Article for October 6, 2024
Hebrews 2:1–3a 1Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
Please believe me when I say and repeat the warning given to us by the author of the book of Hebrews. We must be very diligent in being disciples of Jesus Christ and listen to every word of His that is written down and is repeated for our hearing. Many have and are ignoring the word of God and therefore are drifting away from it. Believe me when I say that the time has come where we need the true words of salvation.
The angels have rightly declared the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ from His birth to His second coming, which is sooner than we might think. These are not words to put fear into you, but better that they should in these times especially. Our true and only hope is salvation for the salvation that the word of God speaks about is the salvation to live and live with our Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever.
A justice was given us for our sins and sinful nature, but this justice does not come from man but from God delivered to us by Jesus Christ. This is a salvation that brings justice through forgiveness that includes the grace and mercy of God for His creation that He calls us His children. We might have a difficult time understanding this justice from God, but at the same time we should realize the glory of God Jesus Christ and give praise and thanks.
Hebrews 2:3b–4 It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
All that we have in our spiritual life is from God who also provides those physical needs that nourishes us in this life and the next. We fail most of the time to see and appreciate the wonders and signs given to us through the Holy Spirit. These wonders and signs to many may seem too mundane, but to those who look with spiritual vision see miracles upon miracles. God is with us and is calling to us every minute we live and every breath we take.
We are each given gifts, and these gifts are not powers for us to weld but actions for us to share. We are gifted with love and caring and this does not come from our own doing but from the spirit of love through the Holy Spirit. Give thanks and praise to our loving God for these gifts and then learn through the word of God how to share these gifts of love and caring.
Hebrews 2:5–6 5Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?
We were made to love one another through helping one another feel the love of our God for us. Love is caring for one another and caring for each person’s wellbeing. We should be mindful of each other and each other’s needs. But please do not confuse one’s needs with one’s desires.
God did not create us to fulfill each other’s sinful desires. Rather, God provides us with our daily needs and created us to fulfill His love that He wants to put into action. So, God subjected us to His love and therefore subjected our Lord Jesus Christ to fulfill that love.
Hebrews 2:7–8a 7You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control.
It might be hard for many to understand that Jesus Christ was in complete control of His destiny. Jesus did not have to come down as a man lower than the angels. Jesus Christ chose to. Jesus did not have to feel the pain and suffering of being put to death. Jesus Christ chose to. Jesus Christ did not have to feel the sadness that man brings upon himself. Jesus Christ chose to do all this and more so that we know He can and does empathize with each and every person who has lived on this earth.
Hebrews 2:8b–9 At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9But 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.
We do not see all that God is or all that is subjected to Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior. But in saying this we do know that our very salvation is subjected to Him and this salvation is not subjected to us. But for our sake our salvation is subjected to Jesus Christ for He is the one who saved us from the cross upon the cross.
Jesus is our Lord and savior out of His want, His will to suffer and die so that we might live with Him forever and ever. Jesus did this out of love for His Father and out of love for the Father’s creation, which is you and me.
Hebrews 2:10–11 10For 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. 11For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
Jesus calls us brothers and sisters that we may know that we are akin to Him and He is akin to us though through adoption but more through grace and mercy and love. Amen.
Hebrews 2:12 12saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise.”
Again, I say Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis A. May
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