Jesus Christ: The One Perfect Savior
Notes
Transcript
There is only one Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ. He alone is the perfect Savior. This truth is affirmed by Peter, who declared:
12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Salvation is found exclusively in Jesus Christ; He alone is qualified to save.
The question arises: How do we know that Jesus Christ truly is the perfect Savior? What makes Him uniquely qualified for this role? The answer to these questions is beautifully revealed in Hebrews 2:9–18. This passage offers a comprehensive explanation of why Jesus Christ’s claim to be the perfect Savior is valid and trustworthy.
9 But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death.
10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
12 saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.
13 Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.
14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—
15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
16 For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.
17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
As we examine the unfolding narrative, we discover five distinct aspects—five perfections—that Jesus’ humanity and death brought into being. Through the temporary lowering of Himself, Christ became our substitute, our salvation pioneer, our sanctifier, our conqueror of Satan, and our sympathizer. This is the portrait of a perfect Savior. The Holy Spirit, in His wisdom, demonstrates that Christ’s death is not difficult to explain—even though He is greater than the angels—for it is the very purpose of His incarnation.
1. Jesus, Our Substitute
1. Jesus, Our Substitute
First, because Jesus was made incarnate and temporarily made lower than the angels, He became our substitute. As stated in verse 9,
9 But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death.
This is the substitutionary death of Christ—He died in your place and mine. This truth is foundational to the gospel.
The primary reason for the incarnation is so that He who is superior to angels would become, for a short time, less than angels, to taste death on behalf of all. Christ came to die in our place, to be our substitute. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel declared, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” The New Testament reiterates, “The wages of sin is death.” Sin always results in death, and God’s options are clear: either allow man to pay for his own sin or permit a substitute to bear the punishment. God’s design was to send the second person of the Trinity—God humbled Himself, came to earth, and died in our place, offering a substitutionary death.
This doctrine is often rejected by modern theology, which claims that Jesus died merely as an example or martyr. Yet, He died as a substitute for our death. This truth carries profound implications.
Verse 9 highlights Jesus’ humiliation: He was “made lower (or became less) than the angels for a short time.”
Since man was created lower than angels, Jesus had to become what man is to die for man. This is the core of the incarnation—God became what man is to substitute for man’s death and grant life with God.
Jesus’ humiliation is remarkable: the Creator and Lord of angels became lower than angels for our sake. After accomplishing this, He was exalted to glory and honor.
His humiliation was for our benefit, and the extent of his humiliation is shown in verse 9: Jesus was “made lower than the angels … so that .. He might taste death for everyone”.
Jesus did what no angel could ever do—He died, and His death was marked by suffering, both outward and inward.
Christ’s suffering was not just physical but also involved bearing the curse of sin. He drank the bitter cup of death to its fullest for us. The agony He endured on the cross was the culmination of all punishment for all sin across all time.
Paul writes in Galatians 4:4
4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Similarly, 2 Corinthians 5:15 says,
15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.
Through His death, Jesus substituted His own life for ours, releasing us to live with God. Like the king’s taster, Jesus drank the cup of poison intended for us, ensuring our safety.
The motive of His humiliation is clear: “so that by the God’s grace he might taste death for everyone.”
Grace—free loving kindness—moved Christ to suffer for us, giving us what we did not deserve. Love prompted this gracious act, and Christ died by the sovereign will and counsel of God.
Jesus stated:
17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
He was the propitiation for our sins, the substitute. The result of His humiliation was exaltation—He was crowned with glory and honor by the Father, not by His own doing. Philippians 2 declares He is highly exalted, and Ephesians 1:21 states He is set over all principalities and powers.
Thus, the result of Christ’s humiliation is His exaltation. The cross magnifies the Lord, and the fact that He died as a man is not a problem but a cause for glory. Jesus is a worthy substitute, made perfect by becoming a man and dying for us.
2. Jesus, Our Salvation Pioneer
2. Jesus, Our Salvation Pioneer
The second perfection: Jesus became our salvation pioneer.
Hebrews 2:10 says:
10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Jesus had to become a man and suffer to be a perfect salvation pioneer. The phrase “it was entirely appropriate” means it agreed with His nature and character. The cross was a masterpiece of wisdom, holiness, power, love, and grace—it suited God’s nature to do this.
God’s desire was to bring many sons and daughters to glory. Not only did He need to show us the way, but He needed to lead us there. The word “pioneer,” from the Greek archegos, also means leader or founder. Jesus didn’t tell the disciples that there is a way to heaven. Jesus said I am the way. Jesus didn’t point to a trail that we can follow; Jesus made the trail for us to God. By His obedience, suffering, love, death, and resurrection, He set the pattern for us.
Jesus is the pioneer, the founder of salvation, leading us into God’s presence. Through His death, He became the perfect leader, conquering the barrier of sin and opening the way to life with God.
11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
12 saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.
13 Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.
3. Jesus, Our Sanctifier
3. Jesus, Our Sanctifier
The third perfection: Jesus became our sanctifier.
Verses 11–13 state,
11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
12 saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.
13 Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.
Christ makes us holy, and positionally, we are holy before God because Christ’s righteousness is credited to us. Though our practice may fall short, our position before God is perfection.
We are one with Christ—joint heirs—because His holiness is ours. Paul says in Romans, “the righteousness that is ours is the righteousness of Christ.” Thus, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. Through His death, He eliminated the possibility of positional sinfulness and made us holy.
The word “sanctified” (hagiaso) means to make holy. Hebrews 10:10 says:
10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
Verse 14 adds:
14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.
We are as pure as God is pure, as righteous as Christ is righteous, positionally.
Receiving Christ makes us holy; this was made possible only through His sacrifice. The New Testament teaches that we bear the righteousness of God in Christ.
Jesus is not ashamed to call us brother, and God is not ashamed to be called our God. This is not because of who we are, but who we are in Christ.
The Old Testament, especially Psalm 22, portrays Christ declaring His name to His brothers and sisters in the congregation, indicating that brotherhood begins after the cross—after sin is paid for and righteousness is imputed.
After the resurrection, Jesus called His disciples “brothers,” signifying their new status as equals in righteousness. The resurrection marks the beginning of this brotherhood.
Isaiah 8 demonstrates Christ’s faith and brotherhood, showing that Jesus not only shares our righteousness but also our walk of faith.
Our brotherhood with Jesus means sharing His righteousness and walking by faith as He did.
4. Jesus, Our Satan Conqueror
4. Jesus, Our Satan Conqueror
Fourth, Jesus is our conqueror of Satan. Someone had to break Satan’s power—death—over us. Verses 14–15 explain,
14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—
Satan’s hold on humanity was death; God required death as the penalty for sin.
Jesus broke this power by conquering death through His own death and resurrection. He provided something greater than death—life. Through dying, He destroyed death and left the way open for us.
The resurrection grants believers eternal life, shattering Satan’s dominion. Christ, by becoming human, willingly took on flesh and blood, something not inherent to His nature, in order to die in our place.
Jesus’ death broke Satan’s power, and Revelation 1:18 declares that Christ holds the keys of Hell and death. He conquered death, ensuring that believers need not fear death.
something about new locks that only those who have been given access can open them?????
Verse 15 states,
15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
The fear of death is universal, but Jesus releases us from this bondage. Death no longer holds terror; it simply ushers us into Christ’s presence. This victory was only possible because Jesus became lower than angels for a little while.
5. Jesus, Our Sympathizer
5. Jesus, Our Sympathizer
Finally, Jesus is our sympathizer. Verse 16 says:
16 For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.
Jesus came to redeem men, not angels, and thus became a man, specifically a Jew.
God’s choice of the Jews was motivated by love. Verse 17 explains,
17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
It was necessary for Him to be made like us so that He could be a merciful and faithful high priest, making reconciliation for our sins and helping those who are tempted.
Jesus not only saves us but also sympathizes with us. He experienced everything we ever will, allowing Him to be a merciful and faithful high priest. When facing trials, we can turn to Jesus, who has endured all things and can relate to our struggles.
Jesus was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin. He felt hunger, thirst, fatigue, joy, anger, grief, and every emotion. Because He never gave in to temptation, He felt its full force. This enables Him to sympathize with our weaknesses.
We do not have a distant, indifferent God; we have a Savior who knows our pain and struggles. The Holy Spirit urges us to see that Jesus’ temporary lowering was necessary to be the kind of Savior we can approach for both salvation and sympathy.
Jesus is the perfect Savior: our substitute, our salvation pioneer, our sanctifier, our conqueror of Satan, and our sympathizer. What a Savior—perfect in every way.
We witness God’s humility even when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. It was with humility that he served the bread while claiming it will remind us of His body broken for us. It was with humility that he served the wine, telling us it represents His blood which will be spilled for our sakes. It was done with humility because He knew what was about to start; and He knew how it would be finished.
