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.
B. Verse 14 further describes the reason Christ came. The power of Jesus’ death is also described.
1. Satan has no power to condemn or judge. Satan has power to tempt and use sin to deceive.
2. Jesus’ power destroys Satan, sin, and death. No one need fear the end of an earthly life, v. 15.
C. Verse 16. Christ came to help believers of all ages for all time. These are “descendants of Abraham”.
1. Again, Jesus lived for us. Verse 17. In being tempted Jesus knows all Satan’s temptations.
2. In his flesh Jesus did not sin. Jesus is our perfect payment for all sins and wickedness.
3. There is no longer any need nor requirement for any more sacrifice ever again = God’s grace!
D. God’s grace is undeserved love for the sinner. No one can earn God’s grace. Really, no one even, ever deserves God grace. In spite of our wickedness, rebellion, and sin God in his grace saves us. "This grace…has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel"(2 TIMOTHY 1:10). Think of God’s gift of life and immortality. Our nation is obsessed with healthy living for longer lives. There is nothing wrong with being healthy. Consider the simple yet vital fact that immortality already belongs to us. Eternal life is ours because Christ our brother shared our humanity that we would share in his glory.
E. In our day and age family ties are not always what they once were. Many families have faced divorce or other disruptions. There are now blended families that struggle with the bonds of belonging in such a mixed family. Family bonds during the time of Jesus were important and valued much more so than today. Belonging to a family was and really still is precious. Jesus’ life as our brother brought us into his family. We have been made part of the family of God by grace. "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons"(GALATIANS 4:4,5). We are not stepchildren but the real, spiritual children of God!
F. We understand when God calls Jesus his Son. That is his rightful name and title. But – now – Jesus’ Father also calls us his children. As believers we are put on the same plane or standing as Jesus, our brother. This is truly a miracle. This is a God’s blessing, a divine grace that is almost beyond our limited, human understanding. Being a child of God and sibling of the Savior has eternal benefits. "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory"(ROMANS 8:17). Life here on earth is different than our life to come in eternity. Here we suffer because of sin. In heaven is perfection; we share in God’s glory!
CONC.: Christ came as our brother! Certainly this is the mystery of godliness. Jesus did not have to come to earth. Jesus did not have to be mocked in his death. But he did. Jesus did all of this for us. Je-sus became poor so that we through his poverty might become rich. By grace the Lord God Almighty has brought us out of darkness and placed us securely in his light. "He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter"(2 THESSALONIANS 2:14,15).
We stand firm in the faith God has given us. Stand firm in the fact CHRIST CAME AS OUR BROTHER. Jesus shared our humanity that we would share in glory. This glory is perfect and forever. Stand firm until that time when we will see our Brother and Father face-to-face. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
CHRISTMAS 1 rdgs.:
ISAIAH 45:20-125;
COLOSSIANS 3:12-17;
LUKE 2:25-40;
(PSALM 111)
