Study Guide
Hebrews Study 4 | Titles Ascribed to Christ #2
Taught by Dr Paul Iles
Bible Class is the teaching ministry of Salisbury Christian Church 56 Henson Rd Salisbury QLD 4107 AUSTRALIA contact@salisburychristianchurch.com.au www.bibleclass.com.au Page 1
Titles of Jesus in Hebrews • Names and titles are given in order to tell us about who somebody is and the roles that they perform. • • • • • •
Son (Chapters 1-2) - Covered in Study 3 Archegos (2:10; 12:2) - Covered in Study 3 Apostle (3:1) Great High Priest (3:1; see generally chapters 5-8) Mediator (9:15; 12:24) Great Shepherd of the Sheep (13:20)
Apostle 1. Definition • One who is sent... • ...by another who is in authority... • ...with all the power and authority of the sender. 2. References & Examples • The Apostleship of the Lord in the Gospels "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me." (Matthew 10:40) There is complete unity and identity between the sent and the sender; the Father and the Son. "This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (John 5:18-23)
Also see generally the statements made throughout John 5-6 and 1 John.
• The Lord Jesus as the source of all Apostleship
One is not able to make themselves an Apostle; requirement is to be sent by another with authority. The Twelve Apostles were sent into the world with all the authority of He who specifically sent them. "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:21-22)
• Paul, an Apostle of Christ
Paul spoke with all the authority of the One who sent Him (Jesus). It is not possible to accept the teachings of Jesus and reject the teachings of Paul, because Paul spoke the teachings of Christ, with all of His authority.
• Moses, the Apostle par excellence
"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt... I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you." (Exodus 3:10, 12) "Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’" (Exodus 3:14) Note that Moses is sent, in the name of the Almighty God.
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"And the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh’" (Exodus 7:1)
• Christ’s apostleship, greater than Moses’
Moses was a servant in God’s house, but Christ is the builder of the house (see Hebrews 3:1-6) Moses’ mission was to take God’s people into Canaan rest, but he did not acheive that mission. By contrast, Christ brings us into true rest (see Hebrews 4).
High Priest 1. Definition • The One who goes into God’s presence... • ...to deal with the sin of the people... • ...so that God can bless His people. 2. References and Examples • The Practice of the Aaronic Priesthood: - The priest was permitted to enter the Holiest Place in the Tabernacle/Temple (the presence of God) once per year.
- He was required to take in the blood of a sacrifice, acknowledging the just punishment for sin is death. - He placed the blood on the Mercy Seat of the Ark, as an acknowledgement of the people’s need for God’s mercy. - Thus God would be propitiated concerning the sins of the people. - He repeated the ceremony annually, and only he was permitted to do so.
• Paralleled with the work of Christ:
- The Lord Jesus literally entered into the presence of God after His ascension. - He took in the value of the sacrifice of Himself, as the final and perfect substitutionary death for sin. - He thus secured God’s mercy once and finally for all of the redeemed. - God is therefore propitiated with respect to our sin. - Christ never had to repeat this perfect, once-for-all work because His sacrifice was sufficient, and because there is no need for Him to leave the presence of God.
3. Implications "...have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor
• • • •
of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever..." (Hebrews 6:18-20)
Our hope goes right into Heaven We are linked to the Lord Jesus Christ, our anchor We are following on behind Him to meet God, per the "Archegos" title in study #3 I am presently using the same value as He used in His life and ascension into Heaven
Mediator 1. Definition • One who acts on behalf of two parties, to bring them together with respect to a hostility. 2. Application • He represents man, because He is man • He represents God, because He is God • He brought the warring parties together by showing God’s love to man and by showing His perfection to God.
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Review Questions 1. Which of the following is NOT a feature of an apostle? A. One who is sent... B. ...By another who is in authority... C. ...With all the power and authority of the sender... D. ...For the purpose of obeying a law. 2. In what key way does Hebrews 3 contrast Moses’ and Jesus’ apostleship? A. Moses born of a mother and father; Jesus born of a virgin. B. Moses a member of God’s house; Jesus the builder of the house. C. Moses the first of two to fulfill the covenant; Jesus the only one who fulfilled the covenant. D. Moses sent by I AM; Jesus sent by God the Father. 3. Why can’t people accept Jesus’ words, but not the Apostle Paul’s? A. Because Paul’s teaching exactly repeats that of Jesus. B. Because Paul was also a High Priest. C. Because Paul was a mediator between Jesus and humanity. D. Because Paul was Jesus’ apostle, granted full authority to teach from Him. 4. Which of the following is NOT a feature of a high priest? A. The one who goes into God’s presence... B. ...to deal with the sin of the people... C. ...so that God can bless His people... D. ...and God is propitiated by their works. 5. What is an implication of Jesus’ Great High Priesthood? A. Our hope is in heaven. B. Our anchor is almost secure. C. Aaron’s failures are mended. D. God is seeking a third priestly order. 6. Which of the following is a key difference between the Aaronic and Jesus’ priesthood? A. One offered gifts; the other offered blood. B. One was repeated annually; the other has no need to be repeated. C. One secured mercy; the other secured propitiation. D. One was a type; the other was literal. 7. What kind of parties require a mediator? A. Hostile parties. B. Lost parties. C. Friendly parties. D. Birthday parties.
Answers | 1D | 2B | 3D | 4D | 5A | 6B | 7A bibleclass.com.au
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