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1:42Please do that this morning and in the study to come. In Christ's name, amen. Well, in 1917, a lady by the name of Gertrude Hobbes, her husband died. He was a faithful minister. He spent much of his time preaching to students and to soldiers. And Gertrude, who was this devoted wife, not only listened to his sermons, but took copious notes in shorthand format, from which, after her husband died in 1917, she published his messages in a 366 daily devotional.

2:45The devotional, which some of you are familiar with, is called My Utmost for His Highest. The author, Oswald Chambers, the book is considered. To be one of the most popular books, certainly devotionals, that has ever been written. Now, let me ask you a question. Who would you say authored this book? Who would you say wrote the book? You see, there's an author. When you pick up this book, you're reading the thoughts of Oswald Chambers. But Chambers isn't the one who pinned this, it was his wife. She's the one who compiled the book from her notes, from sermon notes that she had taken.

3:48But when you are reading this devotional, you are actually hearing the thoughts of Oswald Chambers. Likewise, when you read Hebrews, you are hearing the thoughts of Paul. And I believe that these are the thoughts that no doubt echoed through the synagogues, through that synagogue ministry for a couple of decades as Paul went about spending much of his time in the synagogues reasoning, preaching. And exhorting. I want you to think Paul when you read the words of Hebrews. Yes, I do not think that Paul actually pinned the words. I don't think Paul is necessarily the compiler.

4:52I gave you a theory last week. I believe best candidate based on all my studies, internal evidence and external evidence that I would suggest Luke. Luke, my theory goes like this: that Paul is in prison. He's written several books with Luke with him. But then, when he gets to 2 Timothy, he is alone with Luke and Luke only. He summons Timothy. Timothy, come as quickly as you can before winter, and I think that's the winter of 65 A.D., 65 A.D., 66 A.D., that winter, spring. Bring my cloak, Timothy. Bring the books, which were probably Old Testament books of the Bible, and bring the parchments. Parchments could be letters, they could be blank, or they could be sermon notes.

5:54I mean, you would think after all these years, he would probably have some sermon notes preaching. But regardless, if you think it's Luke or Apollos, a good case can be made for Apollos, a good case can be made for Barnabas, and there's no shortage of theories who could have compiled his words. They all come back to one original source, Paul. All of them rely heavily on Paul. So as we step into these words, think Paul. Think his message, an enduring message to the Hebrews that gets put down for us. Now, ultimately, the thoughts are of God. They originate in the mind of God. In fact, you can be sure that there is a preacher in Hebrews, and there is a writer. Sometimes I'll distinguish between the two. There's the preacher, the one giving the exhortation, the author, who I would say is the author of Hebrew, thoughts originating with him.

7:07But when he writes, he's quoting David, he's quoting Psalms, he's quoting all kinds of passages, Moses. So what comes before us in the book of Hebrews is the thoughts of God by so many moved under. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that compiler, Luke, perhaps, who, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gets the vision, gets the stirring, and goes and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit records, gathers the materials, gathers it and records. And so, when we step into this, let me reread Hebrews 1:1. We're thoughts of God that no doubt echoed through the synagogues year after year. Hebrews 1:1, God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.

8:23So, as we begin reading the book of Hebrews, we are immediately confronted with a world that is passing away and a world that is to come, and the fact that we live right here in between these two time periods, these two epics of time. Verse 2 at the beginning, it says, Last days, the last days. What are the last days? The last days speak of the last period of time of this present world. It is not a statement about brevity. Like in these few days or in these recent days that have just passed by. No, it's speaking about an epic of time, the last period of this present world that has a definitive starting point and a definitive ending point. Look ahead at verse chapter 2 and verse 5.

9:24Look at what he says, for he did not subject to angels the world to come concerning which we are talking about. Underline that world, or that expression, the world to come. He's been talking about this world to come. So we're immediately confronted with this idea of this world to come. Literally, the world on the verge of coming, the world that's about to appear. Now, what do you need to know about this world that will soon be gone? What do you need to know about the world that is coming? And to whom shall you look for reliable information about the two?

10:16Who can speak with authority about the world to come? Who can speak with authority about the world that's past or the world that's here? How and who. Do we listen to? Well, there's only one person who can speak with that kind of authority, who could reveal himself, and that's God. Unless God revealed himself, we wouldn't be able to know him. Look at verse 1. God spoke. He spoke to the fathers. Look at verse 2. God has spoken to us in his Son.

10:55He spoke to the fathers, and he has spoken to us in his son. Who is this son? Look at chapter 2 and verse 9. He is given a very specific name. But we do not see him who was made, but we do see him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus. This is the Son. So right away, this book is organized very clearly. It's a message, it has all the components of a sermon, information, a text, biblical text, information, and exhortation.

11:40What is our responsibility? Well, the author wants his attention to pay attention to Jesus, or he wants his audience to pay attention to Jesus. You see that? So that, look at verse 1 of chapter 2. For this Reason, referring back to everything that he said in chapter 1, for this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard so that we will not drift away from it. In other words, what is he saying? Pay attention to Jesus. That's his message. This is the one thing necessary and the one thing that we are all prone to forget.

12:37We're very prone to drift away. Literally, the expression there is so that we should not be washed away. So, in our text this morning, these opening verses, the author gives us seven reasons why we must listen to Jesus. And I want you to hear these seven reasons why you must pay attention to Jesus, so that you will not drift away from him or let his words be taken from you. So, that's where we're going. Seven reasons to pay attention to Jesus. Seven reasons why you should pay attention to Jesus. And me.

13:32First, there is no further revelation to be given. No further revelation is coming. You need to deal with what has been revealed and respond to what has been revealed. Look back at verse 1. God, after he spoke long ago, literally, up until this time or formerly. God, after he spoke up until this time, or formerly to the fathers, in the prophets, and in many portions and in many ways, in these last days, has spoken to us in his Son.

14:12God has spoken to us, and we're included that. You see that? To us. He has spoken to us. This includes you. This includes me. He spoke to the fathers. The preacher is bringing it to bear on us. And he has spoken to us. See the narrowing focus. Very deliberate. What he's saying, communicating to his audience. You see, when we begin reading our Bibles, we're immediately confronted with the God who speaks. He speaks. He says, let there be light, and it is. Let there be, and it comes about. He's a speaking God. And there is a progression through the scriptures of him speaking.

15:03Progression in Revelation. Notice the phrase, many portions in many ways. This is actually the emphasis because it starts at the beginning of this end. Bit by bit, piecemeal. And in many ways, in many different means and methods. Piecemeal, bit by bit, in many different methods. He has spoken to us, or he has spoken to the fathers. All is true, by the way. There is no progression in the truth of a revelation. No, it's all true, equally true.

15:41But there's just peace, peace, peace, peace. He's saying something to fallen humanity and how to relate to him. It comes bit by bit, piece by piece, in many ways, many methods, dreams, visions, voices, angels, objects like a burning bush, a donkey. He speaks. Or there's sermons from the prophets. He's speaking. He spoke to Adam in the garden. He spoke to Noah at the time of the flood. He spoke to Abraham. He spoke to Jacob. You can add more. He spoke to Moses on the mountain. He spoke to Israel in the law. He spoke to David. He spoke to the prophets in many portions, many bits, and many ways. But in these last days, An epic change.

16:35He has spoken in succession until these last days, and he has spoken in his son. He spoke bit by bit, piece by piece. Kind of incomplete, but now in his son, it's complete. He has spoken in many ways in the past, but now he's spoken to us in his son. Something incomplete to something complete. Something in many diverse ways to one way, Son. God has spoken to us. He has completed his special revelation. No more revelation is coming.

17:18Yes, God is still speaking, but he's speaking through what he has written. He is speaking through what he has revealed. He only has to say one time, do not steal, to forever be the God who says, do not steal. And he continues to impress these truths upon us. We call that the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. And he must take what God has revealed to humanity and impress it upon our hearts, convict us of the sins. That is the ministry of the Holy Spirit by which we are very much dependent upon, without which we cannot understand God or how to relate to him at all.

17:59But in turn, Of saying, ah, there's a new revelation here that comes after this, or God is still speaking to me independently of this. That's the way of the false prophet. And there have been many, and there are many, and that is going to be his way. I mean, who are you to think that the perfect son has come, he has spoken, God has revealed himself. What did he leave undone that you need to fill in the gaps? That's the arrogance of the false teacher.

18:41He has spoken in his son, in the person and work of his son. You see, the last chapter of humanity, this last days that we are in, is not about getting more piecemeal information about God, but it's paying attention to what he has revealed about himself in the work of Jesus Christ. The information is out there, and it is going forth. And these last days are about how are you going to respond to Jesus Christ? That's what's happening in this last chapter of fallen humanity. It's about paying attention. We're not waiting for more information as they were in time. Past. God's revelation in His Son is clear. It is authoritative and it is sufficient. Meaning, He's told us what you need to know so that you may respond to Him.

19:45And the greatness of the revelation is due to the greatness of the Son. You see, to think that more revelation is coming is to declare that the revelation, His work as prophet, was inadequate, insufficient, incomplete. But you should listen to Jesus. First reason that you need to pay attention to Jesus is because you are either positively or negatively responding to what has been revealed. Pay attention to Jesus because no greater revelation is coming. You are either responding positively to the message of Christ or you are drifting away from it negatively, responding negatively.

20:45So, no further revelation is coming. Respond. Pay attention to Jesus. That's the author's first message. He has spoken to us in His Son. Second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth. See, we will get through this pretty quickly. No. Second reason you need to pay attention to Jesus is that he is the heir of all things. Look back at verse 2. In these last days he has spoken to us in his Son, and here it is, whom he appointed heir of all things. Word for appointment, established, fixed.

21:34He is the one who receives all of this. He is the recipient of all things. That's a lot of things. All things. All things in the world. All things in the universe. And maybe there's a specific emphasis upon the world to come. As history develops and becomes what it's going to become, the world and the universe and the world to come. Everything in it belongs to him. And this everything includes everything. Time, space, matter, things seen, things unseen. Heaven and hell belong to him. The bodies of the cosmos belong to him. The earth and all it contains belongs to him. All the creaturely orders belong to him. The angelic orders belong to him and the human realm.

22:31Belongs to him, including you and me. All these things are and will become gifted to their son. All things, include you and me. Therefore, you need to pay attention to him. Third reason you should pay attention to Jesus is because of his role in creation. His role in creation. Look back at verse 2, the last part. Through whom also he made the world. He's not only the heir of all things, but through whom God also made the world. Jesus, as the Son of God, was God's agent in creation.

23:30We read this in John chapter 1, verse 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. He is your Creator. So you should pay attention to Him. But there's more to this expression than meets the eye. Through whom he also made the world.

24:10It's actually instead of the word cosmos, there, which is what you might expect if he's going to put world or something else, it's the word ages, plural. Only one translation that I surveyed got the plural right, and that was the King James. Leave it to the King Jimmy to get it right. Worlds, through whom he also made the worlds. But it's literally the ages. You think about this. He created the material world and everything in it. That includes you and me. So it certainly includes all of that. But he created the ages as well.

25:02And this includes the spiritual and historical development of the universe. It's not just that he created the material world and walked away. He created the whole spiritual and historical development of the world throughout the ages. He is the creator of the ages. Think about that. He is the agent through whom. All came into being in the first place, and through whom each of us will be placed in the ages to come. He hardens who he hardens, he softens who he softens.

25:48That's why you need to pay attention to him. He controls the absolute destiny of every person and everything, including you, including me, and that is why you need to pay attention to him more carefully. He's the one thing necessary in your life. Are you paying attention to him? Are you really paying attention to? That's the exhortation of the author here. That's what the preacher is saying. Pay attention to Jesus. Third, fourth reason you should pay attention to Jesus is that he is the radiance of God. He is the radiance of God. Look at verse 3.

26:39And he is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature. Radiance. That speaks of the visible brilliance, the brightness, the visible. Brightness or brilliance of God's splendor. It's his magnificence displayed. That's what the radiance of his glory is. Jesus Christ is a supreme manifestation of God and the revelation of God. He is the exact representation. I just found a coin up here. It's a coin. What you have on a coin is an imprint, an exact representation, an imprint.

27:36You think about coins, you see an imprint of a person oftentimes upon that coin. Well, and that's what it's saying here. He is the exact representation, that exact engraving, that exact imprint. It's actually the word in Greek, character. Does that sound familiar? Character, character. He is the exact character of God's nature. He is a perfect match to the mold. He is the exact display of his nature. That's an interesting word. You've probably heard this huostasis. Hypostatic. Have you ever heard that expression? A hypostatic union? This is where it comes from. This idea that he is the exact representation of God's essence, God's substance. He's of the same substance as God, though fully human, yet fully God, the same substance, same essence.

29:01He is the precise embodiment of God, the perfect embodiment of God, so much so as to see Christ is to see the Father. God really is in Christ in a unique way, and as such, he expects us to listen, hear God. To hear Christ is to hear God. Therefore, you should listen to Christ. This is why, over and over, this is the one thing necessary. Pay attention to God. Are you paying attention to God in your life? Or is there a lot of other things that are distracting you, a lot of things that are taking priority? Listen to the preacher. Pay attention to Jesus.

30:04Fifth reason you should pay attention to Jesus is that he upholds all things. He upholds all things. Look back at verse 3 again. He is the radiance of his glory, the exact representation of his nature. And, and, here it is, upholds all things by the word of his power. He is the one who is upholding. He is the one carrying, sustaining, would be a good word. He is the one sustaining everything by the word of his power.

30:45Think about the Greek mind, this idea of Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders. And then he shifts, and then the whole world shifts, all that kind of stuff. The language here is much more than just he's holding, or he's carrying in that sense. The word also carries the idea of conducting, directing. Not only did he call the world into existence by the power of his word, he sustains the world by the power of his word. There was a creative utterance that brought the world forward. There is Sustaining utterance necessary for it to continue. He is directing the ages forward. As one commentator, F.F. Bruce, says, he directs and carries the ages, open quote, forward on their appointed course.

31:58That's what it means to uphold, sustain, direct, conduct. He's moving history forward on its course. That's why you should listen to him. As I said earlier, he hardens those he hardens. He softens those he softens. So soften your heart to him by paying attention to what he has to say. And he has convicted you. Many of you are here today. You know what God's been calling you to do. You know. You know some things are not right, and he's called you to get things right with him.

32:46Think about a baby. I've been thinking about those a lot lately. Two right away. But a baby is brought into this world. But it is just as dependent right afterwards as it is before. And those of you know what I mean, a baby is brought into this world, but then a baby is dependent upon continual development, isn't he or she? And so are we. So is the cosmos. It's dependent on someone for its created, I mean, for its continued development. And that's you, and that's me. And the person who is responsible and who is navigating all of this is Jesus Christ.

33:43He is navigating you forward on your appointed course. That is why you're not to harden your heart, but to soften your heart. Two very different courses. You should pay attention to Jesus. You were brought forward by his word, and you will continue by his word. You have life because he says so. And your future will be dependent upon the way you relate to him. So therefore, as the preacher is saying, pay attention to Jesus. Pay careful attention to Jesus.

34:31Sixth reason why you should pay attention to Jesus is because of his purifying ministry. Purifying ministry. Look in the middle of verse 3. When he had made purification of sins. Now, I'm going to stop there. Just look at that phrase. When he had made purification of sins, or after he made purification of sins. Think about what has just happened. The author, the preacher, has described, been describing the cosmic power and glory of Jesus Christ. He has been preaching about our dependence upon him, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. But now the preacher shifts gears and he directs our attention to the Son's personal connection with us.

35:27His connection to the human race. Purification. That's his connection. Purification. What is purification? It's the removal of contaminants or the cleansing of filth. And this image here, this description, as it continues to carry out and is going to be expounded on much in the book of Hebrews, is this idea that he is both priest. and sacrifice. He is one who purifies his people from their sins. In his mediatorial role, in his priestly ministry, in the offering of himself as sacrifice, all that is about cleansing his people from sin.

36:30Think about a washer and dryer, or not a dryer, a washer. I'm going to just tell a story about my childhood. We used to, we lived in a small town and wasn't much to do. And so we liked to go to the laundromat and for a quarter you could get dryer rides. And what we would do is open the big dryers and one of us would jump up in the trough and you could, I probably shouldn't be telling you guys this.

37:07Well, I'll get to the point here in a minute. You can sit in there cross-legged. This is what you do in a town. This is, you know, a small town, doesn't have very much more than a laundromat or whatever, and a nuclear facility. You can't go on the nuclear facility, so you've got to hang out at the laundromat. And you put a quarter in, you can sit in that, and your friends can sit up there and push the button. You can sit in there cross-legged and just go like this. And it's really fun until somebody closes the door.

37:38And boy, that happened to me one time. The air goes out like that. Heat comes in just as quick, and great panic comes over. And so I start kicking to get out the door finally. Fortunately, the guy opened up and said, Do you like it better with the door closed or open? Open, please. That ended my days of drier rides. But you think about a launderer. What does a launderer do? He takes dirty clothes, right? And then he takes those clothes and he cleanses those clothes so that you can put them back on.

38:27Notice in this phrase that there's a time stamp there when he had made purification. When, after, when the purification of his sins took place before he sat down. And it's very important that you get that. Look at what he says. He made, when he had made purification of sins, he sat down. Down at the right hand of the majesty on high. The purification of his people's sin took place before he ascended. Very important. He's not talking about the purification of sanctification as we grow in likeness, but something more deeply cleansing, and that is that which happens in justification or imputation, we call it. He cleanses by imputation. And what that means, in kind of a laundromat format, or a launderer, the sins of his people were put on him, and his righteousness was put on them. Imputed. That's the idea. He cleansed his people not by taking off their clothes, washing it up, and then putting it back on them. He cleansed his people by putting his own clean, spotless, perfect clothes on them. So he's like a launderer who takes your dirty clothes and then gives you brand new ones that are perfectly scotch guarded, that will never be soiled again. That's that imputed, protected righteousness that he imputes to his people the moment you are saved. You take on a new nature. Born from above. That's what's given. Yes, and now you learn how to walk accordingly. And that is where the ministry of sanctification occurs. But this purifying ministry was perfect in that he went into heaven and sat down. He's no longer going back and forth. Writer of Hebrews is going to make much about that. I'm the preacher of Hebrews.

41:04You see, and this is why this is important. Without his purifying ministry, a study of God's power leaves us with a dreadful awe of his cosmic power. But it drives us from him because of our sin. But because of his purifying ministry, we can marvel at his glory. We can marvel at his beauty all around us. We can marvel at his great glory, his great power without this sense of dread because we know we have been cleansed by him. Just as thorough as he is in governing and setting all things in motion and holding all things up, so is his cleansing work in his people.

41:59And so, because. Because of His purification, our affections to Him are awakened. His purifying work gives us a sense of indebtedness to Him, appreciation for His goodness, and an excitement to come into His presence. This is what Christ does. He cleanses His people. And this is something no one else can do. There's no one else that can deal with your sin. There's no one else that can deal with the guilt of your sin, the shame of your sin, the power of your sin. There's no one who can deal with that except Jesus and Him alone.

42:52And that is why you need to listen to Him. He really can deal with your sin problems, and He's the only one who can. Seventh reason we should pay attention to Jesus is because of His exalted position. His exalted position. Look at the end of verse 3. After or when He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Verse 4, having become as much better than the angels. As he has inherited a much more excellent name than they.

43:35See, there's two aspects in these verses that speak of his elevated position. First, his rank is higher than all others. His rank, look at where he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. The right hand speaks of a place of authority, it's a place of executive power, it's a place of great glory, it's a place of dignity, it's a place of honor, and it is the highest place of all in the universe because it is right there next to the majesty who is on high, God Himself, the supreme sovereign. There is no description we have of a higher place in the right hand, right hand of executive power, glory, and dignity.

44:25His position is the highest in the universe, and to which all creatures will bow. And he is seated. Notice that he is seated. It speaks of rest. That is where he is at home. That is his belonging. Right there, one there with the majesty on high. But it speaks of a, in this context, of a completed work when he had made purifications. For sins, he went in. Hebrews is going to write a bunch about this. He went into the presence of God and sat down.

45:11It's completed. His position is permanent. The work was completed to the full satisfaction of God, this work in redemption and purifying his people. It's a permanent position that belongs to him forever. There's only one person that occupies such a place, and that's Jesus. Not even the angels hold such proximity. Brings us to the second aspect of his elevated position. Not only is his rank higher than all others, but his name is higher than all others. Having become as much better than the angels, verse 4, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.

46:06He is better than the angels. His authority, his power, his dignity, his honor far surpasses that of the greatest glory of all the angels combined. Just as his name is so much greater than theirs. Far surpassing is the language. Far surpassing. Surpassing the angels. He's going to go in and spend the rest of chapter one dealing with this. But just for now, you can look at it. The reason there, he so surpasses that of the angels, the glory of the angels, just as his name surpasses their name. What is an angel? A messenger, a servant. What is the Son?

46:57The content and the Lord. We'll pick up on that next time. Seven reasons why you should pay attention to Jesus. No further revelation is coming. He is heir of all things, his role in creation. He is the radiance of God. He upholds all things. His purifying ministry and his exalted position are reasons why we must pay attention more closely, lest we fall away from what is really important. And that's what happens to us, right? We can be much like Martha in Luke 10, distracted by many things, even good things. But only one thing is necessary. Only one thing is really necessary in your life. And that is attention to Jesus as a matter of your first priority.

47:57In this world, And the world to come. So, as we just start briefly getting our feet wet into the book of Hebrews, these opening verses, the preacher calls our attention to Jesus as our great prophet. He's the one who speaks to God, speaks for God. He's communicated God in a very precise and definite way. So, he is our great prophet, he is the one who has spoken. Preacher also wants to draw our attention to Christ as our great priest, Jesus Christ, Jesus, the Christ, Jesus, our great priest. He is the one who is in the closest proximity to God. He is the one that is there mediating on our behalf.

48:58And third, the preacher wants us to pay attention to Jesus as our king. It's our king, our God and our king. So, think about this. Make this very personal. Why should we listen to it? Why should we, it should be the most important thing? Well, seven reasons why you should pay attention. God's final word to you is in Jesus Christ. You should listen to him. Come to Jesus as the one who owns everything, you and everything in your life. Come to Jesus as your creator, through whom you were brought in existence. Come to Jesus as your glory, the very radiance of God's glory and likeness to him is the radiance of your glory.

49:56Come to Jesus as the one who sustains you now and guides you and responsible for your historical development, future development. Come to Jesus as the one who cleanses you of your sin. Come to him as your priest, your sacrifice. Come to him in his exalted position as your God and King. Pay attention to Jesus. Your world is passing away. Look around you. There's a cemetery over there. That speaks right there of a world that is passing away.

50:44Can you imagine what a world would be like with no cemetery? I'm sure the city planners would love that. No cemeteries. Your world is passing away. You will soon find yourself in a new world. World. And the world to come belongs to Jesus. He is the agent through whom the world came into existence to begin with and will be the same for the world to come. So, how do you prepare for the world to come? How do you prepare to live in the world that you're in now? Pay attention to Jesus. I don't know where you are right now, but I can assure you, Jesus will help you understand God. Maybe you're still just trying to figure God out.

51:39He will also help you understand yourself. He will also help you understand the age you're living in, what's going on around you, and why things happen the way they do. But he will also help you understand the age to come and why it is coming and what it will be like. First things first, if you've never repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you need to do that today. Pay attention carefully. Yes, your sin. Yes, that sin. Yes, make it right. Yes, now.

52:19Won't you bow your heads? Come before God with an honest and sincere heart. Call out to him. Heavenly Father, we do come before you, confessing our distractions and not paying attention to you as we should. Father, we want that to be different going forward. Help us. Holy Spirit, awaken our hearts. Give us a thirst for the things of heaven. Give us ears to hear. Give us eyes to see, lest we be hardened and we fall away and turn away. Father, we are dependent upon you. Give us grace. Open our eyes. Open our ears. Father, forgive us of our sins.

53:24Thank you for what's ahead. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus' name.