October 27th
Hebrews, 2
1: 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. 2: For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3: 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; 4: 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? 5: For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6: But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10: 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. 11: 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, 12: Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13: And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14: 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; 15: And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16: For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17: 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. 18: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The writer of this marvelous book says, we Hebrews, should listen carefully to the things which we have heard in case we let this message slip through our fingers. Because if the Mosaic law which we received by angels was proven to be true (by the signs of Moses and Aaron) and every breaking of the law brought about a just punishment, then how will we escape the judgment of God, if we allow this message of salvation to pass us by. This message was first preached to us Hebrews by the Lord Jesus and was confirmed to us by those who personally heard him. And God also bore witness to the message of the Apostles by signs and wonders and different types of miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit. God did not put the world to come, which we tell you about, into the hands of angels. One man bore witness saying, ‘what is man, that you are mindful of him? or the son of man, that you came to be with him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honour, and did set him over the works of your hands: You have put all things in subjection under his feet’. Because everything is put under the feet of Christ there is nothing that is not put under his feet. However we do not yet see everything put under his feet. But we do see Jesus who became a little lower than the angels so that he might suffer death – crowned with glory and honour so that he might by the grace of God taste death for every man. (No limited atonement here!) It was the right thing to do for Christ, who is the creator of everything thing, to suffer in order that he might he might bring many sons to glory. Christ has already gone on before us to glory and has made everything complete and he has made all believers holy in himself. So he is not ashamed to call them his brethren. Then the writer quotes three passages all related to this truth of believers being brethren and children of God. Because we are men in the flesh so he took part in out humanity so that through death he might render ineffective the work of Satan who has the power of death and set free all who through fear of death are all their lives in bondage. Christ did not take the body of an angel but he took to himself the flesh of Abraham. In every way Christ has become like his brethren so that he might be a compassionate and faithful high priest before God to a sacrifice for sins of men which satisfies the holiness of God. And because Christ suffered temptation he is able to secure those who are being tempted.
Steve
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