Letter to the Hebrews Message Four

We have presented the Introduction, stating the necessity of the letter to the Hebrews. In the second and third messages, we submitted the fact that God has revealed Himself and His will by His Word through the Prophets and then through His Son, Jesus of Nazareth.

This morning we will speak to the revelation of God about His Son, setting forth His authority, proving that He is worthy of worship and obedience. God has –

B. Revealed Himself through His Son. We see this through His –

1. Word. Hebrews 1:2a The authority of the Word is proved through the Son.

Hebrews 1:2-3 “…Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”

And the Father is revealed through Jesus, which we learn through His –

2. Person. Hebrews 1:2b-3

“….whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

Notice first that –

a. Jesus is appointed heir of all things.

John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

By our understanding about being an heir, we expect to receive an inheritance from someone – usually our parents, but not necessarily only through immediate family. The Scripture speaks of this according to our understanding in –

Hebrews 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

You may have ownership of some kind of wealth, no matter of what value the world puts on it. You are in control of that wealth and you have the right and responsibility to pass this control to someone who will appreciate and care for it as you have done – usually your children. They are your heirs and at some point in time they will inherit that which you have set aside for them.

God the Father has revealed to us that Jesus, His Son, is His heir, with rights to all that He is and has. Is there a difference between our being heirs of our parents and Jesus being the Heir of His Father? Yes, there are differences and we will just mention two this morning.

1). Guarantee.

a). Parents may change their minds as to the administration of their wealth.
b). God will never change His mind as to the administration of His will.

2). Power.

a). Parents may not give power to their children to control their wealth.
b). God has given His Son power to control all things.

The important issue that Paul is setting forth here to the Hebrews and to us is that Jesus has been given full authority over all things. For example, Jesus commanded “if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone”. We may complain and think “Why should I be the one to go speak to them. They should come to me”! We cannot go to the Father and question the authority of the Son. He has full authority being the Heir! We must simply obey – all of His will!

The following statement is a natural transition from having the authority to having the power to accomplish His purpose. He not only has authority to command but also the power to equip us to carry out this command –

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations….

As the All Powerful God, we see that –

b. Jesus is the Creator.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

He is the Creator of all things. What ministry is going to be too hard for Him to carry out through those that serve Him? As Jeremiah said –

Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Not only is Jesus the Heir and the Creator –

c. Jesus is the manifestation of His Person. When you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father. Paul reminds us of His –

1). Everlasting existence. “Who being…” The word ‘oan’ means ‘I Am’ – ‘I exist’. Jesus is declared to be God!

And of His –

2). “Express image…” exact revelation of the Father.

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Refer also to –

John 14:8-9 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Knowing all of these things, that He is the Heir, the Creator, and the very image of the Father, will we submit and obey Him in all things?

When we are saved, we know the truth that Jesus loves us. Being born by Him into His family, we are babes in Christ. Over time we will grow and begin to know Him and love Him. It all begins with His love for us but should grow into our loving Him. As we learn of Him, we learn His will for our lives. We learn and love and in time are fully prepared to fulfill His will. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” Are you there yet?