Press on to Joy and Glory

Greeting:

Scripture: Hebrews 2:5-9

Prayer:

“Be thou my vision, Oh Lord.”

Introduction:

When talking about Salvation to others, whether sharing our faith, evangelizing the lost, or thinking about what Christ has done for us personally. I find it more common that we mostly speak of our salvation from the inverse of what it is. We focus on the negative aspect of it, namely our former destination of hell and seperation from God, more than our current destination and restoration with the Father. I believe that many Christians today give hardly any thought to what awaits us in glory, and I would say that hardly anyone would dare meditate on the glory and splendor of the new heavens and new earth, because it feels all together fantastical. Yet I believe we do a massive disservice to our walks, and to the spreading this gospel of the kingdom when we fail to understand or explain to others what reconciliation with God means for them…..

Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world..I heard John Piper preach a few years back with my wife at the last t4g conference. He was preaching on holiness being pursued in the Christian walk, and he used an illustration that I have remembered regularly, that I believe will also fit the context of what we will be speaking on. It goes something like this.

“Lets imagine you were a condemned criminal and were sentenced to hang for your crimes that you know you were guilty of. you spend the last month of your life in a dirty, wet, cold cell, unable to eat any of the meager rations given to you all because you have lost the will to live. Drowning in tears, throwing up constantly due to the fear and anxiety you face at the thought of dying by way of hanging. then the day comes…You leave the cell. walk to your gallows, have a bag placed over your head. You feel the rope slip around your neck. Your heart is beating through your chest, and you breath is shaky and begins to fail…Then all of a sudden you hear a man shout as he enters the courtyard “WAIT!” He has been pardoned! Someone this morning came and offered to take his place…You no doubt would be in absolute shock. You would go back to your cell waiting for you to be released and for someone to come pick you up in a day or two. You would sleep in your bed, wake up the next day and be so overcome with the joy and relief of your salvation that you couldn't help but let out a “IM NOT GOING TO DIE!!” And this is the absolutely appropriate response…But fast forward 5 years. You never have left the prison cell…And every day you shout “IM NOT GOING TO DIE!” Now it doesn't seem too appropriate right?…Why? Because the man wasn't saved from death, to herald he’s not going to die. He was saved from death, so that he might go and live…

We have not been saved, so that we ONLY dont die and go to hell, just to die and go to a different place of torment. But we are saved FROM hell TO eternity with Jesus. This is what the author now seems to tease out to the listener. We looked last week at ways we neglect our salvation (the negative) and now we move to something positve about our salvation that makes it so great..

Textual Background:

Again, the recipients of the words we are about to examine, were hanging on the edge of their faith. Questions, Doubts, persecution, and apostasy from the faith all started happening in this community of believers. All of which the book and sermon of Hebrews seeks to encourage and urge to “hold fast to the confession of hope without wavering”. This community was in the heat of trials, and we have seen the solution thus far employed by this great preacher, and that is “Jesus is more glorious.” Now he expounds not only the nature of Jesus, and what he has delivered us from (the Law and its condemnation) But what he has destined us to. And believer, you must see both to weather the storm of life, and to Hold fast to Jesus. So lets move to the text.

We see the Word “For” starting off our portion of scripture today which is an indicator that we are continuing the thought previously laid down to us by the preacher of this letter. Namely this, “Examine closely this great salvation given to you by Christ, and fight not to neglect and drift away from it in your hearts and lives.” So, now we begin to continue this explanation of this great salvation, and are shown a promise and reminder, offered to us in scripture, and inaugurated by Jesus Himself. The promise and hope of our salvation, which is many things but in this section it is this: “You were made to reign with God, and Christ has guaranteed that that will happen”….Now I know what youre thinking, because Its what I was thinking after about the 10th time re reading this section. “theres no way this section is talking about that.” bear with me and I will do my best to show you what I mean, and why I do believe these subtle sentences do show and mean what I will unpack today.

Transition to the Text:

Many Christians can explain what they’ve been saved from, but few can explain what they’ve been saved for. Hebrews 2 tells us not just about our rescue—but our reign.”

Objective of the Sermon:

To remind you what lies at the end of the Christian journey, so as to encourage you to endure to the end, knowing all suffering will be worth while!

Probing Questions:

Do you Joyfully long for eternity with Christ? When you go throughout your day to day, do you meditate on the glories in store for you? Does your life pant after Jesus because of fear of what lies behind you, or because you have caught a glimpse of the immeasurable pleasure in store for you in Christ and what he has offered?

1. You are Destined for Joy unspeakable and Eternal Glory

“5. For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? “7. You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8. putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Explanation of the Text:

1. God Has Promised and entrusted His new creation to Man

In Psalm 8, David is awestruck with the reality that God in Heaven has made the earth we live on, and has entrusted it along with everything on it to us.

This is our inheritance and culmination of our salvation. We have not yet recieved our full salvation

Hebrews 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”

2. Man has ruined its physical gift, and shirked its God Given responsibility

“ Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.”

Some may be tempted to believe that this Psalm is talking about Jesus, and they are right! However, it is also talking about humankind, and its important that we see this connection and combination of the original audience, and fulfillment found in Jesus. We need to put our Biblical Scholar hats on to see this.

The Phrase Son of Man

Son of man is just a title that means “Human”. Its a humble title.

Now its also true that this was Christs favorite title to use because of his humility, and he most certainly is THE Son of man. But in the old testament this title was used for others.

Ezekiel is referred to “son of man” over 90 times

Ezekiel 2:1 “And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”

Job is too

Job 25:6 “how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!”

Daniel is as well

Daniel 8:17 “So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”

The way we can see this passage in Hebrews is talking about “mankind” is because of the phrase, “At present we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.”

Paul seems to believe everything is currently under subjection to Christ and he too uses this passage in psalm 8 to point that out

1 Corinthians 15:27 “For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.”

Paul does not add his commentary to explain “At present we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.”

Charles Spurgeon on this phrase “Man does not yet rule the world. Wild beasts defy him. Storms vanquish him. There are a thousand things not at present submissive to his control.”

3. Jesus has restored this promise for his Children

“9. But we see him. who for a little while was made lower than the angels, nameley Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”

Jesus Fulfilled this by becoming a man

This is the first time in Hebrews where the author utters the Son of Gods earthy name…Jesus.So beautifully, so timely, he reminds us that this mighty, radiant, sufficient, glorious God took on Human flesh, and was took on a name we can utter Jesus. He has been called by many names, and many too high and holy to utter or to write with a pen that previously wrote with. But now, he has chosen to revel to his, He has a name you can freely speak and call on, because he became just like you!!

He had to become a man, to take psalm 8 and restore it…

Jesus Fulfilled this by Tasting Death

Jesus, in order to restore and redeem completely, had to play by the same rules we play by. He could have just snapped his fingures and done it a different way. He could have just erradicated satan, destroyed mankind, and start over by making a new perfect humanity. But why didnt he do this? Because it would then appear that he made a mistake, that satan won, and that the only way to fix it was by sweeping it under the rug and say “oops!”. But no, God wanted to one by one humiliate satan by ripping one by one the children he has lost to the grip of darkness.

By Jesus dying he essentially is saying

No my law is still perfect and good because it shows you need me

Ill fulfill my own law, so show you Im worthy of your love and trust

Ill even secure for you a new heart and nature so that you can bust out of your prison cell running from satan into my arms

Jesus has showed us the door to Glory

What is this door?

“But we see him.”

Jesus alone is the door

How does one enter?

“But we see him”

Faith

Faith in What?

“so that by the grace of God…”

Faith in Grace given

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through (Grace traveling to us by way of) faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Why can I trust this entrance?

“He might taste death for everyone”

If christ has died for you, he has not left one stone of sin uncovered and paid for..

He suffered for you, so that you might live forever for him. So Live!!

Applications:

Live in passionate pursuit of that Joy and Glory above all else

a. Hebrews 12:1 let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

b. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Lay down all earthy treasures that may hinder your Kingdom access

a. Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

b. This is not easy to do, so please dont think “Im glad Im pursuing the kingdom like that.”

Mark 10:21 “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.””

Practice your future reign, by restoring relationships now

1 Corinthians 6:1–3 “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!”

In other words, “Dont you know one day you will judge angels one day in the new creation, so why on earth cant you settle disputes and greivances between yourself now??”

Share with others, the entrance into the Kingdom you have been offered

Matthew 18:23–35 ““Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that…”

If you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven on that last day

Matthew 6:15 “but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:12 “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

What a jarring prayer… “Lord forgive me of my sins, Just like I forgive those who have sinned against me…” If God were to forgive us, the same way we have forgiven others, would we be completely forgiven?

Fight Pain and suffering with promise

John 14:1–2 ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Hebrews 2:6 “It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?”

He is mindful of you..He will never stop caring for you. No matter if your life is ripped from you. No matter if you go through imense hardship and suffering. No matter if you are currently sufering from the deepest mental darkness and despair, He loves you child of God! “But we see him.” Yes the world is falling apart, yes sin has ravaged this kingdom, yes we will all die, BUT WE SEE HIM…Our constant anchor and reminder that all the suffering we experience, will one day be a drop of water compared to the endless ocean of peace, pleasure and joy with Jesus and one another.

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Bring Gods Kingdom to earth

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Our understanding of what we have been given, is revealed in our sharing of is. Do we believe we have been given authority by Jesus King of the Universe to spread the message of his good news? Or do we cower in fear because we dont fully trust him?

2 Peter 3:12 “waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!”

How do we hurry or hasten the coming of the Lord?

By bringing his Kingdom, through his gospel

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the