DRAWING NEAR
December 1
The Preeminence of Christ
"God . . . has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir
of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is
the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His
nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He
had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of
the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:1-3).
Christ is superior to everyone and everything.
The book of Hebrews was addressed to an audience composed of Jewish
Christians, Jewish non-Christians who were intellectually convinced
about Jesus but hadn't yet committed themselves to Him, and Jewish
non-Christians who didn't believe the gospel at all.
The author's goal was to demonstrate Christ's superiority over
everyone and everything that had preceded Him, whether Old Testament
persons, institutions, rituals, or sacrifices. He specifically
contrasted Christ with angels, Moses, Joshua, Aaron and his
priesthood, the Old Covenant, and the sacrificial system.
The Jewish believers needed this focus on Christ's superiority
because most of them were suffering some form of persecution because
of their Christian testimony. Some were in danger of confusing the
gospel with Jewish ceremonies and legalism, and drifting back into
their former practices.
Those who were intellectually convinced but spiritually uncommitted
needed to be warned not to stop at that point, but to go all the way
to saving faith. They were in danger of committing the greatest sin
any person can commit: rejecting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Those who didn't believe in Christ at all needed to see that Jesus
was in fact who He claimed to be. To such people the author explains
the unique priesthood of Christ, and the urgency of turning to Him in
faith.
Within your circle of friends and associates, you probably have
Christians who are weak in faith and need your encouragement and
instruction. Be available to minister to them whenever possible.
Undoubtedly you also know people who are intellectually convinced
that Jesus is who He claimed to be, but aren't willing to embrace Him
as their Lord. Don't be shy about urging them to move on to
salvation.
To those who reject Christ outright, boldly proclaim the gospel and
trust the Holy Spirit to convict their hearts.
Suggestion for Prayer:
Praise Christ for His preeminence and surpassing grace.
For Further Study:
Read Hebrews 1-2. To whom does the writer compare Christ? Be
specific.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Hebrews 1-2 (NKJV)
Heb 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time
past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has
appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 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 at the right hand of the
Majesty on high,
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today
I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He
shall be to Me a Son"?
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
"Let all the angels of God worship Him."
7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His
ministers a flame of fire."
8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God,
Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your
companions."
10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the
earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like
a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But
You are the same, And Your years will not fail."
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right
hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for
those who will inherit salvation?
2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we
have heard, lest we drift away.
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every
transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at
the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by
those who heard Him,
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in
subjection to angels.
6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that
You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned
him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that
He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put
under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for
the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the
grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom
are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain
of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are
all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of
the assembly I will sing praise to You."
13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I
and the children whom God has given Me."
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood,
He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might
destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid
to the seed of Abraham.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren,
that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to
aid those who are tempted.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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