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Hebrews - You Don't What You've Got 'til It's Gone - Part 1 ::
Bryson Smith’s easy guide to preaching Hebrews.
Source: Perspective Vol5 No2 © Perspective 1999
The whole article in PDF format: 
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS a crewman on a submarine in the Australian navy. He can be under water in confined spaces for days at a time. He can be at sea for months at a time.
I once asked my friend what it was that he enjoyed most when a mission was over. When he was out at sea, what did he look forward to most about being back on dry land? His answer? Fresh air! After months of breathing an atmosphere heavy with grease and oil and sweat it was wonderful to simply inhale a lung full of fresh air. “I guess fresh air is just one of those things we take for granted,” he explained, “You don’t really appreciate it ‘til you have to live without it.”
Life is full of those sorts of things. Things like family and friends and hot showers. Things we don’t appreciate when we have them. But when they’re gone…....that’s when we truly come to understand how wonderful those things really were.
Hebrews is a letter written to Christians to help them appreciate Jesus Christ. Before they let the gospel slip from their grasp. It seems the original recipients of the letter were in danger of drifting away from Christ (2: 1-4). They had regressed from a state of boldness to a state of spiritual apathy (5:11-14, 10: 26-39). There is even the threat of apostasy (6:4-6).
To this situation of shrinking commitment to Christ, Hebrews stresses the grandeur and supremacy of Christ. The author wants his readers to appreciate just how wonderful Jesus is. The author wants his readers to appreciate that nothing could be more tragic than taking Christ for granted, and thereby perhaps drifting away from Him.
With many things in life, we don’t appreciate them until they’re gone. But when Jesus is gone, it’s too late! “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened….if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance” (6:4-6).
Spoke…Sat
Hebrews starts with a bang rather than a whimper The opening four verses are an impressive introduction in which the main themes of the letter are ingeniously summarised. These verses, which are actually a single sentence in Greek, are packed full of theologically pregnant words and phrases.
However, it is the two principal clauses which capture the major emphasis of the letter.
These clauses are:
a) that God has spoken by His Son
b) that after making purification for sins Christ sat down.
The combined thrust of these two ideas is the finality of Christ’s work. Christ is THE decisive way in which God has revealed and reconciled himself to humanity. The remainder of the letter will expand this idea in a bewildering array of Old Testament comparisons. Continually the point is made that it is suicidal to drift from Jesus. There is no one and no thing better able to reconcile us to God.
Structure
Hebrews is a complex letter. It draws on numerous Old Testament ideas, events and people. Its logic is often subtle. The end result is that a wide range of literary structures have been proposed for the letter. For example it has been suggested that Hebrews has a structure based on the progressive exegesis of four central Old Testament passages (Psalm 8, 95, 110 and Jeremiah 31). Alternatively it has been suggested that Hebrews has, you guessed it, a chiastic structure in which a central sacrificial section (8: 1-9:28) is surrounded by concentric sections on ecclesiology and eschatology.
All this is very interesting, but when it comes to preaching the most productive structure is that which reflects the development of pastoral ideas. In this respect Hebrews can be seen to have a simple four fold structure:
1. Introduction (1:1-4)
2. The person of Christ (1:5-T:28)
3. The work of Christ (S:1-10:18)
4. Following Christ (10:19-13:25)
In a book as complex as Hebrews such a structure is of course, to some extent an over-simplification. It is for example, too simple to say that exhortations to follow Christ are confined to the final section of the letter. Several exhortatory passages are scattered throughout the earlier sections (eg 2: 1-4). Even so, in these early chapters such exhortations occur as short breaks within the discussion of important theological issues. Towards the end of the letter this pattern is reversed and exhortation takes centre stage.
Another over-simplification is to think that the person and work of Christ can be so neatly separated. They are in fact so closely linked that it is difficult to speak of one without implying things about the other. Nevertheless, between chapters 7 and 8 there is a discernible shiR in emphasis from who Christ is to what He has done. This can be appreciated if we expand the above structure into the following:
l. Introduction (1:1-4)
2. The person of Christ
- more authoritative than angels (1:5-2: 18)
- more faithful than Moses (3:1-4:i3)
- more effective than the Levitical priesthood (4:14-7:28)
3. The work of Christ
- the best covenant (8:f-13)
- the best temple (9:1-11)
- the best sacrifice (9:12-10:18)
4. Following Christ
It is important to note that the above structure reflects a movement from implicit to explicit pastoral intent. In sections 1-3 the author stresses the supremacy of Christ in a range of quite complicated arguments concerning angels, Moses, the priesthood, the new covenant and the sacrificial system. The pastoral reason behind all this is to highlight the tragedy of drifting away from someone as majestic as Christ. This is an important dimension to bear in mind when preaching through these theologically intense chapters. Failure to appreciate and apply the author’s pastoral intentions will result in sermons that sound more like a doctrine textbook than a passionate plea to hold firm to Christ.
Sermon series
Hebrews was preached through in twelve sermons, though these were taken in two distinct stages. A six week series on Hebrews 1 to 7 was followed by a shorter sermon series from another Biblical book, before returning to Hebrews to complete chapters 8 to 13 in another six week block. This seemed to work well for several reasons. Firstly it gave people a break from the quite complicated logic of Hebrews and secondly it helped prevent people from growing bored with what, at times, can be quite a repetitive argument throughout the middle of the book.
What follows are brief notes on each of the sermons.
Resources
Useful commentaries include;
· Lane, Call to Commitment.
· Bruce, The Epistle To the Hebrews, (NICNT).
· Adam, The Majestic Son.
· Brown, Christ above All, (BST).
Talk Outlines
Talk 1
GOD S FINAL WORD
Hebrews 1:1-2:4
JOHN, GARY AND HEBREWS
John is an alcoholic. During a particularly difficult time with his drinking he made a commitment to Je-sus Christ. I meet with John again a little while back. Life is good for him now, his drinking is under control. But he has fallen right away from Jesus. John reckons he doesn’t need Jesus any more.
Gary used to be a very keen Christian in a church I once attended. Gary was also a very successful doctor. Last I heard, Gary has fallen away from Jesus. His career is now the most important thing to him. Hebrews is written to make sure that you and I don’t end up like John or Gary.
John is an alcoholic. During a particularly difficult time with his drinking he made a commitment to Je-sus Christ. I meet with John again a little while back. Life is good for him now, his drinking is under control. But he has fallen right away from Jesus. John reckons he doesn’t need Jesus any more.
Gary used to be a very keen Christian in a church I once attended. Gary was also a very successful doctor. Last I heard, Gary has fallen away from Jesus. His career is now the most important thing to him. Hebrews is written to make sure that you and I don’t end up like John or Gary.
OFF TO A BIG START (1:1-4)
The first 4 verses of Hebrews summarise the message of the entire book. They tell us two things:
a) God has spoken though His son.
God has spoken! And not just through anyone! The very clear implication is that God’s revelation doesn’t get any better than this!
b) Jesus is now seated at God’s right hand.
The fact that Jesus is sitting shows his work of purification is finished. The fact he is at God’s right hand shows how important Christ is. Put these two key phrases together and they’re telling us that no one is more important than Jesus. He is God’s final word. The rest of Hebrews replays this truth over and over again. For the remainder of this chapter it’s replayed in terms of Jesus and angels.
JESUS AND ANGELS
a) a comparison (1:5-14)
Jesus is far superior to angels as reflected by His name (v5), His nature (v7,8,11,12), His job (v13).
b) a warning (2:1-4)
If, in the Old Testament, it was serious to drift away from a message delivered by angels, how much more serious is it to drift away from Jesus?
a) a comparison (1:5-14)
Jesus is far superior to angels as reflected by His name (v5), His nature (v7,8,11,12), His job (v13).
b) a warning (2:1-4)
If, in the Old Testament, it was serious to drift away from a message delivered by angels, how much more serious is it to drift away from Jesus?
JESUS AND YOU
Are you drifting? If you were drifting out to sea in a rip you’d put your hand up for help. It would be crazy not to. If you’re drifting from Jesus, talk to someone and make yourself accountable. It would be crazy not to.
Are you drifting? If you were drifting out to sea in a rip you’d put your hand up for help. It would be crazy not to. If you’re drifting from Jesus, talk to someone and make yourself accountable. It would be crazy not to.
Talk 2
Unleashing your potential
Hebrews 2:5-18
Hebrews 2:5-18
THE PROBLEM OF BEING HUMAN
Our book stores are swamped with books on personal motivation and self development. Books like, How To Control Your Time And Your Life, The Success Factor, Your One Week Way To Personal Success. The sheer number of these types of books reflects that we are confused about how to bring out the best in ourselves. We have this nagging feeling that we can be better than we are. Hebrews tells us that Christ is the person through whom humanity can unleash it’s potential.
Our book stores are swamped with books on personal motivation and self development. Books like, How To Control Your Time And Your Life, The Success Factor, Your One Week Way To Personal Success. The sheer number of these types of books reflects that we are confused about how to bring out the best in ourselves. We have this nagging feeling that we can be better than we are. Hebrews tells us that Christ is the person through whom humanity can unleash it’s potential.
THE PROBLEM OF JESUS BEING HUMAN
Last week we saw that Jesus is superior to angels. This creates a problem though, because Psalm 8 says that man is a little tower than the angels (v6-8). So how can Jesus, a man, also be superior to angels?
Last week we saw that Jesus is superior to angels. This creates a problem though, because Psalm 8 says that man is a little tower than the angels (v6-8). So how can Jesus, a man, also be superior to angels?
THE REASON FOR JESUS BEING HUMAN
Although Jesus is superior to angels, he willingly became a man so as to save mankind (v10-11). If a person is trapped in a burning building you don’t send in someone with only speedos on. If someone’s drowning you don’t get a fireman in all his heavy clothing to dive in the water. The type of rescue defines the type of rescuer you need. Jesus needed to be man in order to rescue mankind (v14-18).
Although Jesus is superior to angels, he willingly became a man so as to save mankind (v10-11). If a person is trapped in a burning building you don’t send in someone with only speedos on. If someone’s drowning you don’t get a fireman in all his heavy clothing to dive in the water. The type of rescue defines the type of rescuer you need. Jesus needed to be man in order to rescue mankind (v14-18).
IMPLICATIONS OF JESUS BEING HUMAN
By His death Christ restored us to glory (v10) ie the role God intended for humanity (cf Ps 8). Christ’s death frees us from the power of death (v14). This brings us into our full potential as human beings.
In Christ we have an eternal hope which puts all of life into context. We can see what really matters in life. The result of all this is that death need not make our life a mockery any longer. We can recapture the control in our lives that God always intended for mankind. We no longer have to be controlled by fashion and peer pressure and materialism since, in Christ, there’s more to this life than this life.
By His death Christ restored us to glory (v10) ie the role God intended for humanity (cf Ps 8). Christ’s death frees us from the power of death (v14). This brings us into our full potential as human beings.
In Christ we have an eternal hope which puts all of life into context. We can see what really matters in life. The result of all this is that death need not make our life a mockery any longer. We can recapture the control in our lives that God always intended for mankind. We no longer have to be controlled by fashion and peer pressure and materialism since, in Christ, there’s more to this life than this life.
Talk 3
Keep on keeping on
Hebrews 3:1-4:13
1 A Question OF FAITHFULNESS
I started by reading a letter which appeared in a women’s magazine. A woman was writing of her despair over her lazy and selfish husband. She concluded, “I don’t know what do to. I feel trapped. I feel betrayed.” Most of us know the pain of being hurt by someone‘s unfaithfulness. In Hebrews 3 we meet someone who will never let us down; Jesus Christ. The sting in the tail is that after explaining Christ’s faithfulness to us, the chapter then asks us how faithful we are in response! The chapter does this by comparing us to Israel’s situation just after the Exodus.
FAITHFULNESS EXEMPLIFIED: MOSES S. JESUS (3:1-6)
If we imagine God’s people as being like a house, Moses is a special part of the house, but Jesus built the whole thing (3:1-6). In that respect Christ’s faithfulness is even more impressive and important than Moses. This is especially the case when we consider that it was a painful and humiliating experience for Christ to build the house!
If we imagine God’s people as being like a house, Moses is a special part of the house, but Jesus built the whole thing (3:1-6). In that respect Christ’s faithfulness is even more impressive and important than Moses. This is especially the case when we consider that it was a painful and humiliating experience for Christ to build the house!
FAITHFULNESS URGED: ISRAEL AND US (3:7ff)
Jesus has been loyal to us. How loyal are you to Him? The tragedy of Israel was that after all God had done for them they turned their back on God and failed to trust. Because of their disobedience they failed to enter God’s rest. We need to learn from their mistake. We need to ensure that our faith isn’t fleeting and that our trust isn‘t superficial.
WHO DO YOU TRUST?
Israel’s problem was that when the going got tough they stopped trusting that God knew what was best for them. The same thing still happens to so many people (eg people who chase their career even though God says to seek first His kingdom). They know what God says, they just don’t trust that it works. The way to strengthen our loyalty to Christ is to do what Hebrews suggests ie to fix our thoughts on Jesus (3:1). Dwelling on Christ’s faithfulness will spur us on to be faithful in return. Israel’s problem was that when the going got tough they stopped trusting that God knew what was best for them. The same thing still happens to so many people (eg people who chase their career even though God says to seek first His kingdom). They know what God says, they just don’t trust that it works. The way to strengthen our loyalty to Christ is to do what Hebrews suggests ie to fix our thoughts on Jesus (3:1). Dwelling on Christ’s faithfulness will spur us on to be faithful in return.
Talk 4
CONFIDENT LIVING
Hebrews 4:14-5:10
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT ‘TIL IT’S GONE
In this section, Hebrews tell us why it is we should hang in there as Christians. The writer wants us to be so convinced of the greatness of Jesus, that we will see with great clarity how crazy it would be to ever drift away from Him. We’ve already seen some reasons for staying close to. Now another reason is added; the fact that Jesus is a great high priest who gives us confidence in approaching God.
In this section, Hebrews tell us why it is we should hang in there as Christians. The writer wants us to be so convinced of the greatness of Jesus, that we will see with great clarity how crazy it would be to ever drift away from Him. We’ve already seen some reasons for staying close to. Now another reason is added; the fact that Jesus is a great high priest who gives us confidence in approaching God.
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT PRIESTS?
In the Old Testament priests were vitally important because they were the mediators between a sinless God and a sinful people. In the OT, high priests were especially important because they were the ones who carried out the annual sin offering on the Day of Atonement. As important as those priests were, Hebrews now explains four ways in which Jesus is a high priest who is superior to the OT ones.
In the Old Testament priests were vitally important because they were the mediators between a sinless God and a sinful people. In the OT, high priests were especially important because they were the ones who carried out the annual sin offering on the Day of Atonement. As important as those priests were, Hebrews now explains four ways in which Jesus is a high priest who is superior to the OT ones.
JESUS IS A GREAT HIGH PRIEST BECAUSE ..
a)...he has gone through the heavens (4:14).
Jesus is an impressive high priest because He has heavenly connections. If anyone is going to be able to mediate between us and God, Jesus is it!
b)...he sympathises with us (4:15)
.Jesus is not so heavenly connected that he fails to be earthly minded (v15) At the root of all our temptations is the same basic struggle to be obedient and to trust God. Jesus knows exactly what that’s like in this life.
c)...divinely appointed (5:1-6).
Being a high priest is not an position to be grasped. You don’t make yourself a high priest. Jesus was chosen by His Father (5:1,4-6). He waited submissively for His Father’s appointment
d) ...he was made perfect by obedience (v7-10)
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus learnt what it was like to pray for something and not receive it. He experienced casting himself on a God who was able to save him, but who didn’t. Jesus knows what it’s like to not be delivered from agony but to be given the strength and peace to endure it instead. As such he was made perfect. Not perfect in the sense of morally perfect – which he was already – but perfect in the sense of becoming fully qualified as a saviour.
CONFIDENT LIVING
No matter what’s in your past, as a Christian you can approach God, confident of mercy and of receiving the help you need in times of difficulty. God won’t refuse you because we have a GREAT high priest. It’d be crazy to drift away from him (4:14). No matter what’s in your past, as a Christian you can approach God, confident of mercy and of receiving the help you need in times of difficulty. God won’t refuse you because we have a GREAT high priest. It’d be crazy to drift away from him (4:14).
Talk 5
DOCTRINE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
Hebrews 5:11-6:2
BABY FOOD, FAST FOOD, SOLID FOOD
“Australians are eating themselves to death.” Well that’s at least what Time Magazine said in one of it’s recent articles. 56% of all men are now overweight. 38% of all women are now overweight. Worse still, one in every nine people is technically obese. The basic problem is; that we are what we eat. And we eat junk food. It estimated that, on average, people are spending 1/4 of their weekly household budgets on takeaway food and restaurants. Hebrews wants us to see that as Christians we are what we spiritually eat. Our choice of spiritual food will determine what sort of Christian we are and will become. Last week Hebrews told us about the high priesthood of Jesus. Hebrews has much more to say about this, especially regarding a fellow called Melchizedek. But the writer doesn’t know whether his readers have got what it takes to understand this teaching (v12-13).
“Australians are eating themselves to death.” Well that’s at least what Time Magazine said in one of it’s recent articles. 56% of all men are now overweight. 38% of all women are now overweight. Worse still, one in every nine people is technically obese. The basic problem is; that we are what we eat. And we eat junk food. It estimated that, on average, people are spending 1/4 of their weekly household budgets on takeaway food and restaurants. Hebrews wants us to see that as Christians we are what we spiritually eat. Our choice of spiritual food will determine what sort of Christian we are and will become. Last week Hebrews told us about the high priesthood of Jesus. Hebrews has much more to say about this, especially regarding a fellow called Melchizedek. But the writer doesn’t know whether his readers have got what it takes to understand this teaching (v12-13).
THE DANGERS OF A POOR DIET
a) immaturity (5:13-6:3)
If the only teaching you ever get from the Bible is on a Sunday morning you’re a baby and you’re in a very vulnerable position (v13-14). You’ll be easily led astray – unable to produce fruits of godliness (v7-8).
b) active apostasy (6:4-8).
But there’s an even greater danger than just being immature and naive as a Christian. It‘s the danger of being led into wholesale apostasy (v4-6).
THE JOYS OF A GOOD DIET (6:9-12)
A balanced spiritual diet will produce a productive life full of the fruits of the spirit. Faith, hope and love will abound. As you go deeper into truths, we will experience the deep joys and genuine assurances of being a follower of Jesus. Doctrine is not a dirty word. It will help us negotiate and cope with life and fully savour the joy of being a disciple of Jesus
A balanced spiritual diet will produce a productive life full of the fruits of the spirit. Faith, hope and love will abound. As you go deeper into truths, we will experience the deep joys and genuine assurances of being a follower of Jesus. Doctrine is not a dirty word. It will help us negotiate and cope with life and fully savour the joy of being a disciple of Jesus
HOW TO GET A BALANCED DIET
If you’ve never done it before make a project of reading the whole Bible. Join a small group. It will help make you accountable at spending time in the Bible. Try and read at least one substantial Christian book a year. Take advantage of opportunities to get into the bible in an extended L concentrated way eg Christian conventions.
If you’ve never done it before make a project of reading the whole Bible. Join a small group. It will help make you accountable at spending time in the Bible. Try and read at least one substantial Christian book a year. Take advantage of opportunities to get into the bible in an extended L concentrated way eg Christian conventions.
Talk 6
A FIRM AND SECURE ANCHOR
Hebrews 6:13-7:28
*“TWISTER”*
“Twister” is a pretty scary movie. Tornadoes causing havoc, Tractors, buildings and people being tossed around like toys. The key to survival was to have a firm anchor. Hebrews wants us to have a firm spiritual anchor. Last week Hebrews warned us that some solid food was coming (5:11). Now it’s served up!. This is a very complicated section but the controlling idea is that in Christ we have a firm anchor for our soul (6:19). The passage revolves around two oaths which God has made.
“Twister” is a pretty scary movie. Tornadoes causing havoc, Tractors, buildings and people being tossed around like toys. The key to survival was to have a firm anchor. Hebrews wants us to have a firm spiritual anchor. Last week Hebrews warned us that some solid food was coming (5:11). Now it’s served up!. This is a very complicated section but the controlling idea is that in Christ we have a firm anchor for our soul (6:19). The passage revolves around two oaths which God has made.
OATH 1 (6:13-18).
God promised to give Abraham many descendants and make them His treasured possession. He also added an oath to make it doubly sure. What makes our hope certain? God has promised and vowed to form a people for Himself.
God promised to give Abraham many descendants and make them His treasured possession. He also added an oath to make it doubly sure. What makes our hope certain? God has promised and vowed to form a people for Himself.
OATH 2 (6:19bf)
God has also made an oath that Jesus will be a priest forever (7:20-22). )Jesus is not on casual rates, He is full time, 24 hrs a day and He will never reach retirement age. In this respect Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek (6:20) and is therefore superior to the Levitical priesthood. Four reasons are given for this:
a) Mel’s priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood because it lasts forever (the Bible never actually says that it comes to an end). Jesus’ priesthood is like Melchizedek’s (7:23).
b) Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of his possessions thus revealing Mel’s superiority to Abraham and His descendants (7:4-6, 8-10).
c) a closely related reason why Melchizedek is superior to the Levitical priests is that Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek and not visa versa (7:6-7).
d) Psalm 110 would not promise another priest like Melchizedek if the Levitical priesthood was all that was needed (7:11).
Roll all this up, and the logic is; Jesus makes the best possible high priest because he, like Melchizedek has a permanent priesthood that lasts forever. For this reason Jesus provides a firm anchor for our soul.
God has also made an oath that Jesus will be a priest forever (7:20-22). )Jesus is not on casual rates, He is full time, 24 hrs a day and He will never reach retirement age. In this respect Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek (6:20) and is therefore superior to the Levitical priesthood. Four reasons are given for this:
a) Mel’s priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood because it lasts forever (the Bible never actually says that it comes to an end). Jesus’ priesthood is like Melchizedek’s (7:23).
b) Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of his possessions thus revealing Mel’s superiority to Abraham and His descendants (7:4-6, 8-10).
c) a closely related reason why Melchizedek is superior to the Levitical priests is that Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek and not visa versa (7:6-7).
d) Psalm 110 would not promise another priest like Melchizedek if the Levitical priesthood was all that was needed (7:11).
Roll all this up, and the logic is; Jesus makes the best possible high priest because he, like Melchizedek has a permanent priesthood that lasts forever. For this reason Jesus provides a firm anchor for our soul.
BLESSED ASSURANCE
For all the twists and turns of these verses, they’re worth struggling with because they hold great comfort. You can be sure of going to heaven! For all the twists and turns of these verses, they’re worth struggling with because they hold great comfort. You can be sure of going to heaven!
continued in Part 2
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