Christ Came As Our Brother

CHRIST CAME AS OUR BROTHER (Outline)

December 28, 2008 --

CHRISTMAS 1 --

Hebrews 2:10-18

INTRO: Every human being is born into this world outside of the kingdom of God. God’s divine desire is that all would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Because of man’s own denial, rejection, and unbelief many will not believe. Only by God’s grace do we gather after Christmas living in the knowledge of God’s salvation that has come for all mankind. "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 PETER 2:10). Everything God does he does for us. Jesus was born – for us. Jesus lived – for us. Jesus died and rose again – for us! Today we study this heavenly “mystery of godliness”.

CHRIST CAME AS OUR BROTHER.

I. Jesus shared our humanity.

II. That we would share his glory.

I. JESUS SHARED OUR HUMANITY

A. Verse 11 describes the close relationship of God with man, the divine with the earthly.

1. God is the one who makes men holy. People are those made holy. They are one family.

2. Mankind was created in the image of God: not to look like God, but be like God.

B. Jesus shared in our humanity. Without shame Jesus calls us brothers. Verse 10 tells of God’s plan.

1. Jesus was perfect. He did not need to become perfect through suffering.

2. Rather, it was God’s plan of salvation that was made perfect / complete by Jesus’ suffering.

C. Verse 12. On the Sabbath one would find Jesus at the synagogue. There he preached God’s gospel.

1. Jesus called the believers his brothers. Jesus had the same flesh as man but was without sin.

2. Verse 18. Satan tempted Jesus constantly. Jesus always resisted and overcame perfectly.

D. Christ came as our brother to share in our humanity. It was absolutely, positively necessary that Jesus, the very Son of God, take on human flesh and blood. Jesus did this for us. Our flesh is sinful. Our human nature by birth is an enemy of God. Jesus’ earthly life and human flesh was completely perfect. Jesus did not sin once – in thought or word or deed. "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin"(1 JOHN 3:4, 5). God’s creatures put to death the Creator so that the Creator could pay for creation’s sin.

E. During Jesus’ life one notes how often he was disrespected. Judas, one of the Twelve, betrayed his master with a kiss. The soldiers dragged Jesus away in front of many people. Jesus endured mock trials and false witnesses day and night. Finally the crowd demanded Jesus to be crucified. This crowd even asked for Barabbas to be released. Barabbas was a murderer and known criminal. Today’s world is no different. All too many reject Jesus. All too many deny the power of Jesus’ sinless sacrifice. But Scripture is quite clear. "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted"(ISAIAH 53:4). Christ carried our sins in the tomb.

F. Christ came as our brother. This also means that God is our Father. Today’s text wants us to remem-ber the value of the spiritual bonds of faith. The bonds of faith are even stronger than the bonds of blood. Jesus’ mother and family once came to a filled house wanting to speak with Jesus. Jesus asked the crowd who was really his mother and brothers. Jesus gave the answer. "Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’"(MARK 3:34,35). Hearing God’s word is doing God’s will. Reading and study-ing God’s word is doing God’s will. As we hear, read, and learn God’s will we are moved to the “leap of faith” – doing God’s will. All believers everywhere who know Christ belong to the family of God!

CHRIST CAME AS OUR BROTHER.

Jesus shared our human flesh so that by that flesh he could and would and did take away the sins of the world. Jesus died for all mankind. Jesus died for you and me.

II. THAT WE WOULD SHARE IN GOD’S GLORY

A. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection completed God’s perfect plan of salvation for all mankind.

1. Jesus did all of this to fulfill Scriptures, to obey God’s will, and for us. Verse 13.

2. Even Satan could not snatch out of the hand of Jesus any that were in his care.