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ISAIAH 59:1-2  1 BEHOLD, THE LORD’S HAND IS NOT SHORTENED, THAT IT CANNOT SAVE; NEITHER HIS EAR HEAVY, THAT IT CANNOT HEAR: 2 BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE HID HIS FACE FROM YOU, THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR.  THE LORD IS NOT TOO WEAK TO SAVE YOU,  HE IS NOT  DEAF. HE CAN HEAR YOU WHEN YOU CALL.

THERE IS A PROBLEM–YOUR SINS HAVE CUT YOU OFF FROM GOD. BECAUSE OF YOUR SIN, HE HAS TURNED AWAY AND WILL NOT LISTEN ANYMORE.

ALL HAVE SINNED; ALL FALL SHORT OF GOD’S GLORIOUS STANDARD. GOD IN HIS GRACIOUS KINDNESS DECLARES US NOT GUILTY. HE HAS DONE THIS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, WHO HAS FREED US BY TAKING AWAY OUR SINS. GOD SENT JESUS TO TAKE THE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS AND TO SATISFY GOD’S ANGER AGAINST US.

WE ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD WHEN WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD, SACRIFICING HIS LIFE FOR US.

GOD WAS BEING ENTIRELY FAIR AND JUST WHEN HE DID NOT PUNISH THOSE WHO SINNED IN FORMER TIMES.  AND HE IS ENTIRELY FAIR AND JUST IN THIS PRESENT TIME WHEN HE DECLARES SINNERS TO BE RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN JESUS.

VERSES 23-24 DEALS WITH JESUS’ TEACHING ABOUT SALVATION AROUND THREE THEMES

• JUSTIFICATION: AN IMAGE FROM THE COURT OF LAW, JUSTIFICATION IS AN ACT WHICH JUSTIFIES AN ACTION OR ATTITUDE.  JUSTIFICATION SOLVES THE PROBLEM OF MAN’S GUILT  BEFORE A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.
• REDEMPTION: AN IMAGE FROM THE SLAVE MARKET.  REDEMPTION SOLVES THE PROBLEM OF MAN’S SLAVERY TO SIN, THE WORLD, AND SATAN.
• PROPITIATION: AN IMAGE FROM THE WORLD OF RELIGION, APPEASING GOD THROUGH SACRIFICE.  PROPITIATION SOLVES THE PROBLEM OF OFFENDING GOD, OUR CREATOR.

AS ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, SO IS THE OFFER OF BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE. IT IS OPEN TO EVERYONE WHO WILL BELIEVE; THE HARLOT, THE LIAR, THE MURDERER ARE SINNERS, BUT SO ARE WE. THEY STAND AT THE BOTTOM OF A MINE, AND YOU ON THE CREST OF A MOUNTAIN; YOU ARE UNABLE TO TOUCH THE STARS AS THEY ARE. EVERYONE FALLS SHORT, BUT EVERYONE CAN BE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE.HOW DO WE FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD? IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE EVERY WAY, BUT HERE ARE IMPORTANT WAYS WE FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

• WE FAIL TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY DUE HIM, IN OUR WORDS, THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS. THUS WE FAIL TO QUALIFY FOR, THE GLORY AND REWARD THAT GOD GIVES HIS  FAITHFUL SERVANTS.
• WE FAIL TO PROPERLY REFLECT GOD’S GLORY, BY REFUSING TO BE CONFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE. MANY FAIL TO OBTAIN THE FINAL GLORY GOD WILL BESTOW ON HIS PEOPLE AT THE END OF HISTORY.

JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE: BEING IN SUCH A SINFUL STATE, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE JUSTIFIED IS TO BE JUSTIFIED FREELY. WE CAN NOT PURCHASE IT WITH OUR GOOD WORKS. IF IT IS NOT FREE TO US, WE CAN NOT HAVE IT. SO WE ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE – HIS UNMERITED FAVOR, GIVEN TO US WITHOUT REGARD TO WHAT WE DESERVE. IT IS A GIVING MOTIVATED PURELY BY THE GIVER, AND MOTIVATED BY NOTHING IN THE ONE WHO RECEIVES.THE WAY THIS WORD FREELY IS USED IN OTHER NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE WORD. MATTHEW 10:8 (FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE) AND REVELATION 22:17 (AND WHOEVER DESIRES, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY) THESE WORDS SHOW THAT THE WORD MEANS TRULY FREE, NOT CHEAP OR DISCOUNTED.  AS THERE WAS NOTHING IN JESUS DESERVING OF MAN’S HATRED, THERE IS NOTHING IN US DESERVING OF JUSTIFICATION, ALL THE REASONS ARE IN GOD.

CALVIN ON THE USE OF BOTH THE WORDS FREELY AND GRACE: “HE THUS REPEATS THE WORD TO SHOW THAT THE WHOLE IS FROM GOD, AND NOTHING FROM US, LEST WE SHOULD IMAGINE A HALF KIND OF GRACE, HE AFFIRMS MORE STRONGLY WHAT HE MEANS BY A REPETITION, AND CLAIMS FOR GOD’S MERCY ALONE THE WHOLE GLORY OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS: AGAIN, PAUL’S GOSPEL CENTERS SQUARELY IN CHRIST JESUS. SALVATION IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE REDEMPTION FOUND IN JESUS. GOD CANNOT GIVE US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM JESUS CHRIST.

REDEMPTION HAS THE IDEA OF BUYING BACK SOMETHING, AND INVOLVES COST. HOWEVER, GOD PAYS THE COST AND SO WE ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY. THE WORD REDEMPTION HAD ITS ORIGIN IN THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS OF WAR ON PAYMENT OF A PRICE AND WAS KNOW AS THE “RANSOM.” AS TIME WENT ON, IT WAS EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE FREEING OF SLAVES, AGAIN BY THE PAYMENT OF A PRICE.THE IDEA OF REDEMPTION MEANS THAT JESUS BOUGHT US, THEREFORE WE BELONG TO HIM. PAUL EXPRESSED THIS THOUGHT IN 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20: FOR YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.

25 WHOM GOD HATH SET FORTH TO BE A PROPITIATION THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD, TO DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS THAT ARE PAST, THROUGH THE FORBEARANCE OF GOD; 26 TO DECLARE, I SAY, AT THIS TIME HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: THAT HE MIGHT BE JUST, AND THE JUSTIFIER OF HIM WHICH BELIEVETH IN JESUS.

PROPITIATION MEANS SUBSTITUTE.  JESUS, BY HIS DEATH, AND SHEDDING HIS BLOOD WAS OUR PROPITIATION, THAT IS OUR  SUBSTITUTE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS. JESUS WAS JUDGED IN OUR PLACE, THE FATHER DEMONSTRATES HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN JUDGMENT AGAINST SIN, WHILE SPARING THOSE WHO DESERVED THE JUDGMENT.

GOD PASSED OVER THE SINS OF OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WHO TRUSTED IN THE COMING MESSIAH. AT THE CROSS, THOSE SINS WERE NO LONGER PASSED OVER, THEY WERE PAID FOR. THE IDEA IS THAT THROUGH THE ANIMAL SACRIFICE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, THOSE WHO LOOKED IN FAITH, TO THE COMING MESSIAH, HAD THEIR SINS “COVERED” BY A SORT OF AN “IOU” OR PROMISSORY NOTE. THAT TEMPORARY COVERING WAS REDEEMED FOR FULL PAYMENT AT THE CROSS.

THAT HE MIGHT BE JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER OF THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS: AT THE CROSS, GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY OFFERING MAN JUSTIFICATION, A LEGAL VERDICT OF “NOT GUILTY”, WHILE REMAINING COMPLETELY JUST BECAUSE THE RIGHTEOUS PENALTY OF SIN HAD BEEN PAID AT THE CROSS.

GOD DISPLAYED BOTH HIS JUSTICE AND MERCY.

• HIS JUSTICE, IN REQUIRING A SACRIFICE, AND ABSOLUTELY REFUSING TO GIVE SALVATION TO A LOST WORLD IN ANY OTHER WAY
• HIS MERCY, IN PROVIDING THE SACRIFICE WHICH HIS JUSTICE REQUIRED.

YOU CAN NOT SAVE YOURSELF

EPHESIANS 2:1-10  COMPARING WHAT WE WERE TO WHAT WE ARE AS CHRISTIANS

1 AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED, WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS; 2 WHEREIN IN TIME PAST YE WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKETH IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE: 3 AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL HAD OUR CONVERSATION IN TIMES PAST IN THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH,  FULFILLING THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND OF THE MIND; AND WERE BY NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH, EVEN AS OTHERS. 4 BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, FOR HIS GREAT LOVE WHEREWITH HE LOVED US, 5 EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, HATH QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, (BY GRACE YE ARE SAVED;) 6 AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS: 7 THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHEW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS. 8 FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: 9 NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. 10 FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.  ONCE YOU WERE DEAD, DOOMED FOREVER BECAUSE OF YOUR MANY SINS.

TO THE CHRISTIANS HE SAYS WE USED TO LIVE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, FULL OF SIN, OBEYING SATAN. THE SPIRIT AT WORK IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO REFUSE TO OBEY GOD. ALL OF US USED TO LIVE THAT WAY, FOLLOWING THE PASSIONS AND DESIRES OF OUR EVIL NATURE. WE WERE BORN WITH AN EVIL NATURE, AND WE WERE UNDER GOD’S ANGER JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. BUT GOD IS SO RICH IN MERCY, AND HE LOVED US SO MUCH, WHILE WE WERE DEAD BECAUSE OF OUR SINS, HE GAVE US LIFE WHEN HE RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD.

IT IS ONLY BY GOD’S SPECIAL FAVOR THAT SAVES US.  HE RAISED US FROM THE DEAD ALONG WITH CHRIST, AND WE ARE SEATED WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS–ALL BECAUSE WE ARE ONE WITH CHRIST JESUS.  GOD CAN POINT TO US AS EXAMPLES OF THE INCREDIBLE WEALTH OF HIS FAVOR AND KINDNESS TOWARD US, AS SHOWN IN ALL HE HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

GOD SAVES BY HIS SPECIAL FAVOR WHEN WE BELIEVE. WE CAN NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS; IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD. SALVATION IS NOT A REWARD FOR THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE DONE, NONE OF US CAN BOAST ABOUT IT.

WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, SO THAT WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO.

THE NEED FOR RECONCILIATION

VERSE 1 CHRISTIANS ARE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD

AND YOU HE MADE ALIVE, WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS

THE WORDS HE MADE ALIVE ARE IN ITALICS, WHICH INDICATES THAT THEY ARE ADDED TO THE TEXT BUT IMPLIED FROM THE CONTEXT.

PAUL WRITES TO BELIEVERS WHO HAVE BEEN MADE ALIVE BY GOD’S WORK. PAUL ENDED THE LAST CHAPTER BY CONSIDERING THAT THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF GOD’S POWER WAS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

NOW PAUL CONSIDERS WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION POWER ARE FOR OUR LIFE. WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS: THOUGH CHRISTIANS ARE NOW ALIVE, THEY MUST NEVER FORGET WHERE THEY CAME FROM. THEY WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS. NOT MERELY SICK OR INJURED, BUT SPIRITUALLY DEAD. THE DEATH DESCRIBED IS NOT FIGURATIVE. BY NATURE, APART FROM THE SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION OF GOD, MAN IS TRULY SPIRITUALLY DEAD. THE MOST VITAL PART OF MAN’S PERSONALITY, HIS SPIRIT, IS DEAD, TO THE MOST IMPORTANT INDIVIDUAL IN ALL OF CREATION, GOD.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT A VOW TO DO BETTER. IT IS A TRANSFORMATION FROM DEATH TO LIFE.

• THE IDEA BEHIND TRESPASSES IS THAT WE HAVE CROSSED A LINE, CHALLENGING GOD’S BOUNDARIES.
• THE IDEA BEHIND SINS IS THAT WE HAVE MISSED A MARK, THE PERFECT STANDARDS OF GOD.
• TRESPASSES SPEAKS OF MAN AS A REBEL
• SINS SPEAKS OF MAN AS A FAILURE.
• BEFORE GOD WE ARE BOTH REBELS AND FAILURES

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VERSES 2-3 SPEAKS OF A LIFE OF DEATH

IN WHICH YOU ONCE WALKED ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT WHO NOW WORKS IN THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE, AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL ONCE CONDUCTED OURSELVES IN THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH, FULFILLING THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND OF THE MIND, AND WERE BY NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH, JUST AS THE OTHERS.

AT ONE TIME, WE LIVED IN TRESPASSES AND SINS, ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD, WHICH IS ORCHESTRATED BY SATAN.

SATAN, THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, IS STILL VERY MUCH ACTIVE AMONG THOSE IN REBELLION AGAINST GOD, THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE.

OUR OLD SELF IS CRUCIFIED WITH JESUS AT THE TIME OF CONVERSION. THE OLD SELF IS INFLUENCED BY ADAM’S INHERITANCE, BUT ALSO BY THE WORLD AND BY SATAN. IN SIN WE RESPOND TO SATAN’S GUIDANCE.

THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR: THIS TITLE FOR SATAN SPEAKS OF HIS AUTHORITY, PRINCE, AND HIS REALM, THE AIR, A WAY OF REFERRING TO SATAN’S ENVIRONMENT.

WE CHRISTIANS AMONG THE SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE, PROVEN BY OUR CONDUCT. WE EMBRACED THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY PERVERSIONS OF THE LEGITIMATE DESIRES OF HUMAN NATURE.  BECAUSE OF OUR SURRENDER TO THE OLD MAN, THE WORLD, AND SATAN, WE WERE BY NATURE CHILDREN OF WRATH. WE RIGHTFULLY DESERVED GOD’S WRATH, AND DESERVED IT BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE BY OUR HERITAGE.

THE BIBLE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE IDEA THAT ALL MEN ARE “CHILDREN OF GOD,” EXCEPT IN THE SENSE THAT HE IS OUR COMMON CREATOR (ACTS 17:28). PAUL SAYS THAT THERE IS A “FAMILY” OF WRATH THAT HAS ITS CHILDREN, AND JESUS CALLED THE PHARISEES “A FAMILY OF SNAKES” (MATTHEW 3:7, 12:34, AND 23:33) AND SAID THAT THEIR FATHER WAS THE DEVIL (JOHN 8:44).  WE MUST TAKE SERIOUSLY THE IDEA THAT THE CHILDREN OF WRATH RIGHTLY DESERVE GOD’S WRATH. THEY ARE NOT “VICTIMS” OF ANYTHING EXCEPT GOD’S JUSTICE.

B. THE PROCESS OF PERSONAL RECONCILIATION TO GOD

VERSE 4 GOD’S MOTIVE IN RECONCILIATION

BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US. PAUL EXPLAINS GOD’S REASON BEHIND RECONCILING MAN TO HIMSELF, AND THE REASONS ARE FOUND TOTALLY IN GOD. THE REASONS ARE HIS RICH MERCY AND HIS GREAT LOVE, WHICH HE HAS FOCUSED ON US.

WE MIGHT IMAGINE A GOD OF RICH MERCY AND GREAT LOVE WHO DID NOT FOCUS THAT MERCY AND LOVE UPON US. BUT BEHIND THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S SALVATION OFFERED IN JESUS IS THE FACT THAT THIS MERCY AND LOVE IS EXTENDED TO US. SOME HAVE WARPED THE IDEA OF GOD’S GREAT MERCY AND LOVE INTO SOMETHING THAT JUSTIFIES OUR PRIDE.

SOME IMAGINE THAT WE MUST BE SO LOVABLE THAT GOD HAS DECIDED TO GIVE US THIS GREAT LOVE! INSTEAD, THE TRUTH IS THAT GOD’S LOVE IS SO GREAT THAT IT EXTENDS EVEN TO THE UNLOVELY, TO THE CHILDREN OF WRATH.

EVERY REASON FOR GOD’S MERCY AND LOVE IS FOUND IN GOD. WE GIVE GOD NO REASON TO LOVE US, YET IN THE GREATNESS OF HIS LOVE, HE LOVES US WITH THAT GREAT LOVE ANYWAY. THEREFORE, WE MUST STOP TRYING TO MAKE OURSELVES LOVABLE TO GOD, AND SIMPLY RECEIVE HIS GREAT LOVE WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE UNWORTHY OF IT

– THIS IS THE GRACE SECRET OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE –

VERSE 1 SAYS: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

CHRISTIANS MUST GUARD AGAINST INATTENTION AND NEGLECT OF GOD’S MESSAGE THAT HE GAVE US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

THE SCRIPTURAL FACT OF JESUS’ SUPERIORITY OVER THE ANGELS HAS LIFE-CHANGING APPLICATION, AND NOW WE MUST CONSIDER THAT APPLICATION.  WHAT WE MUST DO IS TO GIVE MORE EARNEST HEED TO THE WORDS OF JESUS. IT’S EASY TO THINK THIS EXHORTATION TO GIVE THE MORE EARNEST HEED IS DIRECTED TO UNBELIEVERS; BUT IT IS SOMETHING “MATURE” CHRISTIANS MUST BE CHALLENGED WITH ALSO.

AN UNGODLY FARMER DIED, AND LEFT HIS FARM TO SATAN. THE COURT,  DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT.  HOW DO YOU GIVE A FARM TO SATAN?  THE JUDGE DECIDED, THE BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE WISHES OF THE DECEASED IS TO ALLOW THE FARM TO GROW WEEDS, THE SOIL TO ERODE, AND THE HOUSE AND BARN TO ROT. THE BEST WAY TO LEAVE SOMETHING TO SATAN IS TO DO NOTHING. WE CAN LEAVE OUR LIVES TO SATAN THE SAME WAY, DO NOTHING, DRIFTING WITH WHATEVER CURRENTS WILL DRIVE US.

VERSES 2-4 EMPHASIZE HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION?

For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

THE MESSAGE GOD DELIVERED THROUGH ANGELS HAS ALWAYS PROVED TRUE.  THE PEOPLE WERE PUNISHED FOR EVERY VIOLATION OF THE LAW AND EVERY ACT OF DISOBEDIENCE. WHAT MAKES US THINK THAT WE CAN ESCAPE IF WE ARE INDIFFERENT TO THIS GREAT SALVATION THAT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF? IT WAS PASSED ON TO US BY THOSE WHO HEARD HIM SPEAK. GOD VERIFIED THE MESSAGE BY SIGNS AND WONDERS AND VARIOUS MIRACLES AND BY GIVING GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHENEVER HE CHOSE TO DO SO.

 THE WORD SPOKEN THROUGH ANGELS IS A WAY OF DESCRIBING THE MOSAIC LAW, WHICH WAS RECEIVED BY THE DIRECTION OF ANGELS (ACTS 7:52-53). Which of the prophets did your ancestors fail to persecute? They killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet you didn’t obey it!”

HERE THE WRITER IS SPEAKING TO THE JEWS WHO HAD RECEIVED GOD’S LAW. THE IDEA IS THAT THE LAW WAS DELIVERED TO MOSES BY THE HANDS OF ANGELS. (THE CONCEPT THAT ANGELS MEDIATED THE LAW IS FOUND IN DEUTERONOMY 33:2, ACTS 7:53, GALATIANS 3:19).

 THE MOSAIC LAW WAS STEADFAST AND STRICT. EVERY TRANSGRESSION AND DISOBEDIENCE RECEIVED A JUST REWARD. IT DEMANDED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. IF WE MUST TAKE THE WORD WHICH CAME BY ANGELS SERIOUSLY, HOW MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY MUST WE TAKE THE WORD WHICH CAME BY THE SON OF GOD, WHO HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE GREATER THAN THE ANGELS? A GREATER WORD, BROUGHT BY A GREATER PERSON, HAVING GREATER PROMISES, WILL BRING A GREATER CONDEMNATION IF NEGLECTED.

THEREFORE, WE MUST NOT NEGLECT SO GREAT A SALVATION. THE WORD NEGLECT MEANS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT TO IGNORE OR DISREGARD IT. THIS IS A WORD TO BELIEVERS, NOT TO THE UNSAVED. THE DANGER DESCRIBED IS NOT REJECTING SALVATION, THOUGH THE PRINCIPLE APPLIES, BUT NEGLECTING OUR SALVATION. HEBREWS WAS WRITTEN AS AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND WARNING TO DISCOURAGED CHRISTIANS, THOSE WHO NEGLECTED AN ABIDING WALK WITH JESUS.

THIS WORD WAS SPOKEN BY JESUS, THEN CONFIRMED BY EYEWITNESSES, THEN CONFIRMED WITH SIGNS, WONDERS, MIRACLES AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN BY GOD.

THE WRITER CONFIRMS HE IS NOT A FIRST GENERATION CHRISTIAN. HE HAS HEARD THE MESSAGE SECOND-HAND THROUGH THE APOSTLES AND EYE-WITNESSES OF JESUS’ MINISTRY.

GOD CONFIRMS HIS WORD WITH VARIOUS MIRACLES, AND GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT DOING IT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL. JESUS SAID MIRACULOUS SIGNS WOULD FOLLOW THOSE WHO BELIEVE (MARK 16:17); IF THERE IS NO ELEMENT OF THE MIRACULOUS, ONE MAY QUESTION WHETHER THERE IS TRUE BELIEF IN JESUS OR IF THE WORD OF GOD IS TRULY BEING PREACHED. AFTER ALL, IS THE PREACHER GIVING ANYTHING FOR GOD TO CONFIRM?

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SPIRIT BRINGS SUCH MIRACLES AND GIFTS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. MIRACLES CAN NOT BE “WORKED UP” AND HYPED; MUCH DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE BY THOSE WHO DO NOT THINK ENOUGH MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING, AND WANT TO “PRIME THE PUMP” THROUGH THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE FLESH.

IT’S HARD TO SAY WHICH IS WORSE – THE DENIAL OF MIRACLES AND THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, OR THE FLESHLY COUNTERFEIT OF THEM. BUT SATAN DOES NOT CARE WHICH SIDE OF THE BOAT HE THROWS YOU OVER, JUST AS LONG AS YOU GET SOAKING WET!

IN VERSES  5-9 WE ARE TOLD THAT JESUS IS HUMAN, BECAUSE GOD PUT THE WORLD IN SUBJECTION TO MAN, NOT ANGELS:

PSALM 8:4-9  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and  whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

 THE FUTURE WORLD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WILL NOT BE CONTROLLED BY ANGELS. SOMEWHERE IN THE SCRIPTURES IT SAYS, “WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU SHOULD THINK OF HIM, AND THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU SHOULD CARE FOR HIM? FOR A LITTLE WHILE YOU ARE MADE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, AND CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR.

JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY OVER ALL THINGS. WHEN IT SAYS “ALL THINGS,” IT MEANS NOTHING IS LEFT OUT. BUT WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN ALL OF THIS HAPPEN. WHAT WE DO SEE IS JESUS, WHO “FOR A LITTLE WHILE WAS MADE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS” AND NOW IS “CROWNED WITH GLORY AND HONOR” BECAUSE HE SUFFERED DEATH FOR US. BY GOD’S GRACE, JESUS TASTED DEATH FOR EVERYONE IN ALL THE WORLD.

IN CHAPTER ONE, THE WRITER TO THE HEBREWS DEMONSTRATED THE DEITY OF JESUS AND HIS SUPERIORITY OVER ALL ANGELS BRILLIANTLY FROM THE SCRIPTURES. NOW HE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE HUMANITY OF JESUS FROM THE SCRIPTURES, AND APPLY THE IMPLICATIONS OF JESUS’ HUMANITY.

IT IS SCRIPTURALLY WRONG TO THINK OF JESUS AS MERELY GOD OR MERELY MAN. IT IS WRONG TO THINK OF HIM AS 50% GOD, 50% MAN (OR ANY OTHER PERCENTAGE SPLIT). IT IS WRONG TO THINK OF HIM AS “MAN ON THE OUTSIDE” AND “GOD ON THE INSIDE.” THE BIBLE TEACHES JESUS IS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN, THAT A HUMAN NATURE WAS ADDED TO HIS DIVINE NATURE, AND BOTH NATURES EXISTS IN ONE PERSON, JESUS CHRIST.

THE FIRST FALSE TEACHING ABOUT JESUS ARISING IN THE CHURCH WAS NOT THAT HE WAS NOT GOD, BUT THAT HE WAS NOT REALLY HUMAN AND HE ONLY SEEMED TO BE HUMAN. THE HERESY WAS CALLED DOCETISM, COMING FROM THE GREEK WORD TO SEEM, GOD NEVER GAVE ANGELS THE KIND OF DOMINION MAN ORIGINALLY HAD OVER THE EARTH (GENESIS 1:26-30); ANGELS DO NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER THIS WORLD, OR THE WORLD TO COME.

 THE SCRIPTURE ASKS: WHAT IS MAN: THE QUOTATION FROM PSALM 8:4-6 SHOWS BOTH THE SMALLNESS OF MAN IN RELATION TO THE GOD OF CREATION, AND THE DOMINION THAT GOD HAS GIVEN MAN, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS. HE LEFT NOTHING THAT IS NOT PUT UNDER HIM: THE WRITER EMPHASIZES THE POINT: GOD HAS PUT ALL THINGS,  NOT SOME THINGS, UNDER SUBJECTION TO HUMAN BEINGS. HOW CAN JESUS RULE AND REIGN OVER THE WORLD TO COME IF HE IS NOT HUMAN? THEN GOD’S PROMISE TO PUT THE WORLD UNDER SUBJECTION TO MAN WOULD BE UNTRUE.

THE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTION ARE NOW DEALT WITH.  WE DO NOT YET SEE ALL THINGS PUT UNDER HIM. BUT WE SEE JESUS, WHO WAS MADE A LITTLE 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. BUT NOW WE DO NOT YET SEE ALL THINGS PUT UNDER HIM: HOW CAN WE SAY THAT ALL THINGS ARE SUBJECT TO MAN? IT SEEMS TO BE AN UNFULFILLED PROMISE. BUT WE SEE JESUS: THE PROMISE IS FULFILLED IN JESUS, WHO IS LORD OVER ALL, AND THROUGH WHOM MAN CAN REGAIN THE DOMINION ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR ADAM (REVELATION 1:6, 5:10; MATTHEW 25:21).

HOW MANY THINGS WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND ARE PUT INTO PROPER FOCUS IF WE WILL ONLY SEE JESUS! THE ANSWERS TO LIFE’S MOST PERPLEXING QUESTIONS ARE NOT QUESTIONS OF “WHY?” THOUGH WE OFTEN TORTURE OURSELVES ASKING “WHY?” THE GREATEST ANSWER IS A WHO – JESUS CHRIST! THIS PROMISE OF DOMINION COULD ONLY BE FULFILLED THROUGH THE HUMILITY (A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS) AND SUFFERING (THE SUFFERING OF DEATH) OF JESUS, WHO DEFEATED THE EVIL ADAM HAD INTRODUCED INTO THE WORLD – WHICH WAS DEATH (ROMANS 5:12).

GOD GAVE MAN DOMINION OVER THE EARTH, BUT MAN FORFEITED HIS POWER (NOT HIS RIGHT OR AUTHORITY) TO TAKE THAT DOMINION THROUGH SIN, AND THE PRINCIPLE OF DEATH TOOK AWAY THE POWER TO RULE. BUT JESUS CAME, AND THROUGH HIS HUMILITY AND SUFFERING, DEFEATED THE POWER OF DEATH, AND MAKES POSSIBLE THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE THAT HUMANS WILL HAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH – FULFILLED BOTH THROUGH JESUS’ OWN DOMINION, AND THE RULE OF BELIEVERS WITH HIM. (REVELATION 20:4)

IN VERSES 10-13 WE KNOW JESUS IS HUMAN, BECAUSE HE CALLS US BRETHREN.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

IT IS RIGHT THAT GOD–WHO MADE EVERYTHING AND FOR WHOM EVERYTHING WAS MADE–SHOULD BRING HIS CHILDREN INTO GLORY. THROUGH THE SUFFERING OF JESUS, GOD MADE HIM A PERFECT LEADER, ONE FIT TO BRING THEM INTO THEIR SALVATION.JESUS AND THE ONES HE MAKES HOLY HAVE THE SAME FATHER. THAT IS WHY JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL THEM HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS. FOR HE SAID TO GOD, “I WILL DECLARE THE WONDER OF YOUR NAME TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. I WILL PRAISE YOU AMONG ALL YOUR PEOPLE.” HE ALSO SAID, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” AND IN THE SAME CONTEXT HE SAID, “HERE I AM–TOGETHER WITH THE CHILDREN GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” NOT ONLY WAS IT NECESSARY – IT WAS FITTING FOR THE SOVEREIGN GOD – FOR WHOM ARE ALL THINGS AND BY WHOM ARE ALL THINGS TO BE MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERINGS IN THE TASK OF BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY.

GOD COULD HAVE ENGINEERED A WAY TO SAVE US THAT DID NOT REQUIRE THE SUFFERING OF THE SON OF GOD; BUT IT WAS FITTING FOR JESUS TO SAVE US AT THE COST OF HIS OWN AGONY. THIS IS THE ULTIMATE ILLUSTRATION OF THE FACT THAT REAL LOVE, REAL GIVING, INVOLVES SACRIFICE. AS DAVID SAID, NOR WILL I OFFER . . . OFFERINGS TO THE LORD MY GOD WHICH COSTS ME NOTHING (2 SAMUEL 24:24).

GOD’S LOVE FOR US HAD TO SHOW ITSELF IN SACRIFICE, AND WHAT COULD GOD SACRIFICE UNLESS HE ADDED HUMANITY TO HIS DEITY AND SUFFERED ON OUR BEHALF? JESUS WAS MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERINGS. IT IS NOT THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING LACKING IN HIS DEITY, BUT ONLY IN HIS EXPERIENCE. THIS IS HOW GOD IN HEAVEN KNOWS SUFFERING, BY EXPERIENCE. THE POINT IS THAT IT WAS FITTING FOR THE FATHER TO DO THIS, IN THE SENSE THAT IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM (ISAIAH 53:10) FOR THE SAKE OF BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY. THEREFORE, WE ARE SANCTIFIED BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN SANCTIFIED. WE ARE ALL OF THE SAME HUMAN FAMILY, SO JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL THEM (THAT IS, US) BRETHREN. HE COULD NOT BE OUR BROTHER UNLESS HE WAS ALSO HUMAN LIKE US. JESUS IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL US BRETHREN. BUT ARE WE ASHAMED TO OPENLY SAY THAT WE BELONG TO JESUS? WHO SHOULD BE MORE EMBARRASSED?

VERSES 14-16 SPEAKS OF  WHAT JESUS DID AS OUR BROTHER

BECAUSE GOD’S CHILDREN ARE HUMAN BEINGS, MADE OF FLESH AND BLOOD.

Christ shared man’s mortal nature, that by His dying men might be freed from death Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

JESUS ALSO BECAME FLESH AND BLOOD BY BEING BORN IN HUMAN FORM. FOR ONLY AS A HUMAN BEING COULD HE DIE, AND ONLY BY DYING COULD HE BREAK THE POWER OF SATAN, WHO HAD THE POWER OF DEATH. ONLY IN THIS WAY COULD HE DELIVER THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED ALL THEIR LIVES AS SLAVES TO THE FEAR OF DYING.

WE ALL KNOW THAT JESUS CAME TO HELP THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM, NOT TO HELP THE ANGELS. FOR JESUS TO TRULY FULFILL THE ROLE OF “ELDER BROTHER” FOR THE FAMILY OF THE REDEEMED, HE HAD TO TAKE ON FLESH AND BLOOD. HE HAD TO ENTER INTO THE PRISON TO FREE THE CAPTIVES. THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM WHO HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, SATAN.

SOME TAKE THIS AS MEANING THAT JESUS DESTROYED SATAN’S “RIGHT” TO RULE OVER MAN, WHICH WAS PRESUMABLY GIVEN TO HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN THROUGH ADAM’S REBELLION. THE IDEA IS THAT JESUS TOOK AWAY SATAN’S “RIGHT” TO RULE BY ALLOWING SATAN TO “UNLAWFULLY” TAKE JESUS’ LIFE ON THE CROSS, AND SATAN’S “UNLAWFUL” ACTION AGAINST JESUS FORFEITED HIS RIGHT TO RULE OVER MAN.

IN THIS THINKING, THE END RESULT IS THAT SATAN HAS NO RIGHT OVER THOSE WHO COME TO GOD THROUGH JESUS’ WORK ON THE CROSS. SINCE DEATH ONLY HAS DOMINION OVER THOSE WHO ARE BORN SINNERS OR WHO HAVE SINNED (ROMANS 5:12), SATAN HAD NO “RIGHT” TO TAKE THE LIFE OF JESUS, WHO HAD NEVER SINNED NOR WAS BORN A SINNER . BY THIS THINKING, SATAN COMMITTED  MURDER, WHICH IS ACCORDING TO HIS NATURE (JOHN 8:44).

JESUS ALLOWED SATAN TO BRUISE HIS HEEL SO THAT HE COULD BRUISE SATAN’S HEAD (GENESIS 3:15). THE PROBLEM WITH THIS APPROACH IS THAT WE KNOW SATAN DID NOT TAKE JESUS’ LIFE; HE LAID IT DOWN OF HIS OWN ACCORD, AND NO ONE TOOK IT FROM HIM (JOHN 10:17-18).

ONE MIGHT SAY SATAN IS GUILTY OF “ATTEMPTED MURDER” OVER SOMEONE HE HAD NO RIGHTS OVER, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STAIN OF SIN ON JESUS. SATAN CERTAINLY WANTED TO MURDER JESUS, AND TRIED TO, AND IS GUILTY OF THAT.

THE FEAR OF DEATH RULES AS A TYRANT OVER HUMANITY. SOME TRY TO MAKE PEACE WITH DEATH BY CALLING IT THEIR FRIEND. BUT CHRISTIANS HAVE NO FEAR OF DEATH (THOUGH PERHAPS A FEAR OF DYING), NOT BECAUSE DEATH IS THEIR FRIEND, BUT BECAUSE IT IS A DEFEATED ENEMY WHO NOW SERVES GOD’S PURPOSE IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE.

THE FATHER’S WORK IN JESUS WAS NOT FOR THE SAKE OF ANGELS IT IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF FAITH. SEED OF ABRAHAM HERE IS USED IN THE SENSE OF THOSE WHO ARE ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN INWARDLY, NOT ETHNICALLY (ROMANS 2:28-29, GALATIANS 3:7).

VERSES 17-18 TELLS US THAT JESUS IS OUR FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

(THE WORD SUCCOR MEANS TO HELP) IT WAS NECESSARY FOR JESUS TO BE IN EVERY RESPECT LIKE US, HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SO THAT HE COULD BE OUR MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST BEFORE GOD. HE THEN COULD OFFER A SACRIFICE THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE.

SINCE HE HAS GONE THROUGH SUFFERING AND TEMPTATION, HE IS ABLE TO HELP US WHEN WE ARE BEING TEMPTED. IF JESUS WERE NOT LIKE US, HE COULD NOT BE OUR HIGH PRIEST, REPRESENTING US BEFORE THE FATHER AND MAKING ATONEMENT (PROPITIATION) FOR OUR SINS.  NEITHER THE DEITY NOR THE HUMANITY OF JESUS ARE NEGOTIABLE. IF WE DIMINISH EITHER HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO SAVE US.

THE HIGH PRIEST WORE A BREASTPLATE THAT HAD STONES, ENGRAVED WITH THE NAMES OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, ON BOTH HIS CHEST AND HIS SHOULDERS. THE HIGH PRIEST WOULD THEREFORE BE IN CONSTANT SYMPATHY WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, CARRYING THEM ON HIS HEART AND IN HIS WORK (ON THE SHOULDERS).