Title: The Great Christ/Hebrews 1:1-3
The great Christ/Hebrews 1:1-3
◈ Proposition: Christ and his gospel are greater than the Old Testament laws and prophets.
◈ Purpose: to make known Christ and his greatness
◈ Introduction: The book of Hebrews was written in about 68 AD just before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, and its content introduces Jesus Christ, who is greater than the prophets and priests, whom the Jews were proud of after the Old Testament era. Why was Christ greater than the Old Testament?
1. The Old Testament is indirect revelation, but Christ is direct revelation (vv. 1-2).
A. The Old Testament is in many shapes and parts.
1. He showed us in many ways and in many forms.
2. Visions, dreams, revelations, laws, prophets, angels, etc.
3. It is shown in progressive revelation.
B. The New Testament Through Christ
1. He spoke clearly and directly through Christ.
2. He clearly showed God's love and the way of salvation.
3. Christ is the reality of revelation.
C. Christ is the fulfillment and reality of all Old Testament revelation.
1. All the prophecies of the Old Testament are the fulfillment and reality of revelation.
2. The great plan of redemption was accomplished through Christ.
3. Our redemption is through Christ alone.
2. Christ is the heir of all things (verse 2) - Cl ronomos
A. Heir means heir.
1. Heir means the birthright of the Old Testament. (In the case of Isaac and Ishmael)
2. Christ is the heir of all things.
3. Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament were faithful as servants (Hebrews 3:5-6).
B. Heir means the owner.
1. The heir of all things is the owner of all things, including all things, life and death, as well as material things.
2. Christ is the owner of all worlds, including heaven and earth, spirit and body.
C. We are heirs in Christ.
1. If we become people of Christ, we are heirs of the kingdom of heaven. (Romans 8:17)
2. We are heirs in Christ (Galatians 3:29).
3. Christ is the image of the person of God (v. 3).
A. He is the essence of God.
1. The meaning of the main body (hyppostasis) is the basis and the meaning of substance.
2. Christ is God Himself and is God.
B. Christ is the image of God.
1. The meaning of main body (karakter) means to sculpt and engrave the original form.
2. God can be seen through Jesus Christ (John 14:8)
3. Christ is the essence of God and is the manifestation of God.
C. Christ is God.
1. The great God (Titus 2:13)
2. He is the true God. (1 John 5:20)
3. God Himself is our Savior.
4. His work is great. (Three works of Christ)
A. He rules all things.
1. He has dominion over all things with the word of power.
2. The power to rule all things comes through the Word.
3. We, too, can show our power through the Word in Christ.
B. He did the work of cleansing from sin.
1. The greatest work of Christ is the cleansing of sin.
2. The life of Christ in the cross, resurrection and ascension was the work of purifying our sins.
3. Those who believe in Christ are cleansed from iniquity.
C. He sat at the right hand of Majesty.
1. Sitting at the right hand of the throne refers to the office of the high priest.
(The high priest is appointed by the right column of the temple, and the king is appointed by the left column.)
2. He is a greater priest in heaven than the physical priests of the Old Testament.
3. The job of the high priest is to declare righteous.
4. Those who believe in him are justified (Hebrews 7:24-26).
◈ Conclusion: The reason that Christ is greater than a prophet or a high priest is that as the Son of God, he is a prophet who has given a greater and more certain revelation and is the Redeemer who personally accomplished the redemption that purifies all sins. Those who believe in Him will experience the power and redemption of the Word.