HF180 - Hebrews 2:14-18 (#6 Our Merciful High Priest)
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Subject: Bible Study HF180 - Hebrews 2:14-18 (#6 Our Merciful High Priest)
Hebraics,
This study will overlap our prior study in that I'll also reference verse 14 in this study. (Did not cover it in our last study.)
This is Bible Study HF180 - Hebrews 2:14-18 (#6 Our Merciful High Priest)
I finished our last study with notations on verse 13, which reads, "And again, 'I will put My trust in Him.' And again, 'Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.'"
As we pick up with this study, we will soon see how the work of Jesus revolves around the children of God. Let's continue:
Heb 2:14 - "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, ...
What makes this mysterious is that those who are saved or are being saved, are called children even before their salvation. This is a mystery that reaches across eternity. Paul speaks to this when he says that we were 'chosen in Christ' before the foundation of the world, and that we would be found 'holy and blameless before Him in love.'
This verse also reaches into the heart of how God redeemed us. It says that Jesus became exactly what we are in humanity. And because of 'who' Jesus really is, He could take the full sin judgment of all creation upon Himself. His death paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world. The merits of His death can only be appropriated to those who come to God through Him.
It was through the finished work of the cross that Satan lost his power over death. The gospel message declares that whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Satan knows this. This is why he fights so hard to keep the gosple from reaching the nations.
Heb 2:15 - "... and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
The fear of death connected with the fear of judgment. John addresses this in saying, "By this love perfected in us (completes its work), so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He [Jesus] is, so also are we in this world. ... the one who fears [punishment] is not perfected in love." (Cf. 1John 1:17,18)
Heb 2:16 - "For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
Here the writer is addressing the 'spiritual' seed of Abraham. The apostle said, "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." (Gal3:29)
Heb 2:17 - "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.
This again reflects back on the full humanity of Jesus. (He is both God and man.) In order to serve as our faithful high priest in heaven, Jesus had to take to Himself the full measure of all that it meant to be human.
As our high priest, Jesus represents each believer in His perfections. This was the role of the high priest in the former testament. That high priest carried on his breastplate the children of Israel. Jesus carries in His heart all the children of God. The Bible says that our life is hidden with God in Christ.
Thus the Lord is our high priest who no longer needs to offer a sacrifice for sins. The cross was one sacrifice, forever, for all sin. This theme will develop even further in the book of Hebrews.
Heb 2:18 - "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."
This is where we see the work of Christ as both His completed work, and as His on-going work. The finished work means that our salvation is eternally complete, or what is often referred to as a positional truth. A positional truth is a divine fact. It is something that cannot be changed.
Coming to our aid is known as an experiential truth. Coming to our aid speaks of Christ's continuous working in our lives through the Holy Spirit. In this case the adage certainly fits, which says, 'He saved us. He is saving us. He will save us.'
As we move through Hebrews, we'll see many of these beginning truths, unfold into greater realty.
The study is open for further discussion.
Blessings,
Buddy
---
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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