*Angel Tree - This is a generous church started with 56 kids with our Angel Tree Initiative, that helps families in our community who without you may not be able to provide any gifts for their children. We started with 56 kids, and after last sunday. Can I just tell you 50 our of those 56 have been selected from the tree. Amazing. In fact 6 additional names have been added. So there should be only 12 children who are left to be selected today.
*Serve team GALA - Last day
Jesus Christ the Supreme King
Hebrews 1:1-6
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 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.
3 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,
4 Having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"?Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."
Supremacy is the state or condition of being superior to all others in authority, power and status. It is the highest authority.
Jesus Christ is the Supreme King
Jesus Christ is the spoken word (vs. 1-2)
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 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.
Former days VS Last Days
This is the contrast between two periods of time. Former days refers to the Old Testament.
Last Days refers to when Jesus comes onto the scene on earth.
Fathers VS Us
The fathers are the patriarchs of the family now the Lord speaks to each of us.
Prophet VS Son
In the former days he would primarily speak to the people through the prophets but Jesus is the the final word - Since he is the supreme king God’s word through him is complete. The old testament points forward to the coming of Jesus, the end of the book points backwards towards Jesus.
Prophets, angels, Moses - nothing has equal authority to Jesus Christ.
He is no long primarily speaking through the prophets, but through His son Jesus Christ.
He spoke through the prophets and what that would mean to the Jewish reader is it would have included the prophets that we read about but also the historical books of the Old Testament.
“There is a God who speaks that we might know Him, love Him, and live in Joyful obedience to Him” John Piper.
There is not a third section that is coming with a better word, Jesus is the decisive word.
The work of the Holy Spirit is not lost here.
Hebrews 2:3-4
3 How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The gifts and work of the Holy Spirit are not a silo or an a la carte item, but rather the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit point back to Jesus.
Jesus Christ was Appointed Heir Over all Things (vs 2)
The second truth we see about Jesus Christ as the Supreme King in this passage is that God has appointed the son who God is speaking to us through as the heir over all things.
Jesus Christ took His seat as the active ruling heir through His death and resurrection.
2 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.
Through the death and resurrection of Jesus a decisive victory won.
Jesus Christ the Word that we listen to can make good on His promises.
*EXAMPLE OF A WAR THAT IS WON BUT THERE IS STILL SOME FIGHTING
Promises like:
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5)
Nothing shall separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39)
No more death or mourning or sickness for eternity
Hebrews 10:12-13
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
You see He has already conquered death, Oh death where is your sting, He already purchased redemption, He has already won the war over the enemy, and he acts now on our behalf but the day is coming where all things will be made a footstool for His feet. There is a day when the trump shall sound and Jesus will come back and take all that is his.
Jesus Christ had the World Created Through Him (vs2)
2 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.
It is important to first know how the story ends, but the beginning is of great importance.
At first glance it seems like this writer got the order backwards.
Two truths we learn from Jesus Christ had the world created through Him
Jesus Christ existed before He came to earth in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
The Son would already have ownership of the universe by virtue of creating it.
IV. Jesus Christ is the Radiance of the Glory of God and Exact Imprint of His Nature (vs3)
3 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,
Radiance of the Glory of God - This is the only place in the new testament that uses this phrase.
Greek word - Charakter
It refers to a mark that would be left by an engraving stamp that was pressed in sealing wax used on private letters or official documents. It is also used to impression mold used to make a coin. The point is that the stamp or impression would be exact.
Jesus, God’s son radiates and reflects God’s full glory and character because he shares the fathers nature and essence.
He is the exact representation of the Father and has the Fathers’s character and attributes.
If you seen me you have seen the father - Jesus
Who God is -is not a mystery.
If you want to know the heart of God, you need to get to know Jesus.
V. Jesus Christ Upholds the Universe by the Power of His Word (vs 3)
3 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,
Jesus not only was part of the creation process but also sustains His creation by the power of His Word.
Jesus is active in the preservation of His creation.
This is the contrary to the theological belief of Diem
Deism is where you believe God created the Universe and like a clockmaker who built the clock winds it up and the lets it operate on its own; Jesus is active in the preservation of His creation.
He has the power to create
The power to preserve
The power to control
The power to bring to a end
*If Jesus stopped willing the universe into existence it would cease to exist.
VI. Jesus Christ Made Purification for our Sins. (vs3)
3 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,
Purification of sin would be understood by the Old Testament sacrificial system
This sacrificial system was the process that would remove the sin and guilt from the sinner.
Jesus is now the only sacrifice that is needed and is the new sacrificial system.
This was the mission of Jesus to lay down His life as a ransom for many so they may have access to the father.
Fully deity and fully humanity
VII. Jesus Christ sits on the Throne (vs 3)
3 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,
To sit at the right hand was to be in a position of authority and favor.
When he sat down it indicates that the work needed to do for salvation was completed.
From His place of ultimate authority Jesus is actively engaging in these three things
Jesus continues the saving and rescuing of His people as our mediator. (Hebrews 8:6)
Jesus continues to intercede for us. (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25)
Jesus pours out His Spirit baptism to empower His followers in service. (Acts 2:33)
This goes back to the point the he is active in creation
VIII. Jesus Christ is More Superior than Angels (vs 4-6)
4 Having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"?Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."
Intertestamental period angels were a high topic, and the writer was wanting to ensure there was no misplaced focus.
Angels instructed to worship Jesus Christ
Angels declared His birth
Angels are not called sons
Angels do not bring salvation
Our Response to Jesus Christ the Supreme King
To surrender to His Kingship
To worship Him
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."
Revelation 7:1
To love righteousness and hate sin
The Enemies Response to Jesus Christ our Supreme King
I John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world.
His goal is distraction through
Desires of the flesh
Desires of the eyes - coveting - the opposite of contentment
Pride of life - boasting and you centered
LADDER ILLUSTRATION
תגובות