ADVANTAGES OF JESUS' HUMANITY (2)

Advantages Of Jesus' Humanity Hebrews 2:5-18

INTRODUCTION

Following his warning against drifting (He 2:1-4), the writer of Hebrews continues to illustrate Jesus’ superiority to angels...

In the first chapter the emphasis was on Jesus’ deity

Now the focus is on Jesus’ humanity

One can imagine the sort of objections that could be raised about Jesus’ humanity...

When Jesus became flesh, didn’t that make Him lower than the angels?

How then can it be said that He is superior to angels?

The response is that Jesus’ humanity provided several advantages...

In regaining man’s lost dominion

In bringing many sons to glory

In disarming Satan, and delivering us from the fear of death

In becoming a sympathetic high priest

[Yes, becoming flesh did not prove to be a handicap or a mark of inferiority; rather, it served to make Him “perfect”! To see how, let’s note how Jesus’ humanity first...]

I. ENABLED JESUS TO REGAIN MAN’S LOST DOMINION (2:5-9)

A. MANONCEHADDOMINIONOVERTHEEARTH...

At the beginning , man was given dominion over God’s creation - Gen 1:26-28

David marveled that God set man over His works - Psa 8:4-6

Even though man was made “a little lower than the angels”

Yet God “crowned him with glory and honor”!

B. MANHASLOSTTHATDOMINION...

As is rather evident: “But now we do not yet see all things put under him.” - He 2:8

As a result of The Fall, man lost his dominion

C. JESUS,ASAMAN,REGAINEDTHATDOMINION...!

Jesus was “made a little lower than the angels”; i.e., He became a man!

Because of His suffering of death, He was “crowned with glory and honor”!

What man once had and lost...Jesus has regained!

Those who are in Him share in that rule, both now and in the future!

1) Seated at the right hand of God, Christ rules over all - cf. Ep 1:20-22

2) Those in Christ sit together with Him - cf. Ep 2:4-6

3) Especially so, when we pass from this life to the next... - cf. Re 2:26-27; 3:21

Sermons From Hebrews 18

Mark A. Copeland

[Such dominion, both now and in “the world to come”, was never given to angels (He 2:5). Man had it and lost it. Becoming a man and suffering death enabled Jesus to regain that dominion for man! By the same suffering and death, Jesus was able to “taste death for everyone” (He 2:9). By the grace of God, then, His humanity also...]

II. ENABLED JESUS TO BRING MANY SONS TO GLORY (2:10-13)

A. HISSUFFERINGSINTHEFLESHWERE“FITTING”...

God gave Jesus the task... a. To bring many sons to glory (to restore man to his position of glory and honor) b. To be the “author” (captain, pioneer, leader) of man’s salvation

His sufferings in the flesh made Jesus “perfect” for the task! a. This is not to imply that Jesus was imperfect when He was on the earth b. The word “perfect” means to be “complete, effective, adequate” c. To be complete and effective as our Savior and High Priest, Jesus’ sufferings were

necessary - cf. He 2:18

B. HISHUMANITYMAKESHIM“ONE”WITHTHOSEBEINGSAVED...

Even though He is the One who “sanctifies”, and they are “being sanctified”

His humanity (and suffering) makes them “all of one”

Such identity with man makes Jesus proud to call us “brethren”! - He 2:12-13

[The idea of Jesus as the One whose suffering in the flesh makes Him the perfect author of our salvation, and not ashamed to call us brethren, is expanded even further in the remaining verses of the chapter. Here we see that the humanity of Jesus...]

III. ENABLED JESUS TO DISARM SATAN AND DELIVER US FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH (2:14-16)

A. JESUS’DEATHGAVEHIMVICTORYOVERTHEDEVIL...

Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus “destroyed” the devil!

The devil is still very active - cf. 1 Pe 5:8-9

But though he once “had” (past tense) the power of death, no more! - cf. Re 1:18

His power greatly weakened by Jesus’ victory over death, Satan will be destroyed for all time at the time of our own resurrection! - cf. Re 20:10-12

B. JESUS’DEATHGAVEUSFREEDOMFROMTHEFEAROFDEATH...

A fear that keeps many in bondage throughout their lifetime

But the faithful Christian need not fear death!- cf. Ro 8:37-39; 1 Co 3:21-23; Ph 2:21

Thus it is to the “seed of Abraham” (faithful Christians, cf. Ga 3:29), and not to “angels”

that Jesus has given such aid! - He 2:16

[Finally, partaking of flesh and blood, suffering and dying on the cross...] IV. ENABLED JESUS TO BE A SYMPATHETIC HIGH PRIEST (2:17-18) Sermons From Hebrews 19

A. JESUSISAMERCIFULANDFAITHFULHIGHPRIEST...

In coming to this world, Jesus was “made like His brethren”

He became like man “in all things”

This equipped Him for the role of a merciful and faithful high priest

“In things pertaining to God”

“To make propitiation for the sins of the people”

We read later that the role of high priest involved offering gifts and sacrifices for sin

- He 5:1

B. HEISABLETOAIDTHOSEWHOARETEMPTED...

He too has suffered, and been tempted, though we learn later He remained without sin - He 4:15

Such suffering makes Him compassionate - cf. He 5:2

Therefore those who come to Him can expect to receive mercy and grace in time of need!

- cf. He 4:16

CONCLUSION

What angel has accomplished such things as...

Regain man’s lost dominion?

Bring many sons to glory?

Disarm Satan, and deliver us from the fear of death?

Become a sympathetic high priest?

All these things (and certainly much more) Jesus has done by virtue of becoming man...

Yes, He became “a little lower than the angels”

But in so doing, even His humanity makes Him far superior to angels!

With the first two chapters, then, we see the superiority of Jesus...

Over the prophets, as God’s perfect spokesman

Over the angels, by virtue of His deity and His humanity

-- Why should we ever want to turn our back on such a Savior?

We have also seen that Jesus, who was tempted, who has suffered and tasted death for everyone, is not ashamed to call us “brethren”. Are we ashamed to call Him “Lord”? Are we willing to serve Him as “Lord”?

Mark A. Copeland

Sermons From Hebrews 20

Mark A. Copeland

The Supremacy Of Jesus Over Moses Hebrews 3:1-6

INTRODUCTION

1. We have seen that the writer to the Hebrews sought to encourage faithfulness to Jesus by illustrating His superiority...

Over prophets - He 1:1-3

Over angels - He 1:4-2:18

-- Both of which were very important to the Jewish people

2. Highly revered also by the Hebrews was Moses...

The author of the first five books of the Old Testament

The deliverer, who led them out of Egyptian bondage and to the promised land

The Lawgiver, through whom God revealed so much of the Jewish religion

3. If

He would have to compare Jesus with Moses

He would have to illustrate “The Supremacy Of Jesus Over Moses”

-- This he does, especially in He 3:1-6, which serves as the text of our study

[In the first verse, we note the...]

I. THE CALL TO CONSIDER JESUS (1)

A. TOWHOMTHISCALLISGIVEN...

1. The readers are described as:

“holy brethren”

1) I.e., brethren who are sanctified, set apart for a holy purpose

2) Cf. what was written in He 2:10-11

3) It is to the brethren of Christ that these things are being written!

“partakers of the heavenly calling”

1) They had come to share in the call from heaven

2) This “calling” was the call of the gospel

a) For that is how God calls us - 2 Th 2:13-14

b) Itisacalltoglory-2Th2:14;1Th2:12 2. Clearly the original recipients were Christians!

Some commentators try to reason that they were not, because of the warnings found throughout this epistle

But it is evident they were, which is why we need to give earnest heed to the warnings!

B. TOCONSIDERJESUSASAPOSTLEANDHIGHPRIEST... 1. How is Jesus an “apostle”?

a. The word means “one sent” Sermons From Hebrews 21

the writer was to be successful in encouraging his brethren to remain faithful to Jesus...

Mark A. Copeland

b. Just as Moses was sent by God, so was Jesus, as foretold by Moses and the prophets that followed! - Ac 3:22-26; cf. Jn 7:16

2. How is Jesus a “high priest”?

That is one of the important themes of this epistle

1) Introduced in He 2:17

2) Expounded upon in detail later in He 4:14-7:28

He has made “propitiation” (an appeasing sacrifice) for our sins, through offering

Himself on the cross - He 7:26-27

He continues to intercede on our behalf - He 7:24-25

-- Thus Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest “of our confession” (i.e., whom we confess as Christians)

[As we now note the actual comparison of Jesus with Moses, we are told that...]

II. JESUS IS GREATER IN HIS PERSON (2-4)

A. THEISSUEISNOTONEOFFAITHFULNESS...

Jesus was faithful to the One who appointed Him - cf. Jn 17:4

Moses likewise was faithful - cf. He 11:24-29; Num 12:6-8

B. JESUSISGREATERBECAUSEHEISTHEBUILDER(CREATOR)...

1. Jesus is worthy of more glory, just as one who builds a house has more honor than the house itself

Jesus is the builder

Moses is part of the house itself

-- Implying that what Moses did was in service to the work of the Son!

2. Once again the author declares the deity of the Son as the Creator of all things - cf. He 1: 2c,10; 3:4

[The comparison continues as we note that...]

III. JESUS IS GREATER IN HIS MINISTRY (5-6)

A. MOSESWASAFAITHFUL“SERVANT”...

We have already seen that issue is not one of faithfulness - Num 12:6-8

Moses’ task was to testify of things to come, which he did faithfully - e.g., Deu 18:15-19;

cf. Lk 24:44

B. JESUSISAFAITHFUL“SON”...

Moses was simply a servant in the house, Jesus is the Son “over” the house

Not only did Jesus do the work He was sent to do (Jn 17:4), but He was given authority

over all the things of God - cf. Mt 28:18; Jn 3:35; Ep 1:22

CONCLUSION

1. How is Jesus superior to Moses? Sermons From Hebrews 22

Mark A. Copeland

Not in faithfulness, but in person and service

Moses was a servant in the house of God; Jesus is the builder of the house, and serves as the

Son over the house!

-- Indeed, Moses points us forward to Jesus (cf. Deu 18:15-19); for one to forsake Jesus in an

attempt to go back to Moses alone is to frustrate the desire of Moses himself!

2. Speaking of the house of God, of which Jesus is the builder and over which He presides...

The writer to the Hebrews affirms that “we” are the house of Christ

1) Speaking of the church, which is the house of God - cf. 1 Tim 3:15

2) In Christ, we are now “members of the household of God”, and together with the faithful

saints of old (including Moses) we are now “fellow-citizens” in the commonwealth of Israel!

- cf. Ep 2:11-22

Yet our status as the “house” is conditional!

1) “whose house we are if we hold fast....” - He 3:6

2) We must hold fast “the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

Therefore the need for steadfastness, and the reason this epistle is filled with exhortations to that end! Indeed, the next exhortation begins in verse 7, which we shall examine in our next lesson (“A Warning From The Wilderness”).

Is your faith wavering? Then heed the words of this epistle and “...consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus”. As you contemplate His person and His ministry, it should help you hold fast to your confession of faith!

Sermons From Hebrews 23

Mark A. Copeland

A Warning From The Wilderness Hebrews 3:7-19

INTRODUCTION

1. In

Jesus was superior, not in faithfulness, but in His person and service

Moses was a servant in the house of God

Jesus, however, is the builder of the house, and serves as the Son over the house!

the previous study, we considered “The Supremacy Of Jesus Over Moses”...

2. In

Referring to the church, which is the house of God - cf. 1 Tim 3:15

For in Christ, we are now “members of the household of God”, and together with the faithful

He 3:6, the writer to the Hebrews affirms that “we” are the house of Christ... saints of old (including Moses) we are now “fellow-citizens” in the commonwealth of Israel!

- cf. Ep 2:11-22

Yet our status as the “house” is conditional!

“whose house we are if we hold fast....” - He 3:6

We must hold fast “the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

The need for steadfastness explains the exhortations in this epistle...

We saw the first exhortation in He 2:1-4, regarding the danger of drifting

Now we come to the second exhortation, regarding the danger of departing from the living

God - He 3:7-19

[To warn against the danger of departing, the writer appeals to...] I. THE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS (7-11)

A.

ISRAEL HARDENED THEIR HEARTS...

The quotation in verses 7-11 is from Psa 95:7-11

a. In which the Holy Spirit warned Israel not to be like the fathers in the wilderness

b. A warning which the Hebrew writer found just as necessary in his day

In the wilderness, the Israelites had...

a. Hardened their hearts in rebelling against God

b. Tested (tried) God with their lack of faith

This they did many times during the forty years of wandering, but especially...

At the beginning, with the incident at Massah (tempted) and Meribah (contention) - cf. Exo 17:1-7

Toward the end, with the incident at Kadesh - Num 27:14; cf. 20:1-13

B. THEREFORETHEYDIDNOTENTERGOD’SREST...

1. God became angry with that generation in the wilderness for their persistent rebellion - e.g.,

Psa 106:13-33

Sermons From Hebrews 24

Mark A. Copeland

2. So God swore that they would not enter His rest - cf. Num 14:22-24,26-35

Of those over the age of 20 when they departed from Egypt, only Caleb and Joshua

entered the promised land

The rest (of which there were 603,548 men) died in the wilderness!

[Because of hardened hearts Israel departed from God which led to rebellion. In turn, they fell short of the Canaan rest that had been promised them. With “A Warning From The Wilderness” fresh on their minds, the writer therefore exhorts his brethren by warning them of...]

II. THE DANGER OF DEPARTING (12-14)

A. THEREISANEEDTO“BEWARE”...

A believer can develop “an evil heart of unbelief”

Remember that the recipients of this epistle were “holy brethren, partakers of the

heavenly calling” - He 3:1

The warning against developing a heart of unbelief presumes a real possibility

Thus a “believer” can become an “unbeliever”!

Unbelief is produced as one is “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”

Sin is deceitful...

1) Promising pleasure, power, and prestige

2) In the short term that may be true, but such things are “passing” (temporary”)

- e.g., He 11:25; 1 Jn 2:17

Because of its deceitfulness, it is easy to become “hardened”

1) I.e., to be stubborn and not heed the Word of God

2) It happened to Israel, and it can happen to us!

The consequence of unbelief is “departing from the living God”

As one grows in unbelief, so they drift away from God

While a believer remains in fellowship with God, an unbeliever can only depart further and further away from God!

B. THESOLUTIONISTO“EXHORTONEANOTHERDAILY”...

This is how a believer avoids becoming an unbeliever!

Through mutual edification on a daily basis, we can prevent the “hardening” that comes from

sin’s deceitfulness

An important part of such exhortation is our assembling together - cf. He 10:24-25

Which should certainly involve assemblies on the first day of the week - e.g., Ac 20:7

But with a need for “daily exhortation”, should we be content to limit our assembling to

one service a week?

If we have the opportunity to assemble more often, shouldn’t we?

Even if it is only by phone, we should seek to “exhort one another daily”!

C. OURPARTICIPATIONINCHRISTISCONDITIONAL...

1. Once again we see the conditional nature of our participation with Christ

We are house of Christ “...if we hold the fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the

hope firm to the end.” - He 3:6

We have become partakers of Christ “...if we hold the beginning of our confidence

Sermons From Hebrews 25

steadfast to the end,” - He 3:14 2. What about the security of the believer?

The “believer” does indeed enjoy the assurance of his salvation

But we have seen that a “believer” can develop “an evil heart of unbelief”; i.e., become

an “unbeliever” - He 3:12

When a “believer” becomes an “unbeliever”, what promises of security and salvation

there may be to the believer are no longer applicable!

-- Thus the many warnings to remain faithful, including that of our Lord’s - Re 2:10

[The danger of departing from God is so great, that the writer of Hebrews returns to “A Warning From The Wilderness”...]

III.THEEXAMPLEOFISRAELINTHEWILDERNESSREVISITED (15-19)

A. ANOTHERAPPEALISMADE...

Quoting again from Psa 95:7-8

The Hebrew writer applies the quotation to Christians

They need to “hear His (God’s) voice” - remember He 1:1-2; 2:1-4?

That is, hear with a desire to hearken, for they too can easily harden their hearts “as in

the rebellion”

B. THENEEDFORCHRISTIANSTOBELIEVE,ANDOBEY...

In the case of the Israelites, who was it that rebelled? a. All those who came out of Egypt (save Joshua and Caleb)! b. Though led by Moses, they still rebelled! -- We may have been delivered by Christ from the bondage of sin, but rebellion is still

possible!

In the case of the Israelites, with whom was God angry forty years?

a. Those who sinned b. And who died in the wilderness as a result of their lack of faith -- If we become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, shall we escape judgment?

In the case of the Israelites, who did God not allow in the promised land? a. Those who did not obey! b. Those who developed unbelief! -- Shall we enter our promised rest if we disobey through unbelief?

CONCLUSION

When the apostle Paul related some of the same experiences of Israel in the wilderness, he wrote:

“Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Co 10:11)

It is for our own admonition that we have such warnings as that found in our text...

For the deceitfulness of sin is just as strong today

For the hardening of one ’s heart is just as dangerous today

Sermons From Hebrews 26

Mark A. Copeland

Mark A. Copeland

c. For departing from God is just as possible today -- Thus the potential for falling short of our promised rest is just as much a reality for us as it

proved to be for the Israelites in the wilderness!

3. That is why we need to “exhort one another daily”...

To encourage one another to remain strong in faith - cf. He 3:19

To encourage one another to remain strong in obedience - cf. He 3:18

-- Have you exhorted your brother or sister lately?

Finally, did you notice how “faith” and “obedience” were used interchangeably in these last two verses? These terms are not opposed to one another, for in fact Paul himself wrote about “obedience to the faith” (Ro 1:5; 16:26). Faith is dead unless there is obedience (Ja 2:17,26), and so those who truly believe will obey.

That is why Jesus can be described as “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (He 5:9). Have you obeyed Jesus by obeying His gospel? - cf. Ro 10:16; 2 Th 1:7-8; 1 Pe 4:17