SS Lessons December 10th, 2006 Hebrews 1(1-9)
Epistle to the Hebrews (from Smith’s Bible Dictionary) The author --There has been a wide difference of opinion respecting the authorship of this epistle. For many years Paul was considered the author; others think it may have been Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. Much of the theology and the language are similar to Paul’s, but the authorship of the epistle ia still disputed.
- To whom written . --The epistle was probably addressed to the Jews in Jerusalem and Palestine. The argument of the epistle is such as could he used with most effect to a church consisting exclusively of Jews by birth, personally familiar with and attached to the temple service.
- Date. --It was evidently written before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, probably about A.D. 62-64.
- Place . --It was probably written in Italy, while Paul was a prisoner at Rome.
- Contents . --With respect to the scope of the epistle, it should be recollected that while the numerous Christian churches scattered throughout Judea, ( Acts 9:31; Galatians 1:22) were continually exposed to persecution from the Jews, ( 1 Thessalonians 2:14) there was in Jerusalem one additional weapon in the hands of the predominant oppressors of the Christians. The magnificent national temple might be put against the Hebrew Christian; and even if this affliction were not often laid upon him, yet there was a secret burden which he bore within him, the knowledge that the end of all the beauty and awfulness of Zion was rapidly approaching. The writer of this epistle meets the Hebrew Christians on their own ground, showing that the new faith gave them Christ the Son of God, more prevailing than the high priest as an intercessor; that his Sabbath awaited them, his covenant, his atonement, his city heavenly not made with hands. Having him, believe in him with all your heart, with a faith in the unseen future strong as that of the saints of old, patient under present and prepared for coming woe, full of energy and hope and holiness and love. Such was the teaching of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
God communicates with man
God has always communicated with human beings. He used prophets, angels, events, signs, audible voices, Urim and Thummim, dreams and visions, but always it was for man’s own good. The Holy Spirit worked differently with human beings in Old Testament times. Until Jesus died and made us justified to receive the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by His sacrificial offering mankind could not receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came upon, not within, special men and women for special occasions. An example of what I mean is revealed in 1st Samuel 16:13: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.” Notice the Spirit came upon David so that he could reign as king over people. Today the Spirit is given to every believer when they are born again. it lives within the believer and guides them in paths of righteousness. It is a big advantage to live during the Grace Dispensation.
1:2 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;
In these last days
The phrase means the time of the Gentiles or the Grace Dispensation. Our age is the last stage of human existence on this planet which will be culminated with the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ, the Tribulation Period, and finally the Millennial Kingdom. Some folks think Paul was expecting Christ to return in his time. There is no evidence for that theory. There are tomes when Paul speaks of the end of time, but you can always tell that by the context. In this case Paul is speaking of this last dispensation of time which has lasted approximately 2000 years, but may be ending soon.
Spoken to us by His Son
If God speaks to us through the efforts of the Holy Spirit, then why does this verse say He has spoken to us in these last days by His Son? The answer is simple! The Holy Spirit carries the message, but the message comes from Christ. John 14:26: ”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Trinity is made up of God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. They are three entities making up the same God. They work in unison and each has their own responsibilities. God works in and about this earth through the efforts and sacrifice of the Son. The Holy Spirit delivers the message that the Son wants us to receive.
Creator
We spoke on this subject last week so I won’t dwell too deeply on it again, but remember Jesus is the creator. The Bible tells us all things were made by Him and for Him. He made everything; without Him was nothing made. Jesus was before all things and was not created, but “begotten” by the Father. This will be important later in our lesson when we contrast Jesus with angels.
1:3 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;
Brightness of His glory
This phrase means the “exact reflection” or the “shining forth.” Jesus is the exact refection of God the Father. He explained it in another place like this: John 14:9 “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” Jesus is claiming to be the exact reflection of the Father. What the Apostles witnessed of His Spirit, words, and actions are the exact replicas of God the Father. He has the same knowledge, power, compassion, and wisdom as God the Father. He is God!
Purged our sins
Jesus is separated from the angels by the accomplishing of His mission and His rank in heaven. Jesus paid the price for our sins. He not only was willing to do this, but He was the only being capable of doing it. Jesus only could’ve lived a perfect life and withstood the hatred and persecution of the devil and yet overcome all in His way to “purge our sins.” No angel has ever been qualified to be the Lamb of God. It took God’s only begotten Son to pay the price of sin. Also, no angel has ever been invited to sit on the right hand of God. Sitting on the right hand of a king is symbolic of being second in authority. Jesus sits at God’s right hand because He is worthy of that distinction. No angel could ever or will ever occupy that seat. It is reserved for the Son of God.
1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Jesus is not an angel
Some folks like to imagine Jesus as an angel or even an arch-angel, but that idea is not Biblical. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was never been, and is not now, an angel. He is the second person of the Godhead. He is the alpha an omega. He is the light of the city of God which is coming down. He is the Great I am, the Lilly of the valley, the Rose of Sharon, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This chapter makes the case that Jesus is divine and not an angel. Let us see the way the Holy Spirit separates Jesus from all the created angels.
1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Son not a created being
This is one of the major differences between Jesus and any angel. An angel is a created being who is formed to be a messenger of God. God has created millions of them and I’m sure they are magnificent, but they are not His Son. Consider the words of Daniel 7:10: “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” The phrase ten thousand times ten thousand means that at the time the Book of Daniel was written there were 100,000,000 angels ministering before God. Some of these angels are magnificent beings. The ones who came to stand before the tomb of Jesus scared the Roman soldiers so bad that they abandoned their posts. John the Revelator fell on his face at the sight of the angel who came to reveal some things to him from God. They are terrific, powerful creatures of God, but they are not ever called Son by God the Father.
1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Angels worship Him
Jesus is not an angel and the angels know it. The angels of heaven worship at His feet. The worshipper understands that he is not the equal of the one worshipped. They know He is part of the Trinity. They understand He is God’s darling and the object of worship for the millions of souls who were converted from their sins by His sacrificial death. He is the star of heaven. The word minister means servant. Jesus is not a servant, but is a Son of God. He submitted to God and made himself of no reputation for the plan of salvation’s sake. Angels are servants, used by God for His purposes. Some of them were sent to minister to Him when He was tempted of Satan in the wilderness. They are the servants of God; He is the Son of God.
1:8 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.
Scepter
Consider this verse to understand the meaning of the “scepter of righteousness.” Esther 5:2 “And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.” The scepter was a symbol of authority for the kings of the mid-east; with it they granted favor and access to their subjects. Their scepter was not shared by others, but was theirs by the right of power. The scepter of heaven belongs to Jesus. It is with His symbol of kingship that He grants me approval. No angel can is worthy of possessing this scepter of the Kingdom; it belongs to the King of Heaven and Jesus Christ is His name.
1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Anointed above thy fellows
John the Baptist understood this concept. When John was trying to explain the superiority of Jesus he said this: John 3:34 “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” Jesus was not an angel, nor is He a great man. He possessed all knowledge and understanding. God endued Him with the Spirit of God without measure which means without limitation. Some folks think Jesus was a great man, a magnificent philosopher, a caring teacher, an amazing prophet, and a man ahead of His time; they are wrong; He is the Son of God. He is superior to all others. Anyone who compares themselves to Him is either ignorant or crazy. There have been a lot of wonderful, talented men and women in the history of this earth, but they all pale in comparison with Jesus. No man has ever acted or spoken like Jesus. No man has ever understood the human condition and reflected the love of God like Him. He is the mark of which no man can measure up. He is God!
Hebrews Chapter 1 (Bible in basic English, commentary only)
1 In times past the word of God came to our fathers through the prophets, in different parts and in different ways; 2 But now, at the end of these days, it has come to us through his Son, to whom he has given all things for a heritage, and through whom he made the order of the generations; 3 Who, being the outshining of his glory, the true image of his substance, supporting all things by the word of his power, having given himself as an offering making clean from sins, took his seat at the right hand of God in heaven; 4 Having become by so much better than the angels, as the name which is his heritage is more noble than theirs. 5 To which of the angels did God say at any time, You are my Son, this day I have given you being? or, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? 6 And again, when he is sending his only Son into the world, he says, Let all the angels of God give him worship. 7 And of the angels he says, Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire: 8 But of the Son he says, Your seat of power, O God, is for ever and ever; and the rod of your kingdom is a rod of righteousness. 9 You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil; and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head more than on the heads of those who are with you.
THE ADDISON FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH BAD WEATHER POLICY:
IT IS OUR POLICY TO HAVE THE CHURCH OPEN AT IT’S SCHEDULED TIMES. IN THE CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, WE WILL POST A MESSAGE ON THE CHURCH PHONE APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS BEFORE CHURCH TIME TO INFORM WHETHER OR NOT THE SERVICE WILL BE CANCELED. THE PHONE NUMBER TO CALL IS 740-367-7063.
THANKS FOR STUDYING WITH US THIS WEEK. OUR LESSONS CAN BE FOUND EACH WEEK ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.ADDISONCHURCH.COM. BE SURE TO SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK WHEN YOU VISIT. WE ALSO WILL EMAIL THE LESSON DIRECTLY TO YOU BY REQUEST AT ADDISONFWBCHURCH@BLUESTARR.NET. YOU WILL NEVER BE ASKED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS, NOR WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE GIVEN OR SOLD TO ANY OUTSIDE SOURCE. SEE YOU SOON!!!!
PASTOR RICK BARCUS
