Lesson 2: Assurance In Hebrews

Pastor’s Bible Class Thomas Road Baptist Church

Series: Praying the Book of Acts and Hebrews Dr. Elmer Towns

Lesson 2: Assurance in Hebrews September 9, 2007

A. INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS

1. Who wrote Hebrews?

a. Paul.

b. Luke.

c. Apollos.

d. Barnabas.

2. Why Luke wrote the Hebrews?

a. Written to the Jewish Christians (mostly) in Jerusalem, who were going

back into temple practices and Jewish customs. They wouldn’t listen to

Paul if he wrote.

b. Quoted Septuagint version (Greek) of the Old Testament; Paul always

quoted the Hebrew text.

c. Not Pauline syntax (writing is similar to Luke and Acts). Many say the

finest style in the New Testament.

d. Use of medical terms (Luke a doctor).

e. No introduction. “From Paul,” yet writer knew Paul and some

recipients.

3. Argument for Paul’s authorship.

a. Paul preached a sermon “Christ is Better.” Luke wrote it down and/or

translated it.

b. Paul’s content, but Luke’s words and expressions.

c. Origin, early church father, said, “Who the author of Hebrews is only

God truly knows.”

B. KEY WORD AND THEME: THE WORD “BETTER” OCCURS 13

TIMES

1. Christ better than the angels, 1:4.

2. Christ better than Moses, 3:1-19.

3. Christ better than the Sabbath, 4:1-16.

4. Christ better than the high priest, 5:1-10.

5. Christ is better than the ministering priest, 7:7.

6. New Testament better than the Old Testament, 7:22.

7. New Testament has better promises, 8:6.

8. Christ’s sacrifice better than former sacrifices, 9:23.

9. Christ’s offer of Heaven better, 10:34; 11:16, 35.

C. QUESTIONS OF LOSING ONE’S SALVATION

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary [principles] of Christ, let

us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from

dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on

of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we

will do if God permits. For [it is] impossible for those who were once

enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of

the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the

age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they

crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put [Him] to an open

shame” (Heb. 6:1-6).

1. Views of interpretation.

a. Lose one’s salvation, i.e., fall from grace.

b. Only professions, but not really saved.

c. Not lose salvation, but backsliders who face judgment.

d. Hypothetical, if you could fall from grace, you couldn’t be saved a

second time.

e. Jewish believers going back into temple worship.

2. I believe it speaks of Jewish Christians who are going back into Jewish

practices.

a. The beautiful temple vs. the austere lifestyle of believers.

b. Christians were persecuted.

c. Relationship, they had unsaved relations in temple.

d. The day of overlapping grace had passed.

3. Interpretation of 6:1-6.

a. “Elementary principles” (6:1). They were young babes in Christ who

had not grown.

b. “Perfection” (6:1). They had not gone on to maturity.

c. The six introductory doctrines of salvation:

(1) Repentance, (6:1).

(2) Faith to God (6:1).

(3) Baptisms (6:2).

(4) Laying on hands (6:2).

(5) Resurrection (6:2).

(6) Eternal judgment (6:2).

d. “Enlightened” (6:4). Work of Holy Spirit in regeneration.

e. “Tasted heavenly gift . . . word of God.” Means fully drink, not sip

(see 2:9).

f. “Partakers” (6:4) joint activity.

g. “Powers,” what God does for His people.

h. “If” cannot happen, i.e., “If I could fly.”

i. “Renew again to repentance,” can’t get born again twice.

j. “Crucify again for themselves the Son of God.” Personally require

Christ to die again to forgive later sin.

4. Interpretation of 10:26-30. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have

received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for

sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which

shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy

under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,

shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and

hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an

unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know

him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith

the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people” (Heb. 10:26-30, KJV).

a. “Sin wilfully” (10:26).

(1) Intentional: knowing what is sin and choosing to do it.

(2) Greek, continual.

b. “No more sacrifice for sins.” The Old Testament Law had no

sacrifice for deliberate sin, the person was stoned (Num. 15:22-31).

They couldn’t go back into the temple for forgiveness, because Old

Testament sacrifice no longer cleanses.