230125 Wed night service

Hebrews 1:1–2 (ESV) — 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.

the writer makes a division between two time periods the days of old and these last days.

The Old Testament period and the church age with its anticipation of the coming of the Lord.

Through the prophets communicating to the ancestors who would keep what they had received but it would leave them short of the whole picture. There were things that they longed to know but would not see.

Remember that apart from God revealing himself and his plan to man, man will be left in the dark.

Matthew 13:17 (ESV) — 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

And then came the close of the Malachi the last prophet and God fell silent for 400 years until that silent was broken with the visit of Gabriel to an elderly priest Zacarias and then there was once again communication from God. The Holy spirit began his work and prophecy once again became active.

With the death burial Acts 1:6–7 (ESV) — 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

and resurrection of Christ came started the last days when the consummation of God’s plan

These last days continue up to this day with the same anticipation of the coming of the Lord.

What God revealed through the prophets throughout the Days of Old that is prior to the church age was progressive revelation. It came is portions and was not the full disclosure of revelation.

It is not that the revelation was wrong or inferior though the fact is the Son is superior to all the ways that God used throughout the old testament.

And careful to reach a conclusion that with the advent of Christ that the Old testament is null and void. It is truth then and it is truth now. 2

Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) — 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Jesus is the Message that John points to in John 1 starting with verse 1

John 1:1–5 (ESV) — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus is called the Logos

Logos means word or message.

The message he carries is the revelation of God and God’s plan as well as the execution of God’s plan.

Jesus spoke of the coming of the Paraklatos with is the holy spirit.

John 14:26 (ESV) — 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

What God did reveal through the prophets was a testimony of the one who would come.

John 5:25–32 (ESV) — 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

With the illumination of the holy Spirit those who were privy to the Old Testament writings and the prophets was able to put it all together and see how they all pointed to the Christ. Jesus Christ.

This statement sheds light on the fallacy of seeking some other revelation of God. Seeking extra biblical sources or even a different jesus.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 (ESV) — 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

And then there is Peter James and john with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration speaking out of heaven.

Luke 9:35 (ESV) — 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) — 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,

We learn of the essence of God

Sovereign

Eternal

Love

Immutable

Veracity

Omnipotence

Omnipresence

Omniscience

Transcendent

Righteous

Just

This are not what God aspires to be it is what he is. These attributes are infinite and eternal and they are the exact essence held by all three members of the God head though the members of the Godhead are three in persons they all are one as they share completely these attributes.

Jesus taking on the form of man did not waver is divine nature but voluntarily restricted the free use of his divine attributes.

This is the doctrine of kenosis

Philippians 2:5–9 (ESV) — 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

κενόω kenoō 5× to empty, evacuate; ἑαυτόν, to divest one’s self of one’s prerogatives, abase one’s self, Phil. 2:7; to deprive a thing of its proper functions, Rom. 4:14; 1 Cor. 1:17; to show to be without foundation, falsify, 1 Cor. 9:15; 2 Cor. 9:3* [2758]

So it is that Christ is the exact representation of the Glory of God holding the attributes of God.

In a lessor sense and as Christ imagers those in Christ reflect the glory of God in those attributes that are said to commutable. Such as Love, knowledge, rulership functions a truth

Where we reflect in a small way those attributes it is Christ who is the exact image of the father.

You see it is not that The father is sharing his attributes with Jesus but Jesus is by very nature that which the Father is.

Isaiah 42:8 (ESV) — 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Mark 8:38 (ESV) — 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

this is why in John that Jesus says

John 5:23 (ESV) — 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

It is the same concept of the sacredness of life as man was made in God’s image and God loves his image and so those who murder they also will be put to death for God says that man was made in his image

God’s image is sacred and so Christ is the exact representation God’s glory is sacred to Him.

bupholds all things by the word of His power

Colossians 1:16–17 (ESV) — 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Even as a babe in the cradle the Son of God was holding the universe together. When the guards were beathing Jesus unmercily Jesus was sustaining every heart beat of these roman brutes.

The point is obviously clear. There is no greater revelation than the son sent by God. And to seek any communication from God apart from the Son one does so at his own peril.

For if we deny the message of Christ what message are we then looking for or expect to find.

Why then does so many embarrassed by his name?

Isn’t interesting Romans 9:33 (ESV) — 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”