One of Us
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Prayer
Recap:
Today we are going to be in Hebrews 2 again, so if you have your bibles, open them up as I recap where we have been…
We’ve been told these amazing truths about the Son of God…
The Heir of All Things
The Creator of All Things
The Radiance of God’s Glory
The Exact Representation of God’s being.
The Sustainer of All Things
The Purifier of All Sin
And now He is Seated at the right Hand of God, patiently waiting to open the scroll and receive His inheritance.
And we talked about how he is to be worshipped above everything, even the angels because he is Greater than all the Angels.
And then last week we looked at applying all of that theology to our everyday lives by the author of Hebrews warning us not to drift from our firm foundation, our lighthouse and anchor…the Son of God.
And that brings us to today, where the author continues to reveal to us more about the Son of God and how we are to understand this great salvation that He has purchased for us.
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Back in the late 90’s, a song hit the radio that to this day wrestles with the topic that we are talking about today.
Joan Osborne- One of Us…
What if God was one of us? Just a stranger on the bus…
The song questions what would it look like if God were one of us? What if God was a human?
Verse One:
If God had a name what would it be? And would you call it to his face? If you were faced with him In all his glory What would you ask if you had just one question?
Verse Two:
If God had a face what would it look like? And would you want to see If seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints and all the prophets
In other words…What would it look like if we came across God in our everyday life because he walked among us?
Her questions are valid and we have a resounding answer in our faith Church. God can be met in everyday life…
God did become a man.
The beautiful reality about what the author of Hebrews has done for us a followers of Christ is that in the opening chapter of his letter, he talked about the sovereignty and absolute majesty of the Son of God…who is in fact God himself. It’s what we’ve been talking about the last few weeks…the Divine Nature of the Son of God…the Lord Jesus Christ. That He is God.
The Almighty, All-Powerful, Always Present Creator of Heaven and Earth.
And it is this same God who the author now reveals to us was made as a man.
God made himself lower than the angels for a purpose. Actually for a few purposes.
And I believe this passage sheds some light as to why God became a man and what that means for you and for me to recognise the significance of the humanity of Jesus…
God became man…
#1) To Regain Man’s Lost Domain
#1) To Regain Man’s Lost Domain
Before we talk about this…I want to draw our attention to an amazingly simple fact that may be easy to miss if we are not careful. Here in verse 9 of Chapter 2…the author finally gives us the identity of the Son of God. His name is Jesus. This is the first time the author identifies the Son of God as being Jesus.
Jesus…the heir of all things…Jesus…the creator of all things. Jesus… the Radiance of Gods Glory…Jesus…the exact representation of God’s Being…Jesus…the sustainer of all things…Jesus…the purifier of sins…Jesus…the one seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven…
And we know from the gospel stories that this Jesus was born of a woman…her name was Mary. But his birth was not like yours and mine. He wasn’t born of a father’s will, but the virgin Mary was overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit and God made this man himself. Jesus is the Son of God.
And today we will learn about how Jesus was able to accomplish this…and it’s because the Son of God was also the Son of Man… In other…fully God and fully man.
The authors first apoint for why God became man was…
To Regain Man’s Lost Domain…
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
The author quotes Psalm 8:4-6 to make his point…
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
But at the present time we do not see this…
We currently don’t witness man having complete dominion over the earth. There is no doubt that man has dominon over the earth…look at the amazing things we have been able to construct and subdue…but at the same time we see the effects of the curse.
The earth has been cursed because of the sin of Adam. And we have to work the ground…toil and labor. There is pain and suffering now because of sin…
So currently we don’t see full dominion over the creation…but we do see Jesus.
8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
we see Jesus. And in Jesus’ time on earth…he showed over and over again how he had complete domain over God’s creation. He healed the sick…He controlled the weather…He cursed a fig tree and it died. He cast out demons and he even raised the dead.
The author argues that because of Jesus’ death as a man…he is now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death…so that by God’s grace he tastes death for everyone. And when he comes again…He will show that He has complete dominon over all of Creation…and those who come with him will rule with him.
The author argues that because of his death…there will be a day when all the effects of the curse are reversed…
Secondly…God became a man…
#2) To Bring Many Sons to Glory
#2) To Bring Many Sons to Glory
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”
22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.
17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. 18 Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.
Jesus prays for his followers that we might share in the glory of the Son
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Jesus is the captain of our salvation…the pioneer of our faith. He paved the way for you and me to experience God.
Joan’s questions…If God had a name what would it be? And would you call it to his face? If you were faced with him In all his glory What would you ask if you had just one question?
It reminds me of an extremely popular song that we love to sing…I Can Only Imagine.
On that day when you encounter Christ in all of his glory…what will you ask him…What will you say.
I pray that it is something like this…Who am I?
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Jesus came to earth as a man to reveal to you and me the glory of God. And to give us access to God Almighty.
He is the narrow road…
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
The Pioneer…who through his suffering has made us right with God…
Thirdly…
#3) To Disarm Satan and Deliver Us From Death
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Church…we are freed from the power and fear of death because Christ conquered death. In his death he broke the power of sin…
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
You are freed from the fear of Death…from the power of Satan and from the sin which ensnares us…And Jesus accomplished this because he lived that perfect life that no one else could, and then offered himself as the payment for the penalty for our sin…
And lastly…God became a man
#4) To Sympathize With His People
#4) To Sympathize With His People
17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
As our high priest he knows what we go through because he went through it himself yet he doesn’t fail and he never will.
What temptation are you facing…have you sought the one who was tempted like us but was able to overcome?
Have you asked Him to strengthen you and empower you in your weakness?
As our high priest, he makes a way for us to defeat tempations…
What if God was one of us?
Church he was…What was his name? It is Jesus…and he truly is the Son of God…the Son of Man.
Prayer
