Monday: God Has Spoken to Us by His Son
Read Hebrews 1:1-4. What is the central idea of these verses?
In the original Greek, Hebrews 1:1-4 is only one sentence, and it has been argued that it is the most beautiful in all the New Testament from the point of view of its rhetorical artistry. Its main assertion is that God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus.
Copyright by Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
For the Jews in the first century A.D., the word of God had not been heard for a long time. The last revelation to be expressed in the Written Word of God had come through the prophet Malachi and the ministries of Ezra and Nehemiah four centuries before. But now, through Jesus, God was speaking to them again.
God’s revelation through Jesus, however, was superior to the revelation that God had made through the prophets because Jesus is a greater means of revelation. He is God Himself, who created the heaven and the earth and rules the universe. For Paul, the deity of Christ is never in question. It’s all but assumed.
Also, for Paul, the Old Testament was the Word of God. The same God who spoke in the past continues to speak in the present. The Old Testament communicated a true knowledge of God’s will.
However, it was possible to understand its fuller meaning only when the Son arrived on earth. In the author’s mind, the Father’s revelation in the Son provided the key to understanding the true breadth of the Old Testament, just like the picture on the box of a jigsaw puzzle provides the key to finding the correct place for every one of its pieces. Jesus brought so much of the Old Testament to light.
Meanwhile, Jesus came to be our Representative and our Savior. He would take our place in the fight and defeat the serpent. Similarly, in Hebrews, Jesus is the “pioneer” or “captain” and “forerunner” of believers (Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 6:20). He fights for us and represents us. This also means that what God did for Jesus, our Representative, the Father also wants to do for us. He who exalted Jesus at His right hand also wants us to sit with Jesus on His throne (Revelation 3:21). God’s message to us in Jesus includes not only what Jesus said but also what the Father did through Him and to Him, all for our temporal and eternal benefit.
| Think through what it means that Jesus — God — came to this earth. Why should this truth bring us so much hope? |
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When I asked students to write papers, they would often struggle to write something useful in the first paragraph. They would often resort to writing some sort of inane generalisation which had little meaning or relevance to the topic in hand. In our discussions about their papers. I would often strike out the first sentence or paragraph and point out where their paper really began. My advice to students was that their first sentence or paragraph needed to provide a link back to where you are coming from and a signpost about where you are going.
The author of Hebrews must have come from the same school that taught me. because the first few verses are a clear statement of the "from" and the "to" of the letter. We have a history that has informed us, and a future we need to embrace.
Again the word that catches my attention in Hebrews 1:2 "These last days".
I believe it is referring to the promise given by Christ himself at the garden of Eden. Affirmed by all the prophets to the time of Christ.
That is why on the road to Emmaus Christ beginning with Moses explained about himself in the Old Testament scriptures.
No other sacrifice. No other provision has been made to offer for the sin of the world. He is the beginning and end of our faith. In Him rests all the hope of humanity.
How have you responded to God's provision?
There is none other.
God has spoken to us!
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is the Word of God.
Trust the Word of the LORD, compare any 'new' understanding with the clear Landmarks, as the Holy Spirit through Paul said:
1Cor 15:1-4
1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures!
Acts 20:30
Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.
In John chapter 14:1-31, I find a clear scenario how Jesus recapitulated His message to the disciples by pointing out important pillars of faith for them to be taken seriously. Here my humble abbreviation:
„Don’t worry when I die, my time is up and I need to go home to my father to prepare mansions for you. I’m the only means by which you can be saved. Believe what I‘m telling you, because my father and I are one deity. You can ask anything in my name and it will be granted. My commandments are so important, don’t neglect them, because by keeping them you are showing me that you love me. So don‘t be sad when I‘m gone because I will send you another comforter to lead and guide you and my peace will be with you. I‘m telling you all this ahead of time, so you would believe me when it happens. That‘s all I‘m going to say for now and remember, the devil is already defeated.“
Jesus talked the talk and walked the walk. That‘s exactly what He‘s exhorting us to do.
A sentence in the last paragraph in today's lesson says:
"He who exalted Jesus at His right hand also wants us to sit with Jesus on His throne (Rev. 3:21) reminds me of Ephesians 2:4-7
I like that comparison Tom, but I wonder how many readers take the time to look up the reference and read its detail. I am quoting here:
Maurice, I appreciate your response to my post; using the ESV version. It seems to be one of those verses that might be difficult to understand, but there are many that use a "past* tense for future events, like Is.53:5. However, the verses also help to explain that "in coming ages He might show incomparable riches of his grace".
“God has spoken to us by His Son’! This is fundamental and believed by those who’s heart and mind is ready to receive this Truth. I have a KJ Bible with red lettering highlighting the text which is supposed to have been spoken by Jesus personally. I am greatly appreciating this feature.
As the lesson writer points out: “In the original Greek, Heb.1:1-4 is only one sentence’ ", adding, 'that it just might be the most beautiful in all the New Testament from the point of view of its rhetorical artistry.'
Jesus’ mission was to show mankind the 'Way to the Father'; this is known by His recorded words: John14:6NKJV - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Written in a modern language, it is God's universally applicable Truth condensed into one sentenced!
I am certain that, starting at Pentecost, the apostles' mission work was well underway. More people than ever before benefitted from hearing about Christ Jesus’ Gospel introducing the New Way’ to come to the Father, and countless believers came to believe the message of salvation.
For the benefit of the Hebrews familiar with the Old Testament, I am also certain that everyone participating in introducing them to this new ‘Way’, would have called to their remembrance texts from the Old Testament Scripture to support their new teachings and new interpretations; this is recorded by some apostles and others who went out to teach and preach.
God’s fundamental Truth has always been timeless and never intended to be confined to a certain people living in a certain area, though God chose to introduce The ‘Truth, the Way, and the Life’ by making a Covenant with the children of Abraham.
12 apostles were taught by Jesus, learning from Him personally many more truths and insights before being send on their way, aided by the Holy Spirit, to introduce everyone they would meet to the ‘Way leading to the Father’.
Paul was a latecomer to the 'New Way'; much like those wo know about God but not knowing God personally. I think He is a good example when talking to others with different religious experiences when introducing Christ Jesus’ ‘Way of Faith’! When Paul was finally willing to give up the old ways and accepted the new ‘Way’, he experienced the power of God’s Holy Spirit to change the heart and mind of man – Acts 9:1-19AMP.