How Great A Salvation

Introduction

We finished last week with . There we read:

Hebrews 2:1 NIV84

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

This morning, we begin with this verse.

Careful Attention

This morning, I want you to really notice this verse.

The author says we need to “pay more careful attention.” The writer assumed that that the reader was paying attention, but that is not enough. We need to pay MORE careful attention.

We are to pay attention to to what we have heard. During this time, much of what was taught was passed on through oral traditions—so paying careful attention to to what we have heard makes perfect sense.

We do this so we do not drift away. Most of the people that I’ve seen turn away from Jesus, did not turn away from Him all of the sudden—rather it was a slow drift away.

Hebrews 2:2-

Hebrews 2:2–4 NIV84

For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The author reminds us that the message that the angels gave were binding.

The message spoken by angels was binding.

Violating the message or being disobedient to the message led to punishment. This can be substantiated by the Old Testament.

Likewise, we will not escape punishment if we ignore such a great salvation.

In Old Testament terms, salvation refers to the deliverance of God’s people from bondage.

The author warns us not to ignore this kind of deliverance. Now the author of Hebrews tells us that this salvation was first announced by the Lord—Jesus, and was confirmed by those who heard first hand as they passed it on to us.

God the Father also testified to this salvation, by the signs, wonders, and various miracles, as well as gifts given by the Holy Spirit and passed out according to his own will.

Hebrews 2:5–9 NIV84

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2:5-

The Word Became Flesh

The Word Became Flesh

Jesus is greater than the angels. We see this because the world is now subject to Jesus.

But Jesus—God’s Son—came down from heaven, lived, died, and rose again, and is now is exalted so that God put everything under His feet (c.f. ).

To make his point, the author quotes — “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet. . .”

God has put everything under feet—Everything is under Jesus. Jesus became a little lower than the angels, but now is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that the God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

This is amazing—Jesus paid my debt for sin, and He paid your debt for sin too.

We used to be enemies of God, but now we are His children. Look at verse 10.

Hebrews 2:10–11 NIV84

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Hebrews 2:10-

The Family of God

Since Jesus brought mankind back into a right relationship with God, He had to become a man to identify with the struggles of mankind Jesus had to experience suffering.

So both Jesus, who makes mankind holy, and those He makes holy are family! Then the author makes an amazing statement: “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them [us] brothers.” To back this up, once again the author quotes the Old Testament.

First he quotes in verse 12. Then in verse 13 the author quotes part of . Next he quotes .

Using these quotes, the author gives us three powerful statements about Jesus and His work in our lives today.

First, we’re told even today, Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit teaches us about God the Father.

Next the author shows us how Jesus demonstrates that the Father can be trusted.

And finally, the author tells us that today Jesus cares for us.

Now don’t miss the next part! In verse 14 we read:

Hebrews 2:14-

Hebrews 2:14–18 NIV84

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Once again, the author tells us that since Jesus came to relate to mankind, He had share in their humanity. That way, He might destroy the power of Satan on our lives.

The power that Satan holds is the power of death! Jesus freed us from the fear of death!

Remember ? Jesus said, “The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

So many people are controlled by their fear of death. There are even may Christians who are afraid to die. Someone once said “In order to truly live life, you must first make peace with death.” I want to challenge us to make peace with death, because Jesus destroyed Satan’s power over us, because Jesus destroyed the power of death!

Notice that Jesus did not die to help the angels. No He died for you and for me! Now because of His work, He has become a merciful and faithful high priest, and paid the penalty for the sins of the people.

Why could Jesus do this? Because He suffered and was tempted just like we are so that He is able to help us when we are tempted!

Conclusion

There are three major points that I want us to hear in this passage.

First, Jesus became like us! He is 100% Man while being 100% God. I know that mathematically that does not compute! But then, God seldom makes sense to us!

The second thing we need to notice is that Jesus destroyed the power of Satan and took away our fear of death! We no long need to fear death, because death is not the end, but rather the beginning!

The third thing I want us to see in this passage is that Jesus is now our merciful and faithful high priest, and because of that He can help us when we are tempted because He understands what it’s like to be tempted.

I don’t know about you, but this is amazing news that we should celebrate.