Reformation Matters: In Christ Alone

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior The Covenantal Development of Christ Alone

I have come to the point where, when I hear the word “Jesus”—which means so much to me because of the Person of the historic Jesus and His work—I listen carefully because I have with sorrow become more afraid of the word “Jesus” than almost any other word in the modern world. The word is used as a contentless banner … there is no rational scriptural content by which to test it.…

Increasingly over the past few years the word “Jesus,” separated from the content of the Scriptures, has been the enemy of the Jesus of history, the Jesus who died and rose and is coming again and who is the eternal Son of God.

With great sadness I would agree with Schaeffer here.

Everyone wants to be Jesus’ friend.

Nobody wants to examine if their friend is an imaginary one.

“It is now Jesus-like to sleep with a girl or a man if she or he needs you. As long as you are trying to be human you are being Jesus-like to sleep with the other person, at the cost...of breaking the specific morality which Jesus taught. But to these men this does not matter because that is downstairs in the area of rational scriptural content.” —Francis Schaeffer

Today we are covering Christ Alone.

It only seemed fair to present the biblical portrait of Christ that the Reformers unearthed for us afresh.

In Christ Alone: shows the comprehensive nature of destruction from sin and necessary salvation to redeem fallen humanity.

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior A Threefold Office for an All-Sufficient Work

Christ’s threefold work demonstrates how sin ruined our knowledge of God (prophet), the righteousness of our desires and deeds (priest), and our submission and obedience to the Lord (king).

The book of Hebrews was written at a time when Christians were deeply persecuted.

It was likely written between 60 and 70 AD.

They were persecuted and were tempted to return to their former ways of Judaism.

The letter as a whole stands as a “word of exhortation” (Hebrews 13:22)

They are being tempted to going back into the Old Covenant.

Don’t fall away!

If you relapse in Judaism, it is apostacy from the Christian faith.

Jesus is the “Better!”

His purpose is to exhort the hearers to cling to Christ.

Jesus, Our Great Prophet

A Better “Word”

Hebrews 1:1 ESV

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

The writer to the Hebrews begins by remember the various ways and times that God has formerly spoken to His people by the prophets.

He remembers the various ways God spoke to the Fathers.

This “refers to the fragmented nature of the former revelation” (Rogers & Rogers).

What did a prophet do in former times?

The prophets have been referred to as “covenant watchdogs”

They are the ones who would come and “bark” when the people would disobey.

This could be through the prophet Ezekiel laying on his side.

Or through the prophet Jonah in the belly of a fish.

Or through the prophet Job who God spoke through his immense suffering.

The way God spoke to Moses was different than the way God spoke to us.

God spoke through a variety of ways in former times.

Various times and seasons in Israel and outside of Israel.

Why is a prophet necessary for our salvation?

We need a prophet because we are limited.

We need a prophet because we are covenant breakers at heart.

The partial nature of the previous revelation is what is being stressed here.

Deuteronomy 18:15–18 ESV

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Moses promised a final prophet will come.

And in some ways this is what Hebrews is showing us.

The former revelation was partial.

The former revelation was incomplete.

But there will come a prophet who will bring the full and final Word from God.

Jesus is different than every other prophet though.

Jesus is the MESSENGER.

Jesus is also the MESSAGE.

God’s Final Word

Hebrews 1:2 ESV

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.

In these last days, are the days which are considered the end of the age.

This term was a rabbinic equivalent to “the time of the Messiah” (R&R)

The age which the Father created through the Son by the Holy Spirit are coming to an end.

The end of this age has found its culminating point and this is on Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

This Son of God is the final revelation from the Father.

God’s Sufficient Word

Hebrews 1:2 ESV

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.

Notice the way this passage is laid out…

And how has He spoken?

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior The Sufficiency of Christ’s Revelation

The Bible does not compete with Christ. It is complementary. In entrusting ourselves to the Saviour, we believe, trust and obey his word to us, given by the Holy Spirit through the mouths of prophets and apostles. Christ himself is the great, chief and final prophet, not only declaring to us the works and ways of God but also embodying in himself the truth of God, since he is the truth, the creator and sustainer of all that is. Thus the word of the Spirit to us, as found in the Old and New Testaments, is Christ’s own word to us.

Application — God’s Final Word

We don’t look for another Word from God.

We don’t have to wait around calling on God to speak to us.

He has spoken and we should not expect to hear another contrary Word from God.

We must reject the notion that our Mormon neighbors discuss about their “prophet” Joseph Smith.

John 5:39–40 ESV

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

John 6:29 ESV

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 6:40 ESV

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Application for the Christian

The prophetic message of the gospel is always offensive.

Don’t expect the world to be “nice” to you as you seek to be faithful

Jesus, Our Great High Priest

A Better Righteousness

What did the OT priests do?

The priests represented the people to God.

The priests entered the holy place on behalf of the people.

They came to God on behalf of the people.

Hebrews 5:1 ESV

For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Priests were selected by God.

Priests represent the people before God.

Priests offered sacrifices to God.

Why is a priest necessary for our salvation?

We have sinned before God.

We need forgiveness through the death of another.

The Lord will provide the mediator for us.

Hebrews 10:3–4 ESV

But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Offering

Purifies us from Sin.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

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 is also said to have made “purification for sins” which refers to purifying work.

It represents the purifying work described throughout the OT.

More than just an outward clean, there is also a spiritual cleanness that can only come through Jesus Christ.

The High Priest was the one who entered the Holy Places every year.

He entered the Holy Places to sprinkle the people and purify the people as a whole.

But Hebrews is saying here that Jesus is this true High Priest that all the former priests pointed to.

Hebrews 7:22–24 ESV

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

That same word that is used throughout Hebrews is used here again as “better covenant.”

Jesus always lives to make intercession for us unlike the priests in the OT who were limited by death.

The yearly sacrifices are a remembrance that sin is a continual problem.

There is NO NEED for a sacrifice any long because Jesus is the “once for all” sacrifice.

Offerer

Intercedes for Sinners.

We said that one important piece of being an OT priest was to be commissioned by God.

Psalm 110:4 ESV

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 7:25–27 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Application - Christ is Our Intercessor

I sometimes ask people who claim to follow Jesus, “What is Jesus doing right now?”

Our answer to this question is pivotal to our understanding of Christ.

We will often reference His salvation in the past, which is GOOD.

But what does that have to do with right now.

“Intercession is the constant hitting “refresh” of our justification in the court of heaven.” — Dane Ortlund

It’s encouraging when we get texts from a friend that we are being prayed for.

But what if I told you right now that Jesus is in fact praying for you.

This is what intercession means.

“Our sinning goes to the uttermost. But his saving goes to the uttermost. And his saving always outpaces and overwhelms our sinning, because he always lives to intercede for us.” — Dane Ortlund

Jesus, Our Great King

A Better Ruler

What the OT king do?

The king was meant to bring God’s rule and reign to the earth.

The king represented God to the people.

In the OT, the king who would sit over Israel is actually referred to as a “son”

Exodus 4:22–23 ESV

Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”

Deuteronomy 17:14–15 (ESV)

“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’

you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you.

This king is supposed to be upright in every way.

Israel desires a king like the rest of the nations though.

They desire a king who is powerful.

But God eventually sets David over the kingdom.

2 Samuel 7:12–14 ESV

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

The kingship throughout the history of the OT then becomes a progression of “sons” who sit on David’s throne and continuously fail.

Even when you have a relatively faithful king on the throne, he is still limited.

All of these sons are limited ultimately because of death.

If you notice the promise that God made to David though, there is an expectation for an eternal reign of the throne of David.

2 Samuel 7:16 ESV

And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

God never answers how the kingdom will be established forever.

But David’s throne will last forever.

It is likely that people used to see this as a lineage of kings who will come forever.

All of this comes into focus with the Lord Jesus.

It becomes clear that this title of “son” in the OT was anticipating One who was coming.

Why is a king necessary for our salvation?

A king is necessary because people’s hearts are naturally rebellious.

A king is necessary because we need someone to defeat our enemies: sin, death, and the devil.

Hebrews 1:2–4 ESV

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. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Notice on this slide the way this text is laid out...

There is a structure here which highlights the Son of God being the radiance of God.

The Son is the radiance of the GLORY of God.

The term “radiance” comes from a word which can mean “outshining” or “brilliance”.

The Son of God radiates the glory of God to the created world.

Lord of the Universe.

The One who has always been from eternity past broke in to the created world and via His resurrection has been exalted to the right hand of God.

Jesus right now is ruling and reigning victoriously as the King of the Universe.

How does all of this happen?

It happens because we have a king who has defeated death.

Christ’s resurrection proves He is indeed the Lord of the Universe.

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Upholds the Universe.

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

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.

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior The Sufficiency of Christ’s Lordship

“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’ ”

Psalm 2:6–8 ESV

“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Psalm 110:1 ESV

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Application for the Church

Don’t fear what the world is doing around us!

Our king is sitting on the throne!

Luke 21:28 ESV

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Rejoice brothers and sisters because our redemption is drawing near!

The Superiority of the Son.

Hebrews 1:4 ESV

having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Now the Hebrews were likely caught up on some idea of angels because they were the ministering spirits that brought the OT revelation.

But the writer to the Hebrews makes explicit that Jesus is better.

Jesus is better than all the prophets.

Jesus is better than all the priests.

Jesus is better than all the kings.

Jesus is better and in HIM we find all of these offices fulfilled.

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Resting in Christ Alone

Our need for truth is found in him as the final prophet and revelation of God. Our need for a righteous standing before God is achieved by him as our priestly representative, substitute, and new covenant head. Our need to have our rebel hearts subdued, our enemies defeated, and the new creation inaugurated and ultimately consummated is accomplished by him alone as our conquering king.

In Christ Alone: shows the comprehensive nature of destruction from sin and necessary salvation to redeem fallen humanity.

Example from the Chronicles of Narnia

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Conclusion

As Lucy is lying between Aslan’s front paws and looking up at him in glowing adoration, we hear this interchange:

“Welcome, child,” he said.

“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”

“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.

“Not because you are?”

“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”