May 22, 2016
Morning Service

Heb. 2

 

            In chapter one of this letter the writer uses old testament Scriptures to prove His Son  has been put in charge of God’s dealings with man.  His superiority over all of creation, and mankind is to listen to what He has to say.  We understand, and believe that His Son is Jesus of Nazareth.

Heb 1:2-3  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (3)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

And because of all the things he refers to in chapter one the writer begins with:

THE WRITER BEGINS CHAPTER TWO WITH HIS FIRST WARNING.

Therefore

·         Therefore?   Because of all the things I mentioned in chapter one.

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

·         Hopefully we can sense the importance of what the writer just said.  Because many have let them slip.  Apostasy is rampant in the church today.  We are living in the times Paul wrote to Timothy about: 

            2Ti 3:1-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

·         We will receive more warnings later in this letter. 

(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;

·         If we neglect!!  We must not neglect doing the things that God has ask us to do.

And this great salvation

which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 

·         The way the writer puts this, it makes me think he never heard the Lord personally, but from those who had.

(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? 

·         They have heard of a lot of the things that Jesus, and His disciples had done.  This would impress many who heard it.

·         Notice;  gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will.  Listen to Paul:

            1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

            1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

·         It will be writings like this that will cause us to think Paul is the writer, or someone close to him.

(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.

·         The writer again quotes  O.T. Scriptures.  He doesn’t mention where it is found, thinking that these people should know where it is found.   Psalms 8:4-6.

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. 

·         The writer is confirming what happened to Jesus at Calvary.  Many of his listeners would have known this, and was possibly there when it happened.

·         Calling His terrible death, a crown of glory, and honor.  It was in the eyes of His Father.

(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. 

·         These are the types of things we must not neglect, or forget.  What Jesus went through that we might have salvation, and live eternally one day with God.

(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, 

·         Greg touched on sanctification Sunday evening, it is the will of God that we be sanctified, or set apart for God’s use.  We are to be different than  the world.  Listen to Peter;

            1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a             peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath           called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

·         Christian, do not sell yourself short.   We have been called to show forth His praises, the One who called us out of the darkness of the world, into His marvelous light.

(12)  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 

·         This is found in Psalms 22:22.  This whole chapter of Psalms is about the Messiah.

(13)  And again, I will put my trust in him.

·         Psalms 18:2. 

And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 

·         This was saying used by Godly men in the Bible that were called to deliver God’s people, such as Isaiah, and others.

(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.

·         Power of death?  Paul in ICor. 15 said, “oh death where is thy sting?”  Jesus destroyed the power of satan concerning death.  Christians, do not fear death, Jesus gives us victory over death.

·         And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  Some Christians are like this, and should not be.

·         Jesus is our High Priest, and He stands and pleads our failures to the Father.  His blood.

 

WE THANK YOU OH GOD FOR THESE FAITH BUILDING WORDS, HELP US TO APPLY, AND STAND ON THEM.