The End Of Fragments

Introduction

Good Morning! When you’re eating a bag of chips, what’s your favorite part? When you open a fresh bag the cream of the crop, or the choice chips are at the top. Then as you work your way down the bag you start to get into more pieces, till you finally reach the bottom of the bag where you find the crumbs. I don’t know about you but the bottom is so good. I guess they wouldn’t be so great if you had a big-ol bowl of fresh salsa.

Jesus is the whole bag a chips. He’s the top portion, the middle portion and the bottom of the bag. He’s awesome at all levels! Our passage this morning comes from the book of Hebrews. Our writer talks about Jesus’ deity, and how God completes His revelation through His Son.

I’d like to invite you to open your Bible to Hebrews Chapter 1. This morning we’ll be reading verses 1 through 3.

Hebrews 1:1–3 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,

Pastoral Prayer

The writer of Hebrews does something rather unique. It’s almost like walking into class and the teacher announces “pop quiz today,” and I expect everyone to get a-hundred because we’ve been over this many times. The writer of Hebrews is challenging the readers to rewind the memory tapes for approximately the last many hundred of years which the Old Testament takes place. This is the reference to “long ago.” It’s important to think about how the OT was written.

The OT is beautiful, important and it’s authoritative. As it began to grow and build on itself, we have truth built on truth. God chose to reveal Himself over many hundreds of years in small fragments. The OT was no given to His creation all at once. God’s revelation was progressive. Today, we have this very covenant thing that we refer to as the Bible. We have made it easy on ourselves to have a collection of God’s divine word that is very accessible.

The phrase “at many times and in many ways” means that God spoke to His people at many times during human history. If you go through a chronological study of the OT, you will discover a timeline. The words “in many ways” means how God spoke to His creation. God spoke to His creation through the books of law, history, poetry and wisdom and prophecy. The OT progressed from promise to fulfillment in the New Testament. Matthew 5:17 says:

Matthew 5:17 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

The picture is set for us. Let’s reconsider verse 1 one more time:

Hebrews 1:1 ESV

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

The words “our fathers” means the OT spiritual ancestors. But! Even greater that are the words “God Spoke!!” Many of the popular translations will have the words “God spoke.” If you have your Bible open, consider underlining the words God spoke. This is significant! The one true living God is by NO means silent! The living God of Scripture is very much involved in His creation. We just spoke about that in how God has divinely guides the pens of the OT writers. One example is to look to the intelligent creation of our world and known universe. In Genesis Chapter 1, there are many examples where the Bible says “God said.” God did not speak once, twice - but He spoke many times!! When God speaks, he does not speak to silence our minds. He speaks to liberate out minds! But, in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.

The Messiah, Jesus Christ, has now come. The priority of Jesus Christ is now established. Jesus is greater than all the prophets. He is greater than any revelation in the OT. Jesus is the expression of all truth and more. Folks, God has fully expressed Himself in Jesus. This is not like going to the copy machine to get a similar imprint of the original. WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL!! We have God in the flesh walking the earth in our form! God has spoken finally and fully in His Son. You see, Jesus completes God’s speaking. There is no need for additional Scripture to explain what God has done through His Son. This Scripture that many of us are holding in our hands this morning is complete. Everything we need to know is right here. The Canon of Scripture is closed. I’d like to caution you to those who claim God is still providing revelation. Moses cautioned in Deuteronomy 4:2

Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV

2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

and John in Revelation 22:18-19,

Revelation 22:18–19 ESV

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

There is no progression beyond the Son!

What God spoke through the prophets was important. Jesus is the one true prophet of God. Folks, we are living in the last days, not just in a chronological sense but in a theological sense. Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension have shown that we have entered new territory in God’s plans.

And part of that plan is how He is expressed through His Son. This means Jesus is affirmed as being more than just human! This shows Jesus is superior to all that has been created.

This next section is scripture is unique. The writer of Hebrews provides identity statements that help to describe who Jesus is in Himself in terms of creation and redemption which symbolizes completeness and perfection.

After the name of the Son, Jesus’ inheritance is mentioned. God appointed Him the heir of all things. The writer echoes back to:

Psalm 2:8 ESV

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

It’s important to know that Jesus’ inheritance is not only limited to the earth. Jesus’ inheritance includes the entire universe, time, space, energy, matter and the world to come. This is because, “through whom also He created the world.” Your translation might have the word universe. But, it means, God’s whole estate. This is affirmation that God brought this universe and everything in it into existence through His Son. In fact, the Bible says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” That’s from the NMJV John 1:3. Paul explains that in:

Colossians 1:16 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

This is a straight forward declaration of Jesus’ deity, all while he retains His personal distinction from the Father.

Now, some of you like writing in your Bible, others do not. This next opportunity is a way for everyone to insert some notes into you Bible. That’s because part of verse 3 is printed on the front of your bulletin. Our writer goes deeper once again into the relationship between Jesus and the Father. “Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God.” The word radiance can describe of what is external or of what is internal. With Jesus, Both are true, His radiance perfectly reveals God’s glory. Jesus is the very nature of God that shines with glory and splendor. It’s a striking picture! Like the appearance of the glorious sunrise or a beautifully painted sunset.

The Bible says “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Being the EXACT representation of God’s being, Jesus has the same divine substance as the Father in terms of strength and power. This proclaims Jesus’ deity! Many have tried to teach that Jesus is only human, nothing more. I want you to know, there is no scriptural basis to support such a bogus claim. JESUS IS GOD!

Turn your attention back to verse 3 of our main passage in Hebrews. It says, “and He uphold the universe by the word of His power.” Did you catch the tense of this statement? These tense of this statement zero’s in on the word - upholds. The statement does not say “He upheld the universe by the word of His power!” The word upholds is present NOT past tense. That means Jesus is still holding all of the together by his power. WOW! If we look just to the observation of our known universe and consider some of the massive displays of power, super nova’s, black holes, super black holes; these things combined do not add up to a fraction of the power Jesus holds.

This allows Paul to write to the Colossians about Jesus as the one whom all things were created and also as to the one whom “in Him all things hold together.” Jesus upholds the universe not like supporting some kind of dead weight. Jesus is the one who carries all things forward on their chartered course.

After these series of great sayings about Jesus, our scripture in Hebrews takes a turn “from creation to the son’s work,” starting with His sacrifice. Verse 3 says “after making purification for sin.” What a tremendous statement! You know I’ve heard people say the Bible is offensive, and that I really dislike how it can be used to either make you feel guilty, feel bad or push me to a crossroad. I want you to know something. That is God who is trying to get your attention. The words in the Bible may hurt with the truth - yes. But! It will never comfort you with a lie! When you go to your doctor or dentist and they delivery news you do not like. It’s like me (Richard) going to the dentist. And my dentist telling me, that I have a massive cavity that needs to be dealt with now. Do I call that person offensive that the truth made be feel guilty that I am now at a crossroad? Of course not! The truth is delivered to me to inform me of my cavity problem. The Bible does the same thing. It informs us about our sin problem and how to correct it. So when we hear the words about Jesus’ work, “making a purification for sin,” THIS IS TREMENDOUS!

It’s a wondrous work that Jesus was there at creation. It’s also wondrous that He sustains the world! But! A great work is that of removing the stain of son. Jesus Christ went to the cross, dies our deserved death for us, taking on the penalty of our sin and putting that on Himself. Jesus dealt with the sin issue once and for all, and now “He sat down at the right hand of the majesty on High.”

You know the old saying, there is always something to do, it’ll be waiting for me when I get back or tomorrow’s another day. In terms of Jesus’ work there is nothing else to do, or it will be waiting for me when I get back. Seeing Jesus sitting down means the work of redemption is complete! Jesus offered one and final sacrifice - it was done.

Conclusion

What does this mean to us today? It means Jesus is the sacrifice. Jesus us your sacrifice! He is your way to eternal fellowship that needs no apology. Are you feeling fragmented or like something is missing in your life? Jesus can make you whole. If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as you personal Lord and Savior, today can be that day. Jesus holds all this together. And! That means He is holding you. Today you can receive the free gift of salvation. Perhaps you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior long ago and have stepped away. This disconnect you feel can be restored today! So, what’s stopping you today from making a profession of faith or rededication?!? The alter is open. If I can pray with you, let’s stand together before God in prayer.

Closing Prayer