The Letter to the Hebrews
God Has Spoken In His Son
Hebrews 1:1-4
This morning we begin a new sermon series on The Letter To The Hebrews. So let’s turn to Hebrews chapter one in our Bibles. If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hands and we will bring one to you. The Letter to the Hebrews is on page 1001 in the Bibles we are passing out.
What do we know about the Letter to the Hebrews?
We are not sure who wrote it, because the author did not include his name. But what’s important is whether or not this book was written by an apostle – because Jesus had appointed and gifted apostles who wrote truth directly from God Himself. And when the early church saw that a book had been written by an apostle – they knew it was God’s Words and included it as Scripture.
And the early church did include Hebrews in the New Testament – which means they must have seen it was written by an apostle. And that’s what we see when we dig deeper.
The earliest tradition in the eastern church said it was written by Paul – who was an apostle. But an even earlier tradition in the western church said it was written by Barnabas. This does not make a huge difference, because in Acts 14:14 Luke calls both Paul and Barnabas “apostles.” So whether it was Paul, or Barnabas, or Paul using Barnabas as his scribe, or another apostle – we can be confident that the letter to the Hebrews is the very words of God.
We know from chapter 13 that it was written to a small group of believers who lived in Rome – and from the rest of the book we can see that they were struggling spiritually. Some of them were in prison for their faith (13:3). Some had stopped meeting with other believers (10:24f). The author says that by this time they should have been able to teach others – but they themselves needed to be re-taught (5:12). And – as we will see today – they had grown lax in their devotion to God’s Word (2:1).
So let’s start where the author starts – ch.1:1-4 --
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.
Now this passage could take us in a lot of helpful directions. But the question we want to raise is – which direction does the author want to take us with these verses? What’s his point in these verses?
And I didn’t find the answer in the rest of chapter one – but then I found it in the first verse of ch.2 -
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
All of chapter one is pointing towards this verse. The reason I say that is because of this word “therefore” – which shows that the preceding verses are all building to this verse as the conclusion.
And notice that in chapter 2 verse 1 we are urged to pay much closer attention to what we have HEARD – and what have we heard? Chapter 1 verse 2 -- we have heard what God has SPOKEN to us by his Son.
So here’s a picture of the author’s flow of thought. The author is saying – because of how God has spoken to us in Jesus Christ (1:1-4), and because Jesus is superior to the angels (more on that next week – in 1:5-14), therefore we must pay much closer attention to what God has spoken to us in Jesus Christ.
So today the author would look all of us in the eye and say – we need to pay much closer attention to what God has spoken to us in Christ Jesus. Why? Look at the end of 2:1 – “lest we drift away from it.”
Imagine that you are in the river above the Niagara Falls – being carried towards the certain death of plunging over. But in great mercy God threw you a rope – the word of salvation given in Christ and contained in this book. If you hold to this rope continually and passionately you will be pulled away from the Falls to heaven. But if you don’t hold to it continually and passionately – you can drift away to eternal destruction.
So – do you hold to the Bible like you would hold to the rope holding pulling you away from the Niagara Falls? Do you start off your day renewing your hold on precious truth from God’s Word? Do you go through the day clinging to Jesus as He is revealed in God’s Word? When worry or boredom or lust starts to pull you towards Niagara Falls – do you turn back to God’s Word and make sure you are holding on tight?
That’s what the author wants us to do. But the author doesn’t just want us to grit out teeth and try harder. He gives us reasons which – when we pray over them – the Holy Spirit will use to change our hearts so we want to pay close attention to God’s Word.
And seven of those reasons are in 1:1-4. So why should we pay close attention to God’s Word?
First, because this Word was spoken to us by God’s Son. Read vv.1-2 again --
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 …
In the Old Testament God spoke by the prophets. The prophets were men. They wrote God’s very words, words which are 100% perfect truth from God which we love today. But those prophets were only men. In Jesus God spoke by his Son – Jesus Christ, who was fully man – was also fully God – God Himself. God was here – speaking to us in His Son Jesus Christ.
And this book is what God spoke to us in Jesus His Son. This book – the Old Testament pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ, the Gospels describing the coming of Jesus Christ, the rest of the New Testament explaining the coming of Jesus – is what God spoke to us in Jesus His Son.
Which makes this book infinitely more important than Facebook. Or CNN. Or email. So grip this book – this rope – constantly and vigorously.
Second, because this Word was spoken by the One who is heir of all things. Read vv.1-2 --
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.
One reason we might hold back from gripping this book constantly and vigorously is because – well -- people at work would scoff if they saw us reading the Bible. Talk show hosts mock the Bible. Sports starts ignore the Bible.
But the author of Hebrews wants us to understand that at the end of history Jesus will inherit everything. Everyone will see the Father giving Him everything. Your boss will see the Father giving Jesus everything. Oprah will see the Father giving Jesus everything. Vernon Davis will see the Father giving Jesus everything.
Now hopefully before then they will all come to trust Jesus and obey Him and grip this book – this rope for themselves. But whether they do or not -- they will all see how right you were to obey Jesus and grip this book – this rope – constantly and vigorously. So – grip it – constantly and vigorously.
Third, because this Word was spoken by the One through whom everything was created. Read vv.1-2 –
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.
How would you feel if you were handed a nuclear reactor – which could supply all your power needs the rest of your life – or which could blow up and destroy you? How important would it be to read the instructions which describe how that nuclear reactor works? Very important.
Everything was created through Jesus. Which means Jesus Christ has infinitely more power than a nuclear reactor. This book tells us about His power – and how because of our sin all of us face His power in judgment forever – but how it’s possible for sinful people to have His power devoted to our good forever – by trusting Him and clinging to who He is as revealed in this book.
So how important is it to read the instructions which tells us how to experience Jesus’ power for good? Read the instructions – grip the instructions – constantly and vigorously.
Fourth, because this Word was spoken by the One who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. Read vv.1-3 –
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 …
The analogy of the river and Niagara Falls could be misleading. Because it emphasizes the danger of going over the Falls. And by gripping to this rope – in faith -- we do avoid eternal destruction.
But there’s something else that happens when we grip this rope. We are pulled into the presence of infinite glory. We see the glory of God in the face of Christ. We see God’s very nature – love and power and mercy and goodness – in Jesus Christ.
Where do romance novels pull you? Where does porn pull you? Where does gossip pull you?
This rope – this book – pulls you into a beholding of the very glory of God in the face of Christ – which is infinitely more satisfying and pleasurable and filling than anything else.
So – grip this rope constantly and vigorously.
Fifth, because this Word was spoken by the One who upholds the universe by the word of His power. Read v.3 --
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 …
We tend to think the universe is held in place by natural laws like gravity. But it’s Jesus whose word keeps gravity holding me here right now. And it’s Jesus who upholds the entire universe by the word of his power. Which means the destiny of the universe – and your destiny – are in Jesus’ hands.
And Jesus – the One who upholds everything – whose word determines everything -- has commanded you to abide in His Word and let His Words abide in you. So just by sheer virtue of His authority – doesn’t it make sense to grip this book constantly and vigorously?
Sixth, because this Word was spoken by the One who made purification of sins. Read v.3 again --
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,
Jesus made purification of sins. That’s huge. Here’s one reason why. You might think Christianity is all about being good enough to make up for your past sin. But deep down inside we all know we can’t be good enough to make up for past sin – and that can make us give up.
But the good news is that Jesus made a way for you to be completely purified for all your sins – past sins – AND present sins – AND future sins. He did this by dying on the Cross – being punished in your place for your sins.
So the moment you cling to this rope – trust Him as your Savior and Lord and Treasure – all your sins are forgiven, God is running to you with open arms, and God’s power comes upon you and starts to change you.
And you don’t hold to this rope to make up for your past sins. You hold to this rope to have Jesus make up for your past and present and future sins – and to give you power to grow in overcoming sins.
So – keep clinging to this rope!
Seventh -- because this Word was spoken by the One who sat down at the right hand of God. Read all of v.3 –
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 …
You might be tempted to hedge your bets – maybe cling a little to the Koran, or cling a little to the Upanishads of Hinduism. But that would mean you are clinging less to this book – to this rope!
And you don’t need to worry about hedging your bets. Because it’s the One whom this book is all about who is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Mohammed, the Buddha, or any other religion’s main figures are not seated at the right hand of God.
Jesus Christ is the only one seated at the right hand of God the Father. And this book is the revelation of Jesus Christ – the One who is seated at God’s right hand. So – cling to this rope!