October 23, 2022
Evening Service

Hebrews 1:1  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 

Hebrews 1:2  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 

Hebrews 1:3  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

To begin with, as it has been said many times, the author of Hebrews is not known because the author did not sign at the end of the text. However, we know that the human author is not of major importance; the reality is that the Holy Spirit is the author.

2^nd Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 

God spoke to his people of old at various times, through consecutive generations, and in assorted ways as He thought proper; at times it was one on one directions, sometimes by dreams, sometimes by visions, other times by Divine guidance upon the minds of the prophets. The gospel revelation far exceeds the former ways; because this revelation is one that God has made by his Son. When we observe the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ, we behold the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Father.

John 14:7  "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 

Jesus says here that the fullness of the Godhead dwells, not typically or in the likeness of, or in a figurative manner, but truly in Him. Since the fall of humankind in the Garden, the world was falling to pieces under the wrath and curse of God. The Son of God Jesus and through His name committed to the work of redemption and authenticated it by his almighty power and goodness. Because of the great work done at Calvary, the glory of the person and office of Christ, we are invited into the glory of His grace. The holiness of His person and mannerisms, made the sufferings He endured have such worthiness, it warranted full satisfaction to the honor of God, we must remember the suffering endured by our Lord, was only due to our sinful ways and offenses to God. Jesus became the perfect atonement for us the sinners, and provided the redemption path that is the only way to life eternal. We need to be exceedingly thankful that God, in so many ways and with extreme clarity, spoke to us fallen sinners concerning salvation through His holy Word. It is so difficult to imagine that our God could love us so very much, even with all our defects of character and fullness of sin and evil, to cleanse us from our sins by Himself! This becomes a wonder of love at a Godly level beyond our utmost powers of appreciation, thankfulness, praise, and understanding. Our God is Awesome! 

Hebrews 1:4  having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 

Hebrews 1:5  For to which of the angels did He ever say: "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"? And again: "I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON"? 

Hebrews 1:6  But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM." 

Hebrews 1:7  And of the angels He says: "WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS SPIRITS AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE." 

Hebrews 1:8  But to the Son He says: "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER; A SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM. 

Hebrews 1:9  YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS MORE THAN YOUR COMPANIONS." 

Hebrews 1:10  And: "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS. 

Hebrews 1:11  THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY WILL ALL GROW OLD LIKE A GARMENT; 

Hebrews 1:12  LIKE A CLOAK YOU WILL FOLD THEM UP, AND THEY WILL BE CHANGED. BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT FAIL." 

Hebrews 1:13  But to which of the angels has He ever said: "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL"? 

Hebrews 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? 

Jewish people had an irrational or idolatrous respect for angels, this was because they had received the law and other tidings of the Divine will by their holy orders. They regarded them as mediators between God and men, and some went so far as to pay them a kind of religious admiration or worship. Therefore, it was necessary that the apostle should be adamant that Christ is the Creator of all things and therefore of angels themselves, but as being the risen and exalted Messiah in human nature, to whom angels, authorities, and powers are made subject. To prove this, several passages are brought from the Old Testament, Psalm 2:7, Proverbs 30:4, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 3:25, and several more regarding the Son of God, Jesus. When comparing what God says of the angels with what he says to and about Christ, the superiority of Christ to the angels is very clear and evident. The duty and service of the angels is this; they are God's ministers or servants, to do His pleasure. The Scriptures we just read say much greater things of Christ by the Father! We are to claim and honor Jesus as God; if he had not been God, he could never have done the Mediator's work, and would never have worn the Mediator's crown. Christ was qualified for the office of Mediator, and He was confirmed in it by following the will of His Father in Heaven: he has the name Messiah from his being anointed. He is above all prophets, priests, and kings that ever were employed in the service of God on earth. There is another passage of Scripture recited in which the Almighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ is declared, both in creating the world and in changing it.

Psalms 102:26  They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 

Psalms 102:27  But You are the same, And Your years will have no end. 

Christ will fold up this world as a garment, not to be used and abused any longer as it has been. As a supreme leader, when his garments of state are folded and put away, He is supreme still, so our Lord, when he has laid aside the earth and heavens like a piece of clothing, He shall remain the same. Taking this to mind, we should set our hearts upon the things of the Lord that do not change. If a change is to be made to the world, as we know it, He will be doing the changing while He remains the same. Sin has made a great change in the world and all for the worse, and Christ will make a great change in it and all for the better. Let our thoughts of this make us watchful, diligent, and longing for that better world. Jesus has done much to make all men his friends, yet he does have enemies. These enemies shall be made his footstool, by humble submission, or by utter destruction. The most exalted angels are but accommodating spirits, mere servants of Christ, to carry out His commands. The saints or believers in Christ Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the sinner, at the present time are heirs that have not yet come into possession of the full promise of Jesus and eternal life. The angels minister to us in opposing the malignance and power of evil spirits, in protecting and keeping our bodies, instructing and comforting our souls, under Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Angels will gather all the saints together at the last day, when all whose hearts and hopes are set upon treasures with no eternal value and fading beauty and grandeur, will be driven from Christ's presence into everlasting separation from the trinity of the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior of our souls! Lord, help us to remain focused on You and Your Kingdom!