Today we begin a new message series from the Book of Hebrews which I’ve entitled “The Faith that Endures.”
It’s a sobering book because it addresses a sobering topic—an issue that I know that I would prefer not to admit that it exists. It addresses the issue of Christians who are tempted to fall away from the faith.
Now I think for many years in my Christian life I preferred to believe that this simply didn’t happen. Somehow, the notion of “once saved, always saved” or eternal security seemed to rule out the possibility that true, born again Christians, or even those who appear to be true, born again Christians could possibly, or even actually, fall away from the faith.
But now more than 50 years of experience and ministry as a born-again Christian has convinced me otherwise. Very significant people whom I have known and ministered with, who have had a very significant impact on my own spiritual life and ministry have actually fallen away from the faith—and I don’t mean just in practice but also in profession. I have known people who now expressly and openly deny Jesus Christ is their Savior and Lord, who even would deny His resurrection, who once followed Christ as sincerely and unreservedly, or at least so I thought, as I do. Among them are the person who initially led me to Christ, and who actually functioned for years professionally as both a youth pastor and a senior pastor, a friend who functioned as a co-pastor in this church, and his wife, and others who served as spiritual leaders in this congregation, some reaching offices as high as elder.
The fact that apparent believers actually do fall away from Christ, and that the possibility of falling away from Christ is a very real and present danger for any of us, is confirmed by the New Testament itself. Not only does the letter to the Hebrews admit this possibility, but the writings of the Apostle Paul confirm it. Paul speaks of at least four different one-time believers who in one respect or another fell away from Christ to one substantial degree or another. The four are Hymenaeus, Alexander, Demas and Philetus. The Apostle John speaks of a plurality of believers who had abandoned fellowship with believers and says of them in I John 2:9: “They went out from us because they were never us.’ And more than that, and perhaps most tragic of all, is that our children, some of whom professed faith in Christ and were baptized, often do not continue to follow Christ. In fact, recent studies by the Barna Group and others suggest that as many as 75% of children brought up in evangelical churches fall way from Christ after high school.
So this is no small problem that this book addresses, and a very real danger, especially for our children, and now for our grandchildren. The Book of Hebrews addresses how we can prevent ourselves from falling away, and no doubt provides wisdom for how we can encourage others who are contemplating falling away, and especially in this time of the Covid-19 Pandemic are perhaps drifting away from Christ by their excused absences from fellowship.
So before we get into chapter one, let me share a little bit about the Book of Hebrews. As its title suggests it was written to Jews, or Hebrews, most likely Jews who lived in Judea, and in Jerusalem who had experienced decades of severe persecution on account of their faith in Jesus as Messiah. The persecution against believers there had broken out with the martyrdom of Stephen in about 37 A.D. and had probably continued nearly 30 years thereafter, until this book was written in about 65 A.D. or so. By this time, believers in Judea and Jerusalem had been disowned by their own Jewish families on many occasions, for decades, had often been unemployed perhaps because they were counted as unclean, and were treated as though they were pagans or Gentiles. And the persecution had not let up. If it had been temporary, perhaps they would not now be contemplating a return to Judaism. The thinking among them had now become maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to just go back and worship God as Jews always have by offering sacrifices in the temple, rather than following Christ. Because it appeared that in this life their suffering for Christ was never going to let up. They were growing exceedingly weary of it, and you can understand.
The book was written most likely outside of Judea, in the dispersion of the Jews, by a Jew himself who was intimately familiar with the Old Testament, and the Old Testament sacrificial system. We don’t know for sure who wrote Hebrews—it’s one of the great mysteries of the Bible. The best possibilities are the Apostle Paul, Barnabas, on account of the fact that Barnabas himself was a Levite and would know the sacrificial system and the spiritual heritage of the Jews very well, and in my mind, Apollos, who was known for his eloquence and education. This week I’ve come to the conclusion Paul is the best bet, but the point is, this book was written by God with the authority of God.
And in chapter one, the first point God makes about the importance of continuing to follow Christ, rather than returning to Judaism is that God’s revelation through Christ is far superior to the revelation given through angels. In verses 1-3, he is in effect saying, don’t neglect God’s revelation thru Christ, because He’s the heir, Creator, ultimate revelation, sustainer, redeemer and ultimate King of Creation.
Now as we begin to read Hebrews 1, it’s extremely important for us to remember that this is being written to Jews, Jewish Christians in the first century. And how did the Jews regard the revelation of God given to them in the Old Testament through Moses? And what’s important to know is that the Jews took great pride in the knowledge that the Old Covenant was given to Moses and other spiritual leaders through the mediation of angels. Now this might seem strange to us, unless we’re looking carefully at the Old Testament. I did a search this week and realized this perspective of the Jews is accurate. It was mediated through the angels, according to the testimony of the Old Testament itself. Did you know that in Hebrews 3:2 that God’s appearance to Moses in the burning bush was described as being the appearance of an angel—yes, the angel of the Lord, but nonetheless an angel. And then in Exodus 14:19, it is an angel that protects the Children of Israel by positioning the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud between Pharaoh’s Army and Israel at the parting of the Red Sea. Likewise, it is an angel of God who goes before Israel in the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire in the wilderness according to Exodus 23:20 and 23:23. So the Old Covenant revelation of God was definitely mediated and brought to us by means of angels, which is impressive enough, until we consider that the New Covenant revelation of God came through the Messiah, who was God Himself, God the Son. Wow!
In other words, how could you even think about returning to an inferior covenant mediated by inferior beings, angels, when the New Covenant came to you by means of Jesus, God Himself.
And so the writer of Hebrews makes a major point: Though God has revealed himself in many parts and in many ways in these last days, some 30-35 years ago as of this writing, He did the incredible. He manifested Himself, He spoke to us through His only begotten Son, God Himself. Verse one: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all thins, through whom also He made the world.”
Now the writer is aiming to create in us a sense of awe at how God has spoken to us in these last days. This Son, he says, is the heir of all things. Jesus will inherit the universe. You gonna blow Him off? He’s going to be in charge of your eternal destiny!
More than this, God made the world through Him. You blow off Jesus; you blow off the Creator.
And more than that, He is the exact representation, the fullest and most complete revelation of who God is and what He is like that will ever have! Verse 3: And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.” This is God that you’re thinking about abandoning here, for something that isn’t nearly as glorious and powerful. More than that, this Jesus, the author of the New Covenant, “sustains all things by the Word of His Power.” Your very existence, moment-by-moment, depends on Him, and you’re going to abandon Him for an easier life on the other side of the covenant divide? Come on! Then on top of all this, He is the one who made purification for sins—He’s the one who made it possible for your sins to be taken away and forgiven, as no one and nothing else was ever able to do. Verse three, second half: “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” So you are actually thinking about abandoning the very one who died to pay the penalty for your sins with His own precious blood for the blood of bulls and goats sacrificed on an earthly temple, which can never take away sin! This is crazy! And because of what He did for us, do you know what else you’ve got to think about here? He has been exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on High. He is in ultimately authority, will be your judge, at the right hand of the Father even as I speak.
Well, already, you get a sense of just how absolutely eternally insane it is to consider such a option as returning to Judaism from Jesus. How could you? How could we, when eternity is in the balance, and we know that if Jesus is not our Savior, He will surely be our judge?
Well, that should be persuasive enough. But then, Hebrews goes on to compare this Jesus, and the name He has inherited with the descriptions of mere created beings the angels, in Scripture.
The second point here is this: Don’t blow off Jesus for a covenant mediated by mere angels. Don’t blow off the divine Jesus for a covenant mediated by mere angels.
The writer is now going to compare who Jesus is, as named and described by various Old Testament passages, with quotes and conclusions about who the angels are.
He just finished saying Jesus is now seated at the right hand of majesty on high in verse 4, when He writes, about Him, that He has become as much better than or superior to the angels as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
What follows are at least 12 different names or descriptions regarding the divine nature and authority of Jesus from seven different Old Testament passages comparing Him to the far lesser descriptions and roles described in Scripture for angels.
Again, the incredulous question being asked is this, “How can you even think of abandoning Jesus and His New Covenant for the Old Covenant that was revealed by mere angels?
In verse 5 we have two quotes of two different Old Testament passages, Psalm 2:7 and II Samuel 7:14, to indicate that Jesus is God’s Son, and God is His Father. Remember how Jews understood Jesus calling God “My Father” in John 5:17-18. They immediately understood Him as saying He was equal with God—which was exactly what He was doing.
Verse 5: “For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son, today I have begotten you.” Answer: God the Father never said this to any angel. He only said it to Jesus. And this isn’t the only place where this kind of statement was made about Jesus, as the Son of David, the future King of Israel. II Samuel 7:14, speaking of the greater Son of David, says, “I will be a Father to Him and he shall be a Son to Me.” As the only begotten Son of God as Jesus is, He is begotten of God, therefore God Himself. Don’t abandon this revelation, this ultimatelrevelation of God, or you do so at great risk to yourself.
Then, in verse 6, we find a quotation of Deuteronomy 32:43, but only as it’s found in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament. This phrase apparently had dropped out of the latest copies of the Hebrew text. But He quotes it because it is the Word of God: “And when He again brings the first born into the world, He says, ‘And let all the Angels of God worship Him.’”
Now that’s a huge statement. Worship is reserved for God only. In Revelation 20:28, angels reject worship, saying you worship God only. Here, even the angels are commanded to worship the Son of God, indicating He’s God. They are inferior.
Now, something to note here. You come across a Jehovah’s Witness, or a Mormon, who questions the full deity of Jesus Christ, show them this passage. Jehovah’s Witnesses claim Jesus was merely the archangel Michael. How can that be so if all God’s angels are to worship Jesus? There is no better passage than Hebrews 1 for proving the full deity of Jesus Christ.
And then, the writer of Hebrews compares this with a statement about the function of angels—a great function, but perfunctory compared to that of the Son of God. Psalm 104:4 is quoted here about the role of angels: “Who makes His angels winds and His ministers a flame of fire.” Impressive fromm our lowly human perspective, but a far cry from the nature of a being that calls for the worship of angels Himself.
And then perhaps the most convincing of the quotes is found in verse 8—all are impressive, about the nature of Jesus. God, the Father, calls Jesus God, in so many words in verse 8-9, a quote of a Messianic Psalm, Psalm 45, verses 6 and 7. Here we see the first two persons of the Trinity both expressly called God. “But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, o God, is forever and ever. And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.” Now, Jesus has clearly inherited the name of God Himself on the authority of God the Father Himself. And more than that, He retains the unique nature of God Himself, in that His throne is forever and ever. He’s got God’s eternal authority.
Verse 9 continues the quotation of Psalm 45, and here the emphasis is on the divine holiness of the Son, and His exaltation above His companions—other men in the Kingdom. “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions. He is the anointed one, the Messiah, that’s the meaning of Moshaich in the Hebrew, anointed as eternal king among His companions in the Kingdom.
And the writer’s not done yet. Verses 10-12 quote Psalm 102:25-27, which the author interprets as a Messianic Psalm, not just a description of God, but God the Son. And as the book of Hebrews is Scripture, we must take Psalm 102 as just that: And here the Son of God through whom the New Covenant has come is described as the eternal creator of the heavens and the earth, and though the heavens and the earth will perish, he will remain the same for eternity. It also describes the Son of God as unchangeable, immutable, another attribute solely belonging to God. Verse 10: “And you, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands, they will perish, but you remain; and they will become old like a garment, and like a mantle you will roll them up. Like a garment they will also be changed. You are the same, and your years will not come to an end.”
And finally, in verse 13, there is the quotation of Psalm 110:4, clearly a Messianic Psalm as quoted by Jesus Himself in the Gospels, in which God the Father says to the Lord Jesus, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Now it’s a good question. God has never said this to any angel, only to Jesus, who alone sits at God’s right hand, and who alone is told that his enemies will be made a footstool for his feet.
And then to sum things up, he then negatively compares the nature and role of angels to the exalted role of the Son of God, Jesus, with this summary statement about angels in verse 14:
“Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”
Point: What part of stupid don’t you understand? You’re going to trade in Jesus, the Son of God, and His New Covenant for an old and ineffective covenant mediated by mere angels. That’s crazy! Don’t do it!
It’s only as we approach chapter two that the writer of Hebrews actually mentions his motive for these comparisons. And he warns us here: Don’t expect to escape God’s judgment if you abandon Christ’s salvation. Don’t think for a moment you escape God’s judgment if you abandon Christ’s salvation.
“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.” The point: Watch out for spiritual drifting, silently, slowly slipping away from the glorious and incredible salvation that God Himself, God the Son, Jesus offers.
Now an argument from the lesser to the greater—from what obviously happened under the Old Covenant to the much more severe punishment that awaits those who abandon the New Covenant: Verse 2: “For if the words spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
Good question? Remember what happened to the Jews who came out of Egypt under Moses. A person was caught picking up sticks on the Sabbath. He was stoned. Dathan and Abiram led a rebellion against Moses. They earth opened up and swallowed them and their families. This generation merely grumbled and complained against Moses, and they were bitten by serpents and died. Even Miriam and Aaron, when they grumbled against Moses’ authority, were punished—Miriam ended up with Leprosy. And when the people refused to enter the Promised Land, they all were left to wander 40 years in the wilderness, perishing without ever experiencing the blessing of the Promised Land.
Whoa, think again if you’re thinking of blowing off Christ. God has been so gracious to reveal Himself through His Son, who is God Himself and will ultimately determine our destiny, how in the world does anyone even think about abandoning this great and exalted and precious Jesus Christ for any sort of salvation, false as it is, in His place? It’s crazy! And those who do, according to this passage in Hebrews, cannot expect to escape if they neglect, or drift away, from so great a salvation.
If you’re among those who are wavering, think again. And if you know some who are wavering, help them think again. A few years of relief here on earth are not worth the loss of great relief and the glory that awaits those who persevere in following Jesus until the end.
Let’s pray.
