
An Invitation to Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying. —Hebrews 12:1-3 (NCV)
• Jesus is
Hebrews contributes 3 important things to Christian thought (N.T. Wright)
• Christology: “the
• Hebrews shows a new way of reading the
• The sacrificial death of Jesus as God’s deal-making act (or covenant) to
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. —Hebrews 1:1-4
• He is the
• He
• The
• He is the
• He is the exact
• He upholds the
• He made
The Bible Project Book of Hebrews overview
• Jesus is superior to
• Jesus is superior to
• Jesus is superior to the
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. —Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Japhthah, David, Samuel, the prophets…
All these people are known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. God planned to give us something better so that they would be made perfect, but only together with us. —(vs. 39-40)
We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying. —Hebrews 12:1-3 (NCV)
Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, who through our faith has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. —Romans 5:1-5
Invitations:
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Who are the people in your life that have taught you to fix your eyes on Jesus?
• The Lord is inviting us to look