Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 3:
Warning to Pay Attention
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
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.”
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.”
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 hear the audio to this sermon? CLICK HERE!
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