Jesus, Greater than Angels – Hebrews 1: 4-14

Posted on November 28, 2023 by dkoop

Did you ever sing this song?  “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”  In this post, we will continue to turn our eyes upon Jesus as we continue in Hebrews 1:4-14

That passage might seem like a lot to digest, so let’s break it down into bite-sized pieces. The writer quotes seven passages from the Old Testament and applies them to Jesus. You may know that the Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, but about 150 years before Jesus showed up at Bethlehem, the Greek rulers wanted to be able to read the Old Testament in their own language so seventy scholars were commissioned to translate the entire Old Testament into Greek. Because there seventy translators, it is called the Septuagint, and is designated by the Roman numeral for seventy, which is LXX.

This was a very important document, because Greek was the language spoken by most of the people during the 1st Century. And all of these seven quotations from the Old Testament we just read are from the Septuagint, not the Hebrew Old Testament.

Like a good attorney, the writer is going to lay out a solid case for WHY Jesus is greater than the angels. He presents five arguments. You may be thinking, “What’s the big deal? Of course, Jesus is greater than angels. Why even argue the point?”

It’s because when this letter was written, there were Hebrew believers who were slipping away from their faith. They were thinking about sliding back into Judaism and angels play prominent roles in Judaism. By presenting these five arguments, you and I can come to a deeper appreciation and higher adoration of who Jesus really is. So let’s put our EYES ON JESUS!

  1. Jesus Has a Greater Name

We read, “He became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”

There are many names used in the Bible for God. Two little boys were talking about God. One of them said, “Do you know what God’s name is?” The other one said, “Sure. His name is Andy.” The first one said, “Andy? How do you know?” The other kid said, “We sang about him at church yesterday, ‘Andy walks with me Andy talks with me.” Well, God’s name isn’t Andy. The best name for God is Jesus. And His name is superior to the names of angels.

It’s Bible trivia time. How many angels are given names in the Bible? The answer is three.

The only archangel, which means “leader angel,” is Michael. The name Michael means, “who is like God.” The second angel named in the Bible is Gabriel, and his name means, “God is great.” The third angel named in the Bible is actually a fallen angel, Lucifer, and his name meant “morning star.”

The name of Jesus is greater than the name of any angel. It means “God saves.” Don’t you love the name Jesus? Gloria Gaither was right, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There’s just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus—like the fragrance after the rain. Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name.”

  1. Jesus is God’s Son, Angels are God’s Servants

The Bible says, “To which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Again, the answer is ZERO. Nada. Zip. This letter was being written to believers who had probably heard some false teachers claiming that Jesus was just a powerful angel, but He certainly wasn’t God. And there are many voices today telling us Jesus was less than God. Our Muslim friends claim Jesus was a great prophet like Moses or Abraham.

The writer makes it clear Jesus wasn’t just an angel or other lower being. God never said to an angel, “You are my Son.” But when Jesus came up from the being baptized, God spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son whom I love. Listen to Him!”

The angels are called “the sons of God” when they are described collectively. Job 1:6 says, “One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.” (HCSB) But no individual angel is ever called a Son of God. That title is reserved for Jesus alone.

Angels are a hot topic today. If you Google the word angel, you’ll find over 1 billion links. Some people claim they have been touched by an angel, while most of them are just a little touched in the head.

But for now, let’s remember that the main role of angels is to serve. They serve God, and according to Hebrews 1:14, they also serve those who will inherit salvation. So don’t go looking for angels. Put your eyes on Jesus, God’s Son.

  1. Jesus is Worshipped, Angels Worship Him

Our text says, “When God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’” The word firstborn here doesn’t refer to birth order, but it refers to rank. Colossians 1:15 says Jesus was “the firstborn over all creation.” To say Jesus was God’s first-born might imply that God had other sons. But firstborn was a legal standing that signified the one who would receive the main inheritance from the father. Can you think of an example in the Old Testament where the son who was actually born first wasn’t the firstborn and received the inheritance? You are probably thinking about Jacob who was born second to Esau, but he really tricked his father out of the inheritance. A better example would be Solomon. He was tenth in the birth order, but he received the throne from his father David.

Angels should never be worshipped. But we know there was a dangerous practice in the early church concerning the worship of angels. In Colossians 2:18, Paul warns to stay away from false believers who require you to practice asceticism, worship angels, or depend on strange visions. (ESV)

In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John is escorted by an angel through a vision of the end times. On two occasions he was so overwhelmed that he fell down to worship the angel. On both occasions the angel had a holy fit and said, “Don’t worship me! I’m just an angel. Worship God!”

When Jesus began His ministry, a fallen angel, Satan, tempted Him. Satan showed Jesus all the riches of the world and said, “All this will be yours if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus pulled out the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God and quoted Deuteronomy 6:13. He said, “It is written, ‘Fear the Lord your God and serve him.’” (NKJV)

Was Jesus ever worshipped during His time on earth? We read that the Magi came and brought Him gifts and bowed down and worshipped Him. Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t worship me, Worship God.” When Jesus walked on the water and got into the boat, the Bible says the disciples worshipped Him. He didn’t say, “Don’t worship me, worship God.” When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, people were waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” The Pharisees had a holy fit that Jesus was being worshipped so they said, “Rabbi! Rebuke these people who are worshipping you!” I think Jesus might have smiled a little when He said, “If they keep quiet, the stones would cry out in praise.” I think He was referring to the prediction of Isaiah 55:12 that says that the mountains and the hills will break forth into singing, and the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.”

Now, if only God is worthy to be worshipped, and Jesus accepted worship, what would that make Him? God. So we should be worshipping Jesus as well, because He is God. So put your eyes on Jesus and worship Him.

  1. Jesus will Rule Forever, Angels are His Subjects 

Our verses say, “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” Now, if you understand that God is speaking here, He calls Jesus God. In other words, God calls Jesus God. How can that be?

That is the mystery of the Tri-unity of God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There’s only one God. The Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. That concept is beyond our ability to completely comprehend. But I always quote how John Wesley described the Trinity. He said, “If you can explain to me how there can be three candles in a room, but only one light, then I will explain to you the Trinity.”

Some people try to claim that the Bible never calls Jesus God, but they are wrong. He is referred to as God many times in the Bible. Jesus told the man delivered from the demons to go home and tell the great things that God had done for him, and he went about telling the people what Jesus had done—no difference. Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God.” Titus wrote about looking for the Blessed Hope, which is the “glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

As God, Jesus will rule the universe forever. There are some people in the U.S. who prefer that our politicians be restricted by term limits. It’s an interesting debate. But for sure, there is no term limit for King Jesus. He was never elected and He can’t be voted out of office. Jesus will rule and reign forever and then forever and ever.

In 1741, George Frideric Handel was a composer who was deeply in debt and sinking into depression. He took it upon himself to put selected passages of scriptures to music. He called it “The Messiah” and he wrote the entire oratorio in 24 days. He hardly slept or ate. There is a story that as he was completing the Hallelujah Chorus, his servant knocked on his door, but received no reply. He reported that he entered the room and Handel had his head down on his composition. When he looked up there were tears in his eyes. He lifted the Hallelujah Chorus and said, “I have seen the face of God.”

There’s a story that when King George II first heard the Hallelujah chorus he stood. And even to this day, when the Hallelujah Chorus is sung, people stand, not to emulate the act of an earthly king. But to show honor for the heavenly King of Kings and Lord of Lords as the choir sings the words straight from Revelation 19. “And He shall reign forever and ever.” Jesus rules. Keep your eyes on Him!

  1.  Jesus is the Creator, Angels were Created

Again, we read these words spoken to Jesus, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” As we saw in last week’s post, Jesus was present at the creation. Angels were also present because Job tells us they shouted for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid. But Jesus was never created; He is the Creator.

Do you know what that means? The next time you read the Declaration of Independence you could read it this way, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are bestowed by JESUS certain unalienable rights.”

But this passage also says one day this earth and these heavens will grow old and wear out like a tattered garment. Have you ever had a piece of clothing that you liked so much that you wore it for years? Maybe you wore it so much that it finally just wore out. A man had a favorite sweatshirt that he wore all the time. He had never done the laundry and one weekend his wife was away visiting her parents. He called her up and said, “I want to wash my sweatshirt, but what setting do I use on the washing machine?” She said, “Look on the shirt. What does it say?” He said, “Texas A & M.”

So what will Jesus do when this heaven and earth wears out? This passage says He’ll just fold up the old heaven and old earth like you would roll up an old bathrobe that is too tattered to donate to Cornerstone or Goodwill. He’ll toss it aside and do what He does best. He’ll create. He’ll create a New Heaven and a New Earth.

Here’s how the Apostle John describes this new creation. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (Revelation 21:1-5)

Heaven is for real, not because of the book or the movie with the title. Heaven is for real because of what the Bible says. We’ll see Jesus, our loved ones who were saved, and we will serve Him forever.

I love the quote by C.S. Lewis: “There is no need to be worried by facetious people who try to make the Christian hope of heaven ridiculous by saying they do not want to ‘spend eternity playing harps.’ The answer to such people is that if they cannot understand books written for grown-ups they should not talk about them.” (Mere Christianity, p. 106)

Jesus is greater than angels or any other person who has walked this planet, because the scripture testifies,  “God has exalted Him and given Him a name that is exalted over every other name in the universe. That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to glory of God the Father!  Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus because He is greater than the angels.

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/watch-now/leander-campus-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

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Journey to Jesus – Hebrews 1: 1-4

Posted on November 13, 2023 by dkoop

People in our world on a journey of discovery asking life’s big questions:

Why am I here? Is there a God? What is life about?  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? Will there be an end to my suffering? What happens when I die?

The book of Hebrews was originally written to a group of persecuted Jewish Christians and has been secured and kept for us today as well.

Like us, they were asking those big questions, because life was very hard.

And so this letter was written; with a clear message:  The answer to all of our questions is JESUS.

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 we’ll see that theme developed as we work through this book. Some of us have been attending church a long time. We know basic theology. We know how to navigate a potluck. We might even be able to pray the Lord’s Prayer in the King James.

But I’m often amazed at little Christian know about Jesus.

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

We don’t really know who wrote Hebrews, but the author starts with a big picture statement to begin building their case.

Long ago 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.

  • 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 Old Testament?

He made Promises. Every Old Testament book was pointing to something that was coming. Every prophet had something to say about what God was doing.

Even the Old Testament worship anticipated some new thing that God was preparing…the people in the Old Testament knew…that what they saw wasn’t all that God had in mind.

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

and verse 2 tell us what you’ve probably already guessed.

2a And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.

When we hear final Days we start thinking about end times.

But final days or last days in your Bible 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.

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 spoke one message through one messenger….Jesus Christ.

We’re going to see several “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 final days, God has given us the final word, and it’s a word about his Son, Jesus.

Notice,

Seven Facts About Jesus.

In verses 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)

  1. Christ 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.  Christ Created The Universe.

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.

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.

And it keeps going.

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

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. Christ is the Exact Representation of God.

Think about everything we know of Jesus.  He never sinned, ever. Not one time. He never wavered on what is right and wrong.  He was loving and peaceful and kind. He was passionate about truth and bold when he taught it.

He was completely fair, beyond temptation, all-knowing and all powerful Who does that remind us of? God.

If you were to go to one of the US mints in Denver or Philadelphia, you’d see where they manufacture coins.  They have coin molds that determine how each coin will look.

The words that are on your coins, the pictures, all of it is determined by the mold.

When they put the raw material into the mold of a penny, it will come out with a picture of Lincoln on it.  They’ve never taken a copper penny out of the Lincoln mold and seen Washington’s face. Because coins express the exact image of their mold.

And in a similar way Jesus displays God’s character in every way.

Once the apostle Philip said to Jesus, show us the father.

John 14:9 “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”

  1. He Sustains Everything.

This echoes the apostle Paul’s thoughts in Colossians 1:17 where it says that Jesus, “holds all creation together.”

Not only is he the creator, he’s the sustainer.

  1. Cleansed Us from Our Sins.

In the Old Testament there was a High Priest that served in Israel.

One of his jobs was to offer what they called the sacrifice of Atonement every year.  Leviticus 16 describes the ceremony that high priest went through to cleanse the people of Israel from their sins. So when the Jewish recipients of this letter read that Jesus cleansed us from our sins, they noticed something; Jesus is being identified as our high priest.

  1. He Is Seated at The Right Hand Of God.

If I were tell you that a quarterback will be “under center” today few of us would think that the center is sitting down on the quarterback.

Under center is a term that we use to describe the QB position.

When you read in the NT that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, it doesn’t mean that God always sitting down, and that Jesus is always sitting down next to him.

For the ancient readers this was king talk. And when they read this they knew that Jesus was being presented as a King.

Some of the commentators think that there were Christian Jews reading this letter, but that there were also Jews who were still trying to understand who this Jesus was.

And the author makes a compelling case for Jesus in this opening. In the past God spoke through prophets, but Jesus greater than the prophets.

In the past God spoke through priests, but Jesus is greater than the previous priests. He is the highest of the high priests!

In the past God spoke through kings, but Jesus is greater than the all the other kings. He is the King of Kings.

And just to drive the point home, verse 4 says…

This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.  Hebrews 1:4

Our Bible is the record of what God has spoken.

God has spoken in the past…and it was all pointing to Jesus.

God has spoken in these last days…it’s all about Jesus.

But this is where it gets personal for you and me.

The message about Jesus isn’t just for somebody.  It’s for you. Our journey of faith is about Jesus and our life has forgiveness, meaning and purpose because of Jesus.

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/watch-now/leander-campus-videos

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Invitation and Introduction to The Journey of Faith (Hebrews)

Posted on November 10, 2023 by dkoop

You’re Invited! The Journey of Faith through Hebrews

Description:  The book of Hebrews will take us on a faith journey.  Along the way we’ll discover that Christ is God’s last revelation, our great high priest, the best sacrifice, and the giver of faith. Instead of us looking to religion, people, or feelings to bring us meaning we must look to Jesus, ‘the author and perfecter of our faith.”  Join us on this journey of faith!

Dates           Titles Scriptures                                            EVENTS

Nov. 12 – Journey to Jesus – Hebrews 1
Nov. 19 – Journey to the Word – Hebrews 4                          Thanksgiving Week

Nov. 26 – Journey of Faith – Hebrews 11

Dec. 3 – Journey of Life – Hebrews 13                                     Communion

Introduction:

Conscientious consumers shop for value, the best products for the money. Wise parents desire only the best for their children, nourishing their growing bodies, minds, and spirits. Individuals with integrity seek the best investment of time, talents, and treasures. In every area, to settle for less would be wasteful, foolish, and irresponsible. Yet it is a natural pull to move toward what is convenient and comfortable. Judaism was not second-rate or easy. Divinely designed, it was the best religion, expressing true worship and devotion to God. The commandments, the rituals, and the prophets described God’s promises and revealed the way to forgiveness and salvation. But Christ came, fulfilling the Law and the Prophets, conquering sin, shattering all barriers to God, freely providing eternal life.

This message was difficult for Jews to accept. Although they had sought the Messiah for centuries, they were entrenched in thinking and worshiping in traditional forms. Following Jesus seemed to repudiate their marvelous heritage and Scriptures. With caution and questions they listened to the gospel, but many rejected it and sought to eliminate this “heresy.” Those who did accept Jesus as the Messiah often found themselves slipping back into familiar routines, trying to live a hybrid faith.

Hebrews is a masterful document written to Jews who were evaluating Jesus or struggling with this new faith. The message of Hebrews is that Jesus is better, Christianity is superior, Christ is supreme and completely sufficient for salvation.

Hebrews begins by emphasizing that the old (Judaism) and the new (Christianity) are both religions revealed by God (1:1-3). In the doctrinal section that follows (1:4-10:18), the writer shows how Jesus is superior to angels (1:4-2:18), superior to their leaders (3:1-4:13), and superior to their priests (4:14-7:28). Christianity surpasses Judaism because it has a better covenant (8:1-13), a better sanctuary (9:1-10), and a more sufficient sacrifice for sins (9:11-10:18).

Having established the superiority of Christianity, the writer moves on to the practical implications of following Christ. The readers are exhorted to hold on to their new faith, encourage each other, and look forward to Christ’s return (10:19-25). They are warned about the consequences of rejecting Christ’s sacrifice (10:26-31) and reminded of the rewards for faithfulness (10:32-39). Then the author explains how to live by faith, giving illustrations of the faithful men and women in Israel’s history (11:1-40) and giving encouragement and exhortation for daily living (12:1-17). This section ends by comparing the old covenant with the new (12:18-29). The writer concludes with moral exhortations (13:1-17), a request for prayer (13:18, 19), and a benediction and greetings (13:20-25).

Whatever you are considering as the focus of life, Christ is better. He is the perfect revelation of God, the final and complete sacrifice for sin, the compassionate and understanding mediator, and the only way to eternal life. Read Hebrews and begin to see history and life from God’s perspective. Then give yourself unreservedly and completely to Christ.

Vital Statistics

Purpose: To present the sufficiency and superiority of Christ

Author: Barnabas, Apollos, Silas, Philip, Priscilla, Paul and others have been suggested because the name of the author is not given in the biblical text itself.

Original Audience: Hebrew Christians (perhaps second-generation Christians, see 2:3) who may have been considering a return to Judaism, perhaps because of immaturity, stemming from a lack of understanding of biblical truths

Date Written: Probably before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70 because the religious sacrifices and ceremonies are referred to in the book, but no mention is made of the Temple’s destruction

Setting: These Jewish Christians were probably undergoing fierce persecution, socially and physically, both from Jews and from Romans. Christ had not returned to establish his Kingdom, and the people needed to be reassured that Christianity was true and that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

Key Verse: “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven” (1:3).

Key People: Old Testament men and women of faith (chapter 11)

The Blueprint

  1. THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST (1:1-10:18)
    1. Christ is greater than the angels
    2. Christ is greater than Moses
    3. Christ is greater than the Old Testament priesthood
    4. The new covenant is greater than the old

    The superiority of Christ over everyone and everything is clearly demonstrated by the author. Christianity supersedes all other religions and can never be surpassed. Where can one find anything better than Christ? Living in Christ is having the best there is in life. All competing religions are deceptions or cheap imitations.

  2. THE SUPERIORITY OF FAITH (10:19-13:25)
    Jews who had become Christians in the first century were tempted to fall back into Judaism because of uncertainty, the security of custom, and persecution. Today believers are also tempted to fall back into legalism, fulfilling minimum religious requirements rather than pressing on in genuine faith. We must strive to live by faith each day.
MEGATHEMES
THEME EXPLANATION IMPORTANCE
Christ Is Superior Hebrews reveals Jesus’ true identity as God. Jesus is the ultimate authority. He is greater than any religion or any angel. He is superior to any Jewish leader (such as Abraham, Moses, or Joshua) and superior to any priest. He is the complete revelation of God. Jesus alone can forgive our sin. He has secured our forgiveness and salvation by his death on the cross. We can find peace with God and real meaning for life by believing in Christ. We should not accept any alternative to or substitute for him.
High Priest In the Old Testament, the high priest represented the Jews before God. Jesus Christ links us with God. There is no other way to reach God. Because Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, he is the perfect substitute to die for our sin. He is our perfect representative with God. Jesus guarantees our access to God the Father. He intercedes for us so we can boldly come to the Father with our needs. When we are weak, we can come confidently to God for forgiveness and ask for his help.
Sacrifice Christ’s sacrifice was the ultimate fulfillment of all that the Old Testament sacrifices represented—God’s forgiveness for sin. Because Christ is the perfect sacrifice for our sin, our sins are completely forgiven—past, present, and future. Christ removed sin, which barred us from God’s presence and fellowship. But we must accept his sacrifice for us. By believing in him, we are no longer guilty but cleansed and made whole. His sacrifice clears the way for us to have eternal life.
Maturity Though we are saved from sin when we believe in Christ, we are given the task of going on and growing in our faith. Through our relationship with Christ, we can live blameless lives, be set aside for his special use, and develop maturity. The process of maturing in our faith takes time. Daily commitment and service produce maturity. When we are mature in our faith, we are not easily swayed or shaken by temptations or worldly concerns.
Faith Faith is confident trust in God’s promises. God’s greatest promise is that we can be saved through Jesus. If we trust in Jesus Christ for our complete salvation, he will transform us completely. A life of obedience and complete trust is pleasing to God.
Endurance Faith enables Christians to face trials. Genuine faith includes the commitment to stay true to God when we are under fire. Endurance builds character and leads to victory. We can have victory in our trials if we don’t give up or turn our back on Christ. Stay true to Christ and pray for endurance.
Source:  Life Application Study Bible , (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1988), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 2085-2084.
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The Truths of the Resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15

Posted on November 9, 2023 by dkoop

Resurrection! It’s one of the most important and crucial truths in the bible and the subject of Chapter 15. When theologians select the ten of the greatest chapters of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15 will be on practically all the lists ever made. It is that important. It is so important that it actually answers the first heresy of the church, which was the denial of the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Corinth was a Greek, city, and the Greeks did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Most Greek philosophers considered the human body a prison, and they welcomed death as deliverance from bondage.

This skeptical attitude had somehow invaded the church and Paul had to face it head-on. The truth of the resurrection had doctrinal and practical implications for life that were too important to ignore. Paul dealt with the subject by answering four basic questions.

  1. Was Christ Raised? (1 Cor. 15:1-19)

It is important to note that Christianity does not rest on a set of ideas or philosophies, but on a set of facts. The gospel does not tell us something that we must do. The gospel tells us what Jesus Christ has already done for us. Paul presented three Facts to assure his readers that Jesus Christ indeed had been raised from the dead.

Fact #1—their salvation (vv. 1-2). Paul had come to Corinth and preached the message of the Gospel, and their faith had transformed their lives. But an integral part of the Gospel message was the fact of Christ’s resurrection. After all, a dead Saviour cannot save anybody. Paul’s readers had received the Word, trusted Christ, been saved, and were now standing on that Word as the assurance of their salvation. The fact that they were standing firm was proof that their faith was genuine and not empty.

Fact #2—the Old Testament Scriptures (vv. 3-4). First of all means “of first importance.” The Gospel is the most important message that the church ever proclaims. While it is good to be involved in social action and the betterment of mankind, there is no reason why these ministries should preempt the Gospel. “Christ died… He was buried… He rose again… He was seen” are the basic historical facts on which the Gospel stands (1 Cor. 15:3-5). “Christ died for our sins” is the theological explanation of the historical facts. Many people were crucified by the Romans, but only one “victim” ever died for the sins of the world.

When Paul wrote “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3) he was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures. Much of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament pointed to the sacrifice of Christ as our substitute and Savior. The annual Day of Atonement (Lev. 16) and prophecies like Isaiah 53 would also come to mind.

But where does the Old Testament declare His resurrection on the third day? Jesus pointed to the experience of Jonah (Matt. 12:38-41). Paul also compared Christ’s resurrection to the “firstfruits,” and the firstfruits were presented to God on the day following the Sabbath after Passover (Lev. 23:9-14; 1 Cor. 15:23). Since the Sabbath must always be the seventh day, the day after Sabbath must be the first day of the week, or Sunday, the day of our Lord’s resurrection. This covers three days on the Jewish calendar. Apart from the Feast of Firstfruits, there were other prophecies of Messiah’s resurrection in the Old Testament: Psalm 16:8-11 (see Acts 2:25-28); Psalm 22:22ff (see Heb. 2:12); Isaiah 53:10-12; and Psalm 2:7 (see Acts 13:32-33).

Fact #3—Christ was seen by witnesses (vv. 5-11). On the cross, Jesus was exposed to the eyes of unbelievers; but after the Resurrection, He was seen by believers who could be witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:22; 2:32; 3:15; 5:32). Peter saw Him and so did the disciples collectively. James was a half brother of the Lord who became a believer after the Lord appeared to him (John 7:5; Acts 1:14). The 500 plus brethren all saw Him at the same time (1 Cor. 15:6), so it could not have been a hallucination or a deception. This event may have been just before His ascension (Matt. 28:16ff).

But one of the greatest witnesses of the Resurrection was Paul himself, for as an unbeliever he was soundly convinced that Jesus was dead. The radical change in his life—a change which brought him persecution and suffering—is certainly evidence that the Lord had indeed been raised from the dead. Paul made it clear that his salvation was purely an act of God’s grace; but that grace worked in and through him as he served the Lord. “Born out of due time” probably refers to the future salvation of Israel when they, like Paul, see the Messiah in glory (Zech. 12:10-13:6; 1 Tim. 1:16).

At this point, Paul’s readers would say, “Yes, we agree that Jesus was raised from the dead.” Then Paul would reply, “If you believe that, then you must believe in the resurrection of all the dead!” Christ came as a man, truly human, and experienced all that we experienced, except that He never sinned If there is no resurrection, then Christ was not raised. If He was not raised, there is no Gospel to preach. If there is no Gospel, then you have believed in vain and you are still in your sins! If there is no resurrection, then believers who have died have no hope.

The Resurrection is not just important; it is “of first importance,” because all that we believe hinges on it.

  1. When Are the Dead Raised? (1 Cor. 15:20-28)

Paul used three images to answer this question.

Firstfruits (vv. 20, 23). We have already noted this reference to the Old Testament feast (Lev. 23:9-14). As the Lamb of God, Jesus died on Passover. As the sheaf of firstfruits, He arose from the dead three days later on the first day of the week. When the priest waved the sheaf of the firstfruits before the Lord, it was a sign that the entire harvest belonged to Him. When Jesus was raised from the dead, it was God’s assurance to us that we shall also be raised one day as part of that future harvest. To believers, death is only “sleep.” The body sleeps, but the soul is at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:21-23). At the resurrection, the body will be “awakened” and glorified.

Adam (vv. 21-22). Paul saw in Adam a type of Jesus Christ by the way of contrast (see also Rom. 5:12-21). The first Adam was made from the earth, but the Last Adam (Christ, 1 Cor. 15:45-47) came from heaven. The first Adam disobeyed God and brought sin and death into the world, but the Last Adam obeyed the Father and brought righteousness and life.

The word order in 1 Corinthians 15:23 originally referred to military rank. God has an order, a sequence, in the resurrection. Passages like John 5:25-29 and Revelation 20 indicate that there is no such thing taught in Scripture as a “general resurrection.” When Jesus Christ returns in the air, He will take His church to heaven and at that time raise from the dead all who have trusted Him and have died in the faith (1 Thes. 4:13-18). Jesus called this “the resurrection of life” (John 5:29). When Jesus returns to the earth in judgment, then the lost will be raised in “the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:29; Rev. 20:11-15). Nobody in the first resurrection will be lost, but nobody in the second resurrection will be saved.

The kingdom (vv. 24-28). When Jesus Christ comes to the earth to judge, He will banish sin for a thousand years and establish His kingdom (Rev. 20:1-6). Believers will reign with Him and share His glory and authority. This kingdom, prophesied in the Old Testament, is called “the Millennium” by prophetic teachers. The word comes from the Latin: mille—thousand, annum—year.

But even after the Millennium, there will be one final rebellion against God (Rev. 20:7-10) which Jesus Christ will put down by His power. The lost will then be raised, judged, and cast into the lake of fire. Then death itself shall be cast into hell, and the last enemy shall be destroyed. Jesus Christ will have put all things under His feet! He will then turn the kingdom over to the Father and then the eternal state—the new heavens and new earth—shall be ushered in (Rev. 21-22).

Good and godly students of the Word have not always agreed on the details of God’s prophetic program, but the major truths seem to be clear. Jesus Christ reigns in heaven today, and all authority is “under His feet” (Ps. 110; Eph. 1:15-23). Satan and man are still able to exercise choice, but God is sovereignly in control. Jesus Christ is enthroned in heaven today (Ps. 2). The resurrection of the saved has not yet taken place, nor the resurrection of the lost (2 Tim. 2:17-18).

When will Jesus Christ return for His church? Nobody knows; but when it occurs, it will be “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52). It behooves us to be ready (1 John 2:28-3:3).

  1. Why Are the Dead Raised? (1 Cor. 15:29-34, 49-58)

The resurrection of the human body is a future event that has compelling implications for our personal lives. If the resurrection is not true, then we can forget about the future and live as we please! But the resurrection is true! Jesus is coming again! Even if we die before He comes, we shall be raised at His coming and stand before Him in a glorified body.

Paul cited four areas of Christian experience that are touched by the fact of the resurrection.

Evangelism (v. 29). What does it mean to be “baptized for the dead”? Some take this to mean “proxy baptism,” where a believer is baptized on behalf of a dead relative; but we find no such teaching in the New Testament. In the second century, there were some heretical groups that practiced “vicarious baptism,” but the church at large has never accepted the practice. To begin with, salvation is a personal matter that each must decide for himself; and, second, nobody needs to be baptized to be saved.

The phrase probably means “baptized to take the place of those who have died.” In other words, if there is no resurrection, why bother to witness and win others to Christ? Why reach sinners who are then baptized and take the place of those who have died? If the Christian life is only a “dead-end street,” get off of it!

Each responsible person on earth will share in either the resurrection of life and go to heaven, or the resurrection of judgment and go to hell (John 5:28-29). We weep for believers who have died, but we ought also to weep for unbelievers who still have opportunity to be saved! The reality of the resurrection is a motivation for evangelism.

Suffering (vv. 30-32). I die daily does not refer to “dying to self,” as in Romans 6, but to the physical dangers Paul faced as a servant of Christ (2 Cor. 4:8-5:10; 11:23-28). He was in constant jeopardy from his enemies and on more than one occasion had been close to death. Why endure suffering and danger if death ends it all? “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die” (Isa. 22:13).

What we do in the body in this life comes up for review at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). God deals with the whole person, not just with the “soul.” The body shares in salvation (Rom. 8:18-23). The suffering endured in the body will result in glory at the resurrection (2 Cor. 4:7-18). If there is no future for the body, then why suffer and die for the cause of Christ?

Separation from sin (vv. 33-34). If there is no resurrection, then what we do with our bodies will have no bearing on our future. Immorality was a way of life in Corinth, and some of the believers rejected the resurrection in order to rationalize their sin. “Bad company corrupts good morals” is a quotation from the Greek poet Menander, a saying no doubt familiar to Paul’s readers. The believer’s body is the temple of God and must be kept separated from the sins of the world (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1). To fellowship with the “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:6-17) is only to corrupt God’s temple.

It was time for the Corinthians to wake up and clean up (see 1 Thes. 5:4-11). The believer who is compromising with sin has no witness to the lost around him, those who “have not the knowledge of God.”

Death (vv. 49-57). The heavenly kingdom is not made for the kind of bodies we now have, bodies of flesh and blood. So when Jesus returns, the bodies of living believers will instantly be transformed to be like His body (1 John 3:1-3), and the dead believers shall be raised with new glorified bodies. Our new bodies will not be subject to decay or death.

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychiatry, wrote: “And finally there is the painful riddle of death, for which no remedy at all has yet been found, nor probably ever will be.” Christians have victory in death and over death! Why? Because of the victory of Jesus Christ in His own resurrection. Jesus said, “Because I live, you shall also” (John 14:19).

Sin, death, and the Law go together. The Law reveals sin, and the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Jesus bore our sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), and also bore the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13). It is through Him that we have this victory, and we share the victory today. The literal translation of 1 Corinthians 15:57 is, “But thanks be to God who keeps on giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We experience “the power of His resurrection” in our lives as we yield to Him (Phil. 3:10).

First Corinthians 15:58 is Paul’s hymn of praise to the Lord as well as his closing admonition to the church. Because of the assurance of Christ’s victory over death, we know that nothing we do for Him will ever be wasted or lost. We can be steadfast in our service, un-movable in suffering, abounding in ministry to others, because we know our labor is not in vain. First Corinthians 15:58 is the answer to Ecclesiastes, where thirty-eight times Solomon used the sad word vanity. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!” wept Solomon; but Paul sang a song of victory!

  1. How Are the Dead Raised? (1 Cor. 15:35-48)

Paul knew that such miracles cannot be explained, so he used three analogies to make the doctrine clear.

Seeds (vv. 35-38, 42-48). When you sow seed, you do not expect that same seed to come up at the harvest. The seed dies, but from that death there comes life. (See John 12:23-28 for our Lord’s use of this same analogy.) You may sow a few grains of wheat, but you will have many grains when the plant matures. Are they the same grains that were planted? No, but there is still continuity. You do not sow wheat and harvest barley.

Furthermore, what comes up at the harvest is usually more beautiful than what was planted. This is especially true of tulips. Few things are as ugly as a tulip bulb, yet it produces a beautiful flower. If at the resurrection, all God did was to put us back together again, there would be no improvement. Furthermore, flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom. The only way we can enjoy the glory of heaven is to have a body suited to that environment.

Paul discussed the details of this marvelous change in 1 Corinthians 15:42-48. The body is sown (in burial) in corruption, because it is going to decay; but it is raised with such a nature that it cannot decay. There is no decay or death in heaven. It is buried in humility (in spite of the cosmetic skill of the mortician); but it is raised in glory. In burial, the body is weak; but in resurrection, the body has power. We shall be like Jesus Christ!

Today, we have a “natural body,” that is, a body suited to an earthly environment. We received this body from our first parent, Adam: he was made of dust, and so are we (Gen. 2:7). But the resurrection body is suited to a spiritual environment. In His resurrection body, Jesus was able to move quickly from place to place, and even walk through locked doors; yet He was also able to eat food, and His disciples were able to touch Him and feel Him (Luke 24:33-43; John 20:19-29).

The point Paul was making was simply this: The resurrection body completes the work of redemption and gives to us the image of the Saviour. We are made in the image of God as far as personality is concerned, but in the image of Adam as far as the body is concerned. One day we shall bear the image of the Saviour when we share in His glory.

First Corinthians 15:46 states an important biblical principle: first the “natural” (earthly), and then the “spiritual” (heavenly). The first birth gives us that which is natural, but the second birth gives us that which is spiritual. God rejects the first birth, the natural, and says, “You must be born again!” He rejected Cain and chose Abel. He rejected Abraham’s firstborn, Ishmael, and chose Isaac, the second-born. He rejected Esau and chose Jacob. If we depend on our first birth, we shall be condemned forever; but if we experience the new birth, we shall be blessed forever.

Flesh (v. 39). Paul anticipated here the discovery of science that the cell structure of different kinds of animals is different; and therefore, you cannot breed various species indiscriminately. The human body has a nature of one kind, while animals, birds, and fish have their own particular kind of flesh. The conclusion is this: If God is able to make different kinds of bodies for men, animals, birds, and fish, why can He not make a different kind of body for us at the resurrection? (Pet lovers take note: Paul did not teach here that animals will be resurrected. He only used them as an example.)

Heavenly bodies (vv. 40-41). Not only are there earthly bodies, but there are also heavenly bodies; and they differ from one another. In fact, the heavenly bodies differ from each other in glory as far as the human eye is concerned. Paul is suggesting here that believer may differ from believer in glory, even though all Christians will have glorified bodies. Every cup in heaven will be filled, but some cups will be bigger than others, because of the faithfulness and sacrifice of those saints when they were on earth.

These illustrations may not answer every question that we have about the resurrection body, but they do give us the assurances that we need. God will give to us a glorified body suited to the new life in heaven.

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Sources:
J Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1983), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “Chapter 15”.
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament, Volume 1, (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 2001), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 617-621.

 

 

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