Knowing God

Text; Hebrews 1:1-5

Title: Knowing God

Introduction

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?

The Christian belief is that anyone can come to know God because He has spoken to us through the Word of God and through the Son of God.

However not everyone believes the same as we do.There are those who believe God speaks to us through other types of spirituality and other religions besides the Word of God and the Son of God.After all they say “Don’t all roads eventually lead us to God?

It’s clear from our passage that the main idea the author is making is that God has said everything that he needed to say to us through the word of God and the Son of God (Christ Jesus).

In telling us that God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many different time and in various ways and in these last days through his Son we are being told three things.

1.That God did not reveal everything to his people at once.

2. God used different prophets at different times to reveal different things about himself.For example He used the prophet Moses to reveal he is “I AM.” He used the prophet David to reveal he is “The Shepherd of his people.” He used the prophet Daniel to reveal His Sovereignty.He used the prophet Jonah to reveal his “Love for others.”

3.That everything God told his people finds it fulfillment in Christ.

Everything God said in the past to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways was meant to point people to Christ.

What also stands out in the passage is that it’s worded in such a way that it takes away the objection that we need a new revelation from God besides Christ.Objections like

1.We need a new revelation from God because it’s 2000 years later.

Answer: In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son! (v2)

-Christ’s words are as relevant for today as they were 2000 years ago. Christ not only spoke about things that are common to all ages, he also spoke about things that are unique to our age. Everything we see and read about today is as Christ described it would be.

2.We need a new revelation from God because we now have more stuff to take care of.

Answer; in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son whom he appointed heir of all things.

3.We need a new revelation from God because people are making great strides in building things.

Answer: In these last times he has spoken to us by his Son whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the universe.

4.We need a new revelation from God because we have more to learn about who God really is?

Answer” The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”“

Interpretation. The more you know the Son the more you know God.

5.We need a new revelation from God because everything is changing so rapidly?

Answer: … Christ is sustaining all things by his powerful word.

6.We need a new revelation from God because we’re all messed up inside?

Answer; Christ ..."After he had provided purification for sins."

7.We need a new revelation from God so that we can learn how to rest more.

Answer: he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven

8.We need a new revelation from God so that we can know more about cool stuff like angels

Answer: So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Interpretation; There was an unhealthy fascination with angels to the point where some were almost worshipping angels instead of Jesus Christ. (instead of going to church they preferred staying home to watch “touched by an angel.”)

9. We need a new revelation from God so we can experience what it must be like to be called a child of God