God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
HEBREWS 1:1-3 NKJV
Recently the Orthodox Presbyterian Churches in Georgia came together for an annual joint worship service. Filling the sanctuary, foyer, and a large area of the fellowship hall, more than four hundred men, women, and children gathered to worship the risen Savior. It was a glorious time of refreshment for the soul! What is it about worshipping Christ that makes the time of corporate worship glorious?
The English word “character” finds its origins in the Greek word χαρακτήρ (charaktēr). As common as the english word is to us, it is used just one time in the New Testament – Hebrews 1:3 where it describes the perfection of the Son. The Son is the charaktēr of God’s person. What is the Spirit saying about the Son?
First, the Son has the same attributes or characteristics as God the Father and God the Spirit. The wisdom, power, and glory of the Father is also the wisdom, power, and glory of the Son. Colossians 1:15 expresses the Son as the image of the invisible God. Jesus said that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father (John 14:9). The Son reveals God’s character.
Second, the Son is the same substance with the Father and the Spirit. “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fulness should dwell”(Col. 1:19). “For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). There is but one only living and true God (Deut. 6:4). There are three persons in the Godhead (1 John 5:7). The three persons are the same in substance and equal in power and glory (Matt. 28:19; 1 Timothy 6:14-16). The Son reveals God’s being.
Third, the Son is the same in glory with the Father and the Spirit. The Psalmist said, “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Ps. 29:2). The glory due to Jehovah is His worship by every creature in heaven and in earth. Jesus, the same in character and substance with the Father, receives the same glory. The leper came worshipping Him (Matt. 8:2). The disciples worshipped Jesus (Luke 24:52). All the hosts of Heaven are worshipping the Son (Rev. 4-7). The Son reveals God’s glory (Is. 9:6).
How does the fourth perfection of the Son affect your desires?
When Moses considered the holiness and glory of God in a world of sin, his desire was, “Please, show me Your glory” (Ex. 33:18). What did Moses see in the wilderness? He witnessed the work, word, and wonders of God. He saw the sins of the people and the nations around. Rather than give in to sin, give up the fight, or give way to the evil one, Moses wanted to see God’s glory. That alone would satisfy His hungry soul. Like a deer yearning for streams of water so his soul panted for the glory of God. Moses asked to see God’s glory and He saw it (Ex. 34:6-7)!
What satisfies your soul? Do you desire to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? God reveals His glory in His Son. In corporate worship, the glory of God is manifested in a particularly special way: The Shekhinah glory of God is revealed in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. More than 400 hundred people gathered on a warm Lord’s Day evening to declare God’s praise because gathered together in worship with any number of saints, we behold the glory of God!
Have you seen God’s glory in worship? Do you expect to see God’s glory in worship? Do you ask to see God’s glory in worship? What about in times of private devotion and communion with God? As the saints in the Old Testament sang and prayed the cloud filled the temple. In the New Testament the people gathered and the Spirit descended like tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-4). The house shook as the people were praying and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). Two thousand years after the resurrection God still shows His glory to His people.
Do not stop after you read descriptions of the Son’s perfections. Go further and ask God to show you His glory again. Jesus is the express image of God’s person. Please, show us Your glory!
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(1) The ancient heresy propagated by Arius and his followers denying the deity of Christ came about through his rejection of God’s own Word concerning His Son. Arius claimed Christ was similar in substance to the Father. Scripture teaches, the same in substance, “the express image of His person.” Arius claimed Christ was like God. The Spirit teaches that Christ is God, “the express image of His person” (see also, John 8:58; Heb. 1:8-10). Mormonism, Judaism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Islam, and the like take similar positions to Arius concerning the Son and reject His character, being, and glory. Notwithstanding the attacks from many people, nations, and religions over millennium, the character, being, and glory of the Son remains. He is God and there is none beside Him!
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