Hebrews 1:1-4
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
God has spoken ultimately through His Son Jesus Christ. The Word of God, the Bible, is God’s absolutely true testimony concerning Him. We know God by knowing Christ. We know Christ by knowing His Word. Thus far, we have looked at four aspects of how Jesus is the full revelation of God. He is the Fullness of deity, the Owner (Heir) of all things, the Creator of all worlds, and the Source of all truth. In the rest of these four verses we find another aspect of Jesus as the Source of all truth and two more ways in which Jesus is presented as the ultimate revelation of God.
As the Source of all truth, we have already seen how Jesus “is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). He manifests the One True God in fullness (John 1:18). Additionally, Hebrews 1:3 tells us that He is actively “upholding all things by the Word of His power.” This is echoed in Colossians 1:17 which says, “by Him all things consist.” The idea is that Jesus holds all things together by His Word. Hebrews 11:3 tells us that “the worlds were framed by the Word of God.” It is the Word of God that holds all things together in creation. In Hebrews 1:3 we are told that this is Christ’s Word and work. Jesus spoke all things into existence in Genesis 1, consumes all of His enemies with the same Word in Revelation 19 (also 2 Thessalonians 2:8), and upholds His creation with the same Word. He is the Source of all truth and His Word is the ultimate authority.
In the Old Testament, God is called “Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3). In the New Testament God is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus “purged our sins” and “sat down.” He did this by dying on a cross and rising again. Him sitting down is a demonstration that His work of paying the price for our sins was accomplished. When He died on the cross, He cried, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The writer of Hebrews assures us in Hebrews 10:14, “by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” His name is Jesus because He came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He is God our Savior and the One who bled and died for the forgiveness of our sins (Jude 1:25). He is now at the “right hand” of the Father, in the place of honor and authority, making intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
Lastly, Jesus is revealed as the Supreme of all beings. The angels are majestic, glorious, and powerful beings who serve God in holiness. They dwell in the very presence of God as well as carry out His bidding in the world. The writer of Hebrews spends the remainder of the first chapter to demonstrate clearly from the Old Testament that Jesus is superior to the angels. Verse 4 tells us that His name (person) is superior as the Son of God. Verses 5 and 6 quote from Psalm 2:7 and tell us that He is superior in nature to the angels as God. Verses 7-12 tell us of His superior position quoting from Psalm 104:7; 45:6-7; and 102:25-27 respectively. Verses 13-14 tell us of His superior purpose and work quoting from Psalm 110:1. Jesus is the supreme of all beings. There is none that compare to Him. He is “very God of very God” as the Nicene Creed puts it.
Jesus is the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending” (Revelation 1:8). We only know God by knowing Jesus Christ. He has been revealed in the Bible, the inerrant Word of God. When we rightly understand any part or the whole of Scripture, we understand it in light of who Jesus Christ is. One day all people will bow and unanimously declare that He is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). The issue of our eternity is Jesus Christ. Have you acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9)? Are you faithfully following Him and being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29)?