Jesus rules supreme over all creation!

The apostle Paul wrote: “For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16-17). The writer of the letter to the Hebrews emphasized all beliefs about Jesus that acknowledge Him to be the eternal begotten (uncreated) son of God and Messiah Savior, having supreme power and authority over the whole creation. This lesson is about this foundational truth on which all Christian doctrine stands.

JESUS, SUPERIOR TO ANGELS

A. Creator and Sustainer of All Things

Hebrews 1:1  God, who at sundry (various) times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2  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;

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express (exact, mold, stamp) 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 (God Himself) on high;

Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

…….God in Old Testament days spoke through prophets to reveal Himself and His love for His people. Why? Because God has always desired relationship with His creation. In New Testament Times, God revealed Himself in an exact representation through Jesus Christ! People, He loves us that much! If we want to find out who God is, we must find relationship with Christ!

B. Exalted Above the Angels

Heb 1:5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

…….The writer brings a rhetorical question here. As Holy and glorious as the angels of heaven are, and as much emphasis is placed on their various purposes, not one of them has ever been thought to hold the title of “Son of God”.

Heb 1:6  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

…….Not one time has Christ been required to worship the angels, but the angels were created to worship Him!

Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre (staff) of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

…….A scepter of a Kingdom always stand for power or authority. Whoever holds the staff has the power. His power is said to be in complete righteousness. There has never been and never will be an incorrect decision! His leading is exact perfection!

Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

…….This scripture here can be misunderstood by the shallow minded. Out of every great work a profit or priest has performed, Christ’s work was greater! When He walked on earth with man, He was the absolute best! Christ has no equals, but in every category He has been compared in, He outranks and out qualifies.

Heb 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Heb 1:11  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

Heb 1:12  And as a vesture (cloth, robe) shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

…….All if creation will take on age and eventually be replaced, but He will be forever!

Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?…….The answer is none.

JESUS, CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION

A. Suffered on Our Behalf

Heb 2:1  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

…….Because Christ, in all of His accolades, was provided for us to be lead and empowered by, how can we let the thought of Him slip out of our minds? How can His love simply fade out of our hearts? How is it on one day a person can decide to just give it up and let the flesh take control?! Where is our prayer life? I dare to say, when a person can make the decision to take Christ out of an equation, and handle any situation for themselves with no thought of the outcome, there is most likely no prayer life present!

Heb 2:2  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Heb 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Heb 2:4  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

…….The question provided in verse 3 is, How shall anyone escape the mighty wrath of God after He has done so much to make provision for our salvation?! Just as no person can pluck us out of the mighty hand of God, no person can be saved from the wrath toward those who chose to avoid salvation.

Now back to the superiority of Christ:

Heb 2:5  For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

Heb 2:6  But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Heb 2:7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Heb 2:8  Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

…….Though He had power over all the angels, He was made lower than the angels, taking on the form of man to walk in this flesh. He planned to take on the punishment of sin for the sake of unity with mankind, and fulfilled it in perfection! No angel could accomplish this task.

B. Endured Temptation

Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

…….Not that Christ had any imperfections from the beginning, but now since He has suffered the temptations of mankind and overcame every one, His role as a captain who was brought up through the ranks is made complete! He understands every single trial that a man could endure!

Heb 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Heb 2:12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

…….We who are brought up in sanctification are considered “one” with Christ, and He is not ashamed to called us brothers and sisters!

Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

…….While death is the representation of defeat, His death on the cross is the fullness of victory! He had to die to destroy the hold of captivity on man. Because of Christ, we no longer have to be in subjection to the Devils bondage. There is complete freedom in Christ!

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. (The form of a human)

Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (relieve, help) them that are tempted.

…….Since he suffered as a man, He can show us how to and help us overcome.

JESUS, APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST

A. Exalted Ruler Over God’s House

Heb 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Heb 3:2  Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

Heb 3:3  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

Heb 3:4  For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

Heb 3:5  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

Heb 3:6  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

B. Our Participation in Christ

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation (provoking).

……. Verse 14 begins with a word of encouragement, assuring believers in Christ that we “are made partakers of Christ.” This means that, by our trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, we have access by him to all that is promised to us through him. However, this assurance is conditioned by the provision that we hold the beginning of our confidence in Christ steadfast to the end.