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pros eJbraious the letter to theHebrewsHe is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.Long ago,at many timesandin many ways,God spoke to our fathersby the prophets,but,in these last dayshe has spoken to us by his Son,whom he appointed the heir of all things,through whom also he created the world.He is the radiance of the glory of Godandthe exact imprint of his nature,andhe upholds the universeby his word of power.After making purification for sins,he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,having become as much superior to angelsas the name he has inheritedis more excellentthan theirs.Hebrews, a letter that is more of a sermon (homily), to a group of Hebrew Christians that seemed to be suffering persecutions and, perhaps because of this, some might have been considering a return to Judaism.

The author exhorts his listeners to be faithful to Jesus Christ. He warns them of the dangers of apostasy.

Hebrews is a wonderful letter, full of powerful teaching concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the principal theme of the letter. He is better than the angels; superior to Moses; he is the great high priest as to the order of Melchizedek, that is, the priesthood of Jesus is the superior priesthood, different from the Levitical priesthood; and he is the only mediator of the new covenant.

The letter is full of warnings and encoura-gement for the Hebrew Christians. God is a consuming fire. Jesus Christ awaits them at the end of the race and those who have gone before them are present and encouraging them to finish well and faithfully for Christ.

orthodoxA.D. 70Greco-Roman worldhomilydispersionSeptuagint (LXX)canonpapyrus Terms..Mount ZionapostasyPriestMuratorian canoncatechesisrhetoric(rhetorical devices; rhetorical structure)Terms.. Authorship: Who wrote Hebrews?

To whom was Hebrews written?

Why was Hebrews written?(purpose and nature of the letter)

When was Hebrews written?BeginningsChapter One [1.12.9]

The eternal Son who is better than the angelsChaptersChapter Two [2.5-18]

Jesus, crowned with glory and honor through his death

* 1st warning against unbelief (drift away; Lest at any time we should let them slip.) ChaptersChapter Three [3.1-19]

Jesus the Son better than Moses the servant

* 2nd warning against unbelief (fall away from the living God) ChaptersChapter four [4.1-13]

Jesus, the giver of true rest, better than Joshuas temporal rest

* 3rd warning against unbelief (fall by thedisobedience) ChaptersChapters FourNine [4.149.28]

Jesus, high priest in the likeness of Melchi-zedek, better than Aaron and the Levitical priesthood: Chapter four Jesus as priest gives grace and mercyChapter five Jesus in the likeness of Melchizedek ChaptersChapter six - * 4th warning against unbelief (have fallen away) - a firm anchor for the soul in Jesus

Chapter seven Comparison of the priesthood of Melchizedek and that of the Aaronic priesthood to demonstrate the perfect priesthood of the Son ChaptersChapter eight the better ministry of Jesus

Chapter nine Jesus the mediator of a new, better covenant and Jesus the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice that bore the sins of all ChaptersChapter Ten [10.1-39]

Jesus, the new and living way- confidence in not shrink back* 5th warning against unbelief (trampled underfoot the Son of God) ChaptersChapters Eleven [11.1-40]The assurance of faith and its resultsChapter Twelve [12.1-29]Discipline in faith in midst of tribulations* 6th warning against unbelief (do not refuse him who is speaking)ChaptersChapter Thirteen [13.1-17]Faith, hope, love, and obedience

Chapter Thirteen [13.18-25]Conclusion and blessingChaptersHebrews 2.1-3we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Warnings!!!Hebrews 3.6-11if indeed we hold fast do not harden you hearts They shall not enter my rest.Warnings!!!Hebrews 6.4-8For it is impossible to restore again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God.Hebrews 10.26-31For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins It is a fear thing to fall into the hands of the living God.Warnings!!!Hebrews 12.25-29See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape much less will we escape if we reject him our God is a consuming fire.Warnings!!!Some typical Christian Evangelical interpretations ofthe warning passages found in Hebrews:

1. That they are speaking of the apostasy of true Christians, but that these Christians who backslide can still return to Christian faith.(ESV Study Bible, 2369)

2. That the passages are not really talking about true Christians, and so when these fall away, is not falling away from true salvation.(ESV Study Bible, 2369: HCSB Study Bible, 2119)

3. That the passages are addressed to true believers, but since true believers cannot fall away, then the warnings are only challenges to faithfulness. (ESV Study Bible, 2369)

4. That the falling away has only to do with the loss of heavenly rewards for those Christians who are not faithful to God in the midst of the persecutions.(ESV Study Bible, 2369)See Dr. Stanley Outlaws survey of seven (7) different positions which have been taken by Bible commentators concerning Hebrews 6 and apostasy in his Hebrews in The Randall House Bible Commentary (2005), 118Hebrews 2.6, 14Christ is faithful over Gods house as a son. And we are his house if we hold our original confidence firm to the end.Yet in your case beloved. . .Hebrews 6.9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better thingsthings that belong to salvation.Yet in your case beloved. . .Hebrews 10.39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their their souls.Yet in your case beloved. . .Hebrews 12.22, 28But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.Yet in your case beloved. . .We believe that apostasy is possible but not probable.

see 1 Peter 1.3-5who by Gods power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.Yet in your case beloved. . .Hebrews 2.1we must pay much closer attention to what we have heardLet us. . . Hebrews 3.1Consider JesusHebrews 3.12, 13Take careexhort one another every day.Hebrews 4.1let us fearLet us. . . Hebrews 4.11Let usstrive to enter the restHebrews 4.14let us hold fast our confession...Hebrews 4.16let us draw near to the throne of graceLet us. . . Hebrews 6.1let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.Hebrews 10.22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...Hebrews 10.22Let us hold fast our confession of our hope without wavering.Let us. . . Hebrews 10.23And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good worksHebrews 10.35do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.Let us. . . Hebrews 12.1, 2let us also lay aside every weight and sinlet us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.Hebrews 12.3Consider him...Let us. . . Hebrews 12.12lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet...Hebrews 12.14Strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.Let us. . . Hebrews 12.25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking.Hebrews 12.28let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship...Let us. . . Hebrews 13.1Let brotherly love continue.Hebrews 13.2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers.Let us. . . Hebrews 13.3Remember those who are in prison...Hebrews 13.4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiledLet us. . . Hebrews 13.5Keep your life free from love of money..Hebrews 13.7Remember your leadersLet us. . . Hebrews 13.13Let us go to him (Jesus) outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.Hebrews 13.15Through himlet us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to GodLet us. . . Hebrews 13.16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have...Hebrews 13.17Obey your leaders and submit to themLet us. . . Hebrews 13.18Pray for us...Hebrews 13.22bear with my word of exhortation.Its sundown, Lord.The shadows of my life stretch backinto the dimness of the years long spent.I fear not death, for that grim foe betrays himself at last,

thrusting me forever into life:Life with you, unsoiled and free.But I do fear.I fear the Dark Specter may come too soon Let me get home before dark. or do I mean, too late?That I should end before I finish orfinish, but not well.That I should stain your honor; shame your name,

grieve your loving heart.Few, they tell me, finish wellLord, let me get home before dark.The darkness of a spiritgrown mean and small, fruit shriveled on the vine,bitter to the taste of my companions,burden to be borne by those brave few who love me still.No, Lord. Let the fruit grow lush and sweet,a joy to all who taste;Spiritsign of God at work,stronger, fuller, brighter at the end.Lord, let me get home before dark.The darkness of tattered gifts,rust-locked, half-spent or ill-spent,A life that once was used of Godnow set aside. Grief for glories gone orFretting for a task God never gave.Mourning in the hollow chambers of memory,Gazing on the faded banners of victories long gone.Cannot I run well unto the end?Lord, let me get home before dark.The outer me decaysI do not fret or ask reprieve.The ebbing strength but weans me from mother earthand grows me up for heaven.I do not cling to shadows cast by immortality.I do not patch the scaffold lent to build the real, eternal me.I do not clutch about me my cocoon,vainly struggling to hold hostagea free spirit pressing to be born.But will I reach the gatein lingering pain, body distorted, grotesque?Or will it be a mindwandering un-tethered among lightfantasies or grim terrors?Of your grace, Father, I humbly askLet me get home before dark Robertson McQuilken

Let me get home before dark.