The Perils In Hebrews
A. WRITTEN IN THE 60’s, MOST LIKELY BY PAUL.
B. JEWISH CHRISTIANS WERE FALLING AWAY BECAUSE OF UNEXPECTED TRIALS.
C. THE WRITER ASSERTS THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST OVER ANGELS, MOSES,
JOSHUA, AARON AND THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.
D. THE COVENANT AND SACRIFICES OF THE NT ARE GREATER THAN MOSES’.
E. HE WARNS OF PERILS THEY MUST FACE. WE MUST FACE THEM ALSO.
A. “BRETHREN, WE ARE DRIFTING.” – J. D. Tant
1. Slowly, you don’t notice so you don’t resist.
2. Maybe you don’t know to (Eph. 4:13-14).
3. There is a progression (2 Tim. 3:13).
B. HOW FAR OFF DO YOU HAVE TO GO (Gal. 1:6-7; see context. One error demands more.)
C. NO STRONG CONVICTIONS, BUT EASY-GOING WITH ERROR.
A. THREE EVENTS ENCOMPASSED BY QUOTED PSALM 95:7-11.
1. Ex. 17. Moses produces water by striking the rock at Rephidim. Moses called the place
both Proving and Strife – Massah and Meribah in verse 7.
2. Num. 20:1-13. Almost in the promised land and Kadesh. No water, same complaining.
Moses was to speak to the rock. Called the waters Meribah, or strife (vs. 13).
3. The 40 years he David refers to (Psa. 95:10-11), has to do with their rejection of the good
reports given by Joshua and Caleb when they spied out the land (Num. 13, 14).
a. Joshua and Caleb speak (Num 14:4-9).
b. God’s explanation (vs. 11-12).
B. MIGHT WE HAVE A LACK OF TRUST IN GOD? (2:12-14; Heb. 11:6).
A. OBEDIENCE IS TAUGHT IN ALL THE BIBLE (Heb. 5:8-9; 1 John 5:3; John 14:15).
B. DISOBEDIENCE WILL BE PUNISHED (Matt. 7:21, 24-27; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Heb. 3:18-19).
A. A SHAMEFUL CONDITION. GOD EXPECTS GROWTH (2 Pet. 3:18; Phil. 3:13-16).
B. DANGERS OF IMMATURITY.
1. Sluggish disinterest – spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder.
2. Inability to comprehend important things in the Bible.
3. Spiritual blobishness (Heb. 6:11-12). Dependent on others, unable to contribute
(Phil. 1:9-11).
4. A carnal disposition. What do babies want? (1 Cor. 3:1-3).
5. A target for error (Eph. 4:14-15).
A. CHRISTIANS CAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION (Heb. 6:4-8; Gal. 5:4; 1 Cor. 9:25-27).
B. A PROBLEM AMONG THE HEBREWS AND US (Heb. 10:26-29; 12:14-16).
C. CAN WE AFFORD TO BE REJECTED (Heb. 10:30-31).
A. GOD HAS SPOKEN (Heb. 1:1-2).
B. IN HIS SON (John 12:49; 14:6; Luke 10:16; Acts 4:12).
C. HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE? (Heb. 2:1-3; 4:1, 11).
A. LIFE IS FILLED WITH PERIL, MUCH OF IT SPIRITUAL.
B. HEBREWS MENTIONS SOME THAT ARE COMMON AMONG US.
C. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO BE FAITHFUL.