CHRIST IS GREATER THAN THE PROPHETS! Scripture - Hebrews 1: 1-3 IN OUR LAST STUDY--- INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS I sought to answer several questions in that Overview. One of those important questions was--- WHAT WAS THE OCCASION OF THE LETTER? My answer to that question was. These Jews who had become believers and followers of Jesus Christ Were taking second thoughts about their commitments to the Messiah And Savior---and some had apparently lapsed or turned back to Judaism, Temple Worship, and it s ceremony and ritualism. So---the Author of this Letter / Sermon was pointing out to them that they Were ; turning from THE SUPERIOR---THE BEST---THE REAL And turning back to THE INFERIOR---THE SHADOW---THE UNREAL! OUR STUDY TODAY BEGINS THE JOURNEY THROUGH THIS LETTER/ SERMON Where The Author will demonstrate in a factual way THE SUPERIORITY OF JESUS Over any person, movement, institution, being that the Jews had Worshipped or honored! DEMONSTRATING HIS GREAT WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT--- He begins at the top of the order in the Authority structure of The Bible Believing Jew of that day! He begins with THE WORD OF GOD Which GOD HAD GIVEN TO HIS PROPHETS ( His spoke persons ---! ) OUR STUDY TODAY IS--- JESUS CHRIST IS GREATER THAN THE PROPHETS! LET US READ TOGETHER----HEBREWS 1: 1-3 IN THESE 3 Verses---THE WRITER PRESENTS 4 AMAZING THEMES That will demonstrate how The Son s Word is Superior to The Prophets Words! 1
1 st THE WORDS OF GOD S SON---IS SUPERIOR TO GOD S PROPHETS BECAUSE---IT IS A STRONGER AND MORE INCLUSIVE WORD! These first 3 verses are a bold declaration and confirmation that All Of The Old Testament is The strong Word of God Speaking to Man! When you read The Old Testament---The Voice of God is speaking to you! The Voice of God is heard through The Rituals, The Ceremonies, The religious System done by the Levites! When you open the Book of Genesis ----and as you move through the 39 Books Of The Old Testament---The Jews call it The Tenach --- You will find God speaking to you! BUT---IT IS INCOMPLETE! The Old Testament has been called--- GOD S UNFINISHED SYMPHONY! BUT WHEN YOU COME TO THE NEW TESTAMENT EVERYTHING CHANGES! The Unique Son of God --- The Messiah is born of a young Jewish Virgin! The 4 Great Artist---Matthew, Mark, Luke, John---paint a great portrait-- That we have called The Gospel ---God s Good News---! Then we see The Old Covenant as it merges into One Voice --- And That Voice is the Voice of God s Unique Son whose name is Jesus, The Christ! THEN--- THE NEW COVENANT COMES INTO EFFECT! JESUS CHRIST IS GOD S FINAL AND SUPERIOR WORD TO MAN! WHEN THE SON SAYS IT---THAT SETTLES IT! YES! THE WORDS OF GOD S SON---IS SUPERIOR TO GOD S PROPHETS----BECAUSE IT IS A STRONGER AND MORE INCLUSIVE WORD! 2
2 nd THE WORDS OF GOD S SON IS GREATER THAN THE WORD OF GOD S PROPHETS---BECAUSE THE SON CREATED AND OWNS THE UNIVERSE! Verse 2 says--- But in these Last days, He has spoken to us by His Son--- WHOM HE APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS --- AND THROUGH HIM HE MADE THE UNIVERSE! THIS TITLE--- HEIR OF ALL THINGS! Is a Look into the Future! ( See---Matthew 24 & 25; Mark 13 ; Luke 21 ) THE STATEMENT--- THROUGH WHOM HE MADE THE UNIVERSE! Is a Confirmation that The Father Created the Universe through His Son! He is both--- Creator and Redeemer! THE WORDS OF GOD S SON IS GREATER THAN THE WORD OF OF GOD S PROPHET BECAUSE---HE CREATED AND OWNS THE UNIVERSE! 3 rd THE WORDS OF GOD S SON ARE GREATER THAN THE WORDS OF GOD S PROPHETS---BECAUSE HE SUSTAINS THE MATTER OF THE UNIVERSE! Verse 3 says--- The Son is The Radiance of God s Glory! And The Exact Representation of His Being! SUSTAINING ALL THINGS BY HIS POWERFUL WORDS! The Greek Word that is translated Sustaining or Upholding Is PHERON--- and probably the best translation Is MAINTAIN! In Verse 2---we are told that---- HE MADE THE UNIVERSE! In Verse 3 We are told that----- HE MAINTAINS THE UNIVERSE! ( See---Colossians 1:17 ) THE WORDS OF GOD S SON ARE GREATER THAN THE WORD GOD S PROPHETS---BECAUSE HE MAINTAINS THE MATTER OF THE UNIVERSE! 3
4 th THE WORDS OF GOD S SON IS GREATER THAN GOD S PROPHETS BECAUSE---HE REDEEMS MAN! Look at again at verse 3--- The Son is The Radiance of God s Glory! And The Exact representation of His Being! SUSTAINING ALL THINGS BY HIS POWERFUL WORD! ( This is the 1 st Truth ) AFTER HE HAD PROVIDED PURIFICATION FOR SIN HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY IN HEAVEN! ( This is the 2 nd Truth ) SIN IS THE GREAT UNCLEANESS! JESUS CHRIST PROVIDEDS THE ONLY CURE FOR THE GREAT VIRUS THAT LEADS TO DEATH! THE PROPHETS OF GOD COULD SPEAK FOR GOD BUT THEY INCAPABLE OF PERFORMING THIS MINISTRY OF REDEMPTION! ONLY JESUS COULD PROVIDE PURIFICATION FOR OUR SINS! THEREFORE--- THE WORDS OF GOD S SON IS GREATER THAN THE WORD OF THE PROPHETS BECAUSE--- THE SON ALONE CAN REDEEM MAN! James R. DeLoach Associate Pastor Second Baptist Church Houston, Texas 4
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