Anyhow, today we studied Hebrews 2:5-9 and here are my notes:
**********************************************************
Intro:
The last time that we looked at this book we discussed:
- How chapter 1 focuses on the supremacy of Christ over the angelic beings
- How Jesus is uniquely the Son of God, the second Person of our Triune God
- How the first 4 verses of chapter 2 use the content of chapter 1 as the exhortation to remain faithful in the midst of terrible persecution...if Christ is whom He says He is then salvation can only be found in Him
Today, time permitting, we will examine the next 5 verses
Read Hebrews 2:5-9
Again, we've seen the superiority of Christ to the angels laid out by the author throughout chapter 1...and now we return to this theme in the verses before us. Remember that we have been warned not to neglect our salvation because Christ is real, and now we are told again that to do so is folly. You see, verse 5 starts out, "For He has not put the world to come..." See by placing our trust in Christ we place it upon the one to whom all things belong! The world to come is not under the dominion of the angels, why would we put our hope for salvation upon them? Such a thing would be silly! The answer to the question of who will rule in the world to come is one of utmost importance, for it is to this Ruler that our loyalty must be given.
The author of Hebrews then quotes from Psalm 8:4-6, and under the inspiration of the Spirit makes of it an application that relates directly to Jesus! Now clearly we know from the context in Psalm 8 that this is referring to humans. We are insignificant before an Almighty God, and yet He chose to give us dominion over the earth (see Genesis 1:26). And yet, look closely at verse 8...not all things are under the dominion of man are they? (see 2 Corinthians 4:4 & John 12:31)
We do not yet see all things under the dominion of man because there is one thing that man is not master of...one thing that all men must one day face. What is this? DEATH!
And so the words of King David in Psalm 8 do not find their final fulfillment in man, and this is why the author of Hebrews here identifies the true, ultimate subject of this Psalm 8 passage...and it is Jesus our Lord!
Look at verse 9: only Jesus fulfilled the conquest of death in Himself!
Jesus was:
- made a little lower than the angels, just as man was
- Jesus suffered death, just like all men do
BUT, unlike any other person ever or since, Jesus conquered death by His own power! Read 1 Corinthians 15:40-58
And Jesus conquered death for His people, did He not? Verse 9 tells us that He died in order to "taste death for everyone." In His death Jesus was crowned with glory and with honor, and He truly fulfilled the words of the psalmist!
What can we learn from all of this:
- In Jesus, we too are heirs of the glory promised in Psalm 8
- Because this is true, we must all the more take care that we are truly His...what a travesty to find one day that we were never truly His!
- Though death has its grip on us now, this will not always be the case.
Knowing that we belong to Him means we need not fear death. I am not saying that death is not a horrible thing...of course it is, that is why it is our enemy. We are not to embrace death foolishly like cult members (remember what Paul said in Philippians 1:21), but neither should we have a paralyzing fear of it. I confess that I fear the manner of my dying...but death itself hold no terror for me because I know exactly where I will be the moment after.
Do you?
Close in prayer
Posts
