came to earth to offer himself as a ransom for the sins of the world. God is speaking to the world through Jesus, who He raised from the dead and seated at his right hand and gave him the name which is above all names.


“Nature reveals the existence, power, and wisdom of God; but nature cannot reveal the very essence of God to us. It is only in Jesus Christ that the invisible God is revealed perfectly.” -Warren Wiersbe



“The Son came. They killed Him. Then He resurrected. It’s one thing to knock Him off and shut Him up. But when He gets back from the dead, and you still ignore Him, that goes from stubbornness to insanity.” -J.D. Greear

Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

CONCLUSION

God speaks through Jesus, His Son.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) When you think of Jesus, do you tend to think of a certain characteristic of Jesus? When you think of Jesus, do you picture the pre-crucified Jesus healing the sick and preaching in Galilee? Do you picture him on the cross? Do you picture him in heaven looking down upon the earth? Why do you suppose you picture Jesus this way?

(2) What do you suppose it means that God speaks through Jesus? It almost sounds as if God used to speak through prophets, but now we must lie in bed listening for the audible voice of Jesus and not for the voices of prophets. What does it mean that God speaks to the world through Jesus?

(3) If God is speaking through Jesus, what does this mean for mankind?

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Getting To The Heart. One of the looming questions for every human heart is, “Who can I trust?” “Where can I go when it seems no one can help carry my burdens?” “When the depths of my heart are exposed, who will love and accept me?” The author of Hebrews answers these questions with a resounding, “Look to Jesus.” We can run to Jesus with our deepest pain for he holds the universe in his hand. We can have peace in the storm because Jesus entered the storm to make a way for us. We are not alone in the emptiness and pain of this world. Take heart. Jesus has overcome the world. And he sits at the right hand of the Father. He is supreme. He holds the name that is above every name. And so, YES. Yes we can trust him. Yes he is ever-present with his church. Yes he will return. Yes he will make all things new. Yes he is faithful to carry us to the other side. Yes we will reign with him in glory. This is Jesus. He is greater.


HOME 22:6SING | Check out “The Word of God” by Seeds Family Worship.

https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/KidsSeries/136097?episode=1

READ | Colossians 1

PRAY | Thank God for revealing himself in the ultimate way by sending Jesus.




L E S S O N 3


Today’s Text: Hebrews 1:5-115 For to which of the angels did God ever say,“You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?Or again,“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God's angels worship him.”7 Of the angels he says,“He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”8 But of the Son he says,“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”10 And,“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

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J E S U S I S B E T T E R 2

H E B R E W S



11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?


CONTENTEvidently one of the dangerous false teachings of the day involved demoting Jesus to the status of angels. It is quite clear that the author of Hebrews wants to begin this letter by ascribing maximum and rightful glory to Jesus. In this case, he will use the Old Testament as his evidence.

(1) Jesus is God’s Son

Jesus was not created like the angels were. He is God’s Son. The author reminds his readers that the Old Testament language shows a clear distinction between Jesus and angels. Does God call angels his Son? No.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,“You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?Or again,“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

The author quotes here from Psalm 2 and 2 Samuel 7.

While the language of the New Testament at times suggests that Jesus became God’s son, we recognize that Jesus has existed eternally with the Father and the Spirit. He has always been a divine member of the Trinity. And yet he fulfilled his role of Son within the Trinity by taking on flesh during a specific moment in history.

What does it matter if Jesus is merely an angel?

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Let’s think for a moment of a modern example of a distortion of Jesus. In the early 2000’s researchers identified the spiritual identity of American teens by coining the term Moral Therapeutic Deism. They suggest the guiding beliefs of American teenagers are:

1. A god exists who created and orders the world and watches over life on earth. 2. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by

most world religions. 3. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. 4. God is not involved in my life except when I need God to resolve a problem. 5. Good people go to heaven when they die.1

At Immanuel, we have been blessed to have Dr. Richard Ross with us to comment on this phenomenon. He suggests that this type of young person sees Jesus as a mystical type of figurine who can be tucked away in one’s pocket, called upon in particularly challenging times in life and then put back when the crisis is over.

What does it matter if a young person has this distorted view of Jesus?

What is the remedy for this type of poor understanding of Jesus?

We must present Jesus the way the Bible does. We must demonstrate that Jesus is divine. The creator of the universe. On a plane of his own. Majestic beyond full comprehension. The owner of all authority. This is precisely what the author does here in Hebrews. It is as if he asks, “Do you know who Jesus really is? Well let me tell you. He is far superior than an angel.” In the same way, we proclaim to our friends and colleagues who have a distorted view of Jesus. “Do you know who Jesus really is? Well let me tell you. He is far more than a magic eight ball. He is worth far more than your half-hearted devotion to him.”

(2) The angels are to worship Jesus.

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God's angels worship him.”

And why should they worship Him? Because he rules on the eternal throne. Because he is the perfectly righteous one. Because he is the creator of the heavens and the earth. Because he is invincible, indestructible. Because he never changes. And because he sits with all authority at the right hand of the Father. None of this can be said of the angels. So the angels ought to bow to the Son of God. But, in contrast:

“As strange and supernatural and encouraging and awe-inspiring as angels may be in carrying out the orders and commands of God; as helpful and strengthening and edifying as their ministry undoubtedly proves to be, Jesus is better!” -Sam Storms

“Do not underestimate Jesus because there's nothing that compares with Jesus, not even Michael the archangel, not even Gabriel, not even all the angels combined. None of them compare to Jesus.” -Ligon Duncan



7 Of the angels he says,“He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

And add to this v14. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Here the author draws the distinction between serving and reigning. Jesus reigns. He is the author of salvation. Angels, in a subordinate way, serve the mission of the King by assisting in the purposes of the King.

Angels Jesus

Not sons of God (v5) Rules on eternal throne (v8)

Not worshipped like Jesus (v6) Oil of gladness (righteousness) (v9)

Ministers (v7) Creator of Heaven/Earth (v10)

Eternal/Indestructible (v11)

Unchanging (v12)

Seated at right hand (v13)

The Old Testament Case For Jesus’ Superiority

Hebrews’ Old Testament Reference Found in Hebrews

Psalm 2:7 Hebrews 1:5a

2 Samuel 7:14 Hebrews 1:5b

Psalm 97:7 / Deuteronomy 32:43 Hebrews 1:6

Psalm 104:4 Hebrews 1:7

Palm 45:6-7 Hebrews 1:8-9

Psalm 102:25-27 Hebrews 1:10-12

Psalm 110 Hebrews 1:12

CONCLUSION

Jesus is superior to angels. A thorough and biblical understanding of Jesus is vital for salvation and sanctification.

“As we share our faith, may we do so with the winsome confidence that life in Jesus is so much richer, fuller, and better than any life apart from him. The Gospel is good news! Lives that reflect a joy deeper than circumstances lovingly bear witness to this soul-satisfying truth: Jesus is better.” -Melissa Kruger



R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) It is clear that the author hopes to prove that Jesus is superior to angels. But he could easily make the case that Jesus is superior to everything. When we sin, we sometimes internally say, “X is better than Jesus.” “Jesus is holding out on me. I can still do x and follow and honor Jesus.” When you are honest, in what areas of life is it tempting for you to say, x is better than Jesus?

(2) The people of the day were tempted to strip Jesus of his full authority and power. Take a moment and try to give an answer to some of these modern examples of people trying to do the same thing:

How would you respond?

» Jesus is too loving to allow anyone to go to hell.

» Jesus was merely a great moral teacher and a compassionate healer.

» Jesus knows I do my best to be a good person. He’ll understand if I give in just a little.

» Jesus could never forgive someone as dreadful as me.

» Jesus doesn’t care about what’s happening in my little world.

(3) What kinds of weird, abhorrent, and damnable things are people currently doing in the name of Jesus? After you name a few, what does this tell us about the importance of Christology (the study of the person of Christ) in our discipleship?

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HOME 22:6SING | “Is He Worthy” Andrew Peterson

READ | John 18:36-37

PRAY | Pray that God would help us see that he is greater, that he is better than all the world has to offer.

SOURCE1 See Christian Smith’s Soul Searching and Kenda Kreasy Dean’s Almost Christian


L E S S O N 4


Today’s Text: Hebrews 2:1-4Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

D R I F T

H E B R E W S

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CONTENTTherefore… WARNING!

When studying Scripture, we must take note of transition words like “therefore.” It points us back before taking us forward. Because of x, then y. In light of x, then y. In this case, in light of the fact that Jesus is superior to the prophets and Jesus is superior to the angels… therefore. Therefore, pay careful attention.

The fact that this warning is here in Hebrews tells us that there is a particular threat to the church. When we think of it from the negative sense, the author is alerting the congregation: There are some of you who are not paying close attention to the things you’ve heard and you’re in grave danger of drifting away.

(1) Pay careful attention, lest we drift.

The word “drift” is a nautical term. It means to move at the direction of something outside oneself, especially a natural force. A ship drifts at sea in the course the wind and the currents set. Here in this passage the writer beckons the readers to pay careful attention to what they’ve been taught, lest they drift away from it. In this case, there is a course to take. A course to stay on. And they must pay careful attention or they will drift to someplace altogether different. A different course.

Does this passage teach that a believer can come to saving faith in Christ, fail to pay close attention, and thus drift away from their salvation?

One helpful way to describe what is happening here in this text is to look at Matthew 13 and the parable of the weeds.

Remember the parable of the sower?

The Seed What Happened? The End Result

Fell among the path The birds came And devoured them

Fell on rocky ground They immediately sprang up, but they did not have much

soil

The sun scorched them, and since they had no root, they

withered away.

Fell among the thorns The thorns grew up And choked them.

Fell on good soil Produced grain Some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

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“If disobedience to the older covenant of law brought swift judgment, how much more severe will be the judgment of disobedience to the New Covenant Gospel of salvation…” -John Macarthur



When we read this parable, we are almost always tempted to ask, “Which one of these is saved?” Did the middle two spring up as “saved” and then walk away and lose it? But we must remember that Jesus is not intending the parable in this way. He’s describing the reality in the kingdom. He wants to alert us that in the kingdom there will be those like this. They will not understand and be snatched away. They will initially “receive it with joy” but when trials come, they will not endure. They will receive the message of the kingdom but be enticed by the world, proving unfruitful. And there will be those who will be proven authentic by their fruit.

In another part of Matthew 13, Jesus explains it this way:

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

In this day, there were certain types of weeds which would grow up alongside wheat. The challenge was, up until a certain time, the weeds looked identical to the wheat. The point Jesus is making is that early on it may appear that everyone is part of the harvest, that everyone (in the core of their souls) is a redeemed person, one who will produce fruit over time. And yet, in time, you will find that there were some weeds among them. There were some who looked like the real thing and they were not.

The warning in Hebrews is similar. The Bible does not promote a message of receiving the Gospel and then ignoring it. In fact, the warning here has special application in our culture doesn’t it? Aren’t there many who have looked for a way to appease their conscience by “saying a prayer” or “signing on the dotted line” in order to supposedly secure their eventual place in heaven? They repeat a prayer. They perhaps walk the aisle. They may even become involved for a period. And yet they do not plan to “pay attention” to the things being taught. They did not intend to grow. The author of Hebrews says, “be careful.” “If this is you, be careful. You’re going to drift away. True faith takes root. True faith produces fruit. And this expression of faith, which pays no attention to the teaching, will ultimately demonstrate its inauthenticity.”

“The life of this world is not a lake. It is a river. And it is flowing downward to destruction. If you do not listen earnestly to Jesus and consider him daily and fix your eyes on him hourly, then you will not stand still; you will go backward. You will float away from Christ.” -John Piper



(2) Pay careful attention, lest we neglect.

The readers are warned to pay careful attention to the Gospel, lest they drift. But going further, the warning here insists that those who do not pay careful attention are at risk of neglecting the Gospel.

This Gospel has been:

» Declared by the Lord (v3)

» Attested by witnesses (v4)

» Validated by miracles (v4)

» Authenticated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit (v4)

It is as if the author is pleading, “Is this the Gospel you wish to neglect? The one declared by the Lord, attested by witnesses, and validated by miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Be careful. This is not something you want to neglect.”

It is possible, when you consider the literary context that some among the Hebrews had intellectually agreed that Jesus was greater than the prophets and superior to the angels. But this warning seems to beckon the reader to pay closer attention. This demands their ongoing focus.

Make no mistake, believers drift. And believers neglect the Gospel. The difference is our response to the Word of God. As we move from understanding the text to responding to the text, we must ask ourselves, “Are we drifting?” Have we failed to pay close attention to the teachings of Jesus, the Gospel, and its implications for our lives? One evidence of our own salvation is that when we come to a text like this, we say, “I don’t want to drift. God help me to abide in Jesus. Help me construct an anchor by your Word that tethers my life to the Gospel.”

CONCLUSION

Pay careful attention to the Gospel, lest you drift.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) Are you a drifter? In the last 5 years, has there ever been a season where you lost spiritual focus and drifted from the Lord?

“No one drifts toward holiness.” -D.A. Carson

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(2) What does this passage have to say to the person who is casually involved with faith? What does this passage have to say to the person who once was active in Christian growth and now seems disinterested? Do you know someone like this? What would you say to them in light of today’s passage?

(3) Each of us is capable of drifting. In fact, it is when we suggest that we are not prone to it that we might be most susceptible to it. Let’s talk about drifting.

a. If you found yourself drifting from the Lord, let’s say, a year from now… what do you suppose would have allured you away? What tempts you to take your eyes off of Jesus for a season?

b. If you look back on the past five years and you do not see a time where you drifted from the Lord, what was your anchor? What keeps you tethered and focused on the Gospel?

HOME 22:6SING | Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

READ | Jump ahead to Hebrews 12:1-3. This is the antidote to drifting. Instead of drifting, talk as a family about what it looks like to fix your eyes on Christ.

PRAY | A.W. Tozer once said, “Every man is as close to God as he wants to be.” Tell God that you don’t want to drift. Ask him to help you focus on the Gospel and be anchored to his truth.





L E S S O N 5


Today’s Text: Hebrews 2:5-9

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,“What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

T H E P L A N , P A R T 1

H E B R E W S

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CONTENT(1) God’s Plan: Make Humans Lower Than Angels

6 It has been testified somewhere,“What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

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Hebrews 2:6-8 is a quote from Psalm 8:4-6. This passage alludes to Genesis 1 when God created man in his image and gave him dominion to rule over the earth.

(a) Humans were crowned with glory

(b) Everything was subject to humans

V6 Take note of the very beginning of the quote from Psalms. Here, the terms “man” and “son of man” refer to humankind. So, who are we that God would even think about us? Who are we that God would love us? Who are we that God would sacrifice for us?

V7-8 Although humans were made “just lower” than angels, God gave the responsibility of oversight of creation to humankind. But only two chapters later (Gen. 3), mankind proved they will choose not to take up this noble banner.

(2) God’s Plan: Make Jesus “Lower” Than Angels Temporarily

In continuing his argument from chapter 1, the author expands his thought to include God’s enduring plan. Did God ever intend to put everything under the subjection of angels? No. He did, however, always have his plan in mind. He would “make Jesus lower” than angels for a period, raise him from the dead, exalt him in the highest places, and ultimately put everything in subjection to him. Let’s look at the first part of this plan.

In the middle of his argument that Jesus is superior, here the author suggests Jesus was made lower. What do you suppose he means by this?

“This is because, for now, all of us pre-resurrected humans are dust. And while we often forget this fact — to our own burnout and despair — God never forgets.” -Tony Reinke



Think about it. This would be quite the challenging question to answer in this day wouldn’t it? So, this human who was evidently crucified, buried, and resurrected was divine? “You mean like an angel? They may have said.” The author responds, “No. Not like an angel. It may seem like he’s lower than angels because he took on flesh. But this was the plan all along. He was made human for the purposes of redeeming the world. And yet everything is subject to Him.”

(3) God’s Plan: Crown Him With Glory and Honor

In Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15, Paul illustrates a spiritual reality by describing Adam as the “first Adam” and Christ as the “second Adam.” The main purpose of the illustration is to demonstrate both Adam and Jesus’s spiritual positions as representatives of humankind. For example, in Romans 5, since one representative (Adam) allowed sin to enter the world and permeate all creation. Conversely, one representative (Jesus) lived a righteous life, completing the will of the Father, and thus, offering salvation to all who will believe.

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

The key phrase in verse 9 is “a little while.” God’s plan was to make man in his image and give him dominion in the world. Man failed, and his sin separated the world from God. God sent Jesus, an eternal member of the Godhead, the creator of the universe, to become a man (for a little while lower than angels) to suffer and “taste death for everyone,” that he might be crowned with ultimate glory and honor.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is fully God. He always has been. He took on flesh, becoming “lower than angels” in order to redeem the world. He is crowned with glory and honor, seated at the right hand of the Father.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) We have spent a good bit of time in chapters 1-2 discussing Jesus’s relationship to angels. What does this text tell us about our relationship to angels especially as it pertains to creation?

(2) Clearly the author of Hebrews is painting a high and exalted picture of Jesus to be admired by the reader. Sometimes “exalt Jesus” can feel like a very nebulous application. But let’s try to get practical with it. How does someone’s high or low view of Jesus impact their everyday life? Besides, say, going to church, how does your life look different from your neighbors’ because you know Jesus is crowned with glory and ruling the universe?

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(3) How does this passage reconcile with people’s perception of Jesus as a quiet, passive, compassionate teacher walking the paths of Galilee? Why would you say, in discipling others, it is critical to present the full picture of Jesus?

HOME 22:6SING | “Jesus Messiah” by Chris Tomlin

READ | Philippians 2:1-11

PRAY | God, help us to honor you rightly with our lives. May our lives rightly reflect your majesty and honor. May your ultimate sacrifice produce ultimate devotion in us. May we joyously give you our lives.


L E S S O N 6


Today’s Text: Hebrews 2:10-1810 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”13 And again,“I will put my trust in him.”And again,“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

T H E P L A N , P A R T 2

H E B R E W S

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CONTENT(1) God's Plan: Jesus, the author of salvation. (v10)

God intended that Jesus would be the founder of salvation. He would accomplish it. He would own it, lead it, and execute it. Some translations use the word “captain” here instead of founder.

Consider for a moment, once again, what the author is hoping to accomplish here in chapters 1-2. He is clearly trying to demonstrate Jesus’s superiority. Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus is superior to the angels. Jesus has existed with God eternally, and was made lower than angels only momentarily in order to redeem the world. He’s been given all authority. He created all things and he holds all things together. He is crowned with glory, and shall return ultimately to reign with his people. In order to bring many sons to glory, it was fitting that Jesus would suffer a human death, absorbing the sins of the world. He is the great earner of our salvation.

(2) God’s Plan: Jesus, the perfect High Priest. (v10)

In taking on flesh and enduring suffering, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice. Some suggest that this verse makes it sound as if Jesus was not perfect, and then was made perfect. However, the author is not speaking of Jesus’s character or being. He is and always has been perfect. And yet, by suffering he became a type of Savior that he was not before. He was willing to suffer before. He came to suffer before. But now, since he has suffered, he has become the perfect Savior in that he identifies with his creation. He had to become like his brothers (v17) in every respect, including suffering.

(3) God’s Plan: Jesus, our brother.

In bringing many sons to glory, the salvation Jesus accomplished for our sake brought us into such fellowship with God that we are called brothers.

(4) God’s Plan: He came to identify with us.

Christ had to become one of us to rescue us. Although fleshliness and humanity were not part of his nature, Jesus Christ took these things upon himself in order to be with us, in order to be like us in a way. Look at the word share. Our humanity is the most basic thing that human beings have in common. We are of the same nature. Verse 14 reminds us that Jesus didn’t somehow accidentally or arbitrarily endure the taking on of human flesh, but willfully “partook of the same things.”

John 14:18-20

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

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“He was enabling us to trust him by showing us his willingness to identify with us. He had no personal vested interest in becoming one of us other than to lead us to safety.” -J.D. Greear



(5) God’s Plan: He came to destroy the evil one.

Remember that Satan having power of any kind is subject to God’s will. Ultimately, for those who are in Christ, death has no power. Although the cross didn’t result in the ultimate demise of Satan (which will come during the events of the end-times), Jesus’s arrival in the form of a human ushered in a new era. This is the era when all who will trust in the Son of God will not endure the ultimate sting of death, but will find everlasting life.

Romans 5:15-17

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Scripture describes the time before Christ as a period when “death reigned.” With the birth of Christ, righteousness reigns. The ultimate sacrifice, the atonement for sin had come. Jesus came to identify with us, but also to inaugurate a new kingdom in which Satan will have no power and all those who trust in Christ will not experience the eternal sting of death.

(6) God’s Plan: He came to extract the slaves.

One word used throughout the New Testament to describe salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the word redemption. The word carries with it the idea of freedom and a rescue. A hopeless slave or a prisoner of war has no rights, no future. Their only hope is an exchange, a payment. Something would have to be done. Something would have to be sacrificed. Something would have to be negotiated. Someone would have to identify value in the person. The freeing of the slave, the prisoner would have to mean something to someone of power.

Ephesians 1:3-10

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

For those in Christ, we have been adopted. We’ve been given a new name, a new purpose, a new family, an inheritance, a fresh identity. And in him, we have redemption. We have been freed from the chains of slavery. The negotiation has been completed. Our release has been secure. The price has been paid. We’ve been redeemed.

Finally, look at the way Hebrews 2 describes the fear of death. Evidently, to live in constant fear of death is slavery. Think of this passage evangelistically. Consider the state of the soul of a non-believer.

“Jesus Christ is the eternal Logos through whom the entire cosmos came into being. The Word through whom the worlds were made now enters human existence, assuming authentic humanity, in order to identify with us and to save us from our sins. -Albert Mohler



“Rather than casting all your anxieties on the internet, which cares for no man, cast them on God, for he cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7). . . . Our comfort lies not in holding all knowledge, but in trusting the One who does.” -Jen Wilkin

(a) They do not understand how God relates to them. Perhaps they see God as so “out there” that he could never relate to the pain they are experiencing. Perhaps they think they have certainly out sinned any chance at a relationship with God. We must remind them that Jesus came to identify with us. He loves us. And he knows the pain and brokenness of our world.

(b) They are ruled by the lies and deceit of the evil one. Perhaps temptation has led to perpetual sin, which has led to addiction. Or the allure of power, wealth, sex, or fame has lulled them into a state of hard-heartedness. We must remind them that Jesus came to destroy the evil one. He came to end the reign of sin and usher in a reign of righteousness.

(c) They are demoralized by the uncertainty of life after death. They might say that they are hopeful regarding their eternal standing because of some internal list of good deeds. But deep down, they are fearful of death. They’re unsure where they would spend eternity. We must remind them that Jesus came to end that slavery. When we cling to Him, we have redemption, forgiveness of sin, and an assurance of our eternal standing before God.

CONCLUSION

In bringing many sons to glory, Jesus identified with us, freed the slaves, and ushered in the beginning of the end of Satan’s influence over the earth.



R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T .

(1) We sometimes make a big deal about Jesus being able to relate with us. Is this something you think about often? Does Jesus really know what we’re going through? Why or why not?

(2) What does it mean that Jesus is the author of salvation? How does this relate to the idea of boasting in Ephesians 2? If Jesus is the author of salvation, and accomplished our salvation as so thoroughly reported here in Hebrews 1-2, what place does boasting have in terms of our personal salvation?

(3) As you think back through these first 6 lessons (the first 2 chapters of Hebrews), what is the main idea? There’s a lot of theology here and a lot of Old Testament references. But what is the author’s main point? And is the message infiltrating your heart? How so?

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HOME 22:6SING | “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”

READ | Along with Hebrews 2:10-18, read the lyrics to the modern hymn “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us”

How deep the Father’s love for us,How vast beyond all measure,That He should give His only SonTo make a wretch His treasure.How great the pain of searing loss –The Father turns His face away,As wounds which mar the Chosen OneBring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,My sin upon His shoulders;Ashamed, I hear my mocking voiceCall out among the scoffers.It was my sin that held Him thereUntil it was accomplished;His dying breath has brought me life –I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,No gifts, no power, no wisdom;But I will boast in Jesus Christ,His death and resurrection.Why should I gain from His reward?I cannot give an answer;But this I know with all my heart –His wounds have paid my ransom.

PRAY | Thank God for the work of Jesus. Consider where you might be were it not for the selfless obedient work of Jesus to offer himself as a ransom for us.


L E S S O N 7


Today’s Text: HEBREWS 3:1-6

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are His house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

J E S U S I S F A I T H F U L

H E B R E W S

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CONTENTThink back to our 2018 study of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah is famous for crying out to God, confessing the sins of Israel, and leading the efforts to return to the land from exile. In Nehemiah 9, he recounts the faithfulness of God. He lists God’s faithfulness throughout history. What he says about Moses tells us a lot about the Jewish view of Moses.

Nehemiah 9:13-14

13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, 14 and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant.

Moses was perhaps the most revered of Jewish figures. God spoke to Moses. God gave the Law to Moses. God used Moses in one of the most powerful moments in Israel’s history. And now that the author of Hebrews has helped the reader place Jesus in His rightful place in relationship to the angels, he must do the same with Jesus’s relationship to Moses. Are you beginning to understand why we have titled this series, “Jesus Is Better?” The author clearly hopes to set our minds and hearts on the loftiness of Jesus beyond all others!

(1) THE AUDIENCE: Brothers (v1, v6)

Take a moment and look at how the author addresses the audience. “Therefore, holy brothers.” This phrase is quite rare in the New Testament. While it is thought that even amongst the audience of Hebrews there were likely mere curious followers, it is clear, here, that the author addresses believers.

In the context of this passage, the author is not suggesting that these people are especially righteous or spiritually successful. In calling the “holy,” he reminds them that they are set apart. They are different. From a salvific perspective, those who trust in Christ are justified. They are called holy. In the eternal sense, because believers are covered by the blood of Christ, and Christ’s holy life has been transferred to their account, they are holy. This is often misunderstood to mean that those who are in Christ are sinless. Rather, believers have been declared holy by the blood of Christ. And yet, they are beckoned to become holy in this life by being conformed to the image of Christ.

Would you describe the Church (all those in the world who trust and follow Christ) as a holy people? Why or why not?

Why do you suppose it would be misunderstood if we, the church, were to say we are a holy people?

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“To be among those who share in a ‘heavenly calling’ has to do with our identity, and there is nothing more central or crucial to our lives as Christians than understanding who we are.” -Sam Storms


The second descriptor is that the brothers “share in a heavenly calling.” As believers in Christ, we belong more to the heavenly realm than the earthly realm. This is, in fact, not our permanent home. Our identity, our hopes, our efforts, our toil on earth is pointed heavenward. Later, the author will say it like this: “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”

Finally, look down at verse 6. “And we are His house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” The author uses the analogy of a house to describe His people. This verse almost sounds as if he is asserting that believers must “hold fast” in a certain way in order to hold on to their very salvation. Rather, the author is explaining that those who have true faith (their only confidence and boasting is in Christ) will hold fast. If you hold fast because of your authentic faith, it will be proven that you are His people. You are His house.

(2) THE EXHORTATION: Consider

The author encourages the believers to consider. In order to consider something, you must devote attention and thought to it. In context, recognizing the coming conversation regarding the superiority of Jesus over Moses, it is likely Jewish believers had an inaccurate view of Moses. It is almost as if the author is beckoning the people to stop thinking about Moses for a moment and consider Jesus. “Moses is great. But don’t fixate on Moses. Fixate on Jesus who is far greater.” Consider Jesus.

We all spend time thinking of hundreds of tasks and ideas each day. How much time would you say you spend reflecting on Jesus? What are the personal benefits of carving out time to simply reflect on the greatness of Jesus?




(3) THE CENTRAL FOCUS: Jesus

Here the author compares Jesus with Moses.

MOSES JESUS

Who He Is What He Has Done Who He Is What He Has Done

Servant (v5) was faithful in all God's house (v2)

faithful in all God's house (v5)

testify to the things that were to be spoken

later (v5)

Apostle. (v1)

High Priest. (v1)

More glory than Moses (v3)

Builder of the house. (v3)

Son (v6)

faithful to Him who appointed Him (v2)

faithful over God's house (v6)

Moses was a faithful servant. He served the house of the Lord (the people of God) faithfully. But Jesus did not just serve the household of God, He built the household of God. He is not a servant within the family. He is a son.

The word here used of Moses and Jesus is faithful. This is quite the powerful word. In being sure that Christ is exalted to the rightful position above Moses, we might forget to note here that for Moses to be considered faithful is quite a compliment. It reminds us of Matthew 25:21.

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Just because Jesus is greater doesn’t mean that people cannot be honored and esteemed as faithful.

Are you a faithful person? What does it mean to be faithful?

GETTING TO THE HEART

Being faithful means to be reliable or trustworthy. Simply put, a faithful person can be counted on. They deliver what they say they can deliver. Their actions are in line with their beliefs. You can trust that a faithful person will arrive in a situation and be the person and do the things that are congruent with their character. While we long for a day when we might be called faithful by Jesus, Jesus is the only truly faithful One. Have you known anyone who has never let you down? Who has never had a lapse of judgment? Who has perfectly been true to every word they’ve spoken? Of course not. And yet, there is one who is. This is why our hopes, our fears, our insecurities, our pains in life are only safely secure when we place them with Jesus. For He is always true to His Word. He will never fail us. “Your spouse is great. But Jesus is better.” “Your job is great. But Jesus is better.” “The money is great. But Jesus is better.”



CONCLUSION

Brothers and sisters, consider Jesus.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) Is there a difference between asking someone to consider Jesus and to consider Christianity?

(2) The author of Hebrews draws the readers’ attention to Jesus by demonstrating His greatness. He’s not a helper of God’s people, He’s the head. He’s not the keeper of the house, He’s the builder of the house. In your family growing up, or in your current family, how do you put the focus and attention on Jesus?

(3) “Jesus is better.” Is this a good phrase to use when combating temptation in your life? In a way, when we give into sin, aren’t we saying, “_______ is better for me than Jesus?” Would you be willing to share a personal sin struggle you have, where reminding yourself that “Jesus is better” would help you fight off sin?

HOME 22:6SING | Check out “There’s Nothing Better Than Jesus”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfIgP6gFtyk

READ | Here is an excellent article on parenting from the perspective of biblical counselors.

https://biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2017/03/08/jesus-is-better-but-is-that-practical/

Perhaps use the thought-provoking encouragements at the end of this article to discuss as a family.

PRAY | Pray as a family that you would place Jesus in the position of highest honor in your family. Pray that God would help you identify the idols in your lives.

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L E S S O N 8



7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,“Today, if you hear His voice,8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

A W A R N I N G T O B E L I E V E

H E B R E W S

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16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.


CONTENTThe layout of Hebrews is becoming familiar. The author highly exalts Christ (in comparison to angels, prophets, Moses). And then he warns. Chapter three is no different. Last week, we saw that Jesus is greater than Moses. In our modern, western minds, this makes easy sense. We’ve never considered Moses to be greater than Jesus. But remember that, for the Jewish believers reading this letter, Moses was a hero. It could be said that Moses was the most faithful person they could think of. After all, he delivered them from slavery and ultimately delivered them all the way to the front steps of the Promised Land. And in chapter 3, the author tells the reader, “Yes, Moses is faithful. But Jesus is far more faithful.” These first few verses of chapter 3 (which we covered last week) are a critical setup for the coming warning.

Look at v7. “Therefore.” In view of _______, do something. In light of _________, don’t do this. Since _______ is true, therefore ________. Do you see what the author is doing? Since Moses was faithful, but Jesus was far more faithful, you must pay attention to your heart so that you do not repeat the sins of your forefathers.

(1) Warning: The Way of Your Forefathers

Verses 7-11 are a quotation from Psalm 95. And Psalm 95 describes the events of Exodus 17 and Numbers 13-14.

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“The Exodus was a great act in redemptive history, but the people grumbled and God did not permit them to enter Canaan. The deliverance from sin under Christ is an even greater exodus. Those who abandon God and His apostle Christ will lose their promised inheritance as well.” -R.C. Sproul


Take a moment to review this reference. It will not take long to remember the historical moment the author of Hebrews is referring to.

Numbers 13-14 Psalm 95

27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”

30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through whichwe have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”20 Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.”

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4 In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also.

5 The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you hear His voice,

8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.”


“They didn’t lose their salvation. They have now made obvious physically what was true spiritually. They didn’t lose something. They just never had it to begin with.” -Dr. Steven Smith



Psalm 95 serves as a commentary on God’s relationship with the Israelites post-Exodus. It is quite astounding that this generation, which witnessed the plagues and experienced the crossing of the Red Sea, would have any trouble trusting God for provision. And yet unbelief became their very legacy in Jewish history. Both Daniel and Nehemiah identify this generation in their prayers as forefathers whose hearts were idolatrous and wicked. What were they guilty of? At the very least, according to Psalm 95, they saw God’s faithfulness and yet their hearts were hardened. They experienced God’s provision, and yet they went astray in their hearts.

The author of Hebrews hopes to capture the attention of Jewish believers. “Moses was great. These people around him saw God’s faithfulness and refused to bow their hearts. Jesus is far greater. Do not be like your forefathers who grew cold hearted.”

(2) Warning: The Evil, Unbelieving Heart

After allowing the Psalmist to offer the first warning, the author offers his own similar warning.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

If you’ve been following along closely in the Hebrews study, statements like this might make you scratch your head.

Why is the author telling believers not to have an evil, unbelieving heart leading them to fall away from God?

What does he mean to fall away from God? Is the author suggesting a person can be a born-again Christian only to fall away from God later and lose their salvation?

Since Scripture does not contradict itself, we must interpret Scripture by Scripture. The overwhelming evidence of the New Testament teaches that once a person is born again, justified by the grace of Christ, covered by the redeeming blood of Christ on the cross, he is sealed with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and granted a sure inheritance of eternal life. Scripture teaches that a person who undergoes this true transformation cannot lose their salvation.

Some scholars suggest perhaps Hebrews is simply written to non-believers. Some suggest that perhaps “falling away” is not talking so much about salvation. Though it does seem that Hebrews is addressing Christians and warning them not to drift away. So how do we make sense of this?

Dr. Tom Schreiner suggests the best way to understand this is to recognize that God will absolutely carry through to salvation those whom He redeems, and therefore these warnings



are the means by which God ensures that believers endure to the end. In other words, there are some who will not endure until the end, and it will be because they did not heed this warning, and therefore their faith was proven inauthentic, invalid. And others (all those who are truly saved) will heed this warning and thus endure to the end. “Those passages, those warnings, those admonitions are the means God uses to keep us until the end.” -Tom Schreiner

Another possibility is that there were some in this body who had intellectually assented to belief in Christ and were thus members of the fellowship. And yet, like the Israelites who were members of God’s chosen people, saw His faithfulness and yet continued in their hard heartedness, perhaps members of this first-century church were Christians by name alone. This warning, therefore, exhorts them to not allow themselves to slip into evil hard-heartedness. They are not to be allured by the deceit of sin, lest they fall away from God, proving their budding faith to be hollow and empty.

With these views in mind, read the verse again.

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

Those who are truly in Christ will exhibit a sure pattern. They will cry out to God for salvation, and they will depend on God, grow in God’s Word, increase in Christ-likeness and endure to the end. So, take note, brothers and sisters. Check your heart, brothers and sisters. If your life is not on this trajectory, you may be falling away from God. You may be like the Israelites. You see God’s good work, but you refuse to give Him your life. You honor God with your lips, but your hearts are far from Him. Be warned.

(3) Warning: The Corporate Fight Against Sin

What are they to do about it? How should someone who wants to heed the warning respond?

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”(a) They should encourage one another every day not to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (b) They should guard their hearts from rebellion against God.

True believers aren’t sinless. The temptation of the flesh persists and the believer fights to put the body’s sinful and evil desires under subjection of the Holy Spirit. And yet, the warning demands that believers be resolute in our intolerance of any ongoing, unrepentant personal and corporate sin.

“Are you still following Jesus through struggles and hardships? Are you clinging to him in spite of a thousand voices telling you to grab on to the things you can see? If so, thank God for his preserving grace. He has preserved you, and he will preserve you, through any difficult days that lie ahead—until he completes the work he began and you see him face to face.” -Jeff Robinson



What does it means to encourage one another every day to not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin? Is this a normal part of your life within the body of Christ?

CONCLUSION

Pay attention to the heart. There are those who, like the Israelites, will express belief in Christ while allowing the deceit of sin to bring forth an evil unbelieving heart. True disciples fight against sin and the authenticity of their faith is proven by their lifelong endurance.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) Do you think the Hebrews 3 warning passage is relevant to us at Immanuel? Why or why not?

(2) Have you ever questioned your personal salvation? What caused you to doubt it? How can you truly know if you’re saved?

(3) Have you made a commitment with someone at the church not to allow one another to drift into ongoing sin? What does your relationship look like? How do you encourage each other? How do you hold each other accountable? Have you ever had to call a brother or sister up bluntly regarding their sin?

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HOME 22:6SING | Blessed Assurance

READ | Here is a neat poem about our eternal security in Christ.

Salvation's Eternal Flame(c)2000 Holly L. Schmidtbleicher

A darkened room, a raging windA quieted soul embraced within.A single flame the only lightTo pierce the blackness of the night.This tiny flame, though nothing more,Within mind's eye became a door.Opened wide God's truth revealedThat in His love we're ever sealed.If each soul a candle, Truth proclaims,We burn with salvation's eternal flame.This, once received, cannot be lost'Tis bought with blood that stained the cross.The winds of sin cannot extinguishWhat Christ's death paid in full and finished.At the moment of receiving God's free gift by believing,Every sin is washed away:Those of past and future and today.This work did not depend on us;All we can simply do is trust.For by our deeds we cannot gain it;We can do nothing to maintain it.God gave ability to choose it,But then sealed in Him, we never lose it.So even when this flame is hid,Or of faith's glow seems to be rid,When sin's density seems to dim its light,And guilt's darkness seems like endless night,Just cling to the promise that He made usThat nothing can ever separate us.Because forever God remains the same,So burn's salvation's eternal flame… 1




PRAY | Our passage this week beckons us to pray in three specific ways.

(a) Lord, help me not to grow hard-hearted and rebellious like the Israelites, who saw your faithfulness and yet grew cold.

(b) Lord, search my heart. Expose the areas of my heart which are far from you. I don’t want to be a Christian in name alone, but a whole-hearted disciple.

(c) Lord, use me to encourage my brothers and sisters not to be enticed by the sins of the world. And may we together exercise our faith by enduring to the end.

SOURCE1 http://www.scriptureman.com/hsalpoem.html


L E S S O N 9



Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as He has said,“As I swore in my wrath,‘They shall not enter my rest,’”although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.” 5 And again in this passage He said,“They shall not enter my rest.”6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again He appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,“Today, if you hear His voice,do not harden your hearts.”8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from His.11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

L E T U S F E A R

H E B R E W S

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CONTENTThe scathing warning of chapter three is followed here by a positive exhortation for those who are in Christ. If those who are hard-hearted will not enter the rest of Jesus, then those who genuinely trust Christ possess a promise of this inheritance. Believers can be assured that they will enter God’s rest.

In chapter four, the author directs the message back and forth from Psalm 95 (a continuation of the analogy from chapter 3) and exhortation of the immediate audience. Let’s unpack the passage by answering two important questions.

(1) What does it mean to enter God’s rest?

(a) Old Testament Analogy

First, the author links “God’s rest” to the Promised Land. If chapter three reminds the Jewish Christians that there were those who did not enter the rest, the readers, conversely will enter the rest.

Verse 3: “For we who have believed enter that rest…”

(b) Salvific Rest

The ultimate rest believers find in Jesus comes from recognizing that they cannot be saved by works. In this sense, believers cease their striving and efforts and rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. In fact, if a person believes in any way that their work even partially contributes to their salvation, they are in serious error and lack authentic faith. This is why it is appropriate to say that we have done nothing to contribute to our salvation. After all, it is a gift. Of course, this demands a bit of nuance because a person trusts, believes, repents. But the focus here is that Jesus did the work to secure our salvation and we did nothing to earn it. We simply responded.

Just like the Israelites allowed their hearts to be hardened and did not enter the rest of the promised land, if the readers of Hebrews have intellectually assented to the idea of Christ but not given their life to Christ, they will not enter the ultimate rest of Jesus, eternal life with Him.

(c) Sanctifying Rest

What remains in the New Covenant is not the Mosaic command to abstain from all work, earning endeavors and effort for one 24-hour period each week. What remains is the principle that God designed humans for rest. It is not that believers once entered Jesus’s rest in order to place saving faith in Christ only to return to the rat race of a stress and anxiety filled life. No. The person who has experienced the salvific rest of the soul in salvation experiences the sanctifying rest of casting worldly cares soundly with Jesus every day. We don’t devote one day to resting in Him. We rest in Him with our lives. Consequently, this restful and dependent attitude often demands an actual day in the week reserved for reflection, worship, and calm.

How might you describe someone who never rests in God? What is true of their hearts?

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God continues to hold out to all His children a peaceful, worry-free lifestyle that we can enter into on a moment-by-moment basis. -Chuck Swindoll



(2) How can one enter God’s rest?

(a) So long as Jesus tarries, it is never too late.

Some of you, the author says, have yet to enter. Remember that the author addresses believers. This warning is for the modern church. For those of you in the congregation who have witnessed the things of God, but never given your heart fully to Jesus, you can enter His rest today. There is still time. Do not harden your heart.

We often highlight God’s patience in His invitation to all who will come to Him. But let us not forget that His patience has an expiration date. The author of Hebrews invites the people to enter God’s rest, but just as in the time of Moses, there will be those who will not accept the invitation and the time to enter the land will have passed. We do not know when the Lord will return and issue a final judgment, but on that day, it will be too late. This is why the author urges them: Enter the rest.

(b) True faith evidenced by obedience and maturity.

In the same way that it is never too late to enter God’s salvation rest in Christ, Scripture beckons believers to remain in His rest. By trusting in God’s providence, clinging to His peace through the trials and troubles of this life, our faith is proven authentic as we endure in His rest to the end.

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the believers’ ultimate and present Sabbath rest.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) What would you say is the difference between the “rest” we find in Jesus through salvation and the “rest” we are to find in Him in this life? Is there one you more easily exhibit?

May our homes be places where Sabbath rest is jealously guarded, that in all things God might have preeminence – even our schedules. -Jen Wilkin

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(2) Let’s discuss the spiritual rest the author refers to. Are you good at resting in Jesus? How does your life look different from your co-workers’ or neighbors’ whose souls do not know the rest Jesus provides? Can you remember the time when you came to Christ for salvation? Often times when people share their testimony, they talk about a weight that was lifted. In this sense, they experience the soul rest that comes by throwing yourself at the mercy of Christ. Was this your experience?

(3) Are you guilty of becoming too busy? What do our busy schedules say about us? Are we busy for the kingdom? Are we busy for some earthly reward? What motivates you to take on more and more things?

Getting to the Heart.

When we take time to examine our hearts, we realize there is fear and anxiety. I fear my children won’t have enough opportunities. I fear they will resent me later if I do not provide certain things for them. I fear I will lose my job if I don’t overachieve in a certain area. I am anxious my mother will remove her affection if we don’t pack up the kids to visit this Christmas. I am anxious if I lose this job, I won’t be able to find another one. We may try to convince ourselves we’re busy with noble endeavors, but most of the time we’re busy trying to satisfy our own doubts. Finding our rest in God is the only place we will find the satisfaction and fulfillment we are looking for. We won’t save every relationship or keep a steady enough grip on every job we possess. The joy of life is not that we controlled everything. It is that we rested in God’s providence. We work with all the energy and time we can healthily give and then we say, “I trust you God with the results.”

HOME 22:6SING | Your Grace is Sufficient

• This is an easy and simple chorus and excellent for family worship time.• Here’s an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ1jCPV_s_4

READ | Matthew 11:28-30

PRAY | Pray that God would help you to implement a regular pattern of rest for the body and trusting Him moment by moment; cast your anxieties on Him.


L E S S O N 1 0



12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

S A V E D B Y T H E W O R D

H E B R E W S

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R E A D • R E V I E W • R E F L E C T • R E S P O N D L E S S O N 1 0


CONTENTThe Word of God here refers to the revelation of God. In this specific context, special consideration should be given to Jesus as the revelation of God. Jesus, the Word become flesh, and the message of the kingdom He came to deliver is sharper than any double-edged sword. The good news of the kingdom is sharper than any double-edged sword. The truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through Christ is sharper than any two-edged sword. God’s revelation to the world penetrates to the core of creation.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” We know that God’s word is useful in this way. God’s revelation shapes us, guides us, teaches us. But here, the focus is how God’s truth penetrates hearts.

(1) The Word of God is living and active.

Jesus is alive. And His Gospel is alive. Scripture is alive. It moves and breathes, in a sense. The idea here is that the Word of God has a function. It is not a document to be read. It is not history to be told.

Why do you suppose it is so important for the church to be text-driven? To be Gospel-driven?

Co-workers and neighbors continue to try to convince us that the ultimate sense of reality is found in one’s feelings, one’s experiences. But we are not assured that our feelings and emotions have transformative power. In fact, a church built upon the foundation of experience and emotionalism will in time prove powerless. Similarly, a believer who spouts the latest worldly quips and evaluates truth based on whether it feels right will be proven powerless. The Word of God, God’s revelation to the world, His Son, His Bible have the power to change hearts. Thank God for a body of believers that gathers and stands upon the Word of God.

Dr. Smith often describes preaching as “re-presenting the text.” Why do you suppose he is so resolute in his desire not to sway from the biblical message?

(2) The Word of God pierces.

If we are right to suppose that there are those in the Jewish audience who were friendly to the idea of Christ, and yet refused to yield themselves fully to God, this strong description of the Word alerts them that the Word of God will expose them.

“sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow”

The author uses the phrase “the division of soul and spirit” to describe the very core of a person.

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"The anatomy of temptation begins with questioning the Word of God." -Dr. Steven W. Smith


R E A D • R E V I E W • R E F L E C T • R E S P O N DL E S S O N 1 0

The Word of God penetrates to the deepest core of its hearers. Down into the soul and spirit. There is no barrier humans can construct that would be strong enough to fend off the power of the Word of God. There is no place within our being where we can store hidden thoughts, intentions, or actions. The truth of God pierces through our masks to what is underneath.

Why do you suppose the description here is not that the Word of God moves people or inspires people? Why, in this context, does it penetrate people?

(3) The Word of God discerns.

Some translations use the word “judges.” The Word of God judges the intentions of the heart. This provides another compelling reason for memorizing Scripture (Psalm 119:11). As we move through life and make daily decisions, when Scripture comes to our minds and hearts, we can discern our intentions. The Scripture helps us discern our motivations.

Remember 1 Sam 16:7? But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

(4) The Word of God does not discriminate.

Evidently the author wants to remind the readers that everyone must deal with the Word of God. The Word of God brings a person to complete exposure. When a person is naked, they are fully known. There is no covering. They are exposed. The warning is the same for both surface-level “name only” Christians and non-Christians. Don’t think that you can continue in your hard heartedness and somehow be insulated from God. In this way, the author of Hebrews continues with this thread: in due time, posers will be exposed. Be careful not to be a poser, lest you drift away into sin. Pay attention to your heart because if there is no obedience and transformation there, you may be a poser. Instead, grow in Christ. Instead, spur each other on to reject sin. The Word of God is not something to be played with. It’s not a fact to believe or reject. It is living and active. It pierces to the heart. It exposes everyone. We must respond to the Word of God.

Can you think of some non-believer in your life who seems to think they are immune to God’s judgment?

“You can study it for a lifetime and still not fathom its depths. It is a book so deep you can swim forever and never touch bottom, yet so peaceful that even a child can take a drink without fear of drowning.” -Adrian Rogers

“Many of us hold God’s Word in high esteem, but it has no power in our lives. The Bible wasn’t meant to decorate your coffee table or be held under your arm at church. The Word of God was written because of what it can do in our lives.” -Tony Evans



Do you think it’s possible someone could be in our body at Immanuel and be consistently rejecting the Word of God? How could one exist at Immanuel as a poser? How difficult would it be?

CONCLUSION

The Word of God is powerful. It cuts to the heart of man.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) Have you ever convinced yourself that you had a personal sin, out of reach from God’s conviction?

(2) Would you say your personal life exhibits the truth of Hebrews 4:12-13? In other words, can people close to you sense that God’s Word is special to you? Do you treat it as living and active in your life? If so, how?

(3) Do you love God’s Word? Is it possible to develop a love for God’s Word? What does the Bible do for you that would cause you to yearn for it each day?

“This is the age of the sermonette, and sermonettes make Christianettes.” -Michael Green

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HOME 22:6

SING | “Word of God” from Seeds Family Worship is based on the verses we studied this week.https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/KidsSeries/136097?episode=10

READ | Sam Storms described a time when he felt “laid bare” by the Word of God. Read his prayer below and see if it would stimulate this kind of honest and dependent prayer with your family this week.

“Oh, my, Lord. You are the potter. Not me. I’m only the clay. You created me. You called me into existence out of nothing. I only live because your mercy sustains me. I deserve eternal damnation and you in grace have chosen to give me eternal life. Forgive me for questioning your ways. Forgive me for judging you and arrogantly thinking that I exist to hold you to account for what you do. Forgive me for presumptuously thinking that I know how to do things better than you do, more justly than you. I am the clay. Mold me and shape me however you see fit.”1

PRAY | Pray that you would be so nourished, challenged, and changed by the Word of God that you would grow to love it.

SOURCE1 https://www.samstorms.com/enjoying-god-blog/post/two-personal-illustrations-of-the-power-of-

gods-word




L E S S O N 1 1


Today’s Text: HEBREWS 5:1-10For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him who said to Him,

“You are my Son, today I have begotten you;”

6 as He says also in another place,“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. 9 And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

T H E G R E A T E R P R I E S T

H E B R E W S

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CONTENTTake a moment to recount the literary context. What is the message of Hebrews? The first thing the author sets out to do is to position Jesus rightly. Over the first 4 chapters of Hebrews, he accomplishes this by comparing Jesus to several things. Jesus is God’s Son. He is the creator and sustainer of the universe. He holds all authority. He’s not an angel who is a mere assistant in the plans of God. He is the executor of God’s plan. He was not created as a helper. He has no beginning. He’s been one with the Father and the Spirit forever. Jesus is far greater than angels. Further, Moses was faithful as a vessel to lead God’s people from captivity. But Jesus, greater still, was faithful to take on flesh and die on the cross to absorb the wrath of God on behalf of the world. And there were those in the Old Testament who did not enter the rest of the Promised Land due to their unbelief. And now, people are in danger of committing a greater offense in rejecting Jesus, the source of ultimate rest. Jesus is better. So play close attention, lest you drift. Jesus is better. So do not harden your heart. Encourage each other to run from sin, and especially habitual sinfulness, lest you are exposed as a fraud. Jesus is better. So enter His rest with haste. Jesus is better.

And now, Jesus is the ultimate high priest.

(1) Similarities between high priests and Jesus.

As with many things in the Old Testament, high priests served as a picture of a greater reality coming. High priests in Jewish culture were appointed as those who would serve as a mediator between the people and God, offering sacrifices of atonement to God on behalf of the people. It can also be deduced that the Jews continued in this ritual system even on into the time that this epistle was written.

In the same way that priests could not appoint themselves to the position, the author says, Jesus did not exalt Himself to this position either. He was appointed by God to carry out this mission as the ultimate high priest. The author uses Psalm 2:7 and Psalm 110:4 as evidence of Jesus’s appointment. It is important to remember that though Jesus voluntarily subjected Himself to the will of the Father to take on these roles within the redemptive plan of God, it in no way compromises His status as a divine member of the Godhead.

Jesus also shared with the high priests of the day an understanding of human weakness. Jesus is compassionate in this way because He felt the stinging pain of the broken world. The clear difference, which we will explore below, however, is that high priests had to offer atoning sacrifices for their own sin. High priests related with the people as a fellow sinner, where Jesus did not.

A priest, most simply put, went to God on behalf of the people.

Take a look at John 17 and what has come to be called the “High Priestly Prayer.”

John 17:20-26

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me

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“If not for a compassionate High Priest, popularity will destroy me. Lord help me see the vanity of all praise but your own.” -Lecrae Moore



I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Can you see Jesus as the High Priest here?

(2) Difference between high priests and Jesus.

The idea is not that Jesus is a high priest. It is that He is the high priest. He is greater than angels, greater than prophets, greater than Moses, the greater Sabbath. He is the greater High Priest.

High Priests Jesus

Appointed by men Appointed by God

Made atonement for own sin Needed no atonement for own sin

Offered temporal sacrifices Offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice

Human, fallible Human (& divine), without blemish

Offer atonement for one Offer atonement for all

High Priest King & Priest

More will be explored in Chapter 7 regarding Melchizedek. But here, the author wants the reader to know that there was an Old Testament figure who foreshadows Christ.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the greater and ultimate high priest, making atonement for the sins of the world.

Nothing is so great for you to endure that Jesus does not feel touched by. He’ll stay by you through it. -Charles R. Swindoll

“Our great High Priest, Jesus, always lives to make intercession for us. We all go through periods of guilt, shame, and self-reproach. But the blood of Jesus Christ washes away every stain, forgives every sin, redeems every mistake, and silences the taunts of our diabolical bully.” -David Jeremiah



“Jesus knows how a fallen world affects you, how temptations compete for supremacy within your soul. Jesus gets the shame, the demoralizing feeling that accompanies the skirmish between what you feel and who you are called to be. Jesus understands, and He sympathizes with you.” –Dave Harvey

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) How difficult is it for you to forgive yourself? Do you harbor guilt and disappointment toward your past indiscretions? What does your view of your past sins tell others about your view of Jesus and His forgiveness?

(2) Take a moment to describe a couple different people. What are some adjectives you would use to describe someone who is outside of Christ?

And now what does it mean for a person to be in Christ?

How does the work of Christ as high priest afford us this type of change?

(3) Jesus is the ultimate high priest in that He sympathizes with us in the brokenness of this world. Although He was sinless and victorious where we are not, does it bring you comfort when you’re tempted to know that Jesus has been tempted as well? What difference does it make that Jesus relates to us in this way?

HOME 22:6

SING | Crown Him with Many Crowns

READ | John 17

PRAY | Make a list as a family. If you were to go to the temple once per year to offer an animal sacrifice for your sins, what sins would be on this year’s list? Thank God for becoming the ultimate High Priest who offers forgiveness for all of our past, present, and future sins.

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L E S S O N 1 2



11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

W A R N I N G , P A R T 1

H E B R E W S

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CONTENTBiblical scholars differ at times as how to properly divide a book of the Bible. The chapter and verse markings we see in our Bibles, of course, were added much later. So Bible experts examine the book and look for themes and arguments. They hope to extract the author’s overall message by identifying the structure. John Macarthur, from whom we have borrowed an outline for this study, sees a shift here in the book. The focus on Christ as High priest (4:14-5:10) shifts to an encouragement to the audience toward whole hearted commitment to Christ (5:11-6:20).

Here, the author indicts the audience for spiritual stagnancy. Evidently, they had become lethargic in the learning and applying of truth. They had become slow to grow spiritually. The description of this spiritual condition is clear, and the underlying warning is stark.

(1) Describing Spiritual Childhood: Immaturity

They cannot understand. (v11)

Here in verse 11, the language is “dull of hearing.” These spiritual concepts have become hard to explain to them. They cannot understand these deep truths (especially regarding the full depiction of the person of Christ). Remember the grand message of Hebrews: Jesus is better. The author continues to develop his case as to Jesus’s position, His authority, His greatness, His worthiness to be worshipped. And here he points out the fact that the audience has been slow to absorb and apply these truths, making it challenging to move onto a deeper level of instruction.

They need someone to teach them the basics. (v12)

Someone who is spiritually immature refuses to teach others, mainly because they have not willfully received the truth and applied it to their lives. Instead, they need someone to continue to teach them the basics.

They need “milk” not “solid food” for spiritual nourishment. (v13)

The author clearly uses the metaphor of an infant to drive home his point. Infants get all the nourishment they need from milk. But if a growing toddler were to never advance to solid food, they would be unable to grow and become vibrant. In the same way, the spiritually immature person depicted here has decided not to advance to solid food, but prefers to live on milk, which seriously cripples their spiritual development.

They are unskilled in the word of righteousness. (v14)

The Hebrews, because they were unwilling to apply these truths and move on to deeper understanding and growth, were unskilled in reference to the truth of the Gospel. For those in the Hebrew congregation who had given mere intellectual assent to the idea of Christ but failed to fully trust and obey Him in their lives, this depiction of spiritual infancy fits quite well. They may believe in Jesus, but they haven’t given their lives to Christ. Therefore, they truly don’t understand the Gospel, the understanding of the undeserved righteousness believers are given through Christ.

k"Gradual growth in grace, growth in knowledge, growth in faith, growth in love, growth in holiness, growth in humility, growth in spiritual-mindedness - all this I see clearly taught and urged in Scripture, and clearly exemplified in the lives of many of God's saints. But sudden, instantaneous leaps from conversion to consecration I fail to see in the Bible." -JC Ryle

“Christians who neglect the Bible simply do not mature.” -John Stott



One of the most obvious signs of spiritual immaturity is when a person cannot articulate the central components of the Christian faith. What does it tell a person about his own faith if he cannot articulate what he believes?

They possess no discernment (good from evil). (v14)

We would not be surprised to learn that a spiritually immature person is especially prone to excursions into sin, unwise practices, and folly. It could be that the author is laser focused on those half-hearted, unredeemed in the group who perhaps believe in the concept of Jesus but have not trusted Him as the only sacrifice suitable to atone for their sin. They have not responded to the good news with true repentance and faith. And therefore, as previous sections have suggested, their faith is in danger of being exposed as inauthentic. True faith transforms and grows. This “faith” they possess is proving hollow. Of course, someone who has not given his life to Christ will not have gone to the depths of the Word of God to learn how to discern good from evil in belief and practice. If the author addresses young but stagnant authentic believers, the implication is the same. If your faith is authentic, you will grow. You will move from milk to meat so that you will grow in increasing discernment.

They exhibit no (or at least inconsistent) spiritual practice. (v14)

Learning to be discerning and learning to be skilled in the Gospel takes practice. This is why we can tell a lot about our own spiritual state by examining our spiritual practices.

(2) Describing Spiritual Adulthood: Maturity

It is not difficult to identify the opposite of spiritual immaturity here in the text. The author has given quite the thorough portrait of a disciple here.

What are some characteristics of someone who is spiritually mature?

They understand spiritual things. (v11)

If the Hebrews were growing in Christ, they would be able to understand the deeper things of God. They would reflect on the greatness and majesty of Christ and allow it to produce in them worshipful lives of service. They would grow in increasing awareness of their own sin and increasing understanding of the sufficiency of Christ.

“Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God.” -Oswald Chambers

“The Bible is the divine means of developing spiritual maturity. There is no other way.” -Howard Hendricks



They are teachers. (v12)

Due to the nature of American Christian culture, we have mostly ignored Scripture’s call to every believer to teach. We have assumed this activity is reserved for the seminary trained or the paid church staff members, or perhaps an especially gifted minority within the church. However, the Scriptures teach that Jesus’s followers are teachers. While there are various types of teaching, and offices designated for teaching, every follower of Jesus is a sharer. They are passers of faith. They are trainers of the next generation. They are parents. They are disciple-makers.

Reference Passage

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…

Deut. 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Matt. 28:19-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

They progress to solid food. (v13)

A disciple who is growing spiritually learns more and more of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Scriptures to reveal more and more areas of disciples’ hearts which are hardened toward God, which are drifting from God, which remain in his own grasp and not under the control of the Savior. In moving from milk to meat, the disciple matures. She grows in increasing likeness to the Savior.

Their ability to discern grows. (v14)

Just as it is not surprising for a spiritually immature person to continue in folly, it is not surprising that a growing Christian pursues holiness. They open themselves to the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures and yield in obedience to Christ. They are not easily enticed by the subtle lies of Satan. They can recognize the Gospel and confront false teachings. They lead and guide their families. They are led by the Spirit in their daily endeavors.

Their lives are characterized by constant spiritual practice. (v14)

The roots of an oak tree are not put down in a weekend. And the grounded faith of a mature disciple is not developed during a weekend retreat. An elite athlete does not become an Olympian on the day she wins at the Olympic Trials. She achieved the Olympic standard in the months and years which preceded. Similarly, the vibrant and proven faith of a spiritual hero has been developed over the years and years of spiritual discipline and practice.

CONCLUSION

Authentic faith grows. Authentic followers of Jesus become discerning, maturing teachers of others.



R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) Can you think of someone who is a spiritual role model for you? Do you see the spiritual practices of their lives? What do they do consistently? Do you suspect their depth of faith is more of a spiritual gift or something that has been developed over time and practice?

(2) Have you ever stopped to chart your own spiritual growth over the years? How would you answer the following questions?

a. How has my understanding of the nature and character of God changed over the past 5 years? 10 years?

b. How has my decision making changed over the past 5 or 10 years?

c. In what areas can I see that I have gotten stronger, wiser, better in my walk with Christ and my service to Him in this life?

d. If I took a theology or Bible exam today, would I score higher today than I would have 10 years ago? Which books of the Bible or theological concepts have you spent particular time going deeper in?

(3) What part does Bible reading, Bible memorization, and overall Bible understanding play in spiritual growth? Is it possible to grow spiritually without engaging with Scripture? And how do Bible knowledge and Bible application relate to one another as a part of spiritual growth?

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HOME 22:6SING | The Old Rugged Cross

• Give special attention to the latter verses featuring a Christian’s response to the cross.

READ | Some Additional Passages on Spiritual Growth

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

1 Timothy 4:15

Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God…

Romans 5:2-6

Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Philippians 1:9

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment…

2 Corinthians 13:5-7

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.

PRAY | That God would (a) deepen your faith in a way that propels growth, (b) show you areas of your life which need attention, and (c) grant you courage and stamina to practice spiritual disciplines with consistency and joy.


L E S S O N 1 3



Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come,6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

W A R N I N G , P A R T 2

H E B R E W S

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CONTENTLessons 12 and 13 in our study are linked by one word. Hebrews 5 and 6 are linked by one word. It appears that the author of Hebrews points back to the verses directly preceding chapter 6 in order to make his appeal to action. Last week, we saw the author’s observation. There are those who have been associated with Christ in some way or are perhaps connected to this audience who evidently do not exhibit any spiritual progress. They are spiritual babies who lack discernment, fail to understand the depth of Christ and the Gospel, and their apparent faith is in danger of being exposed as inauthentic.

Chapter 6 says, “There are those who are like this. Therefore, we must act now.”

The author’s basic claim is that believers must go on to maturity, because the one who does not will be exposed as a fraud. Let’s look at this passage in two parts.

We must go on to maturity…because the one who does not will be exposed as a fraud.

(1) We must go on to maturity…

To go on to maturity is to move past the “elementary teachings” to which the Hebrews were first exposed. Two questions loom after reading verse 1.

What are the elementary teachings they are to move forward from?

How are they to move forward from them?

The first will be answered quite clearly. The second is answered in various ways throughout the book of Hebrews, but an important answer to the question is given here.

What are the elementary teachings they are to move forward from?

Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of [repentance from dead works] and of [faith toward God], 2 and of [instruction about washings], the [laying on of hands], the [resurrection of the dead], and [eternal judgment]. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

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“If our religion be of our own getting or making, it will perish; and the sooner it goes, the better; but if our religion is a matter of God’s giving, we know that He shall never take back what He gives, and that, if He has commenced to work in us by His grace, He will never leave it unfinished.” -Charles Spurgeon



Repentance from dead works…

This refers to the foundational teaching of turning away from wicked deeds that lead to death and turning to Christ.

Faith toward God…

Salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by works.

Instruction about washings…

Although the wording is quite unique, the author likely refers to Christian baptism.

Laying on of hands…

This could allude to the laying on of hands as an ordination of teachers in the early church or a reference to the laying on of hands during sacrifices.

Resurrection of the dead…

Eternal life for those who place saving faith in Christ.

Eternal judgment…

Final judgment for those who reject the saving message of Christ.

It is challenging to know with perfect clarity exactly which doctrinal points are in focus here, but the point is clear. It is not enough to learn of these things and not to grow into these things. When we consider the supposition that non-believers were present (or those who associated with Christians by name only and not by heart surrender), it becomes even more clear that the author demands they must move beyond mere intellectual assent to the foundational principles of the faith.

But why is the author so concerned about them progressing into maturity? Isn’t it enough for a person to believe in the tenants above?

Look at verse 3. How will they move on from the elementary teachings into spiritual maturity? Evidently, it begins with dependence. Were it not for this verse, the reader could suppose they could muster up enough good works to “prove” that their faith was real. They may suppose they could complete enough spiritual practices to convince people that they had moved beyond the elementary teachings. True transformation comes not from willing one’s own spiritual growth, but by depending on Christ. This does not mean that sanctification is passive for the believer. Rather, true believers pursue holiness through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

(2) …because the one who does not will be exposed as a fraud.

The point the author is making is clear.

“This passage does not teach that you can lose your salvation, but it does teach you something important about the nature of saving faith: it endures to the end.” -J.D. Greear

“When we wrestle with doubts, we should remind ourselves of this precious truth: it’s not the strength of our faith that ultimately matters, but the object of our faith.” -Jen Oshman



True faith action Fake faith apathy

An authentic believer grows An inauthentic believer remains stagnant

A real heart change a steady life change A false conversion continuance in same life direction

A follower of Jesus endures to the end A Christian by name alone returns to unrepentant sin

A devoted disciple pursues holiness A mere moral performer outward holiness, inward corruption

A grateful son becomes like the Father A double-minded man exposed as a fraud

As has been noted by numerous pastors and theologians, there is no such thing as a fruitless Christian. The Scriptural depiction of a true follower of Christ is one whose affections and behaviors steadily come in line with God’s. And Scripture alerts us that this is not an aggressive forging of a rebellious will toward God’s. Rather, it is part of the joyous surrender of a born-again believer, it is by faith alone that people are saved. However, just as the epistle of James instructs in chapter 2, there is a certain type of “faith” that does not save. What is this inauthentic faith that does not save? It is the “faith” depicted here in Hebrews. It is a “faith” that acknowledges some religious facts, but does not include authentic repentance and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and thus, does not yield the type of transformation that accompanies the Gospel.

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”

You may have noticed during the course of this lesson that this is quite the challenging passage. What does it mean for someone to have already been enlightened? To have already partaken of the Holy Spirit? It sure seems as if the author is implying that some people are saved, walk away, and then face eternal judgment. For the purposes of fairness and theological humility, consider for a moment some of the various interpretative options here:

(1) He is speaking about true believers who walked away and now face eternal judgment in the form of eternal damnation. (Believers lost their salvation.)

(2) He is speaking about true believers who walked away and didn’t lose their salvation, but by walking away heaped upon themselves a form of judgment from God. (They lost rewards, or they lost earthly or heavenly blessings.)

(3) He is speaking about people who affiliate with the church (or even hold intellectual belief in Christ), have experienced something of spiritual significance, and yet continue to walk away from God, and not toward maturity. (They never were saved. Their faith was exposed as inauthentic.)

As you can see, each interpretive approach has its challenges. It is important to read and reflect on these passages with humility. It is also important to interpret these challenging passages in view of other passages, interpreting Scripture with Scripture. While over the course of the

“The warnings are real: If believers fall away into sin and never repent, they won’t be saved. The assurances are real: God, in Christ, by the Spirit, will keep all believers to the end. And the former are a God-ordained means of ensuring the latter.” -Andrew Wilson


series on Hebrews we will suggest #3 as the most appropriate understanding of Hebrews 6 and the other warning passages, we recognize the importance of theological humility a nuance amongst brothers and sisters in Christ who, being earnestly committed to the textual authority, remain divided.

CONCLUSION

We must go on to maturity because the one who does not will be exposed as a fraud.

R E F L EC T O N T H E T E X T(1) Have any of the strong warnings throughout the book of Hebrews frightened you? Born again believers need not doubt their salvation, for God eternally keeps those whom He has redeemed. But who do you suppose this warning is supposed to ‘sting’ if not the believer? Are we to ignore this warning if we are certain of our salvation?

(2) Imagine someone you’re discipling asks you, “I am considering taking a seminary class online that dives deeply into this certain area of theology. I’m fascinated by the subject and would love to know more, but my dad discouraged me. He said that going deep in a seminary class like that only builds more head knowledge. He suggested I should not worry myself with all the theologians and arguments and keep my simple, pure and individual faith.” How would you respond? What would you advise?

(3) Have you ever wrestled with the idea of whether or not a person can lose their salvation? How has this series helped to address that theological dilemma? Has your position changed? Has it been strengthened or better clarified?

Most of us have people in our lives who fit into the category of someone who was once involved, once present, once interested and has drifted far from God. The truth is, we cannot be certain of another person’s eternal standing unless they declare it. And even then, only God knows the true status of a person’s heart. But has your understanding of your friend or family member’s situation changed or been refined throughout this series? Perhaps someone would be willing to share about how they’ve processed this.


“There’s simply no way for our children, colleagues, and congregants to form discernment by proxy. As we’re reminded in the book of Hebrews, the goal of Christian discipleship is to make teachers of us all, capable of nourishing ourselves on ‘solid food . . . for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil’” -Jen Pollock Michel

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Example: A friend and I gave our lives to Christ at a Christian camp at age 16. We attended church together until college, where I found a church and Christian community in which to belong and grow. She pursued a relationship with a non-believer and disassociated with the church. Years later, she posts negatively about Christianity on social media and I hesitate to bring up our shared spiritual experiences from the past. I used to believe she had accepted Christ and then lost her salvation by going astray into sin. Now I can see that either (a) her faith was never authentic and it is showing in the way she constantly rejects Christ and His Word or (b) she was truly saved, is feeling the loving conviction of the Holy Spirit each day, and will ultimately be brought back to repentance one day, and prove that her faith was in fact authentic, and she was simply in a prolonged wayward season.

HOME 22:6

SING | “How Firm a Foundation”Modern Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UvBH9lPU1I

READ | John 10:27-29

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

PRAY | Thank God for the salvation granted us through Christ. Thank Him that the strength of our salvation does not lie with us and our ability to perform, but with Him and His finished work on the cross. Ask for His help to continue into spiritual maturity.



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