Jesus is Better: Hebrews 1 – A Better Name Hebrews 1:1-3 Pr Chris Kam | 24/25 July 2021 ============================== ## Spiritual emphasis: Christ is more than enough. (Hebrews 12:2) … fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. * Written to a Jewish audience – the Hebrew Christians. * Requires a working knowledge of Leviticus with all its laws and rituals. * We don’t know exactly who the author is. * The writer used an extremely high-level and sophisticated Greek compared with the other letters. * The book of Hebrews throws a light on Christ like no other New Testament books. * A favourite word used here is the word “Better”. It is used 11 times. * The theme of the book is that Jesus Christ is the full, final and best expression of God in history. * The subtheme is: Jesus is all you need. We do not need anything else. So, Jesus is more than enough. # If Jesus is better, why would you want something else when this is better? ## Here’s the context of the book. * Though we are not sure exactly to whom this letter was sent, a good conjecture is that it was written to the Hebrew Christians in Rome. * It was written at a time when persecution of the Christians was just beginning under the Roman Emperor Nero. * The Hebrew Christians could get out of trouble and persecution by going back to Judaism and worshipping in the synagogues. * This letter was written to appeal to and exhort the Hebrew Christians not to return to where they came from. * The writer made sharp contrasts between Judaism and Christianity. * The message of Hebrews is to keep moving. * The phrase “Let us” is used 13 times – Let us be careful, make every effort, hold firmly, run with perseverance and so on. ## BIG IDEA: If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. ## (Heb 1:1,2) 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, ## Christ in ____________ # 1. He gets it all in the end. ”2 … whom he appointed heir of all things, …” # 2. He made it all in the beginning. “2 … and through whom also he made the universe.” # 3. He keeps it all going meanwhile. ”3 … sustaining all things by his powerful word.” ## Christ as the ____________ # 1. Radiance of God’s glory. “3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory … “ # 2. Exact representation of his being “3 … and the exact representation of his being … “ (John 14:9) Jesus Himself said: Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. ## Christ as the ____________ # 1. Saviour on the cross. “3 … After he had provided purification for sins, …” # 2. Lord with a crown “3 … he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Josh McDowell “Evidence that demands a Verdict” Trilemma - Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or He’s really Lord. * If Jesus is not God – there can only be two conclusions: o He lied to the world deliberately – which makes him a liar / hypocrite / fool to die for what was a lie. o He actually believed in something he was not – which makes him a lunatic or sincerely deluded. * If Jesus is God, then we have to accept everything He said about Himself - and that offers you two alternatives – either you accept Him or you reject Him. There is no in-between. Application Questions: ====================== 1. What was your view about Christ before you became a Christian? How has that changed since? 2. What new truths did you gather from Hebrews 1:1-3 about Christ, something you never knew before? How has that changed your attitude towards Christ? 3. How does the description of “trilemma” by Josh McDowell, that of Jesus being either a liar, lunatic or Lord, affect the way you think about Christ? People often regard Jesus as a great teacher, preacher and good holy man. Explain why this trilemma argument does not allow this option if He is not God. 4. In what ways and why would this truth affect the way you live your life?