The Superiority of Christ Hebrews 1 1 2

The Superiority of Christ Hebrews 1: 1 -2: 9

Lesson 1 FULFILLMENT IN JESUS • Three fundamental “truths” • God exists • God has spoken, in many ways • God has a message

Lesson 1 The Superiority of Christ • God’s Message in part is that SOMEONE is coming • The someone is JESUS CHRIST • God’s Message in full is Jesus would do Christ and What He

Lesson 1 FULFILLMENT IN JESUS • The Message in full God in the Flesh, God with us, gave His life to save ours

Lesson 1 The Superiority of Christ • The writer of Hebrews thinks it is important for us to know who we are talking about when we talk about Jesus • We are given several reasons that Jesus Christ is better than any previous communicator of God’s Message

The Superiority of Christ • Throughout Hebrews we are told how much better Jesus is • • • He is better than angels He is better than any man that has lived He is a better high priest than has ever served He offers a better covenant than man has ever known, and He offers a better sacrifice than has ever been offered

The Superiority of Christ Jesus is better than anything

The Superiority of Christ • Before we explore today’s lesson, we need to ask a question:

The Superiority of Christ • Before we explore today’s lesson, we need to ask a question: Why would it be important for us to know that Jesus is better than all this?

The Superiority of Christ BECAUSE, if we do not realize how much better Jesus is than anything we could possibly know, something ALWAYS WILL be better

The Superiority of Christ • Whether it is money, love, power, popularity – something will always edge Jesus out if He is not regarded as being the “best” that we could have • If we do not accept that Jesus is better than anything else in our lives, you and I will always be uncertain about our faith

The Superiority of Christ • Apparently the people to whom the author of Hebrews was writing, had the same problem • That is why he warns them in Hebrews 2: 1 -4: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away (v 1)…how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. ”(v 3)

The Superiority of Christ If Jesus is not BETTER than anything else for us, we will neglect our salvation. As we get distracted and pursue “something else”, we will drift away from God and face the danger of losing our salvation

The Superiority of Christ There is nothing better than Jesus

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • The writer of Hebrews starts out saying that Jesus is better than any angel • Why begin by comparing Jesus to angels? • What is so important about angels that we would even need to make the comparison?

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • Angels were the most powerful and wondrous of all of God’s creation • The Old Testament speaks of these beautiful beings that • Were continually in God’s presence • So powerful they could destroy an entire army single handedly in a night • Could create an atmosphere of fear – just by being seen – that people would bow down in terror • Their presence has such a powerful effect, invariably, the first words from their lips were: “fear not”

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • When one is confronted by such powerful beings as angels, there is a natural tendency to want to bow down and worship them • Notice the Apostle John in this situation • In Revelation 22, we are told: “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. ”

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • John continues: “But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’”(Rev 22: 8, 9) • Why compare Jesus to angels?

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • John continues: “But he said to me, ‘Do no do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’”(Rev 22: 8, 9) • Why compare Jesus to angels? • Because there are people who would worship angels

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • If you look up angels in your search engine, you will find pictures of either chubby children with little wings on their back, or of women with wings, in long flowing robes and beautiful hair • Angels are seen as helpful and concerned about us • They are pleasant creatures

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • Angels are regarded by many as more approachable than God or Jesus • Because some people see angels as more sympathetic to their needs than the God they find in the Bible, there are those who would worship them • People have even said: “I pray to my angel all the time”

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • What is that?

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • What is that? • That is worship • Why do these type of people worship angels?

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • Because, unlike God, unlike Jesus, there is no requirement for commitment • The angels these people approach ask for nothing – they just supply • Their worshippers believe angels supply comfort and control to the lives

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • With that danger a real possibility, the author of Hebrews tries to put things in perspective • First, he wants us to realize that angels are powerful beings (v 7) • They are like the wind, they are everywhere • And, if you saw them, you would see fiery beings, which would hurt your eyes just to look at them

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • As awesome as angels are, they are servants • They are servants of God the Father (v 7) and they are servants of Jesus • They are servants of “those who will inherit salvation” (v 14)

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • Notice also in Hebrews 1: 6 that “when God brings his firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship Him. ’” • Angels are not creatures to be worshipped • They are creatures who worship, and they worship Jesus

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • Following those statements about angels, the writer of Hebrews moves to Jesus in verses 8 -10 – a different story entirely • Not only is Jesus worshipped by angels, He has a name more powerful than theirs • Jesus is not only superior to angels, He is divine – He is God

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • Many of you have probably watched the TV show “Touched by an Angel” • This is a relatively family friendly show that says more right about God than many shows have done for years • Yet, because it is written for the television audience, it has one inherent falsehood built into it

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • The theme of “Touched by an Angel” is God loves you (OK so far) • Because He loves you, you have an angel looking out for you • It does not matter who you are, it does not matter what you believe, you have this special angel waiting for an opportunity to help you out

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • Sorry, but that is not how it works • Hebrews 1: 14 tells us who the angels are sent to serve: “Those who will inherit salvation” • The writer of Hebrews is telling us, “you can do without angels – but you cannot do without Jesus”

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • The message of God’s Word is “You will not be saved by angels” and “You will not be saved by good works” • The only way you will be free from your sins so that you can receive the grace of God is

Lesson 2 The Superiority of Christ • The message of God’s Word is “You will not be saved by angels” and “You will not be saved by good works” • The only way you will be free from your sins so that you can receive the grace of God is By the blood of Jesus Christ

The Superiority of Christ Humaita, Brazilian Prison Illustration

The Superiority of Christ • Angels can not do that for you • Nice neighbors, friends, politicians, people of wealth and prestige, none can do that for you • The only one that can serve your time, who can take your punishment for you is

The Superiority of Christ • Angels can not do that for you • Nice neighbors, friends, politicians, people of wealth and prestige, none can do that for you • The only one that can serve your time, who can take your punishment for you is Jesus Christ

The Superiority of Christ Is Jesus the Best thing in your life?