Donnels Creek Church of the Brethren
Without Equal
Dear Father in heaven, I lift up our bible study to you just now. Please grant us wisdom and understanding as we study Your Holy Word. Help us to love one another as we should. Enable us to be all we can be in Christ Jesus. For unspoken prayer requests, Father, I lift them to You just now. Please meet all the needs according to Your perfect will. Bless our time here together in the holy and matchless name of Jesus. Amen
Without Equal
Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall. When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so; when I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.
You know the hymn and how it exults Jesus, our Savior, Lord and King.
In this bible study, we will explore the book of Hebrews to discover why Jesus is without equal.
I will use Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible (copyright - The Lockman Foundation) for our study.
We’ll start in the first chapter of Hebrews:
Hebrews 1:1 In many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].
We are so blessed today to have God’s Word preserved for us to read any time we want.
We see in verse one that in times past, God spoke through the prophets to His people. Think what that would be like now. Would we be sure if the prophet was really speaking by God’s inspiration?
What if we weren’t listening when that prophet spoke?
What if we got a cell phone call just then? Or someone had the radio on so loud we couldn’t hear what he said.
Instead God sent His only begotten Son to express Himself personally. God sent the One who had created all and sustains all. God sent His own Heir and lawful Owner of all things… Jesus
Hebrews 1:3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,
Does your heart beat a little faster when you read this?
When you read this, do you comprehend that this very One is the Jesus that desires a personal relationship with you?
Jesus is the sole expression of the glory of God. That means there is no other way to express fully the glory of God!! Jesus completely represents the nature of God. When we read of Jesus as He teaches those who want to learn and heals the ones who are suffering sickness and disease, He is expressing the true nature of God.
Do you view God this way? Do you think of God’s nature this way?
Jesus said if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.
Jesus even cared for the ones everybody else ignored. Jesus even touched those, others avoided and shunned. Jesus even healed those who others had given up on. Jesus even loved those who were outcasts from society.
Why did Jesus do all this?
Because He is the perfect imprint of God’s nature. Jesus is the very expression of God’s nature.
Hebrews 1:4 [Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs.
Hebrews 1:5 For to which of the angels did [God] ever say, You are My Son, today I have begotten You [established You in an official Sonship relation, with kingly dignity]? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He will be to Me a Son?
We often think of Jesus as a humble, meek and lowly man. Is this true?
If we look at these verses, we see that our view of Jesus is a little clouded. Jesus is great. Jesus is superior to the angels. Even Jesus’ name is greater than the angel’s names. Jesus is excellent!!
God said to Jesus: My Son, today I have begotten You. Jesus has kingly dignity. God is Jesus’ Father.
When Jesus showed compassion, kindness and mercy, He was the perfect expression of power with restraint. Jesus didn’t have to treat people as He did. Jesus chose to treat them with mercy, kindness and compassion. Jesus has the power to sweep us away with one word. He chose to give us grace. Jesus is Sovereign, but deals with us with loving restraint. Jesus shows us tenderness and unbounded love. Do you feel it, even now?
Hebrews 1:6 Moreover, when He brings the firstborn Son again into the habitable world, He says, Let all the angels of God worship Him.
Hebrews 1:7 Referring to the angels He says, [God] Who makes His angels winds and His ministering servants flames of fire;
Hebrews 1:8 But as to the Son, He says to Him, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (to the ages of the ages), and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of absolute righteousness (of justice and straightforwardness).
Jesus is coming to this world again. Do you see it in verse 6? When Jesus comes again, all the angels will worship Him. Have you considered that Jesus created the angels?
He makes His angels winds and His ministering servants flames of fire. God is truly in control.
Jesus’ throne will be forever and ever, and His scepter absolute righteousness. Jesus will reign in truth and justice. God has proclaimed it to His Son, Jesus.
Is this a view of Jesus as a meek, weak, timid man?
No way!!! Rather it is a view of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords and Mighty God. The One Who will mete out justice with fairness and righteousness. The One Who has no equal.
Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and You have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God (Godhead), has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond Your companions.
See how God the Father is pleased with Jesus. Do you notice something in this verse that isn’t spoken of very much?
The Father commended Jesus for the choices He made.
What does that say to you?
It tells me that Jesus had a choice. Jesus could have decided we weren’t worth the trouble and pain. Jesus could have said, I’m not going to suffer separation from My Father because of your rebellion. Jesus could have said NO. He could have destroyed us and started over with a new people.
Why didn’t He?
How great the love of Jesus is for us! In spite of our rebellious, sinful, filthy ways. Jesus loves us. That love has no equal.
Hebrews 1:10 And [further], You, Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of Your hands.
Hebrews 1:11 They will perish, but You remain and continue permanently; they will all grow old and wear out like a garment.
Hebrews 1:12 Like a mantle [thrown about one's self] You will roll them up, and they will be changed and replaced by others. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end nor come to failure.
Jesus will reign forever and ever. He never will change. He has no end.
Let that truth sink into your soul.
Jesus loved you enough to take your sin upon Himself at Calvary. He took the penalty of your sins for you. He withstood separation from God the Father because of those sins…. for you.
Jesus loved you then… He loves you now, for He does not change.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).
Jesus is awesome. There is no plan of Salvation better than the one Jesus has offered to you. The grace Jesus has given you has no equal. No one loves you more. No one is more righteous. No one is more just. There is no equal to Jesus.
All this will never change.
Receive that into your heart and mind. Let this truth free you of all that would bind you and hold you down. Receive the Abundant Life Jesus came to give you.
Jesus Reigns… Without equal… Forever!! Praise HIS holy name!!
Bible study by InAwe
