It's All About Jesus Christ

Hebrews 1:1-3

Today (tomorrow for us at Connection) begins a 7-sermon series leading us to Resurrection Sunday.. Over the course of the next several weeks, my prayer is both individually and corporately, there will be a dedicated devotion to see and understand it’s all about Jesus Christ. Underscored in the cannon of Scripture is the mercy of God given to man, seen through the birth of Jesus Christ, demonstrated on the cross of Calvary, and assured to us through His resurrection. The message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the only message that can be preached, which can change a person’s heart, which can allow him to be born again, and that can wash away the crimson stain of sin, gifting them a relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

Philippians 1:18 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

Sadly however, this message has been lost on so many—even professed believers can at times let the pressures/stress/hardships of this world, dim the joy of their salvation. This is why, believer or non-believer alike, we all need to see that it’s Jesus Christ—that it’s all about Him

(READ HEBREWS 1:1-3)

Since the fall, man’s soul has been plagued and infected with sin. In all that sin does and all that it destroys, the most devastating ripple is the void of a broken relationship with God. The inner man, regardless of what excuses he makes, how he tries to justify himself; what or who he blames; regardless if ignores or plays ignorant, knows this; man knows something is missing.

So much religion has come from man’s inner struggle to satisfy the longing of his soul.

So much addiction exists in the hearts of man b/c they turn to the passing pleasures of sin to try and satisfy this longing

So much bondage to the things of this world, the systems of this world, exists in man seeking to satisfy this longing

It doesn’t take a long look around us—and it should only take about 1/2 a second of an honest look in the mirror, to realize this;

Sadly, so many people will come to church in a few weeks, on Resurrection Sunday, seeking to fill this void, (1) with religion; some will come thinking God is against them,; or He’s some far-off tyrant who is disinterested in the brokenness in their lives and will not/cannot/chooses not to fill this gaping void in their soul—AND THIS IS TRAGIC and THIS IS HEARTBREAKING!

The truth is there is no need for man to be in the dark about God or be in the dark about God’s love, grace, and mercy He has extended to man through His Word, those He led to write His Word, and ultimately His Son. And while we can look back and read about the Bible’s prophets and others who wrote His Word, they pale in comparison and fade into insignificance when compared to Jesus Christ

This is the message we begin our series with—that Christ is superior!!

I. (v.1-2) Jesus Christ is the supreme spokesman for God

Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;”

God Himself has spoken to man (to us); He is not as most people think:

Far off in the distance

Somewhere in outer space

So far away that He is unconcerned with what is happening,

In this world

In your life

God is the very opposite of this:

He is concerned and has compassion towards you

He is concerned and has compassion towards the

Brokenness you sit in

Trials and temptations you face

Strongholds/addictions/struggles you encounter

Suffering/disease/loss that plagues us and the world

EVERYTHING that happens to us

God has, because of His care and compassion towards us, towards you,

Given us His wonderful words of life and deliverance

Given us exactly what we need in order to conquer trials and temptations, corruption and death

God has given this message to us, to you—in His Word

Knowing, hearing, and heeding His Word brings everlasting life and victory over all the evil, trials and temptations in this life

Knowing, hearing, and heeding His Word removes the sting of death off of man and brings him into everlasting life.

So, where is His Word? (Two places)

Found in the prophets--God spoke to man through persons He had chosen to proclaim His Word

Who are they?

The men and women of the Old Testament

What does “many times,” or “many ways” mean?

No man could possibly receive and understand the WHOLE revelation of God

No man could possibly receive and understand the WHOLE truth of God—it’s just too big

No man could possibly share or contain the WHOLE revelation of God

What else does this mean? There had to be a gradual opening of man’s mind to the the things of the Messiah—the Savior of the world;

The following are just a few examples of who He used:

Genesis 3:15 God spoke to Adam and told him the Savior wold come from the seed of the woman.

Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18 God spoke to Abraham and told him the Savior would come from his seed.

Genesis 49 God told Jacob about the Savior to come from the tribe of Judah

The following are just a few examples of the different ways

Exodus 19:10; Deut 5:22 God spoke to Moses in a great thundering voice in the midst of a storm

1 Kings 19:12 God spoke to Elijah by a still small voice

Isaiah 1:1 God to spoke to Isaiah in a vision

1 Samuel 3:5 God spoke to Samuel in a dream

What do we need to see in all of this?

Each prophet could only present a portion/part, or paint a glimpse of God’s revelation—His truth—not the whole

So if it’s not found in them, where is it found?

Found (in full revelation) in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ— “…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...”

“…has in these last days...”

God could send no greater messenger with His Word than to send His very own Son…and this is the truth of this passage…God did so; further this means:

There will be other revelation after Jesus Christ

God’s message of redemption, deliverance, and salvation has it’s fulfillment and end in Jesus Christ

In man refusing to confess and accept the truth of Jesus Christ—man refusing God’s message of redemption, b/c there will be NO other message after Him.

All God had to say to man, He said, demonstrated, and accomplished in and through His Son—Jesus Christ

In Jesus Christ is contained

The fullness of God and His message

The radiance of God’s glory

The express purpose of God—the redemption and reconciliation of man back to Himself

In Jesus Christ is contained

God’s will

God’s nature

God’s love, grace, and mercy…and the fullness of

God’s justice against sin

“…spoken to us by His Son...”

Jesus Christ is the very Word of God (Let’s take what John says to start--1 John 1:1 here when he says towards the end of verse 1, “....and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—”)

The word, “word,” itself—the expression of an idea, thought; the image in the mind of a person

So, Jesus being the Word of God is saying Christ is the very expression, the very Words of God, His ideas, what He has in His mind; He is the “express image of God the Father.”

God’s message of redemption was manifested in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Let’s take what John says in verse 2 here: 1 John 1:2 “...the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—”

Manifest (manifested)-means the very evidence or proof of—

So when say, Jesus is the manifest word of God, it means that He, Jesus, not only delivered the message of redemption, He Himself was the message of redemption, He Himself revealed life and is life, He Himself revealed how to conquer sin and He did it! And…

What does all of this mean for us, for you and me?

God loves you (He loves man)

God has not left you (left man) in the dark groping, grasping, and aimlessly searching for Him

God has in fact given you the truth about Who He is, Who His Son is, and the purpose for which He sent His son

(We need to see this) Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.””

***Jesus may have come and taught His disciples and others how to live rightly, but His purpose was salvation; if the only thing He came to do was teach man morality—He wouldn’t have been our Savior and the you’d still be under condemnation; the atonement for your sins, what satisfied the wrath of God and gives you the hope of eternal life is ONLY by the means of Christ’s death and resurrection.***

II. (v.2) Jesus Christ is appointed the heir of all things

Hebrews 1:2 “...whom He has appointed heir of all things...”

What does heir mean?

It means that Jesus Christ is to receive and be the “lawful Owner of all things” (Amplified New Testament)

It means that Jesus Christ ALONE has inherited all that God is and has..no man is worthy enough—only Jesus Christ is

Jesus ALONE has walked perfectly and lived perfectly, before God and among men

Jesus ALONE has perfectly obeyed God

What is it that Jesus is to inherit and receive? The Bible says Jesus has:

All power in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” )

The authority to execute judgment upon men (John 5:22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,” )

The Lordship over both the dead and the living (Romans 14:9 “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” )

The whole universe—a new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:10-13)

A name above every name and every knee shall bow before Him vindicating His claim to be both Lord and Savior (Philippians 2:9-10 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,” )

(MY PERSONAL FAVORITE) All those who have professed and surrendered unto salvation (Ephesians 1:18 “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”

Think on THIS!!

III.(v.2) Jesus Christ is the Creator and Maker of all the worlds (entire universe)

Hebrews 1:2 “...through whom also He made the worlds...”

Note the word, “worlds”—In Greek) this is also translated, “ages”—this means that Jesus Christ is the creator of both

The universe, and

The ages that roll in one upon another—of time as it moves forward—from generation to generation

“He (Christ) created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time (that is), He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order

Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

What’s the point in all this?

If there be ANY THING—on earth, under earth, above earth, in space, things “visible or invisible,” Jesus Christ is responsible for its creation, b/c He is outside of creation—was never created—and is thereby the author of creation

John 1:2-3 “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

IV. (v.3) Jesus Christ is the very glory of God Himself

Hebrews 1:3 “who being the brightness of His glory...”

Note the word, “being”; this translates out as “absolute and timeless existence” (on-in the Greek), and it means

Jesus Christ Himself possessed the glory of god before He ever came into this world

Jesus Christ has ALWAYS existed in the glory of God

Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega—the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords; He is the Great I Am, who eternally posses all power & authority

Note the word “glory”, it means

All the brightness of God

All the brilliance of God

All the radiance of God

All the splendor of God

All the light of God’s Being

All of God’s presence dwelt in Jesus Christ

Colossians 2:9 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;”

V. (v.3) Jesus Christ is the express image/exact representation of God

Hebrews 1:3 “...and the express image of His person...”

Note the word “express” (charakter)—means the very stamp, mark, or impression

Jesus Christ is the very imprint and very image of God’s nature

Jesus Christ is the very divine nature and “character” of God Himself

Note the world “image” (hypostasis)—means substance

Jesus Christ is the very substance, Being, Person, and embodiment of God

John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.””

John 14:9-10 “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Philippians 2:6 “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,”

VI.(v.3) Jesus Christ is the Sustainer of the universe—

Hebrews 1:3 “...and upholding all things by the word of His power...”

Facts about God and the world/universe:

God has not created this world/this universe to willy-nilly fly through space, taking whatever course it wills

God is not going to let this world destroy itself—

Facts about God con’t:

God is in control

Jesus Christ, holds/controls this world and He is moving it to what the Bible refers to as the, “great day of redemption.”

Facts about God con’t—note again the verse and how He’s holding it all together--By the power of His Word—

The Word of Christ is:

Perfect and pure energy

Perfect and pure force/power

Perfect and pure order/unity

Perfect and pure solidarity/cohesion

The love and power of Christ:

Keep the universe from flying apart

Keeps evil from completely conquering/destroying all things

VII.(v.3) Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the mankind (This is where I think a lot of people get hemmed up)

Hebrews 1:3 “... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Where redemption does not come from:

Some prophet or priest who has made purification for our sins (no man can intercede and absolve man’s sin..PERIOD)

Religiosity (rules/works/religious activities)

Morality

If God’s standard for salvation was based on our morality, we are all in trouble; b/c our morality is flawed, fallen, and flippant. Jesus Christ did not come to atone for your sins with HIs morality—He came to atone for your sins with His blood, b/c that is God’s standard for your sin’s atonement:

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’”

It was His standard in the O/T and it is the standard for any man today, contrary to what they say; it was even the standard for God’s only begotten Son—God didn’t lower the standard even for His Own Son

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,...”

Any man—no matter their message, argument, justification, or delusion-can have this standard adjusted for them

We need to stop thinking that God’s grace is afforded to us b/c our morality, good works, or religious activity; God’s grace is not contingent on anything you’ve accomplished, rather it’s afforded to us based on what Christ has done

Where redemption Biblically come from

Redemption can ONLY come from the purity of a perfect sacrifice—a sacrifice unblemished, untarnished, and untainted from sin

Redemption, therefore, could ONLY come in and through Jesus Christ

Why redemption must be personal

Atonement for sin in the O/T—looking at first chapters of Leviticus, we see God repeat a particular practice to those Israelites who would offer a lamb/goat, etc for their sins sacrifice

First—it must be voluntary-Leviticus 1:3 “‘If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord.”

While God commanded and demanded confession and repentance—a Hebrew must willingly do so

Second-it must be personal—Leviticus 1:4 “Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.”

Hebrews were shepherds, they tended livestock, farmed, and worked the land—this lends they would have been familiar with the lambs/goats used for sacrifice—therefore, placing their hands on their heads would have made this a more personal act of repentance

Thirdly—it was to be done before the Lord—Leviticus 1:5 “He shall kill the bull before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting.”

Those Israelites who were seeking atonement, had to recognize that God was the ONLY means by which their sins were atone for

Atonement for sin in the N/T (today)

First—must be voluntary

You have to repent; no one repents for you; no one confesses your sin for you

You have to have enough of how you’re living and desire what Christ is offering you before you’ll ever repent and confess

Second-must be personal—we must see our sin for what it is and what it cost

It may have been personal for the Israelite and his lamb,

It was surely personal to God, b/c He gave His only Son as man’s sacrifice

Thirdly—must be taken before the Lord

No priest/’father”/pastor can make atonement for our sins

No amount of penance can make atonement for our sins

No amount of baptisms (1 or many) can make atonement for our sins, our sins

Must be taken directly before the Lord, b/c He is the ONLY means by which our sins are atoned for

Hebrews 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

1 John 2:2 “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

VIII.(v.3) Jesus Christ is the exalted Lord and Mediator

Hebrews 1:3 “...sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God as the exalted Lord and Majesty of the universe

Jesus Christ sits and is in the very presence of God—as our Mediator and Intercessor—as the ONLY One who can represent man before God

Note how Christ is not exalted as a believer’s Prosecutor or Judge; rather He represents us, He pleads for us, offering His righteousness and sacrificial death for us

Note what this means: On the day when He returns or we are called home and we stand before God, we still stand before God as His children, as co-heirs with Jesus. God will deal with us according to His love, rather than His judgment. Why?

Because Jesus Christ stands are our Mediator—all those who have accepted Christ, have been interceded and mediated for by Jesus Christ Himself

Note what this also means: That Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, indicates the work is done, what He came to do was accomplished—there’s no other message or means of salvation to come—this is why He’s the last “dispensation.”

Note what this means at His return: At His return, He’s taking the redeemed home and judging the rest of the heathen world in their sin

He’s coming back as the Lord of Lords—King of Kings-and the Great I am

WORSHIP TEAM

(REMEMBER COURTROOM EXAMPLE)

YOU NEED TO SEE THAT ITS ALL ABOUT JESUS