9/18/2024 - Better Than the Prophets
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Hebrews 1:1-3
C. S. Lewis very memorably portrayed the growing Christian’s experience of an ever-enlarging Christ in his Chronicles of Narnia. Lucy, caught up in her spiritual quest, saw the lion Aslan—Christ—shining white and huge in the moonlight. In a burst of emotion Lucy rushed to him, burying her face in the rich silkiness of his mane, whereupon the great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half-sitting and half-lying between his front paws. He bent forward and touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath was all around her. She gazed up into the large, wise face.
“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.”
Kent Hughes says, “Expanding souls encounter an expanding Christ!”
This is why the Epistle of Hebrews is such an exciting book to study.
I believe The Book of Hebrews has so much power within it the power to grow the Christian.
As we grow in our understanding of Christ, He will become larger and larger in our eyes and our faith will grow stronger and stronger.
In the book of Hebrews the word “better” is used thirteen times as the writer shows the superiority of Jesus and His salvation over the Law.
Another word that is repeated is “perfect”; in the Greek it is used fourteen times.
It speaks to having a perfect standing before God.
Which could never be accomplished by the Jewish priesthood, the Law, nor sacrifices of animals.
The third word that is found often, and is important to the message of Hebrews is the word “Eternal.”
Christ is the author of eternal salvation. — Hebrews 5:9
Through His death, He obtained eternal redemption — Hebrews 9.12
He shares with believers the promise of eternal inheritance — Hebrews 9:15.
His throne is forever — Hebrews 1:8.
He is a priest forever — Hebrews 5:6.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever — Hebrews 13:8.
When you combine these three important words, we discover that Jesus Christ and the Christian life that he gave is better because these blessings are eternal and they give us a perfect standing before God.
As we begin to study the book of Hebrews, we see how God has revealed Himself through the Person of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3, speaks of this revelation...
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
God has revealed himself to man, and every time he reveals something it deepens our understanding of Him.
But the truth is you can know all about a person, but until you know the person themselves, you cannot have the relationship, and personally know him.
Studying words on a page, as important as it is, will not get you closer to Jesus, if you do not know him personally as your Savior!
But those of us who know Him, let’s get to know Him better!
And in our study we will discover a new the Supremacy of Christ.
In our society, as is the case with every society of history past, men have looked at prophets, priests, and preachers as great men of God, who are the servants of God, who carry a special message from God.
That message tells them how to become acceptable to God, and how to live and please God.
Throughout the Old Testament, the Early Church age, and into modern society.
They are men whom God chose, and speak through the message that He wants His people to hear.
But as great as prophets, priests and preachers are they fade in insignificance when compared to Jesus Christ.
God’s only begotten Son, is far superior than any other.
Here in the first three verses we see how Jesus is far superior to the Prophets of old, who God used to reveal His Word.
I. The Supreme Revelation
I. The Supreme Revelation
(v. 1).
As great as the prophets of old were in revealing God to us, Jesus Christ is the supreme spokesman of God.
God has spoken to man throughout the ages.
He has not held His people at a distance, but has spoken to us.
We have God’s Word, and by such we are givent he keys to eternal life and victory over sin.
Where is God’s Word found?
God’s Word Is Given to Us....
A. By the Prophets
A. By the Prophets
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
at sundry times - in many parts (polymeros) - in many separate revelations at many different times.
in divers manners - in many ways (polytropus
Why? Because no man could receive and understand and explain the whole revelation of God.
He is too big for any one man to understand and grasp.
So, God made many revelations to many different people.
And he spoke in many different ways to men.
Matthew Henry said, “There had to be a gradual opening of man’s mind concerning the Messiah, the Savior of the World.”
God spoke to Adam and told him that the Savior would come from the seed of the woman (Ge. 3:15).
God spoke to Abraham and told him that the Savior would come from his seed (Ge. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18).
God spoke to Jacob and told him that the Savior would come through the tribe of Judah (Ge. 49:10).
God spoke to David and told him that the Savior would be born of his house (2 S. 7:13).
God spoke to Micah and told him that the Savior would be born at Bethlehem (Mi. 5:2).
God spoke to Isaiah and told him that the Savior would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14).
But look also at the different ways that God spoke to the prophets...
He spoke to Moses in a great thundering voice in the midst of a storm (Ex. 19:19; De. 5:22).
He spoke to Elijah by a still small voice (1 K. 19:12).
He spoke to Isaiah in a vision (Is. 1:1).
He spoke to Samuel in a dream (1 S. 3:5).
We could go on and on, but God spoke to His prophets in many different ways to reveal Himself.
We have this in our hands, the Bible.
But no revelation is as clear and as perfect as the revelation given to us...
B. In Jesus Christ
B. In Jesus Christ
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
There is no greater messenger that God could send to us than God Himself in the Flesh, in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
God has sent His Son to proclaim His Word to men.
Before we knew Christ, we could not fully know God, His plan, His love and His grace.
He is the Word of God - come to show us how to know Father, and His will for us.
Jesus is superior to the Prophets of the Old Testament because He is the Supreme Revelation of God....
II. Heir of All Things
II. Heir of All Things
(v. 2)
Jesus is meant to receive and be the lawful owner of all things.
He has inherited all that God is and has.
He No man is worthy enough to be the heir of God, only Christ.
What is it that Jesus is to inherit?
— All Power
He is to inherit all power in heaven and earth.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
— Authority to Judge
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
— Lordship over Living and Dead
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
— Eternal Government
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
— All Power and riches, wisdom and strength, glory and blessing
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
— All the Angels and Spiritual Authority
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
— A name above every name
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
He is Heir of all things, thereby superior to the Prophets.
III. Creator of the Universe
III. Creator of the Universe
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (plural)
Jesus is the creator of not just the worlds as in the planet on which we live…but the word worlds can also be translated age, or eon.
He is the Creator of all time itself.
Colossians says...
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
If we discover one day that there are other planets with living things in outer space, Christ would have created them too.
If there are invisible worlds or beings - which there certainly are when speaking of the Spiritual world — but Christ created them as well.
There is nothing in existence that God did not create!
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Jes is far superior to any prophet - he is not just a good man, or a great teacher, or another prophet.
He is superior because He is the Supreme Revelation, He is the Heir of All things, He is the Creator of the Universe and He is ...
IV. Very Glory of God Himself
IV. Very Glory of God Himself
3a Who being the brightness of his glory...
Jesus is the very glory of God Himself.
That word being there is the Greek word on It means absolute and timeless existence.
So Jesus possessed the glory of God before He ever came into the world.
He has always existed int he glory of God, He is eternal.
So what does this mean being the brightness of His Glory?
The English word translated brightness, speaks to the brilliance, radiance, splendor and light of God’s being.
The word glory meaning dignity and honor.
So together He is the very radiant splendor and dignity and honor of God Himself.
He is not just a part of God, He is not just a little bit God - But in His being is 100% God and is the brightness and glory of the Father.
Just as the glory of the sun’s light reaches down to earth and touches the lives of men, so Jesus Christ, who is the glory of God reaches down and touches the lives of men.
V. The Exact Representation of God
V. The Exact Representation of God
3b ... and the express image of his person...
He is the express image of God -
The word express - charakter - the word originally denoted an engraver or engraving tool. Later it meant the impression itself, usually something engraven, cut in, or stamped, a character, letter, mark, sign. This impression with its particular features was considered as the exact representation of the object whose image it bore.
Jesus is the perfect imprint and very image of God’s nature.
The Word “image” means substance.
Jesus is the very substance, the very Being, Person and embodiment of God.
30 I and my Father are one.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Jesus is better than the prophets - they can’t even come close to Him — because He is the Supreme Revelation and Heir of All power and all things.
Jesus is better because He is the very Creator of the Universe, and the very glory of God Himself.
In fact He is the perfect image of God himself.
He is also...
VI. The Sustainer of the Universe
VI. The Sustainer of the Universe
3c ...and upholding all things by the word of his power...
No man holds the universe together, but Christ does!
Christ did not create the world and let it go on a course to destroy itself.
God is in control!
God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is controlling the world and moving it forward to the climatic moment of renewal and recreation - the great day of redemption.
How is He doing this?
How is He holding it all together — by the power of His Word.
He speaks and the laws that hold the world together are set in motion and continue in motion.
It is His love and power - His Word — that keeps the universe from falling apart and killing us all.
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
It is His Word that keeps evil from destroying all things.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
the word letteth there means to have hold of, to hold fast, to hold down, to quash or suppress.
He holds back the evil from destroying everything in this world until the time comes when the Holy Spirit will be taken out of this world.
The World and everything in it would fall apart, if Christ were not holding it all together.
3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
So Jesus is better because He is the Sustainer of the Universe.
VII. The Redeemer of Mankind
VII. The Redeemer of Mankind
3d ... when he had by himself purged our sins...
Jesus is better because only He could Redeem Mankind.
This is why Jesus is more than just a prophet - He is the only one who can redeem.
Christ and Christ alone could have sacrificed Himself for our sins.
Only He was virgin born, so that sin nature did not pass to him.
Only He was able to be the spotless Lamb of God.
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
No man can do this, but Christ —that is the whole point of these verses — He is better because there is no one like Him!
When someone believes and puts their faith in Christ and his death and resurrection…the man is righteous in Christ…He has died to sin in Christ.
That person is purified and his sins are washed away.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Jesus is better because He is the Supreme Revelation of God in the flesh.
He is better because He is Heir of All things!
HE is better because He is the very creator of the Universe.
He is Better because He is the very Glory of God Himself.
He is Better because He is the Exact Representation of God.
He is better because His is the Sustainer of the Universe
He is better because He is the only One who can be the Redeemer of Mankind
He is better because He is...
VIII. The Exalted Lord
VIII. The Exalted Lord
3e ... sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, sitting there as the great Mediator and Intercessor for man.
No man, but Christ, can sit there at the right hand of God…including Mary - No other person could ever be acceptable by God as Mediator and Intercessor.
All men, including the prophets that gave us the written Word of God, All men are sinners and are in need of a mediator and intercessor!
Only Jesus can sit there.
First, we need to note that Jesus is exalted to His position by God the Father Himself.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
He is the Person who is to be supremely respected, honored, worshiped, and served by all beings both in earth and heaven.
God the Father has given Him that Place.
Secondly we need to note that Jesus is there for a purpose.
He is the Mediator and Intercessor that God has established so that he can represent man before God.
He is not sitting in a position of Judge at this point.
He will judge all men…but right now He is our defender … Our attorney … our representative before God.
One day all men will be judged by the Supreme Judge of all men.
We will not face that type of judgement, but will give an account as a Steward gives an account of his work to His boss.
But because of the price that Jesus paid, we will never be judged like those whose debt has not been paid.
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Christ is Better — this is the Theme of Hebrews.
The author, though unknown by everyone but God and the author himself…wants us to see the Supremacy of Christ over everything else.
He starts by saying - Yes we have the revelation of God in our hands — who spoke in different times and in different ways to many different prophets and fathers.
But We have a better revelation - The Supreme Revelation — Because He is God Himself!
He is Heir of all things - and because of His sacrifice, we are joint-heirs with Christ.
We will not inherit everything that Jesus inherits, but we will still be joint-heirs with Him.
Jesus is better and worthy of all worship because He is the Creator and sustainer of everything in the Universe.
Jesus is better and worthy of all praise because He is the Very Glory of God and the Express Image of God Himself.
He is worthy because He is our Redeemer and Exalted Lord!
He has earned His place at the Top!
He has earned the right to preeminent in our lives!
He has earned the right to be our top-priority.
Is He the top priority in your life?