BI 306 Hebrews - Understanding the Superiority of Christ

Lecture 1 – Introductory Overview BI 306 – Hebrews

I. Introductory Remarks a. All ______is profitable…All Scripture is profitable for me! b. However, a solid ______l rule in interpreting a verse, a passage, or a book is to understand something about the primary audience to whom it was written. c. While this book deals in great detail with exhortations for believers, it is not written to a church, per se, as much as it is written to a community in which dwelt three categories of people – each of which are addressed in this book. i. Believers ii. Intellectually Convinced – but Unsaved iii. Antagonistic to Gospel d. Understanding the audience can help us interpret the warning passages consistently and with integrity. e. This book is not written to us, but it is written for us…

II. Human Writer? a. Many names have been put forth as to who the human writer was… b. Origen gives the classic statement: “Only God knows who wrote this book…” c. In the early days of Christianity, it was received as______. With each century, it seems as though more names have been put forth: i. Barnabas ii. Luke iii. Clement of Rome iv. Priscilla v. Apollos vi. Silas vii. Peter

d. ______scholarship rejects the idea of a Pauline authorship for this book. The reasons, generally summed up, are as follows: i. No introduction as in his other epistles ii. He was the apostle to the Gentiles Understanding the Superiority of Christ 2

iii. The difference in style (both in the Greek used and the presentation of Christ)

e. Regarding these differences, answers can be given: i. As the Apostle to the Gentiles, writing to the Jews, it would further his cause if he remained “______” ii. While he was sent to the Gentiles, he always went to the Jew first…He never lost his burden for his own countrymen. iii. A different audience dictates a different style. iv. Peter mentioned that ______had written to the same people that he had. v. Early church received it from Paul. vi. Perhaps we are wrong to consider it an “epistle” when the writer calls it a “word of exhortation,” – a sermon… vii. There is no better option for overturning what those “closest to the scene” established. f. An early church leader, ______(taught at Alexandria, c. 150) refers to this letter as being Pauline, and generally accepted as such. g. Paul definitely wrote a letter to ______Christians according to Peter. If this is not the one, where is it? If this is not the one, what type of questions does this raise for God’s ability to preserve His word? h. The tone of this book is that of an Apostle with teaching authority. This epistle does not give suggestions, but directives. No other Apostles are ever mentioned as a possible writer for Hebrews. i. The last chapter could be removed from Hebrews and placed in any Pauline letter and not be out of place! j. There are no convincing objections why Paul could not write it. k. There are no convincing alternatives. i. Luke – a Gentile. This writer was obviously Jewish. ii. Barnabas – a possibility, but no evidence ever given other than one comment by______. iii. Clement – no one from Rome even hinted his name; this book was not accepted by the Roman church for a long time; Clement borrows heavily from Hebrews in another letter. iv. Apollos – An ______Jew – our writer would have had a strong, intimate knowledge of Jerusalem and its temple.

III. Keys for Interpreting the Book a. There are two words continually repeated in this book: i. Better (refers to my possessions) ii. Perfect (refers to my practice) b. There are two key verses that must be kept in mind when interpreting the book: i. 6:1 – “on to perfection…” ii. 11:40 – “God having provided some better thing for us…” c. The key theme is found in 6:1. i. It can be summed up as “Making Progress in the Christian Journey…” Understanding the Superiority of Christ 3

ii. “Going on to Perfection…” iii. Remember, ______does not equal sinlessness. Rather, it deals with maturity. d. Implied throughout this book is a solid handle on the______. i. The Levitical Priesthood ii. Moses iii. Aaron iv. Melchizedek v. The Hall of Faith vi. The Foundational Doctrines (6:1) vii. Prophets viii. Angels ix. The Law x. Quotations from the Old Testament (arguably from LXX) xi. The familiarity with Mt Sinai

IV. Brief Outline of Hebrews a. This book can be divided into ______sections. In keeping with “Pauline” style, the book begins with a great doctrinal treatise on the Person of Christ, then moves into the ______of Christ, and ends with the Practical Applications. i. For the purpose of this study, we will use the following outline: 1. The Motivation for Progress a. Chapters 1-6 b. The Person of Christ

2. The Ministry for Progress a. Chapters 7-10 b. Perhaps the weightiest chapters of the New Testament c. The Priesthood of Christ

3. The Means of Progress a. Chapters 11-13 b. The Principle of Faith

V. Warning Passages a. This book has _____ parenthetical warning passages distributed throughout the text. These five passages are quite serious in nature, and have caused quite a bit of “theological contradictions” to arise due to lack of incorrect______. i. Don’t Disregard God’s Salvation (2:1-4) ii. Don’t Doubt God’s Sufficiency (3:7-4:13) iii. Don’t Discredit God’s Son (5:11-6:20) iv. Don’t Despise God’s Spirit (10:26-39) v. Don’t Disobey God’s Summons (12:15-29) Understanding the Superiority of Christ 4

b. In interpreting these passages, it is very serious that we remember the three different groups existing in these Jewish communities. If we are observant, we will notice in chapter 6 a changing of the pronouns for a reason.

VI. Historical Background a. This book was written to ______Communities, many of which had left the “Old Covenant” of Judaism to find the “New Covenant” of Christ. They had learned that the ______was a “shadow” whereas Faith brought “substance.” i. There were still people in these communities who needed to be convinced of the superiority of Christ. ii. This word of exhortation would accomplish that goal.

b. According to Hebrews 5, there was a group that had been saved long enough to have grown to maturity, but many had not. Many were still in spiritual infancy. i. “Maturity is not measured by time, but by the acceptance of responsibility.”

c. Persecution was mounting against______, especially during the reign of Nero. For these believers, persecution was coming not only from the pagan Gentile government, but also from unbelieving Jews.

d. With the tide of persecution mounting, these Christians were in desperate need of maturity. Weak, immature Christians will fall when persecution comes. If these believers were to stay true to Christ during times of testing, they must deepen their walk.

e. The writer of ______uses a common illustration for these Jewish believers that underscore his arguments: The Journey from Egypt to Canaan.

f. During the course of this journey (in keeping with the theme), we find the tragic story at Kadesh Barnea: i. ______spies were sent into Canaan. Ten came back with an evil report while Joshua and Caleb urged the people to trust God. ii. These wicked spies had a common thread to their reports: 1) The land is exactly what God said it was; 2) We are not able to take it because of the giants in the land. iii. These spies thought that Canaan’s conquest was dependent upon human strength. That presumption brought about defeat and death for all the Jews 20 years old and upward. iv. After the judgment was pronounced, there was part of the congregation that made the same mistake as the ten spies. They said, “We will now go up…” While from the outside their statements may look like “faith in action,” they were still relying on human strength. v. This brings us to a principle worthy of note: There is no way to enter Canaan without the power of God.

g. There is an “understood” element of typology that you should be familiar with: i. Egypt: World ii. Crossing Red Sea: Salvation Understanding the Superiority of Christ 5

iii. Wilderness: Immaturity iv. Crossing JordanSurrender (you are only saved once!) v. Canaan Victory, maturity (not Heaven!)

h. The first _____ chapters will do much to emphasize the person and work of Christ. He becomes our motivation for maturity. He is lifted up so that we can love Him more. If we can love Him more, we can serve Him better. ______produces obedience. (Hebrews 10:24)

Conclusion  This book focuses on God’s Son. In it, we will see that He is superior in His Person to ______(and the Law), to ______(and the Priesthood), and to ______(as they worship Him).  We will also see that He is superior in His Work. He has done what the Law could not do. His Priesthood is not after the Levitical line, but of Melchizedek. His priestly ministry is built upon the power of an endless life.  He is superior to the Prophets who delivered the message of His coming.  While there are many today who would devote hours of precious time arguing over the human writers, we will focus where God has focused: on His Son (whom He calls “God” in 1:8).  As the theme of this book is “Making Progress in the Christian Journey,” we are reminded that the only way to progress, or to go on to maturity, is by focusing on the Lord.  While these warnings are first interpreted through the context of ______believers, we will also note that the application for us as Gentile believers is just as serious. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 6

BI 306 Hebrews - Understanding the Superiority of Christ Instructor: J. Michael Lester LECTURE 2

I. Christ is better than the ______(1:1-3)  This epistle does not begin like the customary New Testament letters. When the first thought is diagrammed, we find this: God has spoken (to us) by His Son.  Most every religion has some sort of prophet-figure that they either venerate or worship. The Catholic Church has the Pope. Muslims have Mohammed. Pacifists have Gandhi. The Jews were familiar with Moses, Elijah, John and others. Several reasons are listed as to why Christ is greater than any previous prophet through whom God had spoken: o The Prophets were ______; Jesus is the SON. o The Prophets ______God’s Message; Jesus IS God’s Message. o The Prophets ______God; Jesus REVEALED God. o The Prophets had a ______of truth; Jesus is THE Truth. o The Prophets had a ______Ministry; Jesus has an ABIDING ministry.

II. Christ is better than the ______(1:4-14 cf. 2:5-18)  There are some who put Christ on the same plane as other angels. Some entertain the theory that Christ and Lucifer were both brothers and sons of God. Others say that Christ is the Arch-angel. The BIBLE says that Jesus is better than any (and all) angels. Here are some reasons: o The Angels are His ______; Jesus is the SON. o The Angels are rarely NAMED; Jesus’ name is HONORED. o The Angels ______Christ; this denotes their inferiority. o The Angels recognize Christ as KING. o The Angels are God’s AGENTS; Jesus is God’s ANOINTED. o The Angels are ______; Jesus is the CREATOR.

III. Christ is ______(chapter 1) A. Notice the Acknowledgement of Christ  He is called “______” o Cf. John 5:18 ~ the “Son” is equal to the “Father”

 He is “______” of all things o As He is the “heir,” we (as the sons of God) are “joint-heirs”

 He made the ______(compare with 11:3) o The word is literally “ages.” It carries the idea of the material and spiritual dimensions of creation. It includes all things, all people, all times, and all events. o In other words, ______, who precedes creation as the eternal Son of God, is responsible for all that there is – a mark of deity. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 7

 He is the “______” of God’s glory o Greek, the effulgence of His glory. "Light of (from) light" [Nicene Creed]. "Who is so senseless as to doubt concerning the eternal being of the Son? For when has one seen light without effulgence?" [ATHANASIUS, Against Arius, Orations, 2]. "The sun is never seen without effulgence, nor the Father without the Son" [THEOPHYLACT]. o This word denotes same essence: a mark of deity

 He is the “______” of God’s person (see Col 1:15; 2:9; Jn 14:9) o IMAGE is the Gr. word “Charakter” – giving the impression of a die or seal being impressed into something. o Here are some remarks about this phrase from Adam Clarke: 1. That the apostle states Jesus Christ to be of the same essence with the Father, as the apaugasma, or proceeding splendor, must be the same with the augasma, or inherent splendor.

2. That Christ, though proceeding from the Father, is of the same ______; for if one auge, or splendor, produce another auge, or splendor, the produced splendor must be of the same essence with that which produces it.

3. That although Christ is thus of the same essence with the Father, yet he is a ______from the Father; as the splendor of the sun, though of the same essence, is distinct from the sun itself, though each is essential to the other; as the augasma, or inherent splendor, cannot subsist without its apaugasma, or proceeding splendor, nor the proceeding splendor subsist without the inherent splendor from which it proceeds.

4. That Christ is ______with the Father, as the proceeding splendor must necessarily be coexistent with the inherent splendor. If the one, therefore, be uncreated, the other is uncreated; if the one be eternal, the other is eternal.

 He “______” all things by His word o This is an astonishing description of the infinitely energetic and all pervading power of God. He spoke, and all things were created; he speaks, and all things are sustained. The Jewish writers frequently express the perfection of the Divine nature by the phrases, He bears all things, both above and below; He carries all his creatures; He bears his world; He bears all worlds by his power. The Hebrews, to whom this epistle was written, would, from this and other circumstances, fully understand that the apostle believed Jesus Christ to be truly and properly God. – Adam Clarke o The word translated “upholding” is a derivative of the word “phero” meaning to bear, to carry along. It is the same word that is used for the Understanding the Superiority of Christ 8

writers of Scripture (holy men of God spake as they were moved…); it is also used in Hebrews 6:1 (let us go on to perfection…) o PRINCIPLE: The same power that moved men to write Scripture, and that upholds the world, is the same power that is available to take me to a ______walk with Christ.

 He ______our sin o See Mark 2:1-9 o They asked, “Who can forgive sins but God alone…?”

 He is ______at the Father’s right hand o While ministering in the tabernacle or temple, the High Priest stood. He could only sit when his work was finished. o Hence, Jesus has told us that, concerning His work, “It is ______…” (The word finished is the same word for perfection.)

 He has a more excellent ______o How many angels can you name? o People everywhere know the name of Christ. o One day, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess…

 He is ______by the angels o Again, only God is to be worshipped. o Notice, this worship is commanded not by the Son, but by the Father.

 He is called ______by the Father o Hebrews 1:8 records a conversation between the Father and the Son. It is a quotation from Psalm 45:6,7. o The Deity of Christ is not something Paul invented, nor is it something contrived by the Council of Nicea to defeat Arius – it is a fundamental truth of Christianity that has been established from the very mouth (words) of God the Father.

 He laid the ______of the earth and the heavens.  He will not ______(eternal, immutable)

B. Notice the ______of Christ  Why was Jesus filled with the Spirit (for this is the picture of the Anointing)? i. He was anointed with the Oil of ______. 1. Acts 10:38; Acts 4:27

ii. He was anointed above all others. 1. Paul was anointed; Christ was anointed more! 2. Finney, Moody, Spurgeon, and others were anointed; Christ more!

iii. He was anointed because He loved ______and hated iniquity. 1. His great anointing was not due to His virgin birth. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 9

2. His great anointing was not due to His sinless life. 3. This anointing was related to what He ______, and what He ______. 4. This gives me hope! I will not be sinless in this life; I was not born of a virgin – but, I can love what He loved and hate what He hated!

 PRINCIPLE to practice: To the degree that I love ______as Christ loved it, and to the degree that I hate ______as He hated it – to that same degree I will experience the power that He had! i. This principle is put into action through the means of ______. Thoughts control actions and emotions. What I think determines what I do. ii. I must visualize what sin did to ______. iii. I must visualize what sin has done to ______. iv. I must recognize what sin can do to ______. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 10

I. Warning #1: Don’t ______your great salvation (2:1-4)  This epistle has started by uplifting a Great Saviour. It now continues with emphasis on a Great Salvation.  If we are going to make it to our spiritual Canaan (victory), we must give special attention to these four verses. The warning is not about “______” salvation; it is about “______” it. It is not addressed to unbelievers, but to believers.  As we go through this passage, there are four key elements: o THEREFORE WE OUGHT: The phrase implies “______.” We are not speaking of incidentals, but of essentials. o GIVE THE MORE EARNEST HEED: This phrase means “pay ______to.” We do not become good Christians automatically or accidentally. We become good Christians on purpose. o THINGS WHICH WE HAVE HEARD: This refers to the ______. If we do not heed His Word, we will experience His judgment. o HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE? Carelessness brings ______to our lives. Our sins have been judged on the cross; there is no condemnation. Yet, there is a need for ______and chastisement.

 What makes this salvation so great? o It has a divine ______– it was designed by God. o It has a great ______– it cost Heaven God’s Son. o It has for all ______– it is for the entire world. o It has of great ______– it is for eternity. o It has a great ______– salvation is not in a system, but a Saviour.

II. Application: This great salvation was brought from Heaven to earth (2:1-4)  After verse 4, we are back to our previous discussion concerning the superiority of Christ to the angels.  The ______, of course, did not believe that Christ was greater than the angels. They reasoned that if Christ were God and man simultaneously, then He would be limited to humanity. If that be the case, how could He be greater than the angels who were not limited to a human body?  The writer of Hebrews is not intimidated. He does not feel that his argument is ______by Christ’s humanity; rather, it is ______by that truth. His argument is understood when we understand why Christ became flesh (see Galatians 4:4; John 1:14). o Christ became flesh in order to have ______over the earth. 1. Hebrews 2:5-7. When God placed Adam (and Eve) in the Garden, He promised them that they would have ______Understanding the Superiority of Christ 11

over the earth (Gen 1:28). When Adam sinned, he forfeited that right, and Satan usurped that authority. 2. In a theological sense, Christ is sometimes referred to as the “______.” As a perfect, sinless Man, He has accomplished what Adam lost. Therefore, He has the right to rule the earth. This right is claimed during the Millennium (Phil 3:20- 21; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28). o He became flesh in order to ______for (every) man. 1. This is probably the first reason we think of. Hebrews 2:9 states that He has tasted death for every man. Without His death by shedding of ______(and subsequent Resurrection), there could be no ______. Before His incarnation (lit. “in flesh”), Christ had no need for blood (Leviticus 17:11, The life of the flesh is in the blood). After the Resurrection, He had no blood either (see Luke 24:39, “flesh and bone”). 2. There are those who say that He died for a limited number of people. The Bible states that He has died for ______. This is something that no angel could ever accomplish. 3. In God’s economy, one man can be a substitute for another man, but due to limitations of humanity, he could not be in two places at one time to substitute for more than one individual. Yet, as CREATOR, i.e. the “God-Man”, ______can be the substitute for every man. o He became flesh in order to become our eldest ______. 1. Hebrews 2:11-13. Every one that is born again is put into the family of God. He becomes our heavenly Father, and Christ has become our eldest Brother. This does not mean that we are ______to Him. On the contrary, the picture is that of a young sibling being entrusted to the care of an older brother. 2. In an earthly setting, an older brother may abuse the authority given to him. Power can corrupt some! Yet, Christ does not abuse the authority (power) given to Him by His Father. He takes perfectly good care of us. o He became flesh in order to ______the devil. 1. Hebrews 2:14-16. While it is true that Satan is a powerful adversary, he is a ______foe! 2. Therefore, the devil has no more control over my life than what I ______him to have. God promises to not tempt me above that which we are able to bear. (See 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Jn 4:4, James 4:7; Jn 12:31; Jn 16:31) 3. How did Christ destroy the works of the devil? Every man is enslaved by sin and Satan because of an innate fear of death. We all will die – a thought which terrifies a lost person. 4. While lost people try to escape that fear through booze, drugs, or other sins, a Christian needs no “escapist mentality.” Christ has ______death and promised us a better resurrection. (1Thes 4:13; 1Cor 15). o He became flesh in order to become our ______. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 12

1. It is because He ______, not because He sinned, that He can understand our temptations. 2. I would rather receive help from Someone who has ______over someone who failed. (See Matthew 4). 3. In these verses introducing us to Christ’s priestly ministry (implied by John 17), there are three key words:  ______~ He does not operate on the basis of what I deserve. He operates on mercy (and gives me what Christ deserves – what grace!)

 ______~ He always “does His job!” We are never without a High Priest to intercede for us.

 ______~ The picture here is that of one rushing to the side of another in order to offer assistance. In common vernacular, picture an ambulance rushing to an emergency situation to give support (and, in some cases, to give life). Christ is able to rush to my side to give me victory over sin.

CONCLUSION: Christ is not only better than the prophets, but He is also better than the angels. ______cannot even conceive of the sum total of Christ’s greatness, but we can receive a wonderful promise. One day, we will see Him as He is; we shall be like Him; and we shall spend ______with Him! Understanding the Superiority of Christ 13

I. Christ is greater than ______(3:1-6)  Moses is one of the greatest men in the Bible. Some may even argue that He is the greatest leader of the Old Testament characters. He was raised in an environment that promised wealth and position. He was the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Through God’s providence, He escaped death as a child in order to rise up and do a great work for God.  Moses, by his own initiative, chose the ______of God’s people over the enjoying the pleasures of sin. He was courageous, insightful, and meek. He was a leader and great administrator. He is called the ______of Israel.  Moses is called the Lawgiver, whereas Christ is the “Grace-giver.” He, humanly speaking, wrote the first five books of the Bible. Undoubtedly, He was a great man – who was greater? Christ or Moses?  The answer to us is obvious; ______is greater. This passage goes on to use two figures to reinforce this truth: Christ is greater and worthy of more glory than Moses. o FIGURE 1: The ______of a house 1. Moses is the building; Christ is the Builder. 2. The Builder deserves credit for what the building is. 3. When we see a nice building, we immediately understand the importance of the builder (and the designer).

o FIGURE 2: The ______of a house 1. In this figure, the emphasis is different. We are not dealing with the construction of the house, but on the relationship of the house. 2. Moses is the ______who labors in the house. Christ is the ______who rules the house – the Son is greater than the servant.

II. Warning #2: Don’t Doubt the ______of God (3:7-16)  As we come to this second parenthetical warning, we are forced to view unbelief from God’s perspective. To God, unbelief is a ______which carries serious consequences. Notice these truths that must be learned from this warning: o Unbelief is not a matter of ______; it is a matter of ______. 1. This truth destroys the excuse, “My faith is weak…” 2. When a Christian is weak as to the understanding of the doctrines of the Bible, he is said to be weak in the faith. When faith is used in the context of trust – this lack of trust is NEVER referred to as a “weakness.” 3. We do not speak of ______God in terms of strengths and weaknesses; rather, we use words like “godliness” and “sin.” 4. If we choose to doubt God’s word, we have an EVIL heart of unbelief. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 14

o Unbelief will prevent you from having a victoriously ______life. 1. ______is essential to becoming a mature Christian; without it we can never please God. 2. The Red Sea, a picture of ______, was crossed by faith. 3. The Jordan, a picture of ______, was crossed by faith. 4. Both acts required faith. PRINCIPLE: We begin the journey by faith and we are victorious through faith – ______are never part of the equation for salvation or victory.

o Unbelief is caused by a ______heart. 1. The Jews failed to trust God because their hearts were hardened. Unbelief was not a goal for which they worked and planned; it was the ______of allowing their hearts to be hardened. 2. A hard heart is an enemy for every Christian. We are told to break up the fallow ground. We read that King Josiah was blessed because his heart was ______. A hard heart is NEVER blessed in Scripture.

o A Christian’s heart is hardened due to ______. 1. Each day that we allow ______sin to stay in our lives, our heart grows harder. This is the reason that ______is emphasized in this chapter. 2. We must give daily attention to the battle of sin in our lives. Keep ______accounts with God. 3. If our hearts grow hardened, we cannot serve God ______.

o Christians allow their hearts to be hardened because sin is ______. 1. Sin works through deception. The more that a particular sin is committed, the less sinful it seems! Some would even say that they are more spiritual even though they live in open sin. 2. STATEMENT: I must confess my sins ______; tomorrow it may not be necessary. 3. I cannot get too comfortable with sin. It is impossible to help others on to Canaan (victory) until I deal with the sin in my own life. 4. Sin will cause me to lose God’s blessing on my life as well as my usefulness to others. God wants a ______. 5. Without it is impossible to please God. This missing ingredient is the opposite of the “evil heart of unbelief.” This type of heart will NEVER please God. CONCLUDING REMARKS: As we deal with this warning passage, we are reminded that an evil heart of unbelief will keep us from entering into His rest. God is not a man that He should lie. He is truthful and trustworthy. To “spit” in His face and say that we cannot follow or trust Him is not a sign of weakness, but of wickedness. Our God is truthful, and we can ______Him. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 15

I. Exhortations to ______(4:1-16)  Having laid the foundation for the destructive capacity of an evil heart of unbelief, the writer now exhorts his readers to victory.  In keeping with the general illustration of the book, ______will keep a believer from entering Canaan. It will cause him to spend wasted years of wandering with no sense of ______.  Knowing the importance of each individual Christian having a victorious journey, the writer gives four challenges that must be heeded in order to reach the spiritual destination. o LET US ______(Hebrews 4:1) 1. This challenge warns us that we cannot be ______about making progress in the Christian life. We should have a godly sense of fear! 2. Yet, some would say that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power…Do we therefore have a contradiction in the Bible? 3. The word fear here is in reference to becoming ______. It includes a reverential awe. The fear that is needed is one that understands that failure to grow and progress in our Christian life results in God’s judgment. 4. Every Christian is promised ______, but many seem to fall short. There are many who die short due to the life that they live. However, there is a greater fear than dying an early death – presenting God with a ______life.

o LET US ______(4:11) 1. If we are going to find victory (i.e. ~ Spiritual Canaan), we must labor. The goal of this labor is to avoid ______. 2. What type of labor is needed to enter Canaan? Romans 10:17 and 1 Tim 5:17 both reference laboring in the Word. We see it here as well. The challenge is given in verse 11 and immediately followed by the challenge of verse 12. The ______must be the focal point of all spiritual labor. 3. The word labor simply means to give ______. I must be diligent in the study of the Word of God. Without its sustenance, I will never be able to enjoy spiritual victory in my life.

o LET US ______(4:14) 1. The concept of “profession” refers to a ______. The concept of “hold fast” refers to ______. The thought behind this verse is to maintain a good testimony. My practice should be governed by my position in Christ. 2. It is only through the power of ______, our Advocate, that we are able to maintain a good testimony. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. A great reputation can be lost in one night. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 16

3. The ______that is associated with enjoying victory is to have a testimony that is becoming to one who wears the name of Christ.

o LET US ______(4:16) 1. This challenge becomes the “______” for having the ability to withstand against the attacks of the enemy. There are four key phrases that must be understood: 1. ______: o The Old Testament ______approached the Holy of Holies with extreme caution. If there were sin in his life, it was over! o In this New Testament era, we can come boldly. We do not have to be timid and afraid for our lives. We can come boldly as a son. o The High Priest in the Old Testament came as a ______. Now, we are seen in the righteousness of ______and accepted in the Beloved. We can come boldly.

2. ______: o We have a throne of GRACE, not Judgment. o We do not ask for what we ______, but for what we ______. o God does not give us what we deserve, but what ______deserves.

3. ______: o Because He is merciful, He is ______. o God extends His mercy to us when we ask Him to. This is why we must go to Him ______. o Victory will never come to those who think that they deserve it.

4. TO ______IN TIME OF ______: o He helps us when we need Him the most. The help is when we are being ______– not when it is too late and we have already been defeated.

II. A Powerful Word (4:12)  The Word of God is QUICK. This word means ______. The Bible is a living book (1 Peter 1:23). Other books may be outdated, but not God’s word.  The Word of God is POWERFUL. From this Word we get the word “______” and “ENERGETIC.” The Word of God is operative, energetic, effective, and powerful. o Power to produce birth. 1 Peter 1:23 o Power to ______our motives. Hebrews 4:12 o Power to keep hearts aflame. Luke 24 o Power to produce peace. Psalm 119:165 Understanding the Superiority of Christ 17

o Power to ______sin. Psalm 119:9-11 o Power to control lives. Ephesians 5; Colossians 3 o Power to give direction. Psalm 119:105 o Power to grow us. 1 Peter 2:2 o Power to ______faith. Romans 10:17 o Power to sanctify. John 17:17 o Power to ______. 2 Timothy 3:17

 The Word of God is a SWORD. It is the Weapon of choice for the Spirit’s use. If we are to have ______, we must use this book.

 The Word of God is a DISCERNER. As a Christian matures, his sensitivity to sin ______. True spirituality goes deeper than outward acts. It must be accompanied by inward ______. o The difference between a “good” Christian and a “godly” Christian is ______. We cannot mature if we ignore motives and deal only with the surface areas. o The more that I read the Bible, the more I understand my sinfulness, God’s ______, and His grace. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 18

I. Greater than Aaron (5:1-10)  When we speak of Christ being greater than Aaron, it must be understood that Aaron is not mentioned here as simply one ______– rather, he is the embodiment of the whole Aaronic, or Levitical, priesthood of the Old Testament.  In this chapter, we also find that Christ, as a ______, is not descended from Aaron’s line, but that He is after the order of Melchizedek. This Melchizedekan priesthood is ______to the Aaronic priesthood. o The compassion of the Aaronic (Old Testament) priest was due to his own ______(see verse 2). Christ had compassion on sinners, not because He sinned, but rather because He ______(see verses 7-8). o The Old Testament High Priest needed to offer sacrifices first for himself, and then for the people. Since Christ was sinless, there was no offering needed for Him. o The Old Testament High Priest offered “gifts and sacrifices for sins,” but Christ offered ______. (Hebrews 5:1) o The Old Testament Priest offered his sacrifices many times. He was responsible for daily sacrifices as well as the yearly Day of Atonement. Christ’s sacrifice was offered ______– it was sufficient. o The Old Testament Priest, though a priest, was still a sinner. Christ is the ______Son of God. o The Old Testament Priest was God’s servant. Christ is the ______. o The Old Testament priesthood was temporary; Christ’s priesthood is ______. When an Old Testament priest died, his priesthood came to an end. When Christ died, He also resurrected – His priesthood is eternal. o While Aaron’s priesthood may be inferior, it was still ordained of God (see verse 4). In Hebrews, you have a contrast: 1. Two Covenants (or testaments) 2. Two Priesthoods 3. Two systems of sacrifice 4. What we find in Christ is ______.

o In verse 9, we find an interesting phrase, “…and being made ______…” The thought here is that of completing a fixed goal that was set by God the Father for the Son. This goal involved ______(verse 8) which allowed the Son to be tempted in all points like as we are. It also allowed him to “learn ______” (Philippians 2:5-10). This verse is fundamentally the same concept as that expressed in 2:10. In chapter 2, He is the Captain of our salvation; here He is the Author of our eternal salvation. 1. The word ______is a derivative of ARCHE, and implies that He has preceded us in salvation and gone before us. It is expressed in the thought of Leader, Originator, and Fore-runner. 2. The word ______deals with a causative effect. It is His plan in action as He gives His gift of salvation. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 19

II. Growth is missing (5:11-6:20)  We are now coming to the third parenthetical warning in this book. There is an ______and an ______that has crept in to these believers. The “attitude” was in finding spiritual truths of God’s Word to be dull. The “action” was actually Spiritual inactivity (verse 11).  The problem was not in the Word, it was in their ______. When it came to spiritual things, they had become lazy (5:12). Anyone who neglects to study the Word of God will find it to be a dull and difficult book.  This warning passage falls into two sections. The first section (5:11-14) is covered in this lecture. The second part (6:1-20) is covered in the next lecture. Yet, we must remember that when this epistle was written, there were no chapter divisions. These came later and were added for our benefit.  As you interpret this warning, remember that we are dealing with ______Christians who are spiritual babies (5:13). In this passage, two important questions will be answered: o What are the ______of a mature Christian? 1. The mature Christian finds the Bible ______, while the immature Christian sees it as dull and boring (verse 11). If a person claims that the Bible is a boring book, they have just identified their spiritual condition.  As a person grows in grace, he will fall more in love with this book. Sometimes, a person may say that he loves the Bible, but the preacher is boring. Just a thought: The Bible never mentions dull preaching, but it does mention dull hearing!  Bob Jones, Sr. once said: Perhaps the problem is with you!

2. The mature Christian involves himself with ______others. The immature Christian needs to be taught by others (5:12). When we cross-reference this with 2 Timothy 2:2, we see a constant element of the Apostle Paul’s philosophy of ministry.  The maturing Christian wants to take what he has learned and share it with others. He is a CONDUIT, not a RESERVOIR.

3. The mature Christian is ______in handling the Word of God, but the immature Christian is not. As we grow, we are able to develop skills in studying, interpreting, teaching, and applying the Word of God.

4. The mature Christian has a growing ______of even the difficult parts. An immature Christian finds the Bible to be an impossible book (5:14). The more that one studies the Bible, the easier it is to understand.  How well I understand the Bible reveals how much I have grown in grace.

5. The mature Christian ______his spiritual senses. The immature Christian is lazy. Mature Christians are able to take the teachings of the Bible and apply them to their own lives. They are able to Understanding the Superiority of Christ 20

determine / discern not only right from wrong, but also good from ______.  The immature Christian needs a teacher to apply the Bible for them. They read, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes…” and Hollywood never enters their mind. They read, “Let not your good be evil spoken of…” and no concrete examples are formed. They are in need of a ______.

6. The mature Christian ______at understanding the Bible. The immature Christian will not put forth the effort. Exercise is never easy. The mature Christian does not necessarily find Bible study easy, but he understands the ______is worth the effort. NO ONE BECOMES A GOOD CHRISTIAN BY ACCIDENT. There is work involved, but it is worth it.

7. The mature Christian has ______while the immature Christian has not yet developed that discipline. A mature Christian asks, “What is RIGHT with this?” An immature Christian asks, “What is WRONG with this?” o What are the needs of an immature Christian? 1. An immature Christian needs a ______. Just as an infant cannot make it on its own, so a spiritual infant is in need of someone to watch over him.

2. An immature Christian needs ______. He not only needs to be exhorted to live right, but also he needs to be taught the doctrines of the Bible. He does not need to simply be told how to behave; he needs to be taught what to believe. BELIEF DETERMINES ______.

3. An immature Christian needs “the ______of the word.” Chapter six refers to this as the first principles and the doctrine of Christ. This “milk” would include basic doctrines such as:  The cross of Christ  The blood atonement  The deity of Christ  The inspiration of Scriptures  The virgin birth

4. An immature Christian needs to develop a ______for the “meat of the word.” In this context, “meat” refers to the priesthood of Christ. NO ONE CAN GROW WHO IGNORES THE WORD OF GOD (see 1 Peter 2:2).

5. An immature Christian needs to exercise his spiritual ______(5:14). We exercise our senses when we take the commandments and principles of God’s word and apply them to our own lives. Far too often we are prone to apply Biblical principles to the lives of others and not ourselves. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 21

6. An immature Christian needs rules and ______by which to live. Since a new Christian cannot always discern between good and best, he must be guided. This is why youth groups, dorm students, and Christians in general need rules.  Mature Christians will live godly, holy lives without worrying about the ______of rules. They are beyond that point in their walk with Christ. (Not under law…)  Immature Christians will struggle to keep the rules. They will question the validity of them. They will look for ways to get around them, or to obey the “______” of the rule, rather than the “spirit.”  These believers were saved long enough that they should have been teaching others. Notice, maturity is not determined by length of time. Rather, it is through the acceptance of ______and a disciplined daily walk in the Word that develops maturity. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 22

I. Introduction to Chapter 6  This is a passage that has been misused and abused throughout the Christian era. Those who take a strong “Arminian” stand use this passage to show that salvation can be lost. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the sin, there is a chance that salvation could never be regained.  This thought of “______” sonship in God’s family does not resonate with the rest of Scripture. It does not resonate with the tone of a family-type setting. We are commanded to be “born again” – but never to be “born again and again, etc…”  This chapter begins with the word ______. What are we tying together? o In chapter 5, we have immature believers who are on the “milk.” They have been admonished to exercise their spiritual senses. Therefore, they are now leaving the foundational truths and going on to ______. o The invitation of chapter 6 is “Let us go on unto perfection.” 1. LET US: This invitation is an ______for all Christians to become mature believers. One of Satan’s attacks is to make a believer feel as though he could never be a strong Christian (due to past sins, failures, habits, lack of character-training, etc.) If they listen to his slanderous whispers, they will never be victorious. NOTE: God would not give an invitation to go on unto perfection if it were an impossibility. He gives it to us because there is ______.  The journey to Canaan was not meant to be so difficult that only a few chosen people would ever make it there. ______child of God can (and should) enjoy victory in his Christian life (1 John 5:4).

2. GO ON TO PERFECTION: What is meant by this phrase? Obviously, it is not an exhortation to a ______“perfected” state. That is a misunderstanding of the biblical word “perfect.” The old nature will not be eradicated in this life-time.  Rather, this ______is for a believer to enjoy victory as a mature Christian. Notice how the word perfect has been used in the Bible: o David was a ______man (2 Samuel 22:33). He committed adultery and murder. o Noah was a ______man (Genesis 6:9). He became drunk after the flood was over. o Job was called ______and upright. He grew proud with his friends over his “right standing” with God. o These three men were “perfect” sinners.  “Perfect” is the word Jesus used from the cross when He said, “It is finished…” It is the word translated in 5:14, “…of full age…” The implication of the biblical word perfect is not that of “flawless.” Rather, perfect refers to “completeness, maturity.” Understanding the Superiority of Christ 23

 Understood in this light, the invitation is for us to go on to maturity, to be “______in Christ” as Paul stated in Colossians.

3. GO ON: This phrase must be understood correctly. If misunderstood, it could imply that we are to go on to maturity through our own self-efforts.  If I read more, I will be more mature.  If I go soulwinning more, I will be more mature.  If I pray more, I will be more mature.  Each of these statements reflects a ______thinking pattern. It is human-centered. It is confusing the “fruits” of maturity with the “______” of it.  The phrase, GO ON, is the word phero, meaning “to carry or be borne along.” With this verb, the action is being performed on an object through an outside force. It is not ME going to maturity; it is CHRIST ______me there!  Read Galatians 5 – what is the command there? Is the command to have the fruit of the Spirit? No! The command is to ______our “walk” – the fruit is the natural outgrowth. o Too many Christians live their lives as though they are saved by grace, but kept by works. o Too many Christians think that their works provide acceptance before Christ – we are already accepted in the Beloved. o The Scriptural teaching is to focus on the ______; growth on the outward will be the natural result. o We do not work on love, then joy, then peace, etc. We focus on ______with Christ, and then all nine aspects of this “fruit” will be manifest in our lives.

4. NOT LAYING AGAIN THE FOUNDATION: The writer is speaking here of ______, not SUBSTITUTION. He, in effect, is stating that there are some elements that need to be added to the foundation – quit laying the foundation over and over again. It was laid right the first time!  People who feel that they must continually lay the foundation over and over usually have ______about their own salvation.  People with doubts about salvation can never be truly effective in their Christian life. They must trust the foundation that has been laid in faith, and then add to that faith some “______.” See 2 Peter 1. o Notice that if a Christian fails to add to the foundation, he becomes [spiritually] blind, cannot see afar off, and forgets that he was purged from his old sin. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 24

II. The ______of Immaturity  As we work through this passage, it is important to remember that we are commanded to be perfect (Matt 5:48). If we refuse to grow, we are in ______.  To be a baby at birth is natural; to remain a baby throughout life would be ______and abnormal.

III. The ______of Maturity  It is only possible for a Christian to grow in grace when he is ______upon God. Christ alone is our source for maturity (Heb 13:20-21; 1 Peter 5:10-11). Notice several truths from these verses: o God makes the believer mature through ______o We also become mature because of His ______o God matures us so that we can bring Him more ______o Spiritual maturity is measured in terms of doing the ______of God

III. The ______of Maturity  Psalm 37:37, Mark the perfect man… If we are to mark him, he must be ______. Here are some characteristics of maturity according to the Bible: o ______(1 Corinthians 13:11) o Patience (James 1:4) o Good works (James 2:22) o Controlled ______(James 3:1-8) o Desire to be like Christ (Phil 3:12-15) o ______to His will (Rom 12:2; Col 4:12)

IV. The ______of Maturity  God has four basic tools that He uses to perfect, complete, and mature His children: o ______Colossians 4:12 o God’s Word 2 Timothy 3:17 o ______James 1:2-7; Job 23:10 o God’s men Ephesians 4:11-12; 1Thessalonians 3:10 Understanding the Superiority of Christ 25

I. Understanding the ______ Since this is a controversial passage for many, what are the options that are before us? o Here are a few arguments that have been used by theologians of the past centuries: 1. This warning applies only to Hebrew Christians who lived while the Temple was standing. 2. This warning is for “______” of Christianity, but not “______” of Christ. (They were never really saved in the first place.) This protects the doctrine of “eternal security” but does not have much contextual support. 3. This is a hypothetical situation. “If” a Christian could apostasize to such an extend, “then” he could never be renewed to repentance. 4. This warning is for believers; it is applicable for today; it does not deal with “______” but “______.”

o Was the warning to believers or unbelievers? 1. The thrust of this book is written to ______. There is no reason (nor evidence) to think that now the writer has shifted audiences. 2. The words used in this passage describe ______individuals:  Enlightened: an unsaved man has his mind darkened (Ephesians 4:17-18)  Tasted the heavenly gift: What is the heavenly gift? God gave us His Son from Heaven (John 3:16) Salvation is referred to as a “______.” The Holy Spirit, in context, is a gift as well. o The argument given against these being saved is that they merely tasted, or nibbled, but did not fully accept Christ. It is more like a “taste-test” to see if you like it. o However, the word tasted is the same word used in Hebrews 2:9, where Christ tasted death for every man. o The word taste implies ______, to consciously partake of. See 1 Peter 2:3; John 6:56.  Partakers of the Holy Ghost: The word means “______, part of” – a definite description of a saved man.  Tasted the good word of God: The unsaved man cannot receive the things of God. What food is to the natural body, the Bible is to the ______. (See Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 2:8; Revelation 10:9-11)  Tasted…world to come: A reference to the Millennial Kingdom that is coming – yet these believers had already tasted part of that. o This truth is illustrated through the story of Israel standing outside Canaan. The spies have gone in, brought back the fruit of the land (Numbers 13:23-27) Understanding the Superiority of Christ 26

and enjoyed it before the nation ever crossed the Jordan River. God allowed some carnal Israelites to “taste” the victory of Canaan 40 years before they ever attained it. That “taste” or experience of what is coming works as a ______which should make our surrender easier.

II. ______Eternal Security  Instead of teaching that one can lose his salvation, this passage actually teaches our security! To interpret the passage properly, we need to make sure that we understand all of the terms: o Foundation of ______from dead works (vs1) 1. The Hebrew Christian had repented (had a change of mind) about the dead works of Judaism. These works provided a ritual for God, but not a ______with God. 2. In salvation, this repentance from religious works and forms of godliness without any power had already been dealt with in the ______. It did not need to be laid again.

o Foundation of ______toward God (vs1) 1. This “dead works” of the Law was to point people to the coming Messiah, lit. ______– God with us. 2. This Hebrew believer had laid the foundation that Christ had come, Messiah was here. He had exercised faith so that God could be ______. It did not need to be laid again.

o Doctrine of ______(vs2) 1. There are some who immediately think of Christian baptism when they see this verse. Yet, is that what is really being discussed? 2. Why is it mentioned in the ______? How is this word used elsewhere in the New Testament?  It is used only four times. (Mark 7:4, 8; Hebrews 6:2; 9:10). In three of the four cases, the word is rendered as “washing(s).” 3. As these believers were leaving the principles, the foundational elements that had been laid in the Judaism pictures and types, I believe that “baptisms” must be understood in that context. 4. The ______religion had many types of ceremonial washings. Notice this quote from Adam Clarke:  Baptisms, or immersions of the body in water, sprinklings, and washings, were frequent as religious rites among the Hebrews, and were all emblematical of that purity which a holy God requires in his worshippers, and without which they cannot be happy here, nor glorified in heaven.

o Laying on of hands (vs2) 1. In keeping with the “leaving” of the Jewish shadows and moving into the Gospel substance, these believers were admonished to move past the foundation that had been laid with the ______. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 27

2. What is this? Under the Old Testament, during the sacrifice, the people would lay their hands on the lamb, and symbolically transfer their guilt to it. Since all of our ______has been placed on Christ, there is no need to lay this foundation again. o Resurrection of the dead (vs2) 1. This was a teaching that was in the Old Testament, but would find its full revelation in the Gospel. o Eternal ______(vs2) 1. This was also a teaching in the Old Testament, but would find its full revelation in the Gospel (New Testament). o ______(vs6) 1. The word means to apostasize – to renounce Christianity. 2. Here is a very serious warning against apostasy. o ______to repentance (vs6) 1. Renew implies that they had repented ______. 2. Repent means to have a change of ______. 3. Notice, the text does not say that it is impossible for them to be renewed to salvation. Salvation is eternal, unconditional, and secure in Christ. 4. The verse states that it is impossible to renew them again to ______. In verse 1, we find that there is a foundation of repentance that has been laid already and that it only needs to be laid one time. Observe:  When a person is ______, he has repented (Acts 20:20).  When a person changes his mind about sin and its solution, he is now in a place to exercise faith in Christ, ______His solution to the sin problem.  When a person’s mind is changed, and then his heart and life is changed, he is considered to be “born again,” a “child of God,” and “saved.” He does not need to repeat this process.  What happens if a person is ______, and then apostasizes from the faith? Is he still saved? Yes. Does he need to be saved again? No. That foundation has already been laid in the initial ______. Observe impossibility: A Christian who is “building” on the right foundation and then “walks away” cannot come back and lay the foundation again!  You simply take him back to where he had left off ______, and he starts to build again on the foundation that had already been laid!  His ______, while turning his back on the faith, is in Christ. His ______, however, will not reflect his position at this time. He does not need to lay again a foundation of repentance – that would mean that Christ’s work was unfinished, and that He must be crucified again. He needs to be restored and to continue ______. Understanding the Superiority of Christ 28

 Understood in this context, the apostasy would be turning back to Judaism. Yet, the Hebrew Christian’s salvation would never be an issue. Would he have God’s ______on his life? No. Would he be ashamed at Christ at His coming? Yes. Would he have any ______to give back to Christ? No. Would he have a place to reign in the Kingdom? Probably not. But he would be ______, yet so as by fire!

o Crucify Son of God afresh…(vs6) 1. To render the work of Christ as ______and to go back into the shadows of Judaism would be as if they had crucified Christ afresh and anew. It would mean that Christ’s work was not finished; that He had no power to truly save men. 2. These people would put Christ to an ______, or make a public spectacle out of what He had done for them. Hence, we understand the gravity of the charges laid against these people. 3. While we are not dealing with ______, we are still dealing with a very serious warning. We would do well to pay attention to it.

III. Understanding the rest of the chapter  God is not only interested in “possessing the field,” He wants the field to ______! (verses 8-9)  God does not ______what we do for Him or for others. (vs10)  The writer does not mean to generate ______; rather he desires that they have a full assurance of hope all the way to the end of this life. (vs11)  In a moment of practicality, the writer stresses the importance of avoiding ______. It is through faith and patience that we inherit the ______. (vs12)  God has sworn by Himself to put an end to all questions. He is immutable. He has sworn by two immutable things: 1) the immutability of His ______(or Word), and 2) the immutability of His ______to Abraham.  These unchanging facts give to me a strong consolation, an ______for my soul, and a Forerunner who has gone to prepare the way for me. o The Levitical High Priest did not enter the sanctuary as a forerunner for the people, but as a ______. He went to where they could not go. Jesus has not gone to Heaven as our representative, but as our ______, preparing the way. He has entered the race ahead of us; He is the author and finisher of it. We can follow in His steps the whole journey.

CONCLUSION: This completes the first section of Hebrews. Chapters 1-6 have given us the “______for progress.” That motivation is found in the Person of Christ. He is superior to prophets, to angels, to Moses, to Aaron, and to the Law (Old Covenant). Understanding the Superiority of Christ 29

______is in reference to the “journey” we are taking in our Christian walk. We are journeying toward maturity and victory. This destination is not reached under our own power; we must be carried there by the power of ______.

Our great High Priest has now entered the Heavenly Sanctuary as our ______. He is preparing a place for each of us as we continue in this journey here. Whatever the world has to offer, it cannot compare with the greatness found in Christ. He is greater, and better, in all aspects of His life and ministry than anything this world can offer.

We, as Christians, must not neglect our salvation. We must not linger in the stages of immaturity, but must “go on” to ______. To stay in infancy with the “milk” of the Word and never progress to the “meat” is a slap in the face of our Saviour and is likened to crucifying Him again to an open shame.

As we move to the next section, chapters 7-10, we are going to focus on the ministry for progress – the ______of Christ. This is, perhaps, the weightiest chapters of the entire New Testament. It is now time to “wade” through them!