Greater Salvation – Hebrews 2

Posted on November 28, 2018 by dkoop

The message of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is greater. He’s greater than anything or anyone.  Hebrews is all about Jesus. From chapter one all the way through chapter thirteen there is a radical focus on Jesus.

Here in the second chapter, we are introduced to this Great Salvation Jesus brought. What’s so great about it? It’s great because it’s available to everyone, not just a few select people. It’s great because it is forever, it never expires. It’s not like a driver’s license you have to renew, it’s good forever. This salvation is great because of the great cost required to purchase it.

3  How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. Hebrews 2:1-3 (NIV)

As we dig a little deeper into this great salvation, let’s learn three truths that will transform us.

  1. Jesus has made it possible for us to regain our greatest Destiny.

Speaking of mankind, the author writes

7  …you crowned him with glory and honor 8  and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.” Hebrews 2:7-8 (NIV)

The writer is quoting Psalm 8 in sort of a tongue in cheek way for it was a very familiar psalm.  The gist of what he writes is something like this: “Isn’t there a psalm somewhere that talks about God making man putting EVERYTHING under THEIR feet? Oh yes! It’s in Psalm 8!” That would have gotten the first readers’ attention and helped them to remember that we were supposed have dominion over the entire created order. According to the book of Genesis this was God’s plan, but man sinned and because of that, as verse 8 says, that God-given destiny, our intended dominion over the world, well it hasn’t worked out too well.

Inside all people we have a sense of this lost destiny. We have never forgotten this position of dominion God gave us and we long to regain it. Ray Stedman writes, “This is why we have to explore the depths of the sea. It’s why we have to get out into space. It’s why we cannot keep off the highest mountain.  We have to get up there—even though we have not lost anything up there—and know when we get there we will only see what the bear saw—the other side of the mountain. But we have to get there.” Stedman is right. We each have this remarkable vestigial recollection of God telling us we are designed to have dominion. The trouble is that—because of the fall—when we fallen beings try to exercise dominion we just mess things up more because our ability to do so is no longer there.

Deep within our DNA is a desire to achieve and conquer. David Dykes has said, “We have excelled mentally, but we have failed morally. We invented airplanes that can fly, and we turned them into fighter jets. We discovered how to split the atom, and we turned it into a bomb. We invented television, movies and the Internet and then we fill the screens with all kinds of disgusting violence and perversion. It’s as if our mental engines have sped up beyond the ability of our moral brakes to control.”

  1. Jesus Became A Man To Recover Our Lost Destiny

Then verse 9 says, “But we do see Jesus!” This sentence is a reminder that during His earthly ministry Jesus demonstrated the dominion man was intended to have. He calmed the storm. The fish of the sea obeyed Him and swam into Peter’s nets. Jesus healed the sick and even raised the dead back to life. Jesus is the picture of man as he was meant to be.

And the best evidence of that is His dominion over sin itself, the sin that frustrates our efforts to regain our destiny.  Jesus lived a sinless life, a life that was pure in thought, word, and deed from the moment He drew His first breath in that Bethlehem cave until He drew His last on that Roman Cross.

Because of that Jesus is able to restore our destiny. One thing that brings me comfort when I think of people like my grandfather, my uncle and dear friends from our church family and so many others who have died is the fact that they are not just in Heaven sitting on clouds playing harps.  No, they are enjoying the dominion God promises. They have realized their destiny! Even now God has them doing tasks of amazing eternal significance.

So part of what heaven will be like for us will be a restoration of authority over God’s creation of a new heaven and a new earth.

  1. Jesus Died to Demonstrate God’s Grace

9  But we see Jesus…now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 (NIV)

This is the first time in Hebrews we read about the grace of God, but it won’t be the last. My definition of grace is simple. Grace is God giving me what I need instead of what I deserve. I deserve to spend eternity separated from God in a place called hell, but what I need is forgiveness and a new life that includes being with Jesus forever in heaven.

This chapter is all about our Great Salvation. If you will accept by faith that Jesus died on the cross to take your place, then you can have paradise restored. Once you understand the tremendous cost of your great salvation, you will want to live for Jesus.

Have you read the latest statistics on death? One out of one people will die. Death is no respecter of persons. Old people die; children die; teenagers die; young adults die. As followers of Jesus Christ we don’t have to fear death because Jesus has already tasted death for us.

In ancient days, kings and rulers often had food tasters. Kings had enemies who would poison them if given a chance, so these servants tasted the food and drink, and if they didn’t fall over dead, the king could enjoy the meal. That would have been a pretty tough job. The perks were that you’d get to eat the kings’ food. The disadvantage of the job was that you had to eat the king’s food.

Jesus tasted death for every one of us. That doesn’t mean He just nibbled it, or gave it a taste test. He fully consumed the entire bitter cup of death. He was swallowed up by death, but then death was swallowed up in victory when Jesus came out of the tomb alive. And because He tasted death and survived, He lets us know that we don’t have to be afraid.

If the Lord tarries, death is inevitable. So our main concern isn’t, are we going to die, or even how are we going to die. The question we should be concerned about is what is going to happen to we after you die?

There are only two eternal destinies. I heard about a tombstone where the deceased left instructions to warn others to prepare to die. The tombstone said: Consider Young man as you walk by; as you are now, so once was I. as I am now, you soon shall be; so prepare young man to follow me.” That sounded pretty wise, but some guy came along and added these words to the tombstone: “To follow you is not my intent, until I know which way you went!”

How will we escape the judgment of God if we ignore such a great salvation? We won’t. Faith in Jesus who tasted death for us is our only hope.

Darrell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Max & Carol Garza – Double Lung Transplant Testimony

Posted on November 14, 2018 by dkoop

Written by Max and Carol Garza

or watch the video testimony at Upwards Church Leander:

https://upwards.church/media/631740-2642532-1599860/greater-confidence-hebrews-4

This is about a real life and death testimony.

My journey began in Feb. 2016-I started noticing symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pains while cutting my lawn as well as doing any physical work, or going to the gym during my lunch hour to exercise.  I remember asking others at the gym who were my age, if they were struggling to catch their breath, and they said no.  This prompted me to seek medical attention.  I first had an exacerbation and ended up in the emergency room at Seton Northwest.  After some tests, they discharged me home saying it was probably anxiety and that they couldn’t find anything wrong.  So, then I continued on with my life, and then in May 2016- I had another episode, and I asked Carol to drive me to the emergency room to the Austin Heart Hospital in Austin.  At the Heart Hospital, they ruled out heart issues and they mentioned that on the chest x-rays that they’ve seen something abnormal and this prompted them to get a CT scan of my lungs to find out what it was.   Then CT scan showed some scarring in both of my lungs.  So, then they decided to do a lung biopsy and sent the samples and other lab work off to the world renowned – Mayo Clinic for the diagnosis.  Mayo Clinic came back with the diagnosis of IPF-Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.  Meaning that they don’t know how I got this – whether genetic or environmental. They did more tests to find the cause and couldn’t find the underlying cause.  My pulmonologist that I met at Austin Heart Hospital called me and Carol to give us the diagnosis. She told us that is was, IPF/ PF is a terminal lung disease and that most people live maybe 1-5 years after diagnosis is made and that the disease can quickly take you faster than cancer.

6 months later-January 2017- I was still taking the medication to stop the scarring but – it wasn’t working.  In fact, it got progressively worse to the point that I needed oxygen and then making the decision to send referrals to transplant center in San Antonio because I thought that San Antonio was close to home and just more convenient.  Instead of me going to a further center.  I was still in denial of my illness because I’ve never been sick before and I thought they just were lying about the diagnosis and that really nothing was wrong with me.  I just couldn’t see that my lungs were sick.

I didn’t realize at that time, that my faith, my trust was being tested and even my confidence in trusting God’s plan was already in place and I just had to let him lead me.

Early 2017, I was sent to the University Transplant Center in San Antonio, to be considered for transplant evaluations.  I went to several appointments there to discuss my case, the transplant process.  The team could see right through me and that I wasn’t ready mentally for the journey.  After several appointments, I was wondering as to why they kept stalling me from moving forward with scheduling.   I received a telephone call from the University Transplant Center Coordinator and was notified that they denied my case for transplant and referred me to be seen in Dallas or in Houston.   I was upset because I didn’t realize that I had to accept my situation, and that they saw right through me-they saw my fears.  I learned that they wanted someone who is going to go all the way through and not be afraid.  They apologized and sent my case off to Dallas and Houston.   I told the coordinator how difficult, that they were making it for me and my family to go out further.  They told me that they don’t give second chances, that you have to be on board or not.  They saw that I hadn’t been.

After that denial in San Antonio, I had no choice but now to get on board because I now realized that I’m sick and facing the biggest battle of my life and now I was on a race against time.   I even had tried to appeal the decision but then accepted the fact to go and proceed with referrals to Dallas and Houston.

But you see, I wasn’t seeing the big picture yet.  I wasn’t seeing God’s plans and all I saw was how am I going to do this on my own.  I wasn’t seeing GOD’S PLANS but only my plans and how I was going to afford this going somewhere else further out away from home.  I wasn’t seeing that God had the perfect transplant team, the perfect hospital, the perfect place to live while there, and of course, the perfect time that this was going to happen.  

Apart from him, we will naturally become impatient when people or situations frustrate us or our circumstances aren’t to our liking.    Patience is a matter of trust in God.  

So, then I called the pulmonologist in Austin, and told her what happened in San Antonio.  I asked for her to send a good recommendation with my referrals to Dallas and Houston.  My pulmonary dr in Austin, sent off the referrals to both Dallas – as Dallas had 2 centers -UT Southwestern and Baylor.  So one of these two – I was hoping would accept my case and schedule an appointment for evaluations.  Of course, they asked me- what happened in San Antonio.  I told them the truth, I wasn’t ready.  But now I am on board and ready to go through whatever to finish this.  I was accepted and they agreed to take schedule evaluations.  Then I received a telephone call from Houston Methodist while I was in Dallas, to schedule Houston evaluations.  And then I received another telephone call from Dallas, notifying me that my medical insurance company changed and the new insurance company is now out of network for the Dallas centers.  The coordinator in Dallas did notify me that if I were to go with Houston, I probably get lungs before Christmas and this was only late June/July and she predicted that if I went to Houston-bigger center, that I probably get my lungs before Christmas.  And that they wouldn’t be offended if I went on with the decision to go through the evaluations at Houston Methodist because they knew that it was still in network with my insurance company.  I then had to make a decision to either continue on w/ scheduling with the Dallas teams and Houston knowing that it was going to be more expensive with out of network, or just go to the one in Houston.  I decided to cancel Dallas after this and stop evaluation process and move on with Houston Methodist as it was in network for evaluation.  I am now praying that Houston would accept me as a candidate and list me.   I only now had one chance to get listed and that was in Houston.

I arrived in Houston the first week in August 2017 for a week long of evaluations, I met with the team transplant director.  He agreed to start the evaluations for transplant.  He explained to me and my family all the scary possibilities that can happen and the statistics of going through the process like for example, that most don’t survive getting through the transplant evaluations or if you make it through this, then some don’t make it while waiting on the transplant list, and also some don’t make it through the surgery itself off the table or the first-year post transplant.  That almost half of the patients have a 50/50 survival rate.  You could die either way.  I did some research and saw that this was a high volume center meaning that they have more transplants than other centers.  The doctor saw me and said that he reviewed my case and that I had no more time but to go through w/ evaluation because he said that I had about 6 months-2 years life expectancy and I wouldn’t make it to my next birthday if I wasn’t listed – it was August and my birthday is in April.  So , I went through the evaluation process during Aug. Sept., and in October and was finally accepted and approved by the insurance company and the team for transplant listing.   My name was activated on October 12, 2017 with UNOS National Waiting list.  I waited for 31 days on the list after becoming activated.

God gave me scripture then, Proverbs 3:4-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and he will direct your paths”.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid

 By the beginning of November 2017-my lung allocation score increased, meaning I was getting sicker and also this made my name more noticeable on the waiting list for donor offers.  My score increase, my need for more oxygen increased, meaning I was getting sicker.   I was told that they hoped I would get the call before Christmas but couldn’t promise me anything as well but to keep being positive.  I learned to trust my doctors just like I had to trust God.

November 13, 2017- I received the call stating that they had a donor match and asked if I would accept the donor offer for lungs.  I accepted the offer after being notified that the lungs were no high risk.  I was notified to get ready and to be at the hospital in 3 hours.  Luckily at that time of the night, traffic wasn’t a problem.

To be honest, I wasn’t even scared, I was just ready for the surgery to happen by now. God gave me perfect peace, HIS PEACE.  God chose me to go through this for his honor and glory.  God created the heavens and the earth and I knew that he would cause me to overcome anything with confidence and not be afraid.  God went through the fire with us, but on fire with him and we came out untouched.

I arrived in Houston, they took me to the back and I’m sitting there in the bed, and then I had lots of doctors and nurses starting to gather around me and the next thing I know they’re checking my vitals, my oxygen levels, getting chest x-rays done, other tests and prepping an IV to start in me.  I was being prepped for a surgery that I didn’t know that may or may not happen.   By this time, more people started to gather around me taking samples of blood, etc., etc. And all I could see was their facial expressions-looking scared for me.  They knew that I was rolling into something I wasn’t sure if I would come out of.  The nurses and doctors made me sign the consent for treatment forms and then notifying me and my family that surgery could last anywhere from 5-10 hours depending if there is complications and the need for blood transfusions, or being put on a heart-lung bypass machine, or even the lungs collapsing.   All the possibilities and gathered my signatures.  Then they took me to the ICU to start me on IV anti-rejection medicine, antifungal meds, antibiotics and so much more.  The doctors/nurses were watching my vitals on the monitor and communicating with the other teams to retrieve the lungs, get them to the OR between the donor hospital and my hospital.   They notified my family that the lungs have arrived and were across the street and that they would be going in first to see if the lungs looked good enough to be moved for transplant.  The surgeon gave his blessing that the lungs were good and received their final blessing and I was then moved into surgery.  Surgery was completed after midnight in the very early hours of November 14th.   I was in ICU for at least almost a week and then moved to the step down unit to the floor after.

I finally figured out that nothing in life happens by accident.  As children of God, we know that everything comes our way, its filtered through his hands.  And HE can use whatever we experience to grow us in GRACE, HOLINESS, CONFIDENCE and even

I know that God has built up my confidence that if I can go through a double lung transplant journey.  I can do whatever is given to me.

 

 

 

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Greater Savior – Hebrews 1

Posted on November 2, 2018 by dkoop

7 Facts About Jesus

Hebrews 1: 2-3

2  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
3  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:2-3 (NIV)

The main idea of Hebrews is that Jesus is Greater.  Greater than anyone or anything.  Here are seven great facts about Jesus.

  1. Jesus Owns Everything.

He is the heir.  God has given him everything as his inheritance.

People don’t always know what their inheritance will be until someone dies. And then they learn that they got a toaster, their sibling gets the sports car, and the cash.  Jesus made off a bit greater than that, he actually gets everything.

Everything on earth, everything in heaven, he gets it all. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.  He owns it all and secondly He made it all.

2.  Jesus Created The Universe.

Hebrews 1:2 says, “through whom he made the universe.”

The Jews that received this letter knew that God created the universe. When the author named Jesus as creator they immediately understood the implications. Jesus is God.

Remember the first verse of the bible? God created the heaven’s and the earth in Gen 1:1.  Then in Gen 1:26, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.”

Why did God use the plural to describe himself?  God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn’t just suddenly appear one day, he has always been.

Jesus is part of the mysterious union that we call the Trinity.

It’s important to remember that Jesus made claims about Himself that no other religious leader claimed. He said in John 8, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus was present at the Creation of the Universe. In John 1 the Bible says, “Though him all things were made; without him nothing was made that was made.”

This is supported by what we read in Colossians 1, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

Not only is Christ the heir and the creator,

  1.  Jesus is the Radiance of God’s Glory.

The word “radiance” refers to the Shekinah glory of God. The word Shekinah means “brilliant shining glory.” It was the word used to describe the presence of God in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Since the Shekinah is no longer in the Temple, the shining presence of God is in Jesus.

I got my dad one of those really bright LED flashlights for Christmas. One of my kids started shining the light in people’s faces.  And you know what they said, “that’s bright!”  What is bright? Is it the bulb or the beams of light?

No one asks that question.  No one says “that bulb is way too bright and it’s sending bright beams into my eyes because the bulb and the light are technically different but practically one in the same.

And so it goes with Jesus. God is glorious and the Son radiates the glory of God. It is truly one of the mysteries of our faith

  1.  Jesus is the Exact Representation of God.

A picture may not always give us an accurate likeness. A lady went to a photography studio to have some pictures made. When she got the proofs, she didn’t like any of them. She stormed back into the studio and said to the photographer, “I don’t like these pictures, they don’t do me justice!” To which the photographer said, “Lady, you don’t need justice, you need mercy!”

God is Spirit, and therefore, He is invisible to the human eye. But God chose to reveal Himself to us, and He did it by putting on flesh and walking in our midst. No man has ever seen God, but many people saw Jesus Christ. But when men looked at Jesus, they saw a good representation of God. Once the apostle Phillip asked of Jesus, “Show us the Father!” Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

  1.  Jesus Sustains Everything

This is supported by what we read in Colossians 1 “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

Not only is Jesus the creator of all things, the Bible also says, “in him all things hold together” The word is sunestimei, which means “to stick together; to cohere.” It means Jesus is the super glue of all matter. He is the duct tape of the Universe.

Have you ever wondered what keeps the universe together? Why doesn’t the earth go spinning off into space, or why doesn’t the moon crash into the earth? Why doesn’t all of matter just explode or implode into some black hole?

That’s a question scientists have been studying for many years. They claim all matter large and small is composed of particles, atoms, which are broken down into smaller particles called neutrons, protons and electrons.  Nuclear physicists have discovered even smaller particles called quarks. These quarks provide the cohesion for the atomic structure.

Physics is a very complicated science, but let me give you a physics for dummies review. Scientists have examined what holds matter together and they have come up with a combination of four forces. These are often called the Four Fundamental Forces. They are identified as Electromagnetism, Weak interaction, Strong Interaction, and Gravitation. They don’t really understand HOW and WHY the strong force holds things together; they just know that something or someone is exerting a massive force binding atoms, molecules, and matter.

For decades, Christian scientists have seen a connection between this strong force and Colossians 1:17 where the Bible says that in Jesus, all things hold together.

For thirty years Stanford graduate Dr. Lambert Dolphin performed research in physics. Here’s what he thinks about this strong force: “This passage can be applied to the structure of the atom, for example. The nucleus of every atom is held together by what physicists call ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ forces. God dynamically sustains the universe, including the atoms themselves. They are ‘stable’ only because force from the spiritual realm is being supplied into the physical nuclear binding fields. Whatever we may think of God and physics, the Bible leaves us with no room to doubt that God does care about the sparrow that falls to the ground, the widow, the orphan, and the homeless. He does not lose track of His children and watches over them with infinite, patient, intimate Fatherly care. He sustains the universe by His mighty word of power.” (What Holds the Universe Together?)

Jesus made the world and everything in it, and He sustains it by his power.

  1.  Jesus Provides Purification for our Sins

Hebrews 1:2, “After he had provided purification for sins…” We’re going to see in this book that the blood of bulls and rams could NEVER make atonement for sins. Only a sinless sacrifice could cleanse us.

Let’s think about the words pure and polluted. I wouldn’t drink polluted water; I crave pure water. The problem is we’re all polluted from the inside out: That’s sin. Jesus is the only man who walked on the planet who was morally and spiritually pure. He took our pollution into his pure body and in exchange gave us His purity. His grace; His forgiveness.

We’re all sinners. I’m so glad God didn’t send us a do-it-yourself clean up kit. Although that’s what a lot of people try to do. “I’m going to clean up my act.” We can’t clean up our act. Only the blood of Jesus can clean up our lives.

  1. Jesus Sat Down at the Right Hand of God

This passage concludes with the statement, “He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”  I know many travelers in Texas are all excited about the Buc-ee’s service stations. They are huge.  Have you ever asked where are the tables?   There are no tables and no place to sit!  They want you to fill up on gas/food/ and drinks and then keep on moving.   I’m going somewhere with this story. There was something unusual about the Temple in Jerusalem you might not have known about. There were no chairs. There was no place to sit down in the Temple. There were different instruments and implements for worship, but no seats where the priests could sit. The reason was that they never finished their work. They were always making sacrifices and performing the duties—but no sitting down on the job!

But when Jesus made the final sacrifice as our High Priest, He did something no human priest had ever done. He sat down!  He was finished. The job was done! And today, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father waiting the time when the Father says, “Son it’s time for you to go and claim your bride and bring her home!” He sits on a throne in heaven to indicate His absolute authority over the universe. He rules. He reigns!

I heard about a church bulletin that had a typo for that song, the bulletin added an “s” and it said, “Our God resigns!” Nope, He reigns and He’ll never resign!

So what’s the take away truth? Knowing Jesus gives us confidence to live a life of faith.  As our world implodes around us, we must have a faith that can’t be shaken, and that only comes from knowing Jesus.

Darrell

 

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Christ is Greater – Introduction to Hebrews

Posted on November 2, 2018 by dkoop

We’re diving into the wonderful epistle to the Hebrews.  Husbands and wives have you ever had a disagreement over whose job it is to brew the coffee every morning?  The Bible says it’s the husband’s job. This says He-brews, not She-brews!

The book of Hebrews uses the word “greater” 6 times and “better” 11 times to describe who Jesus is and what he has done for us.

People in our world are asking life’s big questions:

  • Who has the power to help me where I need help?
  • What is God’s plan for my life?
  • Where can I fine true meaning and happiness?
  • Will there be an end to my suffering?
  • How do I know I can put my trust in God?

The book of Hebrews was written to a group of persecuted Christians, Jewish Christians.

They were asking those big questions, because life was very hard.

And so this letter was written; with a clear message for them, but also for us today:  The answer to all of our questions is JESUS!   Jesus is the main topic of Hebrews.

Because Jesus is greater than: fill in the blank.  Jesus is greater than anyone, anything, any idea, any authority, any king, any priest, any prophet, Jesus is simply greater.

And you’ll see that theme developed as we work through this book. Some of us have been attending church a long time.

We may know basic theology. We may know how to navigate a potluck or a communion.

We might even be able to pray in public.

But I’m often amazed at little Christians know about Jesus.   Hebrews will teach us a lot about Jesus.

Only God knows who wrote this book.   Some think it’s Paul, but Paul began every one of his letters by identifying himself in the salutation. Like, “Paul, and apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to the saints in Corinth.” His usual greeting was “grace and peace be unto you.” This letter has neither his name nor his trademark greeting.

There are many theories about who could be the author of Hebrews. Some speculate Barnabas, Apollos, or even a woman named Priscilla!  I won’t go into the theories because when it comes down to it, God is the author of all of scripture. Whoever may be the writer; he or she got one thing right—that Jesus Christ is GREATER than anything or anyone else

Let’s dive into verse 1

1  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, Hebrews 1:1 (NIV)

God Has Spoken

The author starts with a big picture statement to begin building their case.

In the past, God spoke many times.

When we read that, it immediately raises some questions.

Who Did God Speak To?

This letter is written by a Jewish author to a Jewish people.

And so they write, “our forefathers”.

And any good Jewish man or woman could have immediately pulled up some famous examples.

  • God spoke to Abram saying “Go to the land I will show you.”
  • God spoke to Jacob and said, “I’m changing your name to Israel.”
  • God spoke Moses in a burning bush.
  • God spoke to Adam and Eve, Sarah. He spoke to all kinds of people.

And when we read the Bible we might get the idea that God spoke directly to everyone, but that’s not true.

Most people heard God speak through prophets and priests.

And that’s what vs. 1 tells us. But an important question to ask is

Why Does God Speak To Us?

Lots of reasons! We could suppose God has things he wants us to know. That’s reasonable.

  • At times he spoke to his people to encourage them.
  • At other times he spoke words of correction/judgment to them.
  • He spoke giving them instructions about how to live.

It’s essential to realize that God has spoken to people then and to us today because He wants to know us and be known by us.

Our God is a personal God, that wants a personal relationship with us. That’s why he spoken to us, he not a mystery.

He’s not a concept. He isn’t distant and unavailable.

That’s why he’s spoken!

Imagine if God had remained silent?

  • We wouldn’t know who we are.
  • We wouldn’t know who God is and what he thinks.
  • We would know right from wrong.
  • We wouldn’t have the Scripture.
  • We wouldn’t know how to pray.
  • We wouldn’t exist because God spoke the world into existence.
  • There wouldn’t be hope for hurting people.
  • There wouldn’t be a place to take our doubts and fears.
  • There would be no expectation of anything greater to come if God had not spoken.
  • We’d be empty, alone, afraid, and without faith.

And there are many who live like that right now.

They need to know that God has spoken, and hear what he has to say!

If God spoke many times and in many ways to the Old Testament people.

What did he say?

How could we summarize all that was said in the OId Testament?

  • Every Old Testament book was pointing to something that was coming.
  • Every prophet had something to say about what God was doing.
  • Every the Old Testament book anticipated some new thing that God was preparing.

The prophet Jeremiah was told of a new Covenant nad a new day promised by God.

Verse 2 tell us what you’ve probably already guessed.

2  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… Hebrews 1:2

When we hear Last Days we may start thinking about end times.

But Last Days in our Bibles simply refers to the time from Christ’s ascension to his return.

We are in the last days, or final days. We have been in the last days since Christ ascended into heaven.

The Old Testament people were living in the days of God’s promises…when he was preparing people for something new.

The writer of Hebrews says the waiting is over! God has spoken again, to us, with something new to say.

What Has God Spoken To Us?

The final word: Jesus.

Throughout history God’s main communication method was through the Old Testament prophets. But once Jesus came to planet earth God said, “This is my final way to talk to you, through my Son, Jesus.”

Since Jesus, there have been others who have claimed they got the final message. Six hundred years after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, an Arabian man named Muhammad claimed to have received a final message from God. He wrote it down in the Qur’an. He claimed his revelation superseded that of Isa, or Jesus, who was considered a great prophet.

In 1830, Joseph Smith claimed he received a more final revelation from God, a new gospel.  It is called the Book of Mormon. But with apologies to our friends the Muslims and the Mormons, Jesus is the final Word from God.

God is still giving fresh new illumination to the study of His Word, but it’s important to understand that God isn’t giving in any new revelation of His Word. So when we hear anyone saying “God told me something” we should be very skeptical unless what they say completely agrees with scripture.

The Old Testament is about promises and the New Testament is the fulfillment of those promises.

In the Old Testament God spoke many times in many ways, in the New Testament God has spoken to us by His Son. One message through one messenger….Jesus Christ.

We’re going to see a bunch of this kind of “then and now” comparisons in the book of Hebrews.

And what we’ll discover is that everything God promised in the Old Testament was fulfilled in persona and work of Jesus Christ!

That means that Jesus is:  a big deal.

In these last days, God has given us the last word, and it’s a word about his Son, Jesus.

In the next post we will see 7 Facts about Jesus.

Darrell

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