October 6, 2024: Sunday School

Order of Service

• Sunday School Lesson — Hebrews 1:1-14
• Prayer of Dismissal

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Sermon Title: The Son Superior to Angels

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-14

I. Review: The Stunning Opening Declarations About Christ (Hebrews 1:1-4)

A. The opening verses weave together Christ's full humanity and full deity B. Christ as God the Son has always been equal with the Father in majesty, glory, and power C. The language of "becoming" and "inheriting" refers to the public declaration and manifestation of Christ as Son — from Incarnation through exaltation D. The comparison to angels is framed by two rhetorical questions: verse 5 and verse 13 — "To which of the angels did God ever say…?"

1. Angels were understood as messengers through whom the Old Testament came
2. The New Covenant revelation in Christ is better than what came before
3. Angel worship was a real temptation in the first century, even the Apostle John was tempted toward it in Revelation

II. The Adoration of the Messianic Son — He Is Better Than Angels (Hebrews 1:6-9; Psalm 45:6-7)

A. Angels are commanded to worship the Son — they are part of creation, made as winds and flames of fire B. The Son's throne is eternal: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever" — quoted from Psalm 45:6

1. Psalm 45 is a wedding psalm in which the bride exalts her kingly bridegroom
2. The title "God" applied to the king was a reference to his role as God's earthly vice-regent, but Hebrews applies it fully and finally to Christ
3. The Son is the King of kings whose throne has no end; angels are creatures with a beginning

III. The Authority of the Messianic Son — He Is the Eternal Creator (Hebrews 1:10-12; Psalm 102:25-27)

A. Hebrews quotes Psalm 102 and applies it to Christ: he laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of his hands B. Creation will wear out like a garment and be rolled up and changed, but the Son remains the same and his years will have no end

1. This must be understood in light of Christ's full humanity — he is the same man who walked the streets of Jerusalem and slept in a boat
2. Yet of him alone it can be said: "You are the same, and your years will have no end"
3. Christ in Revelation: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" C. Practical warning: do not be tempted back to a man-made religion that weighs you on the balance of your own deeds — Hebrews is building toward Christ as the only satisfying High Priest

IV. The Trump Card — Psalm 110 and the Final Exaltation of the Son (Hebrews 1:13; Psalm 110)

A. Psalm 110 is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament; verse 1 is the most quoted single verse B. David writes, "The LORD says to my Lord: sit at my right hand" — fulfilled only in one who is himself Yahweh

1. This speaks of Christ's Ascension and his public, final declaration as the Son at the right hand of the Father
2. His enemies are placed under his feet — a clear echo of Genesis 3:15 and the promised Serpent-Crusher
3. The enemies of Christ are Satan, the spiritual forces of evil (principalities and authorities, Ephesians 6), and unbelievers C. Christ's victory over his enemies is already underway but awaits final fulfillment
4. Throughout his earthly ministry: defeating Satan in the wilderness, driving out demons, calming the sea, culminating in the cross
5. At the cross: the great victory over sin; death is dealt a heavy blow
6. Hebrews 2:8 will address the tension: "At present we do not yet see everything in subjection to him" — but Christ is reigning now D. Psalm 110 weaves together Christ as King and Christ as Priest — only the eternal King who is God can also be our sufficient High Priest as the man made like us in every way E. Closing exhortation: when tempted to look elsewhere for satisfaction or a surer word, Hebrews says — "Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of your faith" (Hebrews 12:2)