A Greater Messenger (Part 1)

Introduction

Every book of the Bible is inspired and breathed out by the Holy Spirit through human authors. Every book of the Bible plays a part in telling the story of God so, therefore, no book of the Bible is “more important” than another.

That being said, Hebrews is special. It’s unique. Hebrews, really like no other NT letter, interprets the Old Testament through the fulfillment of Jesus in a beautiful and powerful way.

I have “almost” preached through this letter 3 or 4 times in the nine years that I’ve been the pastor here but for one reason or another I just haven’t done it.

This is the year, though! That’s my one new years resolution…PREACH THROUGH HEBREWS!

And, for us, individually, as families, and as a church, to get the most out of this letter, we have designed a quiet time/devotion guide that will help us in reading and unpacking Hebrews, memorizing scripture from Hebrews, and praying together.

Families—use this as a family devotion! Talk about it together!

A. Hebrews background

And, so, we come to this great New Testament letter addressed to “the Hebrews.” It’s not a specific local church but it’s written to believers—predominantly Jewish converts to Christianity—living in the Roman Empire.

And, nowhere in the letter are we told who the author is. Some speculate that it’s Paul but most biblical scholars don’t think it was. There are different literary and doctrinal features that aren’t characteristic of Paul.

One early Church theologian, Origen, said, “But who wrote the epistle, in truth God knows,” and that’s where we’re going to land, too.

B. Outline/Structure of Hebrews

Hebrews is a theological masterpiece. Hebrews is looking back at the OT and seeing that everything points to Jesus.

My 15 year old nephew got a set of night vision binoculars for Christmas. I know some of you probably have some or at least have played around with some before. Anyway, they’re so cool. We went outside and, in the dark, you’re looking around all you can see in the distance are shadowy figures and outlines. But, then, you put those binoculars up to your face and you can see clearly what those dark figures are. And, that’s what the author of Hebrews does for us—he takes the “shadowy figures” of the OT and, through the lens of Jesus, we see everything fully.

And, so, as the author of Hebrews is writing to show us that Jesus is greater/superior to all that God had previously done, he issues 5 “warnings.” Five warnings against neglecting what God has said and done.

2:3–4; 3:12–4:11; 6:4–8; 10:26–32; 12:25–29)

These “warnings” are written…

C. Point of the book//point of the sermon series

…PRIMARILY to Jewish Christians who might compromise their faith because they are tempted to shrink back in fear… Rome was “easier” on Jews because it was an officially recognized religion.

Jesus is greater. He is greater than angels. He is greater than the OT prophets. He is greater than the priests. He is greater than the sacrifices. He is greater than the OLD system.

And, because Jesus is greater, don’t let go of him. Hold on to Jesus (???)

MAIN POINT OF THE SERIES: The letter to the Hebrews was written to warn believers not to let go of Jesus and return to their old way of life.

MAIN POINT OF THE SERMON: The author warns the reader by reminding us that Jesus is greater than and infinitely superior to anything we could find anywhere else.

Hebrews 1:1–3 (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,

1) God has spoken.

The author of Hebrews chooses to begin his letter by making this powerful truth claim.

Hebrews, as we will see, is a masterpiece of theology and of literature. Think about how the Bible begins… “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is how the story begins.

God speaks. This is how we are introduced to him in the Bible…the God who speaks creation into existence. The God who speaks to give identity to mankind (“let us make man…”).

The God who speaks blessing over the man and woman…

Why this is so earth-shattering…brain blowing! He is a personal God.

GRACE—He created us to know Him and be in relationship with Him. God did not have to speak to humanity. He could have just created the world — embedded his truth and justice, as it were, in the world through the principles and laws of nature. He might have chosen to reveal himself only through creation, rather than human words. He could have just left us to our own devices and imaginations about what kind of deity might be above us making all the rules.

God did not have to speak to humanity—especially after Genesis 3. He could have given up on us. He could have just condemned us to hell. But He didn’t.

God has chosen to initiate a relationship with us by speaking.

2) How has God spoken?

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers…”

A) Through the prophets

Creation

Psalm 19:1–4 (ESV)

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

His power

Miracles, Red Sea, etc.

His purposes

Covenants, Temple, etc.

His people

But, these “revelations” of God were partial—they were all pieces pointing to the greater fulfillment that was coming.

Onion layers—Creation (outer) // OT (next layer) // Jesus (center)

B) Through the Son

“But in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son…”

The old vs. the new. The “old” served its purpose. The old pointed to what was coming. The old gives way to the new and greater.

Jesus is the full and final revelation of God.

Who is “the Son?”

A title.

The author tells us of Son’s superior nature—He is God (radiance of the glory of God and exact imprint of his nature). He shares in the same essence/nature as God—God of God, light of light (Nicene Creed). Everything that it means to be God is true of the Son of God.

Because of His superior nature, the Son has a superior authority. He is the “heir” and “ruler” over all things (seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high).

What kind of superior authority does he have? As Creator, over Creation…As Lord—over sin and death. Nothing is outside of his rule and authority. The seen and the unseen.

How is God revealing himself through the Son?

Different than the Prophets who would say “thus says the Lord.” The prophets weren’t sinless. The prophets weren’t continuously speaking on God’s behalf—only when God would give them a word.

At all times, Jesus is “God speaking.” In everything he does, he is “God speaking.”

Matthew 11:27 ESV

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

3) Why has God spoken (through the Son)?

God’s communication of Himself through the Son of God does two things—Reveals and Rescues.

A) To REVEAL

Intentional disclosure—the reason we know anything about God, at all, is because He has chosen to reveal/disclose.

WHAT YOU MAY/MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME.

His perfect being and life and character.

“radiance of the glory of God” // “exact imprint of his nature”

Do you want to know what God is like? Look at the Son of God.

B) To RESCUE

God reveals himself in order to initiate and invite.

The very fact that God has spoken and chosen to reveal Himself is, in every way, an act of grace. He didn’t have to do it. It is also an act of His love. God created mankind to know and be in communion with Him. Think about that. God created MANKIND in his image with the purpose of including us in the relationship of the Trinity—the eternal life and love of God.

Athanasius of Alexandria was a theologian and leader in the Christian Church in the 4th century. He’s someone I would encourage you to get familiar with. He wrote a theological work called “On the Incarnation.” That word, “incarnation,” refers to when God the Son took on human flesh in the person of Jesus. When he came and dwelt among us. It’s what we just celebrated in Christmas.

Athanasius wrote “On the Incarnation” as an interpretation of Scripture on why the Word became flesh. As Athanasius saw it, Adam and Eve’s sin in Genesis 3 creates, what he called, a “divine dilemma.”

What does he mean? Well, Athanasius argued that, on the one hand, God created mankind to know him. On the other hand, God promised to punish them if they sinned. And, what was their sin? What was their temptation? To become like God. Their identity was in their image. They were already like God but they desired to make themselves deities by gaining wisdom, or knowledge, outside of God’s revelation. Satan deceived them into believing that God was holding out on them. And, so, in their sin, they turned their eyes away from the Creator and toward the creation. And this is exactly what we do. Sin is when we turn our eyes downward toward the idolatry of creation rather than upward toward the Creator.

And, as a result, Athanasius said there is a “divine dilemma.” In light of mankind’s sin and God’s promise of the consequence of sin, what should God do? God is not a liar and so there would be consequences for their sin. Did God have to redeem Adam and Eve? Certainly not—he owes nothing to anyone. He would be perfectly just in allowing them—and their descendants—US—to suffer eternally the consequence of sin. But, He also created humanity so that they would know him.

So, then, it is entirely consistent with his character to redeem their knowledge and turn their eyes back toward him. Satan and sin would not have the last word. God himself would stand in front of humanity to lift their eyes off of created things and back to beholding their Creator, restoring his image bearers to relationship with Him through the incarnation of the son, the TRUE IMAGE AND REVELATION OF GOD.

The Son of God—Jesus—revealed the righteousness of God—so that, as Paul says, God is both just (in punishing sin) and justifier (pardoning the sinner).

God has spoken. He initiates a relationship with sinners and invites us to know Him and live in communion with Him through Jesus.

D. CONCLUSION

This has relevance TODAY! How?

Have you received the eternal life offered by the Son of God? Have you repented, turned from your sin, and turned toward Jesus in faith? Have you been raised from the dead? Have you surrendered your all to Him? Have you been born again?

God has spoken “to us” (verse 2)—not “to the apostles” or even first generation Christians. “IN THESE LAST DAYS…TO US.” We are citizens of the “last days.” To you. To me. To all who will hear and listen and respond. God is inviting you into communion // relationship with Him. Are you walking in fellowship with God?

Again, this letter was written as an exhortation and a warning. Don’t forsake Jesus. Don’t compromise in your love for Jesus. Don’t shrink back in fear or trade in your relationship with Jesus for the world. Jesus is greater. Jesus is lovelier. Why would we serve/give our hearts to the created when the Creator is inviting us to know him? Why would we fear and worry and despair over life when the Creator is upholding the universe by the word of his power? Why would we sink back into sin when we have been purified by the blood of the Son of God? Why would we not serve the One who is seated on the throne? If these things are true about the Son of God (Lord, ruler, creator/sustainer)…can’t you trust him?

**Fairest Lord Jesus**

Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son, Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.

Love Jesus. This year…you can make resolutions—what about revival?

The temptation to let your love for Jesus cool.

Pray…2025 (you, your spouse, your kids)