IBC Bremen Sermons

Lamentations 3:19-24 Trust in the Faithfulness of God


INTRODUCTION

Do you know someone that you had problems trusting? How do you go about trusting in someone? One definition of trust is to place your hopes and dreams under someone's authority.

For example, Heike can trust me when I tell her that I will do something for her. She can set her hope on what I say because I have been able to do them in the past. She can trust me with helping her with some household chores. I am faithful in cooking, taking out the trash, and cleaning the guest room. Heike does a lot more work around the house. She washes and irons and cleans the bathroom, bedroom, and living room. But I help her with these chores. I am faithful and reliable in most of my jobs, except one - the office. As far as the office is concerned, I am not as faithful. When I tell Heike that I will clean the guest room, she can believe me, and she puts her hopes in the fact that I will do what I promise her. When I tell her that I will clean the office, she expresses doubt. Why? Because in the past, I have not been as faithful in cleaning the office room every time. Sometimes, I was not able to clean this room. As a result, Heike cannot place her hope in the fact that I will clean the office.

This is the basis of trust. To be faithful in doing what you say you have the authority to do.

BACKGROUND

Jeremiah wrote this letter. He is crying about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. He is literally crying from A to Z. When you read this book in the original Hebrew, each verse starts with a certain letter. It may not be noted in your Bible, but in mine, it shows that each set of about four verses each begin with a certain letter. It starts with Aleph and goes all the way to Tav for each chapter.

Jeremiah mourns, laments, and cries about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem that happened in 586 BC. He cries because the people have put their trust and set their hope in the "faithfulness" of the Temple. They believed that the Temple would be there for them. The symbol of God was the Temple. But the symbol is not trustworthy. God is.

We have to go from trusting the symbols of God to God Himself.

A woman/man of God can live by faith because God is faithful.
TRUST IN THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

You situation may seem hopeless. You can remind God about it. (3:19)

(God) keep recalling my impoverished condition, my misery feels like bitter poison. (Lamentations 3:19 Erwin)

Jeremiah reminds God of his situation in life.

"God, you need to remember my situation."
"I don't have a place to live."
"My life is miserable."
"I'm going through a rough time, have been for some time now."
"I'm asking you God to remember what has happened to me."

Have you ever thought to remind God about your situation? You can. It is called prayer. But it should not end there.

Your strength may have turned into weakness. You can recognize your need for God. (3:20)

I continually remember as my strength continues to leave. (Lamentations 3:20 Erwin)

I remember it all--oh, how well I remember-- the feeling of hitting the bottom. (Lamentations 3:20 MSG)

Jeremiah becomes depressed when he looks at his situation. His situation seems hopeless. Jeremiah is homeless and hopeless. He looks to his circumstances and to his physical condition. But whenever you look to your events around you and when you look to yourself, you will never find a solution to your problems. You have to look to someone else - Someone that is bigger than you and your circumstances.

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. (Lamentations 3:21 NKJV)
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: (Lamentations 3:21 NLT)

But Jeremiah turns in his thoughts. He realizes that He needs to look to God. But how does He look to God. Jeremiah starts with "this" I recall to my mind. What is "this" that Jeremiah remembers that gives him hope?

John Calvin believed that Jeremiah was referring to his weaknesses. Calvin said: "his very weakness, (whether of condition or person), gives him hope of God interposing His strength for him."

In other words, the deep suffering in verse 3:19 forms the foundation for the request in 3:20,and thus the remedy in verses 3:21-24.


Your salvation (your entire life even) is through God alone. In every circumstance, you have to place your heart and your hope under His faithful love. (3:21-24)

THE COMPASSION OF GOD

(Because of) the faithful love of God, we does not completely end; His compassions never end. (Lamentations 3:22 Erwin)

God's love serves as the foundation for His character and His actions. God's love is the foundation for every other thing that He does. He does not do something without loving. God's compassion comes from His love. The word for "compassion" is plural here.

Because of the LORD's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. (Lamentations 3:22 HCSB)

In its singular form in Hebrew, the word for compassion means womb.

by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and the womb. (Genesis 49:25 HCSB)

But here in Lamentations, Jeremiah has in mind the tenderness of God. Just as a womb as the birthplace of the baby is the most tender place for a baby, a place of love and compassion. The womb is the place where the baby knows the of the faithfulness and compassion of the mother most intimately. The womb is the physical source of this love, compassion and faithfulness. God's compassion and love are the source of of faithfulness to you as well.

God will be as compassionate to you when you fall on hard times, in the same way that a pregnant mother will show compassion to her baby. But unlike the womb of the mother, God's compassion never ends.

THE FRESH COMPASSION OF GOD

Fresh, in the morning, are they (compassions); abundant (is your) faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:23 Erwin)
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. (Lamentations 3:23 NLT)

THE COMPASSION OF GOD WHEN YOU SLEEP

Do you want to see how compassionate God is? Go to sleep.

When you wake up, you've just experienced the first act of God's compassion. In our scientific modern wold, we talk about going to sleep and staying unconscious. But in reality, God lets you rest and then He wakes you up. Have you ever noticed how consistent that is? You could die in your sleep, but God wakes you up. This is fresh every morning.
THE COMPASSION OF GOD IS LIKE A MAC, NOT LIKE WINDOWS

Microsoft has just released its new version of Windows called Vista. Windows is what lets you see what is going on in your computer, if it is a normal PC. But if you are like me, you just got used to Windows XP and you fear the change that may come with a new Windows. I read about a guy who bought it and tested it. He said that you needed a very fast and reliable computer to run it. To install Vista, it took him two hours. But then he had to let the computer restart (or reboot) itself at least ten times throughout the night. He was just hoping that Windows Vista would be faithful and work when he turned on the computer th next morning. God is not like that.

The compassion of God is more like a Mac and less like Windows.

I love this verse. To me, it is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible. I can trust God every morning. Every day He is faithful to lead me.

God is everything, He is all that I have. With my whole being, I will place my hope in Him. (Lamentations 3:24 Erwin)

The LORD is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.
(Lamentations 3:24 GNB)

I will trust Him with my life.
Not just my Sundays,
not just my sad days,
not just my house group days,
not just my "I-think-I-need-help" days.
I will trust God with all the days of my life. God is all that I have. I will trust Him with everything.

ILLUSTRATION: ORIGIN OF THE HYMN "Great is Thy Faithfulness" Great is Thy Faithfulness

The hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" was simply the result of the author's “morning by morning realization of God's personal faithfulness.” That hymn is, of course, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

The writer of the text for the hymn, Thomas Obadiah Chisholm was born in a humble log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1866. Without the benefit of high school or advanced training, he began his career as a school teacher at the age of sixteen in the same country school house where he had attended. Six years later he accepted Christ as personal Savior during a revival meeting.

Later, Chisholm was ordained to the Methodist ministry, but was forced to resign after a brief pastorate because of poor health. After 1909 he became a life insurance agent in Winona Lake, Indiana.

In a letter dated 1941, Mr. Chisholm writes, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health, but I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”

Thomas Chisholm wrote more than 1200 poems, including the well-known “He Was Wounded for Our Transgressions.” In 1923, he sent several poems to William M. Runyan, a musician associated with the Moody Bible Institute. Mr. Runyan wrote of “Great is Thy Faithfulness”:

“This particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry over its message in a worthy way, and the subsequent history of its use indicates that God answered that prayer. The tune was written in Baldwin, Kansas, in 1923. This hymn was the favorite of the late Dr. Will Houghton, beloved president of the Moody Bible Institute. It has since been an all-time favorite with students at the school and, as a result, its usefulness has spread to evangelical churches everywhere. George Beverly Shea states that this hymn was first introduced to audiences in Great Britain in 1954 by the Billy Graham Crusades, and has since been a favorite there as well.”

Thomas Chisholm's words were derived from Lamentations chapter 3 and were set to music by William Runyan. From the heart of a Methodist minister, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” has inspired countless believers to trust their faithful God.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God, My Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

God is always faithful to you. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your circumstance, God can be trusted. The best way to start trusting God is with His Son Jesus Christ. If you have never considered trusting God by giving your life and following Jesus, I urge you to consider the benefits of Jesus. God wants you to give your life to Him. His compassion never fails and His love never ends. Trust God today.

QUESTION TO CONSIDER:

Do you trust God? Really trust him when the going gets rough? If not, why not? How can you "grow" your trust factor?

Posted by Jim Erwin at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments

Revelation 5:1-14 Bringing Unity in Worship

Unity is hard to have in the church. Sometimes, Christians spend so much time arguing about what separates us. Sometimes, it is about Bible translation, the role of men and women in the church. Christians also seem to disagree about how we should worship.

We worship the same God. We celebrate the same Savior. We sing the same song. We just sing in different ways. Let me show you what I mean.

AMAZING GRACE

Let's sing this song "Amazing Grace". We will sing it in a few different languages.
English:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.

German:

O Gnade Gottes, wunderbar has du errettet mich.
Ich war verloren ganz und gar, war blind, jetzt sehe ich.

French:

Grâce infinie, ô quel beau don Pour moi, pécheur, qui crois;
J'étais perdu, j'ai le pardon, Aveugle, mais je vois.
Spanish:
Sublime gracia, dulce son, a un infeliz salvó;
perdido andaba y me halló, su luz me rescató.

Scottish Gaelic:

O Miorbhail gràis! nach breagh'an ceòl; 'S e lorg mi 's mi air chall,
Air seachdran dorch', gun neart, gun treòir, 'S a dh'fhosgail sùilean dall.

When we sing this song, we even sing it differently. How many of you who were NOT native English-speakers have difficulty emotionally with this song? How many of you had trouble singing this song in German? or Spanish, or Gaelic?

Why is that so? Because the music touches the soul, but we must also comprehend the words.

Language can divide us. Language was created to divide us. In Genesis 10, all of the people came together to build an idol. So God mixed them up by language. He did that so that we would not forget to worship God.
And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV)

God has re-purchased us by selling off His Son Jesus. This chapter talks about the Lion who becomes the Lamb. Jesus died, not just so that we could become free. Jesus died, not just so that you and I could be children of God and come to live with God. Jesus died, so that you and I could come together in unity forever.
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. (Revelation 5:11-14 NKJV)

So why is this important?

Why is unity so important to us as Christians? Because unity is one of the most effective ways to reach people who do not know Jesus Christ. Do you know that many people know more about Christians for what they stand seperated against, than what they stand together for?

Christians are known in the world because they stand seperated on the following issues:

Homosexuality
A woman's place in the church or the home
War in Iraq
Worship practices (playing with the organ or the praise band)
The translations of our Bible

But what are we known to stand together for? Not much folks.

So we should work to stand together on the one thing that is most effective. We should stand together on the message in Jesus Christ.

Worship should be a way in which we can come together.
ILLUSTRATION: "Coca Cola" Song

"I'd like to give the world a Coke"

I'd like to buy the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves

(Chorus)
I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to buy the world a Coke
And keep it company

That's the real thing
What the world wants today
Is the real thing

(Repeat Chorus 2)

(Repeat Chorus)

Some of you may know this song. It was introduced in 1971 as an advertisement slogan for Coca Cola. The intention was to bring closer together and to do it using the soft drink. As Christians we need to do the same thing. We need to work on ways to bring Christians together, and not on ways that separate us. Whether it is working together on projects like ProChrist or helping one another in need, or like giving in the offering today. The Kreuzgemeinde needs to repair the roof. But you can work together with them by giving financially to help repair it.

This is the spirit of Revelation 5. This is the idea behind the expression "singing a new song".

"Singing the new song" is not taking away the meaning, not even the words. But it is putting them in a tune that can keep our attention.

Sometimes, we need to learn how to sing the new song, so that other people who need to hear the message of Jesus Christ can hear it and understand it. Let's try that right now with "Amazing Grace". But let's sing it in this new way.
SING AMAZING GRACE WITH THE NEW TUNE.

Grace is a sweet sound. It is sweeter when we sing it together.

Posted by Jim Erwin at 6:48 PM | Permalink | Comments

Habakkuk 2:1-20 - Living by Faith

Essential truth of this sermon: The right way to live is by faith.

This is a verse with a famous history. It is famous in Biblical history and in church history. Habakkuk 2:4 is one of the few verses that is repeated three times in the New Testament. In each context, the verse is used to emphasize a certain principle about how we should live.

The JUST - John 3:36, Romans 1:17

There is the contrast between justified and wicked/proud.

shall LIVE - Galatians

There is the contrast between to live and to die.

by FAITH - Hebrews 10:38

This means: Christians should live by faith.

Dietrich Bonhöffer said: Faith is the daily bread that God gives us.

While this verse tells us the right way to live as a Christian, - that we should live by faith - we have a hard time living in such a way. It was the same problem that God revealed to Habakkuk. There were temptations that kept people from living by faith. I want to share with you these five temptations and the dangers that you and I can fall into when we forget to live by faith.

But first a word about this "living by faith" idea. A Christian is supposed to live by faith in areas of life.

The just shall live by faith. (Repeat that with me.)
Christians should live by faith. (Repeat that with me.)
I should live by faith. (Repeat that with me.)

Beginning in 2:5, Habakkuk starts to contrast how it is for people who do not live by faith. He compares the people who live by faith - "God's chosen people", with people who choose not to live by faith, in this case the Babylonians. The people of God are supposed to live by faith. The world chooses not to live by faith. As a result, there can be some dangers when a person decides not to live by faith. But I want to share with you some temptations that Christians face, when we say at some point that we don't want to live by faith. It is even more dangerous for Christians when we choose not to live by faith. Then temptation is strong to not live by faith. I want to share with you some areas in which we can grow in our faith with God.

I have listed a scale for you. You can take time during this sermon to evaluate your faith. There are some areas that will be harder than others. You will discover some areas in which your faith is strong. You will find some areas in which you are weaker. I want you to evaluate yourself during this sermon. For each temptation, I have given you a scale. The scale is between 1 and 5. A (1) is for someone who has little faith or more tempted with this problem. A (5) means that your faith is strong and you are not tempted in this area. The scale is a temptation scale. Are you more tempted or less tempted from living by faith. The more tempted you are in a certain area, this is the area where you need to ask God to reveal to you how you can live more by faith. It may mean confessing some sin, changing an attitude, or simply trusting God more.


Temptations That Prevent Me from Living by Faith

1. I think more about what I want, rather than what God wants. (2:5)

Also because wine is treacherous he is arrogant and never rests. He has a large appetite like the grave. He is like death-never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself. He collects all the people to himself. (Habakkuk 2:5 GW)

Problem: ARROGANCE

How arrogant have I become to my friends and family. How many times have I said: "I don't need you God. I can do it all by myself."

If you think you have arrogance in your heart, then put a (1). If however, you say that you are looking more to what God wants, then put a (5).




|---------|---------|-----------|------------|
1 2 3 4 5
2. I try to live on more than I own, than living on what God gives me. (2:6-8)

Problem: CONSUMERISM

But the time is coming when all their captives will taunt them, saying, `You thieves! At last justice has caught up with you! Now you will get what you deserve for your oppression and extortion!' Suddenly, your debtors will rise up in anger. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless. You have plundered many nations; now they will plunder you. You murderers! You have filled the countryside with violence and all the cities, too. (Habakkuk 2:6-8 NLT)

I tend to waste what is not mine. I tend to waste what is God's in the first place. I end up making poor financial decisions.

You notice this danger with the keyword "plundered." It means to steal, to sack, to loot, to rape, and to destroy. You take something of value, and you waste it and destroy it. This is what consumerism can do. When I buy and borrow, when I don't take care of what I have been given, when I waste what is around me. These are acts of plundering. Let me give you two examples:

How many times have you come to the church and stayed for the fellowship. You go to the table and you just load your plate with food. You don't think about anyone else. You didn't even pay. You just take. And you pile on your food. But then you don't eat it all. And even if you do, you have not shared the food. You plundered the food. There are other people around you. But you think only about yourself.

Consumerism, or taking and not giving, is a danger to faith. Why? Because it says that I don't have to trust and be responsible with that trust. I can just waste what I get. I don't take responsibility. I just consume. I just take. I just destroy. That is not living by faith.

If you are a taker, a consumer, than put a (1).
If you tend to share, and not tend to waste, then put a (5).


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1 2 3 4 5

3. I give up the responsibilities that God has placed on me. (2:9-11)

"How terrible it will be for you who get rich by unjust means! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your families beyond the reach of danger. But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives. The very stones in the walls of your houses cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint. (Habakkuk 2:9-11 NLT)

Problem: NEGLECT

In another judgment against the people who do not live by faith, God says that these unjust rulers get rich at the expense of their own people whom they rule. Essentially, the leaders of the country have a house over which they are responsible. But they don't take care of these people. They neglect their responsibilities. While the leaders are rich, have lots of food and wealth, the people have no water, no help and are starving to death.

My responsibilities lay in the "house" that God gives me to counsel.

My house could be a group of disciples, a house group, or a family. There are people who look to me for leadership. God has placed people in my path and I should take the time to give to them what God has given to me.

Husbands and fathers, notice the emphasis in this verse. Just as in those times, men think that if they make enough money, then their family is secure. But taking care of your family has to more to do than just working a job. There needs to be leadership and discipleship. You have been given the responsibility to help grow each and every person under your house. Husbands, your job is to continue to help your wife be the best Christian that God has called her to be. Fathers, your job is to bring your children to Jesus Christ, and then teach them how to live by faith.

Let us not make the mistake of neglecting the faith responsibilities because we think that the financial responsibilities are more important.

Are there faith responsibilities that God has placed on you?

If you have been neglecting your family in matters of growing in faith, put a (1).
If you have been taking time to grow your family in matters of faith, put a (5).


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1 2 3 4 5
4. I serve others based on my position of power and not a position of service that God has given me. (2:12-14)

"How terrible it will be for you who build cities with money gained by murder and corruption! Has not the LORD Almighty promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain! For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the LORD. (Habakkuk 2:12-14 NLT)

Problem: CONTROL

In Habakkuk's time, the king of Babylon was trying to build his own power. He was trying to work hard to have total control of the entire world. The king of Babylon was a control freak. He wanted to control his power, and he did it by controlling the money. He built cities with money that was stolen from his enemies. His center of power was in the wealth of his kingdom. He tried to protect that wealth at all costs. By killing others and by allowing corrupt people do him favors.

He was never really serving the people. Rather, he was serving his own special interests. This happens in the church as well. People will try to use their power for their own special issues or ideas. They will say that the church can't do something or should not do something. All the while, they are secretly and quietly trying to protect their own interests. Germans and Europeans don't care about the needs of the Africans. Africans spend time by themselves without serving the needs of other groups. Appointed deacons and elected elders sometimes use the power of position as a reason to go against other people in the church.

That is not the way to live by faith. That is the classic way of living by control.

Are you thinking about your own power and how to control your position, your ministry, at the expense of others? Then put a (1).
Are you thinking of the church and how you can serve the church better? Then put a (5).


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1 2 3 4 5


5. I misuse their judgment that God gives them in decisions that affect others. (2:15-17)

"How terrible it will be for you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so that you can gloat over their nakedness and shame. But soon it will be your turn! Come, drink and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the LORD's judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame. You cut down the forests of Lebanon. Now you will be cut down! You terrified the wild animals you caught in your traps. Now terror will strike you because of your murder and violence in cities everywhere! (Habakkuk 2:15-17 NLT)

Problem: ABUSE

These verses show us a classic picture of abuse. Get a person drunk and then abuse their bodies sexually. But the point is clear: When you serve others on a basis of power and control, you can fall into the trap of misusing and abusing that power. When you get someone drunk, it is easy to misuse them. When you control people, you can easily abuse them.

Abuse is an indicator that you don't trust. Abuse says that I don't want to live by faith. Instead, I want to live by my own rules. I am willing to hurt other people to get my own way. A husband who physically abuses his wife has no trust in God, nor his wife, nor even himself. A manager that abuses his employees doesn't have faith in his employees, nor in the way that God has called them to manage. A church leader who abuses others in the church has no faith in the church.

Have you started to abuse other people? Are you not giving other people around you the dignity that they deserve? Do you have a problem with how God tells you to trust other people? Then give yourself a (1).

Are you making good judgments about other people around you? Then give yourself a (5).


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1 2 3 4 5


6. I share God's glory with someone/something else. (2:19-20)

Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." (Habakkuk 2:19-20 NIV)

Problem: IDOLATRY

To live by faith means that I am going to trust God alone. God alone will get the glory. Not someone else, something else, or even me. When I place my faith in these other people or things, even if I am asking God for help, it can lead to a form of idolatry.

God hates idolatry. Because it means that I think that God can't do it. I start thinking that what I have made, or what someone else has made is bigger than God.

When I ask for God to share His glory in something that I need His help, He loves it. He says this in Hebrews 11:6. God loves it when I ask Him in faith. Because He knows that He is going to get the glory when it is over.

If I think that God can't do something by Himself, I should give my faith scale a (1)
If I think that God alone can do something, then I should give my faith scale a (5).


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1 2 3 4 5


President Jimmy Carter was asked: "If you could summarize Christianity in one word, what would you say?" President Carter said: "Faith."

We come to God by faith in Jesus Christ.
We grow step by step in faith.
Even death is an act of faith.

Faith is what God wants from you. He does not want you to draw back in fear, nor step aside to do your own thing. He wants you to live with Him and follow Him

The just shall live by faith.
Christians should live by faith.
I should live by faith.

Posted by Jim Erwin at 6:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

When you want to find out when and where a person was born, you can look up the birth certificate. In my country, you can go to any court office and get a copy of my birth certificate. Here in Germany, you can go to any local court office to get a copy of the birth certificate. You can also look this information up in a family book.

The first chapter of Hebrews is essentially the birth certificate of Jesus Christ. The writer of the book of Hebrews wants us to know how perfect, great, and unique Jesus Christ is above anyone else in history. The writer wants us to choose Jesus Christ because Jesus is superior to any other choice we have to follow. In the time the book was written, there were people a person could follow. These included: Moses, Aaron, and angels. Today, there are many ideas that you and I can follow. There are many leaders whom we can say we shall place our allegience. There are many people we can say: I will follow only you. Hebrews chapter 1 was written to prove that Jesus is superior to any other person, object, philosophy or idea that we may want to follow. As a result, he begins by writing Jesus's heavenly birth certificate.

There are five parts to the birth certificate record of Jesus Christ.


THE LEGAL PARENT OF JESUS CHRIST (1:1-2)

There is only one legal parent of Jesus Christ. That parent is God. While God the Father and God the Son are co-equal, there is still a distinction in function. The Father still gave everything to His Son. We see this in the early verses of Hebrews 1:
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 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; (Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV)

Unlike a physical birth certificate, the book of Hebrews begins with the legal parent of Jesus Christ first. The very first word in Hebrews is God. God is the Father of Jesus, and He is the Father of us when we accept His Son.

GENDER (1:3)

There is no gender when it comes to Jesus Christ. However, gender defines more than just sexual orientation. The gender of a person is also the way that a person reflects the birthparents. When a son or daughter is born from two parents, there will be physical similarities, as well as characteristics that they share. Jesus reflects God's image in humanity.

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person... (Hebrews 1:3 NKJV)

This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God's nature... (Hebrews 1:3 MSG)
The nature of the parents will be physically mirrored in the children. Jesus mirrors God the Father completely. If you want to see what God looks like, look at Jesus Christ His Son.

THE NAME OF JESUS AT BIRTH (1:4-10)

After naming the legal parent, the baby is given a name. In this case, Jesus is not a baby, but a Son. Jesus is given an excellent name. His name is better than any other name that has been given - better than Moses or Aaron - because Jesus is God.

Jesus is God. He is not an angel. In comparison, angel are created and they have no names. They are just heavenly servants. No one bows down to the name of an angel. But to the name of Jesus, everyone will bow down.
having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 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"? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. (Hebrews 1:4-10 NKJV)

The whole point of quoting these Old Testament Scriptures is to prove that Jesus is the name of whom we will all worship. Because Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus deserves our worship. Paul said it differently in Philippians 2:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV)


THE BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS CHRIST (1:8)

Where is Jesus? Where is His birthplace? Notice what God says about Jesus and where He lives:

But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8 NKJV)

The place of Jesus's "birth" is Heaven. He may have been physically born in Bethlehem, but He has existed for eternity in a place called Heaven. Heaven is where God lives. Jesus lives theres too. The birthplace of Jesus is with God. The center of Jesus's power and authority is in Heaven. It is an eternal kingdom. The power and authority of Jesus was there with Him in eternity. Jesus has a name that people will worship. Jesus has a place where He will be worshiped.

THE BIRTHDATE OF JESUS CHRIST (1:2, 11-12)

And in essence, the birthdate of Jesus Christ is eternity. Jesus may have entered Earth as a baby at Christmas, but He existed long before that day two thousand years ago. He has existed before this world began. The birthdate of Jesus is eternity past.

Jesus is the Source of Eternity (1:12)

Jesus is Eternal because He is the source of eternity.


Even they will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. You will roll them up like an old coat. They will fade away like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will never grow old." (Hebrews 1:11-12 NLT)


In ages past you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. Even they will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will fade away. But you are always the same; your years never end. (Psalms 102:25-27 NLT)

The writer of Hebrews is quoting a verse from the Psalms. The Psalm describes the fact that in "ages past" Christ laid down the foundation of the earth. Hebrews also quotes the fact that Jesus is always the same. Jesus never ages. That is because eternity comes from Jesus - who is eternal. Jesus was not born from a time in the past. Instead, Jesus created the chronological world - time, and then created the physical world earth.

CONCLUSION

So who are you going to follow this year? Who will you place your allegience? Consider the unique Person of Jesus Christ.

Posted by Jim Erwin at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments