Hebrews Series
“Death Destroyed- - - Life Restored”
Heb. 2.5-18
February 26, 2014 Chester FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
I He Fixed What Was Forfeited in the Fall (v.5-9.)
Hebrews 2:5-9 (NASB) 5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? 7 "YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; 8 YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
A Angels were not created to have dominion over this earth, little on the world to come, but as of right now, the angels are in control.
1 The Father gave dominion of earth over to Adam in the Garden of Eden. (The fall caused man to forfeit/surrender/loose the crown.)
a The chief angel in the world momentarily is Satan
John 12:31 (NASB) 31 "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
John 14:30 (NASB) 30 "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;
aa We also know from Ephesians 6.12, that Earth is under tremendous demonic influence.
Ephesians 6:12 (NASB) 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
bb Demons are fallen angels and they are called rulers, powers, world forces of darkness and spiritual forces of wickedness.
b Fallen angels are not the only ones who have some rule in this world, even holy angels now have a kind of sovereignty.
aa Daniel 10 tells of Michael and another holy angel fighting against powerful fallen angels who were influencing the rulers of Persia & Greece.
bb Because the rule of this earth is now in the hands of both fallen & holy angels there is extreme spiritual warfare & conflict that happens.
2 When God Created Adam & Eve, man was given a crown (2.7), dominion/authority (Gen. 1.26.)
Hebrews 2:7 (NASB) 7 "YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
Genesis 1:26 (NASB) 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
a In Ps. 8.4-6, David is amazed how God shared His glory & honor with humankind in the beginning.
Psalm 8:4-6 (NASB) 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
aa When Adam sinned, he lost the crown (dominion over the fish, fowl, & animals.)
bb v.9, “But we do see Him (Jesus) . . . God’s answer to man’s dilemma.
Hebrews 2:9 (NASB) 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
b Jesus had Adamic dominion over creation like Adam did before the fall.
aa Fish (cf. Luke 5:1-11, John 21:1-11)
Matthew 17:24-27 (NASB) 24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?" 26 When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt. 27 "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."
Fowl
Luke 22:34 (NASB) 34 And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."
Luke 22:60 (NASB) 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
Wild Beasts
Mark 1:12-13 (NASB) 12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.
Domesticated beasts
Mark 11:2-4 (NASB) 2 and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 3 "If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you say, 'The Lord has need of it'; and immediately he will send it back here." 4 They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they *untied it.
bb As the last Adam, Jesus regained everythat that the first Adam lost!!!
1 Corinthians 15:45 (NASB) 45 So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
B We were made to rule this earth, but because sin entered the world, we will have to wait for “the world to come (v.5)” to rule/reign/have dominion.
Hebrews 2:5 (NASB) 5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.
1 At the fall we lost our dignity as evidenced by our moral & cultural climate in our world today.
a IL. (Pic of 2014 F-150 that has been totaled)
aa This is not what the truck was intended to be. It’s wrecked!
bb We wrecked ourselves in the Garden, too.
b When Jesus became a man (incarnation, crucifixion, death, resurrection) He regained/fixed/won back our wrecked image/forfeited crown.
aa If He had not become a man, experienced death we would still be wrecked (2.9.)
Hebrews 2:9 (NASB) 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
bb It is by God’s grace that Jesus restored what we lost.
2 We will one day be the sovereign that our Creator designed us to be thanks to Jesus! (v.9)
a When we read “Jesus” (v.9) we know who He is because of the Gospels.
aa The Jewish audience had no N.T. Jesus to understand; They read Jehoshua of the O.T.! (The One who saves.)
bb Paul is bringing his reader to the realization that Jesus, greater than the prophets, angels) is God in the flesh.
b It was Jesus who won the crown back by defeating the devil by dying on the cross. (The penalty of sin was paid by Him & everything that was lost by the first Adam was regained for man by Jesus.
T.S.: When humanity fell into sin, something else precious was lost: a family relationship with God.
II He Restored Our Family Relationship (v.2.10-13.)
Hebrews 2:10-13 (NASB) 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE." 13 And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
A Our crown of honor & glory was the least of our loss in the Garden for we also lost our place at the Father’s table.
1 “For it was fitting for Him . . .” (V.10)
a God is a holy God who cannot look upon sin, requires a price to be paid & a sacrifice made when the Law is violated.
aa His holiness & hatred towards sin MUST be satisfied.
bb Man will explain, excuse sin away . . . God doesn’t.
b Because God is a loving God, He provided the very payment of the penalty that His Law demands.
aa IL. A Trooper giving you a ticket then paying your fine for you; A judge sentencing you to death then taking your place at the execution.
bb Because only God can satisfy the demands of God, only the Messiah (who is one of the persons of the Trinity) could provide the sacrifice.
cc God allowed the second person in the God-head, The Messiah, to die so we could come back home.
2 “. . . author of their salvation through sufferings.” (v.10b)
a “Author” is better translated “captain” which literally means pioneer.
b He opened up a way/door for others to follow through.
aa IL. Polynesians, Phoenicians, Vikings, Columbus, Lewis & Clark, Daniel Boone . . . trailblazers.
bb Jesus, our Captain, lead the way for by going to the cross, the grave . . . He blazed a trail on Calvary’s Hill for us find our way back home to the Father’s table.
c Our Jesus is not only leading us down a road, the Bible says in Jn.14.6, that He is the road itself.
John 14:6 (NASB)6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
aa He blazed the only trail back home by suffering on the cross . . . my Cross.
bb The Son of God died so we could once again become His sons and daughters.
B Jesus, who shares the same daddy with us, is not ashamed to call us His brothers & sisters (v.11.)
1 He’s our brother/friend and all that He has is ours.
a Gk. for “brother” means “from the same womb.”
aa The womb, or the source, is God the Father.
bb Jesus and us have the same God as our daddy.
b What a blessing for Jesus to call us His kin!
2 (vs. 12,13) Paul quotes David’s experience (Ps. 22.22), yet the final & full application of its truth is found in the Son of God.
Psalm 22:22 (NASB) 22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
a John 19.26-27 (Jesus utterance from Calvary is actually Him establishing the Family of God.)
John 19:26-27 (NASB) 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
b v.13, Jesus assures us that we and He are eternally linked together as family.
aa How awesome is it that the Son of God call us His brothers with a straight face?
bb Conquering sin on the cross through His death, He broke sins mastery over us and placed His eternal righteousness on us.
c Romans 8:17 (NASB) 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
aa We are fellow heirs because His righteousness is now our righteousness.
bb We weren’t born into God’s family, we were re-born into it the moment we confessed Christ.
3 The practical experience of a Christian’s life includes sin, but the positional reality our new nature is holiness.
a Colossians 2:10 (NASB) 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
aa We are made complete, positional perfect.
bb If we are complete in position, we should now strive to become complete in practice.
b Now that we are Christ’s brothers, God’s children, we should try to live like it.
T.S.: By Jesus substitutionary death on Calvary he made all who would come to Him family, which is good news; but not everybody came away from Calvary blessed.
III He Rendered Our Foe Powerless (v.14.)
Hebrews 2:14 (NASB) 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
A God’s not dead (and He never will be nor can He!) He’s eternal.
1 Holy angels/fallen angels cannot die . . . eternal.
a Jesus didn’t leave heaven to live on earth to die on the cross to save angels (2.16) - - - He came to save people.
Hebrews 2:16 (NASB) 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
aa This meant He had to take upon Himself flesh/blood/bone to become a man.
bb Only then could He die and through His death defeat Satan.
b NIV, KJV use the word “destroy”; NASB “render powerless” v.14.
aa The word means “to render inoperative, make of none effect.”
bb Satan is not “destroyed,” but he is unarmed, defanged, declawed.
c The devil “had” the power of death . . . but not anymore.
aa Before the resurrection, Satan had the power (or dominion) over death–but not the final authority of death. . . that authority is in the hands of God
Deuteronomy 32:39 (NASB) 39 'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
Matthew 10:28 (NASB) 28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Revelation 1:18 (NASB) 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
bb Satan is the author of sin (Jn. 8.44), and sin brings death (Rom. 8.23) in this sense Satan exercises power in the realm of death.
John 8:44 (NASB) 44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Romans 8:23 (NASB) 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
cc Sin was (and is) the only right that Satan could stand upon to kill - - - Calvary & the Grave took the sin variable out of the equation.
2 Satan’s biggest mistake came when he endeavored to kill my Jesus.
a It was the death of Messiah that not only removed our sin, but it also removed Satan’s right to kill sinful mankind.
b Jesus was innocent, without blemish/stain, perfect Lamb of God . . . whose death satisfied all the Levitical Laws of sacrifice . . . paying man’s sin debt.
c The death, burial & resurrection of Christ has given us victory
1 Corinthians 15:55-58 (NASB) 55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
B Jesus broke the power of death by coming back from the grave, thus breaking the power of the one who had power over death.
1 For all those who have put their trust/faith in Messiah . . .
a Spiritual death (hell) has been removed from the table!
b Physical death cannot keep us in the ground!
2 The only leverage Satan over mankind, death, was destroyed when Jesus rose from the grave.
T.S.: Messiah didn’t just stop with removing the power of death.
IV Jesus Has Removed Our Fears (v.15-18.)
Hebrews 2:15-18 (NASB) 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
A Jesus understands not only the fear of death (Gethsemane), He also understands the fears of life.
1 He knows what it’s like to be human, tempted, despised, rejected, lied about & being falsely accused. (v.17.)
a He knows what it is like to be a helpless baby, a growing child, a maturing teenager.
aa IL. Rich Mullins song, “Boy Like You, Man Like Me” imagining God not only as a man, but God as a boy. In introducing this song during a concert in Texas he said, “If he was going to play baseball in Nazerth how many windows do you think he was going to break? . . . and who was going to make Him pay?”
bb He knows all there is to know about the human experience (joys, tears, laughter, pleasure, pain.)
b For 33 years He got real world experience training for the gig He has right now as our High Priest & Advocate (2 different jobs.)
aa When we cry out, “God, I struggle with . . . sex, alcohal, drugs, gambling, pride, illness, lust, gossiping, etc.,” He says, “I understand, I’ve walked in your shoes down there.”
bb “God, I’ve been blessed!” Yeah, I know. Ain’t God good?
2 v.18, “He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
a Lit, “run to the cry of a child.” (Succour)
aa IL. A parent can be in a room full of kids but they can pinpoint the cries of their own child’s cry and go running to them.
bb Angels can serve us, but are not able to succour us in times of temptation.
b Jesus, as our High Priest, gives us grace to overcome temptation; as our Advocate He represents us before the throne of God after we’ve given into temptation (sinned) and forgives us when we sincerely confess our sins to Him
1 John 1:5-2:2 (NASB) 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
aa Both of these roles are at work in Jesus’ present ministry.
bb It’s His ministry as our High Priest & Advocate that is guarantee our salvation for eternity.
c Hebrews 7:25 (NASB) 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
aa He died to save me, He rose and ascended to heaven to keep me saved.
bb “That one’s mine!”
B v.16, “ . . . but gives help to the seed of Abraham.” That’s us!
1 Lit, “take hold of to rescue you from peril, to help.”
a he didn’t cross into the physical realm to save fallen angels . . but to save fallen man.
b He knows all about us and loves us anyway!
2 Jesus is waiting for us to cry out to Him for aid, help, grace in the face of temptation.
a When life is hard, He’s as close as the mention of His sweet name.
b When we cry out to Him, He comes running, bringing us an arsenal of ammunition to shoot into the ugly head of temptation.
aa Here’s your ammunition, there is where you want to shoot.
bb He is able to come to the aid of those who are TEMPTED!
Conclusion:
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
