Hebrews 1:1-4

3 Questions?

Does God speak?

What does God say?

Is Jesus God’s final word?

Hebrews has an overriding theme in its 13 chapters: Jesus is God’s very best. The word “better” or “superior” occurs 19 times in the New Testament, 13 of those are in Hebrews.

In Hebrews Jesus:

is better than the angels (1:4)

provides a better hope (7:19)

provides a better covenant (7:22, 8:6)

provides better promises (8:6)

provides a better sacrifice (9:23)

provides a better possession (10:34)

provides a better country (11:16)

provides a better resurrection (11:35)

provides a better blood testimony (12:24)

Through Jesus, God 1) speaks, 2) speaks clearly, and 3) He speaks with finality

God has spoken decisively through His Son (1:1-2)

What he gave the fathers and prophets was inerrant but incomplete. It was a promise, not fulfillment.

God’s revelation through his Son is true and perfect

God has shown Himself decisively in Jesus (1:2-3)

We talked last week about how Jesus is the image of the invisible God. When you look at Jesus, you see God. So when you look closely, what do you see?

He is the divine inheritor (1:2). Christ has supreme place in all creation. The Father delights to honor the Son. All things belong to Him.

He is the divine creator (1:2). All three members of the Godhead are active in creation. The Father is the author, the Son is the administrator, and the Holy Spirit is the agent. Here, attention is on the Son. Everything in Scripture is about Jesus.

2. He is the divine creator (1:2). All three members of the Godhead are active in creation. The Father is the author, the Son is the administrator, and the Holy Spirit is the agent. Here, attention is on the Son. Everything in Scripture is about Jesus.

He is the divine revealer (1:3). In Jesus, the Son, we see the true and authentic glory of God. As the light is to the sun, the eternal Son is to the Father.

He is the divine character (1:3). When you see Jesus, you see who God really is. This is not true of any other person in history. Jesus Christ, God’s Son alone reveals to us exactly what the Father is like.

He is the divine sustainer (1:3). Through His powerful, enabling, active word he spoke the worlds into existence, and by that same word he sustains the worlds until their proper end.

He is the divine redeemer (1:3). Jesus did what no forefather or prophet could ever do. He did what no apostle or angel could ever do. He did what only he could do: he took care of our sin. Purification means to cleanse, purge, or purify. Jesus cleansed us of sins.

He is the divine savior (1:3). Unlike any high priest under the old covenant, Jesus’ atonement work is finished. Jesus rests in the position of greatest honor because his work of atonement is over.

God is rightly honored in the Worship of Jesus (1:4).

God is rightly honored in the Worship of Jesus (1:4).

The bible makes it clear that there is only one way to the Father: through Jesus. The Son is to be exclusively worshipped, honored, and lifted up. Why?

Jesus is the Creator (1:4, 13-14). Angels are mentioned 105 times in the OT and 165 times in the NT. They are ministering spirits for the saved (1:14). They are good; they are NOT, however, the best. They are servants. Jesus is sovereign (1:7). They are creatures. Jesus is the Creator. They are workers. Jesus is worshipped (1:6).

Jesus is the exalted Son (1:4 ff). Angels are called servants. Jesus is called Son. Angels continue to serve for God. Jesus is now seated by God. In all respects, Jesus is better: better in his person (he is God), better in his work (he dealt with sin once and for all), and better in his position (he’s at God’s right hand). God has many servants, but only one Son. His name is Jesus.