Hebrews 1:1- 2:4 — The Exordium (Prologue) - It must be remembered that the exordium as the first sentence in the Greek text—a very long first sentence some translations divided it into 3 sentences. Also present in the Greek text is the poetic device of alliteration in the repetition of the "p" sound—a sound that would have been repeated in the listener's ear as this document was read to faith communities. During the Mass. As in Sacred Scripture, Old Testament and New, was meant to be read aloud to the faithful.
In verse 3 - How has the Son purged sins which allows Him the privileged position at God's right hand? These passages in
Hebrews 1:1-4 reveal the mission, the divine nature and the power of God the Son. The prophet Isaiah wrote in the 8th century BC:
It was Yahweh's good pleasure to crush him with pain; if he gives his life as a sin offering.. [
Isaiah 53:10a ]. St. Peter confirmed and expanded on this revelation when he wrote in
1 Peter 1:18-20,
For you know that the price of your ransom from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors was paid, not in anything perishable like silver or gold, but in precious blood as of a blameless and spotless lamb, Christ. He was marked out before the world was made, and was revealed at the final point of time for your sake. Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for this very purpose—that your faith and hope should be in God. In declaring that the Son enjoys the privilege of being seated at the "right hand" of God the inspired writer evokes in his audience the connection to the great Messianic psalms of King David, Psalm 110, which will be the basis of one of the central themes of this discourse:
Yahweh declared to my Lord (Adonai), 'Take your seat at my right hand, till I have made your enemies your footstool. Yahweh will stretch out the scepter of your power; from Zion you will rule your foes all around you. Royal dignity has been yours from the day of your birth, sacred honour from the womb, from the dawn of your youth. Yahweh has sworn an oath he will never retract, you are a priest for ever of the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110:1-4.
Christ has purged us of all sin.
Jesus came to overcome Original Sin. That is why He is called the second Adam and Mary the second Eve. Just as all die in
Adam, so in Christ all will be brought to life.
In your statement you now have issues with:
Matt. 7:18 – Jesus says that sound trees bear good fruit. But there is no guarantee that a sound tree will stay sound. It could go rotten.Matt. 7:21 – all those who say “Lord, Lord” on the last day will not be saved. They are judged by their evil deeds.
Matt. 12:30-32 – Jesus says that he who is not with Him is against Him, therefore (the Greek for “therefore” is “dia toutos” which means “through this”) blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. This means that failing to persevere in Jesus’ grace to the end is the unforgivable sin against the Spirit. We must persevere in faith to the end of our lives.
Matt. 22:14 – Jesus says many are called but few are chosen. This man, who was destined to grace, was at God’s banquet, but was cast out.
Luke 8:13 – Jesus teaches that some people receive the word with joy, but they have no root, believe for a while, and then fall away in temptation. They had the faith but they lost it.
Luke 12:42-46 – we can start out as a faithful and wise steward, then fall away and be assigned to a place with the unfaithful.
John 6:70-71 – Jesus chose or elected twelve, yet one of them, Judas, fell. Not all those predestined to grace persevere to the end.
John 15:1-10 – we can be in Jesus (a branch on the vine), and then if we don’t bear fruit, are cut off, wither up and die. Paul makes this absolutely clear in Rom. 11:20-23.
John 17:12 – we can be given to Jesus by the Father (predestined to grace) and yet not stay with Jesus, like Judas.
John 6:40 – everyone who sees the Son and believes means the person “continues” to believe. By continuing to believe, the person will persevere and will be raised up. Belief also includes obedience, which is more than an intellectual belief in God.
Rev. 2:4-5 – Jesus tells the Ephesians that they abandoned the love they had at first and have fallen. Jesus warns them to repent and do the works they did at first, otherwise He will remove their lampstand (their awaited place in heaven).
Acts 7:51 – you stiff-necked people, you always resist the Holy Spirit. We, by our own freewill, can resist God and His grace, and turn away from Him.
Rom. 11:20-23 – in expounding on Jesus’ teaching in John 15, Paul teaches that the Jews (the natural branches) were broken off by lack of faith (v.20), but says that the Romans stand fast through faith (v. 21). So the Romans are justified. However, Paul then says that the Romans can also be cut off if they don’t persevere in faith and kindness (v. 22-23). Hence, those justified before God can fall away from the faith and lose their salvation (be “cut off”). Paul also says that those who are cut off can be grafted back in if they do not persist in their unbelief, for God has the power to graft them in again (v.23). These verses are devastating to the “once saved, always saved” position.
And so on........You now have contradictory issues with these and other passages!
