The Destiny Of The Redeemed Series

THE DESTINY OF THE REDEEMED

Hebrews 2:5-9

Genesis 1:26-27 says, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness: let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God has a purpose and a plan for man. However, many people do not know what that purpose really is. In these verses, as well as in our text for today, we are reminded God’s original purpose for man, how God’s purpose was marred by sin, and how God’s purpose has been restored in Jesus Christ.

I. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MAN IS REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE.

Once again, the author turns to the Old Testament. This passage is from Psalm 8. Note that he asks the question, “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him?” Then the psalmist makes three declarations revealing God’s purpose for man.

Man is a creation of God: “You have made him a little lower than the angels” or “for a little while lower than the angels.” Moreover, man is the crown of God’s creation: “You have crowned him with glory and honor.” Again, man was created to have dominion over God’s creation. “And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. (See Genesis 1:26-28). The writer expounds on these thoughts in the words, “For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.” The psalmist said, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.” (Ps. 116:15).

II. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MAN IS RESTRICTED BECAUSE OF SIN.

Note the last sentence of verse 8. “But now we do not yet see all things put under him.” God created man for dominion, but something happened. Why has man not fulfilled God’s purpose for him?

To understand what happened to the human race, we must go back to Genesis 3. Adam and Eve were the first regents to care for God’s creation. Everything was great until Satan and sin entered the picture. Adam listened to Satan’s lies and violated God’s condition. As a result sin entered the picture and the entire human race was plunged into sin. Adam’s sin resulted in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and ultimately to their death.. Moreover, sin and death have reigned since that day.

In the Fall, man lost his crown. His dominion over all things was restricted. Early in the Bible we read of murder, death, polygamy, war, incest, violence, etc.

Though man’s dominion has been restricted because of sin, man has been able to accomplish many things since the beginning of time. Knowledge is exploding every day. We have left the bonds of the earth and have been to the moon. We have conquered outer space but have not been able to conquer ourselves.

SPACESHIP TO THE STARS

We’ve been to the moon

And talk of Mars,

Some even dream

Of a spaceship to the stars.

But think about this

for what it’s worth

We’re in a mess

Down here on planet earth.

We’ve been able

To fly to outer space

But only Christ is able

To save our human race.

What good will it do

To go beyond the sun,

If we turn our backs

On God’s only begotten Son.

Frank Lay © 1/22/04

III. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MAN IS RESTORED BY THE SAVIOR.

Is there any hope for man’s great plight? Our one and only hope is the Redemption that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. “But we see Jesus who was made a little (for a little while) lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

Note the words, “But we see Jesus.” The first Adam lost his crown and therefore lost his kingdom and plunged humanity into the darkness we not experience. Sin and death entered the human race. “But we see Jesus.” Jesus Christ became a man that He might suffer and die for man’s sin, and restore the dominion that was lost. When Jesus was on earth he exercised that dominion.