I please God to bless us together
this evening as we meditate in his word. Let's turn to the epistle
of Paul to the Hebrews and chapter one and the first three verses. Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews,
chapter one and reading verses one, two, and three. God, who
at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past,
unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,
by whom also he made the worlds, who being the brightness of his
glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding
all things, by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high." Such words, such expressions
are really very wonderful and very glorious, and they really
set forth to us the greatness of our God. If we need really
any evidence of how great and how God is, surely it's set forth
before us in these verses. And we should be thankful that
we have statements like this to encourage us in the day and
age in which we live. The Apostle commences by saying,
God, the great God, the almighty God,
God the Father, who at sundry times and in divers manner spake
in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Well, we only
have to read the Old Testament to be very clear in our hearts
and minds that the words which we read are the very words that
God has spoken. He did speak in a variety of
places and in a variety of manners and through a variety of people,
but God uses whom he will and how he will, and he performs
all that he has determined to do. Nothing can or will stand
in the way of Almighty God's purposes being fulfilled. And it was the purpose of Almighty
God to indeed bring about those things which were spoken in the
Old Testament, and especially all those passages which direct
us to the Lord Jesus Christ. It must be encouraging to the
Church of God to realize that there were those wonderful prophecies
spoken by so many different people about different things with regards
to the Savior, but there was the complete fulfillment of them
in the details that they were described. And surely this is
a wonderful confirmation for us to believe and to know, therefore,
that the Word of God, the Bible that we have, is the Bible. It is the Word of God. It is
not the Word of man. Although men were used to write
it, they were blessedly influenced by the Holy Spirit. And so we
find this Word to be so true. And it's good that the Lord,
in his wonderful favour, has granted that such a statement
should be laid down to confirm strengthen our faith. Because
we live in a day with much opposition, much doubt is cast upon the Word
of God. So it's good to have foundational
truths to be able to rely upon. God, none less, who at sundry
times in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers
by the prophets. Now remember the Apostle was
writing this not many years after the death and resurrection and
ascension of the Saviour. He comes then and says, hath
in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. We know of course
that from that time we are in the last days. We weren't in
the beginning, We weren't in the middle, and we are in the
last days. When the last day will come,
we know not. As the Lord said, it's only known
to the Father. But nonetheless, we have this
wonderful statement, hath in these last days spoken unto us. Previously, he spoke unto the
fathers, by the prophets. But now, today, the word is very
clear that in these last days, hath spoken unto us by His Son,
the Lord Jesus Christ. And again, how confirming that
will be, if you and I have the evidence in our own hearts, the
Blessed Lord has spoken His Word into our hearts. And as we look
back in our lives, and as we trace out our spiritual life,
we can observe wonderful favour of the Blessed Son speaking to
us. Because these words are positive,
we're told, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. Well, how good it is, if that's
true, every one of us, to know the Lord hath spoken unto us
by his Son. And then the Apostle gives a
wonderful view of the Saviour, who the Son is, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. What a great truth that is to
know that we have the Almighty Son of God, the second person
in the Trinity, has been appointed heir of all things and to think
that by the grace of God you and I are joint heirs with Christ. That means that by his grace
we should be favoured to enjoy the glories in heaven that our
blessed Saviour has and enjoys today. We will be united there. Whom he hath appointed, heir
of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. The world didn't
just occur, it didn't just happen. By him, by whom also he made
the worlds. Today we live in an age when
people will not believe the Word of God. They will not believe
the Word of God because it condemns their theories. It condemns their
lifestyle. It condemns their beliefs. And therefore they say, we will
not have this man to reign over us. But this man, the Son of
God, is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And therefore,
one day, everyone will know that it is true, this God, this Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made
the worlds, is the great judge, before whom all of us, every
member in the world that has ever been born, will have to
stand before the judgment seat. And the Lord Jesus Christ will
be that great and glorious judge. It's a very solemn thought and
yet it's a very blessed thought if we have the evidence that
he has spoken to us. Because if he has spoken to us,
we have nothing to fear. Because we have the evidence
that we are one of his children, who he's taken care of, who he's
watched over, who is strengthened, who is encouraged and who is
blessed, by whom also he made the worlds. And then we read
in this third verse, who being the brightness of his glory. The glory of the Godhead shines
forth in the face of Jesus Christ, because He and the Father and
the Holy Spirit are of course united together. A mystery which
is beyond our natural understanding. But it's a wonderful blessing
when we are given faith to believe. And here we have this statement,
who being the brightness of his glory. There is a glory, a wonderful
glory, in the Father and in the Son and in the Holy Spirit. But here we have this statement,
who be in the brightness of his glory and the express image of
his person and upholding all things by the word of his power. We know that the Lord spoke the
world into being. So it's an amazing consideration. And surely, if God gives us faith
to believe it, then we see more and more the greatness of God.
To think that there is a being, God, who spoke the world into
being. So wonderful. So utterly beyond
anything that you and I can possibly imagine. or possibly work out. What a mercy then, if God grants
us the blessing of faith to believe such wonderful truths. Because there is a resting, when
the Lord gives faith to believe, there's a resting place there.
We rest in what God has done. And we believe what God has done. And that's a place of resting
for our soul. We may be tossed about like a
tempest. And it may be because of our
own heart of unbelief. We're tossed about. We might
think and wonder, can ever God dwell here? when God gives us
that faith to believe, trusting in him, casting all our care
upon him, then you see there is that peace, there is that
rest. And what does it show to us? Well it shows to us the wonder
of his grace toward us, the wonder of his mercy, the wonder of his
love. We have to really stand back
and we have to consider how great things he has done for us and
how great he is and how condescending he is to look upon those who
have nothing good in them, who don't deserve any notice and
yet this God is so gracious. And so, who being the brightness
of His glory, the Blessed Saviour sets forth the glory of God,
the glorious plan of salvation. Remember, it wasn't done in the
singular. It was between God the Father
and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the great and glorious
plan of salvation. So there is a brightness of His
glory. To realise what the Saviour carried
out, as ordained by God the Father, and carried out in that perfect
way, no failing, no failure, a glorious position, this great
and glorious Saviour, who being the brightness of His glory. And the Saviour does appear bright,
to our faith as we view him, having satisfied the law on our
behalf. He bore the punishment instead. We could not keep it, we failed
again and again, born in sin and shapen in iniquity. But this
blessed Saviour, he kept the law and he made it honourable. It is an honourable law and the
Saviour made it honourable and therefore in that there is the
brightness of his glory. He was perfect in everything. There was no sin. Who being the
brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and
upholding all things by the word of his power. Power belongeth
unto God. It's the power of His Word, which
quickens into divine life. It's the power of the Word, which
has made us spiritually alive. If we are spiritually alive,
it's the power of His Word, upholding all things by the Word of His
power. Power belongeth unto God. Let us never underestimate the
power of God. We just have a little view, don't
mean we think that he spoke the worlds into being. It was his
power that brought it about. And it's his power, nonetheless,
that has come to us and turned us out of spiritual darkness
into spiritual light. It's no less the power of God. by and when he had by himself
then by the word of his power when he had by himself purged
our sins sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. We see in these simple words
really the glorious gospel and how it is that the sins of his people are
taken away. And how needful it is that our
sins are taken away. Everyone, everyone, sins of thought,
sins of word, sins of deed are all taken away. And so we read,
when he had by himself the Lord Jesus Christ by himself. He carried out the work that
his father gave him to do. He fulfilled it completely to
the complete satisfaction of his father. And we know there
were those times in his life when there was that blessed acknowledgement
of his father when he said, this is my beloved son. in whom I
am well pleased." Well, the son did the will of his father. He never turned back, however
difficult it was. And the path was difficult because
we must not forget the Lord Jesus was there in his human form. He wasn't in his form as Godhead. He was in his human form as he
passed through this world, bearing all the temptations. We're told He was tempted in
all points, like as we are, yet without sin. Let us never think
the Saviour somehow avoided the things that we're faced with.
No, He endured, seeing Him who is invisible. the Blessed Saviour
endured. And by so doing, and keeping
that law, he made it honourable, and he kept it perfectly. And
as we view the law, we view the moral law, we view how difficult
it is, perhaps not to carry those things out physically, but not
to think sinfully. And the Saviour very clearly,
when on the earth, spelt out that it wasn't just the deeds,
it was the thoughts which condemn. And so there we are, guilty before
a holy God, naturally without hope. No hope naturally. The only destiny for us is eternal
misery in hell. But tonight, Can we not praise
God? Can we not be thankful for such
a truth as this? When he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. And what did that prove? So very
clearly that he had conquered. He conquered. You and I can't
in and of ourselves. We have no strength. We have
no ability. because of our sinful nature
inherited from our forefather Adam. But what a blessing it
is to know today that we have a great and glorious Saviour
who has purged us, taken away all our sins and laid them upon
Himself. Yes, He laid them upon Himself.
He took our sins and laid them upon Himself. He bore the punishment
due to us, He bore the punishment instead. It's a tremendous consideration,
isn't it, to think that Almighty God bore the punishment due to
you and me. And He was willing to do so.
So willing, gloriously willing, to look upon a sinful wretch
like you and I. and bear the punishment that
was necessarily due to us because of our sin. Yes, and he never
looked back. He willingly suffered so that
we might be blessed with this purging of our sins. When he had by himself purged
our sins, it was by himself. He did it. He completed that
work that the Father bestowed upon him in order to redeem his
people, to redeem his church. If it wasn't for this, my friends,
there would be no point in being here tonight because we would
be lost. We would be totally ruined. But
here is our hope. Here is our point of rest and
it's upon the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We get a little view, a little
view of the enormity of it when we see the Saviour in the Garden
of Gethsemane. There he was, sweating as it
were, great drops of blood. And being in agony, he prayed
more earnestly, Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but
thine be done. It's such a beautiful picture,
really. It's such an amazing scene to
think there, the Son of God, Being in agony was willing to
suffer all incarnate God could bear with strength enough and
none to spare in order that our sins might be purged, might be
taken away. We have a debt, don't we, that
we can never repay. The Saviour paid our debt. completely and not begrudgingly but very
willingly. So how do we react to such love? Such love that the only begotten
Son of God should die, should be crucified, die that sin atoning
death. in order that we might receive
the gift of eternal life. When he had by himself purged
our sins. It's a great truth. It's a wonderful
truth. And it's so necessary that you
and I have the application of it in our own hearts. To know
that on that cross, the Saviour shed his blood, shed his precious
blood as a very clear indication that death had occurred. And
therefore the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth
us from all sin. As we read in a later chapter,
in the Hebrews, without shedding of blood, there is no remission,
there's no forgiveness. And so let us be found looking
at the cross. Let us be blessing God for the
cross. And when I say that, it means
blessing God for what occurred. The saviour of sinners, the Lord
Jesus Christ died that you and I might receive the blessing
of eternal life. We read here in this last clause
that he sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. Yes, he had earned that position
and therefore he was welcomed to take his rightful place beside
the father on the throne of glory. And what a blessing it is for
us today because he is there as our intercessor. He's there
as our great and glorious high priest. No need anymore to take
the blood of animals, but he entered in because of his own
blood that was shed once. Didn't need to be shed again
for sin. And therefore he sits on the
throne there to intercede for us. to the Father. And the Apostle
later on in the 9th chapter, he tells us about Christ in the
11th verse. But Christ being come and High
Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building,
neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood,
he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us." Great words, aren't they? For if the blood
of bulls, and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling
the unclean, sanctified to the purifying of the flesh, how much
more shall the blood of Christ who through the Eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the Living God. Well, I hope we're
very thankful for the epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, which
so wonderfully elucidates the glorious mistress, as it were,
in the Old Testament dispensations. And here we have a view of what
it meant. Those animals that were slain,
the blood shed. And remember, when it was instituted
in the wilderness, there was the morning and the evening sacrifice. Day after day, signifying again
and again, the necessity of the shed blood. And may you and I
remember, day after day, morning and night, the necessity of the
shed blood. And bless God for it, because
through it there is entrance into the holy of all, through
the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, when he had by himself purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. And we can believe today, yesterday
and every day, right down to the end of time, while we're
on the earth, or while his people are on the earth, the Saviour
sits on the right hand of his Father to hear our prayers, our
supplications, what we might often feel to be our groans,
our poor prayers, the Lord takes them and presents them to his
Father. and we are accepted not for what
we've done, we are accepted in the Beloved. We're accepted through
what the Saviour has done. We're accepted because of His
shed blood. Does that not really make it
very valuable, very important, very wonderful to meditate upon? And so here we have, in these
early verses here, of this epistle of Paul to the Hebrews. And remember, he was addressing
the Hebrews, the Jewish nation, who had of course seen these
types and shadows for so many years. carried them out very
methodically, and yet very often had not seen the depth, had not
seen the glory, had not seen what they led to. But now, through
the grace of God, we're able to understand it naturally. But my friends, the great blessing
is when, by His grace, you and I understand it spiritually,
and it's then when we rejoice in this statement, hath in these
last days spoken unto us by His Son. Because then we have the
evidence that blood was shed to wash away all our sins and
to realize then by the grace of God, we are complete in Him. And then we'll have a little
understanding of His great love, so wonderful, so great that was
shed abroad so that He would suffer so greatly in order to
redeem our soul so that one day we would be with Him in glory
forever, singing His praises, Oh, my friends, what a prospect,
really, for the Church of God. And may you and I be encouraged
by it as we travel through this world, with many things to cast
us down. And yet may we be lifted up as
we may, by faith, view what Christ has done. And be thankful today
that this Word is true, who be in the brightness of His glory,
and the express image of his person, and upholding all things
by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Amen.