The Book of HebrewsThe Book of HebrewsLiving by FaithLiving by Faith

John Oakes, John Oakes, Las VegasLas Vegas

Sept 10, 2012Sept 10, 2012

IntroductionIntroduction• Audience: Christians in general, but Audience: Christians in general, but

especially those who are of Jewish descentespecially those who are of Jewish descent• Second generation disciples who are Second generation disciples who are

tempted to lose heart in light of coming tempted to lose heart in light of coming persecutions.persecutions.– Remember those earlier days… Hebrews 10:32Remember those earlier days… Hebrews 10:32– A hint: Those who are from Italy greet you. Hebrews 13:24A hint: Those who are from Italy greet you. Hebrews 13:24

• Date of writing: AD 60-70, probably closer Date of writing: AD 60-70, probably closer to AD 70.to AD 70.

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13

Introduction cont.Introduction cont.• Purpose: To give heart to Christians who Purpose: To give heart to Christians who

have endured but are being tempted to have endured but are being tempted to waver in their faith.waver in their faith.– Warnings against “falling away.”Warnings against “falling away.”

• Theme: The preeminence of Jesus Christ!!!Theme: The preeminence of Jesus Christ!!!– His deityHis deity– The greatness of his ministryThe greatness of his ministry– The greatness of his sacrificeThe greatness of his sacrifice– The greatness of his covenantThe greatness of his covenant

The Greatness of JesusThe Greatness of JesusI Jesus is greater than all the prophetsI Jesus is greater than all the prophetsII Jesus is greater than the angelsII Jesus is greater than the angelsIII Jesus is greater than MosesIII Jesus is greater than MosesIV Jesus the great High PriestIV Jesus the great High PriestV The Priesthood of Melchizedek (and therefore of V The Priesthood of Melchizedek (and therefore of

Jesus) is superior to the Priesthood of Aaron Jesus) is superior to the Priesthood of Aaron VI Jesus is greater than AbrahamVI Jesus is greater than AbrahamVII The New Covenant (in and through Jesus) is VII The New Covenant (in and through Jesus) is

superior to the Old Covenant (through Moses)superior to the Old Covenant (through Moses)VIII The heavenly Tabernacle is greater than the VIII The heavenly Tabernacle is greater than the

earthly Tabernacle.earthly Tabernacle.IX The sacrifice of Jesus is of far greater worth IX The sacrifice of Jesus is of far greater worth

than the OT sacrificesthan the OT sacrifices

Exhortations In HebrewsExhortations In Hebrews

• Exhortation #1 Pay attention Heb 2:1-18Exhortation #1 Pay attention Heb 2:1-18

• Exhortation #2 Make every effort to enter Heb Exhortation #2 Make every effort to enter Heb 3:6-4:133:6-4:13

• Exhortation #3 Grow up. Become mature Heb Exhortation #3 Grow up. Become mature Heb 5:11-6:205:11-6:20

• Exhortation #4 Live by faith. Hebrews 10:19-Exhortation #4 Live by faith. Hebrews 10:19-12:2912:29

Hebrews 11 Heroes of the FaithHebrews 11 Heroes of the FaithThe key to perseverence is faithThe key to perseverence is faith

Hebrews 11:1, 11:6 Definition of faithHebrews 11:1, 11:6 Definition of faith

Heb 11:1 Faith is being certain of what Heb 11:1 Faith is being certain of what we do not see.we do not see.

It requires that we deny our senses.It requires that we deny our senses.

Heb 11:6 Faith… must believe that he Heb 11:6 Faith… must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.earnestly seek him.

Why were these men and women Why were these men and women commended by God?commended by God?

• They refused what the world calls greatness and They refused what the world calls greatness and staked everything on God. staked everything on God.

• They chose what is unseen rather than what is They chose what is unseen rather than what is seen.seen.

Lesson: In many ways, our worst enemy is Lesson: In many ways, our worst enemy is success and prosperity. What the world seeks is success and prosperity. What the world seeks is what will destroy everything that is important.what will destroy everything that is important.

Example: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Example: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Daniel Ch. 3 What could they see?????Daniel Ch. 3 What could they see?????

Daniel Chapter ThreeDaniel Chapter Three

Righteousness in a religious context: Righteousness in a religious context: Standing up for God and for the truthStanding up for God and for the truth

The fires of persecution.The fires of persecution.

““I will bow my head, but not my heart.”I will bow my head, but not my heart.”

What would you have done?What would you have done?

App’n: Persecution of DiocletianApp’n: Persecution of Diocletian

By Faith….By Faith….

• By faith Abel gave a better sacrifice.By faith Abel gave a better sacrifice.

• By faith Enoch pleased God.By faith Enoch pleased God.

• By faith Noah built the ark, By faith Noah built the ark, condemned the world and saved his condemned the world and saved his familyfamily

By Faith….By Faith….

• By faith Abraham left everything By faith Abraham left everything behind….behind….

• By faith Abraham became the By faith Abraham became the father of many nations.father of many nations.

• By faith Abraham offered up his By faith Abraham offered up his one and only son.one and only son.

Chrysostom on AbrahamChrysostom on Abraham

““The things of God seemed to fight The things of God seemed to fight against the things of God and faith against the things of God and faith fought with faith and the commandment fought with faith and the commandment fought with the promise”fought with the promise”

Yet…. Abraham obeyed the command.Yet…. Abraham obeyed the command.

Heb 11:19 He Heb 11:19 He ReasonedReasoned

Those of whom the world was not Those of whom the world was not worthyworthy

• Hebrews 11:13 Still living by faith (not by sight) Hebrews 11:13 Still living by faith (not by sight) when they died.when they died.

• xenoixenoi foriegners, aliens, strangers, refugees in this foriegners, aliens, strangers, refugees in this world.world.

• parepidemosparepidemos sojourners, temporary residents, green sojourners, temporary residents, green card holders, people who do not put down roots.card holders, people who do not put down roots.

• Lived by faith despite never seeing the promise Lived by faith despite never seeing the promise fulfilled.fulfilled.

• Therefore, God is not ashamed to call them his.Therefore, God is not ashamed to call them his.

Diognetus (2Diognetus (2ndnd Century Apologist) Century Apologist)• The Christians dwell in cities of Greeks and The Christians dwell in cities of Greeks and

barbarians as the lot of each is cast, and follow the barbarians as the lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs in dress and food and other native customs in dress and food and other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, contradicts own citizenship, which they set forth, contradicts expectation. They dwell in their own countries, but expectation. They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners. They bear their share in all only as sojourners. They bear their share in all things as citizens and endure hardships as things as citizens and endure hardships as strangers. To them, every country is a fatherland, strangers. To them, every country is a fatherland, and to them, every fatherland a foreign country. and to them, every fatherland a foreign country. They live on earth, but their home is in heaven. They live on earth, but their home is in heaven. They love all men and are persecuted by all. Their They love all men and are persecuted by all. Their strangeness is not strange clothes or lack of strangeness is not strange clothes or lack of technology. It is their embrace of an ethic the world technology. It is their embrace of an ethic the world considers nonsense.considers nonsense.

By Faith…By Faith…

• By faith Moses gave up worldly By faith Moses gave up worldly success and fortune.success and fortune.

• By faith Moses saved Israel.By faith Moses saved Israel.• By faith the walls of Jericho fell.By faith the walls of Jericho fell.• By faith ordinary people did By faith ordinary people did

great things for God.great things for God.

More Men and Women of FaithMore Men and Women of Faith• Shut the mouths of lions: Daniel.Shut the mouths of lions: Daniel.• Quenched the fury of the flames: Shadrach, Quenched the fury of the flames: Shadrach,

Meshach and AbednegoMeshach and Abednego• Escaped the edge of the sword: ElijahEscaped the edge of the sword: Elijah• Women received back their dead: Elijah (1 Women received back their dead: Elijah (1

Kings 17:17) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:8Kings 17:17) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:8• Stoned: Zechariah (2 Chron 24:20-22)Stoned: Zechariah (2 Chron 24:20-22)• Sawn in two: Isaiah (Jewish legend)Sawn in two: Isaiah (Jewish legend)• Put to death by the sword: (1 and 2 Put to death by the sword: (1 and 2

Maccabees)Maccabees)

• None of them received what was promised in None of them received what was promised in their lifetimes. None!!!their lifetimes. None!!!