Hebrews Lesson #2

RETURN TO SYLLABUS
HEBREWS 1
LESSON #2
JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD

MEMORY VERSE: HEB 1:8

THE BOOK OF HEBREWS BEGINS WITH 2 MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS NEITHER OF WHICH IT ATTEMPTS TO PROVE:

1. IT ASSUMES THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT GOD DOES EXIST.
2. IT ASSUMES YOU KNOW THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.

READ HEB 1:1-3 JESUS CHRIST, THE SON, IS SUPERIOR TO THE PROPHETS

GOD SPOKE AT SUNDRY TIMES (1-2)

THIS HAS A SPECIAL MEANING TO US:

MAN WAS CREATED FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
GOD DESIRES AND PURSUES THAT FELLOWSHIP.
GOD ASKS THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN.

WHY? SO THAT WE MIGHT KNOW HIM.

**HOW DID GOD SPEAK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?

1. THROUGH THE PROPHETS WHO WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (1:1)
2. THROUGH DREAMS AND VISIONS
3. THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES (THE BURNING BUSH EXO 3:1-6)
4. THROUGH THE VERBAL AND WRITTEN WORD

GOD DID NOT GIVE ALL HIS WISDOM TO ONE MAN. INSTEAD HE GAVE IT IN PIECES TO MANY MEN THROUGH THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF TIME.

THEREFORE, THE BIBLE GIVES US A DEVELOPMENT OF TRUTH.

**HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO MEN TODAY?

THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, THE BETTER MESSENGER (1:2)
IN ALL THE SAME WAYS HE SPOKE TO MEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. HEB 13:8

READ MAT 3:17 MAT 17:5 2PE 1:17

GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON, AND WE SHOULD HEAR HIM.

**HOW HAS GOD SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON?

JOH 12:44-46 JOH 14:9

SEEING JESUS IS SEEING THE FATHER
BELIEVING IN JESUS IS BELIEVING IN GOD

THE UNITY BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS IS THAT GOD STILL SPEAKS TODAY AND FOR ALL THE SAME FOUR REASONS IN 1-4 ABOVE…THAT WE MIGHT KNOW HIM.

SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGION IN THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENTS:

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

EXTERNAL STYLE OF WORSHIP

GUIDED BY LAW

PREPARATORY

TEMPORARY

BY THE MEDIATION OF MEN

INTERNAL STYLE OF WORSHIP

GUIDED BY GRACE

FULFILLMENT

PERMANENT

BY THE MEDIATION OF THE SON

THE MEANING OF THE CONTRAST IN HEBREWS 1:1-2 BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENTS:

EVERYTHING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS TO PREPARE THE WAY AND TO POINT THE WAY TO JESUS CHRIST.

SEVEN STATEMENTS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST:

1. GOD HAS APPOINTED JESUS CHRIST HEIR OF ALL THINGS (2)
2. GOD MADE THE WORLDS (AGES) THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD’S GLORLY.

"BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY" = LITERALLY MEANS "SHINING FORTH". IT'S NOT A REFLECTION BUT AN OUTSHINING OF GLORIOUS LIGHT.

4. JESUS CHRIST IS THE IMAGE OF GOD EXPRESSED TO US.

"EXPRESS IMAGE" = IN CLASSICAL GREEK, THIS PHRASE WAS USED OF AN ENGRAVING TOOL OR STAMP OFTEN IN MINTING COINS. IT CAME TO REFER TO THE ACTUAL MARK ENGRAVED BY THE TOOL ITSELF. THEREFORE, JESUS IS THE EXACT EXPRESSION, THE ABSOLUTE AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION OF GOD, THE FATHER. HE IS NOT JUST A COPY BUT THE AUTHENTIC ONE.

5. JESUS CHRIST HOLDS TOGETHER ALL THINGS IN CREATION.

"UPHOLDING ALL THINGS" = NOT JUST A STRONGMAN, ATLAS, HOLDING THE DEAD WEIGHT OF A WORLD, BUT SUSTAINING IT. IT INCLUDES THE IDEA OF MOVEMENT TOWARD A DETERMINED END. JESUS MAINTAINS AND CARRIES ALONG TOWARD A PRE-DETERMINED END ALL THINGS IN THE UNIVERSE (COL 1:17).

6. JESUS CHRIST PURGED OUR SINS.

THE WORD "PURGE" MEANS TO CLEANSE; TO GET RID OF IMPURITIES.

7. JESUS IS SEATED IN HEAVEN WITH GOD

"SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND" = IN JEWISH CULTURE, SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND WAS A PLACE OF HONOR, PRIVILEGE, DIGNITY, POWER, AND BLESSING. BECAUSE JESUS IS SEATED INDICATES HIS REDEMPTIVE WORK IS FINISHED.

THERE ARE FIVE PROOFS IN HEB 1:3 THAT SHOW CHRIST IS FULLY

GOD:

1. HE HAS THE GLORY OF GOD IN HIM.
2. HE IS EXACT IMAGE OF GOD IN THE FLESH.
3. HE SUSTAINS ALL THINGS MOVING THEM TOWARD A DETERMINED END.
4. HE PURCHASED OUR REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS BY PAYING FOR OUR SINS -- EARTHLY MINISTRY OF BLOOD SHEDDING
5. HE IS SEATED AT THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND -- HEAVENLY MINISTRY OF BLOOD SPRINKLING

HE KEEPS OPEN OUR ACCESS TO GOD'S PRESENCE SO AS TO MAKE THE KINGDOM OF GOD ACCESSIBLE TO OUR HEARTS.

THIS IS THE WORK OF JESUS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SO AS TO LIVE MORE VICTORIOUSLY.

WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO WE DISCOVER ABOUT JESUS IN THESE FIRST THREE VERSES?

1. HE IS THE SON OF GOD
2. HE IS HEIR OF ALL THINGS

ALL THINGS WERE CREATED FOR HIM

3. HE IS THE CREATOR

ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM

4. HE SUSTAINS AND HOLDS ALL THINGS TOGETHER

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS GRAVITY THAT DID THAT!!

5. HE IS FULL OF GLORY
6. HE IS THE PERFECT IMAGE OF GOD THE FATHER
7. HE IS THE REDEEMER WIPING AWAY OUR SINS
8. HE IS ROYALTY

READ HEB 1:4-14 JESUS CHRIST, THE SON, IS SUPERIOR TO ANGELS

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT ANGELS?

THEIR APPEARANCE:

THE BIBLE DESCRIBES A VARIETY OF APPEARANCES ACCORDING TO CIRCUMSTANCES BUT THEY ARE OFTEN BRILLIANT AND DAZZLING (MAT 28:2-7 REV 10:1-2)
THEY ARE ABLE TO APPEAR IN BODILY FORM

(LUK 20:36 PHI 3:21)

THEIR CREATION:

THEY WERE CREATED AT THE TIME THE UNIVERSE WAS CREATED (PSA 148:2-5 JOH 1:3 COL 1:16)
THEY WERE CREATED IN GREAT NUMBER (1KI 22:19 MAT 26:53 HEB 12:22)
NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED.

THEIR MINISTRY:

MINISTERING SPIRITS SENT FORTH TO SERVE THOSE WHO ARE HEIRS OF SALVATION (HEB 1:14)
THEY ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD.
THEY GUARD THE GLORY OF GOD.
THEY CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF GOD.

THE WORD ANGEL MEANS "MESSENGER"

THEIR CHARACTERISTICS:

GREAT STRENGTH (PSA 103:20 REV 5:2)
FREE WILL
POSSESS GREAT POWER AND INTELLIGENCE BEYOND THAT OF HUMANS.

HIERARCHY OF ANGELS:

ARCHANGELS

MICHAEL -- CONCERNED WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL
GABRIEL -- CONCERNED WITH PROPHECY
RAPHAEL -- NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE BUT IN OTHER WORKS
URIEL -- NOT MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE BUT IN OTHER WORKS

CHERUBIM

LUCIFER -- A FALLEN ANGEL WHO BECAME SATAN

ISA 14:12-17 EZE 28:11-19
TWO CHERUBIM COVER THE THRONE OF GOD
ONE GUARDS THE GARDEN OF EDEN

SERAPHIM

MESSENGERS EZE 1

AN ANGELIC HOST OR ARMY

LUK 2:13 2KI 6:15-17

MINISTERING ANGELS

VS. 7 "FLAMES OF FIRE" (WINDS...FIRE) =

ANGELS EXECUTE GOD'S COMMANDS WITH THE SWIFTNESS OF WIND AND THE STRENGTH OF FIRE. (PSA 104:4)

AN ANGEL FOR EACH TRUE CHURCH (REV 1:20)
AN ANGEL FOR EACH SAVED PERSON (HEB 1:14 ACT 12:15)
A MINISTRY OF ANGELS FOR EACH CHILD (MAT 18:10)

THEIR NAME:

THEY WERE GIVEN THE EXALTED NAME, "SONS OF GOD". (PSA 97:7)

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO THE WRITER TO PROVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS BETTER THAN THE ANGELS?

BETWEEN 200 BC AND 400 AD, THERE WAS MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT ANGELS JUST AS THERE IS TODAY. THE JEWS BELIEVED THAT THE ANGELS HAD BROUGHT ABOUT CREATION. THEY BELIEVED THAT THE POWER OF GOD WAS WISDOM AND THAT WISDOM WAS THE AGENT OF CREATION.
IN GEN 1:26 "LET US" WAS INTERPRETED AS GOD CONSULTING WITH A COUNCIL OF ANGELS. THEY BELIEVED THAT ANGELS WERE EXTREMELY POWERFUL AND HIGHLY EXALTED BECAUSE GOD GAVE THE LAW THROUGH ANGELS TO MOSES. (SEE 2SA 14:20 PSA 103:20 HEB 12:22 GAL 3:19). THEREFORE, ANGELS WERE GIVEN THE JOB OF DISTRIBUTING THE BLESSINGS OF THE MOSAIC COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE. MANY JEWS BELIEVED THAT ANGELS ACTED AS GOD'S "SENATE" OR "SUPREME COUNCIL" AND THAT GOD DID NOTHING WITHOUT CONSULTING THIS COUNCIL.

WHY IS CHRIST BETTER THAN THE ANGELS? (4)

HE IS THE CREATOR
HE IS THE INCARNATE SON OF GOD

JESUS IS CALLED "THE ANGEL OF THE LORD" IN THE OLD TESTAMENT BUT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WE SEE HIS INARNATION, AND THEN HE IS NEVER AGAIN CALLED "THE ANGEL OF THE LORD."
HE HAS A BETTER NAME

HE IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP BY THE ANGELS
HE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS COMPARED WITH 1/3 OF THE ANGELS THAT FELL WITH SATAN.
HE IS THE ULTIMATE VICTOR AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND
HE HAS A BETTER PLACE
ANGELS NEVER REDEEMED ANYONE

"A MORE EXCELLENT NAME" = ACCORDING TO ANCIENT JEWISH THINKING, A NAME WAS MORE THAN A LABEL PUT ON SOMEONE. IT REPRESENTED HIS WHOLE BEING, HIS WHOLE CHARACTER, HIS WHOLE PAST AND FUTURE. IT WAS A MINI-COMMENTARY ON THE PERSON (LIKE THE MAGNETIC STRIP ON YOUR CREDIT CARD).

YOUR NAME IS YOUR IDENTITY. IT REPRESENTS YOUR CHARACTER, ALL THAT MAKES YOU YOU.

SEVEN OLD TESTAMENT QUOTATIONS:

"THIS DAY" (5) = THE DAY JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD (ACT 13:33 PSA 2:7 COL 2:18 REV 1:5)

THIS IS A QUOTATION FROM PSA 2:7 WHICH GIVES US A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF JESUS THAN THE 4 GOSPELS GIVE US.

"I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON.(5)

THIS IS A QUOTATION FROM 2SAM 7:12-14.

"FIRST BEGOTTEN" (6) = THIS TITLE BASICALLY MEANS "CHIEF ONE". HE IS CALLED THIS BECAUSE HE EXISTED BEFORE CREATION AND ALL CREATION IS HIS HERITAGE.

THIS IS A QUOTATION FROM PSA 97:7.

"WHO MAKETH HIS ANGELS SPIRITS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE." (7) = THE ANGELS MINISTER TO JESUS CHRIST.

THIS IS A QUOTATION FROM PSA 104:4.

THE UNITY OF GOD, THE FATHER, AND JESUS, THE SON (8-9)

AS GOD, CHRIST IS THE ETERNAL KING
AS GOD, CHRIST IS THE RIGHTEOUS KING
AS GOD, CHRIST IS THE ANOINTED KING

THIS REFERES TO A QUOTATION FROM PSA 45:6-7 WHERE GOD, THE FATHER CALLS JESUS, THE SON, "GOD".

VERSES 10-12 ARE QUOTATIONS FROM:

PSA 102:25-27

VERSE 13 IS A QUOTATION FROM PSA 110:1.

WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN THIS PASSAGE?

HE HAS AN INHERITANCE (4)
HE HAS AN EXCELLENT NAME -- THE FIRST BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD (4-6)
HE HAS A THRONE (8)
HE IS GOD (8)
HE IS ETERNAL (8,12)
A RULER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (8)
HE HAS A KINGDOM (8)
ANOINTED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (9)
HE IS CREATOR (10)
HE IS VICTORIOUS OVER HIS ENEMIES (13)

SUMMARY:

THE OLD TESTAMENT CAME BY THE PROPHETS, THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO MOSES BY GOD THROUGH ANGELS, BUT REDEMPTION CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE FULFILLMENT OF ALL THE PROPHECIES AND THE LAW. JESUS CHRIST IS THEREFORE BETTER THAN THE PROPHETS AND THE ANGELS.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON; ANGELS ARE ONLY SERVANTS.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE CREATOR; ANGELS ARE ONLY CREATED BEINGS.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE KING; ANGELS ARE HIS SUBJECTS.

HOMEWORK FOR HEBREWS 2

THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.

APPLICATION OF HEBREWS 1:

WHAT NEW THINGS DID YOU LEARN ABOUT JESUS CHRIST?

HOW WILL KNOWING THESE THINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE?

PREPARATION FOR HEBREWS 2:

READ HEBREWS 2:1-4

HAVING LEARNED WHO JESUS CHRIST IS IN CHAPTER 1, WHY WERE THESE HEBREW CHRISTIANS IN GREATER DANGER IF THEY IGNORED "SUCH A GREAT SALVATION" THAN THE DANGER OF THOSE WHO VIOLATED THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW?

THE WRITER STOPS IN THE PROGRESS OF HIS THOUGHT AND THROWS IN A PARENTHESIS BREAK. WE SEE 3 DISTINCT PARTS. FOR THIS FIRST PARENTHESIS BREAK, FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING CHART.

SCRIPTURE

1. BACKGROUND

2. THE SIN

3. THE WARNING

HEB 2:1-14

READ HEBREWS 2:5-18

HOW DOES THE AUTHOR STRESS JESUS' COMPLETE IDENTITY WITH MAN (2:11-13)?
WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO SHARE HUMAN NATURE COMPLETELY (2:14-18)?

MEMORY VERSE: HEB 2:18