TITLE: How God speaks to us today.

2. TITLE: How God speaks to us today. TEXT: Hebrews 1:1-3 THEME: Jesus is God’s ultimate revelation of Himself

4. The percentage of people who say they definitely do not believe in God has remained constant at around 6-7% with only a brief bump up to 9% in 1995.

5. Over the last few decades the percentage of those making this claim has dropped significantly.

6. The percentage of atheists is the highest level ever recorded for any age group at 16%.

7. 40% are sitting in the middle of the “God continuum” undecided on belief verses non-belief. This group will soon be joined by the new breed God-thinkers – the emerging millennials.

8. Among those who believe in God and are professing Christians there is increasing division about what is God is like.

9. People are less inclined today to follow denominational beliefs and practices and are forming their own views of God by taking bits and pieces from other religions, cultural influences and personal views.

10. Biblical literacy is at an all-time low. Many in these camps have views of God that no longer resemble historical views of God and have become their own individualized religions.

11. Question “How do we know what God is like?”

12. Answer “We know what God is like through the person and work of Jesus Christ.”

13. “Why should I accept Jesus as the source of understanding what God is like?”

15. SETTING: 1. The identity of the author of Hebrews • Unknown • His writings were accepted by the apostles and it is possible he was one of them. • He was a Jew who believed in Jesus in that he had a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament, Hebrew culture and beliefs, and Jesus and the New Covenant.

16. SETTING: 1. The Identify of the Author Hebrews 2. The book is primarily directed to persecuted Hebrew Christians

17. SETTING: 1. The Identify of the Author Hebrews 2. The book is primarily directed to persecuted Hebrew Christians 3. The book is an argument and warning that they cannot go back

18. SETTING: 1. The Identify of the Author Hebrews 2. The book is primarily directed to persecuted Hebrew Christians 3. The book is an argument and warning that they cannot go back 4. Jesus is the superior revelation of God

20. Why should I accept Jesus as God’s ultimate revelation?

21. I. Because He supersedes all past methods of revelation (1-2)

22. There are two basic premises to historical Christianity. 1. There is a God. 2. He has spoken.

23. The ultimate question is, “How has God revealed Himself?” 1. God has spoken in creation (Psalm 19) which we call “General Revelation.

24. The ultimate question is, “How has God revealed Himself?” 1. God has spoken in creation (Psalm 19) which we call “General Revelation. 2. God has spoken through the Bible-Special Revelation

25. The ultimate question is, “How has God revealed Himself?” 1. God has spoken in creation (Psalm 19) which we call “General Revelation. 2. God has spoken through the Bible-Special Revelation 3. God has spoken through Incarnational Revelation- Jesus

26. I. Because He supersedes all past methods of revelation (1-2) A. In the past God spoke:

27. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”

28. Peter 1: 20-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

29. I. Because He supersedes all past methods of revelation (1-2) A. In the past God spoke: 1. Through Prophets

30. Prophets did two things: 1. They spoke on issues contemporary to their day on behalf of God. 2. They foretold the future

31. Deuteronomy 18:18-22 “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name

32. Deuteronomy 18:18-22 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death 21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord

33. Deuteronomy 18:18-22 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”

35. I. Because He supersedes all past methods of revelation (1-2) A. In the past God spoke: 1. Through Prophets 2. At many times

36. I. Because He supersedes all past methods of revelation (1-2) A. In the past God spoke: 1. Through Prophets 2. At many times 3. In many ways:

37. Ways God spoke in the past • Dreams (Gen. 28:12) • Visions (Gen. 15:1) • Theophany’s (Gen. 12:7) • Person to person, personal (Gen. 3:8 • Verbal (Gen. 7:7) • Personal (Gen. 147:19) • Miracles (Deut. 4:34) • Theophonic media (cloud, Ex. 24:16; shekinah glory, Ex. 25:8, • Writing on walls (Dan.6) • Donkeys as in the case of Balaam.(Ex. 22) • Angels (Gen. 11) • Bushes (Ex. 3)

38. Seven categories of claims of Biblical Contradictions. 1) Translation 2) Scribal 3) Theological 4) Literary Techniques 5) Contradictions Regarding Jesus 6) Messianic Genealogy Conflicts 7) Miscellany (mixture of unrelated passages)

40. I. Because He supersedes all past methods of revelation (1-2) A. In the past God spoke: 1. Through Prophets 2. At many times 3. In many ways B. Now God speaks through Jesus.

41. John 1:1-14 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made…”

42. John 1:1-14 “14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

43. “Logos” The idea of message, logic, reason, thought, and communication. Jesus is identified as the Word- the “logos”. He is Gods communication of Himself in the flesh

44. B. Now God speaks through Jesus. 1. He is God’s Son

45. B. Now God speaks through Jesus. 1. He is God’s Son 2. He was appointed heir of all things

46. B. Now God speaks through Jesus. 1. He is God’s Son 2. He was appointed heir of all things 3. He is the creator of the universe

47. Does this story make sense? A seashore is a better place than the street because you need lots of room. At first it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill, but it is easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Birds seldom get too close. If there are no snags it can be very peaceful. But if it breaks loose, you won't get another chance.

48. Read it again: The key word is kite A seashore is a better place than the street because you need lots of room. At first it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill, but it is easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Birds seldom get too close. If there are no snags it can be very peaceful. But if it breaks loose, you won't get another chance.

49. Jesus is the kite of our story of life. Once you have Jesus as the context or the framework of understanding God and creation, all of the details start to fall into place.