Lesson 2: Christianity Has a Better Apostle: Jesus Christ (1:1-2:18)-- Part 1 u LESSON 2 l Overview (1:1-3): This spokesman is son/heir, creator, deity, savior, and ruler. l Son/heir l Deity l Creator u LESSON 3 (Preview) l Ruler WARNING: DON’T DRIFT; HEED THE WORD FROM THE BETTER MESSENGER. l Savior

God Spoke Through Prophets (1:1 NKJV) God, who at various times (in many portions, NASB) and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, u Describe briefly some memorable occasions on which God spoke through prophets? u Give an example of God’s revelation to man in the Old Testament being in portions (bit by bit)? l Was God’s revelation bit by bit in the NT? u Give examples of some of the methods God used to speak to mankind? (Exo. 31:18, I Kings 19:12, Dan. 5:5, Dan. 2:28, Num. 12:8, Num. 22:28)

Then God Spoke Through (a) “Son” (1:2 NKJV) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son (1:2 ASV) at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son u Which days are spoken of here? l The days of the New Covenant? l The last of the days of prophesy? Patriarchal Mosaical Christian Age of Prophecy

In “the last of these days” of prophecy God spoke by/through “Son.” (1:2 NKJV) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son … (1:2 ASV) at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, (1:2 NKJV Interlinear) ejp! ejscavtou tw'n hJmerw'n touvtwn in the last of days these

Characteristics of this Spokesman (1:2 NKJV) …spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (1:3 NKJV) 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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high, u Overview (1:1-3): This spokesman is Son/heir, creator, deity, savior, and ruler.

Jesus Christ is Son/heir (1:4-5) (1:4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (1:5) For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? l Why bring up angels? (Heb. 2:2) l What function did angels serve? (Acts 7:53, Gal. 3:19) l How is Jesus Christ different from all the other angels/messengers? (Heb. 1:5)

Jesus Christ is Son/heir (1:4-5) (1:4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (1:5) For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? l Who acknowledged Jesus as the “Son of God”? (Luke 1:35, Matt. 14:33, Luke 4:41, Matt. 16:16, Mark 15:39, Luke 22:70, John 19:7, Matt. 27:43, Matt. 3:17, Matt. 17:5, II Peter 1:17, Mark 1:1, John 1:34, John 20:31, Acts 8:37) l What other evidence was there? (Rom. 1:4) (Rom 1:4 NKJV) and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus Christ is Son/heir (1:4-5)--Cont’d u (Luke 1:35) And the angel … said to her... Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. u (Mat 14:33) …those who were in the boat… worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” u (Luke 4:41 NKJV) And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. u (Mat 16:16 NKJV) Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” u (Mark 15:39) So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

Jesus Christ is Son/heir (1:4-5)--Cont’d u (Luke 22:70 NKJV) …they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am." l (John 19:7) The Jews answered…He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God." l (Mat 27:43) “He trusted in God...for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” u (Mat 3:17) …a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mat 17:5) …a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" l (2 Pet 1:17) For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Jesus Christ is Son/heir (1:4-5)--Cont’d u (Mark 1:1 NKJV) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. u (John 1:34 NKJV) “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 20:31 NKJV) but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. u (Acts 8:37 NKJV) Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Jesus Christ is Deity (1:6-9; 1:3) (1:6) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." (1:7) And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." (1:8) But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. u How do we know that Jesus is Deity (God)? (Heb. 1:6 with Rev. 22:9; Rom. 1:25; Col. 1:17-19; John 1:1 with John 1:14; I Tim. 3:16, Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:12)

Jesus Christ is Deity (1:6-9; 1:3) u (Heb 1:6) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." u (Heb 1:8) But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. u (John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. u (John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (1 Tim 3:16 NKJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Jesus Christ is Deity (1:6-9; 1:3)--Cont’d (Heb 1:3 NKJV) 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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high, u In what sense is Christ the brightness (effulgence, KJV) of the Father’s glory? (I John 1:5, John 3:19, John 12:46, I John 5:20) u In what sense is Christ an “image” of the Father? (II Cor. 4:4, I Tim. 3:16, Col. 2:9)

Jesus Christ is Deity (1:6-9; 1:3)--Cont’d u (1 John 1:5 NKJV) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. u (John 3:19 NKJV) "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. u (John 12:46 NKJV) "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. u (2 Cor 4:4 NKJV) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. u (1 Tim 3:16 NKJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Jesus Christ is Creator (1:10-12; 1:2) (1:10 NKJV) And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. (1:2 NKJV) …spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; u References to Christ’s role in creation are indirect in the Old Testament. (Gen. 1:1, Gen. 1:26) u References to Christ’s role in the creation of all things is direct in the New Testament. (I Cor. 8:6, Eph. 3:9, Col. 1:16, John 1:3)