Hebrews 1 – Part 1
One of my favorite authors is known as “Unknown Christian.” While he does have a real name, he published all his books under “Unknown Christian.” A couple days ago a good friend of mine asked me to read his paper for a class, which I was delighted to do. I was so excited about what he wrote I told him people need to read it! But as the humble fellow he is, he didn’t want people to know his name. Over the next three blogs I will be sharing his paper under the name “Unknown Christian 2.” :) Note: this paper was written in bullet format, which I have turned into paragraphs, with little to no editorial changes. May you see and draw neigh to the Person of Jesus while you read.
Hebrews 1.1-3 | Part 1
by: Unknown Christian 2
Hebrews 1:1-3: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 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. 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.”
This is one of the most eloquent and profound passages in scripture. There is so much packed into this opening statement of Hebrews about our God.
Verses 1-2: God’s Final Revelation
Verses one and two are concerned about one thing: God has spoken to his people. What a glorious thing this is! If God had not spoken to us then we could have never known Him and our religion would be nonexistent. But the God of the universe has spoken to his broken and sinful creation. He has not left us without revelation and guidance. He has spoken and is speaking. Are we listening? “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).
Verse one strongly contrasts verse two. Verse one: “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways.” It was spoken in the past to our forefathers by the prophets. This verse is speaking of God’s past revelation which was spoken through the prophets not as a full or continuous revelation but was spoken in segments and in many forms. The prophets only spoke in part. God had not fully revealed Himself to His people.
Verse two: “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.” It has been spoken in these last days to us by the Son. It is not spoken in segments or in many forms; it is spoken in the person of Jesus Christ. This new revelation is perfect, whole, and complete. No longer is God speaking through His prophets, He has spoken through Himself by becoming flesh and living and dwelling among men. The Son is literally the speech of God. Everything that God wished to speak to His creation He has spoken through the Son. This is it! The final revelation of God. The ultimate Word of God. Jesus Christ.
These verses are talking about two covenants that God has made with his people. The author of Hebrews talks about the Old and New Covenant. The Old Covenant of the Mosaic Law was established by God in the OT to give the Israelites guidance and to set them apart from other nations. This law was impossible for man to live out in his sinfulness so God established the priesthood to offer sacrifices for the purification of the people. God continued throughout the OT to speak to his people through men of God. But this covenant left the people of God far from God for sin had blinded them. So God did what man could not do and created a new covenant through His Son. Hebrews 8:7-8 says, “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people.” It was not the covenant that was the problem, but the people. They needed to be redeemed and God longed to redeem His people once and for all so He spoke His final revelation through His Son. This is the new covenant of Jesus Christ for all who call on His name. No longer are sacrifices needed to be made; Christ sacrificed once for all. No longer does man have to struggle to follow the law; Christ comes to dwell inside man and live through him, producing a godliness that would be utterly impossible for man to produce. This is the new covenant. Praise God! We can finally be the people God created us to be through the life of the Son. The Son is everything.
Verse two also gives us some insight into who the Son is which is important to note. He is “heir of all things” and is the person through whom God “made the universe.” He is the one whom God used to make the universe and everything in it. Paul talks about this in his letter to the Colossians saying, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). He was here before creation and has created all. He is also the heir of all of this creation. Psalm 2:7-8 says, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” God has made Jesus the heir of everything that He created. This is so beautiful: He is the Beginning and He is the End. He was the First and He will be the Last.
