Hebrews Lesson 5 “The Author of Eternal Salvation”

Hebrews Chapter 5 “The Author of Eternal Salvation”

Hebrews 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.  2  He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3  Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.

In Hebrews chapter 3 we begin a comparison between the household of the law and the house of grace.  The comparison is continued to the end of Hebrews.  In these opening verses of chapter 5 we look at the high priest from the law.  Using animal sacrifice they offered sacrifice for sin not only for the people but also for themselves.  The high priest under the law were born with a sin nature just like every other man!  These high priest had compassion on those who were ignorant and going astray since he shared in the same weakness.  The order was for the high priest to offer sacrifice for his own sin and then for the sin of the people!

Hebrews 5:4  And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.  5  So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.“

The sons of Aaron were where the high priest which the scriptures call the “Levitical priesthood.  Chosen by God for this service and likewise Jesus was chosen by the Father for this priesthood.

Psalm 2:7  "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

Here prophetically speaks of the Father calling His Son!  Jesus is indeed the only begotten of the Father.

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus is the One and there is no other one!  The object of your faith must be in the only begotten!

Hebrews 5:6  As He also says in another place: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek";

Psalm 110:4  The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

Moses household had the Levite priesthood; we have the Melchizedek priesthood!  Jesus is the High Priest that lives forever!

Hebrews 5:7  who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,  8  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Have you ever imagined what this prayer meeting between Jesus and the Father looked like?  The Holy Spirit opened the windows of a most private moment between Jesus and the Father.  Jesus prayed vehemently and with tears He cried out to the Father to save Him from the moment of death!

Luke 22:41  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed,  42  saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.“  43  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  44  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Luke describes this prayer between Jesus and the Father.  This was no wimpy little prayer.  Jesus was pouring out His heart to His Father asking if it would be possible to not partake of this baptism of suffering!  After agony Jesus agreed with the will of the Father!  Nevertheless not my will but Your will be done.  There is a little secret not revealed in the Hebrews 5 or in Luke 22. 

Hebrews 12:2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

After the agony Jesus faced the cross with joy!  You are the joy that was set before Him.  He was able to handle the shame and suffering because He seen you as a great prize to be had by God, if He would but suffer!  The Father revealed to Jesus the many sons that would come to glory.  That was the joy set before Him.  Jesus did not remain in the agony, He came to the place of  the joy set before Him.  It was the strength He needed to endure the cross!

Hebrews 5:9  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,  10  called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,“  11  of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Jesus became the author of eternal salvation!  Praise the Lord salvation has been brought down to man by the One perfect Jesus Christ!  The quality of the salvation is eternal salvation!

1 Peter 2:21  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  22  "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

Our great example suffered for us!  We now follow His example of entrusting ourselves to our heavenly Father! Jesus Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness!   Old testament priest only rolled sin back.  Jesus bore the sins of the world and God the Father was appeased, completely appeased.  Jesus did a finishing work on the cross of Calvary !

Hebrews 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  14  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Notice the solid food belonging to the mature, is the word of righteousness!  How righteousness comes exclusively by faith in Jesus Christ is the only righteousness God offers.  Every other form of righteousness falls short of God’s holy standard.  When you come to exclusively trust in Jesus Christ and the cross, you have come to the place to discern both the good and the evil.  Hebrews chapter 1 declared that Jesus rules with the scepter of righteousness.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

The just shall live by faith; there is not another way to walk to please God!

John 15:4  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  5  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  6  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

The word of righteousness brings the believer to abide in Jesus Christ!  Jesus taught it first!  We abide in Christ and He abides in us!  He is the vine and we are the branches to the vine!  Abiding in Him makes us fruitful; abiding in Him makes every desire be fulfilled!  God calls His children to abide in Jesus!  Paul said to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of us!  Intimacy of relationship with Jesus!

Romans 3:21  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22  even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;  23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The word of righteousness can not be ignored if we want to mature out of the sandbox of Christianity!  Righteousness is exclusively found by faith in Jesus Christ.  Heaven’s court of justice freely justifies by divine influence all who put the object of their faith exclusively in Jesus!  It is a just and righteous act of God to justify the one who has faith in Jesus!  It comes by faith in Jesus, it is nurtured by faith in Jesus, and it is completed by faith in Jesus!

1 John 2:12  I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.  13  I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.  14  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.  15  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  16  For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.  17  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The word of righteousness keeps reminding the children of the faith their sins are forgiven.  The word of righteousness to the young men causes them to love the word and overcome the enemy.  The father’s of the faith continue in knowing God in intimacy!  However, the children must know the path to maturity is in knowing God!  When you love the Father you long to do His will!  The greater the revelation of His love toward you the more you love what God loves and abhor what He abhors!  Maturity leaves one longing to do the will of the Father!

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  2  of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  3  And this we will do if God permits.

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES

v     1. Repentance From Dead Works: Luke 24:46-47, Matthew 4:17, Acts 3:19, Luke 18:10-14, and Hebrews 9:14.

v      2. Faith Towards God: Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:1,6, Acts 14:27, Acts 20:21, Acts 26:17-18, John 5:24.

v      3. The Doctrine of Baptisms: Into Christ Galatians 3:26-27, 1 John 4:14, 1 John 5:1 Into water 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 8:35-37, and the Holy Spirit baptism Mark 1:8, Acts 2:32-33,38.

v      4. The Laying On of Hands: James 5:14-15, Acts 5:12, 6:3-6, 13:3-4, 19:11-12, 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6

v      5. The Resurrection of the Dead and The Eternal Judgment: John 5:24-29, 12:38-31, Romans 2:5, 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, 1 Peter 4:17-18, 2 Peter 3:7, 1 John 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Indeed the elementary principles of the word of God need to be founded and established.  However we must ever be mindful we have been called to the word of righteousness!

Luke 10:17  Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  18  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  19  "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20  "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

I am so thankful the demons have to flee at the name of Jesus!  However I am even more grateful that my name is written in the lambs book of life.  Only Jesus can provide God’s righteousness!  This is the word of righteousness God calls us to preach!  Jesus is indeed the author of eternal salvation!

Hebrews Lesson 4 “Entering Into the Covenant of Rest”

Hebrews Chapter 4 “Entering Into the Covenant of Rest”

Hebrews 4:1  Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.  2  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.  3  For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  4  For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works";

The works were finished from the foundation of the world!  What an amazing statement!  The first prophetic utterance in the bible is God  rested from all His works on the seventh day.  There was a place of rest He desired His children to live in.

For we who have believed do enter that rest!  This place of rest comes by believing!   Never forget the foundation laid in chapters 1,2, and 3.  Jesus the exalted One, Jesus is the One we can see, and Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confess.  What you believe about Jesus will determine your destiny!

Genesis 2:1  Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.  2  And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.  3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

God calls us to His rest.  Some have unwittingly tried to find their rest by being Sabbath keepers.  The fuller picture of the rest of God is not a day, it is a life time of rest!

1 John 5:4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.  5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

When the object of our faith is in Jesus Christ we have the overcoming faith.  Jesus asked the disciples who do you say that I am?   The whole kingdom of God is built upon the confession that Jesus is the Messiah.  Rest is found exclusively in Jesus.

Hebrews 4:5  and again in this place: "They shall not enter My rest.“  6  Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,  7  again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.“  8  For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.  9  There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Rest was not found with Moses, Joshua, David.  Rest was found in the promise of God.  Rest is found by those who hear the voice of God!  Jesus is indeed that place of rest

Hebrews 4:10  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.  11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

When you enter into God’s rest you cease form your labor just as God did from His.  We are called to be diligent to enter that rest! 

Matthew 11:28  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

At salvation we come to Jesus and find rest for our spirit.  However if we are going to walk in that abiding rest we must come and learn from Jesus.  As we learn from Jesus, we will find rest for our soul.  When our spirit and soul are aligned at rest we are walking in a confident victory.  Measure for yourself!  Is the yoke in life hard; if so, it's not from Jesus.  If the yoke is easy, it has come from Jesus.  Is the burden too heavy to carry?  Trade it in for Jesus' burden is light.  What an awesome truth.  We have an invitation from Jesus Himself, come and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart!

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  9  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and greatness of the sacrifice!  By divine influence we have been made right with God.  Accepting the gift by faith brings rest.  No longer walking in your own good works.  Walking the divine influence will cause us to overflow and fill the destiny God has for us from the beginning!  One labors for righteousness and never finds rest.  One finds rest and is able to walk in the works God prepared beforehand.  Rest is found by faith in the Messiah.

Romans 11:5  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  6  And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

The Holy Spirit does not want us to miss it!  If it is by works than it is not grace.  Those who enter God’s rest cease from there labor just as God did from His!  If it is of works it is not of grace.  The measuring stick is easy.  The law says it is of works; graces says it is of faith.  The early church error was to practice the law with a mixture of grace!  The purpose of Hebrews was to bring an exclusiveness to Jesus Christ apart from serving law.

Romans 4:3  For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.“  4  Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.  5  But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,  6  just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:  7  "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;  8  Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

I am the blessed one whose sins are forgiven!  I am the blessed man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin!  Grace is abounding!  If the place of rest could be earned it could no longer be called grace.  I labor and at the end of the month they come and give me a pay check.  They don’t hand out a gift; they give me what is owed me.  Yes, they give me my wages; I work for every penny of it!  Wages and gifts are two different things.  The place of rest can only be found by those who cease from their labor as God did from His.  It is the place of rest God never intended His children to leave.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  13  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Jesus Himself said learn from me!  It is the word of God that will change our soul!  It is the word of God that is such a great change agent it will bring us into rest.  From the place of labor it is scary for all thing to be open and naked, never certain if enough labor was put in!  From the place of rest the word of God is welcomed to bring refreshing change.  You are glad nothing is hidden and His word will make division in every area needed.

Hebrews 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  15  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  16  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hold on to the confession of your faith toward Jesus; it is the most valuable thing you possess.  Our High Priest sympathizes with our weaknesses.  He never failed and that is the strength by which we can stand.  Come boldly at the greatest hour of need.  Come boldly just as your are; come with the mess in hand!  The promise is you will find the divine influence and mercy in your greatest time of need.  What a promise!  Come into the presence of God boldly in your weakness!  Yes this is the place of rest for every believer!  It not your performance the Father is looking at; it is the obedience of Jesus Christ that makes this place of rest.  Even under the law when the worshipper came it was the excellence of the sacrifice that made the worshipper worthy to approach God.  How much the more now that we have the One True Perfect Sacrifice.  Rest in Jesus!

Lesson #3 - Hebrews Chapter 3 - The Apostle of our Confession

We have been called to consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Considering His preeminence corrects our perceptions of life; correct perceptions allow us to walk in faith in our High Priest.

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Hebrews Chapter 3 The Apostle of Our Confession

Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

“Therefore” because of the truths we found in Hebrews 1 and 2 the truths of Hebrews 3 are possible.  Jesus is the exalted One, Jesus is the High Priest we can see today!  The Holy Spirit identified us as the “holy brethren” and “partakers of the heavenly calling”.  We must see ourselves after heavens view.  From the awareness of who we are in Christ we must consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Jesus is indeed our Apostle!  He is the One sent to us and declare the goodness of the Father.  Jesus is indeed our High Priest ever working our behalf!  Jesus is watching our confession!  It is the confession that the whole kingdom of God is built upon!  Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God!  Consider Jesus!

1 Peter 2:25  For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

What a beautiful truth, Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul.  This is the terms of the covenant being unveiled by the precious word of God.  Consider Jesus!

2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Here another truth about Jesus’ faithfulness is unveiled!  Jesus will establish us and guard us from the evil one!  Consider Jesus!

Jude 1:24  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.  This is not only a revelation of how our Apostle and High Priest takes care of us, it also shows how He does it with exceeding joy.  It is the pleasure of Jesus to work on our behalf!  Yes, consider Jesus!

Hebrews 3:1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,  2  who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.  3  For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.  4  For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.  5  And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward,

The good news only builds!  Jesus Christ is faithful in His house!  Moses was and is worthy of honor because he was faithful over his house as a servant!  However Jesus is the one who built the house and He is worthy of greater honor.  Moses  as a servant was a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward.  What was spoken afterwards is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Moses as a servant was a pattern and shadow of what was to come! 

Hebrews 3:6  but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Jesus Christ is faithful as a Son over His house.  Notice Moses was faithful as a servant, Jesus is faithful as a Son over His own house!  We are members of that house if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.  What are we holding fast to?  Our consideration is of Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession! 

Colossians 1:20  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  21  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled  22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight;  23  if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul , became a minister. 

How Jesus present us holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight is almost to good to be true.  However, it is absolutely true!  We can not ignore the if presented in this truth!  … if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast.  Your confession of faith in Jesus is the most valuable possession you have! 

1 John 5:4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.  5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The object of your faith needs to ever be in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Yes, indeed consider the Apostle and High Priest of your confession!  Not faith in your faith but faith in your Apostle and High Priest!  One Man’s obedience makes many righteous!

Ephesians 2:19  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

It time for the believer to arise and know who they are.  Fellow citizens in heaven with the saints.  Members of the household of God.  The members of the house have rights and privileges visitors and strangers will never know.  

John 8:35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Consider Jesus' words.  A slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Do you believe in the strength and goodness of this word?  If Jesus makes you free you are free indeed!

Hebrews 3:7  Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice,  8  Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,  9  Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years.  10  Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.‘  11  So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'“

(Psalm 95:7-11)

Hearing the voice of Jesus is the most important thing we can do!  The children of Israel did not want to hear His voice and they never entered into His rest.

Psalms 103:7  He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel .

Moses knew God’s ways the children of Israel only knew of His acts.  The difference is Moses heard His voice and children of Israel begged not to hear His voice because of their fear.

John 10:27  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  28  "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

What a glorious truth; we the sheep know His voice and we follow Him!  Jesus our Apostle and High Priest of our confession gives us eternal life.  Jesus said “they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  Consider Christ Jesus!

Hebrews 3:12  Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;  13  but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  14  For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

The warning is real and repeated over and over hold fast our confession and confidence in Jesus Christ to the end.  Exhort one another to keep on believing!

Matthew 24:13  "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  14  "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Preeminence

Jesus' own words “he who endures to the end shall be saved!  The gospel of the good news that Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession needs preached!

Hebrews 3:15  while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.“  16  For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt , led by Moses?  17  Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?  18  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?  19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Those that came out of Egypt and were promised the land flowing with milk and honey never entered in because of their unbelief.  The word of truth must be mixed with faith to bring fruit bearing results.

John 3:35  "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.  36  "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

What you believe about Jesus determines your destiny both in this life and in the life to come.  Faith in the Apostle and High Priest of our confession yields the desired results.  We can partake of the promises here and now with our eyes and hearts upon eternity.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

This covenant of grace and truth is operated by faith.  The just shall live by faith.  May you ever consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.  He will keep us if we will but keep the object of our faith ever in Him.  We are more than conquerors!

Lesson 2 - Hebrews chapter 2

The terms of the new covenant are revealed in the book of Hebrews. Chapter 2 theme is "We see Jesus"

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Hebrews 2

We See Jesus!

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?

What is it that we must give the more earnest heed to?  The therefore points to the exalted Christ.  We must hear Him!  Hebrews is a building block book.  Truths are carefully laid and built upon.  If you miss the foundational truths you are open for error of doctrine.  We must give earnest heed to this great salvation that first began to be spoken by the Lord.  God the Father bore witness to Jesus' ministry with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit!  The law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  We must heed the Son!

Acts 10:36  "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ; He is Lord of all;  37  "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  38  "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. … 43  "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

Jesus Christ is Lord of all!  The good news is found in Jesus Christ alone.  It is JESUS CHRIST that the prophets and the law witness to!  Whoever believes in Jesus will receive remission of sins!  This is the message we must give more earnest heed to!

Hebrews 2:5  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. (Psalm 8:4-6)

The Holy Spirit is quoting from Psalm 8:4-6 here in this passage.  Jesus was set over the works of God’s hands.  All things are in subjection under his feet.  God left nothing that is not put under Jesus; however we do not yet see all things put under him. 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Jesus is the One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth!

Colossians 1:18  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  19  For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,  20  and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Jesus has preeminence!  If you have a list 1 through 10 Jesus preeminence is not number 1.  Jesus is the center.  Number 1 how does Jesus want me to do this?  Number 2, how does Jesus what me to do this.  When Jesus becomes the center of all our decision making we will walk in the victory He has provided.

Hebrews 2:9  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.

Verse 8 ended with we do not see all thing under His feet.  Verse 9 begins with “BUT WE SEE JESUS’ Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  There may be some issues and circumstances that  appear not under our feet.  You are given a choice!  Do we look at our circumstances and complain and murmur or do we look upon the face of Jesus and praise Him that all things are under His feet?  Looking upon Jesus is the lifestyle of faith God has called us to live out!  By the grace of God Jesus has tasted death for everyone.

Acts 4:10  "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  11  "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.‘  12  "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Peter denied Jesus three times.  Jesus prayed for Peter that his faith would fail not.  Here in Acts 4 Peter is declaring Jesus to the very ones who nailed Jesus to the cross.  Peter declared Jesus to be the chief corner stone which was rejected by the Jews as a whole.  However, there is salvation in no other.  Jesus alone is Healer and Savior and there is no other name!

Hebrews 2:10  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,

Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, was make perfect through sufferings.  The suffering appeased the Father to such a degree that it brought us sanctification!  His pain was our gain to such a degree Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren.  Chew on that and give heed to it!

Ephesians 5:30  For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.  31  "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.“  32  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The believers are flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone.  It is true to such a degree we have been made one with Him.  He is our husbandman we are His bride.  Put it in your mouth “I am one with Jesus”.  It is the heart of Jesus; get in agreement with Him.

1 Corinthians 12:12  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  13  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

There is but one body of Christ.  John the beloved declared whosoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.  A few verses later John declared whoever believes in the Son of God is born of God.  This is the gospel we must give more earnest heed to!  The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of sin; the Holy Spirit convicts believers of righteousness, and the Holy Spirit convinces all that the devil has been judged already!

Hebrews 2:12  saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.“

The curtains of heaven are open!  Jesus will declare the Father to us!  In that day Jesus will sing the praises to the Father.  This is one song service I don’t want to miss.

Psalm 22:22  I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

Here is an awesome truth the prophetic confirming the prophetic.  Just as we have seen Jesus fulfill the prophetic of many old testament passages this is one that is still to come.

Hebrews 2:13  And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.“

What a day it will be when Jesus presents us to the Father by name!

Matthew 10:32  "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  33  "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Isaiah 8:18  Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion .

Give earnest heed to the truth that one day Jesus will confess you before the Father!  We are in such a strong awesome covenant with Almighty God!

Hebrews 2:14  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,

Through Jesus Christ’s death the power of the devil has been destroyed! …more earnest heed!

Revelation 1:18  "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Jesus is alive forever more!  Jesus now has the keys to hell and death!

Colossians 2:15  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus has all authority and power.  He disarmed the enemy, all principalities and powers have been made a public spectacle, by the triumph of Jesus!  Your victory is already one turn your eyes upon Jesus!  Give the more earnest heed to the gospel; quit trusting in the circumstances that surround you!

1 John 3:8  He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 4:4  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Jesus destroyed the works of the devil; Jesus lives in you!  You have overcome the enemy because greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.  Give the more earnest heed!

Hebrews 2:15  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.  17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  18  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Give the more earnest heed!  Jesus destroyed the work of the devil to set you free from every bondage that sin gives birth to!  He robed Himself in flesh to become like us!  Jesus was obedient even to the death of the cross.  Thereby he has become our merciful and faithful High Priest; He is eternally our propitiation!  The Gospel is that Jesus died for our sins!  When we repent and surrender to Him we become His children!  Jesus is the one who comes to our aid, yes even in our greatest failures and weaknesses!