Visitation to Set the Standard of Righteousness (Advent 5, 2024)

Continuing our look at the Letter to the Hebrews and finding “Visitation Principles,” the mysterious unknown author develops his (or her) Christology even further. Angels worship Jesus. But what of this “firstborn” stuff? Will we all be gods? No. Firstborn is inheritance relationship, and it’s based upon Jesus’ obedience and setting a standard of righteousness only He could achieve.

Hebrews 1: 6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him” …8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.”

Jesus is over every human being and every angel. For ever and ever.

Visitation Principle 5: Jesus Came to Set the Standard of Righteousness.
His standard of justice,
rewarding righteousness and hating/punishing wickedness,
will prevail eternally.

Questions for further thought:

Why can no human being apart from Jesus Christ, Son of God, establish the standard (God’s standard) of righteousness?

How do human rulers fall short of true justice? What is their standard of righteousness and tolerance of wickedness? Read 2 Timothy 4:3-4, and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 for insight.

1 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth”

2 Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

How is this list a reflection of fruit of an unholy or worldly spirit and a tolerance of wickedness (which is the way of the world)?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You gave us a standard of righteousness in Your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank You that He lived, taught, and died by Your standard of holiness so that we might receive forgiveness through His sacrifice—a forgiveness we could never earn while violating a standard we could never keep. Lord Jesus, we offer You praise and adoration today and always! Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“From the Jews for the World” was the theme of last Advent’s devotional series. It is archived beginning December 3, 2023, and explored how Jesus’ Jewish heritage was necessary for the salvation of Gentiles, too.
“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.