GREATER THAN (A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS) WEEK 04 - DANGEROUS DRIFT

 For those of you who are joining us for the first time - or the first time in a while - let me quickly give you a synopsis of the study we have undertaken in the NT Book of Hebrews…

What the Book of Hebrews is, is a letter written to Hebrew converts to Christianity in the First Century. And the REASON the letter was sent as an encouragement for these converts to stick with their new-found faith. Persecution had arisen, things were getting difficult for Christians. Add to that the fear that maybe they made a mistake and that perhaps they couldn’t fully trust in the sacrifice of Jesus to make them right with God.

Well by way of encouragement, chapter 1 was all about how Jesus had a better message to reveal because he was God’s agent in salvation. He served as perfect prophet, priest, and is now reigning as KING. The Author of this letter is telling the Hebrew believers to trust in Jesus because HE IS GOD. And if they go back to the Law to try to justify themselves, it would be a grave mistake. They needed to know for a fact that JESUS IS GREATER than the old ways.

Now, even though this letter is written to Hebrew converts to Christianity in the First Century, I think this is a message we ALL need to hear. I have a good friend who, as I was sharing the Gospel with him, told me that his father was Jewish and his mother was Catholic - and so he KNEW the guilt!

And that’s the problem. When those of us who have put our faith in Jesus are tempted to doubt his sufficiency, to wonder if the NT is accurate when it tells us that we are saved - NOT BY WORKS, but by God’s Grace. We need to be reminded that Jesus is enough, right?

And that is why this second chapter of Hebrews is so important. Fixing our faith so that we don’t dangerously drift is the focus. So let’s read the first few verses together…