Hebrews 1:1-4 † God Has Spoken

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

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.

SERMON IN A SENTENCE

The author of Hebrews begins his sermon with a powerful and important statement: God has spoken to his people through his son. The implications follow in the rest of the argument. If God has spoken a clear word through Christ, we should pay close attention and obey!

INTRODUCTION

What’s in an introduction?

“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away…”

This morning, we’re going to begin to walk through the book of Hebrews. It is one of the most carefully crafted and poetic books in the New Testament.

Unlike many NT letters, it doesn’t begin like a letter. Instead, the author immediately introduces us to the weight of his argument.

CONSIDER THE STORY

Hebrews 1:1 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

Before introducing us to his deep theology, the author invites us into the story of God’s revelation.

The audience seems to be compiled of mostly Jewish believers who are feeling the weight of the temptation to abandon the way of Jesus for the easier path of the “old way.”

Verses 1-2 make a huge statement of both continuity and discontinuity (1). The same God who spoke in the Old Testament has now spoken to US but in a new and more clear way: by the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

It is not just that God spoke: but God is speaking! He is by his nature continuously articulate. He fills the world with his speaking voice.

A. W. Tozer

CONSIDER THE SON

Hebrews 1:2–4 ESV

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.

The author begins in verse two what is one of the biggest themes of the letter: if you want to obey and endure in Christianity, you have to keep your eyes fixed on Christ.

Who is the Son?

The Son is God

The author uses a mixture of Old Testament allusions and early church theology to emphasize that Jesus is not another prophet like those of the Old Testa ment, he is the Divine Messiah who is fully God and fully man.

Something NEW has come in the way God relates to his people.

Psalm 2:7–8 ESV

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

These verses make clear: Jesus is the agent of creation, one with the Father, and the one who sustains and manages the universe.

The Son is Savior

Not only is Jesus God in the flesh, the author also reminds us of Jesus’ work as the Savior of his people.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

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,

The author continues to emphasize the importance of this new movement in God’s story by reminding us that Jesus’ work in the gospel is the means by which we have access to hearing from God.

The Son is Superior

The Son is God, he is the Savior, and in verse four, we see that the Son is superior.

(We’ll get more into depth next week on why the author compares Jesus with angels—it seems strange to us, but makes sense in its context.)

Hebrews 1:4 ESV

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

This term “superior” or “better” helps the flow of the whole letter: the author will say that Jesus is: “a better hope,” “initiator of a better covenant,” “a better sacrifice,” “entrance to a better rest,” “our better resurrection,” and “his blood is better blood.” (2)

CONSIDER THE SIMILARITIES

Not many of us are Jewish Christians being tempted to leave Christianity for our old religion, but we can all still learn from the book of Hebrews. I want to make two connections for us this morning as we consider how to hear and respond to these four verses.

The Dangerous Faith We Have

External dangers to our faith:

Biblical faith will put you at odds with religious “traditionalism.”

Biblical faith will put you at odds with worldly “modernism.”

Internal dangers to our faith:

How do we endure in the “in-between” nature of our faith?

How do we face trials, pains, and gaps between who we want to be and who we are?

The Anchor of Our Souls

The answer of Hebrews is simple in many ways (the Sunday school answer): JESUS is the author and finisher of our faith, and the anchor for our souls!

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 6:19 ESV

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

The answer of Hebrews is deep in many ways:

Does my knowledge of Jesus match my knowledge of the dangers mentioned above?

In what area of my faith is my Christianity “Christ-less?”

Christianity without Christ is a chest without a treasure, a frame without a portrait, a corpse without breath.

John R.W. Stott

COMMUNION

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

NOTES

(1) George Guthrie, Hebrews, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 56.

(2) Thomas R. Schreiner, Hebrews, ed. T. Desmond Alexander, Thomas R. Schreiner, and Andreas J. Köstenberger, Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021), 59.