Lesson 3
Christ, our perfect Savior
Hebrews 2.7-15
BASIC BIBLICAL TEXT
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2.18
GOLDEN TEXT
Understand the doctrine of the incarnation of Jesus;
Explain that there is no salvation outside of Jesus;
Decide to stand firm in the faith.
OBJECTIVES
According to the Scriptures, there is only one personality in Christ, but two natures: the human and the divine, called the hypostatic union. Both were so united and related that they formed a single personality, a personal unit. Chapter 2 of the letter to the Hebrews highlights the humanity of Jesus; moreover, it emphasizes humanity's need for redemption.
INTRODUCTION
THE MINISTRY OF INCARNATION
1 - THE MINISTRY OF INCARNATION
The reason for the incarnation
How could God have become man?
Christ Assumed Messianic Lordship
Christ conquered death
1.1 - The reason for the incarnation
God himself became man in order to give the human race a concrete, definite and palpable idea of what the person is that we should have in mind when we reflect on the Supreme Being. God is Jesus the Man. His appearance on earth is the central event of all history. The Old Testament provides the setting for this appearance. The New Testament describes it.
1.1 - The reason for the incarnation
Christ became incarnate to fulfill His salvific mission; maintaining, however, His divine nature, being one with the Father (Jo 10.30) and superior to the angels. The writer of Hebrews demonstrated that the eternal Son entered Creation, becoming man, and thereby temporarily becoming lower than the angels (Psalm 8; Phil 2.8,9).
1.2 - How could God have become man?
The fact that an infinite and eternal God was incarnated and lived among men, limiting His power and glory, is beyond human understanding. This is undoubtedly a mystery of faith. Jesus did not assume angelic nature to save fallen angels (2 Pet. 2.4; Rev. 12.7-9); rather, he took a lower position than the angels in order to become a Man. While here on earth, Christ became like the brethren (Heb 2:17), without sinning (Heb 4:15).
1.2 - How could God have become man?
Before coming into the world, the Son enjoyed complete equality with the Father (John 17:24). Even in human form, His essential nature remained unchanged: He was still God (John 5:18). Christ's superiority was not canceled out by the fact that He came into the world as a man, nor by the fact that He suffered as such. In fact, Jesus voluntarily gave up His heavenly authority, in order to thereby take away the sin of the world (Phil. 2:7,8). Christ discarded the splendor of his position to identify himself with sinful humanity.
Augusto Cury
“Never one so great had become so small to make the little ones great”.
1.3 - Christ Assumed Messianic Lordship
As a result of the incarnation, Christ came to possess something that was not necessarily available before. It was his, Jesus's, the birthright, but it was from His incarnation, death and resurrection that the messianic lordship arose. In essence, Christ was always the Son of God, but that did not make him the Messiah; it was necessary that He should become the Son of man.
1.4 - Christ conquered death
It was through the death of Jesus that the new and living way of reconciliation with the Father opened up for us. It was through his death that we received life. Jesus came to die, not as a martyr, but as a redeemer. His sacrifice was vicarious, substitutive, atoning, and purifying.
1.4 - Christ conquered death
The cross brought Jesus to the crown, and the sacrifice paved His way to glory (Phil. 2:9-11). The humiliation led to his glorification. By resurrecting and ascending into heaven, Jesus broke the backbone of death: He killed death with His death and triumphed over it in His resurrection. Having plucked out the sting of death, the Son of God has given us victory over it as well (1 Cor. 15:54,55).
THE GREAT SALVATION IN JESUS
2 - THE GREAT SALVATION IN JESUS
Jesus is the author of salvation
We are heirs of salvation
Warning against falling away from the faith
2.1 - Jesus is the author of salvation
Salvation doesn't just mean deliverance from hell. The term embraces all transforming acts and processes on the part of God, through Jesus the Redeemer, in this life and in the life to come. Christ is the sufficient basis for salvation.
2.2 – We are heirs of salvation
The reference to such a great salvation (Heb 2.3) appears in the New Testament, pointing to those who made Christ their savior; therefore, they are heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14). Christ, as mediator, is God's great minister in the work of redemption. The Holy Spirit is the great minister of God and Christ in the application of this redemption.
2.3 – Warning against falling away from the faith
After presenting the picture of Christ's superiority over angels, the writer to the Hebrews is led by the Holy Spirit to warn the addressees of the letter, regarding the things we have already heard, so that, in no time, we deviate from them (Heb 2.1).
2.3 – Warning against falling away from the faith
In Hebrews 6.19, the writer uses the illustration of an anchor to show how much we can trust God's promises. The main cause of spiritual problems is related to carelessness: neglect of the Word of God, prayer and communion (Heb 10.25). It is the Christians who move, not the anchor.
Christ renounced His glory, becoming man; and he recovered it when he rose and ascended into heaven. Now He shares it with all who believe in Him (John 17:22-24; Heb 2:13). God pardons, justifies, sanctifies, and makes us joint heirs with Christ; therefore we are prepared for the glory to come.
Christ is not only the last Adam, but also the perfect author of salvation (Heb 2:10). Looking back to the Old Testament Law, the writer of Hebrews argues: if the word spoken by angels stood firm, and every transgression and disobedience received its just retribution, how shall we escape if we do not heed so great a salvation (Heb. 2.2,3)?
CONCLUSION
Let us not forget, therefore, this reality: we need to keep our eyes fixed on the author of salvation. Because Jesus is greater than the prophets and angels, there is a greater responsibility for those who hear the message and accept it; and greater judgment for those who do not.
CONCLUSION
GOD BLESS YOU!
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