Better by Far - 2
The Excellency of Christ in the Book of Hebrews
We turn our attention in chapter two of the book of Hebrews. The theme of this chapter is the same as chapter one. Jesus Christ is superior to the angels. The first four verses of Chapter 2 apply the teaching of the previous chapter reminding us in verse three that we have, "such a great salvation". Hebrews was written to Jewish converts who were beginning to drift away from Christ back into Judaism. They'd forgotten the greatness of their salvation in Christ. Notice why this salvation was great. We have a great Founder. Verse three says, "This salvation which was first announced by the Lord". Our salvation is built on the person revealed in chapter one. Its built on our God and Saviour Jesus Christ the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We have a great heritage. We read in verse three that our salvation "was confirmed to us by those who heard Him". The message of God's grace in Christ was accurately passed on by faithful eyewitnesses. Godly spiritual men have told us the truth about what they'd seen and heard. We have a great seal. Verse four says, "God also testified to it by signs and wonders, and various miracles". How can we be sure that the eyewitnesses are truthful? The words of the Apostles were accompanied by marvellous signs. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself appealed to this to confirm the truth of His message to men and women. He said in John Chapter 14 Verse 11, "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or else believe me on the evidence of the miracles themselves".
Because we have such a great salvation there are implications for our lives. We must cultivate a right attitude. Verse 1 says, "We must pay careful attention therefore, to what we have heard". That's the only way any of us will avoid becoming negligent and drifting away from our love and devotion to Christ. We must listen very carefully to all that He has said to us in Him. This point is forcefully impressed upon us in verse two where we read, "For if the message spoken by angels is binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation". The 'message spoken by the angels' refers to the giving of the ten commandments. Stephen, the first martyr, said in Acts Chapter 7 Verse 53, "you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it". God punished those who didn't obey them. How much more serious is it to ignore the salvation which has been announced by the Lord. This will be punished with even greater severity. That's a solemn word of warning for anyone who has rejected Jesus Christ from their life. Don't turn your back on the one who said in John Chapter 14 Verse 6, "I am the way, the truth and the life". If you are a believer, then remember this, because God loves you He will chastise you when you begin to go astray. He does this so that you will not drift aimlessly.. He wants you to be brought even closer to Him and have a deeper experience of His love. Be attentive to His voice. Be alert to the perils of drifting because of neglect. Be aware that God punishes those who refuse Him and wander away. Its good to keep close to Jesus.
From Verses 5 - 18 of chapter two we return to the theme of the superiority of Jesus Christ to the angels. Again we see the greatness of our salvation in Christ,. Christian friend, you have a bright future! We read in Verse 5, "It is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come". This 'world to come' refers to what Peter speaks about in 2 Peter Chapter 3 Verse 13, he says, "We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness". This 'world to come' will be made subject to redeemed man. To prove the point in Verses 6 to 8 Paul quotes from Psalm 8. He says concerning man in verse 7, "You made Him a little lower than the angels, you crowned Him with glory and honour, and put everything under His feet". Nothing will spoil the harmony of man and creation. That isn't the case now. The world is marred by sin. Verse 8 says, "Yet at present we do not see everything subject to Him". How then can we be sure it will happen? The answer is given in verse 9, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower that the angels, now crowned with glory and honour". We see Jesus the glorified Son of Man; the representative Man; the exalted Man. For every believer what is true of the Lord Jesus now will be true of you in the future. He has entered into His inheritance. His inheritance is the believers as well. We read in Romans Chapter 8 Verse 17," now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs of Christ". In Hebrews Chapter 2 Verse 13 Jesus says, "Here am I and the children God has given Me". He shared in our humanity and tasted death for us that every believer might be delivered from the power of sin and death. He did this for man and not for angels. We need to get a fresh sight of Jesus crowned with glory. I'm sure that if we really grasped what is ours in Christ both now and in the future we'd be more keen to live for Him day by day. We'd serve Him with a greater love and earnestness.
Perhaps you're thinking, I can see what Jesus has accomplished for us, but will I personally make it to the end. The purpose behind Jesus being made a little lower than the angels is summarised in Verse 17, "For this reason He had to be made like His brothers 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". Jesus shared in our humanity not only to taste death for us, and to destroy death and the Devil, who holds the power of death. He also shares our humanity that He might experience the trials and problems of life. He knows what we are going through. We read in verse 18, "Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted". The aim of that suffering is stated in Verse 10, "Bringing many souls to glory". You'll get a glory because of God's grace and the daily intercessory ministry of your great high priest Jesus Christ. John Newton wrote the great hymn 'Amazing grace'. He said in Verse 3, "Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come; 'Tis grace that brought me safe this far, and grace will lead me home". When you arrive there you'll see Christ in all His glory. You'll see the angels falling before Him in adoration and worship, and you'll do the same.