Do Not Neglect So Great a Salvation

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4).

 

The writer now comes to this reflective question: How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (v. 3). To neglect something is to overlook it, to take it lightly, certainly not to devote yourself steadfastly to it. I am often asked why I drive such a long distance to church (it is located 45 miles from our house). There are some personal reasons for the drive, although the principal reason is the clarity of the Gospel that permeates everything we do there. The name of our church is Gospel City Church. The “gospel” is so much more than a part of the name.

 

I am not so naïve that I believe everyone who attends is a believer; however, I do know that everyone who comes and listens to the music and the message will hear the truth of God’s salvation. Our ministries are all focused on providing a means whereby anyone who takes part can immerse themselves in the gospel. However, even if everyone attended every meeting and participated in every ministry, that still leaves a great majority of time to drift away into neglect. That must be avoided. If you neglect this salvation and treat it lightly, it could be a symptom of the rejection of God’s grace. After all, this salvation is unprecedented. It deserves our diligence and our energetic pursuit of it, certainly not neglect.

 

I think the author of Hebrews has in mind what happened in the Old Testament, where the people had their greatest moment of salvation in the exodus. They were prisoners. They were slaves. Pharaoh would not give them any straw for their bricks, and they were brutally beaten and virtually imprisoned by Pharaoh. They cried, they groaned, they prayed. God heard the groans of His people, sent Moses to Pharaoh, and said, “Let My people go.” The horse and the rider were thrown into the sea. The multitudes of people fleeing from captivity came out. They got to Migdal, and in front of them was the sea and behind them were the chariots of Egypt. Their route seemed to be hopeless—there was no escape. But then, a mighty wind blew and dried up the Red Sea. Israel escaped, but the chariots of Pharaoh did not. That was a great salvation.

 

No sooner were the Israelites rescued from this tyranny than they started complaining about the manna that God provided for them: “Oh, I wish we were back in Egypt. Yes, we might have been slaves, but we had our leeks, onions, and garlic to eat.” They would trade their freedom for the very thing they begged to be rescued from. Is this something of what your actions look like? Do you find yourself wanting the old life, turning back to old habits and sinful practices? It is not too late to voice your repentance and return to the way God has for you!

 

Salvation (σωτηρίας)

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4).

 

The word used in our reading today translated “salvation” (v. 3) comes from the Greek word σωτηρίας (pronounced “sōterias”). We use that word all the time in the Church. However, I wonder if we understand the full meaning of this word. The idea of salvation suggests the idea of some kind of escape or deliverance from a dire circumstance.

 

The verb (sōzō) in the New Testament is used in a variety of ways. If you are saved from a threatening illness, as people were in the New Testament by the touch of Jesus, Jesus might comment, “Your faith has saved you” (cf. Luke 7:50). He is not speaking about eternal salvation, but He is speaking about their rescue from the dreadful disease. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel went into battle, and God intervened on their behalf and saved His people from military defeat. That was rescue from a clear and present danger. So, this verb “to save” is used all kinds of times in all kinds of ways. The Greek verb uses virtually every tense: you saved, you were being saved, you have been saved, you are saved, you are being saved, and you will be saved. Salvation takes all these different tenses of the verb.

 

There is salvation in the general sense that has manifold applications, but when the Bible speaks about salvation in the ultimate sense, it speaks of the ultimate escape from the ultimate dire human condition. It means, as the Scriptures tell us, to be rescued from the wrath that is to come.

 

As I have driven some of the highways through multiple states, I get a bit miffed when I see a sign that says, “God is not angry.” That message, given to every motorist as they travel up and down the road is a very dangerous heresy. If God is not angry—if God has no wrath and there is no wrath to come—then that is the gospel’s ultimate great news. Nobody needs to worry about anything, at least not about the anger of God if the sign is true, because it tells us that God is not angry. Not only is that not true but it is a vicious lie to say that God is not angry. God’s wrath, as we are told in Romans, is revealed to the whole world. But we are at ease in our culture. We are not afraid of His wrath because we have been told repeatedly that God is not mad, that God is not angry, that we do not need to worry about God, that God will save everybody, that all you need to do to get into heaven is to die.

 

The truth is that for nonbelievers, all a person needs to do to get into hell is to die. I wish that everybody who died went to heaven, but the Bible makes it abundantly clear that is not the case, and there awaits a judgment. The greatest calamity that anybody can ever imagine is to be sentenced to hell. However, the great good news is that our soterias has been won! Jesus has come and paid our debt; He has died in our place! Do not neglect this great gift of God!

 

 

There Is No Escape without Jesus

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4).

 

The central theme of this chapter, or at least this portion of the chapter, is the theme of escape. When you think of escape, you think of some kind of deliverance from a dire and life-threatening situation, like escaping from a kidnapper, or soldiers being surrounded in battle and finding a way to retreat safely. That is an escape. But the most common idea with which we associate the idea of escape is imprisonment; not just from jail, but from those prisons that are the most notoriously inescapable, such as the former condition of Alcatraz, Devil’s Island, or the most dreadful of all French prisons, the Château d’If. The last of those mentioned was simply impossible to escape.

 

As dire and dreadful as the circumstances were in the Château d’If, there is an even greater and more dreadful captivity than any human being can imagine. The author of Hebrews speaks of an escape from that captivity. He asks the question, “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” The answer to the question is simple. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” The answer is, we cannot. Maybe one could escape from Alcatraz, or Devil’s Island, or even the Château d’If, but the one prison from which no one ever escapes is hell. There is no escape route. You cannot dig under it. You cannot climb over it. No guard can be bribed. The sentence cannot be commuted.

 

So, the author of Hebrews is saying: “Do you realize what you’ve heard? We have heard from the Word of God Himself about a great salvation.” The impact should be sobering indeed. Yet so many have shrugged away this great danger. Having preached for over half a century I am still amazed at how little regard some have for the reality a eternity without Jesus. And, there is no need to be without Him. He has done everything necessary to pay the debt we can never pay and died the death we all deserve. Trust Him today!

 

The Danger of Drifting

 

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4).

 

After the writer details the excellence of Jesus over the angels, he begins with some exhortation to perseverance. We find this in what we have come to recognize as the second chapter of this epistle. I’m always a bit surprised that “chapters” have become so important in our exposition of the Scripture. They were certainly not present in the original writings. I suppose they are helpful in directing people to specific areas of the Bible. So, without going further in that discussion, note how this division of the letter begins with the word “therefore.” The word “therefore” indicates the conclusion of an argument based upon the propositions stated beforehand. What he has written in the previous section leads to this conclusion of the dangers of neglecting “so great a salvation” by “drifting away.”

 

Let me just pause for a second. The author of Hebrews is getting at the perfect marriage between doctrine and practice. If we believe what he has declared in the first chapter, then that has radical implications for how we live our lives. He begins to show that when he says, “Therefore, we must pay much closer attention.” There is tension in these words because it is not certain grammatically whether the author is using a comparative or a superlative. The author sort of crunches them both together when he speaks of a “much closer attention.” I would prefer that he would simply say that we therefore must pay “the most possible attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

 

Think of that image of drifting. Some people go fishing in boats and do not set the anchor down; they allow the boat to move with the current. They just drift. Where they end up can be somewhat problematic. Scripture uses this kind of figurative language elsewhere when it talks about an “anchor for our soul,” which is the hope we have in Christ. In our text, the author is negatively saying, “Don’t allow yourselves to drift aimlessly away from what you’ve heard here.”

 

The author is speaking about the marvelous comparison he has given about the superiority of Jesus over the angels and over all created things: “Do not drift away from what you have heard, but pay the closest possible attention to it … the message declared by angels proved to be reliable”—this is a reference to the Old Testament idea hinted at in Deuteronomy 33 regarding the law being mediated by the angels. When Moses received the law from God, there were myriads of angels present on that occasion. So, the author of Hebrews says that if the law that came from the angels was ignored by people in the Old Testament and they received a just retribution, how much more responsible are we to that which has come to us from Christ, who is superior to the angels?

 

Do you see this great responsibility? Of course, it is a great privilege we have received in the gift of grace; however, with that privilege comes great responsibility. How are you responding to this gift? Is it just a part of you life when you find yourself in trouble: or, is it the compass of your life? We must be intentional in our determination to walk in this great grace Jesus has won on our behalf! Don’t just drift along!

 

 

Jesus, Sitting at the Rught Hand of God

 

And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:10-14 ESV).

 

Jesus is superior to the angels because He sits at God’s right hand, whereas they are sent out to serve the saints (vv. 13-14). This section introduces the seventh quote with a rhetorical question: “But to which of the angels has He ever said, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’?” The implied answer is, None! The quote comes from Psalm 110:1, which is cited in the New Testament more often than any other Old Testament verse (14 times). Jesus used these verses to stump the Pharisees. He asked them, “Whose son is the Messiah?” They correctly answered, “The son of David.” Then Jesus asked, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’” and quoted this verse. His clinching question was, “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” (Matthew 22:42-45).

 

As we saw in verse 3, Jesus’ exaltation to the right hand of the Majesty on high affirms His supreme authority and lordship. No created being could occupy that place. In the Bible, when men encountered angels, they often fell before them in fear and obeisance, but invariably the angel did not accept such worship, claiming, “I am a fellow servant… worship God” (Rev. 19:10). But even when He was on this earth with His glory veiled, Jesus accepted and encouraged those who fell before Him in worship (Luke 5:8-10; John 9:35-39; 20:26-29). How much more should we worship Him who now sits on the throne of God! How blasphemous it is of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to say that Jesus is a created being, an angel! As verse 14 states, the angels are “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.” To mistake Jesus for an angel is to mix up the Lord with His servants!

 

The descriptions of angels in the Bible show that they are impressive beings. In Genesis, two angels rescued Lot and his family from Sodom and then called down fire and brimstone from heaven on the wicked cities. On another occasion, an angel struck down 70,000 in Israel on account of David’s sin (cf. 2 Samuel 24:15-17). One angel went out into the camp of Sennacherib’s army and struck down 185,000 soldiers in a night (cf. Isaiah 37:36). An angel shut the lions’ mouths so that Daniel was kept safe, and an angel revealed to Daniel the amazing prophecies of things to come. When Daniel saw the angel, it wiped out his strength and took his breath away (cf. Daniel 6:22; 9:20-27; 10:17). An angel delivered Peter from prison and then struck the proud Herod Agrippa, so that he was eaten by worms and died (cf. Acts 12:3-23).

 

The Bible teaches that angels guard believers (cf. 2 Kings 6:15-18; Palm 91:11-12; Matthew 18:10). They are always present in our church services (1 Corinthians 11:10).  And yet, as great and powerful as angels are, they are just servants who stand before Him who sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high! Worship Him alone, because He is Almighty God!

 

Jesus, the Eternal Creator of Heaven and Earth

 

And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV).

 

The next declaration of Jesus’ superiority is found in our reading today (vv. 10-12). Jesus is superior to the angels because He is the eternal Creator of heaven and earth. This sixth quotation is taken from Psalm 102:25-27, which begins, “A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.” The psalmist has gone through some difficult trials, which he describes in strong poetic language in the first part of the psalm. He feels as if he is about to be taken away in the mid-life. But in his weakness and desperation, he considers the eternality, power, and unchangeableness of the Lord as Creator. He says that even though heaven and earth will perish, God remains. Like a man throws away old clothes, God will throw away the universe, but He remains the same, and His years will never come to an end.

 

The remarkable thing about the quote is that in the psalm, these verses clearly describe Almighty God, and yet the author of Hebrews applies them directly to Jesus. Oscar Cullman observed, “We should generally give much more consideration to the by no means self-evident fact that after the death of Jesus the first Christians without hesitation transferred to him what the Old Testament says about God” (in P. Hughes, p. 68).

 

To this Jewish church, these words were not just a theological statement about Jesus’ superiority to the angels. They were also meant to be a source of great comfort during trials. The same eternal Creator who sustained the psalmist during his calamity would sustain them in the midst of their troubles. And that eternal Creator is none other than their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (cf. Hebrews 13:8). Even if you are taken away, you have a lasting refuge in the eternal, unchanging Lord Jesus Christ. Death has no hold over the children of God. It is forever defeated!

 

Jesus, Who Reigns Eternally

 

After making purification for sins, he [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire. But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:4-8 ESV).

 

Jesus is superior to the angels because He is the God who reigns eternally (vv. 8-9). You should notice the contrast between the angels (vv. 6-7) and the Son (v. 8). Here the author quotes Psalm 45:6-7. This psalm celebrated a royal wedding, perhaps of King Solomon or one of David’s other descendants, addressing the king as God. This is not the only place in the Old Testament to use such hyperbolic language (cf. Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:5-6). Some would translate it as, “God is your throne,” but other than theological bias, there is no reason to do so. If someone objects to the Son being addressed as God in verse 8, they still have to contend with verse 10, where He is addressed as the Lord and Creator.

 

The author’s clear point is that, as God, Jesus reigns forever and ever. His rule is marked by the love of righteousness and the hatred of lawlessness. These qualities marked Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, and they will supremely mark His coming kingdom, when He rules the nations with “a rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15). The oil of gladness refers to His triumph over sin and death and His return to His rightful glory. The “companions” may refer to angels, but more likely refers to the “many sons” that He brings to glory through His suffering and resurrection (2:10, 11). Note also that righteousness and joy always go together. In God’s holy presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forever (Ps. 16:11).

 

Thus Jesus is superior to the angels because He is uniquely the Son of God; because they worship and serve Him; and, because He is the God who reigns eternally. He is the only One to be trusted with forever! Knowing that makes it much simpler to trust Him with now!

 

Jesus, the Firstborn of God

After making purification for sins, he [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” (Hebrews 1:4-7 ESV).

 

Jesus is superior to the angels because they worship and serve Him (vv. 6-7). The overall point of these verses is clear, that the angels worship and serve Jesus, not vice versa. But there are several details that require explanation. First, the author refers to Jesus as God’s firstborn. To our minds, firstborn sounds like a chronological concept, that someone was born first in time in a family. But for the Hebrews, firstborn signified position, not time. The oldest son was usually the heir to the father’s estate. As such, he was in a position of privilege and preeminence over his brothers. The title is used in Psalm 89:27, where God says of David, “I shall also make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” David was not the firstborn son of Jesse. In fact, he was the youngest son. But he was the most prestigious and preeminent son, because God had chosen him above his brothers.

 

There are two other important points found in our reading. The first has to do with the adverb “again.” Should it go at the front of the sentence, and thus mark the following quotation as yet another Scripture that sets forth the exalted position of Christ? Or, should it be connected with the verb “brings” (as in the NASB), thus pointing not to the first coming of Christ, but to His second coming? While some scholars argue for the second view, the majority favor the first view. It is not a major issue, in that all who believe in Jesus would agree that the angels worshiped Him when He came to earth the first time (cf. Luke 2:13-14) and that they will worship Him when He comes again (cf. Revelation 5:11-12).

 

The other issue is the source of the quote. It is similar, but not exact, to Psalm 97:7 in the Septuagint. But it is verbatim from the Septuagint of Deuteronomy 32:43. The problem is, this line in the Septuagint is not in the Hebrew Bible. But it has been found in one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and so perhaps was original. The main point is that the angels belong to Jesus (“His angels”) and that they obey His commands. Thus, they are His servants, and not vice versa. Also, the terms “winds” and “fire” point to the transitory, changing nature of their service, as contrasted with the eternal sovereignty and glory of Christ. The point is that Jesus is superior to the angels because they worship and serve Him. What should that remind us of? Clearly, if the angels worship Jesus, we ought to do the same. This is much more than gathering on Sundays to sing. Our worship should be the framework of our lives. All that we do should be in worship of the Son of God. He is the only One who deserves such behavior from us. Is that how you base your decisions about life?

  

Jesus, the Son of God

 

After making purification for sins, he [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? (Hebrews 1:4-5 ESV).

 

Today we will dig a little deeper into this passage in the initial verses of Hebrews. Remember, the writer is declaring that Jesus is greater than any other thing in all of creation because He is God. The author uses the Old Testament to prove his point, since his readers accepted its authority. He uses seven passages, all taken from the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. They may be grouped under five thoughts. The first is that Jesus is superior to the angels because He is uniquely the Son of God (vv. 4-5). The author says that Jesus has “become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they” (v. 4). For the Hebrews, the name signified the essential character of a person in himself and in his work. In the sense of His eternal existence and His essential nature, Jesus always had a more excellent name than the angels. That did not change when He took on humanity in the Incarnation.

 

But the statement here about His having become as much better than the angels refers to what Jesus accomplished through His incarnation, death on the cross for our sins, resurrection, and ascension into glory again. The name that is especially in view here is, “Son of God.” While the angels were sometimes referred to in the plural as “sons of God” (cf. Job 1:6), and while believers are called “sons of God” (cf. John 1:12), no single angel or believer was ever referred to as “the Son of God.” That title uniquely belongs to Jesus and signifies His deity, as the Jews themselves knew (cf. John 5:18).

 

The author backs up the claim to Jesus’ more excellent name by quoting the well-known messianic Psalm 2:7: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” In that psalm, the verse quoted here is preceded by the statement, “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord.” Because that decree took place in eternity, before creation. This doctrine has been affirmed by the Church for centuries. Christians of all denominations have affirmed the eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ and have said that He is “eternally begotten” by the Father, not made (“The Nicene Creed”). In other words, since God exists in eternity, begetting is not an event that took place in time. Rather, it describes an eternal relationship between the first and second members of the Godhead. They always have and always will relate to one another as Father and Son. Like a human father and son, God the Father and Jesus the Son share the same essential nature, which is the main point. Unlike a human father and son, God the Father did not pre-date the existence of God the Son, because Jesus shares His nature as eternal God (cf. John 1:1-3).

 

Thus, the author’s first point is that Jesus is greater than the angels because of His unique position as the Son of God, as seen in two Old Testament prophecies. To demote Him to the level of the angels, who are mere messengers (1:14), would be blasphemy! However, the meaning is far deeper for us practically. It is WHO He is that gives Him the power to fulfill all the promises He has made. There are thousands of those recorded in the Scripture; however, let me remind you of just one:

 

[Jesus said] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-7 ESV).

 

If I want eternal life, I only need to know Jesus! It won’t be an angel that comes to get me when I die. It will be the Son of God, Jesus! Now, that gives me hope and encourages me in the times that are difficult!

 

Jesus, the Son of God

 

After making purification for sins, he [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? (Hebrews 1:4-5 ESV).

 

Today we will begin a closer look at the passage from yesterday. The reading today is the first two verses of the longer passage. It emphasizes the essential truth that Jesus is indeed the Son of God.

 

One October morning in 1977, Maria Rubio was in her small green stucco house in southeastern New Mexico, preparing her husband’s lunch. It was 6 a.m., and she was making burritos—cooking beans, scrambling eggs, and preparing tortillas from scratch. And then she saw it, as she was putting together the second burrito: a burn mark on one of the tortillas, in the shape of a little face. That image was about an inch tall and an inch wide. If you look at photos from back then, the likeness is at best difficult to definitively identify. For Maria, however, she was convinced it was the image of Jesus. Her testimony is that it forever changed her life.

 

We may laugh at that story, but to be mistaken about the person of Jesus Christ is no laughing matter. As we’ve seen in the past week, the most crucial question for each person to answer correctly is Jesus’ question to His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). If we have an inadequate or incorrect view of who Jesus is, we will not be able to have a relationship with Him that results in eternal life. He cannot be seen as a great teacher, or a miracle worker, or a prophet of God. The writer of Hebrews sees the importance of this and takes great care to detail who Jesus really is. Here he says Jesus is the Son of God.

 

Since this is such a crucial matter, it is not surprising that the world and the devil have consistently attacked the person of Christ. Sometimes the attacks have denied Jesus’ true humanity. At other times they undermine the true deity of Jesus. Many have taught that Jesus is just “slightly” below the status of God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is “a god,” and even “a mighty god,” but not God Almighty. They teach that Jesus was created as the archangel Michael and that through him, all other things in the universe were created. Thus, they hold to a relatively high view of Jesus, but they deny His full deity. But as Bishop Moule once said, “A Savior not quite God is a bridge broken at the farther end.”

We know that the Apostle Paul warned the Colossian church about the early Gnostic heresy that included angel worship (cf. Colossians 2:18). There was also a Jewish Dead Sea Sect, which believed in a dual messiah, both of whom would be subject to the archangel Michael. These views may have infiltrated this Jewish church. And, since the Jews at this time had begun to embellish the Old Testament teaching on angels he also sets out to convince his readers that Jesus is supreme over Judaism. He shows how He was not only supreme over Moses, but also over the angels. He shows them that Jesus’ becoming a man did not place Him beneath the angels in terms of His essential nature as eternal God. Jesus’ superiority to the angels rests on the fact that He is God. We cannot deny that truth.

 

Greater than Angels

 

After making purification for sins, he [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, shas anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:4-14 ESV).

 

People have been fascinated with angels since the beginning of time. This is vividly illustrated in our age of multiple streams of media. There have been many TV shows and movies that have captured viewers’ attention with fictional stories about angels and other spiritual beings. Do you remember the television series “Touched by an Angel”? It first aired in 1994 and ran through 2003. It was a touching and entertaining series that dealt with a lot of heavier issues in a sweet and tender way. Often it encouraged, inspired and gave pause to ponder. It gave viewers frequent opportunities to walk in another’s shoes, to have empathy and kindness for fellow people and the world around them. It featured a group of three angels who were dispatched from heaven to help those in need. It was a popular show. Yet it did not represent the real magnitude of the power and majesty of these heavenly beings as we see them in Scripture. In the Bible angels are powerful beings capable of anything.

 

We are not exactly sure why the book of Hebrews has a heavy emphasis on angels. There may have been some popular speculation about them back in the time when it was written. Maybe people were trying to reduce Jesus to the same level as angels. But one thing that Hebrews makes clear is that Jesus is far superior to the angels. Angels are messengers of God. Prophets also were messengers of God. But Jesus is far greater because he is God.

 

Our text says it rather simply. After reminding readers of all that Jesus is and has done, Hebrews says, “So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” Then the rest of the chapter quotes from text after text in the Old Testament to show how much superior Jesus is. The focus of Hebrews is on Jesus. Not even the angels can compare to him.

 

Do you see the impact of this truth? Even if we could command the angels to come to our aid, we do not need their inferior support. We have the presence and power of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe; we have the relationship of the Son of God who has redeemed us and sits on the very throne of heaven as ruler over all! Jesus is all we could ever need and He is in us to do His good will!

 

 

The Sustainer of All Things

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

 

There aren’t many people who still read “books.” With so many different electronic alternatives available many people choose to “read” differently than I. I still like to hold a book in my hands. It evokes a wonderful feeling when I can touch the cover and turn the pages. Books are more expensive to purchase than the electronic versions because of the necessary process of printing and binding. With the loss of the popularity of actual “books” we have also lost some of the rich meaning of the word used in our reading as he declares that Jesus is the one who “upholds the universe” (v. 3). That actual word means to bear or carry. It can refer to the physical act of carrying something, as well as more abstract concepts such as bearing responsibility or bringing forth results. Thus, it illustrates the image we have of Jesus holding all things together.

 

Earlier we focused on Christ as the maker of all things. And here we note that he is holding it all together. This image is powerful. In Christ all things were made, and through Christ all things are sustained and held together. God did not create all things and then leave them to sustain themselves. Through Christ, all things are being sustained and held together. This serves as a powerful reminder that God is in control. The Heidelberg Catechism helps us see how we can respond to this: “We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing in creation will separate us from his love” (Q&A 28).

 

Whenever life seems to be going out of control, we have this assurance that God is holding everything together. Find rest and peace in knowing that Christ is “sustaining all things by his powerful Word.” All things are bound together in Him for good (Romans 8:28).

 

The Perfect Imprint of God's Nature

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

 

For over 2,000 years people have tried to represent how Jesus looked in various forms of art. There are some who believe the Shroud of Turin is the image of Jesus imprinted on the linen at the time of His death. The truth is found in Hebrews as the writer simply says: “[Jesus is] the exact imprint of [God’s] being” (v. 3). The Greek word translated as “imprint” in the ESV is from the Greek verb χαράσσω (charassō), meaning "to engrave" or "to inscribe." The term "charaktér" in the Greek language refers to an engraving tool or stamp, and by extension, the mark or impression made by such a tool. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the exact representation or image of something, particularly in relation to the nature and essence of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.

 

In ancient Greek culture, "charaktér" was commonly used in the context of engraving and minting coins, where it denoted the precise image or likeness stamped onto a coin. This concept of an exact representation was significant in philosophical and theological discussions about the nature of divinity and the visible manifestation of the divine. In the context of the New Testament, it underscores the belief in Jesus Christ as the perfect and complete revelation of God the Father.

 

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).  Likewise, we’re told by the Apostle Paul, “The Son is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). In Jesus we can see God—and this has to do with God’s character. Jesus reveals “the exact imprint” of God’s nature. In Jesus we see that God is loving, merciful, caring, just, righteous, and more. In the actions and words of Jesus, we see God’s character. We are not waiting for another revelation of God; there is no one better than God Himself. Jesus is that God, the only God. Others who have claimed deity are merely inadequate fakes. Truth in Jesus alone!

The Radiance of God's Glory

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

 

There are times when I must drive east early in the morning. It can be very difficult to see ahead without something to block the glare created by the sun. I often wear polarized sunglasses and use the visor to deflect the glare. However, even then, it is still difficult to see. I’m sure that will be even more pronounced now that I’ve had cataract surgery and lens replacement in both eyes.

 

There are other things that come with the brilliance of the sun though. Since my surgery I’ve noticed a distinct difference in the brilliance of colors and clarity in the details revealed by the beautiful, clear light radiating from the sun. However, the Sun also radiates heat, warming the earth each day as it gives light for plants and for growing food. We cannot separate the radiating light and heat from the sun; these properties always go together with sunlight for our life here on earth.

 

Similarly, we cannot separate Jesus, the Son of God, from God himself. Hebrews says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory…” (v. 3). Think about what this means. In Jesus, the glory of God came to dwell among us, taking on our flesh and becoming one of us. The glory of God in Christ was humbled on the cross when he died to pay the price of our sin for us. Then the glory of God shone in its brilliance when Jesus rose again from the dead.

 

“The radiance of God’s glory” came for all to see. As the gospel of John explains, Jesus came to give light to everyone in the world (cf. John 1:9). Jesus came to draw us to himself, the light of the world, so that we could come out of darkness. We’ll see more about this superiority of Jesus as the writer will point us to His unmatched perfection later in this epistle. Today, think about how incredible it is that Jesus is our Savior, our brother, our friend, our healer, and our sustainer for all things! The radiance of God’s glory lives within us!

 

The Creator of All Things

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

 

Often, I try to use short readings for the devotionals; however, sometimes this necessitates larger gaps between thoughts. Today, we return to the same reading as yesterday to emphasize a second declaration about Jesus. He was appointed heir of all things and he is the one through whom all things were created. While it might seem as if this is a mere afterthought in the writer’s mind, it is so much more than that. This is not the first time this is stated in the Scripture. This same idea is mentioned by both the Apostle John (cf. John 1:3) and the Apostle Paul (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16). When Hebrews says that through Jesus God “made the universe,” it is saying that Jesus is over and above all things because he created it all.

 

All the Old Testament prophets pointed to Christ. When he came to live among us as truly human, he was fulfilling all that was written about him. The writer of Hebrews knew that some people were looking past Christ to the prophets and the Old Testament. Here the writer of Hebrews is describing the greatness of Christ in a few powerful statements about him. This declaration of Jesus as the creator of all things points to His divinity. He is truly God.

 

Knowing that Jesus is the maker of all things means that we can trust in him for all things. We can depend on him as the one who cares for his creation. When things in life seem to be out of control, we can trust in the sovereign power of Jesus as Lord over everything to create good from all these things on our behalf. He is the only one we can depend upon to do that. Whatever your journey looks like today, remember He can be trusted. Follow Him!

 

The Heir of All Things

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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. 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, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

 

It’s been a while since I’ve taken a dive into Hebrews; however, since we are beginning a study at our church in this epistle, I thought it would be interesting to return to it for our Morning Devotionals. We do not know who the author of this letter was, though many scholars think it might have been Barnabus or Apollos. In recent years some have suggested that it could have been Luke. Even if it was not Luke, we do know the writer had a firsthand relationship with the disciples who were around Jesus. It is clear that it is anchored in the teaching of the apostles.

 

It’s also unclear who the audience of this letter was or where they lived. The author, however, knows them well, and he also assumes they have a thorough knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Torah. The author expects them to be familiar with the story of Abraham’s family, all the details of the exodus, what happened at Mount Sinai, and Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Because of this expectation, it’s most likely that this letter was written to Jewish Christians, which explains the letter’s title, “to the Hebrews.”

 

Throughout all the comparisons that make up the main body of the letter, the author has two main goals. First, he elevates Jesus as superior to anyone and anything else to show that he is worthy of total trust and devotion. Second, he challenges these believers to remain faithful to Jesus despite persecution. This is why each section includes a strong warning to not abandon Jesus.

 

The first declaration about Jesus is that he has been appointed “heir of all things.” Prophets were sent to speak to God’s people. They brought important news and teachings from God, but they were merely messengers. Now God has come and has spoken to his people directly through his Son, who is the “heir of all things.” This reference points back to Psalm 2:7-8, which says, “He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.’” In Jesus, God fulfills this amazing promise. Jesus is the heir who receives all that the Father has. Peter says that this inheritance “can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).

 

This has great significance for us. As followers of Christ, we are adopted into God’s family as his children, and we are “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). As co-heirs with Christ, we are set to inherit all that Christ inherits. Of course, this includes salvation from sin and eternal life with him; however, there is so much more. In the coming weeks, this will be the central theme of each devotional. My prayer for you is that you will know this great gift of God through His grace more than ever before!

 

A Corner of Reflection

As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:18-20 ESV).

 

I have included a picture of what I think of as my “corner of reflection.” Though it is difficult to see some of the details, the Aggie chair is most prominent. Behind the chair on the display case are two icons. One is a hand painted image of Jesus as the “suffering Savior.” The taller of the icons is a hand painted image of the nativity scene. Those two images remind me of the beginning and ending of the earthly ministry of Jesus. However, there are other mementos in the display that carry other reminders, like, “Sing like no one is listening”; “Dance like no one is watching”; “Love like you have never been hurt before”; “Live like heaven begins tomorrow”; and “Today I need a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus.”

 

The Aggie chair sits beside the tree, and when people enter my house, they usually notice it quickly as they remark how typical it would be for us to have such a chair among our other furnishings. the tree and comment on it. We usually chuckle a bit at those remarks and reply how it is a steady reminder of all that is good in our lives. After all, our fifty-five years of marriage began there. These things also remind me to give thanks for the gracious gifts of God in family, friends, and ministry.

 

The Apostle Paul reflects that attitude in our reading today. He reminds us of who God is. God’s promises are sealed with the “Yes” of his love for us in Jesus. God’s “Amen” (“So be it”) is to his glory. He has affirmed us as his own, and through the Holy Spirit he has given us full, new life. There is no waffling on God’s part. God’s “Yes” is always “Yes.”

 

I hope that will be your “Wow!” thought for the day. God is completing in you what he started!

  

The Mystery of the Future

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV).

 

It may seem strange to use the 23^rd Psalm as a reference for exploring the mystery of our future. However, the image David uses to describe the provision of the Lord for us is very vivid. The psalm is about intentional care and hospitality. It describes the important work of a faithful shepherd for his flock of sheep. Without a shepherd, the sheep would be hopelessly lost and afflicted by disease or predators. This psalm helps us see how the Lord is our shepherd, and we are his sheep.

 

The mention of a table takes the relationship with God even deeper. The Lord prepares a banquet for us. Our host makes sure that everything is taken care of. When we sit at the table, we acknowledge that we can trust our host to sustain us with all he has provided. Full plates give us all we need while God protects us from the enemies around us.

 

Through the years I have built many “picnic” tables. One of those tables was at the request of my oldest son, Kyle. When we lived in North Carolina, our oldest grandchildren were just toddlers. He approached me with the idea of building a playset in the back yard, which was heavily wooded. As I thought about the design, I determined that it would be great to build two towers using the trees as a part of the design. Between the towers I also added a swinging bridge. Of course, I also added a slide, a climbing wall, and a swing extension with two swings and a glider. To complete the scene, I also built a picnic table placing it in the grassy area near the playset. There were many great memories made around that table as the neighborhood children gathered with Faith and Logan to play and eat their snacks. That is the picture we get from this psalm of David. There was always a sense of jubilant celebration around the table! That’s what we have to look forward to in Christ!

 

The Mystery of the Cross

 

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:20-25 ESV).

 

The picture I’ve attached today is titled “Destiny.” It was done by an artist who wishes to remain anonymous. It beautifully depicts Jesus as a young boy in Joseph's carpenter shop. The nail spikes and the shadow of a cross fortell the events to come; the destiny Christ that came to fulfill. Our reading today describes the effect of the cross on men whether Jew or Gentile. Paul writes that it is a “stumbling block for the Jew and folly to the Gentile” (v. 23). Yet, this is the only act that God could perform to guarantee forgiveness and restoration to us.  

 

In other writings from the Apostle Paul, we see more of the mystery of the Cross. In his letter to the Colossians, he paints a huge picture of Jesus. He is indeed the fullness of God. Jesus has the authority to rule because all creation has been made through him. Most importantly, though, Jesus is as close as the air we breathe, and he has made it possible for the Holy Spirit to live in us. God calls each of us his own. All this and more gives us reason to worship and to give thanks.

 

We should not only appreciate this news but also to use it as a springboard to pray for others. We do not pray in vain. We pray so that we may know God better, so that our faith may grow. Paul knows that standing on this foundation of truth is worth everything. This is the essence of God’s great grace!