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Published: Oct. 26, 2023, 7 a.m.

Welcome to Day 2226 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Putnam Church Message \u2013 04/16/2023 \u201cThe Last Word\u2026Worthy of Worship\u201d\xa0 Last week, on Resurrection Sunday, we focused on The Death of Death because the Resurrection is real and changes everything. \xa0 Today, we are beginning an extended series through the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. The theme of the superiority of Christ in His person and work resounds from every chapter of the book of Hebrews. It is the repeated melody with which every subject of the letter resonates in perfect harmony. To develop his anthem of Christ\u2019s superiority, the author conducts his readers through three major movements:

1. Christ is superior in His person. (1:1\u20134:16)
2. Christ is superior as our high priest. (5:1\u201310:39)
3. Christ is superior for pressing on. (11:1\u201313:25)

\xa0 The first question that may come to your mind is, what is the relevance of Hebrews for us? Most people reading the book of Hebrews today are not Jewish believers. And even if they are of Hebrew ancestry, none are living in the terrors of first-century Rome under the madness of Nero. However, we all\u2014Jew or Gentile\u2014can sense the heat rising in our increasingly anti-Christian culture and feel pressured to conform to this darkening world's values and priorities. Like the first-century Jewish followers of the Messiah who were tempted to abandon /His way,/ truth, /and life /for a more comfortable path, we need to come to grips with Christ's sufficiency and absolute superiority over all things. We must pledge our allegiance to the Lord, who bought us with His blood. \xa0 The central theme of the book of Hebrews is simple but powerful: Christ is superior in His person and work. Throughout the book, the author develops this theme in vivid detail. Throughout today\u2019s message, I will read the verses of Hebrews 1 on pages 1862-1863 in the Pew Bibles as we come to each section. \xa0 Drawing on the Hebrew people's great regard for the primary means of revelation in the Old Testament,/ the prophets and angels,/ the author of Hebrews compares these celebrated earthly and heavenly beings/ with God\u2019s Final Word and Messenger, Jesus Christ. As powerful and significant as those holy people and holy angels were, they were inferior to the Son of God. He alone is God\u2019s Final Word, superior in His person to God\u2019s previous messengers and ministers\u2014/whether human or angelic. Why? Because Jesus is the Word incarnate (in the flesh)\u2014fully human and fully divine\u2014who occupies a superior place over all things. \xa0 1\xa0In the past God spoke\xa0to our ancestors through the prophets\xa0at many times and in various ways, In the first century, the apostle Peter described the ministry of the Old Testament prophets, noting that in 2 Pet. 1:21: \xa0For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God\xa0as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. For centuries leading up to Peter\u2019s simple summary of the process of divine inspiration, a long line of prophets spoke and wrote God\u2019s words under the supernatural guidance of the Spirit. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed\xa0and is useful for teaching,\xa0rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. These prophets issued warnings and rebukes, which flew off their lips like arrows from a bow to strike at the hearts of...