Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 3: Warning to Pay Attention

Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 3:

Warning to Pay Attention

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

The “official” writer of this epistle is unknown. However, I obviously believe it is Paul since I have included it in the “Paul’s Epistles” Sermon Series.

I believe there is enough evidence from early scholars to agree this was more than likely Paul’s work.

Last week we examined Paul’s writings on Jesus, the Son being Greater than Angels.

This week, Paul will give a warning for listeners to pay attention, and the fact that Jesus was made fully human.

TODAY’S SERMON

“Warning to Pay Attention”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Hebrews 2

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, ³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

⁵ It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?
⁷ You made them a little lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
⁸     and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them.^[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. ⁹ But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. ¹¹ Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. ¹² He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

¹³ And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

  

 The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Cure for Lacking Boldness or Courage in your Christian Faith and Backsliding is a Right beginning for the Glory and Work of Christ”

  

I. WARNING TO PAY ATTENTION

a. Therefore

                                                                 i. Meaning, this covenant that Paul is about to speak of is because Jesus is greater than angels, and not possible if He were an angel.

b. If the word of angels are binding and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 

                                                                 i. Refers to transgression, disobedience, saying sin will either be addressed at the Cross, or else it will be addressed at Judgment; so each person has a choice.

                                                              ii. ³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?

1. In other words, if we ignore the cross, we are destroying ourselves.

c. The evidence of the covenant (Salvation available to all) is clear

                                                                 i. Salvation in the Son was first announced by the Lord

1. Matthew 4:17 – Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

                                                              ii. Salvation was confirmed to us by those that heard Him

1. Confirmed by healings and miracles which were witnessed by the original 12, as well as untold numbers of others

                                                           iii. God also testified of this Salvation

1. Both with signs, and wonders with various miracles

2. This is the highest evidence of all, absolutely undisputable

                                                            iv. And Gifts of the Holy Spirit

1. Listed in I Corinthians 12:8-10

2. Gifts which can only come by the Holy Spirit, which can only be obtained through Salvation in Christ

                                                               v. The evidence is clear, Salvation is here, and Salvation is NOW

                                                            vi. This IS the Church Age, the Age of Grace, the TIME to accept the New Covenant in Christ Jesus.

II.      THE SON CAME TO REDEEM MAN NOT ANGELS

a. V5 “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world”

                                                                 i. “But one in a certain place testifies”

1. V6 “What is man that you are mindful of him?”

2. Paul refers to Psalm 8:4-6

3. Showing God’s interest in us

                                                              ii. “Or the son of man that you visit him?”

1. Meaning to look upon in order to help or benefit.

2. The reference of “son of man” here is speaking of the children of mankind, not Christ.

b. You made Him a little lower than angels (“Elohim” – Godhead)

                                                                 i. “You crowned Him with Glory and Honor”

1. Which was never said of angels

                                                              ii. “And did set Him over the works of your hands”

1. Meaning God gave Jesus the authority

2. Although it was lost through the fall, through Christ and His atoning sacrifice, all will be regained, and we can have this through Salvation in Jesus.

c. You have put all things in subjection under His feet

                                                                 i. We have a defense for anything that comes against us in life, because all things are under subjection to Christ Jesus.

                                                              ii. If we are in an “active” covenant in Christ (have obtained Salvation), then we have a Lord over us who cares, wants to be part of our lives, and is in control of all things.

                                                           iii. He who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all one

1. Meaning, Jesus became one of us in the sense of humanity, not sin.

d. Jesus Proclaiming

                                                                 i. I will proclaim your name unto my brethren (reference to Psalm 22:22) meaning Jesus will put His name on us, claim us as His!

                                                              ii. In the midst of the church I will sing praise unto you (Christ will praise God because of this great Victory “Salvation”, which brought many into the kingdom because of the Cross!

                                                           iii. And again, I will put my trust in Him (II Samuel 23:3 Christ puts His trust totally in God)

                                                            iv. And again, behold I and the children God has given me (Isaiah 8:18 God brought Christ to the Cross, which made possible for man to come to Christ.

III.   THEREFORE AS THE CHILDREN ARE FLESH AND BLOOD

a. Jesus was made flesh and blood in nature, not angelic

                                                                 i. Jesus came as a baby, can you imagine Satan’s confusion

                                                              ii. Knowing Jesus would eventually come to Earth to correct the sin Satan had released through Adam but now knowing how

1. He probably thought as the disciples did, Jesus would raise an army and retake the throne of David.

2. The disciples, like Satan, did not understand that Christ’s kingdom, authority and power was spiritual in nature, and could not be overthrown.

                                                           iii. The infant Jesus overthrew Satan and all of his demonic forces.

b. How did Jesus accomplish this?

                                                                 i. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 

c. The fear of death

                                                                 i. As the scripture says in I Corinthians 15:55;

1. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

                                                              ii. Without Christ, death has victory over your everlasting soul

                                                           iii. Without Christ, the “sting” is eternal hell.

                                                            iv. However, a covenant the Lord wishes to have with you, what we call Salvation, changes all that!

1. In Christ He sanctifies you

2. In Christ He covers you with His white garment at death

3. When you stand before the Lord on Judgment Day, all that will show is the white garment of Christ Jesus

4. Death will have no victory, death will have no sting, for you belong to the Lord

                                                               v. Jesus says He will put His name upon you, you belong to Him

                                                            vi. He will praise God in heaven for you

CONCLUSION – He did not take the nature of angels but man;

Hebrews tells us Jesus took on humanity so that they may be redeemed.

Verse 17-18  tells us; “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Regardless of what you are going through in your life, Jesus understands your pain, your suffering, your anger, your loneliness,

Because He came as man, emptying Himself of His Godly powers, He became a merciful and faithful priest, our High Priest that we may come to God the Father through Christ Jesus.

No matter your struggle, He is able to help those who are tempted, because He Himself was also tempted, but did not sin.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

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