The Book of Hebrews John Oakes Bakersfield Spring

The Book of Hebrews John Oakes, Bakersfield Spring, 2019

Introduction • Audience: Christians who have been around for a while but who are tempted to turn back in the face of persecution. Mainly Jewish Christians? – Remember those earlier days… Hebrews 10: 32 • Theme: The preeminence of Jesus Christ!!! – “better” 13 times “perfect” 15 times

Outline of Hebrews Jesus is far more awesome, amazing, spectacular, wonderful, remarkable, astounding, tremendous that Judaism in such and such way…. Therefore, given the breathtaking nature of Jesus, this is what you ought to do….

The Greatness of Jesus • • • 1. Greater than the prophets. Hebrews 1: 1 -3 2. Greater than the angels. Hebrews 1: 4 -14 3. Greater than Moses. Hebrews 3: 1 -5 4. Greater than Joshua Hebrews 4: 1 -10 5. Jesus the Great High Priest. Hebrews 4: 14 -5: 10 6. Greater than Melchizedek (and therefore Aaron) 7: 1 -28 7. Jesus is greater than Abraham 7: 1 -9 8. A greater covenant. Hebrews 8: 1 -13 9. A greater tabernacle. Hebrews 9: 1 -11. 10. A greater sacrifice. Hebrews 9: 12 -10: 18.

Therefore…. Let us… Admonitions • Pay careful attention Hebrews 2: 1 -4 • Make every effort. Hebrews 3: 7 -4: 13 • Move on to maturity, Grow up. Hebrews 5: 116: 12 • Draw near to God, do not shrink back. Heb 10: 19 -39 • Live by faith. Hebrews 11: 1 -40

2: 1 -18 Exhortation #1 Pay careful attention! LISTEN UP!!! (to the message of salvation) “pay attention” = prosechein = to fix, moor a ship. “drift away” = pararrein = to slip away, as with the tides, by careless inattention. violation = parabasis = outright rebellion disobedience = parakoe = careless hearing or unwillingness to hear The point: If the Jews had to pay attention to a Law delivered by angels, and if they faced capital punishment for not listening, how much more ought we to pay attention to the salvation we have in Jesus, and how much more great a punishment if we do not.

Question: • How shall we escape…. . A strong warning! • How might we “ignore (neglect) such a great salvation? ”

Hebrews 2: 5 -9 A difficult little passage. • v. 7 God made us humans a little lower than the angels – God’s intent was that we have greatness and dominion! – “him” throughout this section is us. • v. 8, 9 But unfortunately, that is not the case right now. Our sin messed up everything. • v. 9, 10 Jesus came so that, through his death, we can be restored to the glory God had in mind in the first place. We will judge the angels (1 Cor 6: 3)

Because Jesus Became Like Us… v. 10 Because he suffered like us we are saved v. 11 Because he came here, we are “of the same family. ” v. 14 Because he shared our humanity, we are no longer slaves v. 16 Because he is like us, he is a merciful high priest. v. 17 Because he became like us, we can become like him. v. 18 Because he suffered, he can relate and help those who are tempted.

2: 10 -18 The importance of Jesus’ humanity and his suffering. • Archegos Jesus is author, founder, pioneer, source, origin; the one who goes first both to make and to point the way for us. • Teleios Jesus is the perfecter, the completer. He is the one who points the way, but he is also the one who completes the journey toward perfection. He is our perfecter through suffering. • The Point: Jesus is both the initiator and the completer of our salvation. Everything depends on Jesus, not us.

Jesus Can Relate…. Jesus is not up in an airconditioned office while we slave away on the factory floor. In becoming human, Jesus forged a way for us into the presence of God. What does this mean to you?

Conclusion…. He became like us so we could become like him. He is our great high priest. So…. . Pay attention to Jesus and to the salvation he offers us. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Jesus is Greater Than Moses • Hebrews 1: 1 -3 Jesus greater than all the prophets before him. • Hebrews 1: 4 -14 the angels. Jesus is greater than • Hebrews 3: 1 -5 Jesus is greater than Moses.

Parallels Between Moses and Jesus Moses Jesus Pharaoh tried to kill him Herod tried to kill him Called by God to leave Egypt Carried out of Egypt Forty years in the wilderness to prepare por his ministry Forty days in the wilderness to prepare for his ministry Left his position with the king of Egypt to dwell with the Jews Left the right hand of the Father to life with the Jews Led Israel out of slavery in Egypt Leads Spiritual Israel out of sin Aaron prepared the way John the Baptist prepared the way Baptized Israel in the Red Sea in order to free them Commands baptism in water for freedom from sin Gave manna in the wilderness (sort of) Gives spiritual bread to all who hunger Gave water to the people in the desert Spoke to God on Mt. Sinai Gives spiritual water: the Holy Spirit Spoke to God on Mt. Hermon

Jesus: a new and better Moses a household servant (v. 5) Jesus owns the house (v. 6) Moses faithful in God’s house Jesus faithful over Moses received the Law Jesus is the Law Moses gave them bread Jesus is the bread