Hebrews 1:4-14 Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.… I. WHAT CHRIST IS IN HIMSELF. 1. As to His person, He is the eternal Son of God, who existed from everlasting (John 1:1). 2. As to His office. He is Mediator between God and man, fitted for it by assuming our nature into a personal union with the Divine, that as God and man in one person He might transact with both. II. WHAT BELIEVERS HAVE FOUND HIM TO BE UNTO THEM. 1. It was Christ who awakened them to a sense of their lost, miserable state (Ephesians 2:1). 2. Who received them upon their applying to Him for mercy and salvation, and believing on Him, He pardoned all their sins (Colossians 1:14). 3. Who adopted them into His family and gave them the earnest of their inheritance (Romans 8:15, 16). 4. Thus passing into the number of His children, He continues to bless them, by subduing their corruptions, &c. 5. At death He receives their departing spirits. III. AS TO ALL THIS THE TEXT IS APPLICABLE TO CHRIST. "Thou art the same," &c. 1. He is the same in Himself, as to His person and offices. 2. As to His interest in His Father, and acceptance with Him: the Beloved, in whom He is always well pleased (Matthew 3:17). 3. And with regard to us, the same as to His ability and willingness to save (Hebrews 7:25). 4. The merit of His death is the same it ever was (Revelation 5:6). 5. And He is the same, to pardon, justify, sanctify, and glorify. Application: 1. If He is the same, let every Christless sinner seek an interest in Christ with the same diligence that ever any did; such have the same necessity, and the same encouragement. 2. Despair, under the gospel, is most unreasonable; seeing Christ came to save sinners, assures of His having saved the chief of sinners, and represents Himself as, after all, the same. 3. Let believers rejoice in Christ as unchangeable. (J. Hannam.) Parallel Verses KJV: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. |
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