Hebrews Lesson 1
Introduction
“When he arrived at the gate, he looked up at the writing that was above it and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly provided to him. The men who looked over the top of the gate asked him, “Where have you come from, and what do you want?”
Ignorance answered,
“I’ve eaten and drunk in the presence of the King, and he has taught in our streets.”
Luke 13:22-27
22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.
23 Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them,
24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you,
will try to enter and will not be able to.
25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26 "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'
Then they asked him for his Certificate, so they might go in and show it to the King.
He fumbled in his coat for one and found none.
Then they said, “Have you none?”
But the man did not answer.
When they told the King, He would not come down to see him but instead commanded the two Shining Ones who had conducted Christian and Hopeful into the City to bind Ignorance hand and foot and take him away. Then they picked Ignorance up and carried him through the air to the door that I had seen in the side of the hill and put him in there.
Matt 22:13-14
13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen."
Then I saw that there was a way to Hell, even from the very gates of Heaven,
as well as from the City of Destruction.”
Matt 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
John Bunyan; The Pilgrim’s Progress
1678
I. The Structure of Hebrews - 13 Chapters
A. The Author - Unknown
B. The Audience - Professing Believers
C. The Time - AD65ish
D. The Circumstances - Dire
1. A song of redemption Ex 15:1-21
2. A song of drifting
Exod 16:2-3
2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."
E. The Concern 2:1
1. A picture of the Christian pilgrimage 3:15 – 19
2. The danger of drifting away
II. The surety of true faith
2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-- unless, of course, you fail the test?
A. The test of faith is perseverance 4:1-2
Col 1:21-23
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight,
without blemish and free from accusation--
23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel....
B. The faith tested must be true - Bunyan’s Ignorance has no excuse
III. The Pattern of “Drift”
A. Neglect 2:1-3a (NAS)
B. Doubt 3:7 – 4:13
C. Indifference 5:11 – 6:20
D. Disobedience 10:26-29
E. Defiance 12:14-29
IV. The Message of Hebrews
A. Evaluation (Key Words)
1. Better Jesus is better than......
a. angels
b. Moses
c. Joshua
d. the priesthood
e. The old covenant
2. Perfect a perfect standing before God
3. Eternal
a. salvation 5:9
b. redemption 9:12
c. inheritance 9:15
B. Exhortation (warnings)
Heb 13:22 Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.
C. Examination (who or what are we really trusting?)
Heb 12:25-29
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-- that is, created things-- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
D. Expectation (look to the future)
Heb 2:5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
Heb 2:8 ...God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
1. Jesus is the heir of all things 1:2
2. We are promised an eternal inheritance 9:15
3. Faith looks for a future city 11:10-16
Examples:
Abraham 11:10
Moses 11:26
Jesus 12:2
TNBS Study Questions – 1 Preparation for week 2
For Hebrews; Introduction & 1:1 – 3
Read Hebrews
1. Who wrote the book of Hebrews? ______
2. To whom was it written? ______
______
3. Why was it written? ______
______
4. What is its major theme? ______
5. What are some of the special characteristics of Hebrews? ______
______
6. Why is this wonderful letter so often avoided? ______
______
7. Why do you think it’s so relevant to our day? ______
______
Read Hebrews 1:1-3
8. List truths about Jesus that the writer clearly sets forth in these first three verses.
If you find five or less, please do your homework prior to arriving for class and read Hebrews 6:12
six to seven, please read Philippians 3:12-14
eight or more, please sit on the front row and read Proverbs 16:18
______
______
______
______
9. How should these truths about Jesus, along with Galatians 2:20, impact your:
worship ______
world view ______
attitude ______
actions ______