“God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son . . . .” Ch. 1:1-2. It is of great significance who is the bearer of a message. The most important message comes from the highest leadership. The law was given by the direction of angels (Acts 7:53), but it was just a shadow of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When God sent His prophets, they always had an important message to deliver, but the message was mainly about earthly things and promised an earthly glory. We, on the other hand, have received exceedingly great and precious promises by the Son, that we by them may be partakers of the divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:3-4. What is an earthly glory compared to partaking of divine nature? Moses was a great servant of God with a tremendous message. However, Jesus “has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.” Heb. 3:3. The usual understanding is that it was dangerous to sin under the law, but now we have grace, therefore it is not so dangerous. Nevertheless, the apostle writes the exact opposite: “For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him . . . .” Ch. 2:2-3. We read how badly it went with those people who did not take the message that was spoken by angels and the prophets seriously. This is an indication to us that it is a far greater responsibility to receive the message from the Son who is the express image of God’s glory, upholding all things by the word of His power. God speaks to us not only through the message His Son has given us, but also through the Son’s life in the days of His flesh. He wasn’t just a messenger, but also a forerunner. Only very few have received Jesus as their forerunner (Ch. 6:20) because they do not know Jesus in the days of His flesh. Consequently, everything they say about following Jesus and being conformed to His image is just empty words. What they believe is that they will be like Him in the resurrection, but now it is impossible to live as He lived. They say, “We are only human; He was God’s Son; it was different with Him,” etc. This is their refrain. They cannot hear God’s message to us by His Son. The spirit of Antichrist has obscured Jesus in the days of His flesh in people’s minds so that they will not receive Jesus as their forerunner. Therefore we must praise God particularly for the epistle to the Hebrews, in which Jesus is so clearly and plainly set out as our forerunner in the days of His flesh and which tells how He became our High Priest after He was perfected through obedience. Ch. 5. “What is man that You are mindful of Him, or the son of man that You take care of him?” Ch. 2:6. Well, what is man? We are just like vapor or like dust, depraved by all kinds of sins. Nevertheless, it is possible for a man to partake of sanctification—divine nature—so we can see God. Therefore we have the exhortation: Pursue sanctification! Ch. 12:14. We who are natural human beings are supposed to become like God’s Son? It sounds strange, but listen to God’s message by His Son: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Ch. 2:11. Yes, but wasn’t He God’s Son? Just listen further: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same . . . .” V. 14. See, now it is becoming clearer! Now Jesus is coming much closer. Listen further: “For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren . . . . For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Ch. 2:16-18. Seeing that this is so, the exhortation in Chapter 3 makes sense: “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus . . . .” Also the exhortation in Chapter 12: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This is God’s message to us by His Son. We have the same possibilities: He has become our forerunner and “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Ch. 5:9. He learned obedience, and we follow Him. He was tempted in the days of His flesh without sinning. Now we are in the days of our flesh and are tempted. Because He has been tried, He can come to our aid so we, too, will not sin in temptation. Consequently, we can come boldly to the throne of grace. He understands us; He has compassion with our weaknesses. Ch. 4:15-16. He is the first-born. When He came from the Father, He was the only begotten. When He went back to the Father, He was the first-born. Then the new and living way was consecrated. Then the way to life was passable for fallen mankind who were carnal, sold under sin. Now, through sanctification, we can be Jesus’ brethren and partake of divine nature. May we give heed, brethren, that we do not drift away from hearing God’s message to us by the Son, but that we, with great zeal and boldness, proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in these end times and pursue sanctification.Sigurd Bratlie