Day 73 - Hebrews 1-4

Well, it looks like our reading pace will get a little more manageable for the next several days. It was a bit brutal there through the heart of Paul's shorter epistles. Today, we begin the book of Hebrews. This has long been a favorite of mine. My appreciation for this book just seems to grow deeper and deeper. I look forward to blogging through it this time around.

The theme of the book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ. Chapter 1 begins with the exaltation of Jesus Christ above the angels. In presenting his case, the writer of Hebrews (a.k.a. Paul--that's at least my opinion) makes some statements that once again sets Jesus up as God Himself. For instance, vs6 enjoins the worship of Jesus Christ. This book was written to a Jewish audience, and Jews ascribed worship to one God--Yahweh. This then is another of the many proofs throughout the Bible of the Deity of Christ. If that isn't enough, just keep reading. Vs8 records God the Father addressing the Son using the term "God." Now, to be sure, throughout this chapter there also seems to be a distinction being made between Jesus and God (cf. vs2,3,5,9). The only answer that satisfies both of these tensions is the concept of the Trinity--one God who exists is three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is the only way that you can have true monotheism (worship of only one God), the distinction between the Father and the Son, and the Deity of the Son.

Chapter 2 begins with a warning. This is the first of 5 warnings throughout this book. Some would like to take these warnings as proof that it is possible for one who is truly saved to lose his or her salvation. I'm not one of those people! I think, rather, that these warnings serve to preserve those who are truly saved and keep them in the faith till the end. So, rather than proving that one can lose his salvation, I see these as a means to preserving a lifestyle that fits salvation.

The rest of chapter 2 contains some very comforting thoughts. These come in vs11,14,17,18. In these verses, Jesus Christ is described as our brother (vs11), our deliverer (vs14) and our sympathetic High Priest (vs17-18). It will do your heart good to meditate on these precious truths.

In chapter 3, Jesus Christ is presented as being superior to Moses. This is quite a big deal when one considers the audience (Jews) and their high view of Moses (exponentially higher than even our American estimation of presidents Washington and Lincoln). Moses was known for not only bringing the nation of Israel out of Egypt and giving them the Law, but also for preparing them for their entrance into the Promised Land. This is why the idea of "rest" is introduced in this chapter and the next. The "rest" for the nation of Israel was the land of Canaan--the Promised Land! The "rest" for the Christian is Heaven. This is where the next warning comes in. The warning is against unbelief. It was a lack of faith that kept some of the nation of Israel from entering their rest (3:19), and it is also that same lack of faith that will keep people out of heaven.

Chapter 4 ends with the beginning of the transition where Jesus Christ is going to be exalted as the superior High Priest. In setting us up for this manifestation, the writer of Hebrews presents Jesus as not only a sympathetic High Priest, but also the perfect High Priest--He was without sin (4:15). Because of this sympathetic, sinless High Priest, we can have confidence to come boldly before the throne of grace. I trust that each of us will not take for granted this wonderful privilege that Jesus Christ has secured for us!