The Greatness of the Son
Notes
Transcript
Introduction to Hebrews
Introduction to Hebrews
The excitement of receiving a letter
PH
Girl you liked
Burrito
The book of Hebrews is a letter about a message the God has shared with the world
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Old and New
Old and New
In the past/in these last days
To our ancestors/to us
Through the prophets/through the sons
Many times and various ways/[Implied]Uniquely and particularly
Jesus is Superior to the Old Testament Way
Jesus is Superior to the Old Testament Way
Biblical theology
This is not a destruction of the Old Testament, it was wonderful and gracious and necessary
It is something better.
What difference will it make?
What difference will it make?
We don’t know who wrote this book, the list of potentials is long.
We don’t know the specific situation of this book.
What we do know is that the author looked at a church that was tempted to abandon Jesus, struggling with maturity, and facing mild persecution. This letter applies to us just as it applied to them.
Having claimed that God has revealed himself in greater ways through the Son than through the prophets the author now explains just how great the Son is.
The Son is Heir of all Things
The Son is Heir of all Things
Hebrews 1:2 whom he appointed heir of all things,
8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
Emphasizing the greatness of the son
All things are his possession
He is the fulfillment of the idea of Old Testament king
His rule expands over all things
As heir of all things
All things belong to him
Therefore we worship him
All things are cared for by him
Drive it like you stole it
We trust him
Already and not yet
The Son is Creator of all things
The Son is Creator of all things
Hebrews 1:2 and through whom also he made the universe.”
The beginning of Hebrews takes us back to the beginning of Scripture
God’s role as creator places him in a unique role in relation to creation. It is his. He made it. He controls it.
The son shares that role.
The Son is Self-Revelation of God
The Son is Self-Revelation of God
Hebrews 1:3 “3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being
Two ways of saying the same thing
As the light goes forth from the sun so the Son goes forth from the father
He makes the Father visible like a printing on a page makes a stamp visible
The son goes forth from God (begotten), but also is God (representation)
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
The Son is Sustainer of All Things
The Son is Sustainer of All Things
Hebrews 1:3 “sustaining all things by his powerful word.
The son is active in his creation.
The idea hear is sustaining with direction – he moves his creation towards his desired end
He creates with a word, but does not then leave his creation behind
The same one who said “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place” also said “Peace, be still”
The Son is Purifier
The Son is Purifier
The son has made purification for our sins,
So much of the Old Testament – particularly the sacrificial system revealed in the Law – is focused on dealing with our sin
Jesus is the one who ultimately deals with our sin
When he is done, he sits at the right hand of God
His purifying work is completed so he sits down
The Son is God Himself
No one else could be described in such lofty terms
This Word from God is worth listening to
Conclusion: God Has Spoken to Us through His Son. Listen Up!
Conclusion: God Has Spoken to Us through His Son. Listen Up!
Hearing From God
Hearing From God
You may desire to hear from God. You may be jealous of Abraham who directly spoke with the Angel of the Lord. Hebrews will tell you that you have in Jesus Christ the pinnacle of hearing from God.
Will you listen?
Our first text will introduce the superiority of the Son by telling us about who he is and what he does