April 15, 2004, Vol.4, No.8.
Two new articles every two weeks.
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us.
THIS ISSUE: "The
Son" (see below)
and "Moral Perfections
of God"
The Son
by Keith Sharp
 The
author of Hebrews exhorts Christians to remain faithful to Christ
rather than to return to Judaism. He portrays the superiority
of Christ to all things judaistic.
Son of God
In chapter one he pictures Christ as God's
Authorized Spokesman (verses 1-2). He is "so
much better than the angels" who revealed the law to Moses
"as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name
than they." (verse 4)
How does the Son have a "more excellent name" than
angels? He is the Son of God (verses 2,5,8). He is to the Father
"the radiance of His glory and the exact representation
of His nature." (verse 3, NASB). He has the same
divine nature as the Father, and that nature is unchangeable
(verses 10-12). He is "God" (verse 8) and as such deserves
our worship (verse 6).
Because He is the Son of God, He is God's Authorized Spokesman
(verses 1-2), i.e.. Prophet, and our King (verses 8-9,13). Therefore,
we should hear Him (2:1-4).
Son of Man
But chapter two portrays Jesus as Man's
Sympathetic Representative (verse 17). He who was
"so much better than the angels" (1:4) was made "a
little lower than the angels." (2:7)
How was Jesus made "a little lower than the angels"?
He is "the son of man." (verse 6). "Therefore,
in all things He had to be made like His brethren." (v.
17). He became "one" with us (verse 11) in that He
shared our "flesh and blood." (verse 14). The phrase
"flesh and blood" is a figurative way of saying "human
nature." It is the term used to mean "man" (cf.
Matthew 16:17; Galatians 1:16). He took on the same human nature
we have (verse 16). He became a man (verse 6) and as such He
worshiped the Father (verse 12).
Because He is the Son of Man, He is Man's Sympathetic Representative
(verse 18), i.e., High Priest, and our Savior (verses 10, 14-15).
Therefore, we should be faithful to Him (3:1-6).
Conclusion
Jesus of Nazareth was God as He is
and man as he ought to be.
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh...." (1 Timothy 3:16).
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