Kress Biblical Resources :: Overview

Overview Outline of Hebrews

Jesus, the Son of God, is the final and full expression of God’s Redemptive Program—therefore hold fast your confession and draw near to God through Him, rather than return to the Old Covenant expressions of God’s redemptive plan.¹

Part One—Jesus, the Son of God, is the Better Message, Messenger, and Minister of God’s Salvation (Heb 1:1-4:13)

1. He is superior to the prophets, the angels, and the OT Law they delivered from God—therefore we must hold dear the revelation and salvation that is in Christ (Heb 1:1-2:18)
   1. Jesus is greater than the prophets and their message—He is the final and full revelation of God (Heb 1:1-4)
   2. Jesus is greater than the angels and the Law they escorted—He is God come in the flesh (Heb 1:5-2:18)
2. He is superior to Moses—therefore we must hold fast our confession and find our rest in Christ (Heb 3:1-4:13)
   1. The exhortation to consider Jesus’ superiority to Moses—He is not simply a faithful servant in God’s house, He is a faithful Son over God’s house (Heb 3:1-6)
   2. The expository application to guard against unbelief, hold fast to our confidence in Christ, and find our rest in Him (Heb 3:7-4:13)

Part Two—Jesus, the Son of God, is the Better High Priest and Mediator of a Better Covenant [He is a Better Mediator with a Better Ministry] (Heb 4:14-10:18)

1. He is the superior High Priest—therefore we must hold fast our confession and draw near to the throne of grace (Heb 4:14-7:28)
   1. Jesus has a more exalted position—therefore hold fast and draw near (Heb 4:14-16)
   2. Jesus has a more excellent priesthood—part one (Heb 5:1-10)
   3. WARNING #3: Jesus has a more exclusive priority, which has eternal implications—therefore exercise faith and patience, in hope until the end (Heb 5:11- 6:20)
   4. Jesus has a more excellent priesthood—part two (Heb 7:1-28)
2. He is the Mediator of the superior covenant—therefore we must hold fast our hope and endure in the faith (Heb 8:1-10:39)
   1. The New Covenant has better promises (Heb 8:1-13)
   2. The New Covenant is effected in a better sanctuary with a better sacrifice—part one (Heb 9:1-14)
   3. The New Covenant is effected in a better sanctuary with a better sacrifice—part two (Heb 9:15-10:18)
   4. [WARNING #4: The New Covenant access we have compels us to hold fast to Christ and to endure in the faith (Heb 10:19-39)²]

Part Three—New Covenant Faith in Jesus, the Son of God, is the Only Acceptable Way to Worship God (Heb 10:19-13:25)

1. Let us draw near, hold fast, and encourage one another in the sufficiency of Christ (Heb 10:19-25)
   1. Let us draw near to God in worship (Heb 10:19-22)
   2. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope (Heb 10:23)
   3. Let us encourage one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24-25)
2. WARNING #4: Let us consider the consequences of rejecting Christ and the New Covenant (Heb 10:26-39)
   1. If you reject New Covenant access through Christ, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins (Heb 10:26-27)
   2. If you reject New Covenant access through Christ, the punishment is infinitely more severe than disregarding the Old Covenant Law of Moses (Heb 10:28-31)
   3. If you respond in faith and do not shrink back, there is great reward (Heb 10:32-39)
3. Let us remember those who endured in living by the faith (Heb 11:1- 12:3)
   1. The summary statement concerning living by faith (Heb 11:1-2)
   2. The survey of living by faith in the Old Testament (Heb 11:3-38)
   3. The summary statement concerning living faith in the Old Testament era (Heb 11:39-40)
   4. The specific application concerning living by faith in the New Testament era (Heb 12:1-3)
4. WARNING #5: Let us endure in our faith and embrace the discipline of the Lord—and let no one come short of the grace of God and refuse the Word of God (Heb 12:4-29)
   1. Embrace the discipline of the Lord (Heb 12:4-11)
   2. Exercise your faith by pursuing holiness rather than temporary relief (Heb 12:12-17)
   3. Express your gratitude for the privilege of New Covenant worship by staying faithful to New Covenant worship (Heb 12:18-29)
5. Let us worship God by a life of faith (Heb 13:1-25)
   1. The life of faith and the practice of love (Heb 13:1-6)
   2. The life of faith and the practice of Old Covenant worship (Heb 13:7-16)
   3. The life of faith and the practice of fellowship (Heb 13:17-25)

¹ Hold fast our confession and draw near to God—repeated exhortation (Heb 4:14, 16; Heb 10:22, 23; cf. Heb 3:1, 6, 14; Heb 6:18; Heb 7:25; Heb 10:1; Heb 11:6; Heb 12:18, 22)

² alternate outline depending on the division of the text. These points are perhaps better under the next section.