Doctrinal Teaching / Main Exhortation

[ITS]

What is the main doctrinal teaching in Hebrews? What is the main exhortation to Christian living? How do these two relate?

[NateArcher]

The main doctrinal teaching in Hebrews is the superiority of Jesus Christ, especially in relation to various aspects of Judaism. The main exhortation in Hebrews is the call to persevere in faith in Jesus Christ. We see these two themes interleaved throughout the book. Several warning passages are given which communicate the dire consequences of rejecting Christ. Each warning passage is always tied to the concept of God?s revelation. (2:1; 3:7; 3:15; 4:2; 4:12; 5:11-12; 10:26; 12:25) Therefore, our perseverance is to be based on hearing God?s voice. God?s voice reveals to us the superiority of Jesus Christ. This in turn prompts us to continue forward in faith because Christ is ?better? than that which we are tempted to retreat to.

[lmno]

What is the main doctrinal teaching in Hebrews? What is the main exhortation to Christian living? How do these two relate?

The main doctrinal teaching of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ is superior to everything that has gone before Him. That is, He is superior to the angels as revealer of God, superior to Moses as mediator of the covenant, superior to earthly priests because He is the eternal priest, and His sacrifice is superior to any other sacrifice because it cleanses the conscience rather than the flesh. The main exhortation to the Hebrews is to hold fast to Jesus, through confidence in His sacrifice and also through participation with the Body of Christ (see the practical exhortations in chapter 13). The theology reminds the people that rather than believing only what they can see and reverting to old covenant rituals that are now obsolete, they must remember where they began with the Lord and serve Him just as passionately. The writer hopes none fall into apostasy.

[lmno]

The main doctrinal teaching in Hebrews is the superiority of Jesus Christ, especially in relation to various aspects of Judaism. The main exhortation in Hebrews is the call to persevere in faith in Jesus Christ. We see these two themes interleaved throughout the book. Several warning passages are given which communicate the dire consequences of rejecting Christ. Each warning passage is always tied to the concept of God?s revelation. (2:1; 3:7; 3:15; 4:2; 4:12; 5:11-12; 10:26; 12:25) Therefore, our perseverance is to be based on hearing God?s voice. God?s voice reveals to us the superiority of Jesus Christ. This in turn prompts us to continue forward in faith because Christ is ?better? than that which we are tempted to retreat to.

I agree with his summary of the main doctrinal teaching and main exhortation, and also believe these themes can be easily seen in a survey of the sermon. I think he could have made more clear the tie between the practical warning passages and the theology sections: the writer establishes in the theology sections that because Jesus' revelation and priesthood is so far superior, far harsher judgment will come to those who reject the Lord. He also establishes that going back to old covenant regulations is equal to apostasy. I do think the writer urges his hearers to hear God's voice and obey, and he contrasts the wilderness generation's choice to the one he hopes they will make.

[Myles]

What is the main doctrinal teaching in Hebrews? What is the main exhortation to Christian living? How do these two relate? In my opinion the main doctrinal point of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ has provided a covenant of glory, power and access far superior to the old covenant. This written sermon to these Jewish believers was to shake them out of their struggle of fear of martydom and the issues of leadership transition that they were evidently facing. The author is exhorting them to not fall back from this awesome thing that Christ has provided. If they do not hold to this there is nothing else for them to grab hold to. The revelation of what Christ has provided should be enough for them to hold fast to the faith and to one another. Just as others before them have had to endure and face the unseen now it is their turn to run the race. No matter what unseen obstacles may present themselves look to what Jesus has provided.

[Myles]

What is the main doctrinal teaching in Hebrews? What is the main exhortation to Christian living? How do these two relate?

The main doctrinal teaching of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ is superior to everything that has gone before Him. That is, He is superior to the angels as revealer of God, superior to Moses as mediator of the covenant, superior to earthly priests because He is the eternal priest, and His sacrifice is superior to any other sacrifice because it cleanses the conscience rather than the flesh. The main exhortation to the Hebrews is to hold fast to Jesus, through confidence in His sacrifice and also through participation with the Body of Christ (see the practical exhortations in chapter 13). The theology reminds the people that rather than believing only what they can see and reverting to old covenant rituals that are now obsolete, they must remember where they began with the Lord and serve Him just as passionately. The writer hopes none fall into apostasy.I agree with Imno that the sermon to the Hebrews is all about the superior work of Jesus Christ. The preacher very skillfully moves through the issues of their fears and doubts and even their carnal desire to return to the temporal ritual of Judaism and shows them that if they leave this new work that Christ has purchased, they will have no other options. There is nothing else coming and to return to the old covenant will accomplish nothing for it does not have the ability to forgive sinl. The old covenant was a reminder of what was needed. What was needed was accomplished through the birth, the life, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If they leave the faith they are becoming apostate in the same manner as those that resisted God's provision and died short of the promised land.