Saturday, January 12, 2013

Hebrews 1- Completely Done

Please take time to read Hebrew chapter 1.

This chapter of the Bible is packed with great Truth.  The writer of Hebrews (Unknown to us.  Possibly Barnabas or Apollos or Priscilla and Aquila or another) is writing to Hebrew Christians and has some major points to make.  One of his chief points is that Christ is greater than the angels.  I hope we all agree to that.  So, I want to look at another emphasis of Hebrews chapter 1.

Jesus has His inheritance already.  Let's examine how that can be by looking at verses 1-4.

First, Jesus made all and has all.

"... His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe."

God is the acting subject in this verse.  This verse clearly says that God the Father has given God the Son all things as His rightful heir.  It also clearly says that God the Father made the universe through God the Son.  Jesus was God the Father's agent in creation.  Remember how God made the world?  He spoke and it came into being.  What does John call Jesus?  The Word.  The Father spoke and the Word created.  Therefore, Jesus made all things and will have all things.  This verse doesn't tell us when He gets the inheritance, yet.

Secondly, Jesus sustains all things now.

"The Son... sustaining all things by His powerful word."

God the Son is in the business of sustaining the entire life of the universe.  He is not a clockmaker who made it and then stepped away.  He is working actively to sustain the universe today.  If He is sustaining it must be His, right?  I guess He could be renting it, right?  No, the universe belongs to King Jesus now.  But doesn't He plan on doing more than sustaining the universe?

Lastly, Jesus purified the universe of sin.

"After He had provided purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."

Look at the word "had".  Jesus already has provided purification of sins.  In fact, Hebrews highlights this further by pointing out that Jesus is seated in heaven.  He is seated because He is completely done.  He has purified, is done and is seated.

So, we're left with a problem.  If God the Son is completely done with the purification of the world, including me, then why is life so messed up?!

This is one of the great dichotomies of the Christian life.  Jesus is done.  The Kingdom is here, but not yet.  Meaning it is completely done... you have been purified and justified but you are still in purification's process as well.  How do I explain this?  I don't know.  We have to have faith that this is the case.  The championship season has started and the championship will be won but the trophy presentation is not here yet and we still feel like the games are in doubt.  This is a tough dichotomy but is one that the Bible is comfortable to leave us with.

So, what do we do with this?  Well, we take heart for the battle has been won.  We take heart while we daily fight for the purification of ourselves and our world.  So, take heart what God has done is completely done.  Thank God that He has provided purification of sins and is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven today.

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