GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS SON
-- HEBREWS ONE
Hebrews one is designed to cause us to understand the
greatness of Jesus. He is the only one through whom God speaks today. God
formerly spoke by the prophets. Now He has spoken by his Son. This epistle or
letter is designed to keep people from turning from Christianity. In order to
accomplish this goal the superiority of Jesus is show. It is likewise clearly
proven that Christianity is superior to the Mosaic system.
The entire purpose of Hebrews chapter one is to show the
exalted nature of the Son of God. Jesus is addressed as God, and His throne is
said to be for ever and ever. Jesus, the author of the Christian system, is
greater than Moses and greater than angles.
The Christian system is superior to any other system
because it centers in the one true God and His only begotten Son, Jesus the
Christ. This Jesus is, (1) Prophet -- He serves as God's spokesman (Hebrews
1:1-2), (2) Priest -- He makes purification for sins (Hebrews 1:3), and (3)
King -- sitting on the right hand of God. (Hebrews 1:3)
Let us learn of the superiority of Jesus:
God's word was spoken through His Son -- Hebrews 1:1-3: One
major difference between the law and gospel has to do with the manner of their
revelation. God's revelation of the law was at different times. God's
revelation was given before the flood to Adam, Enoch, Noah and others. After
the flood His revelation was given to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the
prophets.
God not only communicated the law at different times but
also in different or divers ways. He sometimes communicated His will by
visions, sometimes by an audible voice, sometimes by legible characters written
by His own hand, as when He wrote the Ten Commandments on tables of stone,
sometimes by Urim and Thummim, and sometimes by signs from heaven.
In the last days God gave a perfect, and likewise a final
revelation of His mind for a lost world. This revelation was given through His
Son. He, "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:2-3)
The New Testament is the revelation which God made by his
Son. He is the most excellent messenger that was ever sent into the world, far
superior to all the patriarchs, prophet and angles. The superiority of Jesus is
seen in the fact that: (1) God appointed Him to be heir of all things. (2) By
him God made the worlds, both visible and invisible, the heavens and the earth.
(3) He upholds all things by the word of His power. He keeps the world from
dissolving. It was written of Jesus that, "He is before all things, and by
him all things consist." (Colossians 1:17)
God's Son is superior to the angels -- Hebrews 1:4-7: The
Lord Jesus Christ is pre-eminent. He is superior to the prophets and to the
angels. Peter wrote of Jesus that He, "is gone into heaven, and is on the
right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto
him." (1 Peter 3:22) He has a more
excellent name than angels. They are called ministering spirits or servants. He
is called God's only begotten Son.
God demanded that even the angels worship Jesus. "And
again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let
all the angels of God worship him." (Hebrews 1:6) He is the Lord Jesus
Christ. He is the Mediator of the New Testament. In His own person Jesus is God
blessed for ever, the one that is worthy of our honor and worship. "Let
all the angels of God worship him."
Jesus is greater than the angels, and thus His word is what we are to
obey.
God's Son is upon the established throne -- Hebrews 1:8-12:
Observe what God said to His Son, Jesus, "But unto the Son he saith, Thy
throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre
of thy kingdom." (Hebrews 1:8) In Hebrews chapter one we are taught that
Jesus should be on the throne because: (1) He is the "Son" of God
(Hebrews 1:5), (2) He is the "firstbotten" of God (Hebrews 1:6), (3)
He is "God" (Hebrews 1:8-9) and (4) He is "Lord" of all. (Hebrews
1:10)
Jesus should be on the throne because He is God. His part
in the creation proves His Deity. "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid
the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine
hands." (Hebrews 1:10) The words of Hebrews 1:10-13 are taken from Psalm
102:25-27. To apply these words to Jesus which were spoken of Jehovah proves
conclusively that Jesus is Divine.
God said, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and
ever." If God the Father declares Jesus to be God, He must be really and
truly be God. Earthly kings are often unrighteous and their thrones fall. The
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Christ's kingdom. All the laws of
the Son's kingdom are just, righteous and holy. Jesus is King of kings because
of His love for righteousness and hatred of sin.
Christ's
kingdom is not a future kingdom for God declares Him to have, (1) A throne, (2)
A kingdom, and (3) A sceptre of that kingdom. This kingdom is forever. Christ
Jesus did what He did for man with gladness and cheerfulness. These same
attitudes must characterize our service to God!
We are better people if we follow the
guidance of God's Son. We must follow Jesus as, (1) Our sympathizing "High
Priest" (Hebrews 4:14-16), (2) The "Mediator" of our New
Covenant. (Hebrews 8:6), and (3) the "author and finisher" of our
faith. (Hebrews 12:2)
God's angels are servants, not sons -- Hebrews 1:13-14: The
superiority of Christ over angels is seen in the fact that God never said to
the angels what He said to Christ. He said to Jesus, "Sit on my right
hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" (Hebrews 1:13) He never
said that to an angel. Angels are simply "ministering spirits, sent forth
to minister." (Hebrews 1:14) Angels are servants to the
Christ Jesus has His enemies. There are those that are, (1)
Enemies of God's supremacy, (2) Enemies to God's cause, (3) Enemies to His
people, and (4) Enemies to His church. They will not have God to reign over
them. Let us serve God faithful least we also be made God's footstool.
Heirs of salvation have God's word in
their heart. They have obeyed and are obeying His will. They have Heard the
gospel (John 6:44-45), Believed in Jesus (John 8:24), Repented of sins (Luke
13:1-5), Confessed Christ as Lord (Matthew 10:32-33), and been Baptized. (Mark
16:15-16). Those who are heirs of salvation have stayed faithful to God.
(Matthew 10:22)