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2.  It is a letter  Written to a congregation  Letter of exhortation  Against drifting from God’s word (2:1-4)  Against disbelieving God’s word (3:7-4:16)  Against dullness toward God’s word (5:11-6:20)  To draw near to God (10:19-13:25)  Letter of warning  Letter of doctrinal significance

3.  Purpose  To encourage the readers to make the ultimate choice between Judaism and Chrisitianity  “Hold on” (3:1; 4:14)  To reject Christ is to trample Him underfoot and disdain His blood (10:26-29)  Vocabulary  Steeped in the Old Testament  30 quotations from the O.T. and 70 allusions to it  Ritual and ceremony  Comparison and analogy

4.  Christ is the center  Two major themes:  The person of Christ  The work of Christ  Chapters 1-6: the word of God—who Christ is  Chapters 7-10: the work of God—what Christ does  Chapters 11-13: the word of God—concluding exhortations

5.  These first verses summarize the basic message of Hebrews  God’s full and decisive revelation is given in Jesus Christ 1. He has been appointed heir of everything 2. He is the one through whom God made the universe 3. He radiates the glory of God 4. He is the perfect likeness of God’s being 5. He sustains the universe with His powerful word 6. He made cleansing for sins 7. He took His seat at the right hand of God

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7. 1. He is the Father’s Son (1:5)  Psalm 2:7  2 Samuel 7:14 2. He is the firstborn, worthy of worship (1:6-7)  Deuteronomy 32:43 (Septuagint)  Psalm 104:4 3. He is God enthroned and the Anointed One (1:8-9)  Psalm 45:6-7

8. 4. He is Eternal Creator (1:10-12)  Psalm 102:25-27 5. He is King (1:13-14)  Psalm 110:1

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