The Voice of a Savior
Notes
Transcript
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.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Introduction
Introduction
Missing the Significance of the Season because of the busyness of the season…
Missing the Significance of the Season because we miss the significance of the Savior…
All too often we simply forget who we are worshipping...
When we miss the significance of the Savior, then it really doesn’t matter what season we’re in nor what distractions we face, our hearts will be void of the awe that He deserves.
It’s for this reason that I wanted to start this season in the book of Hebrews…
There is debate around the framing of Hebrews...many people believe that it is actually a sermon of sorts and one reason is because it is framed in many ways like one. The very first chapter is the introduction and one of the chief aims is to set the stage with an emphatic statement about the greatness of Christ. A statement that I feel is appropriate as we prepare our hearts for a more deliberate meditation on Christ.
So I want to spend a little while walking through some of this text to reflect on the Greatness of our coming King…
This text shows us that Jesus is the King that is Greater than the prophets...greater than creation...greater than all other saviors...greater than the angels….
Greater Than The Prophets
Greater Than The Prophets
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.
Here is what we hear clearly and loudly in this text. God speaks!!!!
God has always spoken...Long Ago...
God has spoken in a variety of ways...at many times and in many ways...
God has spoken through those who he is chosen...God spoke to our fathers by the prophets...
The author is referring to God’s proclamations captured in the Old Testament. Peter confirms the author’s premise in 2nd Peter 1
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Lord spoke to the prophets and they spoke to the people and each spoken moment gives us a peek into the nature of God and a glimpse into the wisdom of God. This is what the prophets afforded us: real pictures, clear pictures, but nonetheless partial pictures. This is where verse 2 finds its importance:
BUT IN THESE LAST DAYS, HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON…
Jesus is shown to be greater than the prophets. Now this is no small feat. The prophets were held in high honor and high regard. They were spokesmen of God. but not only is he declaring that God the Father spoken through Christ but He demonstrates His greatness over the prophets in that He has spoken finally and most completely through Christ...
The picture the author is painting is clear. If you’ve ever had any questions concerning God’s character, nature, personhood...If you’ve ever had any questions trying to understand His will and His heart, then look no further than Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the most complete revelation humanity has been given of God the Father.
Hebrews from the very beginning is driving home this point and saying to us:
If we listen to and observe Jesus, we will see and hear everything God the Father intends for us to.
Greater than Creation
Greater than Creation
Jesus is greater than the prophets, but not just in what God the Father speaks through Him, but in what God the Father appoints to Him. Verse 2 helps us see how He not only reigns supreme over the prophets but over ALL of CREATION..
The Father APPOINTED the Son with Authority over all things...whom He appointed the heir of all things...
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
All that reign, reign under His reign. No KING reigns without his allowance...ALL KINGS WILL RISE AND FALL and HIS KINGDOM SHALL REMAIN...
The Father APPOINTED the Son with Creating all things...through whom also He created the world...Father displayed his creative power and genius through Christ...
Divine Authority and Creative Power are shown to exist in Christ. The Father is delighted to give this to the Son because they are of the same essence, substance, and worth! We see this highlighted in verse 3 in three different ways.
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 RADIANCE of the Glory of God - God’s Glory Out Loud!
The RADIANCE of the Glory of God - God’s Glory Out Loud!
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God...Hebrews 1:3a
John Piper says glory is "the going public of [God’s] infinite worth—the radiance of his manifold, infinitely worthy and valuable perfections."
ILLUSTRATION: None of us have ever been in the presence of the Sun and yet, everyday of our lives, we’ve experienced in very real and impactful ways. The radiance in the rays, heat, and light that emanate from the Sun puts us in the presence of the Sun while being millions of miles away from it. And so it is with Christ in his Emanuel..God with us. Like the sunlight and sun rays that radiates from the Sun and demonstrate the power and awesomeness of the Sun, So, Jesus radiates out of the Trinity eternally showing His glory in the most tangible way for HUMANITY!
We see it in Scripture in several places...
Jesus radiates glory in life
Jesus radiates glory in life
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Jesus radiates glory in death
Jesus radiates glory in death
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
In the life and death of Jesus Christ, we are shown the most complete picture of God’s glorious nature: His holiness, His righteousness, His grace and mercy, His goodness, and His love.
God’s glory is shining fully from Jesus! One lesser known theologian puts it this way...
God's glory, then, is in the Son, and he beams it out. We could say, given the definition above, that the Son radiates the infinite worth of God so that we can see it and know it. Or we might say that the Son reveals the glory of God in the same way the brightness of the sun shows the sun itself. All that God is, in all his greatness, shines out in the Son.
The EXACT IMPRINT of His nature
The EXACT IMPRINT of His nature
3 He is... the exact imprint of his nature...Hebrews 1:3b
In the Greek, the word that we have for IMPRINT is the same word that we get our English word “character” from. In ancient Greek, the word signified an engraving device or stamp that bears a certain distinguishing marking . In today’s use, the word speaks of the unique qualities that make you who you are.
The idea here is that Jesus possesses the very character of God the Father. There is no shade of difference when discussing the Father’s nature versus the Son’s nature. They are of the same exact nature, essence, substance, and character.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
During the very early days of church history, a controversy broke out with people trying to diminish the divinity of Christ. And one theologian by the name of Athanasius used these very Scriptures to defend his against that controversy.
In other words, this text is not arguing for Jesus just simply being kinda close to God. He is not a cheap gimmick that you can trade in and out of the discussion as He fits our ideas. No, He is of the very same essence and nature...VERY GOD OF VERY GOD
The UNIVERSE Upholder
The UNIVERSE Upholder
He upholds the universe by the word of his power... Hebrews 1:3c
Again, we hear the author ascribe to Jesus an attribute typically reserved for God alone. Signifying that Christ is God!
What is that attribute described? The Power of His Word…
We see God’s word has a very prominent place in Scripture. From the very beginning, Genesis 1, we hear…”AND GOD SAID and the Universe was spoken into being.
Psalm 33:6 declares
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Paul when describing God in Romans describes Him as the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence with the power of His Word…
In other words the power to create and hold the universe belongs to God. So if Christ possess this power, it is because Christ is God and we know that Christ possesses this power…
In the storm, Christ says “peace be still” and the storms cease…
When standing with the lame, Christ says “take up your bed and walk” and it happens instantaneously
He SPEAKS AND IT IS SO!
APPLICATION: Jesus is greater than creation in every way but here is the even better news...HE LOVES His creation...So, He is powerful enough to reign over it, but loving enough to reign for it!
Christ will KEEP US! Christ will HOLD US! Christ will SUSTAIN US!
Greater than All Other Saviors
Greater than All Other Saviors
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.
Christ surpasses all the other saviors that came and presented themselves as the answer because He was the only one willing to enter into the condition of those in need of His rescue…
Christ surpasses all the other saviors that came and presented themselves as the answer because He was the only one willing to take the punishment that was due those in need of His rescue…
Christ surpasses all the other saviors that came and presented themselves as the answer because He was the only one able to enter into the condition of those in need of His rescue and live PERFECTLY as required but the only able to absorb the sin burden of the world.
And after he performed this work...HE SAT DOWN…
SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND of God the Father WHICH SHOWS HIS AUTHORITY...but it also shows his completed work...
Greater than the Angels
Greater than the Angels
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
If an angel touched down in this room right now in this very moment...
V5a God doesn’t say “You Are My Begotten Son” to anyone but Christ
V5b God doesn’t say I’m His only Father and He is my only Son to anyone but Christ
V6 God doesn’t call the angels to worship anyone else but Himself and Christ
V7-8 Angels move on God’s authority, Jesus is given authority of His own..
Application
Application
Crown Him - Does your conduct reflect the arrival of a King? Does your conduct reflect the arrival of THE KING!
NOW THAT THE KING HAS ARRIVED what are you going to do with your life?
Preach this truth to yourself - Austin Stone Devotional...
Remind yourself of this truth when distractions seek His throne...Sing songs that remind you of this truth...pray prayers that remind you of this truth...
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus is GREATER than the prophets...greater than creation...greater than all other saviors...greater than the angels…
Jesus is GREATER THAN EVERYTHING!
This Advent season as you begin to reflect on Christ don’t forget to reflect on exactly who HE IS!
As your