September 24, 2012
Central Truth
Jesus is the exact representation of God because Jesus is God. Jesus is not an angel or merely the greatest human who ever lived. His role in the Trinity is to be the mediator through whom God created the world. And through Jesus, God reconciles this world to Himself.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:1-3a)
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God's angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11
they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12
like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
1
1:12
Some manuscripts omit like a garment
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
This awesome book introduces the reader to who Jesus Christ really is. The opening chapter tells us that Jesus was not a mere angel, and not simply a great teacher. Jesus is God, and He has eternally preexisted as God, and it was through Jesus that God made the world.
Ever notice how often the word "through" appears in connection with Christ? It's everywhere! For example, here's a partial list:
• All things came into being through Him (John 1:3)
• The world was made through Him (John 1:10)
• Grace and truth were realized through Him (John 1:17)
• The world is saved through Him (John 3:17)
• Forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to us through Him (Acts 13:38)
• Through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things (Acts 13:39)
• We are saved through His grace (Acts 15:11)
• God will judge the secrets of men through Him (Romans 2:16)
• We have peace with God through Him (Romans 5:1)
• We shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him (Romans 5:9)
• We were reconciled to God through His death (Romans 5:10)
• We exist through Him (1 Corinthians 8:6)
• Our comfort is abundant through Him (2 Corinthians 1:5)
• We have redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7)
• We have boldness and confident access to God through faith in Him (Ephesians 3:12)
• We can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)
• Through Him God reconciles all things to Himself (Colossians 1:20)
• Those who draw near to God through Him are saved forever (Hebrews 7:25)
• God is glorified through Him (1 Peter 4:11)
• We live through Him (1 John 4:9)
People come to know God through Christ, and they come to know Christ through us. This list gives you an idea of the things that happen through Jesus. No angel or mere human could do what He did. Jesus is God's way of giving us access to a relationship with our loving Father.
1. What are some of the things you are grateful for that could only have happened through Christ?
2. When you think of people from other religions that don't acknowledge Jesus as being God or as God's unique mediator to mankind, how does that make you feel towards them?
3. What does it mean to you to "live through Christ?"
4. How does it make you feel knowing that people come to know God through Christ, and they come to know Christ through us?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
September 24-28 (Hebrews 1-5)
Read Hebrews 4:12-16.
• What is the Word of God?
• To what did the writer of Hebrews compare God's Word?
• What does it mean that His Word exposes our thoughts and desires?
• How does it make you feel to know that nothing you think or do is hidden from God?
• Who is our High Priest that has entered heaven?
• What does it says that Jesus understands about us?
• How does it make you feel to know that Jesus experienced all the temptations that you face?
• What was different about Him?
• Is it comforting for you to know that Jesus, who died for your sins, knows and understands you?
Activity: Talk about what it means to be tempted and the difference between being tempted and sinning. When you are tempted, what can you do to keep from sinning? Take time to think through different scenarios as a family and discuss what the temptations are and how you can say "no" to the temptations. (Examples: a friend is mean to you at school, your boss treats you unfairly at work, someone says something untrue about you at school or work, a grocery clerk gives you back too much change, etc.)
Throughout the week, take time at dinner to talk about ways that you were tempted throughout the day and what choices you made, either to fall to the temptation and sin, or to resist the temptation. Then pray together, thanking Jesus for His sacrifice to pay for all of our sins.