Doctrine Correction

Chapter 1 JESUS IS THE FINAL WORD

Hebrews 1:1-2 – Jesus is God:

Hebrews 1:3 v3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

– Jesus is Superior to Angels

Hebrews 1:4 v4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Jesus is God and Angels are not:

Hebrews 1: 15-14

v6 Angels worship him

v8 His throne will last forever

v9 He laid the earth foundation and created heavens

v14 – Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

DRIFTING AWAY FROM THE TRUTH:

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Hebrews 2:1

2:9 He was made lower than angels for a while when he came to identify with man, but now is crowned in glory and and honour

Hebrews 3:3 – Jesus has greater honour than Moses

Why Did Jesus come as Fully Human?

Hebrews 2:5 – 18
– v9-10: Tasted death on our behalf in order to bring us to glory
-v 11: Makes God’s people Holy
-v 14: To break the power of the devil/make him powerless (The one who had the power of death).
– v15 To free us from the slavery of the fear of death
– v17: To become a merciful and faithful High Priest who made atonement for their sins
– v18: To help those being tempted, since he too suffered when he was tempted

EXHORTATIONS:

– Fix your thoughts on Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our Faith

1. As an APOSTLE:

– Hebrews 3:
v2,5 ,6 – He was faithful to God
v3 – Greater honour than Moses

2. As a HIGH PRIEST:

– Hebrews 4: 15 – He empathizes with our weaknesses for he experienced temptations in everyway, just as we do – yet did not sin.

– Hebrews 4:15 – Through Christ priesthood,we can approach God’s throne of Grace with confidence; where we receive mercy and find grace to help us in our weakness

– Hebrews 5:1-2: High priests were chosen from the people, would represent people in matters related to God, offering sacrifices and gifts for sin. Were able to deal GENTLY with those who were going astray, since himself was subject to weakness.

v3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people

v5-6, 10 Jesus was chosen by God as a priest FOREVER in the order of Melchizedek.

v7-8: How Jesus lived on earth:

v7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

v8 Though God’s son, he learnt to be obedient from his sufferings.

v9 By his perfect and sinless life, he is the source of eternal salvation to those who obey.

…………………………………………..

– Hebrews 3:13 – Encouraging one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today’ against sin deceitfulness which brings about hardening of the heart.
– Hebrews 4:1 – The promise of entering into his rest still stands.
– Hebrews 4:3 – Those who believe enter God’s rest
– Hebrews 4:11 – We must make every effort to enter God’s rest to avoid following the example of those who perished due to disobedience.
– Hebrews 4:12 – We must allow God’s word to work in us and judge our thoughts and attitudes

WARNINGS:

– Hebrews 2:2 – We cannot escape punishment if we ignore such a great salvation.
– Hebrews 3:12-14 – Turning away from God, sin hardens the heart, holding to our original conviction
– Hebrews 3:11 – God’s anger burns against v8 Hardening of heart, Rebellion and testing God, v9 testing and trying God, v10 hearts that go astray from God, and fail to acknowledge God’s way(In his anger God declared they shall never enter His rest).
– Hebrews 3:16-19 – Against rebellion, disobedience and unbelief which brings punishment from entering His rest.
– Hebrews 4:1 – Against falling short of his promise of entering his rest.
– Hebrews 4:2 – Failing to receive God’s word/promise by faith.
– Hebrews 4:11- Disobedience births perishing
– Hebrews 3:7, 15, 4:7 – Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart
– Hebrews 4:11 – We shall give an account before God for nothing is
hidden from him, everything is bare
– Hebrews 4:14 – Holding firmly to the faith we profess.

A CHALLENGE TO GROW:

***They were drifting away – raising Angels and Moses above Christ-  for they had refused to grow***

Hebrews 5:11-15 – The writer wonders how he can make the things he has been talking about clearer for these people who have refused to TRY to UNDERSTAND.

Challenge 1: “In fact, though by this time you ought to be TEACHERS, you need someone to teach you the ELEMENTARY truths of God’s word all OVER AGAIN. You need milk, not solid food!” Hebrews 5:12

Challenge 2 : “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.” Hebrews 5:13

Challenge 3: But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14

Challenge 4: Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE  from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, Hebrews 6:1.

v2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:2

*** God permitting, we will do so ( Things mentioned in vs 1-2) Hebrews 6:2

FURTHER WARNING: Hebrews 6:4-6

v4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
v5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age
v6  and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again (**behaving like they have not been saved by Christ’s death** AMP), and subjecting him to public disgrace.

ANALOGY to emphasize need for living a FRUITFUL LIFE as a believer.

v7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces (**persistently,** AMP) thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Hebrews 6:7-8

ENCOURAGEMENT: (v9) Based on things that accompany salvation).

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10

v11- In your case, we do not expect you to remain at the elementary level or to fall away but rather –

a. v11  to be diligent upto the end until you realize your hope.
b. v12 Not to be lazy but imitate those who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit what has been promised.

GOD’s PROMISES ARE CERTAIN & BRING HOPE:

Hebrews 6: 13 – God swore by himself to Abraham – saying, v14 “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”

v15 – Abraham patiently waited and finally he received it.

v16 – God’s Promise to Abraham through an oath was binding, v17 for God had bound himself by an oath, help those who received the promise understand/be certain that God could not change his mind.

v18 God gave both a promise and an oath (swore by himself), which are unchangeable for He cannot LIE.

v18b ……We who have fled to him for refuge have confidence as we hold to the HOPE that lies ahead of us.

About the HOPE that LIES ahead of us:

v19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (** confident assurance***). It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
v20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf (***heavenly temple, the most holy place, in the very presence of God***). He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20 NIV

** Jesus our eternal high priest has gone ahead of us into the heavenly temple***

(Writer tries to explain ‘though they do not try to understand’ that the priesthood of Christ is greater than LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD)

Who was this Melchizedek??

Hebrews 7: 1

– King of Salem
– Priest of the Most High God

v2
– Melchizedek – King of righteousness
– Salem – King of Peace

v3
– Has no father, mother, genealogy, beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, an eternal priest.

v1-2, 4

*** Think how great he was!
– He Blessed Abraham who in return gave him a tenth of everything.

v5 Levitical priests collect a tenth from their fellow Israelites (Abraham’s descendants)…..but this one……

v6
– Did not trace descent from Levi (Levitical tribe), yet collected a tithe from Abraham.
– Blessed Abraham who had the promises (*** And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.
Hebrews 7:7***)

v8 Other priests who collected a tithe would die, but this one was declared living forever.

v9 Figuratively, even Levi paid a tithe to Melchizedek through Abraham his ancestor.

JESUS PRIESTHOOD GREATER THAN THAT OF MELCHIZEDEK:

v11 If perfection could be attained through the Levitical Priesthood of Aaron established by the Law……why was there need for ANOTHER PRIEST  the one who came in the order of Melchizedek? ( ***For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. Hebrews 7:12 ***).

v13-14 Jesus came from a different tribe (Judah), not Levi,…. v16 and became a priest on the basis of indestructible power and not on the basis of regulation as to his ancestry.

By Christ Coming as an eternal priest:

v18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless v19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a BETTER HOPE is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 7:18-19

v Others became priests without an oath….but this became a priest through an oath

The oath:

but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” Hebrews 7:21

v22 Because of the oath, he’s a GUARANTOR of a BETTER COVENANT

v23-24 His priesthood is permanent for he lives forever unlike the others who were prevented by death to perpetually serve.

v25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to INTERCEDE for them. Hebrews 7:25

v26 Such a High Priest (Holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted ABOVE the heavens) is able to meet our needs.

v27 His sacrifice was once for all when he offered himself, unlike other priests who had to offer a sacrifice for themselves first, then for the people everyday.

v28 Levitical priests were appointed by the Law with all their weakness, but Jesus the Son of God, was appointed by the OATH which came after the LAW and has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 8:1 Jesus now is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven.

v2 He serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle in heaven

v3 Priests offer gifts & sacrifices, and so Jesus had to offer something as well.

v4 The priests on earth offer gifts prescribed by the Law…..(***this is not a priest on earth…..)

v5 Priests on earth serve at a sanctuary that is a COPY and SHADOW of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5

v6 The ministry of Jesus is Superior to the earthly priests, as the covenant of which he is MEDIATOR is SUPERIOR to the old one, since the new covenant is established on BETTER PROMISES.
Hebrews 8:6

v7 A place was sought for the SECOND covenant because there was something wrong with the FIRST Covenant.

What was WRONG???

***v8 God found fault with the people**

v9 They did not remain faithful and God turned away from them

v10 About the New Covenant:

–  I will put my laws in their minds and WRITE them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Ref: Jeremiah 31:31).

**God’s law is written in our hearts**

– v11 No one will depend on their neighbor in order to know the Lord, for all will know him from the least to the greatest.

– v12 God will forgive the wickedness of the people and remember their sins no more.

v13 State of the “New” vs “Old” Covenant:

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13

Chapter 9: Worship in the earthly tabernacle explained

– v1 Was in accordance with the first covenant which had REGULATIONS & an earthly SANCTUARY.

How was the sanctuary setup?

v2  Tabernacle/Sacred Tent

– Inside was the FIRST ROOM (HOLY PLACE) with a lampstand, and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.

v3 After the Holy Place/First Room, behind the second curtain was the MOST HOLY PLACE.

v4 The Most Holy Place had the following:
– Golden altar of incense
– Gold covered ark of the covenant
(In the ark was Gold Jar of Manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant).

v5 Above the Ark were:
– Cherubim of the Glory which overshadowed the atonement cover

v6 The priests entered regularly into the OUTER ROOM to carry on their ministry.

v7 But only the high priest entered the INNER ROOM, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in IGNORANCE.

What do we learn from v 1-7:

****v8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that THE WAY into the Most Holy Place [True Holy of Holies – God’s presence] had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ****

v9 In the First Covenant/earthly worship:

– The gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.(Why?)

v10 They were only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying [To help worshipers] until the time of the NEW ORDER.

New Order through Christ:

v11 Christ came as high priest of the GOOD THINGS [True spiritual worship] that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation [entered heaven].

v12 In the new order, Jesus did not enter [into the true sanctuary in heaven] by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place [Holy of Holies in heaven, in the presence of God] ONCE FOR ALL by his OWN blood, thus obtaining ETERNAL redemption.

Hebrews 9 Consider this:

v13 If under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse [sanctify], people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. NLT

If that is so with animal blood,

v14 Just think how much more the BLOOD OF CHRIST will purify our consciences from sinful deeds [Acts that lead to death] so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself [unblemished – without moral or spiritual imperfection] to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. NLT

v 15 Christ is the Mediator/Negotiator of a New Covenant [that unites God and man] through His blood. Through his mediation: those who have been called [by God] receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment/ransom] which redeems them [sets free] from the sins [penalty of sin] committed under the obsolete first covenant.

v16-17 Analogy of a WILL [Covenant/Testament].

A will comes into force only after the maker has died; but not when he is still living.

How was the first WILL/Covenant Done using the WILL Analogy?

v18  Came into force through shedding of blood [signifying death had taken place].

How Moses made the First ‘Will’ come to Force:

First:

v19 Moses proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of sacrificed calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled
[- using hyssop branches and scarlet wool-] the scroll and all the people. (NIV, NLT AMP).

Second:

He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” Hebrews 9:20 NIV

Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.”
Hebrews 9:20 NLT

saying, “This is the blood of the covenant [that seals and ratifies the agreement] which God ordained and commanded [me to deliver to] you.”
Hebrews 9:20 AMP

¶Ref: Exodus 24:8¶

Finally,

v21 He sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies [Sacred utensils].
Hebrews 9:21 NIV

Blood brought purification/cleansing & forgiveness:

v22 According to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified [cleansed] with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].

Therefore,

v23 These sacrifices [Blood of animals] purified the earthly copies of heavenly things; but the heavenly things required a far better sacrifice than these [blood of animals].

Christ the BETTER sacrifice; the Eternal High Priest:

v24 He did not enter a sanctuary [Holy place] made with human hands that was only a mere copy of the true one; he entered into heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

***He appears for us in God’s presence***

The Eternal High Priest:

v25 And he did not enter into the heavenly sanctuary to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood that is not their own [blood of an animal].

What happened after Christ had entered into the heavenly sanctuary?

v26 If he had entered heaven to offer himself again and again like the earthly priests, he would have to die/suffer again and again since the world begun.

BUT for Christ:

v26b He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin [REMOVE SIN]  by the sacrifice of himself.

His sacrifice was a one time sacrifice:

v27  Just as people are destined to die once [it is appointed and destined for all men to die once], and after that to face [certain] judgment,

v28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away [bear as a burden] the sins of many; and he will appear a second time , not to bear [deal with] sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidentily waiting for him.

Hebrews 10: One Sacrifice of Christ is Enough

The Law couldn’t provide perfect cleansing – was a SHADOW:

v1 The law [old system under the law of Moses] is only a shadow [pale representation/dim preview] of the good things that are coming—not the REALITIES [good things] themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, MAKE PERFECT [provide perfect cleansing] those who draw near [approach its altar] to worship.

Levitical Sacrifices:

v2 If perfect cleansing was possible under the Levitical sacrifices, then they would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been cleansed [purified] once for all, and would no longer have felt GUILTY for their sins [have a consciousness of sin].

By Chaplain Stephen