SERMON: New Testament Overview, Part 8: Hebrews






New Testament Overview
Part 8: Hebrews

  • I. Introduction
    • This Session: Hebrews
    • Since we took a lightning tour through the rest of Pauline epistles, we’re slowing down.
    • This book is one of doctrine, just like Romans
    • Overview of Hebrews
      • One unit of thought? (13:22; Acts 13:15)
      • Hebrews is a book full of the Old Testament.  There are:
        • 12 direct quotes from the Torah
        • 11 direct quotes from the Psalms
        • 4 direct quotes from the Prophets
        • 2 direct quotes from the “Writings” or Historical Prophets
  • II. Hebrews Introduction
    • AUDIENCE: Jewish Christians in Rome
    • DATE: ad 60s
    • AUTHOR: Unknown
      • Member of Paul’s Team (13:23)
      • Definitely Pauline in content but not writing
      • Author received confirmation of Gospel through others (2:3), which seems to rule out Paul (Gal. 1:12).
    • THEME: Superiority of Christ
    • OUTLINE
      • I. The Living Word (1 – 4:13)
      • II. The High Priest (4:14 – 8)
      • III. The Perfect Sacrifice (9 – 10)
      • IV. The Sanctification (11 – 13)
  • III. Hebrews Overview
    • Hebrews 1
      • Who is this Jesus?
        • Deity (v. 3 — translated “the exact imprint” [ESV], a tool for engraving, but it is also where the English word “character” is derived.)
        • Greater than angels
      • Covenants: The importance of Old Testament citations
        • Review: The Davidic Covenant ( 2 Sam 7:14; Psa. 2)
        • Whose Son is He?
    • Hebrews 2
      • The first warning passage
        • MSB on 2:1 — ships drift when not moored
        • The Essenes believed Michael to be above the Messiah
      • The eschatological hope
        • End time focus; Heb. 1:6 & 2:5
        • The “end of the age,” Dan 12:3 and a review of Dispensationalism
    • Hebrews 3
      • Jesus our High Priest (greater than Moses)
      • Second warning passage
        • Cf. Matt. 13:24–30, parable of the wheat & tares (2 kinds of seed)
        • A review of Exodus 17 and Numbers 20
        • The heart of man and the temptation to go astray
        • The comparison between Old and New Testament regeneration
      • The importance of “today”
        • The Words of the Holy Spirit are always current!
        • Good works and obedience from the heart
    • Hebrews 4
      • The Sabbath Rest
        • A discussion of the relationship between the Law and the Christian
        • Vv. 8–10 — Joshua did not give them a Sabbath rest; “there remains” a promised rest. 
        • Rest in Christ, both in His kingdom and at the end of the age
      • The inner man and the administration of Christ
    • Hebrews 5
      • Perfect High Priest
        • The Law doesn’t allow for two high priests!
        • Jesus must be a different kind of high priest, of a different lineage.
      • Who the heck was Melchizedek?
        • “King of Righteousness”
        • Otherwise obscure figure, but both king and priest of Salem.
        • Melchizedek has no recorded lineage, and Jesus has a divine lineage. 
        • Hebrews 5:6 quotes Psalm 110:4; Christ’s reign is Davidic, inadmissible for priestly service under Moses.
    • Hebrews 6
      • The next warning passage (one of six in this book)
        • Can a Christian lose salvation?  No!
        • This is a mixed congregation & some fall away (1 Tim 4:1)
          • “Once enlightened” does not apply to all with genuine faith.  Balaam was enlightened but he is also listed among the damned in 2 Pt 2:20–22 and in Jude. 
          • “Partakers” also need not apply.  In Luke 5:7, we see that it can mean a loose association. 
      • The greater context — will they go back to Judaism, or will they trust in the finished work of Christ?
    • Hebrews 7
      • Melchizedek
      • Review of the Aaronic priesthood, why it was inferior
        • V. 4 — Tithing was a practice common to the ancient world
        • Vv. 5–6 — Levi was “in” Abraham at the time
      • Discussion on soul creation in this text
        • Creationism
        • Traducanism
        • Seminal Headship
    • Hebrews 8
      • Cutting to the chase
        • The New Covenant and its replacement of the Old in Christ
        • The change of the priest system
      • The provisions of the New Covenant
        • The inadequacies of the Old
        • The special abilities of the New and the once-for-all forgivingness of sins (v. 12)!
        • The OC is “obsolete” (v. 13).
    • Hebrews 9
      • Comparing the NC to the Old
        • The priest and temple worship (vv. 1–10)
          • The high priest appeared
          • He went into the presence of God
          • He then appeared to the people again (a dead priest served no purpose)
        • Christ and worship in the NC (vv. 11–28)
          • Christ appeared (v. 11)
          • Christ entered (v. 24)
          • Christ will appear again (v. 28)
    • Hebrews 10
      • He is our Great High Priest
        • His sacrifice is greater than animal blood!
        • He entered “once for all” (9:12)
        • So, there is forgiveness, no longer a need for sacrifice (10:18). 
      • Christian love and works — begin with His love and works
      • Another warning
        • Some who “professed Christ” who do not have a saving belief in Him; they are God’s adversaries (v. 27). 
    • Hebrews 11
      • A discussion on faith
        • Misunderstanding: Faith isn’t what isn’t seen; faith informs our lives, giving us assurance and confidence, even when we don’t see the results today.
        • Direct object of faith: Christ 
        • The connection between faith and works (James 2)
        • How Christ’s work and love motivate our faith
    • Hebrews 12
      • “Therefore”
        • A review of what has come before in the previous couple of chapters
        • Looking to and considering Christ’s sacrifice and obedience 
        • Considering the two “mountains” of Scripture: Sinai and Zion
      • Love 
        • The loving discipline of the Father
        • The drive toward peacemaking and holy living among the saints
    • Hebrews 13
      • The practical aspects of love
        • Love for one another
        • Love for strangers
        • Love for our leaders
      • Sanctification in Christ, being strengthened in Him for holy living
  • IV. Conclusion
    • Major themes
      • Warning passages
      • Words of Exhortation
    • Next Time: The Rest of the Epistles

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