Book of Hebrews

Christian Declaration of Independence

I thought I’d spend a little time framing the Book in a way that may be new to you. I like new

points of view because it helps me see what I already know in a fresh perspective, and often

uncovers new things that were hidden from my former perspective.

I am going to compare the Declaration of Independence to the Book of Hebrews! Both

documents were intended to compare two systems, draw self-evident conclusions, and encourage

readers to choose the better system.

Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to summarize in "self-evident truths” a list of

grievances against King George III in order to justify breaking ties between the colonies and

England. The Declaration of Independence begins with several paragraphs describing the current

situation between the colonies and England. Next, Jefferson composed a long list of the king’s

inadequate leadership and the colonist’s unsuccessful attempts to address the grievances. The

final paragraphs draw conclusions and makes clear the colonies intention to become an

independent country. Announcing their a break from England began the Revolutionary War, and

also galvanized colonist thought and resolve to leave the old order.

Of course there were many colonists loyal to the crown. Just a month before the Declaration of

Independence was ratified, the men of Barnstable, Mass. voted whether America should break its

bonds with Great Britain. The tally: 30 for independence, 35 against and 65 abstentions.

How is the Declaration of Independence like the Book of Hebrews? Paul wrote the Book of

Hebrews to compare the inferior old covenant with a superior new covenant. He hoped to

persuade Jews to enter by faith into this superior covenant. Like Thomas Jefferson, who wrote

the Declaration of Independence, Paul systematically listed the Old Covenant inadequacies and

New Covenant provision in the Book of Hebrews, drawing self-evident truths.

1. NT was established through His Son which is a greater revelation than OT angels or

prophets.

2. His Son, who established the New Testament, is greater than Moses who established

Old Testament.

3. Jesus’ Priesthood is superior to Aaron’s.

4. New Testament Lamb who was sacrificed once for all for the sins of the world

replaces Old Testament temporary sin solution of animal sacrifices.

Unlike Thomas Jefferson who knew his declarations would result in war, Paul did not want to

separate from the Jews. He only hoped to bring greater revelation to the Old Testament by

demonstrating the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. He did not want to

leave Judaism behind. Rather, he wanted to convince Hebrews of the value of the Old Testament

and the superiority of the New Testament.

He documented the validity of New Testament, carefully giving credit to the Old Testament.

Hebrews 1:1 expresses Paul’s intent: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the

prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his

Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

By carefully including both Jewish ancestors and prophets as valid expressions of the Word of

God, he introduces Jesus as God’s Son, the creator and inheritor of everything. He asks Jews to

include Jesus without erasing the other ways God has spoken to them.

Paul didn’t want a revolutionary war between the Old and New Covenants. He wanted the

new to take preeminence over the old. From the Jewish point of view it was like asking

Great Britain to become a colony of the US. Imagine the thoughts and feelings this would

generate among both English citizens and Jews.

We know the how God settled the Jewish reaction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Romans 9:30

“The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by

faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained

their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.”

God separated Himself from self-righteous Israel and joined Himself to those who by faith

receive His Son’s righteousness. He divorced Israel and went looking for a bride for His Son,

those who would believe that Jesus was the ONLY sacrifice needed to make us righteous.

1. Jeremiah 3:8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away

because of all her adulteries.

2. Revelation 21:9 “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

How will God deal with unbelieving Jews? Romans 10:2 “For I can testify about them that they

are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the

righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s

righteousness.”

This issue of self-righteousness obtained through religious rituals separates Jews from God, but

not forever. Romans 10: 25 “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of

the Gentiles has come in”. If you can imagine, God is allowing the Jews to hold the door open

for Gentiles to come in before Jews will be offered another chance to enter.

This issue of righteousness can be a stumbling point for us, too. If their good works did not

grant them righteousness in God’s eyes (only their own), our good works will not grant us

righteousness in God’s eyes either, only our own.

God sees our righteous good works differently than we do: Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become

like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;

God intended for everyone, Jew and Gentile, to come the same way. Romans 10: 32 For God has

bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

We could be in danger, too, of thinking we earned a secure graft into the tree: Romans 11:20

“But they were broken off because of unbelief (in the Lamb of God), and you stand by faith (in

His imputed righteousness). Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural

branches, he will not spare you either.”

What kind of faith allows our graft to hold? Some put their Christian faith in coming from a

Christian family, living in a Christian country, doing Christian traditions, joining and conforming

to the traditions of a Christian church. We sometimes include some additional requirements, like

believing the bible is true, believing that Jesus is the Son of God. But, what is the touchstone

faith God is looking for?

Book of Hebrews makes it clear the issue is righteousness. Do you have faith in your self-

righteousness or do you have faith that Jesus’ is your Righteousness?

1. Romans 3:22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who

believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

2. Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has

clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her

jewels.

Summary: The Book of Hebrews was written especially to Jews who conformed to the Old

Testament laws and ritual sacrifices as evidence of their right standing with God. What the Old

Testament Law provided was a way of covering sin, deceiving the faithful Jews that their works

of compliance granted righteousness. The new system of governance that Jesus announced, uses

Jesus’ blood as payment for all sin (past, present, future). Those who trust in the power of the

blood for personal righteousness enter the Kingdom of God. This is a superior system by far than

the old! But, like Great Britain who was not about to allow one of their colonies to rule (and

change) the traditions and power of the mother country, the Jews had too much to lose to accept

the New Covenant.

Romans 9:30 “The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness

that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have

not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.”

This issue remains the deal breaker for observant Jews, resulting in a Revolutionary War

between Israel....and a new country established by Jesus, the Kingdom of God.

What is your righteousness based on? Christians are no more secure than Jews! Romans 11:20

“But they were broken off because of unbelief (in the Lamb of God), and you stand by faith (in

imputed righteousness). Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural

branches, he will not spare you either.”

Jesus is our Righteousness. Nothing more is needed. Nothing!

Any religious system that teaches that something more is required is against Christ.