Sunday, October 6, 2019 - New Heights Christian Church, Kent, WA - Pastor Micah AdamsonTitle: Hebrews 1a: Jesus' Superiority Over the Prophets as God's Messenger and Message

Text: Hebrews 1:1-4Hebrews 1:3 (NIV84)

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Review: Hebrews Overview & Outline We spent two sermons introducing the messenger and message of Hebrews before starting to read it.

o Today, were starting in Hebrews 1 where Jesus is introduced as both God’s messenger and message. Is Hebrews primarily about Jesus as THE Christ or OUR Salvation?

o Focusing on who Jesus is as THE Christ with the power to save completely actually provides greater reasons to put our full weight of confidence in Jesus as OUR savior rather than trusting ourselves.

Context is one of the best safeguards to confirm if a verse is being interpreted correctly.o Always ask: Who wrote/received it? What are the problems/solutions? How does this verse fit?

Bible Project - Overview of Hebrews: < https://thebibleproject.com/explore/hebrews/ > o Author: Unknown, but Apostolic [Pauline].o Audience: Jewish Christians, who know the OT and who are facing persecution.o Problem/Solution: Argue from the OT, especially the story of Moses, Jesus is Superior to the OT.

Warn the reader to remain faithful to Jesus despite persecution, since: “If you have Jesus, you have everything, but if you miss Jesus, you miss everything!”

Outline:o 1-2: Jesus is Superior to: Angels & Torah [Messenger and Message of the OT]

Warning: Don’t miss out on Jesus as God’s word [Messenger and Message of the OT].o 3-4: Jesus is Superior to: Moses & Promised Land

Warning: Don’t miss out on Jesus as hope for a New Creation.o 5-7: Jesus is Superior to: Priests & Melchizedek

Warning: Don’t miss out on Jesus as our eternal High Priest.o 8-10: Jesus is Superior to: Sacrifice & Covenant

Warning: Don’t miss out on Jesus as our perfect Sacrifice.o 11-13: Conclusion: To heed the warnings to avoid missing out on Jesus, follow the great models of

the faith from the OT who trusted God to fulfill His promises in Jesus after their deaths.

Hebrews warns against exiting faith in Jesus through four common doors:o Giving up on Jesus as God’s revelation, but looking elsewhere for information about God instead.o Giving up on Jesus ability to get us to heaven, but looking to earth instead.o Giving up on Jesus as the only one who can represent us as priest, but looking to others instead.o Giving up on Jesus as the only one who can pay for our sin, but looking to ourselves instead.

We’ll take each of these warnings as they come. The first is about Jesus as God’s revelation.

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Hebrews 1:1-4 (NIV84)1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Jesus is a Better Revelation: Hebrews 1-2 argues that Jesus is a better revelation than Angels & the Torah,

since Jesus is God’s word.o Jesus is better than angels or the OT, since Jesus is God’s Son.

The contrast is not between the OT and NT, but between Jesus and all the other ways God has spoken.o Messenger: Prophets (1:1) vs. Son (1:2)o Time: Past/many times (1:1) vs. Last days/Present (1:2)o Means: Various ways (1:1) vs. Son (1:2)o Audience: Our forefathers (1:1) vs. Us (1:2)

Various ways God has spoken: o Heavens (Ps. 19:1-4)o Creation (Rom. 1:20)o Conscience (Rom. 2:15)o Dreams/Visions (Job 33:14-18)

God’s communication with Moses was superior since he spoke to Moses face to face instead of in Dreams/Visions/Riddles as he did with others (Num. 12:6-8, Ex. 33:11, Deut. 24:10)

o Son (Heb. 1:2) Notice that Jesus’ name hasn’t appeared in Hebrews yet, it just calls Jesus “His/God’s Son”. In Hebrew the word “His” is only implied. It could be translated: God spoke in a Son. Son as final means of communication (Matt. 21:37, Mark 12:6, Luke 20:13).

Why Jesus is a better Revelation: Jesus is God God’s Speaker/Speech (1:2) - Past God’s Son (1:2) - Jesus has always been God’s Son

o John 3:16: God gave His Son = Jesus was God’s Son before God gave Him.o Athanasius: Jesus came to earth to reveal what God is really like in heaven.o Sons reflect that natures of their fathers: Human sons have beginnings since human fathers have

beginnings. God’s Son doesn’t have a beginning since God the Father doesn’t have a beginning. God’s Heir (1:2) - End God’s Creative agent/the creator of the universe (1:2) - Beginning God’s Radiance of Glory (1:3) - Present

o Reflecting vs. Radiating God’s glory (2 Cor. 3:18)o Parallel passages call Jesus the light of God’s glory (John 1:1-18)o Name/Glory: God doesn’t share His name or glory (Is. 42:8, 48:11)

God’s Exact Representative of God’s being (1:3) - Presento Representation/Imprint/Imageo Being = Substance/Essence (Nicene Creed)

God’s Sustaining agent/the sustainer of the universe (1:3) - Present God’s Provider of purification for sin (1:3) - Past God’s Equal Co-Ruler/seated with God on His thrown (1:3-4) - Present

o Seated with God on His thrown, inheritor of all things, inheritor of God’s name/titles.o Having a name/title/position that is better than angels.

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Jesus is God in Hebrews: One of the reasons why commentaries written on Hebrews in the early church focus more on who Jesus

is as the Christ instead of focusing on OUR salvation, is that was the first controversy the church faced after it became legal to be a Christian in 325 A.D. o Hebrews is one of the books acknowledged to be written by the apostles and their close associates

that are binding over the church that was used to decide the question of Jesus’ divinity at Nicaea.o “The doctrine of the Trinity solves problems, it doesn’t create them.” (Bill McKeever).

Problem: The Bible teaches there is only one God. The Bible teaches that God the Father, Son, and Spirit are all God. The Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Spirit are not the same person. Solution: God is 3 in 1 (God is One in Essence/being, and Three in Person).

Apostles’ Creed : I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.o And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord.

Nicene Creed: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.o And, in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all

worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Jesus is God in Parallel Passages: (Heb. 1, Col. 1, Phil. 2, John 1, 1 John 1)Hebrews 1:1-4 (NIV84)1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Paul: Colossians 1:15-20, Philippians 2:5-11 John: John 1:1-18, 1 John 1:1-2:2

o Jesus in the beginning as the creator/the one for whom creation was created (Col. 1, John 1).o Jesus is the light/glory/revelation/image of God (Col. 1, Phil. 2, John 1, 1 John 1).o Jesus is God/God’s Son/God’s Heir/Having God’s name (Col. 1, Phil. 2, John 1, 1 John 1).o Jesus is the Savior/Purifier from sin (Col. 1, Phil. 2, John 1, 1 John 1).

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Why does it matter if Jesus is God? This isn’t a secondary issue: If Jesus isn’t God, we can’t know God. “Surprised by Faith” by Don Bierle <https://www.amazon.com/Surprised-By-Faith/dp/B01MXWHNN3/>

o Chapter 1: Why am I here? The Problem: Does life have meaning? Can we even find out?

o Chapter 2-3: Is the Bible True? Is Jesus Really God? The Solution: We can know God in Christ from the Bible!

o Chapter 4-7: Can Faith Be reasonable? Where Am I? How can I know God? What’s next? Our Response: Believe in Jesus to save us from sin and death!

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What God has revealed in Jesus: Jesus is a better salvation Jesus said that the sign He would give to prove He really is God was by dying and rising again

(Matt. 12:39, 16:4, Luke 11:29-30).o Anyone who can raise themselves from the dead, matches my definition of God (John 10:17-18).o The best explanation of the evidence is that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-8).o That is good news for us, since Jesus’ ability to conquer death, not only shows that Jesus is God, it

also solves our biggest problem: death (Don Beirly). “Presence of sin Leads to Consequences of Sin [Death] (Rom. 6:23) Removal of the consequences of Sin Proves Removal of the Sin that caused it.”

Jesus’ Threefold Office: Prophet, Priest, and King In the OT, there were three offices: Prophet, Priest, and King.

o Jesus holds all three offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. Luther and Calvin talked about Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King and I thought these were

Protestant categories, but it turns out they go back to the time of the Council of Nicaea <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threefold_office>.

Hebrews 1 focuses on Jesus revealing God to us is His role as THE Prophet (Deut. 18:15, John 1:25, Acts 3:22. 7:37).o But, Hebrews 1 also tells us that what Jesus revealed to us is that He is both King and Priest.o Jesus provided purification for sin as our Priest and then sat down next to the Father to rule as King.

If I preached the whole book of Hebrews as a sermon, Psalm 110 would be the worship text that day.o Hebrews argues over and over that Jesus sitting down at God’s right hand is evidence not only that

Jesus is the King of the universe, but that Jesus is also our Priest whose work is accepted by God. Jesus argued from Psalm 110:1 that the Christ is God (Matt. 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37, Luke 20:41-44).

o The parallel passages to Hebrews 1, all connect Jesus’ role as God to Jesus role as savior (Col. 1, Phil. 2, John 1, 1 John 1).

Psalm 110:1 is the most quoted OT verse in the NT.o But, Hebrews is the only book of the NT to connect Psalm 110:1 to verse 4, showing that Jesus’

sitting down is part of both His roles as Priest and King.Psalm 110:1, 4 (NIV84)1 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”Hebrews 1:3 (NIV84)3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.Hebrews 8:1-2 (NIV84)1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.Hebrews 10:12-14 (NIV84)12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.Hebrews 12:2 (NIV84)2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus can sit down in God’s the Father’s presence on His throne! This is claiming great authority as king!

o But, Jesus can also sit down in God the Father’s presence having provided purification for sin once and for all! This is claiming great perfection as priest!

Jesus isn’t making new sacrifices for your sins. He died once for all and His sacrifices has been accepted! Jesus is so confident and competent to be our priest that He can sit down on the job!o If you are coming to God through faith in Jesus, your sins are completely forgiven!

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Appendix: Communion PreparationThe Nicene Creed: <https://www.ccel.org/creeds/apostles.creed.html>1. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and

invisible.2. And, I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all

worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

3. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.

4. And, was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried.5. And, the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures.6. And, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.7. And, He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have

no end.8. And, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the

Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.9. And, I believe one holy universal and apostolic Church.10. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. 11. And, I look for the resurrection of the dead.12. And, the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9b-13 (NIV84)9 …“ ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

[For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (NKJV)]

Confession: (Adapted from: “The Lutheran Service Book” Page 151 and “The Covenant Book of Worship” Page 68).Pastor: If we claim to be sinless, we are self-deceived and strangers to the truth (1 John 1:8,10). But, if we confess our sins, God is just and may be trusted to forgive our sins completely and cleanse us from every kind of wrong (1 John 1:9).

Pause for silent prayer of confession.Congregation: Most merciful God,

We confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Pastor: Hear the good news! This statement is completely reliable and should be universally accepted: Christ Jesus entered the world to forgive sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). He bore our sins in his body on the cross, so we can be dead to sin and alive to all that is good (1 Pet. 2:24).If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One (1 John 2:1).Believe the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all our sins (Col. 2:13).

Congregation: Amen.

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