“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.” Hebrews 1:3.
As we examine the above text we see five clear points which speak of the deity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We note five remarkable things about Him:
1. HE IS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FATHER’S GLORY.
It means that Jesus Christ shines forth the divine glory, an effulgence of light. He is the Light of the World, John 8:12, the Morning Star, (Revelation 22:16), the “clear” Water of Life, (Revelation 22:1). We know that God is Spirit, transcendent, far above and beyond anything we can conceive but Christ is the image of the invisible God, (Colossians 1:15). He said, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” John 14:9. The Lord Jesus Christ shines forth the perfection, nature and the heart of the Living God. An old preacher once said, if you want to know what God is like take a long, long look at Jesus Christ.
2. HE IS THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON.
The word image in the original Greek infers an exact copy or, the same. When a die makes an impression on some material the image produced corresponds to the exact likeness of the die. It infers that God the Son is both personally distinct from, yet equal to, God the Father. The term “express image” gives special emphasis which means that Jesus Christ cannot possibly be anyone else other that God. All the attributes of the Father are identical to those of the Son.
The book of Hebrews reveals right from the outset that Christ will be the focus of the whole book. The writer is addressing Hebrew Christians who were in danger of lapsing into their old Judaistic religion. His chief purpose was to show the superiority of Christianity. In the book Christ is seen to be pre-eminent over all the prophets, being above all angels and over all religious ceremony. It means that Jesus Christ has to be the focus and glory of our religion and if He isn’t then our religion cannot be true Christianity.
Sadly in these days there is a great deal of Christ-less Christianity. What is meant by that is a Christianity which has it’s focus on something other than the glorious person and saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It may be a Christianity which has it’s focus on ceremony and ritual. It may have its emphasis on social concern or even music where a church has become entertainment based. These things have taken the glory from Christ and placed it somewhere else.
3. HE UPHOLDS ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER.
In a recent sermon we mentioned the Lord’s creative work in the first chapter of Genesis particularly the creation of the stars. Here in Hebrews the writer gives mention to the Lord’s power to sustain all that he has made. He upholds all things by the word of His power.
In a number of places in the Bible the special work of creating and upholding the universe is ascribed to Christ. Not as a mere instrument but the one by whom and for whom all things are made. See John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-17 and here in Hebrews 1:3.
We know that there is great energy and power in this universe, yet the stars are forever static following a precise course and never out of place. The sun, our nearest star, has always been in the same place at the same time throughout history. It never deviates, it never burns out. How is it all upheld? We understand that there are certain scientific principles and concepts involved but behind it all is the word of His power. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake and it was done; he commanded and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:6,9.
Is everything sustained and held together by some mighty divine exertion? Is there some law or principle of science that explains the cohesion of this universe? Maybe. But in the final analysis it is all sustained and upheld by His word, “by him all things consist,” Colossians 1:17. Even the science and the physics were first put there by God.
The word of Jesus Christ created all things and so great and powerful is Christ that He upholds all things forever, not by exertion or the putting forth of immense power but by a word. He created all things by His spoken word and He upholds all things by the same spoken word.
4. HE HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS.
We note the careful wording of the text. “ When he had by himself purged our sins.” He purged away our sins unaided. No man or angel assisted, and we must take note of that. It was the blood of God that purged away our sins.
Instructing the elders at Ephesus Paul was clear in his counsel. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and unto the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 28:20.
Let us therefore remember that no man can forgive sin. A thousand visits to a confessional box will not forgive one single sin. The religious leaders of the Lord’s day had got it right when they said, “who can forgive sins but God only,” Mark 2:7. The psalmist was so full of praise and thanksgiving when he said, “Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name ….. who forgiveth all thine iniquities.” Psalm 103:1-2.
What we are reading is that Christ who is God, the creator and sustainer of all the things, was crucified shedding His blood to purge away our sin for our forgiveness and cleansing. All manner of sin can be forgiven but only by God through Jesus Christ.
No other blood can cleanse away our sin and reconcile us to God. No man or prelate, or any religion can forgive our many sins and make us fit for heaven. It was the blood of God, divine blood, that was shed and therein lies our hope for all eternity. Josiah Conder’s sublime hymn speaks of Christ in perfect theological terms. It is Him to whom we must come to find the forgiveness we need.
Thou art the everlasting word
The Fathers only Son.
God manifestly seen and heard,
And heaven’s beloved one.
In Thee, most perfectly expressed,
The Father’s glories shine:
Of the full Deity possessed,
Eternally divine.
True image of the Infinite,
Whose essence is concealed;
Brightness of uncreated light,
The heart of God revealed.
5. HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF MAJESTY.
When His sufferings were over as He died on Calvary’s cross, He was laid in the grave of a borrowed tomb.
On the third day he rose from the dead and 40 days later he ascended to heaven’s glory. There he took His rightful place of honour as He sat down at the right hand of Majesty, an expression based on Psalm 110:1.
The word “Majesty” indicates the Father’s greatness and dignity. It was the end of Christ’s human limitation and the regaining of the glory of his exaltation. As Mediator and Redeemer, he is invested with the highest honour and authority for the good of his people. Having assumed our nature, and suffered in this world, he was taken up into heaven. It was the reward of his humiliation. He wasn’t resurrected only to die again but His ascension showed that He would live forever. “Sat down” would indicate that His work was done, His mission was complete and His sacrifice on the cross could never be repeated.
How glorious is our Lord Jesus Christ. We can be saved by no other. If you think that you can get to heaven by your own merit you are gravely mistaken. Heaven will be opened to all who come to Him and receive Him as their Saviour. Repentance of sin is crucial, the only criteria and necessity on our part. May we come now to the Saviour and find hope and salvation for all eternity.
John Tonks (March 2023)
