Bible Survey Hebrews — E.A. Johnston

Jesus’ Superiority and Priestly Role in Hebrews

All right, friends, we're back in our Bible survey, and we're picking up in the book of Hebrews. The central message of Hebrews runs in two main parts. First, the book testifies of Jesus' superiority to all things.

The preeminence of Christ is a prominent doctrine of this epistle. He is preeminent over prophets, angels, Moses, and the priesthood. The theme of Jesus as our high priest is central to the heart of this letter.

In the Jewish economy, we see Aaron as the high priest appointed to represent the people of Israel. Once a year, on the day of national atonement, he entered the Holy Holies with the blood of the sin offering for the people of God.

Aaron offered to God a sacrifice of blood for the sins of the people. Here in the New Testament, we have Jesus not only as the sacrificial lamb who shed his blood for the remission of sins, but he acts in the heavenlies as our high priest, making intercession on our behalf.

Hebrews’ Warnings Against Spiritual Drift

Secondly, we see in Hebrews the severity of a holy God in dealing with a drifting people. In Hebrews, there's a dire warning to believers of all ages. In fact, there are six warning passages that we must not miss.

They are number one, chapter two, verses one through four, whose central warning is, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Number two, chapter three, verses seven through 19, central warning is, harden not your hearts as in the provocation.

Number three, chapter four, verses one through 13, whose central warning is, let us therefore fear. Number four, chapter five, verses 11 through 14, and chapter six, verses one through 12, has a central warning of, for when the time, ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teacheth you again.

Number five, chapter 10, verses 19 through 39, whose central warning is, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God. And number six, chapter 12, verses one through 17, and verses 25 through 29, whose central warning, follow peace with all men and holiness without, which no man shall see the Lord.

The Hall of Faith and Perseverance

In addition to the aforementioned magnificent truths, we have the hall of faith in chapter 11. This book gives us more than enough spiritual vitality to remain faithful and run the race until completion.

The central events, friends, are the preeminence of Christ, the hall of faith, and the warnings of God. The central figures are Jesus, better than all, Moses, Mechizedek, Abraham, and the hall of faith heroes.

The central verse can be found in chapter four, and verse four, seeing that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our confession. And the central application, friends, are these.

Resting in Christ and Living in the Fear of God

There are two key applications. Number one, let us rejoice and rest in the work of Christ as our sin substitute and high priestly mediator. And number two, let us live in the fear of God, being careful not to provoke him with willful sin, and in turn, harden our hearts against him.

This book admonishes us for carelessness and laziness in our service to God and exhorts us to live lives wholly unto the Lord, lest we become like the Israelites, old, and fail to appropriate what God has for us.

James: Faith Demonstrated Through Works

Well, next, we're gonna cover the book of James and its Bible survey and its central message. James is a book about works, not works that bring salvation, for we are saved by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, but works that are an evidence of our salvation.

All the controversy of this book is solved if we adhere to the aforementioned. Works don't save us, friends. Works bring us rewards in heaven. By our works, men may know us as Christians. This epistle is a call to active Christianity, a challenge to put into action what we truly believe, and this all falls under James' marks of true religion.

There's no conflict between the teachings of Paul and the teachings of James, only our misunderstanding. We come to God and are justified by faith alone. We serve God by our works here on earth. With this in mind, let us proceed.

James believed in what he wrote, and his actions were a reflection of his faith, which led to his martyrdom. When the book of James was written, Christians were facing hot persecution for their faith, and James encourages believers to stand firm under trial.

James informs believers how to live with others here on earth. The central events are the doctrine of true religion versus false profession in the lives of others. The central figures are James and those being persecuted for their faith.

The central verse can be found in chapter one in verse 22, but be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. And our central application, friends, is found here. The key application for today's Christian believer is to take James' advice.

We too must be doers of the word. How many of us sit on the sidelines and let the pastors do all the work? We feel we're doing God a great big favor just by showing up for church on Sunday. Our service in Christ reveals either our maturity in Christ or our immaturity.

Either we realize who we are in Christ and what he has truly done for us, or we do not understand the basic tenets of our faith. How can we say we are Christians and do not the work of Christ? We may not be saved by our works, but we will be judged by them.

The beam of seed awaits each one of us, and we will be judged for the things done in the body. How we served God and how much we loved his dear son Jesus will be opened in the books on that day. Pity the Christian who misses the message of James and fails to enter the race wholeheartedly and fight in the heat of the battle.

1 Peter: Redemption’s Cost and the Believer’s Conduct

All right, our next book is gonna be 1 Peter and its Bible survey. And the central message of 1 Peter, friends, it's about cost and conduct. If the student of the word understands how these two, cost and conduct, relate to one another, then the Christian will grasp the intent of this letter by Peter.

First, there is a cost. Number one, the cost of our redemption as seen in chapter one, verses 18 through 19, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

And because of this cost on the part of Christ, we have a responsibility in regard to conduct. And this is number two, the conduct of the believer as seen in chapter one, verses 17 through 19. Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear, knowing that you are not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ.

If we grasp the truths of cost and conduct, then we will be able to stand faithful in times of suffering. This letter was sent to those who were suffering for the cause of Christ. Peter is encouraging the faithful to remain steadfast in times of persecution.

If a Christian is ignorant of the price that God paid, the death of his precious son, to redeem fallen humanity to himself, then how can a Christian behave properly without that light of knowledge he or she cannot?

This is why it's important to understand this letter and to have the concept of God and his majesty as seen in Isaiah chapter six, and not tread carelessly on the blood that Christ has shed for us. The cost of our redemption makes us live holy, fearful lives before God, and directs our conduct towards him and others.

Chapter two in verse five declares, as living stones being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. And the central events of this letter are Peter addresses persecuted Christians with a message of encouragement and instruction on how to live for God.

Central figures are Peter, Silvanus, and Mark. The central verse is found in chapter one in verse 15. But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. And the central application, friends, for us is this.

The key application for today's Christian is because of what he has done for us. We should live holy lives in appreciation of that cost. We should humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, casting all your cares upon him.

Doing this, we should add diligence and resist the devil. How can we live so carelessly before him who saved us? We cannot. Now we're gonna look at 2 Peter and its outline and its Bible survey, friend.

2 Peter: False Teachers, Judgment, and Spiritual Growth

The central message of 2 Peter is about false teachers and the end times. Counterfeit teachers were appearing on the scene of the apostolic church, and they are still with us today. Peter encourages his readers to grow in this letter so that they will know the difference between true and false doctrine.

Peter is leaving a reminder behind him that's seen in verse 15 of chapter one to encourage believers in the pursuit of God. He verifies his personal eyewitness to the accounts of the earthly life of Jesus in chapter one in verses 16 through 18.

And he warns of the destructive doctrines which tear apart the church and the work of God. He reminds those scattered abroad that God is not slack in his promise, chapter three in verse nine. And he encourages the elect to remain steadfast in the faith chapter three in verse 14.

Be diligent to be found by him in peace without spot and blameless. The key to this little letter is found in the very last verse in chapter three in verse 18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Peter warns that this world and everything in it will someday be consumed with fire, chapter three in verse 10. And with this in mind, believers are to live for Christ in holiness and pursue godliness.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? In the central events of 2 Peter are this, friends, a warning to beware of false teachers and end-time scoffers and a call for righteousness in this present world.

The central figures are Peter and Paul. The central verse is chapter three in verse 18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And the central application for us, friends, is found here.

The key application for today's Christian believer is spiritual growth. But grow in, we grow in our knowing and can discern false doctrines when faced with them. How many of us really know our Bibles?

Be honest. Can you write from memory a synopsis of each book of the Bible? Why not? Do you even know what each book contains in content, theology, and doctrine? We need to know these things, friend. Spiritual growth consists of three elements.

How well we know our Bible. How well we know our God. And how well we live for Him.