1. John Oakes, Bakersfield Spring, 2019
The Book of Hebrews
John Oakes,
Bakersfield
Spring, 2019

2. Introduction
Audience: Christians who have been around for a while but who are tempted to turn back in the face of persecution. Mainly Jewish Christians?
Remember those earlier days… Hebrews 10:32
Theme: The preeminence of Jesus Christ!!!
“better” 13 times “perfect” 15 times

3. Outline of Hebrews
Jesus is far more awesome, amazing, spectacular, wonderful, remarkable, astounding, tremendous that Judaism in such and such way….
Therefore, given the breathtaking nature of Jesus, this is what you ought to do….

4. The Greatness of Jesus 1. Greater than the prophets. Hebrews 1:1-3
2. Greater than the angels. Hebrews 1:4-14
3. Greater than Moses. Hebrews 3:1-5
4. Greater than Joshua Hebrews 4:1-10
5. Jesus the Great High Priest. Hebrews 4:14-5:10
6. Greater than Melchizedek (and therefore Aaron) 7:1-28
7. Jesus is greater than Abraham 7:1-9
8. A greater covenant. Hebrews 8:1-13
9. A greater tabernacle. Hebrews 9:1-11.
10. A greater sacrifice. Hebrews 9:12-10:18.

5. Therefore…. Let us… Admonitions
Pay careful attention Hebrews 2:1-4
Make every effort. Hebrews 3:7-4:13
Move on to maturity, Grow up. Hebrews 5:11-6:12
Draw near to God, do not shrink back. Heb 10:19-39
Live by faith. Hebrews 11:1-40

6. Prologue: Hebrews 1:1-4 Jesus is greater than the prophets!
Hebrews Chapter 1
Prologue: Hebrews 1:1-4 Jesus is greater than the prophets!
In the past, God spoke through the prophets at various times and in varios ways…
Hosea: the grace of God
Amos: social justice
Isaiah: the holiness of God
David: the heart of God
Joel: the judgment of God
But in these last days…
Acts 2:17, 1 Pet 1:20, 1 Cor 10:11

7. Heb 1:2,3 The Greatness of God’s Son great, amazing, excellent, unique, overpowering, beautiful, impressive, beyond imagination, mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, spectacular,……
A. He will inherit everything (Col 1:15, Romans 8:17)
Our inheritance is through his inheritance.
B. The universe was made through (and for) Him. (John 1:3)
C. He is the radiance of the glory of God. (John 8:12)
Apaugasma = effulgence, shining forth
D. He is the image of God (John 1:18)
Character = wax seal, exact representation. God revealed himself.
E. He sustains all things
beginning (B. Creator) middle (Sustainer) end (A. Inheritor) of all.
F. He provided purification for sin
G. He mediates for us sitting at God’s right hand
Our High Priest

8. Jesus Our Mediator/High Priest
Matthew: Jesus the Messiah who fulfills the prophecies and fulfills the law of Moses. Mark: Jesus powerfully announces the kingdom of God. Luke: Jesus brings salvation the poor, the outcast, women and Gentiles. John: Jesus the Son of God revealed through his miracles and his I Am statements. Hebrews: Jesus the great high priest who mediates with God for us.

9. 1:4-14 Jesus is greater than the angels
Angel = messenger, mediator Greek aggeloi Hebrew malakim (Gal 3:19, Acts 7:53)
Archangels Michael (Daniel 10:21) Gabriel (Daniel 8:16, Luke 1:19)
Evil angels who controlled Greece and Persia (Daniel 10:20)
Cherubim (Ezekiel 10, Genesis 3:24) guard God’s holiness
Seraphim (Isaiah 6:6) messengers
Guardian angels (Matthew 18:10)
Satan is a “fallen angel”?

10. Why is Jesus greater than the angels?
1. A greater name: SON vs messenger. v. 5
2. Angels worship him v. 6
3. Angels are temporary and changing. Jesus is unchanging and eternal v. 7 They are winds and fires
4. They are ministering spirits, Jesus is the one they minister to v. 14
Why worship the worshiper?
Application: Do not admire the messenger, admire the sender of the message; Jesus Christ.

11. Hebrews 2:5-10 A difficult little passage.
v. 7 God made us humans a little lower than the angels
God’s intent was that we have greatness and dominion!
“him” throughout this section is us.
v. 8,9 But unfortunately, that is not the case right now. Our sin messed up everything.
v. 9,10 Jesus came so that, through his death, we can be restored to the glory God had in mind in the first place. We will judge the angels (1 Cor 6:3)

12. Summary
Do you want to make to heaven? Do you want to be faithful to the end? Fix your eyes on Jesus. It is all about him. He is greater than the prophets. He is greater than the angels. It is all about Jesus!!!