The Death Destroyer

The Death Destroyer Heb 2:14-18 Jesus has freed you from the power of death and mercifully helps you overcome sin in this life. The incarnation took place in order to bring about three realites for the children of God. 1. Christ’s death has destroyed the power of death.

(Heb 2:14–15)

Christ has to live so that he could die.

Death

physical death spiritual death: Separation from God eternal death: Final Judgment Genesis 2:17 “17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.””

Romans 5:12 “12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.” Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:26 “26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.”

2 Timothy 1:10 “10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

Does the Devil have the power of death?

God Gives and Takes Life

Deuteronomy 32:39 — "See now that I alone am he; there is no God but me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue anyone from my power."

1 Samuel 2:6 — "The LORD brings death and gives life; he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up."

Job 1:21 — "The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Job 12:10 — "The life of every living thing is in his hand, as well as the breath of all humanity."

Psalm 104:29 — "When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust."

God Numbers Our Days

Job 14:5 — "Since a person's days are determined and the number of his months depends on you, and since you have set limits he cannot pass..."

Psalm 31:15 — "The course of my life is in your power."

Psalm 39:4 — "LORD, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am."

Psalm 139:16 — "Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began."

No One Dies Outside His Will

Matthew 10:28–29 — "Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent."

Luke 12:20 — "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you...'"

James 4:13–15 — "You don't even know what tomorrow will bring — what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"

God Holds the Keys of Death

Revelation 1:17–18 — "Don't be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades."

Revelation 20:13–14 — "Then Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them... Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire."

Christ's Death Was Sovereignly Ordained

Acts 2:23 — "Though he was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him."

Acts 4:27–28 — "...to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place."

John 10:17–18 — "This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 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."

God Has Defeated Death in Christ

Isaiah 25:7–8 — "On this mountain he will destroy the burial shroud, the shroud over all the peoples, the sheet covering all the nations. When he has swallowed up death once and for all..."

Hosea 13:14 — "I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death. Death, where are your barbs? Sheol, where is your sting?"

1 Corinthians 15:26 — "The last enemy to be abolished is death."

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 — "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?"

2 Timothy 1:10 — "...our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

Revelation 21:4 — "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away."

The Death of His Saints Is Precious to Him

Psalm 116:15 — "The death of his faithful ones is valuable in the LORD's sight."

Psalm 23:4 — "Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me."

Romans 14:7–9 — "For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living."

Philippians 1:21 — "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

How Did Jesus Destroy the Devil If the Devil Is Still Working?

This is the right question to anticipate — every honest hearer is going to ask it. Here's how I'd build the answer:

The verb itself. The word in Heb 2:14 is katargeō (καταργήσῃ). It does not mean "annihilate" or "kill." It means render ineffective, nullify, put out of operation, strip of power. The CSB renders it "destroy" but the ESV more accurately notes "or bring to nothing." Paul uses the same word in 2 Timothy 1:10 to say Christ "abolished death" — and yet people still die. The point is the power has been broken, even if the appearance continues for a time.

What specifically was broken. The devil's "power of death" is, biblically, his power to accuse and enslave through fear. He held humanity in legal bondage because of sin (Colossians 2:14 “14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.”

Colossians 2:14–15 “14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.”

John 12:31 “31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”

1 John 3:8 “8 The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works.”

Genesis 3:15 “15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

"Revelation 12:10–12 “10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down. 11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.”

The devil rages because he's defeated, not because he isn't. A cornered, dying animal is still dangerous — but it's still dying.

The "already / not yet" frame.

Romans 16:20 “20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

1 Corinthians 15:25–26 “25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death.”

The devil is a defeated enemy who refuses to admit it.

He has lost his legal claim against you, lost his ultimate weapon, and lost the war — but he hasn't yet surrendered.

He's like a deposed king still issuing orders from a throne he no longer occupies.

Christian's task isn't to be afraid of his rage; it's to refuse to obey his lies.

He cannot drag you to hell.

He cannot accuse you before God

Romans 8:33–34 “33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”

He cannot hold you with the fear of death any longer.

All he can do is bluff.

And our defense is the blood of the Lamb

Revelation 12:11 “11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death.” “1 Corinthians 15:54–57 “54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, 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, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

The Bees that swarmed us in the woods.

2. Christ has become a merciful and faithful high priest who atones for your sins. (Heb 2:16-17)

Abraham’s Seed Galatians 3:7–9 “7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. 9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.”

Merciful — eleēmōn (ἐλεήμων) | Heb 2:17

Mercy is compassion that acts. Not pity at a distance but kindness that stoops to help.

Psalm 103:8 “8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.”

Lamentations 3:22–23 “22 Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!”

Matthew 5:7 “7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Luke 6:36 “36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

Ephesians 2:4 “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,”

Titus 3:5 “5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Hebrews 4:16 “16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”

Faithful — pistos (πιστός) Heb 2:17

Trustworthy, reliable, dependable to the end. In Hebrews specifically, it's faithful to God in the priestly role — he won't quit on the job.

Lamentations 3:23 “23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!”

1 Corinthians 1:9 “9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.”

2 Timothy 2:13 “13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”

Hebrews 3:1–2 “1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was in all God’s household.”

Hebrews 10:23 “23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.” 1 John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Merciful toward us. Faithful toward God.

Jesus is sympathetic to sinners and unwavering in his priestly office. We need both.

It was to save sinners that Christ Jesus came into the world. He did not come to help them save themselves, nor to induce them to save themselves, nor even to enable them to save themselves. He came to save them!

William Hendriksen

Atonement

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἱλάσκομαι

to be propitiated, show mercy, make atonement

Atonement / Propitiation — hilaskesthai (ἱλάσκεσθαι) | Heb 2:17

"to make propitiation," "to satisfy wrath," "to turn away divine anger by means of a sacrifice."

Leviticus 16 — Day of Atonement: high priest enters the Most Holy Place with blood

Leviticus 17:11 “11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.”

Luke 18:13 “13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’”

Romans 3:25 “25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.”

Hebrews 9:22 “22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

1 John 2:2 “2 He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”

1 John 4:10 “10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Atonement isn't just a bookkeeping transaction. It's the actual turning away of God's just wrath against sin — a wrath that has to land somewhere. It landed on Christ.

Propitiation means the turning away of wrath by an offering. In relation to soteriology, propitiation means placating or satisfying the wrath of God by the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

Charles Caldwell Ryrie

“propitiation,” which is the act of turning God’s wrath aside.

James Montgomery Boice

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, he unites us body, soul, and spirit with God until we are one with God even as Jesus was. This is the meaning of the Atonement—at-onement with God.

To deny the great doctrine of atonement by the blood of Jesus Christ is to hamstring the gospel, and to cut the throat of Christianity. Is It Nothing To You?, Volume 27, Sermon #1620 - Lamentations 1:12

Charles Spurgeon

Because Christ is man, he can make atonement for man and sympathize with man. Because Christ is God his atonement has infinite value and the union which he effects with God is complete.

Augustus Hopkins Strong (America’s Leading Baptist Theologian)

No religion except Christianity has an atonement.

R. C. Sproul

The atonement was not the cause but the effect of God’s love.

Arthur Walkington Pink

The atonement is the real reason for the Incarnation.

James Montgomery Boice

High Priest This is the launch point for the great high-priest theme that runs through the rest of Hebrews. 3. Christ had to suffer through temptation in order to help the tempted. (Heb 2:18)

Temptation — peirazō (πειράζω) / peirasmos (πειρασμός) | Heb 2:18

The word covers a range from "test" (proving) "tempt" (enticing to sin).

Hebrews uses it of suffering through trial, External

not Jesus being internally drawn toward evil.

Genesis 3:1–6 — the first temptation

Matthew 4:1–11 — Jesus tempted in the wilderness

Luke 22:28 “28 You are those who stood by me in my trials.”

Luke 22:44 “44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 “13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.”

James 1:12–15 “12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.”

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

"Without sin" doesn't lessen the reality of his temptation — it intensifies it.

The C.S. Lewis line (this one is gold for this point). From Mere Christianity: "A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later... Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means." We think we know what temptation feels like because we cave in. Jesus, who never caved, felt every ounce of pressure all the way to the end. He's the only one who knows what full temptation actually feels like.

Our suffering is not worthy the name of suffering. When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death; thinking what are they in comparison to the sufferings of my blessed Savior Christ Jesus.

Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation)

Christ leads me through no darker rooms than he went through before.

Richard Baxter (Puritan Divine)

Help The lifeguard who has swum the depths. The Greek word for "help" in v. 18 is boētheō — the cry of a drowning person screaming for rescue.

The recovering addict as sponsor.