Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2:14-18

English Standard Version Chapter 2

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted

I ahve good news - Gospel news - Death has been destroyed.

How? By death, Jesus’s death. Death no longer has a hold on the people of God because someone has died for us.

and freed from slavery that is brought on by the fear of death.

We are enslaved by our fear of dying. If you fear death, then the death penalty is a threat you can’t overcome. “lifelong slavery”

What’s the point here?

Jesus saves. And not just saves from death, but because he saved us from death he saves us from sin. And he saves us from sin in three ways.

FIRST - he saves us from FEAR

why do you fear death? because you fear what comes AFTER death. Well, what if you didn’t have to. What if you knew what came after death and it surpassed your wildest dreams? If it was joy unspeakable?

And our fear of death propels us into bondage. Bondage to what? Sin. Satan. His schemes.

“If you don’t … then you die.”

Deny Jesus or die.

We’ve heard many stories like this, where Christians, under the threat of death, are tempted to sin.

Maybe not a literal death? Maybe a death of your reputation? Maybe a death of your career?

But if Christ came to die FOR YOU so that you no longer need fear death itself, of course we need not fear the loss of our job. Of course we need not fear ridicule by the masses.

Look, the Lord promises to care for us and meet our needs.

The Lord promises ridicule and reviling by some, but taht it comes with a purpose and grace. Matt 5:11-12

English Standard Version Chapter 5

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

that we are BLESSED because our REWARD is great in heaven

Do you see? Jesus’ death, paving our way to heaven eliminates our fear of literal death, AND it eliminates our fear of ANYTHING else.

In other words, you are blackmail proof, you are threat proof, you are bribery proof, you are death proof...

you are fear proof.

Why is that important? Well, because fear can motivate you into some pretty compromising situations.

SECOND - He saves us from future sin.

v17 - Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people

Jesus, made like us, now acts as our high priest - and high priests did an important task. They made propitiation for the sins of God’s people.

In other words, Jesus intercedes for us on our behalf with God himself to guarantee our righteousness.

notice - I didn’t say he INTERCEDED - but that he INTERCEDES

the passage doesn’t say “to make A propitiation” it says to make propitiation.

propitiation - atonement, the act of appeasing God’s wrath against our sin.

to be God’s people means to be adopted into his family - we are Christ’s brother - and a family tie isn’t one that just vanishes when we screw up.

My children are my children, no matter what.

this is why when we hear the statement “your not my son” in a movie or read it in a book, or maybe some of you have heard it in real life…

but when we hear this statement we cringe. It’s a depth of rejection that is unnatural.

When we we repent and believe in Jesus we are adopted into God’s family, we are received completely, and our past is completely forgiven.

but what about our future? What about our future failures? Our future sins?

Jesus INTERCEDES for us. v16 - he HELPS - and in John 2 we get more of an understanding here

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

He ACTIVELY intercedes on our behalf.

he is our lawyer, our attorney, arguing our case and pointing to what as his ecidence?? HIS DEATH.

His propitiation

THIRD - He helps those who are being tempted.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

“pastor I’ve been struggling”

Jesus is with you. AND he knows what you’re going through

WHICH MEANS you NEVER walk into a moment of temptation ill-equipped.

The GOD OF THE UNIVERSE is WITH YOU and he WON.

he won the fight for your soul already, he holds you squarely, if you are his - he is fighting for you - and you CAN win.

SO IN REVIEW -

Jesus SAVES YOU FROM SIN

HE SAVES YOU FROM FEAR - HE SAVES YOU FROM FUTURE SIN - AND HE SAVES YOU FROM TEMPTATION.