Jesus Is the Perfect Way!

¹ Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. ² And now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son He created the universe. ³ The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. ⁴ This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the Name God gave Him is greater than their names. Hebrews 1:1-4 (NLT)

Are religions very different? Is not the most important thing is to be sincere? Why choose Christianity? Many people in the early church ask these very questions. These early believers in Jesus were Jews and Gentiles and they had converted to the Way – Christianity (e.g., see Acts 9:2; Acts 11:19-21, 26; see also John 14:6). These early Christians risked their lives to follow the Way. In the first century, Christianity did not enjoy Rome’s official protection as the Jewish religion (Judaism). These new Christians suffered greatly under the Roman government. Many of these new Christians were beaten, thrown out of the Jewish temples, and even tortured for their belief in Jesus (e.g. see 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15; Hebrews 10:32-34). Despite the persecution, God’s gracious hand was with these early believers and they continued to grow and spread the Good News about Jesus Christ (e.g., see Acts 2:41, 47; Acts 11:21, 24; Acts 16:5).

The New Testament book of Hebrews gave these early Christians reason to press on and decisively accept the Way and follow Jesus. Point by point, Hebrews shows why Jesus Christ is the only way and better than all other forms of religion (e.g., see Hebrews 10:19-20). Faith in Jesus was worth the risk for these new believers. For the sake of Jewish readers, the unknown author of Hebrews painstakingly cities Old Testament passages more than 80 times to develop the case for Jesus and insists there are decisive reasons to choose Jesus. In fact, the book of Hebrews is actually a commentary on the Old Testament and examines many Old Testament passages to prove that Jesus is better than to the angels (Hebrews 1:5-14), to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6), and to the priests Aaron and Melchizedek (Hebrews 4:14-7:28).

Jesus brought in “a better hope,” (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 7:19) and established “better promises” (Hebrews 8:6) because He radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of the true and living God (Hebrews 1:3; see also John 1:14; John 14:9). Jesus is the Son of the true and living God (Hebrews 1:2, 5; see also Matthew 3:17; Matthew 16:16) and the “author of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). The only God of the universe made the gracious decision to send His Son, Jesus to earth and become fully human (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is not some kind of alien but the Son of God sent to save humanity from their sins (John 3:16-17; see also Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). Through His death, Jesus “obtained eternal redemption” and peace to all who wholeheartedly believe Him and obey His teachings (see Hebrews 3:18; Hebrews 4:6, 11; Hebrews 9:12; see also John 14:15; John 15:9-14, 17). Jesus graciously shares with believers “the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). Jesus’ throne is forever (Hebrews 1:8) and He is our Great High Priest forever (Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:17, 21). So let everyone remain totally committed to Jesus Christ (e.g., see Acts 11:23; Acts 14:22). Jesus is the perfect way (Hebrews 7:22)!

¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testing we do, yet He did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

References

The New Student Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).

The Holy Bible NIV 2011 (Grand Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).