HEBREWS, my thoughts, bp

Probably written just before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by Titus in AD70

From then until now, there has been no regular observance of the sacrificial rituals

Heb 1:1-3  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2            Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

 Phil 2:5-11

5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6    Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7    But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8    And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9    Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10    That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  11   And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Col 1:13-20

13   Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  14      In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15    Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  17            And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  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 might have the preeminence.  19    For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;  20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

 John 1:1-18

1          In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2           The same was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  6   There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11            He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12           But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  13        Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15    John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18           No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him.

In the Old Testament (the OT slopes upward to Christ)God spread the knowledge of Himself over the centuries of Israel’s history, (Isa 28:10) trying to develop them into the image of Christ, the restorer, that mankind might have access to God. At Mt. Sinai He gave them a NEW way of living, to be an attraction to other Nations, to draw them to God. Sometimes the truth of prophecy was more than they could handle. From Job 2200bc to Nehemiah 400bc=1800 years He saw this fail. He had to send the REAL Messiah who could fulfill all the prophecy He had given them(OT: what God said NT: what Jesus is, the Son revealing the Father).  The Light that shows us how to put the pieces (alto, tenor, bass and suprano) together and have the finished product,(song) salvation. 

God has revealed more through Jesus, than He had in all the scriptures in the Old Testament. Did you get that….I can just see your minds working… GREAT, that is why I am here…GET IN THE BOOK!!! The word you might have overlooked is REVEALED. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, how? By the revelation of Jesus. Heb 1:1-2  did you notice the US in that verse. Why write to believers?

PURPOSE  2Peter 1:10 hold fast to your confessions…don’t go back

Heb 1:1-3  God,(this is how Genesis and John starts) who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets(progressive revelation of God to man by angels, dreams, voice, signs), 2 (this statement commends Jesus’ doctrine as being Gods’)[if the OT way had been successful, no need to change] Hath in these last days[by saying this, don’t expect any more new revelations] spoken unto us{the final conclusion} by his(just Jesus= don’t try to do more) Son (prophet), whom he hath appointed heir(in light of his flesh) of all(what Adam lost) things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3          Who being(absolute timeless exhistance)the brightness(the Glory of the Father is invisible until it shines through Jesus) of his glory, and the express image(God is made known to us in no other way but Jesus,, we see the father thru the son and He sees us thru Jesus) of his person, and upholding all things[all things would instantly come to nothing, were they not sustained by His power] by the Word(logos) of his power, when he had by himself [He has not been aided by the Mosiac rituals] purged (priest)our sins, sat down(resumed His original dignity and Glory) on the right hand[God really has no right or left “side”, this is for us](in the governing place) (king) of the Majesty on high; (Phil 2:10 at the name of Jesus every knee-ect)--+

THE ONE!!

The law (10 commandments) is still the law, Heaven is still real, God is still real, Angels are still real. Our responsibility to do the will of God is real, but now, we find that Jesus has made it possible to be reconciled to God. They couldn’t go into the Holy place, we can. Jesus took(covenant) the Adamic curse(our sin nature) from off us, allowing us to be born again, new creatures that have the grace of God operating in us. We are still to obey His will, but now we have his Spirit in us, giving us a desire to obey(not just having to).

Christ is superior to the OT prophets because He is the Son of God and God has spoken a “new dispensation” through Him 1-3

Also this Son is God’s agent in creation and of Grace,

Jesus is the champion, Gods son and mans Savior. He is the crown and glory of OT prophecy

This high doctrine of Jesus as God’s Son with the glory and stamp of God’s nature is NEVER lowered. As God’s Son He is superior to the Angels 1:4/2:4. His humanity is proof of His glory 2:5-18  Being God’s Son over God’s house, He is easily superior to Moses(who was over God’s tabernacle) 3:1/4:13. NOW THE GOOD PART. The bulk of Hebrews is showing that He is superior to Aaron and the whole Levitical line 4:14/12:3  these are the people’s people, the ministers, the go between’s, those who by proxy, get me/us/them to GOD…

Jesus worked under a better covenant of grace 8:1-13  works in a better sanctuary (in heaven) 9:1-12 offers a better sacrifice(His own blood) 9:13/10:18 and gives us better promises for the fulfillment of His task (10:19/12:3)

The whole question of true religion, how WE may obtain ACCESS to GOD, is the issue here!

Whoever wrote this tries to show them and us that where the Old Testament Sacrifices fell short in doing this,

ALL is fulfilled in JESUS CHRIST (perfection and reality), THE SON OF GOD.

He shows how JESUS is superior to: 1. Old Testament Prophets, 2. Angels, 3. Moses,

4. Joshua, 5. Aaron and the Jewish High Priest. JESUS himself IS the perfect Sacrifice. HIS Blood is better that than of bulls and goats.

JESUS himself is the ONLY one who can bring us to spiritual reality and make it possible to have ACCESS to GOD.

Hebrews warn us not to neglect the OPPORTUNITIES made available to us by HIS sacrifice. We need to OUIT trying to do it OUR way!! OUIT trying to fit HIM into OUR schedule. Boy we are hard headed,

Hebrews shows us (them) how everything the Old Covenant aimed at, all it tried to accomplish was fulfilled (the target was hit) in the person of Jesus and His sacrifice, ONCE for all. The new way (real way) of ACCESS to GOD is thru the Blood of Jesus and that this DEMANDS our wholehearted and faithful devotion.

SO! How do I gain ACCESS to GOD???   I allow Him to have access to(ALL OF) me. That sounds so easy. Why is it so hard?  Oh, is it not hard for you?  Lookout! The master deceiver has lulled you to sleep.  Galatians 5:17 the flesh lust against the spirit. Romans 7

It is hard to live right, to have the PEACE we want, because we are in a battle with our flesh (self) or, we have given into it. Has anyone mastered it, made it submit to Gods way of thinking, or have we modified our way of thinking to where we have peace with our (flesh) self, and assume this is pleasing to God. See Romans 7:25 what did Paul say.

Heb 2:3 Can WE neglect it? Do you have a car? If you read your Bible, you will have greater faith than if you neglect reading it. If you read your Bible you will be a stronger christian  than if you neglect it and read books that criticize it. If you pray to God you will become stronger in your beliefs because of answered prayer, than if you neglected to pray.