Loving Others
Recently I was in a meeting where the speaker was talking about “loving people into the Kingdom.” At first this brought back memories to me of years gone by where we, as preachers, were told that we should never mention things like “the blood of Jesus” and “any sort of sin” or it would turn those who were looking for a church family away never to darken the doors of our church again! But as I listened to this brother speak he was not following the “old school” of thought, but he was making a very valid point for the church today. We (both at church and those belonging to the church of Jesus Christ) should be at the forefront of displaying the love God demonstrated toward us by sending His only Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we might enjoy a restored relationship with our heavenly Father.
Loving someone into God’s Kingdom is not about hiding the truth from them. It involves us looking past our pre-conceived judgments at an individual and sharing that same God-Love with them which brought us to Him.
We are called to be witnesses for God. So get out there – show off the love of your God and I really believe others will take notice.
Jesus Verses the Angels message 3
The Revelation of Christ: Jesus vs. the Angels
Hebrews 1:3b – 14
Hebrews 1:3-14
3b …when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son,Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father,And He shall be to Me a Son”?
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
In these ten verses the author uses seven Old Testament passages to back-up his argument that Jesus, the Son of God, is better than the angels.
Of these seven:
- 5 are from the Psalms
- 1 is from the Major Prophets
- 1 is from the Torah
(1) He has the Position
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”?
Psalms 2:7-9
7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”
None of the angels have ever been addressed like this.
Luke 1:32-33
Gabriel speaking to Mary – “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Mark 1:9-11
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Peter & John speaking after they had been released from prison:
Acts 4:23-31
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
After Jesus had proved His obedience through His suffering He was then raised to the position of power at the right hand of the Father.
- Jesus’ position as Son of God gives Him and thus us unlimited power
(2) He has the Perfect Relationship
“I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?
The prophet Nathan speaking to David:
2 Samuel 7:11-13
11 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
- Jesus is forever
(3) He has the Preeminence
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
The first two quotes set Jesus out as the Son of God – this one sets His out as the one who is to be worshipped by the angels.
Psalms 97:7
“Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods.”
The ending of the Song of Moses just before his death:
Deuteronomy 32:43 NKJV
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”
The same passage found on the scrolls found in the Cave of Qumram, which the writer of Hebrews should have been familiar with:
“Rejoice, ye heavens, along with him,
And let the sons of God worship him;
Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people,
And let all the angels of God ascribe strength to him;
For he avenges the blood of his sons, and will avenge it,
And will recompense punishment to his adversaries;
Even to those who hate him will he recompense it,
And the Lord will cleanse His people’s land.”
Jesus has been brought to the earth and should be acknowledged & worshipped.
- Jesus is worthy to be worshipped
(4) He has the Pertinence (relevancy to the subject)
“Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
Psalm 104 sets up a quick snapshot of the splendor of God/Jesus and sets the angels in their order:
Psalms 104:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
5 You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever,
Some versions render verse 4 as: “before whom the hosts of angels stand trembling and at whose command they are changed to wind and fire.”
Making the ministry of the angels to be an absolute following of the will of God and at His command they become for him wind and fire.
- Even the angels are subject to His will and will carry out His commands
(5) He has the Power
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Psalms 45:6-7
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
David’s throne had a defined beginning and a defined end – Jesus’ throne through David’s line will go on forever because of the authority given to Him by the Father.
- There will be no ending of the kingdom and authority of Jesus.
(6) He has the Permanence
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
This Psalm has this inscription: “A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah.”
Psalms 102:1
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.”
Psalms 102:25-27
25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.
27 But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.
- The staying power of God
(7) He has the Placement
“Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
This is from the opening words of:
Psalms 110:1-2
1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
This again refers to the enthronement of Christ and carries with it the promise of victory over all of the enemies.
- Jesus ultimate triumph over all evil.
(1) He has the Position
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”?
- Jesus’ position as Son of God gives Him and thus us unlimited power
(2) He has the Perfect Relationship
“I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?
- Jesus is forever
(3) He has the Preeminence
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
- Jesus is worthy to be worshipped
(4) He has the Pertinence (relevancy to the subject)
“Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
- Even the angels are subject to His will and will carry out His commands
(5) He has the Power
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
- There will be no ending of the kingdom and authority of Jesus.
(6) He has the Permanence
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
- The staying power of God
(7) He has the Placement
“Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
- Jesus ultimate triumph over all evil.
The Revelation of Christ
The Revelation of Christ: Jesus vs. the Prophets
Hebrews 1:1-3
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high
“God has spoken”
This initial affirmation is basic to the whole argument of Hebrews. Had God remained silent the plight of mankind would have been overwhelmingly desperate. He has spoken His redeeming, revealing, and life-giving Word.
The revelation of Christ was given in two stages:
(1) To the fathers through the prophets
(2) In God’s Son, Jesus
- This is not from the less true to the more true, but from the less-worthy to the more-worthy, from the less-mature to the more-mature.
- The first stage was given in a variety of ways:
- mighty works of mercy & judgment
- works through the prophets & servants
- storm & thunder
- still small voice
- floods & “natural” disasters
- But His Word was not complete until Christ came
2 Corinthians 1:20
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us”
Seven facts about Christ:
(1) God has appointed Him heir of all things.
Psalms 2:8
“Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”
Hebrews 2:5-9
5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.
6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
(2) It was through Him that God made the worlds.
Greek for worlds = “aiones” which means “ages” – the whole created universe including space and time.
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Colossians 1:15-18
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
(3) He is the brightness of God’s glory.
Some translations use “effulgence” for brightness or radiance – a shining forth
Alexandrian Book of Wisdom
“…a breath of the power of God,
And a clear effulgence of the glory of the Almighty;
… an effulgence from everlasting light,
And an unspotted mirror of the working of God,
And an image of His goodness.”
Just as the radiance of the sun reaches the earth so the brightness of Jesus reaches into the soul of mankind.
(4) He is the express image of the substance of God.
Like the image stamped on a coin.
RSV – “bears the very stamp of His nature.”
- Just as the glory is in the radiance so the substance is in the image.
- What God is – is manifest in Christ
(5) He upholds all things by the Word of His power.
- His mighty word or His enabling Word
- His creative not only caused the world but causes it to maintain its being
(6) He has made purification of sins.
- Now the word changes from cosmic functions to personal relations
- The role of High Priest will be seen throughout the Book
- This speaks of the wonder of grace which is the only answer for our sins.
- Something only Jesus could do.
(7) He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
- Shows the exaltation and supremacy of Christ
Ephesians 4:10
“He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.”
Philippians 2:9-11
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ is the only one who is qualified to be the mediator between God and Man:
- He is the Prophet through which God has spoken His final Word to man
- He is the Priest who has accomplished the perfect work of cleansing for mankind’s sins
- He is the King who sits enthroned in the place of honor alongside the Majesty on High.
The Better Covenant
The Better Covenant
Hebrews 1:1a
“Pro Ebraious” = “To Hebrews”
To whom was the Book of Hebrews written?
There is, as in the question which follows concerning the writer of the book, some degree of uncertainty about exactly whom the recipients of the Book of Hebrews were to be. Many scholars maintain that it was addressed to Gentile Christians, who were in danger of committing what could be considered apostasy and renouncing their faith and the true religion. This can be seen in the use of phrases such as, (ch. 3:12) “falling away from the living God.” The argument can be made here that that statement alone cannot definitely indicate the original hearers were only Gentile. If it were to be Jewish converts to Christ then them falling away should not really be termed apostasy since they would only be returning to service to Jehovah under Moses’ Law and not a complete falling away into godlessness (re. 6:16 & 9:14).
The writer of the Book of Hebrews has and still remains a great mystery.
Many of the converted had been turning back to Judaism.
As to the scope and design of this epistle, it is very evident that it was clearly to inform the minds, and strongly to confirm the judgment, of the Hebrews in the Excellency of the Gospel above the law, and so to take them off from the ceremonies of the law, to which they were so committed, of which they were so fond, that they even doted on them, and those of them who were Christians retained too much of the old leaven, and needed to be purged from it.
The design of this epistle was to persuade and press the believing Hebrews to a constant adherence to the Christian faith, and perseverance in it, notwithstanding all the sufferings they might meet with in so doing. In order to this, the apostle speaks much of the Excellency of the author of the gospel, the glorious Jesus, whose honor he advances, and whom he justly prefers before all others, showing him to be all in all, and this in lofty strains of holy rhetoric. It must be acknowledged that there are many things in this epistle hard to be understood, but the sweetness we shall find therein will make us abundant amends for all the pains we take to understand it. And indeed, if we compare all the epistles of the New Testament, we shall not find any of them more replenished with divine, heavenly matter than this to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 1:1a KJV
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake…”
Hebrews 1:1a NKJ
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke…”
(1) Your Relationship to the Law
God has always expected complete compliance to His law – We all have failed!
The Law only has death in it for us.
(2) Your Relationship to Christ
Jesus is our answer to the death found in the Law.
Our relationship to Him will be the determining factor in our eternity.
(3) Your Relationship to Faith
Our faith is more than the ability to believe the impossible – it encompasses our entire religious system.
It is the motivating factor for all of your deeds.
Your faith system is what binds you into your relationship with Christ.
(4) Your Relationship to Life
All of the first three points collide here at your life.
What you do, who you are and how you act, in other words your whole life, are a collection of your relationships.
Question: Are you where you should be in your relationship with Christ?
Question: Are you progressing in your Christian life?
If the answer to either one of these questions is “no” then why not start today to move closer to Him and improve your relationship to Him?
