The Superior Revelation - Part 1
Notes
Transcript
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
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.
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.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
God Spoke
God Spoke
We have a God who wants to communicate with us. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to know Him, our God, our Creator, our Lord.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
General Revelation
General Revelation
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Special Revelation
Special Revelation
He gives us a mind to figure things out, but He doesn’t leave us on our own.
He knows our propensity to misinterpret, to misunderstand. So, He speaks. He reveals truth. He guides us into truth.
“Your Word is truth...” John 17.17.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
In the Prophets
In the Prophets
God’s revelation came through people that God specifically chose, through whom He revealed Himself and His purposes to people.
In Many Portions
In Many Portions
God did not reveal everything at once, but a part at a time.
Just as we need to learn Mathematics one part at a time, so that we may understand the more complex subjects, so too, God revealed truth a piece at a time until we received the fuller, more complete revelation.
In Many Ways
In Many Ways
Speaking - Adam, Eve, Cain, Noah, Abraham
Dreams - Israel, Joseph, Gideon
Visions - Ezekiel, Daniel
Donkey - Balaam
Angels
Fire
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.
In these Last Days
In these Last Days
Messianic period
Numbers 24.14 - Balaam,
Numbers 24:14 “Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.””
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.
In Son
In Son
Contrast between Prophets and Sons
Parable
He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.
At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.
He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
“But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
In Son
In Son
parallel constructions - In the prophets, In Son
emphasis on the role, who they are
Prophets were servants
Son is the heir in the parable, which we will see also here in Hebrews.
To see the Son is to see the Father.
Son is more personal than sending a servant.
Son is important than a servant.
Son should be respected more than a servant.
And so the author of Hebrews, through the Spirit, leads us in thinking through who this Son is that we should respect him. Seven descriptions of the Son.
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.
Heir of all things
Heir of all things
Everything is given to Him to administer
Jacob, the heir
Joseph, the heir, the coat with many colors
Solomon, the heir
Jesus the heir - it is his, He has full authority
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.
Maker of the Ages
Maker of the Ages
Just like John, goes back to Creation. We cannot understand salvation if we do not understand Creation. It is all tied together.
And like the Spirit revealed through John, we see here that Jesus, the Son, is the Creator.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Maker of the Ages
Maker of the Ages
As Maker, He is in charge. As Maker, it belongs to Him.
As Maker, He is more knowledgable than anyone else. He knows the intent, the purpose, the way it is designed to be. He knows how to fix it.
The ages…
Jesus spoke of this age, and the age to come
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Spirit through the New Testament authors continues this view of the present and the coming age.
Jesus didn’t just create the world, the universe. He created time, and the ages for their purposes. He knows the purposes for which they were designed.
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Radiance of God’s Glory
Radiance of God’s Glory
Darkness and Light -
We cannot see without the Light.
We cannot see the Father without the Son.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
To see the glory of Christ is to see the glory of the Father. They have one in the same glory.
This is placing Christ on the same plane as the Father. They have the same glory.
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Exact Representation of His being
Exact Representation of His being
Everything that the Father is, the Son is.
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Upholding/Bearing All Things
Upholding/Bearing All Things
I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.
A carrying a burden. Not easy. It takes a lot of work and effort
Upholding/Bearing All Things
Upholding/Bearing All Things
But more than just shouldering a burden, this has the sense of carrying it to where it needs to go. Taking it to the rightful end.
Jesus does this by the word of his power!
Think of what Jesus did by speaking...
We need to know that He is the sustainer, the One who keeps everything going. He didn’t just make it and let it go. He is still actively keeping it going.
In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
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.
Maker of Purification of Sin
Maker of Purification of Sin
Much more will be said about this in Hebrews.
We move from Creator to Sustainer to Savior.
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.
Seated at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High
Seated at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High
Seated. His work of purification is done.
He is in authority.
He is exalted.
He is interceder.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Next week...
What about me?
What about me?
Where do I find truth? Do I look to my own wisdom? The wisdom of the world? The Revealed truth of Scripture? The revealed truth of Jesus? Do I see Jesus as the climax of revelation that He is?
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Do I recognize the Son and properly respect Him?
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Heir - the one to whom I belong. The one who is in charge.
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Maker - the one who knows the purposes. When I go for a different purpose, I will be frustrated.
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Radiance - the glory of God. Do I see His Holiness and greatness, or do I make Him too much in my image?
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Representation of God’s being - Do I take the time to really know Jesus that I might know the Father?
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Sustainer - He is carrying everything on to its created purpose and end. Do I trust Him, or do I think I need to carry it to the proper end? Do I see my daily need for Him?
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Purifier - Do I look to Him to know what is pure, and what is not? Do I turn to Him for purification, or rely on my own rituals and efforts to be pure?
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Seated Majesty - Do I view Him as I should, the exalted God? Do I question His Majesty’s ways, and decrees? Who am I to question Him?
