A. INTRODUCTION
1. Key word – better.
a. To exceed prior expectations or standards.
b. To have superior quality, is excellent.
c. Better is comparative, why not use the word excellent?
2. Author: some say Paul but:
a. Not his style or vocabulary, also did not identify self.
b. Some say Clement, no proof.
c. Some say Luke, not his style, also Luke was a Gentile. But was the author Jewish? “Let us go on …” Shows the author had a superior knowledge of Judaism.
d. Who was the author? Only God knows. Some say Eusebius, an early Church Father.
3. Those receiving it were Jewish Christians who:
a. Were in danger of persecution.
b. Warnings against returning to Judaism, but message also has encouragements.
c. Exhorts them to “hold fast.”
4. Written within first century:
a. Readers are second generation Christians.
b. Written from Rome, “Those from Italy greet you” (13:24).
5. God is the author. “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 to us by His Son” (1:1-2).
B. CHRISTIANITY IS BETTER/EXCELLENT
1. Jesus is better than angels. “… His Son … having become so much better than the angels” (1:2, 4).
2. Jesus is better hope than the law. “The law made nothing perfect … there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (7:19).
3. Jesus is better inner assurance. “Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant” (7:22).
4. Jesus gives better promises. “He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of better covenant, which is established on better promises” (8:6).
5. Jesus’ death better to cleanse from sin. “The things in the Heavens should be purified … with better sacrifice” (9:23).
6. Jesus is better inner assurance. “Knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in Heaven” (10:34).
7. Jesus is better hope. “God having provided something better for us …” (11:40).
8. Jesus' permanent forgiveness is better. “Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (12:24).
C. DANGER OF GOING BACK
There was a constant temptation for the Jewish believer to return to Temple worship because of the outward things they saw, i.e., rituals, pageantry, festivals, etc. They were warned in six passage against going back.
1. Danger of neglect (2:1-4). “We must give the more earnest heed … lest we drift away” (2:1).
a. Warned of punishment. “… every transgression and disobedience received a just reward” (2:2).
b. God’s present work in them. “God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit” (2:4).
2. Danger of unbelief (3:7-19). “Harden not your hearts …” (3:8). “Beware brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (3:12).
3. Danger of disobedience (4:11). “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (4:11).
4. Danger of regressions (6:4-6). “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” (6:4-6). Four views:
a. Lose salvation.
b. Lose rewards.
c. Lose testimony.
d. Punishment for disobedience.
5. Danger of rejection (10:26-11). “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation…” (10:26-27).
6. Danger of refusal (12:25-29). “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven” (12:25).
APPLICATION
1. The Going Forward Principle. It is difficult to cut the religious roots of the past, especially when our cultural tradition is grounded in religious tradition.
2. The Better/Best Principle. Christ is superior to anything and all things that clamor for our loyalty.
3. The Warning Principle. God does not let His children drift from Him without warning them to turn around and go back.
4. The Inevitable Punishment Principle. If His people persist in wandering from God, He will punish them.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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