God the Son - Hebrews 1:1–3 - Sermons from the Baptist Faith and Message

Written by Lucien Coleman

Sermon 3 of 19 Sermons on The Baptist Faith and Message.

The Baptist Faith and Message sets forth "certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely identified." You may read The Baptist Faith and Message on SBC.net. This sermon series by Lucien Coleman originally appeared in Proclaim! magazine.

Introduction: From a purely historical perspective, the Christian faith centers in a Man who grew up in the home of a Galilean carpenter, lived the life of an itinerant pauper, possessed no property, and died the death of a common criminal. But like a burst of lightning against a dark sky, the picture of Jesus Christ presented in Hebrews portrays the Son of God from a quite different perspective.

“The Son” (Heb. 1:2)

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Thirteen times in Hebrews Jesus is called “the Son” or “the Son of God.” In Psalm 2:7, “my son” is a kingly title. Let all the rulers of the world marshal their armies, let the princes strut and posture, let the tyrants rattle their weapons: only the Son of God is King of kings and Lord of lords, and only He will reign forever.

“Heir of All Things” (1:2)

In the ancient Near East a father would divide his property among his sons by letting the oldest choose his portion; then his brothers would draw lots for the rest. But in the divine scheme of things, the Heavenly Father has made His Firstborn heir of everything (Ps. 2:8). And, incredibly, those who believe in Him have become “co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17).

Creator of the Universe (1:2)

The Greek noun aiones is plural. It can mean both “worlds” and “ages.” Through the Son, God has created all the worlds and all the ages. The concept is awesome. Are there other worlds out there in the vast ocean of space? If so, the Son is their Creator.

The “Brightness of His Glory” (1:3)

The key word apaugasma denotes the brilliant radiance that comes directly from the source. It is the blinding light that you might see looking directly at the sun, rather than the diffused light reflected from other surfaces. This is no ordinary light; it is the light of God’s glory (John. 1:5,7).

The Image of God (1:3)

Through all of history, human beings have sought to know what God is like, fashioning imitation deities of wood and stone and speaking in philosophical abstractions of “the ground of our being.” Now that long quest is over. To the question, “What is God like?” the Bible reveals of Jesus, “He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature.”

The Force that Sustains the Universe (1:3)

The Son upholds all things by His powerful word. In Colossians 1:17 Jesus “is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” Think of the vastness of space. Astronomers say the cosmos—all the solar systems, galaxies, and constellations—has a radius of 13 billion light years (David Bergamini, The Universe, 182). What awesome source of energy is great enough to power this gargantuan system? The answer is the one who “sustains all things by His powerful word.”

The Perfect Sacrifice (1:3)

Now we come to the greatest paradox in all of Scripture. Having introduced us to the glory and majesty of Jesus Christ, the writer of Hebrews now tells us that this same Jesus purified our sins by offering Himself as a sacrifice for us. Hebrews 9:13–14 elaborates on this awesome truth.

The Perfect Priest (1:3)

Hebrews 10:11–12 explains the passage “After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (1:3). The Old Testament priest remained standing in the sanctuary because his work was never finished. Each day’s sacrifices called for more. But Christ, the perfect priest, “after offering one sacrifice for sins forever” (Heb. 10:12), then sat down. His work was completed.

“The head that once was crowned with thorns Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns The mighty Victor’s brow.”
—Thomas Kelly “The Cross and the Crown” (Quoted in James. D. Morrison, ed., Masterpieces of Religious Verse, 207).

About Professor Coleman

Professor Lucien Coleman retired in 1993 after twenty-seven years of teaching Religious Eductation at Southern Seminary and Adult Education at Southwestern Seminary. Before teaching served as a pastor in Kentucky. He holds degrees from Southern Seminary and the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Bobbie, live in Parker County, Texas. They have three children, fifteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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