“Hebrews is written ‘to encourage a group of discouraged believers drifting from real Christianity by bolstering their commitment to draw near to God and to endure in commitment to Christ.’” (Guthrie, Hebrews in The NIV Application Commentary, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998; 22)
Hebrews 10:32-34 - But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
Hebrews 12:4 - You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.
consider 7 truths demonstrating why Jesus is better
I. He Is the Climax of Diving Communication (vv. 1-2a)
Hebrews 1:1-2a - God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…
II. He Is the Heir of All things (v. 2b)
Hebrews 1:2b - …whom He appointed heir of all things…
Psalm 2:8 - Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession…
Philippians 2:9-11 - For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…
III. God Used Jesus to Make the World (v. 2c)
Hebrews 1:2c - …through whom also He made the world…
Colossians 1:15-17 - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
IV. Christ Shares the Same Essence as the Father (1:3a)
Hebrews 1:3a - And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature…
Mark 1:1-3 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’”
V. Jesus Upholds All Things by the Word of His Power (1:3b)
Hebrews 1:3b - …and upholds all things by the word of His power…
VI. Christ Is in the Position of Honor After Finishing the Work of Purification of Sin (1:3c)
Hebrews 1:3c - When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…
Psalm 110:1 - The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Hebrews 10:11-14 - Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
VII. Jesus Has a More Excellent Name (1:4)
Hebrews 1:4 - …having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they…
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