God is Speaking, Are You Listening?

Text: Heb. 1:1-3

Introduction:
  1. Background Information
    1. Authorship
      1. Paul
        1. Arguments For
          1. KJV has the title "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews"
          2. Identifies with Timothy (13:23)
          3. He was in prison (10:34; 13:19)
          4. 2 Pe. 3:15-18 suggests that Pal had written to the same people that Peter was writing to. This letter is called Scripture. The book of Hebrews is the only epistle that would fit that particular designation. If not, we have a part of Scripture that is missing!
        2. Arguments Against
          1. Difference in style and word choice from other epistles
          2. The doctrinal content has no parallel with his other epistles. In most of his other letters, there is some overlap of the doctrinal material.
          3. In other letters he uses the name Jesus Christ while in this epistle the writer uses Christ Jesus.
          4. Heb. 2:3 suggests that the author had not heard the Lord personally.
            1. To counter it could be the writer had it confirmed by the Lord's companions but received it by revelation
            2. Paul was first encouraged by Ananias and Barnabas
      2. Apollos
        1. Martin Luther suggested this on the basis of Acts 18:24-26
        2. He was well versed in the OT, was instructed by Priscilla and Aquilla, and heard Paul preach
        3. The silence of the early church makes this view less attractive
      3. Barnabas
        1. Suggested by Tertullian in A.D. 225
        2. No one else has found support for this view
      4. Priscilla
      5. Philip
      6. Mark
      7. Luke
      8. Unknown
    2. Key Words
      1. "Better"
        1. used 13 times
        2. Jesus is seen as "better than..."
          1. Prophets
          2. Angels
          3. Moses
          4. Aaron
          5. Melchizedek
      2. "Eternal" and "Forever"
      3. "Established"
        1. Used 8 times
        2. Author wants us to remain firm and established in the faith
    3. Key Thoughts
      1. Don't go back
        1. Cp. "no one looking back is fit for the kingdom..."
        2. To Judaism
          1. The temple was still standing and it would be simple to return to Judaism
          2. Persecution might tempt one to quit following the Lord
      2. Book with meat, not just milk
        1. Peter even admitted that Paul wrote some things that are "hard to be understood."
        2. Chapter 5:12-6:6 suggests that we should move beyond the milk
      3. Many quotes from the OT
        1. 26 direct quotes
        2. 5 indirect quotes
      4. Some suggest that the book teaches against eternal security
        1. The five warnings are very severe
        2. We will deal with this in detail in chapter 6
        3. For now note the following
          1. This is a book for TRUE believers
            1. Some suggest that it speaks of professors who are not actually possessors
            2. Note the following passages that show these are genuine Christians
              1. He. 3:1
                1. Called "holy brethren"
                2. They are "partakers of the heavenly calling"
                3. Christ is their "High Priest"
              2. He. 10:32-34
                1. They suffered for their faith
                2. They ministered to Paul
              3. He. 12:4 (suffered for the faith)
              4. He. 13:13-14 (suffered for the faith)
          2. The warnings do not suggest a "loss of salvation" but rather, a sure judgment for the believer that may result in the "loss of physical life" as in the "sin unto death."
    4. Theme (Remain faithful)
      1. Note: The five warning passages use a word that actually means "encouragement" or "exhortation"
      2. Five Warnings
        1. Drifting (2:1-4)
        2. Doubting (3:7-4:13)
        3. Dullness (5:11-6:20)
        4. Despising (10:26-39)
        5. Defying (12:15-29)
      3. Note that the progression becomes more serious as the book progresses
  2. Introduction (1:1-3)
    1. Compared to Col. 1:15, 17, 20
    2. "God..."
      1. It is God who is speaking, not man
      2. The authority that a preacher has comes from proclaiming God's word
      3. Inspiration is continuous from OT to NT
    3. "divers manners..."
      1. God spoke in many ways in the OT
        1. Dreams
        2. Visions
        3. Burning bush
        4. Directly
      2. God spoke at different times
      3. God spoke using the prophets
    4. "by His Son..."
      1. Seven great pronouncements about the Son
        1. Appointed heir
        2. He made the world
          1. Col. 1:16
          2. John 1:3
        3. Brightness of His glory
          1. "brightness" = "radiance"
          2. The moon reflects the sun's light. Jesus does more than reflect God's light, he is the radiance of that light.
          3. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."
          4. John 1:14 "We have seen his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father..."
        4. Express image of His person
          1. Exact representation
          2. Cp. John 14:9; Col. 1:15
          3. Illus. Coin gets the image of the person it is made after. Jesus gets more than a "look-a-like" image. His very being is the exact representation of God because He is God.
          4. Deity of Christ
            1. John 1:1
            2. He. 1:6, 8
            3. John 5:17-18
            4. John 8:58
            5. John 10:30-33
            6. John 20:28
            7. Rev. 17:14
            8. Isaiah 9:6
            9. Matt. 1:23
            10. Col. 2:9
            11. Col. 1:15
            12. Rev. 1:8
        5. Upholding all things
        6. Purged our sins
          1. Middle voice showing that He did it himself
          2. Cp. 1 Co. 6:19-20
        7. Sat down
          1. Completed the work of salvation
          2. He is now making intercession for us
      2. Jesus is qualified to speak to us and we should listen