Sermon Central
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Above, Yet Made A Form Below
Contributed by Sterling Franklin on Jan 2, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Even though Jesus was made Higher than angels, He came to earth as a human, a form below, so that He would be a proper High Priest and atonement for our sins. Praise the Lord!
"Above, Yet Made a Form Below"
By Sterling Franklin
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Jesus was created above the angels, even from the beginning, since the creation of the World. Even though angels were created above men, Jesus was created above angels.
Though we are sons of God in Him if we receive Him (John 1:12), Jesus was God’s Only Begotten Son (John 3:16), and God said to Jesus, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."
Jesus also was made heir of ALL things. Jesus is superior in rank to both angels and humans, but He came to earth as a human being. What significance does that make?
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Jesus became a man - Fully God, and fully man, that He might experience death, and conquer death by rising again, so that satan would be conquered.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
So, Jesus conquered satan - the devil - who had the power of death, by resurrecting from the grave as a human.
Satan is conquered by the Blood of the Lamb. Jesus’ Blood is POWERFUL. Powerful, and very pertinent for the atonement of our sins.
In order to be a proper means by which atonement was made for sins, Jesus had to be fully human (see verse 17) - He had to be made like unto his brethren (us).
Jesus was tempted just as we were, and what He did for us on the cross in His human flesh was bridge the gap - the chasm made by sin - between us and God, so that if we believe on Him, we will inherit eternal life in Heaven with Him.
Because of Him, death is swallowed up in Victory! "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55)
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:57)
Without Him we can do nothing (John 15) but we can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13) and are more than conquerors through Him who gives us strength (Rom. 8:28). It’s not through us, it’s through Him.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
In the wilderness, during the forty days He was fasting there, Jesus was tempted by satan. Jesus never sinned, and He just used Scripture to back Himself up, as His main defense against satan.
