Jesus-One Of Us

Jesus–One of Us

Hebrews 2:5–18

INTRODUCTION

I. We all have problems from time to time that require professional help.

A. Car trouble–mechanic

B. Health problems–doctor

C. Would you let someone work on your car who had never even seen a car?

D. Would you go to someone concerning your health who had never been to medical school?

II. Identifying the Problem is not that hard.

A. Car won’t start.

B. A pain in your chest.

III. The Prognosis may require help.

A. Prognosis means “likelihood of recovery” or “forecast or prediction.”

B. New battery or New motor?

C. Rolaids or Heart Bypass?

IV. The Prescription demands professional help.

A. New Motor = A mechanic

B. Heart Bypass = Cardiologist

C. Quicksand Example–The Sympathetic “Non–rescuer.”

1. I know just how you feel.

2. I was there once myself.

3. Beginning to panic now aren’t you!

4. The sand is at your chin, your heart is pounding.

5. Oh yes, I remember it well.

a. The Problem–You are stuck.

b. The Prognosis–Get out, you are safe; stay in, you are dead.

c. The Prescription however is not available.

D. Sympathy with your problems is all well and good, yet it won’t get you out of the quicksand, it won’t get your car started and it sure won’t free you from the bondage of sin!

1. What you need is someone with the power and ability to help.

2. You need a Professional.

V. When it comes to our eternity we ALL need help.

A. No matter how hard we work at it we can never EARN our salvation.

1. The Problem–easily identifiable, Sin.

2. The Prognosis–Remove Sin, you are safe; stay in, you are dead.

3. The Prescription–demands Professional help.

MAIN BODY

I. The Problem (Heb. 2:5–8)

A. In the beginning God created man to rule the earth with everything under his subjection.

1. Once completed God looked at his creation and said, “It is Very Good.” Gen. 1:31

a. Perfection

b. No Weeds

c. No Disease

d. No Death

e. No Sin!

2. The problem began very early. Gen. 3

a. Adam & Eve sinned.

b. The result for mankind was devastating.

(1) Physical death

(2) Disease

(3) The earth was cursed

(4) Separation from God.

c. Sin had entered the world.

B. We live in a fallen, sinful world as fallen, sinful people.

1. No longer can we claim to hold everything under our subjection.

2. Sin corrupted God’s perfection.

a. His creation. Gen. 3:17–18 “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.”

b. His people. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned”

3. Sin separates us from God and condemns us eternally. Eph. 2:1–3, 12 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”

C. The Psalmist quoted here is issuing a prophetic message pointing to the day when once again man will live in perfect harmony and fellowship with God, without sin.

1. The Hebrew writer says despite the blinders placed upon us in this fallen world, there is hope.

2. Despite the hindrances within us as fallen people there is a source of confidence.

II. The Prognosis (Heb. 2:9–13)

A. What is our likelihood of recovery from our fallen condition? Can we recover from our sinfulness?

1. We may not be able to see that future perfection the Hebrew writer refers to, but:

a. We can see Jesus!

b. We know He died for everyone!

2. Heb. 12:2–3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”