6.1.36 8.4.2024 Who is the Son? Hebrews 1
Certain of our Great Salvation: Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 20 viewsNotes
Transcript
Series Preface
Series Preface
Hebrews may be the most neglected and consequently, least understood book in the NT. Most of us know some of the highlights of the book, Hebrews 11 with its “hall of fame of faith.” for example, but we have little grasp of the whole of this masterful word of exhortation for the Church. The Hebrew author knew his audience well and what He said surely met their needs.
More importantly the living voice of Hebrews continues as one of the most eloquent and complete statements of Christian doctrine and encouragement available to us. Hebrews reminds us to interpret all scripture in the light of Jesus, and repeatedly encourages us not to lose hope. In writing to meet the needs of his community the Hebrew author has met the needs of Christ’s Church throughout its history.
Hebrews maybe one of the oldest NT books, perhaps written around the year 55 A.D. There are hints that the author is attached to the Roman Church, but not present there. With others he has left town, but not the fledgling Church. He writes back, not so much a letter as an encouraging sermon reminding them not to lose hope.
I look forward to bringing his word of encouragement, our book of Hebrews, alive in our Church.
Start:
Entice:
Hebrews begins at the end.
Hebrews begins at the end.
Describing history since the Cross as
Hebrews 1:2b (ESV)
but in these last days…
The end of all that God has said throughout history, in the various ways He has communicated.
Jesus is the last word.
Jesus is the last word.
On everything.
On everything.
He is the final word.
He is the final word.
The Church resonates with that final word and continues to echo it in the fallen creation—But His word is final.
Engage: A part of the issue then and now is remaining faithful and focused in a distracted age which either tries to seduce us with its charms or attack us for our faith. Sometimes it seems better to just believe in our hearts, keep our faith private, and Just hang back.
Jesus is the last word.
And He gets the last word.
Which is why we are
encouraged,
taught,
exhorted,
and led
toward a lifelong faith journey.
We also have to contend with
immature,
unfocused,
and misled
Christians who in their ignorance and immaturity make the Christian faith about everything but Jesus. The Hebrew author wrote to keep that from happening.
Expand: The title of this sermon is a question.
Who is the Son?
Who is the Son?
In short Hebrews reminds us repeatedly that Jesus is the central actor in God’s plan to redeem us.
Just Jesus.
Not Jesus and Angels.
Not Jesus and Moses.
Not Jesus and a physical temple.
Not Jesus and a human priesthood.
Not Jesus and the heroes of faith.
Not Jesus and the State.
Not Jesus and anything else under heaven or on earth.
Just Jesus.
The author begins his comparisons here in Chapter one going into some detail about angels, details likely understood by his readers Why? Perhaps he’s saying “if you think angels are hot stuff…you ain’t seen nothing yet. Listen to his comparison of Jesus to angels, then we will go back to listen to what he says about Jesus.
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
His point is that as majestic and useful as these heavenly creatures may be;
Jesus’ power,
and name,
and ministry,
and status defy comparison with them.
They serve…He Reigns
They serve…He Reigns
Throughout the book, the Hebrew author will continue using comparisons to remind us that we rely on Jesus.
Just Jesus.
Just Jesus.
Not Jesus and ___________.
Not Jesus and ___________.
Excite: So, the central question is,
“Who is Jesus?”
“Who is Jesus?”
He’s the solution.
He’s the solution.
The solution to what?
The solution to what?
Everything!
Everything!
Explore:
Jesus is the Final Word.
Jesus is the Final Word.
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.
3 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,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Expand:
Body of Sermon: In Jesus, God’s Message has
1 Continuity.
1 Continuity.
1.1 Past.
1.1 Past.
1.2 Present.
1.2 Present.
In Jesus, God’s Message has
2 Completion.
2 Completion.
2.1 Consummation.
2.1 Consummation.
2.2 Creation.
2.2 Creation.
2.3 Coronation
2.3 Coronation
In Jesus, God’s message has
3 Coherence.
3 Coherence.
3.1 God present with us.
3.1 God present with us.
3.2 God purifying us.
3.2 God purifying us.
Shut Down
No angel has His name.
No angel has His nature.
No angel has His power.
No angel has His station.
No angel has His authority.
No angel hung on His cross.
No angel rose victorious from the grave.
No angel called out to His fallen creatures
“IT IS FINISHED!”
Jesus is
The finale.
The finale.
The coda.
The coda.
The end.
The end.
The last Word
The last Word
In Jesus it all makes sense.
He brings continuity and clarity to the work of God found in the OT Scriptures He is the only complete solution to what we really need—purification or sins. He brings coherence because in Jesus God becomes physically present, intercedes, and
returns to His rightful glory.
Who is this Jesus?
Who is the Son? Our brother, our friend, our savior, our sovereign. Yes, God has spoken the final word in the voce of Jesus. Do you have ears to hear Him?
