The Authentic Jesus: Purification for Sins

Hebrews 1:1-4

These rough draft notes are provided to help you follow along with today’s sermon, Sunday October 25th, 2020. Once published, you can find the sermon at http://psnbc.org/

INTRODUCTION: Why this Study, Why Hebrews?

Our goal in this series is to gain a deeper and authentic understanding of God Himself through the person of Jesus Christ.  In some ways this is a push back on the false teachings and false narratives that dominate the airwaves, books stores, and pulpits of today.

It is so we can know Him. This, is incredibly important considering John 17:3, Matthew 7, and the book of Romans. It is the fulfillment of John chapter 1, and the entire reason that God would even give us the Bible, His word, is that we would truly know Him.

We are using the book of Hebrews, though it is the most difficult book of the New Testament to understand, as it reveals a depth regarding the nature of Christ, and ultimately, it teaches us what authentic faith is.  So we will learn about the authentic Jesus and the authentic church.

Heb 1:1-4  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  (2)  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.  (3)  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  (4)  having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

THE TEXT

PART 1 The nature of God makes salvation possible.

Heb 1:1-4  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  

• In the NT we have the written Word.  The expression of God.  In many ways His revelation has progressed and we are in a better state. We have His word, filled with truth, experiences, and the cross by which it is confirmed and possible to abide with Him.
• But in the OT the prophets were the voice of God. Thus, sayeth the Lord.
• Yet, most failed to listen.  They spurned and killed the prophets, rejecting God’s word.

(2)  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

• In the NT we have the fulfillment of OT prophesy and the embodiment of God.
• Jesus reveals who God is and corrects the false teaching and interpretations of those who did not know but spoke or those who spoke but did not know. Jesus is the revelation of the Father to mankind. IF we have seen Him we have seen the Father.
• The Son is thus the Voice of God representing who He is, Heir of all through the cross, and co-Creator with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
• Therefore, the teaching of Christ is that we would know Him. We know Him through repentance, obedience, and abiding in Him.
• We cannot know Him apart from His word.
• In His word, He declares who He is. His Holy Spirit helps us understand.
• He desires to be known. Thus He will reveal.

 (3)  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  

• Jesus represents the glory of God.  Know Him and you will know God.
• His nature is understood by seeing His actions, seeing what God has done.
• Sustainer of the Universe= Sovereign, He can do miracles.
• Sat down = Authority established and the work done

(4)  having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

• The early church dealt with false doctrine as people worshipped angels.
• Jesus is the Son of God.  Nothing less. This must be understood.

PART 2

Understanding His nature, is to understand Holiness

Explain the nature of God as Holy which produces love, justice, wrath, and the purification of sinful people that they may be redeemed.

Holiness is the most overlooked trait. His holiness means that He is separate from the world, there is no sin in Him. He cannot be anything other than holy.  His nature will not contradict itself. (Would not make a rock He cannot lift) We call this transcendent; He is other than anything else.

His nature of holiness therefore is so pure that it is right and just to be the object of worship.  It is true to worship such an existence.

Thus, God created man and woman to be abiding worshippers and to enjoy the expression of His nature. (Genesis 2 & John 4)

But man sinned. (Genesis 3)

This brought a rift of separation. For God cannot abide with sin.

God, to remain Holy must also remain just.  To be just, sin must be punished.  It cannot be overlooked or excused.

Therefore, sin against a holy God deserves wrath.  Wrath is the just recompense for our sin. Even eating a piece of fruit is thus deserving because of the holy nature of God. Therefore, hell exists.

But God, so loved. (John 3:16)

God’s love desires His creation to be saved.  Think on this, to be saved means to be saved from the wrathful nature of God. Therefore, rather than being fair and giving us what we deserve, God so loves. He satisfies the wrath that is due by venting His wrath upon the only one who can fully satisfy it, His own perfect Son.

This sin is punished and a way is made to express His nature of love to the fullest by loving those who do not deserve love at all. Romans 5:8.

Now the gift is free. But it is also costly.

It is also not given out arbitrarily.

To take what is precious and to make it common is shameful, it is a disregard for the Creator of the gift.

Thus, there is a qualification for receiving the gift.  All who would forsake their sins, those desires of self-establishment, who turn unto God acknowledging his holiness and rightful honor to receive all glory, honor, and praise, to these beggars He provides a cleansing, a new nature, and an adoption by which they dine at the Father’s banquet. They leave behind all that once entangled them to find God is good.

To be a Christian is to forsake sin and embrace God as Savior, Lord, and love.

CONCLUSION

So, let us be worshippers of Jesus Christ. Knowing Him by knowing His nature, not just seeking stuff as a beggar who looks for food Let us rather come as sons and daughters, adopted into the family of those whom we once spurned, and know Him for who He is, giving Him the glory He is due.