New Testament Core Seminar

Class 2“Hebrews”

New Testament Overview

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Introduction

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“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come --- In the volume of the book it is written of Me --- To do Your will, O God.’” Heb (10:5-7)• No, we’re not in week 15 … we’re really in week 2!• We’ll look at Hebrews first because it is a doorway from the OT

and is foundational to understanding the NT.• Here is a short list of the OT passages that the writer expounds

on : : 2 Sam 7 and Deut 32 (1:1-2:4), Ps. 8:4-6 (2:5-18), Ps. 95:7-11 (3:1-4:13), Ps. 110:4 (4:14-7:28), Jer. 31:31-34 (8:1-10:18), Ps. 40:6-8 (10:1-10), Hab. 2:3-4 (10:32-12:3), Prov. 3:11-12 (12:4-13), and Ex. 19, 20 12:18-29).

• Hebrews provides God’s commentary on the OT looking at scripture and history in the light of Christ.

• It helps us understand the backdrop of how the OT points to the life and work of Christ.

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Purpose and Background:• Written prior to temple destruction (in 70 AD) – most likely 60’s.• Writer is unknown – but it does not affect understanding of book. • Appears to be writing to a Hebrew community – mostly Christian

who, because of persecution, are now in crisis.• The writer is concerned for them.

– Calls them slow to learn (6:12) and – repeatedly urges them not to “turn away from the living God” (3:12) but – to go on toward maturity (6:1).

• Heb 3:12 – they Jewish recipients of this letter were considering abandoning Christianity to return to Judaism.

• As the call to follow Christ became more difficult some Christians were tempted to turn away.

• We too need to be encouraged and warned of temptations to follow less difficult options than following Christ.

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Theme and Key Points:• Nearly every page of Hebrews declares its theme, the supremacy

of Jesus Christ.• Jesus, the preeminent of all God’s servants, has,:

– “appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (9:26), and

– in that sacrifice he has brought us eternal salvation (5:9; 12:22-24; 1:2).– Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death we see that we now have direct access

to God through Jesus (4:16, 10:22). – And given this, there is the major emphasis on the need to continue in

the faith (12:1-2).

• The writer focuses on three things which is the outline:I. Superiority of Who Jesus is (Chapters 1-7)II. Supremacy of Christ’s Work (Chapters 8-10:18)III. A Life Transforming Hope (Chapters 10:19-13)

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Superiority of Who Jesus is (Chapters 1-7):• They were tempted to follow the Gnostics (more on them 1 John)

– Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Ancient Greek: γνῶσις gnōsis, knowledge) describes a collection of ancient religions that taught that people should shun the material world created by the demiurge and embrace the spiritual world.

• To go back to a Christless Judaism, following OT prophets and Moses.

• The writer saw the need to show that Christ was superior to all!• And to show that those OT teachers would tell them to look to

Jesus … not them!• Read Heb 1:1-4 where the writer begins to establish the

supremacy of Christ..

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism>

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Gnostic Christians (http://gnosticschristians.com/_The gnostic way of faith is free, open, and creative. One does not have to be told how to act; particularly, what to believe. You can and should use your brain and modern knowledge. You have the ability to think for yourself. The gnostic style believes seeking God is more important than finding God by a certain dogma or belief. Therefore, this web site isn't about accepting Gnosticism or their beliefs or myths (yes, some are strange), but it's purpose is to share an early and widespread style of Christian faith that those called Gnostics heard Jesus teach. Not given even a hearing, this way of faith allows new knowledge, such as that from history and science, to inform out faith and change not only our beliefs but how we are Christian in today's world.

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Superiority over Angels:• For to which of the angels did He ever say: " You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You"? And again: " I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? Heb 1:5

• The writer’s first comparison point is Angels (1:4-2:18)• Here he points out:

– Jesus’ Sonship (v. 5), – His worthiness of worship (v. 6), – His rule (v. 8-9, 13), and – eternality (v. 10-12) over the angels’ status/role as “ministering spirits”

and messengers (v. 7, 14).

• In the OT, angels were instruments of delivering God’s Word to His people.

• This messenger, Jesus, is greater that these angelic messengers.• Jesus functions as more than an errand boy/messenger angel; He

becomes the satisfaction of God's wrath.• They announce God’s word and Jesus is God’s final Word!

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Superiority to Moses and Levitical Priests:• Moses was praised for his faithfulness over his house.• Jesus is “Son over His own House.” Hew 3:5-6.• Israel was judged for rebelling against Moses. • How much more should we be careful to follow Christ and not

rebel against Him!• Hebrews 3:12 warns, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of

you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;”• … “But exhort one another daily.”• Do you pray for other members of this church and for other

Christians you know? Do you encourage other Christians? • Do we look in the mirror and look at our own lives an look for this

very real threat.

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• Hebrews 4:14-7:28 demonstrates that Jesus is a greater high priest than the Levitical Priesthood.

• But he is not of the Aaronic line … He is eternal in the line of Melchizedek. (5:9-10)

• Read the description of Melchizedek in 7:3.• Jesus is a greater prophet than Moses and • a greater ruler than the angels, and • a greater priest than any descendent of Moses.

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Supremacy of Christ’s Work (Chapters 8-10:18)• The writer moves from the person of Christ to the work of Christ.

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. (8:1-2)

• The OT priests gave gifts and sacrifices – this new priest gives us a gift, “New Covenant.”

• The Old Covenant was meant to direct man to God and to illuminate our sinful state.

• The law was the shadow of things to come.• In contrast, the New Covenant is to transform the mind and

heart.

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The Nature of the New Covenant:• The New Covenant is superior to the Old in 3 ways.• Human Illustration – A Will: The covenant (or will/testament in

Greek & Hebrew) only came into force after Jesus died (9:15-17)• Biblical Analogy – Sacrifice and Blood: First Covenant ratified

with the blood of animals; the second covenant inaugurated with Christ’s blood.

• Why the importance of blood? Hebrews 9:22 - “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

• Argument from Experience: One sacrifice made perfect everyone and holy (see 10:14). Once forgiveness has been provided there is no longer any need for more sacrifice (10:17-18).

• The writer wants us to know we are privileged to have a better covenant than that given through Moses.

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The Sacrifice of Christ was effective:• At the core of the new covenant is Christ’s sacrifice which offered

an effective and permanent sacrifice that atones for sins. • The past sacrifices were ceremonial, temporary, and only serve as

a reminder of sins. • What’s needed is a sacrifice that would clear the conscience of

the worshipper forever (9:9; 10:3). And Christ’s did that! • Christ’s sacrifice changes the way we relate to God …• Because our sins have been forgiven forever. • Quoting from Jeremiah 31:31-33, the writer of Hebrews says,

“The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.

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I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (8:8-12)

• The Old Covenant the sacrifice was symbolic, pointing us to Christ (read 10:3-4).

• In the New Covenant, the sacrifice is moral and has the power to actually change our hearts.But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (10:12,14)

• They could rely on the sacrifices of their priests who had to offer sacrifices for their own sins or accept the perfect sacrifice of the perfect sacrifice.

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The Sacrifice of Christ was permanent:• “Once!” (9:12; 9:26; 9:28; 10:10). • A single action … not repeated.• Compared to the annual Day of Atonement.

Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another --- He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. Heb 9:23-28

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• This is one of the points of disagreement with the Roman Catholic Church – we don’t need to repeat Christ’s sacrifice week after week.

• The OT priests were continually doing their work.• Christ, on the other hand, completed His work and then sat down

at the right hand of God• How could this be so? Because Christ was the perfect sacrifice.• As a result, we are told to "hold fast to our profession" because

God is faithful.

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Old Covenant New CovenantPriesthood Levitical (7:11) Melchizedek (7:1-22)High Priest High Priests (Aaron, etc.) Jesus ChristTenure of High Priest

Death Limits Term (7:23) Forever (7:17)

Kind of Sacrifice

Blood of Bulls and Goats (9:13, 10:4)

Blood of Jesus (9:14, 10:10)

Location of Sacrifice

Earthly Tabernacle (9:1-8) Heavenly Sanctuary (9:24)

Frequency of Sacrifices

Continual (10:1, 11) Just Once (9:28, 10:12)

Effect Annual Reminder of Sins (10:3)

Permanent Forgiveness of Sins (10:18)

Purpose Ceremonial Cleanness (9:10)

A Cleansed Conscience / A New Heart(9:14/10:16)

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A Life Transforming Hope (Chapters 10:19-13):• After presenting the supremacy of Christ, the writer begins to

encourage us in our faith, hope, and love.• Why all of the previous teachings? Because our faith is centered

on a person, not a list of commands.• Our life is not to obey a list but to serve a risen Savior.• To do this we learn of the person and work of Christ, and not to

remind each other about the rules.• How? By studying the scriptures, including the Old testament

who’s purpose is to point us to Christ, the Messiah.• That is precisely the purpose of the book of Hebrews. • In the last few chapters of Hebrews, the writer provides us with

several points of application, drawn from the Old Testament.

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Faith (10:39-11):• Enter the “Faith Hall of Fame” in chapter 11. • We are to emulate these great saints by showing the same

confidence in the promises of God. • This section emphasizes that the way of salvation has always

been about faith and trust in God. • “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of

things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” Heb 11: 1-2

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Perseverance (12:1-12):• With the heritage of faith, the writer calls us to follow the

examples of these witnesses. • It is in suffering that we see the intersection of faith and

perseverance. • “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons”

(12:7). • Read 12:1-3. What does it mean to have persevering faith? • It means to trust that God is in control and that God is at work

accomplishing good purposes, even in the midst of great hardship.

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Hope (12:18-24):• The writer turns our minds toward the future. • Starting with the day the law was given to Israel at Mount Sinai.

Read 12:18-24. • Since we have been made part of this new covenant of the

heavenly Jerusalem, there is much to hope in. • Perseverance is fueled by meditating on God’s sovereign

goodness to us through Christ.• And the hope (assurance) we have before us in Heaven. • Hope comes from faith in future grace.

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Dangers in our struggle to persevere:There are seven warnings to struggling Christians.1. Ignoring what God has done in Christ

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” (2:1) God’s Word must be studied carefully, particularly what it has to say about Christ and what He has done.

2. Not Believing God“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” (3:12) A heart that believes God is a heart that doesn’t just know the Scriptures, but seeks to ________________ the implications of what God has said and apply it to our lives.

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3. Ceasing to Grow“For though by this time you ought to be teachers.” (5:12a) This is not classes of Christians (growing and not-growing). While there may be different levels of Christian maturity, all Christians ought to be growing Christians.

4. Not persevering in holiness“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (10:26-27) Repetitious and unrepentant sin in the life of a professing believer is a very serious matter. If Christ’s sacrifice has been ineffective in our lives, what hope do we have?”

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5. Losing Faith“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen..” (11:1) The writer knew that losing faith was a danger, so he provides this definition of faith – what it looks like. Hope is the result of faith in a reality we have not yet seen, but know exists.

6. Rejecting Discipline“For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (12:10-11) The Christian must be one that learns to listen to God’s correction and obey that correction. Else, we will not produce the harvest of righteousness He has prepared for us.

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7. Refusing This Warning “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven(12:25) Refusing to listen to the warning God has given us though this book will mean there is no escape from His judgment.