The Deity of Christ in Hebrews 1

Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 3:17). While He was on the earth, “all the fullness of Deity [dwelt] in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). Yet there are some who reject the Deity of Christ, saying that He surrendered His Deity when He came to earth.

The Hebrew writer appealed to his audience to not go back to the Old Law. He made several points about why the new way with Christ was better than the old way. He begins the book talking about Christ. In the first chapter alone, there are several statements that show us that Jesus is God.

• “His Son... through whom also He made the world” (v.2). Jesus is credited with a role in Creation. We know that the Creator is God (Genesis 1:1; see also John 1:1-3).
• “The exact representation of His nature” (v. 3). In Jesus, we see the Father (John 1:18). Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
• “You are My Son, today I have begotten you” (v. 5). The Jews understood the implications of Jesus' claim to being God's Son. If He was, He was equal with God (John 5:18).
• “Let all the angels of God worship Him” (v. 6). The only one deserving of worship is God (Revelation 22:8-9).
• “But of the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever'” (v. 8). The Son, Jesus, is called God.
• “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands” (v. 10). Again, Jesus is given credit for the Creation.
• “You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end” (v. 12). Jesus is unchanging and eternal, two characteristics of God (Malachi 3:6; Isaiah 43:12-13).

There are many other passages we can use to show the Deity of Christ. But if you remember Hebrews 1, you will find several points in this chapter alone to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is God.

"Hail, Rabbi!"

Judas is one of the most infamous characters in the Bible. Most people with at least a limited knowledge of the Bible know who Judas was. He was the one who betrayed Jesus.

How could Judas betray Jesus? After all, he was one of the 12 disciples. He had been with Jesus throughout His public ministry. Why betray Him?

We may have a clue given in the betrayal account for one of the reasons Judas could have betrayed Jesus. Notice Matthew's account:

"While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, 'Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.' Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, 'Hail, Rabbi!' and kissed Him" (Matthew 26:47-49).

Did you notice what Judas called Jesus? He called Him, "Rabbi."

Rabbi meant teacher. While it may have been a title of honor, it was also used to refer to many religious leaders and teachers (Matthew 23:6-7). Jesus, of course, was different than all these other men. He was more than a teacher. He was the Son of God, Savior, and Lord.

Did Judas view Jesus as just another teacher? Possibly. It is interesting that earlier, when Jesus tells His disciples that one of them would betray Him, Judas' response was different than the others. The eleven asked, "Surely not I, Lord?" (Matthew 26:22). Judas asked, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" (Matthew 26:25).

The other disciples certainly recognized Jesus as a teacher (John 9:2; 11:8), but they also knew He was the Lord. We don't see Judas calling Jesus "Lord." All we know from the gospels is that Judas saw Him as a teacher. We don't know any more than that.

There are many today who see Jesus as a great teacher who had some good things to say, but not as the Son of God and Lord. Failure to recognize the Lordship, and therefore, the authority of Jesus, leaves us with no strong motivation to obey Him. If Jesus was merely a good teacher among many, we can take some of His words and reject others, just as we do with other men's words.

We cannot treat Jesus as if He were just another man. He was (and is) special. He was God in the flesh (Matthew 1:23; Colossians 2:9). If we wish to be saved, we must obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). This means obeying all of His commands, not just the ones that sound good to us (Matthew 28:20).

A Better Sacrifice

"Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:11-12).

Throughout this book, the Hebrew writer has been demonstrating why Jesus Christ and His new covenant are better than the system put in place by God through Moses. The above passage continues in this theme. It contrasts the work of the Levitical priests and the work of Christ.

The contrast is a simple one. The priests of old stand daily. Jesus sat down.

The implication is that the priests stand daily because their work was never done. Every time they offered a sacrifice, they would later have to offer another. And these sacrifices themselves would never atone for sins.

On the other hand, Jesus sat down. His work of sacrificing is done. He offered one perfect sacrifice, His life. He will never have to offer His life again, because the first offering was fully sufficient.

The lesson for the Hebrews was for them not go back to the old system. Atonement for sins and salvation is in Christ. If they deserted Him, they had no hope.

Today, there are probably not many Christians tempted to go back to Judaism. But the basic point still applies. Salvation is found only in Christ. If we desert Him, we will be lost. Let us remain faithful and devote our lives to the One who offered His life on the cross for us.

Unless You Believe

"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).

Belief in Christ is essential for salvation. But the belief that Jesus mentions here is more than just a belief that he existed, came to earth, died for our sins, rose again from the dead, and ascended back into heaven. Yes, we must believe those things about Jesus. But if that is the extent of our belief, we will die in our sins.

If you read this verse in your Bible, where Jesus says, "unless you believe that I am He," the word "He" is probably in italics, differentiating it from the rest of the words. The reason for this is that the word was added by the translators. It is not in the original text. What Jesus actually said is, "unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins." This clearly points back to Moses' conversation with God when God called Himself the "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). This is also not the only time Jesus used this phrase in this way (John 8:58).

So what Jesus is actually teaching here is that unless we believe that He is God, we will die in our sins. That means we must recognize Him as our God and humbly submit to His will in faithful obedience (Hebrews 5:9). If we truly believe in Christ, that He is "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16), we will do what He has instructed us to do.

"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), and a dead faith will ultimately result in us dying in our sins.

Why was Simon Called to Bear Jesus' Cross?

"As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross" (Matthew 27:32).

Why was Simon made to perform this task? Because Jesus stumbled as He carried the cross, right? That's what so many people believe. But if you look at the gospel accounts, there is no mention whatsoever of Jesus stumbling while on the way to be crucified.

There could have been many reasons why Simon was pressed into service. Maybe Jesus was walking slower than the soldiers wanted, so they got someone else to carry the cross. Perhaps Simon looked at one of the soldiers the wrong way and they forced him to do this. It might be possible that Jesus stumbled. But in reality, we don't know. Any reason we might give would be purely speculation.

But many people choose to believe that Simon was called to bear the cross because Jesus stumbled. The thought of Jesus stumbling and falling underneath the weight of the cross can have a great emotional impact on someone. It could even bring them to tears. Preachers could use this emotionalism to their advantage in trying to provoke one to respond to his message. So this idea has been popular through the years.

Our goal, however, is not to make people cry. Our goal is to bring them to the point of faith. Faith is to be based upon the word of God (Romans 10:17), not our speculations and imaginations.

The point in all of this is to remember to "examine everything carefully" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and test all teachings with the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). We must not believe something because we've always heard it, it sounds good, or it makes us feel good. We must believe what God has revealed in His word.

Emphasizing Jesus Christ

Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2). Why did Paul place such an emphasis on teaching Jesus? He explains, "so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:5).

The Corinthians had a problem of following after men. This resulted in division, as some were saying, "'I am of Paul,' and 'I of Apollos,' and 'I of Cephas,' and 'I of Christ'" (1 Cor. 1:12). Paul later explained that when they claimed loyalty to these men, they were carnally minded and immature (1 Cor. 3:1-4).

The inspired apostle sought to correct this thinking so that they would focus on following Christ, and not men. This is the first problem he addressed in his letter (1 Cor. 1:10-17). But notice how he subtly makes this point before he explicitly states it.

{1} Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
{2} To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
{3} Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{4} I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
{5} that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
{6} even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,
{7} so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
{8} who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
{9} God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
{10} Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

In the first ten verses of this letter, Paul mentions the name of Christ ten times. In doing so he references His deity, lordship (authority), gospel, and revelation in judgment. He also points out that in Him we have salvation, sanctification, grace, fellowship, and unity.

No man can compare with Christ. No one can offer us what Christ can. So let us do as Paul encouraged the Corinthians to do: be wholly devoted to Christ and serve Him faithfully.