He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature

Hebrews 1 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. ³ And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say,

“You are My Son, Today I have fathered You”?

And again,

“I will be a Father to Him And He will be a Son to Me”?

⁶ And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,

“And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

⁷ And regarding the angels He says,

“He makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.”

⁸ But regarding the Son He says,

“Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.”

¹⁰ And,

“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands; ¹¹ They will perish, but You remain; And they all will wear out like a garment, ¹² And like a robe You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”

¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said,

“Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies A footstool for Your feet”?

¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Today’s text begins saying:  God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.  What does it mean that Christ is the exact representation of God’s nature?  Some would say that Christ reveals God’s love, compassion and grace. Surely that is part of God’s nature revealed in Christ. Romans 5:8 says:God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. They say that because Jesus associated with sinners and outcasts indicates that God’s character is tolerant and inclusive. 2 Peter 3:9 says:  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  God is not tolerant of sin, rather He is patient with sinners, giving time for all to come to repentance. God is inclusive, but that does not mean that He accepts, embraces or tolerates sin. John 3:16 says.God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. What could be more inclusive than to make one way for everyone to be included in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus is more than just the revelation of God’s nature, He is the fulfillment of God’s will. In John 14:6 Jesus says:  "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  Jesus reveals God’s character of truth. Numbers 23:19 says:  God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?  God has not changed His mind about sin. In Isaiah 5:20 He says: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus reveals that God has not changed His mind about sin, saying:  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

The text says:  Regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.”    Jesus reveals the righteous character of God. He loves righteousness and hates lawlessness.    And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; They will perish, but You remain; And they all will wear out like a garment, And like a robe You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”   Jesus was with God in the beginning, at creation. John 1:1-3 says:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.  Jesus reveals God’s eternal and unchanging nature. Revelation 1:8 says:   “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”   We cannot, or at least we should not limit our understanding of the nature of the eternal and infinite God by only what was revealed in the three finite years of Jesus ministry on earth. Before He was born in a stable, He existed with God. After He was crucified for our sins and placed in the tomb, He was raised from death; first to life here, then He ascended to the Father and is with Him today. Romans 8:34 says:  Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.   Jesus is the exact representation of His nature. The revelation of God’s nature through Christ continues now and forever.He was revealed in grace that we would be redeemed from sin.  Jesus will come again. Then He will reveal God’s judgment against sin. 

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit; You are the eternal and unchanging God. Thank You for revealing Your nature through Your word, through Christ Your Son and through the Holy Spirit. May I know You as the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Amen.