Bible Studies
Raised to the Right Hand of God (Heb. 1:3b, 8, 13)
Series: ResurrectionIntroduction:
1. In our studies about the resurrection we have concluded that the resurrection of Christ marks His coronation as King and thus the establishment of His kingdom and the beginning of the new creation prophesied in the O.T. 2. We have seen that at the time of our baptism we are joined together with Him in a resurrection to spiritual life. Thus we have died and been raised to walk in newness of life by faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead. 3. In this present time we live our lives in devotion to His cause as we try to persuade others to receive life in the name of Jesus Christ. 4. Expectantly, we are waiting for His return when He will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the power He has to subject all things to Himself. 5. This great theme of the kingdom of life is confirmed to us in the book of Hebrews.Discussion:
I. Chapter 1 exalts the resurrected Son to the right hand of God.A. “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (1:3).
1. Purification of sins was made by means of His death on the cross.
2. After that he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
3. But between his death and his sitting down on the right hand of God He was raised from the dead. This is necessarily implied from the information given, for dead men do not reign.
B. Beginning in verse 5 and ending in verse 13 the writer uses a series of quotations to extol the greatness of the Son of God.
1. “You are My Son, today I have begotten You” (Heb. 1:5a; Psa. 2:7).
a. We might think this is a reference to the conception or perhaps the physical birth of Jesus.
b. But not so! Paul said it refers to the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 13:32-34).
c. This is the same interpretation that the saints in Jerusalem made when they quoted Psa. 2 (Acts 4:25-28).
d. The context of Psa. 2 contrasts the kings of the earth with God’s king (1-12).
e. Truly Psa. 2 is about the resurrection of Jesus.
2. “I will be a Father to Him and He shall be a Son to Me” (Heb. 1:5b; 2 Sam. 7:14).
a. 2 Sam. 7:12-16 is the great prophecy to king David that God would seat one of his descendants on his throne forever.
b. It is a reference to the promised Messianic kingdom.
3. “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom” (Heb. 1:8-9; Psa. 45:6-7).
a. Righteousness characterizes His rule.
b. God has anointed Him—God anoints His king. Messiah (Christ) means “the anointed.”
4. The series of quotations closes with one from Psa. 110:1: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet” (Heb. 1:13).
a. Psa. 110 is a Psalm about the Messianic king. Read vs. 1-2.
b. Interestingly, it connects His kingship with His priesthood after the order of Melchizadek (Psa. 110:4-6).
II. The resurrection demonstrates not only Jesus’ kingship but also his Melchizadekian priesthood.A. Heb. 4:14 says, “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus The Son of God.”
1. That He has “passed through the heavens” speaks of His resurrection and ascension (compare the language of Acts 1:1-3, 6-11).
2. He was not left in the tomb.
B. Heb. 7:15-17 says that our Lord is a priest “not on the basis of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.” Thus He is a priest forever and “always lives to make intercession for the people” (Heb. 7:24-25).
C. Heb. 8-9, in summary fashion, draws together the kingship and priesthood of Christ.
1. “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man” (1-2).
2. This true tabernacle is part of the new creation. It is part of the new covenant (cf. Heb. 8:7ff).
3. 9:11 says, “When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation.”
4. “He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (9:15).
5. “Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (9:24).
III. Heb. 10:11ff bring us back to the kingship again.A. 10:13 is the fifth time in Hebrews that Jesus is identified as fulfillment of Psa. 110.
1. 1:13 identifies his kingship as does 10:13.
2. Three references identify his priesthood (5:6; 7:17, 21).
B. 10:19ff speaks directly of a “new and living way” to enter the holy place. Therefore we are to hold fast as we consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our assembling together.
C. This new and living way was inaugurated by the resurrection of Jesus.
1. We are raised with Him by faith in the working of God.
2. We are raised with Him at the time of our baptism.
3. We are raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
D. He is our King. He is our High Priest. In addition He is our Sacrifice. Therefore we have confidence to enter the Holy Place. We like Abraham have faith in God who is able to raise the dead (Heb. 11:19).
E. We are “the church of the firstborn ones” (Heb. 12:23) because we are identified with Jesus the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18).
F. Thus we have come to Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22). And we have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:28).
Conclusion:
1. Therefore let us drawn near to God with confidence. 2. Let us not shrink back. 3. Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. 4. Let us show gratitude by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reference and awe. 5. Let us cut our ties with the world and go outside the camp to Him who is raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.
