Creator of the World

Creator

Hebrews 1:1–4 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 11:3 ESV

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Colossians 1:16 ESV

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.

John 1:1–3 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

That means that everything we see, taste, experience and feel was created by God.

Created by God through His Word.

His word was Jesus Christ.

Radiance of Glory

Radiance is the Greek word Al-pawg-oosma

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 14.48 ἀπαύγασμα, τος

14.48 ἀπαύγασμα, τος n: shining, either in the sense of radiance from a source or the reflection of a source of light—‘radiance, reflection.’ ὃς ὢν ἀπαύγασμα τῆς δόξης ‘who is the reflection of (God’s) glory’ or ‘who is the radiance of (God’s) glory’ He 1:3.

It is impossible to determine whether ἀπαύγασμα should be interpreted in an active sense and therefore ‘radiance,’ or in a passive sence and therefore as ‘reflection.’ If the meaning is ‘radiance,’ then one may translate this phrase in He 1:3 as ‘he shines with God’s glory’ or even ‘God’s glory shines through him.’ If one understands the meaning of ἀπαύγασμα as being ‘reflection,’ then one may often say ‘God’s glory shines back from him.’

I actually think the meaning here encompasses both meanings.

God’s glory shines through Jesus and it is reflected back to the Father by Jesus.

Think of a lightbub

The light that fills a room is the radiance of that bulb.

Also, that light is magnified as it is reflected back upon itself.

Think of fishing on open water in the middle of a sunny day. The sun’s light is hot on your skins, you might say the radiance of the sun is radiant on your skin. Also, the light reflected off the water will have an intensifying effect.

So does the life and death of Jesus Christ on our understanding of the glory of God.

He is the radiance of the Glory of God.

Exact Imprint

Have you ever seen a wax seal that they used on letters back in previous centuries?

The way they did it was to take an emblem or seal of the sender and press it into the wax to make an exact imprint of it on the letter. This sealed the letter by the owner to ensure the confidentiality and verify the validity of the letter.

In this instance, Jesus is that exact imprint of God verifying the validity of his claims and his name.

Ny kids are an imprint of both my wife and I but they are not the exact imprint.

They have different personalities, different preferences and different desires for their lives.

Jesus was the exact imprint of God the Father.

Everything about him displayed the Father and everything about the Father was displayed through him.

Why is this so important to us today?

We continue to struggle with the same sin that separated us from God to begin with.

Romans 1:18–25 ESV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

We exchanged the Creator for the created

Look around us today and you will see this same sin happening all the time.

We worship the trees instead of He who created the trees.

We worship the land instead of He who created the land.

We worship people instead of He who created people.

You see a beautiful sunset, that is reason to praise the Lord who created it.

You see a beautiful landscape, That is reason to praise the Lord who created it.

You see a beautiful baby, that is reason to worship the Lord who created it.

You see a beautiful church building, that is reason to worship the Lord who created it.

We spend entirely too much time focused on the created rather than the creator.

Romans 1:26–32 ESV

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Is this not the world we live in today?

We spend so much time trying to make people behave better.

We cannot behave better, we need to be redeemed to do that.

We need to repent of our love for the created.

We need our desires realigned to the creator.

We need our debased minds reclaimed by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

We need our foolish hearts restored by the light of Jesus.

Only then will we see the evil of today turned to good.

Not by reforming government.

Not by creating laws.

Not by fulfilling our desires.

Only by returning to our right worship of the creator rather than the created.

You want to change the world? Begin by worshipping the Creator.