DIVINITY OF CHRIST part 5
From Hebrews (Heb 1:1-14)
Part 5 of the sermon series, Divinity of Christ.
The first three sermons in this series established that Jesus Christ is God based on the writings of John. Cited passages came from John’s Gospel, the epistles, and Revelation. The fourth sermon focused on the writings of Paul. This fifth sermon will explain the divinity of Christ in the epistle to the Hebrews. The author of Hebrews reveals that Christ is the exact representation of God the Father, yet shows that they are distinct persons.
Jesus: Supreme Revelation
The author states the difference between the prophets of old and the Son of God. In the last days, meaning days of fulfillment as opposed to days of promise, God spoke through the Son, Jesus Christ. The author also revealed that God created the world through the Son. Thus, the Son is not a created being. Moreover, the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of His nature. After the Son’s work, He upholds the universe and sits at the right hand of the Father.
Hebrews 1:1-4: 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.
The author of Hebrews declares the same truth as the other apostles, especially John and Paul. Christ shares in the divine nature; it is exact. He is God, yet God the Father and Son are distinct persons. Christ is superior to all, which includes the prophets and the angels.
Gems in the text
1. To reveal Himself and His will, God the Father speaks through the Son now, during the days of fulfillment, no longer through the prophets.
2. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature. They share in the divine essence.
3. Christ is also the creator and ruler of all. He is not a lesser being than the Father, but He fulfilled a specific role.
Messianic Enthronement & Superiority
The author affirms that the Son is the exact imprint of God's nature, indicating His eternal nature, yet also calls Him begotten. This is not a contradiction. In this context, begotten refers to messianic enthronement rather than birth. As shown in Acts 13:32–33, Luke connects Psalm 2:7 to Christ’s resurrection, not His birth. David (or one of his descendants) was already alive when he was begotten, indicating that the reference was to his installation as king. Similarly, Jesus is declared begotten at His resurrection, signifying His exaltation, not His beginning.
Hebrews 1:5-7: 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.”Acts 13:32-33: And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,
“‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’
The word firstborn must also be clarified, although this was discussed in the last sermon. David was the youngest, but God made him firstborn.[1] Thus, “firstborn” was used in reference to rank and status rather than chronology.
As for the angels, they worship the firstborn, but only God can be worshiped, which means that the Son is God.[2] The author makes a distinction of status between the Son and the angels while making a similarity between God and the Son (Heb 1:3). The author needed to point out that Christ is higher than the angels since the Jews believed that angels are God’s highest created beings.[3] For the Jew, only God is higher than the angels.
Gems in the text
1. Christ is begotten of God in relation to the resurrection. It was about Jesus proving Messianic Kingship. Begotten does not refer to created order.
2. Christ is the firstborn, which refers to rank and supremacy, not created order. Christ is the creator, not created.
3. The angels were commanded to worship the Son, which means the Son is God.
God Calls the Son, God
God calls His Son, God. God says that the Son rules forever and ever. Now, only God rules forever and ever. If they are not the same essence, it would be impossible. Only God rules forever and ever.[4] God also declares the role of God the Son in creation. The following text shows the righteousness and immutability of God the Son.
Hebrews 1:8-14: 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.
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?
The Scriptures declare that it is YHWH who laid the foundation of the earth, yet the author of Hebrews attributes such to the Son.[5] YHWH is unchanging, meaning He is immutable, but such was attributed to Christ by the author.[6] The attributes of YHWH are the same attributes of Christ. Thus, the genuine believer adheres to One God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The author made it clear that the Son is not at the same level as the angels. He is supreme, above all. The Son sits at the right hand of the Father as co-sovereign with divine authority.[7] Christ cannot be made lower because He is God.
Gems in the text
1. God the Father called His Son, God.
2. Begotten does not refer to creation, but to enthronement. Firstborn does not mean created, but the supreme in rank and status. Christ is not a created being, but He is Creator with the Father.
3. God does not change, meaning He is immutable and eternal. These attributes also belong to the Son. The reason being, Father and Son are one in essence, although two in person.
Application
1. Believe in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Proclaim the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Defend the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notes
[1] Ps 89:27 and Col 1:15-17.
[2] Dt 6:13 and Mt 4:10.
[3] Arthur W. Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews (Arthur Pink Collection Book 21) (Kindle ed.; n.p.: Function, n.d.), loc. 844.
[4] Ps 93:2.
[5] Ps 102:25-27.
[6] Mal 3:6 and Heb 13:8.
[7] Ps 110:1
Bibliography
Pink, Arthur W. An Exposition of Hebrews. Arthur Pink Collection Book 21. Kindle ed. n.p.: Function, n.d.
Poem
GOD AND GOD ARE ONE by Ed Pilápil Jr. He’s the radiance of His glory God the Son, from eternity Jesus upholds the universe It’s written plainly in the verse It states: the Father called Him God The verses might seem weird and odd Yet the Scriptures clearly state it At the highest place He does sit God and God, side by side, they sit One God, three persons, believe it The truth we believe is not odd A clear understanding of God Cover to cover, verse by verse Jesus, God of the universe Eternal from eternity We worship and give Him glory
Study Guide
1. The Father and Son have the same essence. Explain through the passage.
2. Explain the word begotten in relation to the resurrection.
3. How can you more boldly proclaim and defend the divinity of Jesus in your personal witness?
An expanded version of the study guide is in the downloadable manuscripts.
Downloadable PDF files in English and Tagalog
