1. The Superiority of Christ
Hebrews 1:1-2:9

2. FULFILLMENT IN JESUS Lesson 1 Three fundamental “truths” God exists
God has spoken, in many ways
God has a message

3. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 1
God’s Message in part is that SOMEONE is coming
The someone is JESUS CHRIST
God’s Message in full is Jesus Christ and What He would do

4. gave His life to save ours
FULFILLMENT IN JESUS
Lesson 1
The Message in full
God in the Flesh,
God with us,
gave His life to save ours

5. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 1
The writer of Hebrews thinks it is important for us to know who we are talking about when we talk about Jesus
We are given several reasons that Jesus Christ is better than any previous communicator of God’s Message

6. The Superiority of Christ
Throughout Hebrews we are told how much better Jesus is
He is better than angels
He is better than any man that has lived
He is a better high priest than has ever served
He offers a better covenant than man has ever known, and
He offers a better sacrifice than has ever been offered

7. The Superiority of Christ
Jesus is better
than anything

8. The Superiority of Christ
Before we explore today’s lesson, we need to ask a question:

9. The Superiority of Christ
Before we explore today’s lesson, we need to ask a question:
Why would it be important
for us to know that
Jesus is better than all this?

10. The Superiority of Christ
BECAUSE, if we do not realize
how much better Jesus is
than anything we could possibly know,
something ALWAYS WILL be better

11. The Superiority of Christ
Whether it is money, love, power, popularity – something will always edge Jesus out if He is not regarded as being the “best” that we could have
If we do not accept that Jesus is better than anything else in our lives, you and I will always be uncertain about our faith

12. The Superiority of Christ
Apparently the people to whom the author of Hebrews was writing, had the same problem
That is why he warns them in Hebrews 2:1-4:
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what
we have heard, so that we do not drift away (v 1)…how shall
we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,
was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.”(v 3)

13. The Superiority of Christ
If Jesus is not BETTER than anything else for us,
we will neglect our salvation. As we get
distracted and pursue “something else”,
we will drift away from God and face the
danger of losing our salvation

14. The Superiority of Christ
There is nothing better
than Jesus

15. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
The writer of Hebrews starts out saying that Jesus is better than any angel
Why begin by comparing Jesus to angels?
What is so important about angels that we would even need to make the comparison?

16. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
Angels were the most powerful and wondrous of all of God’s creation
The Old Testament speaks of these beautiful beings that
Were continually in God’s presence
So powerful they could destroy an entire army single handedly in a night
Could create an atmosphere of fear – just by being seen – that people would bow down in terror
Their presence has such a powerful effect, invariably, the first words from their lips were: “fear not”

17. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
When one is confronted by such powerful beings as angels, there is a natural tendency to want to bow down and worship them
Notice the Apostle John in this situation
In Revelation 22, we are told: “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.”

18. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
John continues: “But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’”(Rev 22:8,9)
Why compare Jesus to angels?

19. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
John continues: “But he said to me, ‘Do no do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’”(Rev 22:8,9)
Why compare Jesus to angels?
Because there are people who would worship angels

20. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
If you look up angels in your search engine, you will find pictures of either chubby children with little wings on their back, or of women with wings, in long flowing robes and beautiful hair
Angels are seen as helpful and concerned about us
They are pleasant creatures

21. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
Angels are regarded by many as more approachable than God or Jesus
Because some people see angels as more sympathetic to their needs than the God they find in the Bible, there are those who would worship them
People have even said: “I pray to my angel all the time”

22. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
What is that?

23. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
What is that?
That is worship
Why do these type of people worship angels?

24. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
Because, unlike God, unlike Jesus, there is no requirement for commitment
The angels these people approach ask for nothing – they just supply
Their worshippers believe angels supply comfort and control to the lives

25. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
With that danger a real possibility, the author of Hebrews tries to put things in perspective
First, he wants us to realize that angels are powerful beings (v7)
They are like the wind, they are everywhere
And, if you saw them, you would see fiery beings, which would hurt your eyes just to look at them

26. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
As awesome as angels are, they are servants
They are servants of God the Father (v7) and they are servants of Jesus
They are servants of “those who will inherit salvation” (v14)

27. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
Notice also in Hebrews 1:6 that “when God brings his firstborn into the world, He says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship Him.’”
Angels are not creatures to be worshipped
They are creatures who worship, and they worship Jesus

28. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
Following those statements about angels, the writer of Hebrews moves to Jesus in verses 8-10 – a different story entirely
Not only is Jesus worshipped by angels, He has a name more powerful than theirs
Jesus is not only superior to angels, He is divine – He is God

29. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
Many of you have probably watched the TV show “Touched by an Angel”
This is a relatively family friendly show that says more right about God than many shows have done for years
Yet, because it is written for the television audience, it has one inherent falsehood built into it

30. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
The theme of “Touched by an Angel” is God loves you (OK so far)
Because He loves you, you have an angel looking out for you
It does not matter who you are, it does not matter what you believe, you have this special angel waiting for an opportunity to help you out

31. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
Sorry, but that is not how it works
Hebrews 1:14 tells us who the angels are sent to serve: “Those who will inherit salvation”
The writer of Hebrews is telling us, “you can do without angels – but you cannot do without Jesus”

32. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
The message of God’s Word is “You will not be saved by angels” and “You will not be saved by good works”
The only way you will be free from your sins so that you can receive the grace of God is

33. The Superiority of Christ
Lesson 2
The message of God’s Word is “You will not be saved by angels” and “You will not be saved by good works”
The only way you will be free from your sins so that you can receive the grace of God is
By the blood of Jesus Christ

34. The Superiority of Christ
Humaita, Brazilian Prison Illustration

35. The Superiority of Christ
Angels can not do that for you
Nice neighbors, friends, politicians, people of wealth and prestige, none can do that for you
The only one that can serve your time, who can take your punishment for you is

36. The Superiority of Christ
Angels can not do that for you
Nice neighbors, friends, politicians, people of wealth and prestige, none can do that for you
The only one that can serve your time, who can take your punishment for you is
Jesus Christ

37. The Superiority of Christ
Is Jesus
the Best thing in your life?