The letter to the Hebrews is a wake-up call reminding Jews, (and Christians) that we may be missing it all. The writer challenges the reader to leverage the real deal.
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Key Verse
Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Event Timeline of the Bible
Snapshot
- Objectives
- Introduction
- Real Centre: Hebrews 1,2
- Real Rest: Hebrews 3-4:13
- Real High Priest: Hebrews 4:14-5:10, 6:20-8:6
- Real Maturity: Hebrews 5:11-6:19
- Real Covenant: Hebrews 8:7-9:18
- Real Way to God: Hebrews 9:19-10:37
- Real Faith: Hebrews 10:38-11
- Real Race: Hebrews 12:1-14
- Real Kingdom: Hebrews 12:14-28
- Real Action: Hebrews 13
- Discussion
The Real Deal
AUTHORSHIP
- Addressed to the Jews all over.
- From AD 400-1600, titled “Paul’s letter
- Salutation unlike Paul’s
- Author, master of Greek, quotes Greek OT (the Septuagint).[1]
- Author had neither been with the Lord or received direct revelation. (Hebrews 2:3).
- Barnabas and Apollos strong candidates.
In this journey...
- We understand the truth about Jesus
- We learn to attain maturity in Christ in that truth
- We learn to avoid traps the Jews were falling into
- We have assurance of the associated benefits in this world and the next
Real Centre
Hebrews 1:10“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, 12 And like a mantle You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”
Christ is the centre of the universe. If we make him the centre of our lives, it will run in harmony with His purpose for the universe?
What are the other descriptions in ch 1 and 2 alluding to Christ as centrepiece?
Real Rest
Four types of rest in the bible:
- R est in Christ, soul rest: Matthew 11:28
- E ternal rest Hebrews 4:9
- S abbath rest Hebrews 4:9
- T emporal rest: Hebrews 4:8
Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Real High Priest
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin..
Real High Priest
Uniqueness of Christ the High Priest”
- Path to God: Hebrews 10:19,20
- Reached through humble obedience: Hebrews 5:8,9
- Is God: Hebrews 1:10
- Empathizes with us: 4:15
- Sinless Sacrifice: 4:15,7:27
- Timeless: 7:3,2
Real Maturity
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the
elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.
Hebrews 6:5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open
Real Covenant
Hebrews 8:10 “For this is the covenant…
I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people. 11 “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen.. For all will know Me, From the least to the greatest of them.
Real Way to God
Hebrews10:19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
Real Faith
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- Full
- Assurance
- In
- Triumphant
- Hope
Real Race
Hebrews 1b,2a..let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.
- Righteousness
- Attained by
- Christlike
- Endurance
Real Kingdom
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Real Action
The real action is outside the privileged zone
Real Action
Though the cause of evil prosper,
yet tis truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold,
and upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
keeping watch above His own.
From “Once to Every man and Nation” – James R lowell
Recap - Reality Check
| Real Deal | Truth | False Practices | |
| 1 | Real Centre 1,2 | Christ | Religion |
| 2 | Real Rest 3-4:13 | In Christ | No rest |
| 3 | Real High Priest 4:14-5:10, 6:20-8:6 | Christ alone | Sinful men |
| 4 | Real Maturity 5:11-6:19 | In Christ | Deeds |
| 5 | Real Covenant 8:7-9:18 | In our hearts | Law |
| 6 | Real Way to God 9:19-10:37 | Through Christ | Regular sacrifices |
| 7 | Real Faith 10:38-11 | In Christ | Works |
| 8 | Real Race 12:1-14 | For Christ | Rat race |
| 9 | Real Kingdom 12:14-28 | Christ’s Kingdom on earth and in heaven | Human significance |
| 10 | Real Action 13 | With Christ | Privileged zone |
Recap – Some terms
- REST:
Rest in Christ, Eternal rest, Sabbath rest, Temporal rest
- PRIEST:
Path to God, Reached through humble obedience,
Is God, Empathizes, Sinless Sacrifice, Timeless
- FAITH:
Full
Assurance
In
Triumphant Hope
Real Deal Discussion
1.In what ways do we as Christian believers still behave and think like the Jews? How can we change our mind set?
2.If Christ is truly centre what will be different in our lives? Why are we resisting it?
3.How can we achieve rest here and now?
4.Reflect on “real action is outside privileged zone”. What can you do to get into the “action zone”?
References
- Biblestudytools.com