Scripture Hebrews 1:1 – 2:18
Church Unique: “Christianity is much more than a private
transaction with Jesus… According to scripture, Christianity is corporate.” p89
{Jesus and WE vs. Jesus and ME}
If you were starting a business as
a new sock company and had 100 employees and were trying to get your name out
there, to get sales, to have an organized profitable business, would you rather
have, have a 100 people going in 100 directions or 100 people going in one
direction?
If you are a wise business person,
you would want everyone going in the same direction. You still have the
individual talents and abilities of 100 people but you are all moving toward a
single objective – sell as many socks as you can.
Jesus is the CEO. Chief of Eternal
Operations. As an entrepreneur, Jesus began a new organization and called the
“Church”. People have grossly misunderstood why Jesus came and died. People
think they did it for them – for the individual – that is such a Western idea.
Did Jesus die for the individual? YES! Did he die for you? YES! Did he die for
me? YES! But only from an Eternal Operations perspective – Jesus died for the
sins of the people so that they could build His business which again is called
“the church”.
GROUP GRACE
Acts 4:32-34
All the believers were one in heart
and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they
shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to
testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them
all.
The following text was preached but no notes were written - see the video message at www.ashlandchurch.com or on youtube under Jeff Cooper.
Hebrews 1:1-2:18
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through
the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has
spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom
he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact
representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After
he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he
has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did
God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he
will be my Son"? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the
world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." 7 In speaking of
the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds his servants flames of
fire."
8 But about the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will
be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated
wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by
anointing you with the oil of joy." 10 He also says, "In the
beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are
the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear
out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they
will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."
13 To which of the angels did God
ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for
your feet"? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those
who will inherit salvation?
2 We must pay more careful
attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2
For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and
disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore
such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,
was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by
signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed
according to his will.
5 It is not to angels that he has
subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a
place where someone has testified:
"What is man that you are
mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him a little
lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything
under his feet."
In putting everything under him,
God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see
everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than
the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that
by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons to glory,
it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should
make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one
who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus
is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says,
"I will declare your name to
my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."
13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says,
"Here am I, and the children God has given me."
14 Since the children have flesh
and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might
destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil— 15 and free
those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For
surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason
he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become
a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make
atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he
was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
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