Since the book of Hebrews is 13 chapters, I will attempt to hit the major highlights to open up the book as a whole and passages that may have been misinterpreted or cause people to feel condemned.
The theme of Hebrews is laid out in the first three verses. Hebrews 1:1-4 "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."
In the Old Testament, God spoke to His people Israel at various times and in various ways. But in the New Testament, He has spoken to us by His Son. How did God speak to us in Jesus? How is He speaking to you now? Verse 3 says that Jesus Himself purged our sins. Did you hear that? God is speaking to us, saying that our sins were purged. That is past tense language. It is an accomplished fact. Jesus died once, 2000 years ago. He paid the penalty for every sin that you and I have ever committed in the past or will ever commit in the future. He paid the penalty for us for all sins, past, present and future. The book of Hebrews will be contrasting what happened in the Old Testament with what Jesus accomplished under the New Testament. If we don't recognize the difference between the two covenants, we will be left in confusion. Under the Old Testament, the blood of animals was shed on a daily basis. The people were receiving forgiveness one sin at a time. Then once a year, the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies in the Temple and offer a yearly sacrifice. This yearly sacrifice was to cover the sins of people committed in ignorance. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus made one sacrifice for sins forever! We no longer receive forgiveness one sin at a time. He paid for the sins of our entire lifetime! What grace and mercy He has for us. The whole world needs to hear THIS GOOD NEWS!
Notice also that Hebrews chapter 1 shows Jesus in heaven, worshiped by the angels, after He had purged our sins. As we shall see, Hebrews chapter 2 shows a picture of Jesus coming down from heaven to be among His creation. Chapter 3 declares that we have become the house of Jesus when we believe and hold fast to the gospel, His word of righteousness by faith apart from our works. What a beautiful and touching picture of God pursuing us! He moves out of heaven in the person of His Son, bears the penalty of our sin, all so that He can live in us.
Hebrews 2:1-4 "Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels (the Law of Moses) proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation (our sins were purged), which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
Remember, how did God speak to us in the New Testament? Jesus, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High.
The book of Hebrews will be using phrases like drift away and fall away. This is not talking about losing your salvation. It is speaking of drifting away from the central truth of the gospel, that Jesus purged our sins. What do we drift or fall back towards? The Old Testament mindset that our sins are not purged, that we need to receive forgiveness one sin at a time. Notice also that the gospel is the message that God confirms with miracles. As we declare the truth of the gospel, that Jesus has purged our sins, God will confirm this with miracles.
Hebrews 2:14-15 "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Through His death, Jesus bore the penalty for our sins. If He took my punishment, I no longer need to fear punishment from God. What is this fear of death? I believe it is the fear of punishment from God after we die. This is what leaves people in fear. We look for all sorts of things to comfort ourselves apart from God because we are afraid. When we realize that Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of our entire lifetime, we experience peace and joy. We can draw near to God without fear of punishment. This is what brings us out of bondage. People need peace! We have the message of the Prince of Peace!
Keith Oliver
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