Persevere in Jesus LESSON V

REVIEW Survey – I Clement – the Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians—AD 95, cites Hebrews in a Scriptural manner – AND, there is no mention of the Fall of Jerusalem

REVIEW Hebrews 1:1-3 NKJ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

REVIEW Vv. 1-3 Most recently, God reveals Himself to us, – not by a the scattered witness of the Prophets – but by the fullness of His Son – Who is Alpha and Omega, through Whom all was created Who is heir of all things – Who is the wisdom and Word of God – Who is radiance of His glory – Who represents Him perfectly – Who sustains all things – Who atones for sins – Who is honored at the Right Hand of Majesty

Hebrews 1:4-14 NKJ 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." 7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." 8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." 10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail." 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Summary vv.4-14 Angels are messengers and have done great things throughout salvific history – God has spoken through them – They have performed great works – They are ministers – They worship God – They are not, however, exalted to His right hand – They are, in one sense, higher creations than mankind – They are sent to minister to the faithful But the Son is greater still – He is “begotten not made” (not a creation) – He will be worshipped in the Judgment – He is the maker, angels attend him, are at his disposal – He is changeless, permanent – He reigns, the eternal king – He is very God

Exhortation! Word through angels? – Acts 7:35 "This Moses whom they rejected, saying,`Who made you a ruler and a judge?' is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 "He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years. (Act 7:35 NKJ) We have heard the way of salvation. – In Christ we inherit it (like the Promised Land). – His angels minister to us to that end. The author gives three witnesses to what we have heard. NKJ Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Bottom Line of 1:4-2:4 The Scriptures say Christ is greater than the angles in the completest possible sense. By an angel God proclaimed Moses the leader, and those who opposed him were swallowed up by the earth in the desert. How much more will the word of God’s own son be binding upon us? Therefore Christ is very exalted. Moving forward, the writer will balance that exaltation with Christ’s humiliation.

For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." 13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham (Hebrews 2:5-16 NKJ)

Subjection What was the Writer’s final comparison between Jesus and Angels in Chapter 1? – Angels are the ministers to those who will inherit salvation. – Ps. 110: Jesus is exalted to the right hand of God, waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool. The Writer continues this theme: – Jesus is greater than angels, the Scriptures testify. – How do His earthly life and ministry show this?

Subjection Continued Ps 8 shows the smallness and feebleness of man within the vast creation, and the glory of the Creator Who is able to put that whole creation in man’s subjection. This sense sets the mood for the rest of the chapter. The second half of verse 8 shows everything put in subjection – but we don’t experience that dominion the way God first created it. Why? – Thus Jesus is made a like man, lower than the angels. Humanity is taken upon the second member of the Trinity.

Humanity and Suffering We find that Jesus’ exaltation is revealed, in fact, through the process of His suffering and death. – Not just that He experiences suffering and death, but that He purposefully takes them upon Himself on behalf of everyone: sufficient for all, efficient for the chosen Just as the glory of God and the salvation of His people, is Jesus’ purpose; He makes it so that we live with He and His people as our purpose. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Humanity and Suffering Why does Jesus NOT have to be ashamed of His filthy brethren? – Because He has done the work to make us clean as He is. V. 12 comes from Ps. 22 V. 13 From Isa. 8: For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." 13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."

A Final Word on Angels Not only does His suffering and death – prove His humanity – begin to reveal His glory but it also – destroys death and Satan. – Frees those in bondage to death What makes death seem worse than every other experience? Indeed, Angels are ministers – not to be ministered to – Christ defeats the greatest angel, Lucifer – WHILE He is saving us. 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.

Summary Angels are ministers working powerful acts for God throughout the Scriptuers. – They worship Him forever. Jesus Christ is greater than the Angels: – Greater in His exalted divinity – Greater through His humiliated humanity – Greater in His work for, and direct effect upon our salvation in destroying death and the adversary in freeing the enslaved in setting the example of true love

So For Us Why do we do each of the things we do? – What is our intention in every action we take? – What is our intention in all that we say? – What about all those thoughts? – Are they all for love of God and His people Psalm 8 shows us that God intends that the whole of creation is to be ruled by humanity, but just having self control is beyond the ability of sinners (nevermind ruling everything else). Because of the awesome person and work of Jesus Christ, the God-man, we, the faithful, are being sanctified—made holy—by the power of the Holy Spirit. – He was made like us so that we would be made like God—holy. – Let’s Heed His word, His command and His example to love God and others. – Let’s apply every action, word, and thought to that purpose as Jesus does. – and in that way, By His power, we reveal Him to the world like the little Christs we are called to be.

Homework Read Chapter 3 three or four times (2 weeks). Review Chapters 1 & 2 Check a couple different translations if you can