“The Supremacy of Christ”Hebrews 1:1-3

Superiority of Jesus…•As a kid, I felt like I had to “one-up” everyone; be smarter, wittier, etc.•This one-upmanship is a psychological defense mechanism to conceal feelings of inferiority•Many lost folks think that God has a “Superiority Complex”, in that he must prove Himself to humans by exerting His power over stuff

Superiority of Jesus…•The problem with this is many-fold, but the main aspect is that when Scripture describes His superiority, it is NOT an exaggeration– He really is above all!•In His superiority and excellency over mankind, He is needs not exaggerate to make Himself feel better, rather He shows us that He is trustworthy and we can depend on Him•Hebrews displays all this, with the immediate purpose in the first three verses; to prove that Jesus•Christ is superior to the prophets – the men who were held in the highest respect by the Jewish people

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NASB)

A. God Spoke through the Prophets•Vs 1 begins speaking of God without need of proving who He is…

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways.”

Hebrews 1:1 (NASB)

A. God Spoke through the Prophets•Vs 1 begins speaking of God without need of proving who He is…•From Moses’ day God sent prophets from among Israel•No messages were considered more important or powerful•Warnings and rebukes from God thru them were like sharp swords, piercing the darkness of their hearts, and letting God’s light shine in

A. God Spoke through the Prophets•Moses was adored and revered almost above a human level by the Hebrews•He spoke the uncompromising messages of God to 2M people over 40 years•(No wonder Satan wanted to dig him up and use him as an idol to the Jews)•Elijah and Elisha– during the darkest days of Ahab and Jezebel•Isaiah, Prince of Prophets, ministered to Judah under threat and eventual death

A. God Spoke through the Prophets•Amos, the fig picker– pointed his finger at Jeroboam II and raked him over the coals--- definitely not PC•Malachi ended the HS speaking to Israel until John the Baptist 400 years later•The were God’s mouthpiece– his voice box– they told the folks whatever God said without watering it down or adding to it– making them feared and hated•Still true in the 21st century…

B. God Speaks through His Son•V2a, not so much that Jesus brought a message from the Father, but that He IS THE MESSAGE from the Father

“…in these last days has spoken to us in His Son...”

Hebrews 1:2a (NASB)

B. God Speaks through His Son•V2a, not so much that Jesus brought a message from the Father, but that He IS THE MESSAGE from the Father•So much better than any human prophet because he revealed something they never could have…

“For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Matthew 13:17 (NASB)

B. God Speaks through His Son•V2a, not so much that Jesus brought a message from the Father, but that He IS THE MESSAGE from the Father•So much better than any human prophet because he revealed something they never could have…•GOD IN THE FLESH!•One of the coolest things about Hebrews is that this book is not Jesus telling us about Himself, but God telling us about Jesus thru the author•29 quotes, 53 allusions to the OT, nary a one from the Apocrypha, by the way…

C. His Majesty on High•Vs 2a-3, are loaded with THEOLOGY

“His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the [c]world. 3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and [e]upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

Hebrews 1:2a-3 (NASB)

C. His Majesty on High•Vs 2a-3, are loaded with THEOLOGY1. The Son of God is the sovereign Lord

over the universe2. The Son of God is the appointed heir

of all things3. The Son of God created the world4. The Son of God is the radiance of His

glory

C. His Majesty on High5. The Son of God is the exact representation

of His Nature6. The Son upholds all things by the Word of

His power7. The Son, when he had purified our sins, sat

down at the right hand of the Majesty on High

•All the prophets could do was point out sins, Jesus was the ONLY ONE who can purge them!!!

Take Home!! (Self-Evaluation)1. Many people think God speaks to

them. How do you know it’s God? If you don’t have Jesus as Savior, you DO NOT have spiritual ears to hear God the Father.

2. Is your Jesus the same Jesus from the Bible?

3. If so, are you obeying His commands with all your heart? Or looking for excuses…?