Chapter 1

The Religion Box• Outside our natural box is the

supernatural. We can't know anything about it on our own.

• Some start a religion in an attempt to discover the supernatural. They run to the edge of the box and try to chisel holes in it.

• They figure that a hole will let them crawl out of the box and find God. The natural man cannot escape into the supernatural.

• You can't take your clothes off in a phone booth and come out Superman.

• You cannot discover God anymore than a bug could understand me.

• Every religion in the world is man's backward attempt to jump out of the box. When God burst into the box, He did so in human form. The name of that human form was Jesus Christ. By bursting into man's world “becoming likened unto his brethren” (Heb. 2:17) he was telling man what He is like.

V. 1 – Can You Hear Me Now?• VaguelyVaguely by the by the FathersFathers (Gen. 3:15; Gen. (Gen. 3:15; Gen.

12:1-3; Gen. 49:10) 12:1-3; Gen. 49:10) • MysteriouslyMysteriously through the through the Prophets Prophets (Deut. (Deut.

18:15-19; Ps. 8:4, 5; Isa. 9:1, 2) 18:15-19; Ps. 8:4, 5; Isa. 9:1, 2) • Clearly through his Clearly through his SonSon (Jn. 1:14, 17)(Jn. 1:14, 17)• Why would one want to go back to Why would one want to go back to

desiring dreams and seeing visions desiring dreams and seeing visions when one can read clearly about the when one can read clearly about the will of God through the gospel will of God through the gospel message?message?

V. 1 – Can You Hear Me Now?

Religion Religion demands a personal God at the demands a personal God at the center; and anything else is fatal. center; and anything else is fatal.

The concept of an impersonal God robs The concept of an impersonal God robs religion of its three "R's," these being:religion of its three "R's," these being:

REVELATION REVELATION REGENERATION REGENERATION RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY

““Today if you will hear his Today if you will hear his voice”voice”

• The Son was given the responsibility to help his prime creation to “hear him now.”

“Not to let the things they heard slip away” (2:1); “Today if you will hear his voice” (3:7, 15; 4:7);

“Mix your hearing with faith” (4:2); “Don’t become dull in your hearing (5:11).

• Conclusion: Since everything leaped into existence by the active voice of God (Heb. 1:2); and since everything which exist is under the command of his voice (Doomed fig tree; Stilling the sea; demonic spirits); how tragic must be the outcome when one resists that voice.

V. 2 - The Great Appointment Was Jesus chosen from the created beings?

1. He was a man like us and exalted to that position

2. He was a created angel that was promoted to that position. Both concepts deny the eternal nature of Jesus.Both concepts deny the eternal nature of Jesus.

The text is affirming that all things owe their The text is affirming that all things owe their existence to him and because all things are existence to him and because all things are under his domain, he is heir of all glory and under his domain, he is heir of all glory and

honor they may bring.honor they may bring.

V. 3V. 3 On The Right Hand of On The Right Hand of GodGod

• He Radiates - He is the radiance of God's He Radiates - He is the radiance of God's glory—so he sat down at God's right hand.glory—so he sat down at God's right hand.

• He Represents - He is the exact He Represents - He is the exact representation of God's nature—so he sat representation of God's nature—so he sat down….down….

• He Reinforces - He upholds all things by He Reinforces - He upholds all things by the word of his power—so he sat down….the word of his power—so he sat down….

• He Refines - He made purification of sins—He Refines - He made purification of sins—so he sat down at God's right hand.so he sat down at God's right hand.

Seven Credentials that make Seven Credentials that make Christ KingChrist King

"Whom he appointed heir of all "Whom he appointed heir of all thingsthings...” (Psalm 2:8)...” (Psalm 2:8)

"Through whom also he made the "Through whom also he made the worlds worlds ...”...” (Col. 1:16) John. 1:3; Gen. 1:26) (Col. 1:16) John. 1:3; Gen. 1:26) "The brightness of his glory""The brightness of his glory" (Jn. (Jn.

1:14)1:14)

An Analogy of Sun and SunlightAn Analogy of Sun and Sunlight

There is no time the sun exists without the beams of radiance.

Radiance Radiance isis the glory the glory radiating out. out.The rays of the sun are an extension of the The rays of the sun are an extension of the

sun.sun.

We see the sun by means of seeing the We see the sun by means of seeing the rays of the sun. So we see God the rays of the sun. So we see God the

Father by seeing Jesus.Father by seeing Jesus.

Seven Credentials that make Seven Credentials that make Christ KingChrist King

"And the very image of his "And the very image of his substance"substance"

"Upholding all things by the "Upholding all things by the word word of his power”of his power”

"When he had made purification "When he had made purification of sins"of sins"

""And hath sat down on the right And hath sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on highhand of the Majesty on high

v. 4 "Being made so much v. 4 "Being made so much better than the angels."better than the angels." not apoteloapotelo “to make or create,” it is

ginomaiginomai “to become.” He became better than the angels in His exaltation because at one time he was

made lower than the angels (2:9). “better” in the sense that He was

made perfect (complete as our redeemer) through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10)

something no angel ever did.

Vs. 4, 5 First, His title is betterVs. 4, 5 First, His title is better, The author quotes from Psalm 2:7 & 2 Sam. 7:14

Second, He is greater because of His positionSecond, He is greater because of His position, the angels of God adore him Psalm 97:7

Third, he is greater because of his powerThird, he is greater because of his power: the angels were created by him (Heb. 1:7);

Fourth, he is greater because was given the kingdomFourth, he is greater because was given the kingdom (Hebrews 1:8,9)

Fifth, Jesus is superior to the angels because he is eternalFifth, Jesus is superior to the angels because he is eternal (8-12)

Sixth, he is greater than the angels because of his exalted Sixth, he is greater than the angels because of his exalted state (Hebrews 1:13).state (Hebrews 1:13).

And lastly, Jesus is above the angels because angels are And lastly, Jesus is above the angels because angels are only servants of God; Christ is the Son of God (Hebrews only servants of God; Christ is the Son of God (Hebrews

1:14).1:14).

Seven Reasons Jesus is better than the angels