The purpose of the lesson: To stress three basic things that God wants in His kingdom (the church).
The religious transition from Judaism or idolatry to Christianity was enormous! Religionwhether Judaism or most forms of idolatryinvolved a geographic place, a geographic center, a temple, prosperity, people who served as mediators (priests and high priests), sacrifices that involved a visible altar, and security for the religious devotees at the center. In Christianity there was no geographical place, no geographical center, no temple building (or sacred building of any sort), members were also the priests (1 Peter 2:9), with the resurrected Jesus as the only mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), no visible altar, the sacrifices of praise and thankfulness (Hebrews 13:15), and no security for those devoted to the resurrected Jesus anywhere (from the last half of the first century). Those who became Christians not only made a major change in accepted theological views, but they also changed their understanding of what was religious. Christianity was open to allregardless of heritage, regardless of background, regardless of political views or experiences, regardless of whether converts were poor and rich, and regardless if a person was a man or woman. Everyone was of equal worth to God.
Stress the enormous physical (as well as the theological) transitions people had to make to accept Christianity. Christians simply did not follow the ritualistic ways of the religions 2000 years ago! Theological transitions are hard, but physical differences are even harder. Often such dramatic changes result in not feeling religious.
Hebrews, because of its numerous illustrations from Judaism and use of Jewish concepts/ practices, is considered to be directed to Jewish Christians. These Christians made numerous sacrifices for faith in Jesus Christ (consider Hebrews 10:32-39). The problem: Jewish Christians were given an ultimatum to forfeit all ties with the Jewish community if they remained Christians (that resulted in consequences beyond renouncing American citizenship).
Focus your students on the reasons for considering the writing of Hebrews as being to Jewish Christians originally and on the problem.
To re-enter and maintain bonds with the Jewish community, they did not have to abandon God. The Jews and the Christians accepted and worshipped the same God. The point of contention was this: was Jesus the Christ that God promised? The Jewish community said, NO! The Christianity community said, YES!
The contention between the two communities was not on who was God, but on Jesus being the Christ that God promised. The desires and expectations of the Jewish community rejected Jesus as the Christ.
To those Jewish Christians, the solution seemed simple. Denounce Jesus Christ, and their troubles ended. The writer of Hebrews said, That is not possible without rejecting God. Jesus was Gods purpose from the beginning of sin! Gods intent was to bring Jesus Christ through Israel to produce a Savior for all peoplenot just for the Jewish people.
Stress a rejection of Jesus is also a rejection of God. Jesus was Gods deliberate intent as God prepared a Savior for the world.
Look carefully at Hebrews 10:19-21. In previous chapters in Hebrews the writer already affirmed (1) that Jesus came from God, (2) that Jesus was unique and superior to anything God did before Jesus came, and (3) that faith in Jesus as Gods unique high priest provided people direct access to God.
Stress the three things the author of Hebrews emphasized about Jesus. He came from God (Hebrews 1:1-3). He was unique (consider Hebrews 3:1-6). He provides access to God (consider Hebrews 8:1-6).
In Judaism, both the tabernacle and the temple were divided into a place where the priests served, and a place containing the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat. These two places were separated by a curtain. Only the Jewish high priest was allowed to enter the place containing the mercy seat. One day a year at the prescribed time he cared for the prescribed rituals that made atonement for him, the tabernacle, and the nation of Israel (the rituals of the Jewish Day of Atonement are found in Leviticus 16).
Stress that (1) the tabernacle [and temple] featured two rooms separated by a curtain. (2) Only the high priest could approach the presence of God (symbolized by the ark and the mercy seat). The teacher should read Leviticus 16 to be familiar with the Jewish concept of the Day of Atonement.
The author of Hebrews declared Jesus flesh serves as the Christians veil, Jesus blood gave (gives) Christians access to the presence of God, and Jesus resurrection provided (provides) Christians a new and living way to approach God. In Judaism the approach was made through the blood of dead animals. In Christianity the approach is made through the blood of the resurrected Jesus. Nothing happens without Jesus. He is the great high priest over all that belongs to God.
Stress (1) Jesus is the Christians access to Gods presence. (2) The contrast is between the blood of dead animals and the blood of the living (resurrected) Jesus. (3) Jesus is the key.
Then the writer says there are three things true of those who belong to God. (1) Because of what God did through Jesus, they approach God. They are not filled with terror to be in Gods presence. Because of Jesus purification they approach God with confidence and full assurance. They are a people who serve God with sincere hearts. Because of Jesus and Jesus worthiness, they are not terrorized by Gods presence. They do not approach God on the basis of their feeble goodness, but on the basis of Jesus worthiness.
Discuss the fact that the Christian is not terrified of the mighty God (profoundly respectful of, but not terrified of) because of Jesus. It was not that God suddenly became a teddy bear, but that Jesus is adequate to make the approach of sinful people to a holy, pure God NOT dangerous and physically destructive.
(2) They cling tenaciously to their confession that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus position and role as Gods Christ is the foundation of their hope. They place their complete hope in Jesus. He gives them access to God. He destroys their need to be in terror of God. Why do Christians have such confidence in Jesus? He does not lie! He keeps his promises! He is worthy of the Christians implicit trust!
Discuss the fact that Christians cling to Jesus, our hope.
(3) Christians exhibit their absolute trust in Jesus by being encouragers! They are people who understand how to stimulate other people to do good, not evil (many know how to stimulate others to do evil). Even in harsh times, they understand how to challenge others to express good in goods most challenging expressionsto love and do good deeds. To love and do good deeds by whose definition? By Gods definition! There is no greater challenge than to love and do good deeds in harsh circumstances when evil is on the attack!
Stress the fact that God defines love and good. In Christianity, trust in Jesus results in the encouragement of people. Jesus is not the avenue to guilt, but the avenue to an encouraging hope.
What fundamentally does God want in those people who dare to be church to Him? (1) God wants a people who have such confidence in Jesus that they are not terrorized to be in His presence. (2) God wants a people who refuse to stop clinging to their confidence in Jesus. (3) God wants a people who know how to encourage othersand do!
Stress the three characteristics of people in Gods kingdom.
Do you dare to be church to God? Will you be that kind of person?
These are personal reflection questions.
For Thought and Discussion
1. Discuss the religious transition from Judaism or idolatry to Christianity (in the first century).
The discussion should include the contrast between Judaism and idolatry 2000 years ago and first-century Christianity. Focus on the physical differences.
2. What was the problem in Hebrews?
Jewish Christians could return to the Jewish community or continue as a part of the Christian community, but they could not do bothas was possible at first.
3. What was the point of contention between the Jewish and Christian communities?
The point of contention: Was Jesus the Christ that God promised?
4. What seemed to be the simple solution? Why would that not work?
The simple solution seemed to be to denounce Jesus Christ and keep the common God. It would not work because the result of denouncing Christ was abandoning God. Denouncing Jesus meant rejecting Gods intent.
5. Prior to Hebrews 10:19-21, the author affirmed what three things about Jesus?
a. Jesus came from God.
b. Jesus was unique.
c. Jesus provided people direct access to God.
6. What existed in both the tabernacle and temple? Who entered the mercy seat room, and when?
Two rooms existed. Only the high priest could enter the room with the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement. (Just one Israelite had access to the presence of God which was represented by the mercy seat.)
7. Discuss how Jesus is compared to the tabernacle.
The discussion should include Jesus flesh was the veil, Jesus blood provided access, and Jesus resurrection was the new and living way.
8. What 3 things are true of those who are church to God?
a. Because of what God did through Jesus, Christians can approach God.
b. Christians cling to their confession that Jesus is the Christ.
c. Christians exhibit trust in Jesus by being encouragers.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 11