The Brightness of God’s Glory

October 2, 2016 Background Scripture: Hebrews 1 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 1:1 – 9 It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. It also has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Together, these two philosophies suggest that when we can look upon something, we are given the opportunity to see it in a unique and very special way. We marvel at images from the far reaches of space that are captured by sophisticated electronics traveling beyond earth’s atmosphere. Likewise, we are entranced by the microscopic world of living things seen only through highly sophisticated microscopes. When we put these two experiences together with the visible world around us, one can conclude that everything observable suggest we live in a universe created by intelligent design. Mankind has developed some truly amazing technology to let us observe and experience many things of the universe which were previously hidden. However, even before the technology boom, David, the psalmist, declared: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” Paul said it slightly different: “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made”. Both David and Paul are making the same point, i.e., we know that God is by the things that are. Their conclusion was reached without the use of man’s technology. God has placed a yearning within our hearts to seek Him. We know that we are incomplete without Him. Our experiences and observations should lead us to soul search about the person of God. We should desire to know more about God after being fully persuaded of His existence by observing His creation. The next series of lessons should answer many of our questions and satisfy some aspects of our quest to know Him. As we begin this series of studies from Hebrews, the author opens the epistle by stating that Jesus is the express image of the invisible God. To know Jesus is to know God. Jesus came into the world as God with us. Jesus made God observable for the world. Through Christ we are allowed to experience God in a fresh new way that was not previously available prior to Jesus’ birth. Jesus is the shining greatness or radiance of God’s glory. After thousands of years of speaking to His people through the prophets, God has now spoken to us through His only begotten son, Jesus. Jesus has declared what God is like and the works that God is doing in the affairs of man. The spiritual nature of Jesus is God’s divine nature. Jesus is God in human flesh. Jesus is the wisdom of God made known to man. We experience God through a personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus is the highest form of expression of God’s love for mankind. He is the brightness of God’s glory. Jesus is the express image, or picture, of the invisible God. How we see Jesus determines how we see God and every personal relationship with him is unique and very special. Robert C. Hudson September 14, 2016

Everlasting Covenant

September 25, 2016 Background Scripture: Isaiah 61 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 61:1 – 4, 8 – 11 The good news in today’s lesson is God’s promise to make an everlasting covenant with His people. Because of the nature of prophecy, this prophecy was viewed in one context at the time of its delivery and immediately following it, however, it is viewed in a different context since the Messiah’s advent. For the recipients in Isaiah’s day and immediately following it, this prophecy gave assurance that the future Babylonian captivity of the Jews would not be the end of God’s people. God would again gather them in Zion and restore the form of worship He delivered to them through Moses. Although their sins would lead to their captivity, the prophet assured them that they could look forward to a future deliverance after God exacted vengeance on their enemies. They were looking for a Messiah who would be a military leader similar to King David. He was expected to restore the nation’s pride and provide the security for them to exist among the other nations. The actual arrival of the Messiah presented a very different understanding of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus was indeed a descendant of King David, but in his first advent, his mission was quite different than the military quest expected by Israel. How appropriate that Jesus chose this text out of the writing of the prophet Isaiah for his inaugural message in a synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus used the first verse and a half to announce the beginning of his ministry by declaring that the fulfillment of the prophecy was taking place before them at that very time. This text was the Messiah’s introduction of himself to Israel. Today, Christians refer to this as Jesus’ first advent or first appearance on earth in the flesh. According to Isaiah, the Messiah’s ministry would constitute a comprehensive outreach to the lost sheep of Israel. The meek, the broken-hearted, the captives, and the imprisoned were now about to receive the proclamation of good news, healing, deliverance and freedom. But this was just the first verse and a half. As we continue to read the prophecy, we see beyond the Church Age—which is represented in its entirety by a comma in verse 2. Beyond the Church Age, after the gospel has been preached to every creature, the Messiah will return for the time of vengeance in his second advent. God will punish the wicked and abolish sin. All who refuse to put their trust in the Lord will be destroyed. The covenant of restoration is an everlasting covenant. The faithful will be clothed in salvation and wear righteousness as an outer garment. The shame of sin that exposed the spiritual nakedness of Adam and Eve would be forever banished just as sin will be destroyed forever. This is the everlasting covenant and there will be no need for fear because this covenant is upheld by God and Him alone. Free of sin, the people of God will praise Him spontaneously. In the absence of sin, the people of God will walk continuously in righteousness. This will be everlasting. Robert C. Hudson September 10, 2016