Christianity – A Superior way of Living – God Speaks to Us
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Hebrews intro
There are times when living the Christian life is hard.
Some people may lose friends when they become a Christian because they may not do the same things as they used to.
Some people who are brought up in a
different faith system or a
particular denomination
and then turn toward biblical Christianity may have it
affect family relationships as well.
With the spiritual realm being real, Christians will face more attacks than others when we are trying to do the right thing or take action to further the gospel.
There are times when it will seem too hard to continue on following a God we have not been able to see with our eyes and which has become a hindrance to relationships that you have had with people who do not believe in Jesus as Lord.
Well, you are not alone and what you are experiencing is not new. It has been going on since the first century when people first began following Christ.
Today, we are beginning a series in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews? How is that applicable to me, I am not Jewish?
Well, there are plenty of applications of this book to our own circumstance today.
There were those in the past that had begun to see the truth of Christianity and were following Christ. Some had truly believed while others the Spirit was continuing to draw, much like any church today.
When following Christ became hard however, there were those who were looking to go back to their former way of life, which for the recipient of this letter was Judaism. For those today, it may be going back to secular humanism, Going back to a religion of ritual where you feel that you are doing things to control God, or living just however a person wants.
But the author of Hebrews through this letter
Expose the fallacy of that thinking and
look to encourage and
warn them of the results if they take that action
to go back to their former way of life.
He tells us how Christianity is superior in every way and in fact is a superior way of life.
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Superior to Judaism yes, but superior to everything else in life as well.
How is that you may ask?
Well that is what the author expounds on for the rest of his letter, how Christianity and Christ are superior in every way.
So let’s turn to Hebrews 1
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and begin reading
Hebrews 1:1-2a
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,
We are going to end right there and take a look at how the author is showing the superiority of the how God speaks to us.
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The first way it is superior to Judaism is that
In the past, God spoke in part
Now, God has spoken completely
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Hebrews 1:1-2a
The phrase “at many times” can also be translated “in many portions”
God did not give complete revelation to one person at one time
He spoke in portions to many different people in the past
He gave partial revelation to one prophet, and to another he gave a different part.
Many times the prophets themselves, when they were speaking did not completely understand the fullness of what God was saying.
For instance, in terms of the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:10-12
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
God spoke about a fulfillment that was to come, but that they would not see. They did not completely understand all of it because they were only given some of the promises and did not completely understand the fulfillment of those promises.
Even the author of Hebrews talks about this when he is talking about the men of faith who suffered so greatly in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:13
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.
They saw in part the things God was revealing, but many of the things spoken of were not complete and were of things to come and they were given through many separate individuals.
So whereas before, God spoke truth in part and progressively,
Now, God has spoken to us in His Son and given us truth completely
In verse 2 when he writes “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” Spoken as used here carries the meaning of being final and climactic.
It is a fulfillment.
Jesus is speaking the whole and final truth and He is not only speaking the Truth, He is THE Truth, and He has brought fulfillment to the promises of salvation that were made through the prophets
So Christianity is superior to Judaism because we have the whole complete truth, no longer promises that are being looked to.
We have the fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Application
Today, for you and me, Christianity offers fulfillment in life. While there are still promises to be fulfilled, we get to experience the fulfillment that comes from God bringing his promise of salvation to completion.
If you are looking for fulfillment, you can only find it here.
Jews looked for it in the things God spoke through the prophets.
But it was only a shadow of what was to come and not the reality.
If you want fulfillment, you need to look to the one true faith where God has spoken completely and given us all we need to know to live life in a fulfilled and complete way with Christ.
Not only is Christianity Superior due to the fact that God has completed his speaking in Jesus, but we also see that
In the Past, God spoke in various ways,
Now, God has spoken through the word of His Son
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God has spoken in many ways in the past.
God spoke through prophets (Hebrews 1:1)
God spoke through a storm (Job 38:1)
God spoke through a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12)
God spoke through Angels (Luke 1:11-20)
God spoke through a donkey (Numbers 22:28)
God spoke through dreams (Daniel 2:27-28)
God spoke through a burning bush (Exodus 3:2).
In the Old Testament, He spoke revelation in those ways.
But even in those times, God was not the only one seeking to speak to us.
Satan is also vying for our ear so we have to determine if it is God speaking to us in those things or not and that is not always the easiest task.
There were times in the Old Testament that Satan even turned prophets away from the Lord.
In Jeremiah 28, there were 2 prophets, Jeremiah and Hannaniah, prophesying different things.
Who do you believe?
Ultimately, that was determined by if what they prophesied came true?
God even gave that rule for the Israelites to determine if a prophet spoke for God or not.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22
21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
But that could take some time.
In Jeremiah 28, it took a couple months for Jeremiah to be proven right and Hannahiah wrong by Hannaniah’s death.
But beyond prophets, how would you know if a dream was being used by God?
It could be very difficult and would require a person’s heart to continually be in tune with the Lord.
Now while God can still use all kinds of means to
get our attention and
even help us focus on Him,
these means will only be in accord with the revealed word of His Son.
So Christianity is superior than Judaism because we have the word of the Son, the Prophet that was prophesied to come to test everything against.
Each person could now have access to God
directly through the Son and
the indwelling Holy Spirit
to be able to read and apply what God wants you to do in your life.
This is far superior to trusting men, we can trust God and his Word.
This is why it is important for each on of us to be studying the word of the Son, the Bible.
Because while God is done in bringing new revelation, we still need to grow in our understanding and application of what He has revealed in his word so we can experience the newness of the revelation that has been already given
As we study and grow, God grows us in our understanding and our ability to “hear” what He has already said and revealed.
What does God want me to do?
I hear from many people that they wish they knew what God wanted for them. God has already said what He wants for us, we just need to discover it in His word.
Are you “hearing” the things God has been saying to you through His Word? If not, we don’t need new revelation, what we need is to “listen” better as we read and study His word.
But not only is Christianity superior because God has given us His complete revelation through Jesus and His complete word recorded in the Bible, but it is also Superior because whereas
In the Past, God sent messengers,
Now, God has sent His Son
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Why is the Son better than previous messengers?
Throughout the first chapter of Hebrews, the author shows us why the Son is better than previous messengers.
First we see
The Son is Superior to the Prophets
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Hebrews 1:2-4
2 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. 3 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 had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
We see 7 reasons why the Son is Superior to the Prophets.
First,
1. Jesus is an Heir
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Hebrews 1:2b
Whatever the father owns and possesses, the Son owns and possesses.
The Prophets were only servants.
2. Jesus is Creator
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Hebrews 1:2c
The Prophets were created
3. Jesus is Divine
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Hebrews 1:3a
Whatever God, is the Son is
The prophets were only men
4. Jesus is Sustainer
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Hebrews 1:3b
Jesus upholds everything by the power of His Word
The prophets only spoke the words of God.
Jesus’ words were the words of God
5. Jesus is Redeemer
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Hebrews 1:3c
He paid the price and provided purification for our sins.
The prophets did not.
6. Jesus is seated at the right Hand of God
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Hebrews 1:3d
This is the place of honor that shows He shares in God’s power. Note, also, that He is seated indicating that the work of redemption is finished. The priests of the Aaronic line remained standing (Hebrews 10:11-12) because their sacrificial service never came to an end where Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18).
7. Jesus is Better than angels
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Hebrews 1:4a
Angels are in the presence of God
Prophets were mere men
Jesus was God.
But this last statement here kicks off another litany showing that
The Son is Superior to the Angels
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And again the author gives 7 reasons that this is true
Hebrews 1:4-14
4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 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"?
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God’s angels worship him."
7 In speaking of the angels he says,
"He makes his angels winds,
his servants flames of fire."
8 But about the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy."
10 He also says,
"In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end."
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet"?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
First,
1. Jesus has a better Name than Angels.
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Hebrews 1:4-5
Jesus is a Son. The angels are created beings
2. Jesus is Worshipped by Angels
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Hebrews 1:6
He who is worshiped is greater than the worshiper.
3. Jesus is Served by Angels
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Hebrews 1:7
Those who are served are greater than those who serve them
4. Jesus rules over angels
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Hebrews 1:9
5. Jesus has Better Works than Angels
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Hebrews 1:10
Jesus Created all things. Angels are created beings.
6. Jesus is Eternal
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Hebrews 1:11-12
Angels are not.
7. Jesus Sits at God’s right Hand
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Hebrews 1:13
Angels do not
Revelation 5:11-12
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"
Christianity is superior to Judaism for because God has sent a superior messenger, one with authority, one who is actually God in the flesh.
Those others that the Jews revered, the prophets and angels were inferior compared to the Son.
But this applies not only to Christianity.
Other religions have messengers too, but the reality is that none of them can match the superiority of Christ.
None of them have authority like Christ
None of them sit at God’s right Hand
None of them are eternal.
We saw last week that all of the “prophets” of the major religions have died and stayed dead.
None of them created everything
None of them sustain the entire universe.
We could go on and on discussing the other religions in this same way, but I would rather talk about the religion that has more of an effect on our lives.
It is a religion that seeks to exalt a mere man to the place of God.
It is a religion where many think that their “prophet” is the wisest person to walk the earth, and while they would be hard pressed to say that His words are the very word of God, they often act that way.
The Religion of Self
This is the religion of Self and they have taken their name from their “prophet,” Self.
They follow self as if he is a god.
Self says,
If it feels good, do it.
If you don’t feel like doing something, don’t do it.
If the journey gets hard, go the easy way.
Exalt Self…
If looking humble will exalt self, then act humble.
Gain power for your personal benefit.
Help others if it feels good to you.
How you feel is the most Important thing!
But there are the same problems with the prophet self as there was with the messengers of the Old Testament.
The prophet self is
Not eternal
Has been wrong in the past
Is not seated at the right hand of God, even though the followers of self sometimes think he is.
Has never really created, only adapted what has already been created.
Self is not God.
Letter to the Americans
If the author of Hebrews were to write a letter to the church in America today, I think he would be writing a lot about how the messenger of Self is far inferior to the very Son of God, Christ Himself and would be seeking to help and encourage and warn those who are facing hard circumstances in Christianity and considering going back to Self.
Being a Christian is not always easy.
It takes perseverance
It will bring persecution at times
But despite all of that, it is still the best way to live
for the long term and
for eternity.
We need to listen to God Speaking to Us through His Son and His word.
Conclusion
Today,
If you have been one who has been considering Christianity, but have never truly received Christ, I would ask you to consider how Superior Christ is over yourself and to receive the gift of salvation by becoming a follower of Christ instead of a follower of self by receiving Him today.
And if you are a Christian who has been struggling with your walk with Christ and some of the hardships you are facing, then know this.
We follow a God who cares for us and is speaks to us through the Spirit of Christ and the Word of His Son.
Commit yourself to receiving the encouragement to continue on so you can live the Superior Life.
Pray.
