Christ our Sanctifying Source

Introduction:

A. Review of Hebrews 1

The Eternal Son is God who became man.

The Eternal Son is the final Word.

The Eternal Son is superior to the angels.

B. Review of Hebrews 2

Chapter two begins with “Therefore” which means considering what’s all come before this is the conclusion.

And the conclusion is that we should pay attention to what we’ve learned.

The Law and the Gospel are vital and verified and we cannot afford to ignore them.

We cannot miss the Law because it’s how God tells us how we ought to live and it also exposes our need for a savior.

We cannot miss the gospel because it’s how we are saved.

To neglect such a great a salvation is foolishness.

C. Why a review is so important

This is important because the author is about to circle back to the superiority of Christ over the angels and how his brief venture at being lower than the angels is key to our salvation.

Exegesis:

A. The King Made Lower than the Angels

Hebrews 2:5–8 “For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” 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.”

The author has switched back to the langue of chapter 1.

Hebrews 1:5 “For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?”

It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come — but rather it was made subject to Christ.

What is this Psalm?

Psalm 8 “To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

This is what we call a “messianic psalm”

In order for it to be messianic what is required?

Who fits the bill to fulfill this Psalm?

How?

Note that everything has been put into subjection to Him.

Even if it doesn’t look like it.

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Now what’s interesting:

The author spends chapter 1 talking about the Superiority of Christ to the angels, and begins this chapter in the same way, but makes the point that Christ had to be made a little lower than the angels to accomplish His purposes.

The Divine Nature was always superior, but the human nature was inferior.

B. The King Who Suffers

Hebrews 2:9 “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely 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.”

This passage touches on a familiar biblical theological theme of sufferings and glory:

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.”

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

1 Peter 4:12–13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

But also there are others who suffered and receive glory:

Joseph

David

In order to taste death for everyone — Christ had to be made lower than the angels.

Angels cannot die, but humans can — therefore Christ had to take on human nature and taste death.

Philippians 2

Notice — and we might overlook this — that we see how Christ’s death was a grace.

People really don’t like Penal Substitutionary Atonement

Yet the author of Hebrews calls Christ’s sufferings and death a grace.

Hebrews 2:10 “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

Now wait — the sufferings made Him perfect?

Yes and no.

No — He was always perfect.

But in order to be the perfect substitute He had to be tempted and tried to be the perfect substitute.

Hebrews 4:14–16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Matthew 4

C. The King Who Sanctifies

Hebrews 2:11 “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,”

Definitive Sanctification — God makes you a Saint

Progressive Sanctification — God makes you act like a Saint

Both dimensions of sanctification have one source — Christ.

Sanctification is monergistic.

D. The King Who Calls Us Brother

Hebrews 2:11–13 “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.””

Christ is not ashamed to call us brother.

If your soul is in anguish this verse is a soothing balm.

Christ is not ashamed of you.

How many movies have you seen where the brother was an embarrassment?

It’s a stereotype

We may be the idiot brother who always seems to get everything backwards — but Christ isn’t ashamed of us because He sanctifies us.

Psalm 22:22 “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:”

Isaiah 8:17–18 “I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.”

Maybe you’ve never thought about it — but the OT anticipates your brotherhood with Christ.

And in order for that to be fulfilled, he must become lower than the angels and through his sufferings and glory, now He has dominion and he rules over everything and the king of everything calls you Brother.