CHRIST -- THE BETTER ONE
Christ is referred to as ¡¥Better¡¦ 13 times
in the Epistle to the Hebrews
Hebrews- the book of better things!
CHRIST - THE BETTER ONE
I. BETTER THAN THE PROPHETS
Hebrews 1:1 ¡V 3. 1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. 3 The Son reflects God¡¦s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven.
„X God¡¦s revelation by the prophets was an indirect one, and so subject to human failure.
„X God¡¦s revelation by His Son was a direct revelation ¡V so perfect in all ways.
II. BETTER THAN THE ANGELS
Hebrew 1:4 1 ¡V 8 This shows that God¡¦s Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is far greater than their names. 5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father." And again God said, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son." 6 And then, when he presented his honoured Son to the world, God said, "Let all the angels of God worship him." 7 God calls his angels "messengers swift as the wind, and servants made of flaming fire." 8 But to his Son he says, "Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in righteousness.
„X Angels were created beings ¡V Christ is the creator ¡V the Son of God.
„X Angels refused worship ¡V but worshipped Him
III. BETTER THAN MOSES
Hebrews 3:1 ¡V 6 And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are bound for heaven, think about this Jesus whom we declare to be God¡¦s Messenger and High Priest. 2 For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully and was entrusted with God¡¦s entire house. 3 But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a fine house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but God is the one who made everything. 5 Moses was certainly faithful in God¡¦s house, but only as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, the faithful Son, was in charge of the entire household. And we are God¡¦s household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.
„X Moses was a servant ¡V Christ is the Son
„X Moses had an earthly calling ¡V Christ has a heavenly calling.
„X Moses was assisted by a High Priest ¡V Christ is the High Priest
IV. BETTER THAN THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIESTS
Hebrews 4:11 ¡V 16 11 Let us do our best to enter that place of rest. For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall. 12 For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. 13 Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done. 14 That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.
„X The priests were sons of priests ¡V Christ was the Son of God
„X The priests died ¡V Christ lives eternally
„X The priests were restricted in their access to God ¡V Christ is gone into heaven itself
„X The priests first atoned for their own sin ¡V Christ needed no sacrifice, He was perfect.
V. BETTER THAN THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES
Hebrews 10:1-18 1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming¡X not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ¡¥Here I am¡Xit is written about me in the scroll¡XI have come to do your will, O God.¡¦" 8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9 then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
„X The O.T. sacrifices were based on the O,T. Covenant ¡V Christ¡¦s sacrifice is based on the N.T. Covenant
„X The O.T. sacrifice covered sin ¡V Christ¡¦s sacrifice removes sin
„X The O.T. sacrifice gave temporary forgiveness ¡V Christ¡¦s sacrifice gives eternal redemption
„X The O.T. sacrifices were continually offered ¡V Christ¡¦s sacrifice was ¡¥once and for all¡¦
„X The O.T. sacrifice gave no power over sin ¡V Christ¡¦s sacrifice gives power to live, by His Holy Spirit
