Hebrews 1:1
God Said It
Introduction: The introduction is somewhat scant because the book
of Hebrews does not give much in the way of background. There are
four bits of introductory information missing:
1. Who the writer was.
2. Who the recipients were.
3. When the writer wrote the book.
4. And Information on why the book was being written.
Without these, we are left to piece together background and in some
cases, to just guess at it.
THEME - The New Is Better
In short, this Book was written to explain that Jesus and grace are
far better than sacrifices and the law. It is written primarily to
Hebrews, some who are saved and some who are not saved, but who are
thinking of walking away from Jesus and grace to return to the
sacrifices and law.
WHAT I THINK:
1. I think Hebrews is one of the three foundational books of the
New Testament (Romans and Galatians being the other two) which
explain how today’s Christians moved from keeping the laws of the
Old Testaments to our practices in the New Testament.
2. Part of the writer’s point was the same one that Jesus made, the
new and the old cannot be mixed.
Matt 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of
John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast
oft, but thy disciples fast not?
a. Don’t just notice the question. Note what the question is
really asking.
(1) They were really asking, "Why aren’t You doing things the
way we have always done them?"
(2) Then read Jesus’ answer.
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children
of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the
bridegroom is with them? but the days will come,
when the bridegroom shall be taken from them,
and then shall they fast.
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an
old garment, for that which is put in to fill it
up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made
worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles:
else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out,
and the bottles perish: but they put new wine
into new bottles, and both are preserved.
b. Jesus’ answer was that you cannot mix the old with the new.
c. Jesus was talking about the Covenants, the Testaments, the Old
and the New.
(1) Jesus was not talking about salvation.
(a) People in every age has gotten saved the same way,
by faith and repentance.
(b) The Covenants teach the saved HOW to worship.
(2) The Old Testament taught the Jews to worship with
sacrifices under the law.
(3) The New Testament teaches Christians to worship Christ
under grace.
(4) Those two DO NOT mix!
d. The books of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews tell us how and
why New Testament saints went from the Old Covenant to the New.
3 . I also think understanding these books is very important for as we
continue to return to the conditions that existed when the Jewish
clock stopped, Paul and his writings will continue to become more
and more under attack.
a. Remember from a Biblical view, the church age was virtually
invisible, but we have been in it for almost 2,000 years.
b. Many of the prophecies of the tribulation indicate that the
conditions on earth during the tribulation will be much the
way they were when the Jewish clock stopped.
(1) The Jews would be IN their land.
(2) The Jews would be persecuted.
(3) The world would be governed by a world leader.
(4) There will be no church.
(5) Any who believe that Jesus was the Messiah will also be
persecuted.
c. That last one makes me think that Paul and his writings will
be rejected—a notion that is increasing taking root in some
religious circles today who call themselves Messianic
worshippers.
(1) They seem to believe that Jesus (although never called by
that name) is the Messiah but they reject Paul and his
writings.
(2) Because they reject the majority of the New Testament,
they cannot be converted; but believers today need to
know WHY we believe what we believe and why we worship
the way we works.
(3) That is what these three books teach us.
WHAT I THINK ABOUT THE TIME:
The final words of the book, help us to have a general time period
when the Book was written and an associate of the author.
Hebrews 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren,
suffer the word of exhortation: for I have
written a letter unto you in few words.
23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at
liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will
see you.
24 Salute all them that have the rule over you,
and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen. «
[Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.]
1. I think the author was a friend of Timothy.
a. From the wording, it could have been Timothy, but I think
Timothy was doing for this person what he likely did for
Paul, writing down someone else’s words.
b. We suppose that is the same Timothy that traveled with the
Apostle Paul.
c. Some believe Paul was the writer—and that is possible;
however, if it was Paul, he wrote in an unusual way.
(1) Paul identified himself in his books.
(2) Paul identified his recipients in his books.
(3) Paul usually invoked his apostolic authority in his
books.
(4) The fact that those things are not in this book does
not mean that Paul did not write it. It just means
if Paul wrote it, it was an unusual way for Paul to
write.
2. That also gives us a general time, during the life and
ministry of Timothy.
a. That would place the book from around 50 AD to 95 AD.
b. However, the Jewish temple was destroyed in 70 AD and even
though this Book speaks much about the temple, its
destruction is not mentioned.
c. If it had been destroyed when the Book was written, that
alone would have been an argument to make for NOT GOING
BACK. (i.e. It is hard to go back to something that does
not exist.)
d. That causes most to believe the Book was written BEFORE
70 AD.
I. \\#Heb 1:1\\ The Author - "God… spake"
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers
manners spake in time past unto the fathers by
the prophets,
A. By using those two words, God is declaring He is the Author of
all.
1. We may not know who the writer was, but we know who the
Author is.
2. I believe "God" speaks of God the Father.
a. Throughout the New Testament, we meet the Godhead.
b. Although hinted at in the Old Testament, it was not
until Matthew that all three Members of the Godhead
were formally introduced.
c. There is no understanding this or any other New
Testament book without some understanding of the
Godhead.
3. One God, three Persons, all equal, none the same.
a. One God - I cannot comprehend this any better than
you.
(1) I just believe it because that is what the Bible
clearly states.
De 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one
LORD:
De 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it
in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven
above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none
else.
De 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and
there is no god with me: I kill, and I make
alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there
any that can deliver out of my hand.
(2) \\#Is 43:10-11, 45:18, 44:6-8, #Is 46:9\\
\\#2Sam 7:22, 1Kings 8:60, Zech 14:9\\
b. Three Persons - Yet, He is manifested in three
distinct Persons. \\#Matt 3:16-17, 28:19\\
1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in
heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:
and these three are one.
c. All equal in power
(1) There is only one God.
(2) I don’t know of a Bible verse that states this
truth, but if there is division and inequity
among the three Persons, it does not seem that
They would be one.
(3) The oneness of the Godhead means they are all
equal in power.
d. Yet the Persons of the Godhead are not the same.
(1) The Father does NOT becomes the Son and the Son
does NOT become the Holy Ghost and so forth.
(2) Neither do they have the same functions or roles.
(3) We see that in mankind’s salvation.
a. The Father is the Architect. He both
"designs" and "assigns," even the SON!
i. This is confusing, but the Bible makes
this clear, even in the opening verses
of this Book.
Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the
angels…
Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the
firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let
all the angels of God worship him.
Heb 1:9 …God, hath anointed thee with the oil
of gladness above thy fellows.
ii. Just like we do not have to comprehend
"One God, three Persons" to believe it;
so we do not have to comprehend "all
equal, not the same" to believe it.
iii. But if we do not believe it, we will
always be filled with doubt concerning
God and the salvation He offers.
b. The Son is the Sacrifice, High Priest, and
Intercessor.
c. The Holy Ghost is the Indweller, Convictor,
the Teacher, and the Connector.
(4) If these roles are observed in the matter of man’s
salvation, it is most likely true in all other
matters as well.
B. By using those two words, God offered no proofs, no evidences,
and no explanation.
1. Much like in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1, God lays out who He
is and leaves it up to you what you will do with it.
a. Either you believe it or you do not.
b. The choice is up to you, but so are the consequences.
c. God again demonstrated what I only in the smallest way
can comprehend: i.e. Authority does not have to prove
itself.
(1) God does not have to prove He is God because He
is God.
(a) He will simply deal with those who reject
Him.
i. God has granted freewill.
ii. He lets us use it.
iii. He holds us accountable for it.
(b) There is no changing that and there is no
need for God to argue with those who reject
it.
(2) God does not have to prove that He wrote this
Book.
(a) He will simply deal with those who reject
it.
i. God has granted freewill.
ii. He lets us use it.
iii. He holds us accountable for it.
(b) There is no changing that and there is no
need for God to argue with those who reject
it.
2. So if you have never settled it before, perhaps tonight
will be a good night for you.
a. For as we begin this book, you must decide whether you
have to understand and accept all it says before you
will believe it, or whether you will believe it
regardless of whether you understand it or not.
b. Some have spoken of my faith—and I am flattered if
you think I have faith, but what some call "my faith"
was a just one decision.
(1) I decided decades ago that if this book was true,
it was worth my everything. If it is not true,
it is not worth anything.
(2) I concluded the Bible was true—even before I
began to study it.
(3) In fact, that decision is what has caused me to
study it so much.
(a) I want to understand it.
(b) I believe God wants us to understand it.
(c) And I believe God will reveal it to us if we
believe and study.
Tonight, we have barely scratched the first verse, but already I can
say, "It will do you no good to study this or any other book of the
Bible if you must understand it to believe, for God will not reveal
it to you." Tonight, what is your decision?
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