TEXT: Hebrews 2:14-18 (Read the Chapter)
READING: Psalm 103:1-22
SUBJ: The identity of Christ with His children in the destruction of Satan.
AIM: That we may be truly assured by knowing the means of our deliverance and the defeat of the enemy.
INTR: It is a most wonderful sense of comfort to know that our consolation is in the hands of Christ.
1. First, a quick review of the chapter.
2. The typical emphasis of the contemporary religion is to obtain professions. The scripture focuses on how the children are saved. We are to set forth the necessity that men may seek the remedy.
3. It behooves us to look at the nature of our deliverance as it is seen in Christ our Lord.
THESIS: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He succeeded. He made sure of it by personally taking hold of them.
I. The Necessity and Nature of Deliverance (vv. 14-15)
1. We would first consider that the “children” in verse 14 is the same as those in verse 13.
2. And that they are partakers together of “blood and flesh” – proper order from Greek.
1) Perhaps, referring to the benefit they have received from the Death of Christ (v. 13).
2) But certainly, they all had the same nature and need.
3. Christ took on Himself a human nature for a purpose:
1) Consider: Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. (Matthew 12:29)
2) How Satan is destroyed – Weapon (death) is taken, and his power is superseded.
3) The captive is taken with the claim of ownership – given a new nature and set free. (compare animals that are set free who simply take off)
4. The nature of bondage is understood in the fear of death.
1) It is a fear that is common to all men, a fear of the unknown if nothing else.
2) In particular was this true of Old Testament Saints
3) But is realized to the New Testament believer as well who may not have known the same manner of the “fear of death.”
II. The Divine Determination to Deliver (vv. 16-17)
1. The real force of “took on Him” is that of “took hold of.”
1) He did not take hold of the fallen angels, but rather let them go to their justice.
2) The “taking hold” is of someone falling or running away.
3) The same word is used in O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24)
4) The thought regarding the “seed of Abraham” (not all without exception) who are the true believers – the thought is of an individual as it is in Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)
2. “It behooved Him” – In order to accomplish what only He could:
1) To be like unto His brethren (v. 11)
2) To be merciful through knowledge of their experience.
3) His was not the unfeeling ritualism of the Aaronic priesthood.
4) Faithful in all things pertaining to God (meeting the requirements as a man and priest)
5) And thus, be able to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
6) Ours is a ministry od reconciliation: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians
5:18-19)
III. The Revelation of Assurance to the Delivered (v. 18)
1. To understand something about from what we are delivered (our house of horrors).
2. In that His is a firsthand knowledge of our situation. Compare Hebrews 4:15-16 and remember: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
3. He alone is able to succor us who are tempted.
