THE DESTINY OF THE REDEEMED
Hebrews 2:5-9
Genesis 1:26-27 says, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness: let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God has a purpose and a plan for man. However, many people do not know what that purpose really is. In these verses, as well as in our text for today, we are reminded God’s original purpose for man, how God’s purpose was marred by sin, and how God’s purpose has been restored in Jesus Christ.
I. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MAN IS REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE.
Once again, the author turns to the Old Testament. This passage is from Psalm 8. Note that he asks the question, “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him?” Then the psalmist makes three declarations revealing God’s purpose for man.
Man is a creation of God: “You have made him a little lower than the angels” or “for a little while lower than the angels.” Moreover, man is the crown of God’s creation: “You have crowned him with glory and honor.” Again, man was created to have dominion over God’s creation. “And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. (See Genesis 1:26-28). The writer expounds on these thoughts in the words, “For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.” The psalmist said, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.” (Ps. 116:15).
II. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MAN IS RESTRICTED BECAUSE OF SIN.
Note the last sentence of verse 8. “But now we do not yet see all things put under him.” God created man for dominion, but something happened. Why has man not fulfilled God’s purpose for him?
To understand what happened to the human race, we must go back to Genesis 3. Adam and Eve were the first regents to care for God’s creation. Everything was great until Satan and sin entered the picture. Adam listened to Satan’s lies and violated God’s condition. As a result sin entered the picture and the entire human race was plunged into sin. Adam’s sin resulted in their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and ultimately to their death.. Moreover, sin and death have reigned since that day.
In the Fall, man lost his crown. His dominion over all things was restricted. Early in the Bible we read of murder, death, polygamy, war, incest, violence, etc.
Though man’s dominion has been restricted because of sin, man has been able to accomplish many things since the beginning of time. Knowledge is exploding every day. We have left the bonds of the earth and have been to the moon. We have conquered outer space but have not been able to conquer ourselves.
SPACESHIP TO THE STARS
We’ve been to the moon
And talk of Mars,
Some even dream
Of a spaceship to the stars.
But think about this
for what it’s worth
We’re in a mess
Down here on planet earth.
We’ve been able
To fly to outer space
But only Christ is able
To save our human race.
What good will it do
To go beyond the sun,
If we turn our backs
On God’s only begotten Son.
Frank Lay © 1/22/04
III. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR MAN IS RESTORED BY THE SAVIOR.
Is there any hope for man’s great plight? Our one and only hope is the Redemption that is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. “But we see Jesus who was made a little (for a little while) lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”
Note the words, “But we see Jesus.” The first Adam lost his crown and therefore lost his kingdom and plunged humanity into the darkness we not experience. Sin and death entered the human race. “But we see Jesus.” Jesus Christ became a man that He might suffer and die for man’s sin, and restore the dominion that was lost. When Jesus was on earth he exercised that dominion.
He had dominion over the fish (Lu 5:1-11, Mt 17:24-27; Jn 21:1-11).
He had dominion over fowl (Lu. 22:34, 60).
He had dominion over wild beasts (Mk. 1:12-13)
He had dominion over domesticated beasts (Mk. 11:1-7).
As the last Adam, Christ regained man’s lost dominion. Today, everything is under His feet. (Eph. 1:22). “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. How did Jesus accomplish this? By the grace of God Jesus suffered and died for our sins that he might taste death for everyone. He took our place, he died our death. Death has been defeated in Jesus Christ.
Look at 2:14-15. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
“But we see Jesus…now crowned with glory and honor that he by the grace of God might taste death for everyone.” When you and I identify with Jesus Christ in His death and receive Him as our Lord and Savior, the restriction is removed, and we become joint heirs with Christ in His eternal kingdom.
CONCLUSION: Listen to the following Scriptures. “And they sang a new song saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals: for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And thou has made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10)
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4).
John MacArthur wrote, “Who will be on those thrones? We who are the kings. We will be kings with our great king, the King of kings. The Redeemer King will rule with His redeemed saints over the redeemed earth.”
Man will be changed: “Now it will come about that in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war” (Isa 2:2-4).
The animals will be changed: “And the wolf will dwell with the Lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze; Their young will lie down together; And the lion will eat straw like the ox. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:6, 8-9).
This is the destiny of the Redeemed. Will you be there reigning with Christ?
