Dove Creek Bible Church's Podcast

Chapters 7, 8, and 9 of Hebrews contain the most complete and exhaustive pictures of the finished work of Christ in the entire Bible. Yet ironically these great truths are wedged in-between two of the most severe warning sections found in the entire Bible...Chapters 6 & 10 which warn about despising the sacrifice of Christ. What is the purpose of these assurances and these warnings?

Shadows can show me the outline of some reality, but they lack the substance of the thing that is real. The author of Hebrews is saying choosing to live under the shadow of the Old Covenant when the reality of the New Covenant is available is like choosing the shadows over realities...and why in heaven’s name would anyone want to do that?

The grace of the New Covenant was paid for with the blood of Christ. Christ’s death has instituted a better covenant which is superior, but the need for such a sacrifice has yet to be explored. The next section deals with why this was “necessary”.

When Hebrews was written, the Temple was still standing although the author hinted at the end of chapter 8 that it might not be much longer. In chapter 9 the author compares and contrasts the sanctuaries, the services and the significance of the Old and New Covenants.

In chapter 7, the writer had considered the superiority of the new priest. It follows that such a priest must have a superior priestly ministry. The superior ministry is covered in chapters 8 and 9. In the process, the author reveals that the New Covenant underlies this newer priestly service.

In the Old Testament the Levitical priesthood was determined by lineage. In order to become a priest one had to descend from Levi and Aaron. If you descended from Levi but not from Aaron you performed other duties related to the Tabernacle or Temple, but you could not offer sacrifices. Today the author of Hebrews points out there was another priesthood not determined by bloodlines in the Old Testament and that priesthood was actually superior to the priesthood determined by bloodline.

The author of Hebrews realizing he may have shaken everybody up by what he just said in verse 1-8 of Chapter 6 decides to add a bit of encouragement. This pattern of issuing a strict warning followed by tender encouragement is a pattern we find in the warning sections of Hebrews.

Hebrews 6:1-8 is one of the most hotly debated and difficult passages of the entire New Testament. Most of the fuss is about whether the Bible teaches you can lose your salvation or not and if so under what conditions? All views basically fall within four categories. (1) Yes, you can lose your salvation. (2) No, you can’t lose your salvation. (3) You can’t lose your salvation but you can reject it and return it. (4) Is salvation even the context here?

In this chapter the author of Hebrews informs us of Jesus' qualification to be a priest and the characteristics of His priesthood. He also issues his third warning of the five warnings in the Book of Hebrews.

Since Scripture is God-breathed it is alive and it is a double-edged weapon. So God’s Word has an offensive edge and a defensive edge. The offensive edge of God’s word is for teaching and training and the defensive edge is for rebuking and correcting. And here is what happens. A failure to respond to the positive side (instruction and training) usually results in getting the message from the other side (rebuking and correction).

Most of the people who were delivered from Egypt were not delivered to the Promised Land. So they only went halfway with God. Today the author of Hebrews warns we can do the very same thing...we can be permanently delivered from the penalty of sin without ever entering the power of our salvation.

The author of Hebrews says as great as Moses was, Jesus is far greater. For Moses only delivered people from the slavery of Egypt, but Jesus delivers people from the slavery of sin.

Guest Speaker Superintendent of the EFCA West

The Son's humanity did not make Him inferior and, in fact, His humanity was necessary in order to fulfill His destiny.

There are five warnings in the book of Hebrews. This first warning is related to drifting or slipping past the safe harbor of God’s Word. The author now paused in his exposition to address the readers with his first warning.

Drawing heavily on the witness of Old Testament revelation, the author of Hebrews demonstrated the uniqueness of the Son. He insists the Son is greater in title and worshiped because of His greater title and nature. The Son also has a superior existence and destiny.

The superiority of Jesus is made clear by a quick presentation of five great truths about Him.