When you turn to Hebrews chapter
1, while you're turning there, Don Fortner will be having open
heart surgery tomorrow at St. Joe's Hospital. So everybody
remember him in prayer. Hebrews chapter 1, I'd like to
read the first three verses of Hebrews chapter 1. God, who at sundry times and in diverse
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. Now, the way I want to handle
this passage of scripture and this message is to assume that
not one person here knows the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't believe
that to be the case. You know that, but I'm going
to assume that not one person here knows the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's how I'm going to preach
this message. I've entitled this message, an
introduction to Jesus Christ. Now you cannot know somebody
unless you have been introduced to them. Remember, salvation
is knowing the person of Christ. And you can't really know him
unless he has been introduced to you. And I pray that Christ
will introduce himself through this message, an introduction
to Jesus Christ. Now, an introduction is also
a way of presenting the elementary or the fundamental truths of
a particular subject. For instance, you've heard of
an introduction to college algebra or an introduction to English
literature or an introduction to some other kind of science. If God is pleased to bless this
message, it will be an introduction to Christ himself. and an introduction
to the very fundamentals of the faith of the gospel. Now, wouldn't
it be a blessing if the Lord in his mercy is pleased to introduce
himself to us? You see, the only one who can
do the introducing is him. The only way we can know him
is if he's pleased to make himself known. And that's what I pray
the Lord will do through this particular message. Now we read
in verse one, God. I love the way this starts. The writer makes no attempt to
prove the existence of God. He simply begins with a self
evident truth that doesn't need to be backed up. God. Deep down, everybody knows God
is. There is no such thing as an
atheist. Now, I know a lot of people deny
that, but I don't believe them. Deep down, everybody knows that
God is. and that he will reward the righteous
and punish the wicked. We are born with that knowledge. I don't have to convince you
of that. Deep down, everybody knows that God is, he that cometh
to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him, God. God who at sundry times
and in diverse manners spake in times past under the fathers
by the prophets. God has spoken. He's not an absentee
God. He's not a God that's far off.
No, God has spoken so as to make himself known. God has spoken. Do you want to hear what he has
to say? I sure do. God who at sundry times and in
diverse manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the
prophets. God who at sundry times. Now
what does this word sundry mean? It's not a word that we use much
today. The word means literally many
parts. Many parts. He has given many
partial revelations of himself. Many. The first one that comes
to my mind is creation. The heavens declare the glory
of God. Turn to Romans chapter one for
just a moment. Verse 20. For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen. being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power in Godhead
so that they are without excuse. The creation says, God is. And everybody deep down knows
that. He has spoken by his good providence. Turn with me to Acts chapter
14. These are ways that the Lord speaks.
Look at Acts chapter 14, beginning in verse 15. Paul says, Sirs, why do ye these
things? Acts 14, 15. We also are men
of like passions with you. They were getting ready to worship
and offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. And Paul said,
No, don't do this. We're just like you. We're men
of like passions with you and preaching to you that you should
turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven
and earth and the sea and all things that are therein, who
in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless,
he left not himself without witness in that he did good and gave
his reign from heaven and fruitful season, filling our hearts with
good and gladness. You know, the Lord's good providence.
His mercy to you, you think how good God is. It says God is,
doesn't it? All His goodness toward you,
the fact that you've got something to eat, the fact that you've
got the brains to be able to hear what's being said, the fact
that you've got eyes to see, the fact that you've got clothes
on, you're in a comfortable place right now, things are good. God's
good providence says God is. He sends so many things. He spoke
by the Old Testament prophets. They came with a thus saith the
Lord. He sent men who actually brought
his word. Now these were partial revelations.
They're not the full revelation that you and I have now in his
word, but they were partial revelations. God who at sundry times and in
diverse manners spake. That means various manners. And
you think of all the different ways the Lord speaks. We've already
seen His goodness speaks. What about adversity? What about
when you have trouble? What about when you have heartache? It ought to be bringing you to
the Lord Himself. What about when you have prosperity? It
ought to bring you to your knees thanking the Lord for that prosperity.
What about sickness? Oh, sickness is a trial, but
it ought to make us seek Him. What about health? We thank Him
for it. I mean, everything that happens
is a call to us to seek the Lord. Everything. Everything. God speaks. He speaks in His
providence. He speaks from His Word. He speaks
in the types from the Old Testament. We see the necessity of blood,
the sacrifices and so on. The Lord speaks. Aren't you glad
He speaks? God actually speaks. He speaks to all men. This is every man to ever live. Every woman to ever live. Everybody
has had the Lord speak to them like I'm speaking now. God speaks. Now let's go on reading. God,
who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
to us by his son. Now God has in these last days
spoken to us. Now this was written nearly 2,000
years ago and it was the last days then. And it's the last
days now. Now, we might have another week.
We may have another thousand years. We may have another 10,000
years. I don't know when the Lord's coming back. I hope He
comes back real soon. I actually pray for Him to hasten His return.
I hope He comes back soon. I'll just be just flat out happy
as I can be if He comes back tonight. Oh, to think of Him
returning. But we might have another 10,000
years. I don't know. You know, people always say,
these got to be the last days. Well, they've said that in every generation.
every generation. I mean, it does seem like these
are the last days. It might go on, but whatever,
it's still the last days because all the days since the resurrection
and ascension of Christ have been the last days. You know, things are not going
to continue. God's going to wrap this thing
up. Everything you see and know is going to be burned. You know,
even the relationships you have, the physical relationships, the
marriage and so on, you know, in heaven, it'll be meaningless. All these fleshly relationships
we have, they'll be meaningless. God's going to wrap this thing
up. These are truly the last days. The time is coming when
time will be no more. Now, in these last days, God
has spoken by His Son. He hath in these last days spoken
to us by His Son. Now, this is not a partial revelation. He had made Himself known partially,
but this is the full revelation of God. Are you interested? God
has spoken by His Son. This is not one of many revelations.
This is the revelation. Christ is the Word of God. Christ is the full revelation
of God. Christ is the final revelation
of God. And when God speaks, this is
all He has to say. This is My beloved Son. Hear ye Him. That is all He has to say. Turn to Matthew chapter 17. Hold
your finger there, Hebrews 1. Turn to Matthew chapter 17. Verse
1, after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother
and bringeth them up into a high mountain. apart and was transfigured
before them. And his face did shine as the
sun and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there
appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then
answered Peter and said unto Jesus, Lord, it's good for us
to be here. Now, I don't remember anybody
asking Peter anything. But here he answers. Here he
answers. You know who that reminds me
of? Me. Me. I'm not talking about somebody
else. I'm talking about me. You know,
I got to say, Peter had to say something. Then answered Peter and said
unto Jesus, Lord, it's good for us to be here. If thou wilt,
let us make your three tabernacles, one for thee and one for Moses
and one for Elijah. That was a plum stupid thing
to say. Plum stupid. While he yet spake, behold a
bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the
cloud which said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm well
pleased. Hear ye him. Now God has a son. an uncreated
Son, and His name is Jesus Christ. Now, do I understand how God
can have a Son whose name is Jesus Christ? No, I don't understand
that. I don't understand how God is one God revealed in three
distinct persons. God the Father, God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit. No way I can understand that.
But I believe it. It's revealed in the Word of
God. God has a Son. Now, when we begin with this
revelation of God, we've got to begin with the Word of God.
This book is the infallible, inspired Word of God. And if
you don't have that, what do you have? What do you have? Here's
what I think. Who cares what I think? Really,
who cares? Here's what you think. Who cares
what you think? It really doesn't make any difference. If we don't
have an inspired, infallible revelation of God Himself, we
might as well go ahead and pack up and go home. We're wasting
our time here. But I believe that this is the inspired Word
of God. Can I prove that to you? No, I can't. I don't need to. You know, when I read this book,
I can say this honestly. I know this is the Word of God.
You know it by reading it. I have no doubt that this is
the inspired Word of God. All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works. Now, because God
has Word, the Bible, He reveals who He is. He's God the Father,
God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. And it's found in the very opening
verses of the Bible. In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth. There's God the Father. And the
earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face
of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the waters. There's
God the Holy Spirit. And God said, let there be light.
And there was light. And that light wasn't the sun
or the moon. That's the uncreated light. We
have the Trinity right off the bat. It let us make man in our
own image. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God has a Son and His name is Jesus Christ. He's called in
Scripture the only begotten Son. John 3.16 says, For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Now
this begetting of Christ, the Son, is not an event of time,
but it's a fact irrespective of time. Jesus Christ is the
eternal Son of God. He is the sole representative
of the being and the character of the One who sent Him. Christ
didn't become the Son, but necessarily and eternally is God the Son. He possesses every attribute
of pure Godhood. He is God. That's who Jesus Christ is. He's
God. All that God is, He is. Colossians 2.9 says, In him dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead. Now who can comprehend what all
that means? But in Him dwells, resides, it's there. In Him dwells
all the fullness of the Godhead in His body. Oh, what a glorious
being the Lord Jesus Christ is. He is God the Son, the eternal
God. And the only thing I know to
do is bow down and worship Him. He is God. Now, what does this mean in our
text when he says he hath in these last days spoken unto us
by his son there in the second verse? Does it mean we hear the
voice of the Lord Jesus Christ audibly? Have you ever heard
his voice audibly? I haven't, nor has anybody else. He's at the right hand of the
Father. No one's heard his voice audibly, but this is what this
means. It means if we hear from God, it will be by and through
the Lord Jesus Christ. If you and I hear God speak,
we'll only hear him say one thing, Jesus Christ. This is what God
says. Jesus Christ, He is all that
God has to say. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. I love that passage of scripture
we just began the service with. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was
in the beginning with God. begin to be then, He already
was. And He is the Word. That means
He's the, if God says something, the Word means the concept, the
being. If God speaks, here's what comes
out, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Word of God. All that
God is, He is. Now would you understand who
God is? Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 says, He is the image of the
invisible God. He said Himself, He that has
seen Me has seen the Father. Would you understand the Bible?
In John chapter 5 verse 39 the Lord said, You search the Scriptures
and in them you think you have eternal life and they are they
which testify of Me. Every single one of them. This Bible is a closed book unless
I have the key to understanding the Bible. It all speaks of Him. All of it. Would you understand
God's purpose? Turn to Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1. Verse 14, In whom we have redemption
through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by Him
were all things created, the Lord Jesus Christ, by Him were
all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions
or principalities or powers, all things were created by Him
and for Him. And He is before all things,
and by Him all things consist. He's the head of the body, the
church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased
the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell. And you know
what? It pleases me too. I'm very pleased that all fullness
dwells in the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you learn, would you know
how God can forgive your sins? That's something behind me. I
want my sins forgiven, don't you? I don't want to stand before
God on my own. I want my sins forgiven. Well,
do you know how God can forgive sin? Ephesians 4.32 says, Be
ye kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
Christ's sake hath forgiven you. God can forgive your sins for
Christ's sake. He doesn't have to find a reason
in you. He doesn't have to find any merit in you or any reason
why He would do it for you. He does it wholly for Christ's
sake. Would you understand how you
could be accepted by this great holy God? And I'm talking about,
you think of who you are. You think of who I am. God accept
me. How can I be accepted? Ephesians 1, 6 says, he hath
made us accepted in the beloved. Would you have assurance of God's
favor? Jesus Christ. He said, this is my beloved son
in whom I'm well pleased. If you're in him, he's well pleased
with you. I love that phrase, in whom I'm
well pleased. If I'm in the Lord Jesus Christ,
God is well pleased with me. Would you know what faith is?
Jesus Christ is the object of faith. He's the subject of faith. He's the author of faith. He's
the finisher of faith. Faith is believing on Him. Would you know the Christian
message? Well, the Scripture says they cease not, talking
about the apostles, they cease not to teach and to preach Jesus
Christ. I love this verse of Scripture.
Colossians chapter 3 verse 11 says, all. Now you think of the vastness
of that statement. Christ is all. I don't even know what all to
say about that. It's such a vast. Christ is all. He's all the God.
He is God. He's all in the scriptures. He's
all in salvation. If I'm saved, it's all for his
sake. He's all to me. Christ Jesus
is all. In all, in every believer. Every
believer is going to give total agreement with this. Jesus Christ
the Lord is all. Now let's go back to Hebrews
chapter 1. There are three things that are pointed out in these
second and third verses. Who is Jesus Christ? This is
pointed out, what did he do? This is pointed out, and where
is he now? This is pointed out. Three things. Who is Jesus Christ?
Second, what did he do? Third, where is he now? I had a man write me recently,
and he said, if you only had five or 10 minutes to bring the
Christian message to somebody, what would you do? And I wrote
him back, I'd say I'd ask these three questions. Who is, no,
I'd ask four questions. Who is Jesus Christ? What did
he actually do? Where is he now? And what must
I do to be saved? That pretty much covers everything,
doesn't it? The guy wrote me back and he said, what about
repentance? And I thought, well, just believing that message is
complete repentance. I mean, good grief. You believe
that, you're repentant, I guarantee you. That's what repentance is,
is believing. You change your mind from the
way you used to believe, now you believe the gospel. But let's
look at this description. Who is Jesus Christ? Well, verse
2, He hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom
He hath appointed heir of all things. That means everything
belongs to Him. Everything belongs to Him. Everything in the physical universe,
galaxies planets stars Comets all the stuff that you love to
see on TV where they talk about all the stuff that goes on in
space Everything that happens here on earth physically it all
belongs to him angels You know, Satan is God's devil. He's on
God's chain and he can't make a move without God. He's in absolute
control of all things. He owns all men, believers and
unbelievers. Everybody's in his hand. And
I find such comfort in that. Everybody's in his hands. I get
so vexed, that's not the right word. I become so... concern
for people. I want them to know the Lord.
I want them to believe on Christ, and I've become so concerned
for them. And I should be concerned. I'm not saying that, but then
I remember they're in the Lord's hands. They're in the Lord's
hands. If He's pleased to do something
for them, He will. And whatever He does is right. And I'm just
so satisfied with that. Isn't it wonderful to know that
everybody's in His hands? You're in His hands right now.
You're totally and completely in His hands. That's a good place
to be, isn't it? You know, there's some people
that don't see any safety there. That's the only place I see safety,
being in His hands and whatever He does is right. He's the heir
of all things. Is He the heir of all things?
Every believer is a joint heir within. That's what Romans 8,
17 says. Every believer is a joint. Whatever Christ has coming, every
one of His children have coming. Now, let's go on reading. He's
appointed Him heir of all things, that means everything belongs
to Him, by whom also He made the worlds. Jesus Christ is the
Creator. Now, that means a whole lot. Jesus Christ is the Creator.
That's talking about His power. Now, you think of creation. People
talk about creative people. They're creative and so on. And
well, not really, not really. There's only one creator. That's
God himself. He's truly creative. He speaks
things into existence that were not there before. Now that's
creative. Now you think of the power of
the Lord Jesus Christ. He has creative power. He speaks
things into existence. And there's three things that
only a creator can do. I imagine there's more things
than that, but I can think of three things that only a creator
can do. He can create something from
nothing. He can make something to be what it was not, and he
can make it be that. What I think of is the way the
Lord changed water into wine, and he can make something not
that was. He can make it to where it's
not anymore. Now our Lord does all that. He created the universe.
He makes something to be what it was not. He makes me to be
holy and I was not. Isn't that wonderful? And he
causes something to be not that was. You know what he did with
it? My sin. He put it away. Now only a mighty creative God
can do something like that. He's the creator of the world.
Verse 3, who being the brightness of God's glory. What do you see when you see
the sun? You see brightness. Brightness you can't even look
upon. What do you see when you see God? You see Jesus Christ. For God who commanded the light
to shine out of the darkness has shined in our hearts to give
the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. He is the sparkling of deity. Who is Jesus Christ? Let's go
on reading. Who being the brightness of His glory and the express
image of His person. He's the express image of God. Now, the word person here means
substance. or essence. Do you want to know
what God's made of? What's his substance? What's
his essence? You know, there's only one way
to answer that. Jesus Christ. He is the essence. He is the
substance of God. Every attribute of God is fully
in Christ. Fullness of sovereignty. Fullness
of power. Fullness of mercy. Fullness of
grace. Fullness of wisdom. Fullness
of all that God is. It's all in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the express image of His
person. If you could forge an imprint,
and this is what God is. What would come out? Jesus Christ
himself. He is the express image of his
person. And look what it says next. He's
the one who upholds all things by the word of his power. He's the one who controls everything,
everything, everything, and everybody's in his hand. He upholds everything
by the word of his power. I love that verse of scripture
in Daniel chapter 4 verse 35. It says he do it according to
his will. In the armies of heaven and among
the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or
say unto him, what doest thou? He said, I am the Lord. There's
none like me. I make light, I create darkness. I make peace, I create evil. I the Lord do all these things. That's who Jesus Christ is. Isaiah
chapter 45 verse 7. He upholds all things by the
word of His power. Listen to this scripture from 1 Samuel
2, 6 and 7. The Lord killeth, the Lord maketh
alive. He brings down to the grave and
brings up. The Lord maketh poor and maketh
rich. He bringeth low and He lifteth
up. That's who our God is. He upholds
all things by the word of His power. You know the reason you
breathed right now? He willed it. He willed it. Every thought that goes through
your mind, He's in control of. That's who Jesus Christ is. He upholds all things by the
Word of His power. Now, what did He do? We see this
glorious description of Him. What did He do? Well, look again
in verse 3. Who being the brightness of God's
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 what did he do he by himself purged our sins
now the first question that comes to my mind is who is the hour
he hath by himself purged our sins is he talking about everybody
well if he is everybody sins are purged everybody Well, who is he talking about?
Everybody whose sins are purged. Every believer, even all of God's
elect, everybody he came to save. Thou shalt call his name Jesus,
for he shall save his people from their sins. Having loved
his own, which were in the world, he loved them to the end. That's
who He is. Now, He by Himself purged our
sins. Who's the our? Everybody who
believes on Him. Everybody who knows that there's
no way they can put away their sins and there's nothing they
can do about it. The only way they can be saved is if He purges
their sins. Everybody that knows that, He
purged their sins. That's believing the gospel.
Everybody who believes, that's who He purged. Now, it says He
by Himself purged our sins. Our sins are most real. Our sins
are most real. Committed against God and he
purged them. He washed them away. That's what
his blood does. It purges sins. Now, have you
ever put something in the washing machine that was stained and
it comes out and the stain is still there? Have you ever tried,
you've had something that was stained, and you did everything
you could to get the stain out, or Lynn does anyway, I've never
done much in stuff like that, but Lynn has, and the stain's
still there. You know, that never happens
with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. When he purges away sin,
you know what? It's gone, it's washed away,
it's purged, it's cleansed, it's canceled, there's nothing there.
That's what His blood does. It makes it to where I really,
not as if I don't have any sin, my sin's gone. I'm perfect in
the Lord Jesus Christ. He, by Himself, and I love that
phrase, by Himself. That means He had no aid. He
had no help. You didn't help out in this thing.
You didn't cooperate in this thing. I didn't add anything
to this. He did it by Himself. If you want something done right,
do it by yourself. Surely this is the one thing
He must do by Himself. He by himself purged us of our
sins. And where is he right now? When he had by himself purged
our sins, and that's what he did on the cross. He sat down
on the right hand of the majesty. on high. He's seated at the right
hand of the Father. Seated because His work is finished,
completed, accomplished. And what's He doing there? Now
it says He's seated. Right now while I'm speaking,
there's a man in glory. Jesus Christ the Lord. And He's
seated on a throne at the right hand of His Father. What's He
doing there? Well, I know two things He's doing there. First,
He's ruling. He's reigning. He's in absolute
sovereign control. All the affairs of providence,
He's in control of everything that happens is simply His decree
being acted out. He's reigning. And what else
is He doing there? He's reigning. But this is something
I like just as well. He's interceding for His people. as their great high priest. Now, the Lord Jesus Christ, yes,
he's at the right hand of the Father reigning, but he's also
at the right hand of the Father standing as my surety, as my
high priest, as my representative. It's not like he, you know, I
mess up and he says, Oh, forgive him. And then I mess up again.
He says, Oh, forgive him again. And I mess up again. He says,
Oh, forgive him again. Let him go. That's not the way
his intercession works. I'm in him. I'm perfect. perfect in Christ Jesus. All
He does is show the Father His hands and His feet and nothing
else needs to be said. My sin is washed away. Wherefore
He is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by
Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Now
I'm coming to God right now by Him. Now, yes, I'm coming pleading
him, Lord, hear me for Christ's sake. Hear me, not for my sake,
but for Christ's sake. I'm saying that I'm coming in
his name. But not only am I doing that,
I'm coming by him. That means he comes to the father. And when he comes to father,
the father, I do, too, because I'm in him. I'm united to him. You see, truly, I come to the
father, not alongside of him, not even behind him. by him. When he comes to the father,
I come to the father. And he's my great high priest. Now, what must I do to be saved? There's another letter I got
not too long ago. Somebody wrote me. What must I do to be saved? Now, when that question is asked,
And that was asked by the Philippian jailer. Remember, sirs, what
must I do to be saved? Some people said, well, there's
nothing you can do to be saved. Now, is that the way Paul answered
him? There's nothing you can do to
be saved. That's works. We're talking that way. Is that
the way Paul answered him? Nope. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Commit the salvation of your
soul to him. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. And what a mighty savior he is. Isn't he glorious? Oh, what a redeemer. Let's pray.