Hebrews 2 PAY CLOSE ATTENTION // INTRO Last week we launched our new series in Hebrews and made it through the first chapter - Well done us! And though it wasn’t particularly long, it was packed full of Old Testament allusions to things that happened prior to Christ coming into the world as a human child By way of reminder, allow me to run through some of the main points from Hebrews chapter 1 We talked about the Supremacy of Jesus Christ, and that He has superiority over all things that have been created So only the Godhead (Father - Son - Holy Spirit) fits that description We are relatively certain that the book of Hebrews was written around AD 64–69 And we get the context, as the author of the book tells us in the opening, that “long ago, at many times and in various ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” And we should count that as a high privilege, to be sure! He loves us enough to tell us about himself, so that we might know Him and come into relationship with Him And we talked through the definition of MONOGENES, which is "pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship" Lastly, we saw that the letter to the Hebrews makes it clear that only one Person deserves to hold the primary place of worship in our lives, and it is not you or me! It is Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of God! We remember that even in His earliest days, wise men bowed down to Him in worship, and so we also do that today, and we invite others to know Him and worship Him He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and the second Person of the Trinity, being fully Man AND fully God And we need to remember that Jesus has supremacy over all things on earth, and also in Heaven Just by way of review, Hebrews was written just prior to AD 70, and we know that because there are NO references to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, when history records it’s destruction by the Romans, led by Titus Vespasian that same year We read in chapter 1 that God had spoken in the past to the Fathers of the Faith, at many times and in many ways But now, in these Last Days, God has spoken to Humanity by His one and only Son, who is the heir of all things! And as we read last week, He (Jesus) is the the exact imprint of God’s nature If you want to know what God is like, you need only study the life and ministry of Jesus In our world, there are a wide variety of opinions as to who Jesus is The Muslims believe that Jesus was one of Islam’s many prophets, and a good and holy man, but most certainly NOT the Son of God! The Mormons believe God created Jesus through a relationship with one of His celestial wives, according to their “holy book” The Pearl of Great Price But what many people don’t know is that Satan (in Mormonism) was A son of God (One of many) and a spirit-brother of Jesus, equal with Jesus in nature (see Book of Moses, Chapter 4, Verses 1–4) Then there are the Jehovah’s Witnesses who believe that Jesus was and is merely an angel who is just one of many “little gods” that they say exist But He is not an angel, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim Angels worship God, so Jesus can’t be an angel To underscore their belief that Jesus is not Almighty God, they give Jesus the title “god” but with a small “g” in their self-published New World Translation of the Bible in John 1:1 To them, He’s just one of many gods… What about New Agers? Many of them believe that Jesus was a great and enlightened teacher who realized He was God, just like we all can realize we are God! They call this “Christ-consciousness” and it is a dangerous heresy And then there are the Hindus They believe that Jesus was one of many great and holy men Many Hindus believe Jesus was a good teacher, and perhaps one of their 330 million incarnations of Brahman (Hinduism’s impersonal, pantheistic deity) Buddhists believe Jesus was an enlightened man But if you ask them if Jesus was God in the flesh, they will tell you plainly, “No way!” So, there are a wide variety of opinions in the world as to who Jesus was and is But the question I put to you this morning is, “Who do YOU say Jesus is?” If you believe what Christians down through the centuries have believed, you will have a high view of Jesus As Christians, we believe that Jesus was and is God Almighty He is absolutely equal in nature with the Father and the Holy Spirit (the other two persons in the Trinity) Why do we believe that? Plain and simple, that’s what God has revealed to us in the Bible, and we believe there are good reasons to trust the Bible (which is another sermon for another day) Trusting is believing in the promises of God in all circumstances, even when we don’t fully understand with our human minds God does what He says He will do, and we are called upon to trust Him and believe His promises So when we get to Hebrews 11, we are going to be wrestling with FAITH, which is accepting and believing the truth that God reveals about Himself It is by this trust that we are promised peace: (Isaiah 26:3) “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are focused on You, because they trust in you” So with that in mind, let’s jump back into Hebrews, and we’ll be in chapter 2 this morning… // TEX & EXPOSITION HEBREWS 2:[1] Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. [2] For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, [3] how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? The first thing we have to deal with is, “What is the “therefore” there for?” It is there because the author of Hebrews (and ultimately God Himself) wants us to listen attentively Why? Because we are prone to drifting away God has put a calling on every single one of you in this theater this morning That calling is to walk with the Lord our God, and to obey Him in all that He says to us, both in His written Word, and in His personal relationship with us through prayer and the Holy Spirit who lives in us Now, Momons will try to “buddy-up”and make a connection with us, because we both believe in Jesus, but don’t let your guard down with them Christianity and Mormonism are 2 VERY different religions! Believing in the existence of Angels does NOT make up for their aberrant doctrines either, so we do not cooperate, nor partner with them So in all this, what I’m saying is “Don’t drift from the message of the Bible!” V2-3 is saying that the messages down through the ages, that have been brought by angels in the past, have proven to be reliable They were and are true Truth from God Himself, just delivered by intermediaries And we know that every sin and transgression against God has, or will be met with retribution (with punishment) And if we ignore this or set it aside, it is to our own detriment, and the detriment of others around us We cannot neglect our own salvation, which includes our sanctification (being made holy) Thus the necessity and importance of practical holiness… And I’m jumping ahead here, but ,”Without holiness, no one will see God!” Heb 12:4 (Heb 2 cont.) It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, [4] while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Salvation was first declared by the Lord Himself Having made us, and seeing our first father Adam sin in the Garden, He knew what needed to be done But this plan was only known among the Godhead - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit There was no taking polls among the angels to see what their opinion was And it was attested to us - Proven; shown to be true with evidence, and supported with testimony We have the records of the eye witness accounts We have, in the Bible, the signs and wonders that were done to attest to the power of God, through Patriarchs, the Prophets, and the Apostles We have, in the pages of our Bibles, the eye-witness accounts of Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death and Resurrection And God made sure, through intermediaries, to have it written by eye-witnesses so that this information - this GOOD NEWS / the GOSPEL could be told to all, and spread among the nations One of the ways that God verified that Jesus was legit, and that God really had come to earth, is by the spiritual gifts now available for those who are in Christ These are given by God through the Holy Spirit to those of us who believe, as I’ve already pointed out Again, if you’re saved / born again, then you have at least one spiritual gift! My question is, “Do you know what it is? Do you know what they are? Are you using them for the Kingdom?” Just a couple of weeks ago, at our DEVOTED group on Wednesday night, we took a spiritual gifts inventory and talked through them So if you’re interested in doing that to discover the gift/gifts God has given you as His son or daughter, please let me know!! I’d LOVE to help you discover them Now someone will inevitably make the assertion that the gifts have ceased So let me tell you why the gifts are important and why they have not ceased It’s a simple logical syllogism: God gave gifts to the Church, for its use The Church is still here on earth Therefore, the Gifts have not ceased [5] For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. [6] It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? [7] You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, [8] putting everything in subjection under his feet.” This passage dovetails nicely with Psalm 8… Psalm 8 [1] O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. [2] Out of the mouths of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. [3] When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, [4] what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? [5] Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. [6] You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, [7] all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, [8] the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. [9] O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! So…let’s talk for a moment about Humanity God made a decision to make Man and set Him as His vice-regent or Governor, if you will, over the Earth But did you know that Man is responsible for the evil that is in the world? People like to blame God for all the hardship and trouble we have in this world, but it’s not His doing Yes, Satan, our adversary was already here, but it was the temptation of Man that undid it Man is not directly causing all of it, but Man’s sin opened the door for Satan, the Adversary, to also work in the world, and to do his worst And in our Fall, being IN Adam, the sin nature is in all of us It was Man that opened the door for sin in the Garden of Eden But before that, we were perfect in Eden… I mean, can you even imagine or conceive a world without sin? I can’t. I have only ever known a world with sin in it and in me. That’s what the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil gave us, despite God’s command not to eat of it He knew that we would be saddled with the knowledge of evil all around us, and disposed towards sin, and unable to maintain our own righteousness We are not what we should have been Sin has touched and corrupted everything The world is not as it was made, untouched and unspoiled as it was in the beginning… But it is not only the world around us that is corrupted It is we, ourselves who are sin-sick And in our corrupted, sinful state…we literally invent new ways to sin I mean, imagine putting that amount of energy into doing good!! But Mankind is not disposed towards good, but towards evil and selfishness I really don’t feel like I need to spend a lot of time on this Every one of you have experienced what I’m saying, without exception And the endgame of sin is death, but not merely a physical death, but spiritual death, as well Those who die in their sins will find themselves in Sheol until the world is ended Then, at that time, the contents of Hades/Hell will be moved to the Lake of Fire, and those who end up there because of their sin, will be in torment forever and ever It’s a scary reality knowing that many of the people around us day in and day out, do not know God through Jesus Christ, and that their eternal destiny is torment I’m cut to the heart! If Hell and the lake of Fire are real places, why am I not getting outside of the 4 walls of the Church to go to them and tell them? It’s a major aspect of Jesus’ Commission to us, and we need to engage! I NEED TO ENGAGE! I haven’t had a Gospel conversation for a long time, and my soul withers when I neglect it Pray for me! Pray that God will send His people (namely ME) to the lost with love and sincerity, to seek them and bring the Good News to them! (v8 cont.) Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. [9] But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. There is nothing that is not currently under the control of Jesus And it may not seem like it at times, but Scripture tells us that all things work together for our good, for those who love Him (the Lord)! And still speaking about Mankind’s calling to be fruitful and multiply, there is a literal/physical aspect to that, and there is a spiritual aspect to that, as well Teach your children the fear of the Lord Find creative ways to express your faith with those who don’t yet know Christ personally That’s our calling, and we need to heed that call that is placed upon us We won’t do it perfectly, buy by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we will try But there are many in the world who fret and worry because they do not believe in Christ So fear inevitably overtakes them Here’s a quick example: Predicted Drop in Population Mightn't Be Enough to Save The Environment After All In wealthier countries, it’s already happening. Japan’s population is falling sharply, with a net loss of 100 people every hour. In Europe, America and East Asia, fertility rates have fallen sharply. Many middle or lower income countries are about to drop too. This is an extraordinary change. Demographers indicate that to maintain a constant population, we need to have a total fertility rate of 2.1. Now, the United Nations World Population Prospects 2019 shows the fertility rate is 1.8 in the United States, 1.7 in China, 1.6 in Germany, 1.4 in Japan, and 1.3 in Italy and Spain. Simply put, women have fewer than two children throughout much of the developed world. A major factor is choice for women. Women are increasingly having children later in life and having fewer children on average, due to improved choices and freedoms in relation to education and careers. People are waking up to this reality, and it’s a severe problem In our fear, we try to affect change, but ultimately end up making things worse I look at this and I see the demonic hands of Planned Parenthood (what a joke of a name!) They’re not planning Parenthood They’re gleefully planning the dismemberment of children in the womb It’s pure evil Human sacrifices happen at Planned Parenthood What a clever name to cover up what they really are: the destroyers of the innocent! Sorry…I digress - back to the text… [10] For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. [11] For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, [12] saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” This passage is really explicit about Jesus being the One who created the Heavens and the Earth, and all that is in them He is the agent of Creation, and He is also the only means to the Father And in John 14, we see His Father heart, setting our hearts at rest John 14:1–6 [1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. It reminds me of the song written by Stewart Townsend: How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure! That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure. How great the pain of searing loss! The Father turns His face away; As wounds which marred the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory. And it was fitting for Jesus that He should bring many sons (and daughters) to glory! And even today, many will come to Him, and we should pray earnestly to ask God to use us in that endeavor [13] And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” This is one of those verses that is explicit about putting one’s faith in Jesus When we encourage others to put their faith and hope in Jesus, and they respond positively, then we have the privilege of being part of that process So think of salvation as felling a tree It takes many blows with an axe, or even a good bit of effort with a chainsaw If it is a big tree, it won’t go down quickly And there are surprises when you cut down timber, and dangers as well But when we persevere, it falls, and we prevail What I’m saying is that this is a parallel reality It takes time and awareness to bring down a tree without being hurt or hurting others So when we step out to talk about the Gospel, be circumspect, not cavalier We need to give that person or persons the whole truth, but succinctly And inevitably, when we’re simply playing around with the Gospel truth, and we’re not serious about it, there can be collateral damage to others But praise God for the many down through the ages, and even today, who go out to win souls Proverbs 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures (or wins) souls is wise. [14] Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Why was Jesus Incarnated? Why did the 2nd Person of the Trinity leave Heaven to come to earth and live among men?? The reason is so that by living a perfect and pure life before the Father, He would be able to extend salvation to humanity Because Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God without blemish, we who place our faith in Him are saved, but it is not by our works (the good things we have done) In fact, it only takes ONE SIN over the entirety of your lifetime to send you to Hell The hurdle is high!! To get into Heaven, you have to be perfect and without sin, and since no one (besides Jesus) has been perfect, we need an intermediary - someone who will stand in the gap between a Holy God and sinful Man And that Man is Jesus Christ, the Risen One! This is also why He rose again, because it would have been UNJUST to allow Jesus to stay dead Death was a punishment for humanity in Genesis - criminals who break God’s Laws But if we are IN Christ by faith, death has no hold on us What an incredible and loving God we serve! [16] For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. [17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. He helps the offspring of Abraham Jesus was tempted, and yet without sin Did you know that because of that, you don’t have to sin You will…but the point is that Christ has opened a better way, and that way is… Propitiation - the act of appeasing God's wrath AND restoring a relationship with God through Jesus Christ Your sins can be paid for and Heaven can be your Home If you’re hearing these things for the first time, or the 50th time, and have not put your faith in Jesus, I would love to pray with you, and for you when the service has ended… And I’d be honored to pray with and for any of you today, whatever the need!! Please seek me out after the service ends! // APPLICATION We are not what we should have been, but what we will be is something that we cannot fathom in this life Only in the life to come will we experience the full glory of the Lord As it is written,“No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? Trusting in God is a central theme throughout the Bible, underscoring the relationship between humanity and the Godhead 3-in-1, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit This trust is not merely an abstract concept, but it is a foundational element of faith, obedience, and reliance on God's character and promises Without that, we have nothing but our own musing and best thoughts about God The Bible presents for us numerous examples, teachings, and exhortations that highlight the significance of placing one's trust in God alone Jesus Christ exceeds all others people in history He is greater than any pursuit you might endeavor - greater than any hope you have longed for He is the better sacrifice than the bull or the goat, for he gave up Himself that we might go free from the penalty of sin He alone provides a better inheritance, as He is superior to all others And this is the strength of Hebrews This letter was so important to the Believers who were suffering, because by it, they could look to Jesus as better than, giving them home for the future! Better than the sacrificial system Better than the Law of Moses Better than angels And all this, when believed and taken into the heart, produces a bold faith that perseveres! The writer of Hebrews shows us that though we are faced with suffering and trials, we are not alone, and are walking the better path, so we cannot go backwards Jesus offers a better position, a better Priest, a better covenant, a better hope, and a better sacrifice! So as you leave this place this morning, I want to challenge you to answer this question, if you haven’t already: “Who do YOU say Jesus is?” And I invite you to coffee anytime you’re available, to just sit together and talk it through if you’ve never done that Or if you’re doubting, let me know Or maybe just kicking the tires on this “Jesus thing” It’s worth you time, and I’d love to help you in any way I can! In the meantime, keep looking up! Jesus is coming quickly! MARANATHA! Come, Lord Jesus! // PRAY // SING // GO WHO IS YOUR ONE?? Who are you inviting to Resurrection Sunday? It’s not too late to invite a friend or neighbor to church on April 20th! He made you in His Image He loves you more than you can imagine And He wants you to be with Him for all eternity, experiencing things you can’t even imagine! Pay close attention to His Word, and hide it in your heart! He died for you, so you live for Him! EMMAUS ROAD CHURCH, you are sent!!