Persevere in Jesus LESSON IV

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 1:1-6 NKJ Hebrews 1:1 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, 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."

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 1:7-14 NKJ 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

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? Exhortation! This section takes in the whole of chapter 1. – Remember the contrast between how God spoke to the Fathers and how He has spoken to us. – Think about all the different messages we have in our lives: Sermons School Signs The News What you hear at work Commercials – To how many of these do we “give heed?”

Exhortation! What word spoken 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) 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?

Exhortation! Again what have we heard? We have heard the way of salvation. – In Christ we inherit it. – His angels minister to us to that end. The author gives three witnesses to it: – Spoken by Christ – Confirmed by those who heard Him (apostles/disciples) – attested by signs, wonders, and miracles – 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) 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?

Exhortation! Gifts of the Holy Spirit? – They are one of the witness to the salvation we have heard in these last days. – St. Paul shows us the purpose of such gifts. 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?

Summary 2:1-4 God shows He is working salvation by signs, wonders, and miracles. – We see them in the Exodus and the Wilderness Wandering – We see them at the time of Christ’s earthly ministry Brothers and sisters – It’s easy to forget we’re wandering through a desert in this life. – So we need to pay very careful attention to what we’ve heard – and work out His gifts to build up the faithful.

Homework Re-Read Chapters 1 & 2 Check a couple different translations if you can