Hebrews 2:14-18 | The Purpose of the Incarnation | Hypostatic Union | Overcoming Temptation

Hebrews 2:14-18 and the Purpose of the Incarnation

You have your Bibles. We're going to be in. Hebrews chapter 2 Verses 14 through 18. Hebrews chapter 2 verses 14 through 18. Pray with me father. Oh Lord my God I Stand before you today Coming to ye by faith in Jesus Christ asking for your spirit.

Lord you have filled me with your spirit. I ask you now to stir that spirit calls.

Me to.

To speak as your man Lord preaching is theology on fire. Lord help me to to teach your word today Lord to to speak forth your truth and Not in just a way of stating facts. Well, but by the power of your Holy Spirit, I love you.

I'm among people who love you. Lord, please Forgive us of our sins and help us to To take in what you have for us this day in Christ's name.

Amen.

All right, everybody turn to your neighbor and say no, I'm just playing don't ever do that. Okay, don't ever do that. So the context from last week. So last week we looked at Hebrews Chapter 2 we considered verses 10 through 13 and we saw the the theme was the Covenant of Redemption and we looked at that the the outline was Trinitarian and we saw that point number one point number two and point number three had to do with The the work of God in Trinity.

So we had the the first point was the work of the father and we saw that Through the Covenant of Redemption the work of the father was that God in times past in eternity past Had planned to send his son into time so God planned in time to send his son and the work of the son was to be made perfect through suffering that his son was to be to be born of a virgin a son was to come into the world that the Creator would enter the creation and That he would suffer and in doing so he would bring many sons to glory that he would accomplish the plan of the father.

And the the third point was the confirmation of the Spirit and in this I showed how the Spirit through the writer of Hebrews was pointing back to Psalm 22 and also in Isaiah 8 Confirming that it was Jesus speaking through the psalmist and through Isaiah.

And.

This week our theme is the purpose of the incarnation our timeless truth for this day is that is this the Incarnation. Listen. The incarnation is the greatest thing that has ever happened to humanity.

The incarnation is the greatest thing that has ever Happened to humanity whether you accept it or not. Heaven has sent to us its champion. Heaven has sent to us its champion. Heaven has nothing else to offer us.

Think about it. If heaven if if heaven was to open up and send us something else. It would not compare to what has already sent us Jesus Christ. Born of a virgin. Suffered under the hands of Pontius Pilate.

Lived a life. We could not live died the death that we deserve to die. Was raised from the dead on the third day. Who was ascended into the heavens. Who is seated at the right hand of the father. Who is making intercessory and prayer?

It has nothing else to offer us. It has sent to us its champion. So I pose a question. Why should you listen to me? My answer is this because after today's message you will know the power of the gospel and the mercy of God in your life.

This portion of text is going to show you the power of God and the mercy of God in.

Your life.

Read with me, please our text Hebrews 2 14 through 18. Better start that since therefore the children Share in flesh and blood He himself likewise part took in the same things That through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death that is the devil and Deliver all those who through fear of death were subjected to lifelong slavery.

For surely it's not angels that he helps. But he helps the offspring of Abraham. 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.

Because he himself has suffered when tempted he is able to help those Who are being tempted? In our outline today, we will see the purpose and the benefits behind the incarnation the purpose and the benefits.

Point number one we will look at how he destroyed the devil. So point number one to destroy the devil. He came to destroy the devil. Point number two to deliver from death and lifelong slavery. Point number three to satisfy the justice of God and point number four to give the ability to.

Overcome.

Temptation and to point number four. We should all say He has given us the ability to overcome temptation. Now as we transition one more time before we leave chapter two I want to just just kind of hone in on on the hot on the incarnation.

Which is the theological term for this is called the hypostatic Union the hypostatic Union. It's it's basically that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God. So the hypostatic Union is so we looked last week for a for a minute at the doctrine of the Trinity.

We talked about how there's one God and then this one God is one being the what? The what is one God one being with the three who's is the three persons Father Son and Holy Spirit. So in this one God in this one being of God They all share in the same essence nature and name Yahweh.

They father son and Holy Spirit. The father is Theos. The father is Yahweh. The son is Yahweh the Holy Spirit is Yahweh, but yet they are three in person three in person one in nature. Three in person.

This is what we God who we worship. And so when you look at the incarnation you have the one person who is Jesus Christ, but in this one person Jesus Christ there is two natures. The humanity and the divinity.

So in this one person Jesus Christ He is fully human and yet he is fully God he is fully divine. So we have one person. Two natures that is Jesus Christ the hypostatic Union the Jesus is the Christ. He is the Son of the Living God.

He is God himself. God has revealed to us who he is through the person of Jesus Christ. Yet he was born of a virgin. He was an infinite one time the Creator entered creation infinite became finite. So that's when we're over here discussing the incarnation the hypostatic Union.

This is what we're talking about. This is why we gather together and celebrate Christmas. We celebrate the incarnation God Becoming man. The way your hand fills a glove imagine your hand going into a glove the way your hand fills a glove.

God filled a human body. In the person of Jesus Christ, so our first point today is a purpose. So the first point is to destroy the devil. He came with a purpose to destroy the devil. Look with me Hebrews 2 14.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood he himself Likewise partook in the same things that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death that is the devil. I Don't care what translation you read that in and I don't care if you bring out the Greek that's what it says.

This is there's no hitting meaning here. The incarnation of Jesus his death barrel resurrection was to destroy the devil. It's where it says since therefore the children Went through this last week. How does one become a children a child of God?

Answer if you know, how does one become a child of God by faith?

By faith.

John chapter 1 verses 11 through 12 talks about Jesus when he came into the world. He came to his own speaking of the Jeeves, but his own did not receive him. But to all who did receive them to them. He gave the right to become Children of God even to his own people the way that way that they had to receive him was by faith by faith.

So the only way that you can become a child of God is by receiving Jesus Christ by faith and again. This points to the covenant of redemption. God sending his son to save a people. The people are to be the children of God.

These people will be those Who believe in Jesus Christ. It's it's really simple, isn't it in order to accomplish this purpose of salvation God the Son? Likewise partook in the same things meaning flesh and blood meaning Jesus had to take on another nature.

See he's always been the Son of God. He is eternal God. He is eternal deity. He had to take on humanity. But in him taking on humanity It wasn't a mixed so the two did not get together and mix like if you pour water and soda and they mix together.

He was fully God fully human and the two natures do not mix. He is not half God and half human. This is not a demigod. He is fully God and Now in our text it reveals to us the first purpose. That through his death he might destroy the one who has the power of death.

That is the devil. I turn you turn your attention with me real quick to the Gospel of John chapter 12. So here we have the triumphant entry. Jesus is is declaring who he is. He's a he's about to go to the cross and He speaks about the Son of Man must be lifted up.

If you look at verse 27, we're gonna read to verse 36. John chapter 12. Verse 27 Jesus is now my soul.

Troubled.

And what shall I say father save me from this hour. But for this purpose I have come to this hour speaking of the crucifixion father glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.

The crowd that stood there heard and said that it had thundered. Others said an angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered the voice that came was for your sake not mine. Now judgment has come now the judgment of the world Now is the judgment of the world, excuse me.

Now the ruler of this world be cast out and I when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself. And he said this to show by what kind of death he was to die.

Read verse.

21 but 31 with me again. He says now is the judgment of the world. Jesus then. On his way to go into the cross. He's about it. He's a week away from being crucified. He says now is the judgment of the world.

Now.

Then.

27 30 AD now then 30 AD. The ruler of this world will be cast out and I when I am lifted up from the earth. Speaking of his crucifixion. I will draw all people to myself. He says that he will draw all people to himself.

We have here we have the Creator being made a little lower than the angels. Suffered in death and was made perfect therein. He was crowned with glory and honor was given the world to put it into subjection to hypotossil it.

It was through the death that he was to die that would that would bring judgment upon the world. And It was at the cross. It was the cross that was the catapult that cast out Satan. And all this is pointing us back to Genesis chapter 3 verse 15.

The promise that God gave To the serpent. The promise that God gave to Satan. That one was going to come from the offspring of the woman and with his heel. He would bruise his head and while doing so he would only bruise his heel.

So Genesis is referring to us that this crucifixion that would take place of Christ was nothing more than a bruised heel for the Messiah. It's speaking of Jesus being lifted up on that cross. Lifted up from the earth.

That the devil had power over the world to keep the world from coming to God, but through this one.

Sacrificial act.

Jesus being lifted up. He was going to draw all men to himself. Point number two is a Benefit, this is what you get from this. Point number two to deliver up to deliver from death and lifelong slavery verse 15 and to deliver all those Who through fear of death were?

Subjected to lifelong slavery now this text also reveals a purpose, but the purpose is a benefit and In fact it is pointed to like it's connected to the first one. Let me see if I can knit this together for you.

So if you look back at verse 14 the one who has the power of death the the the power of death I believe and so in my study and my rack in my brain am I going through the scriptures? I believe the power of death is temptation.

The power of death is temptation. Now if you look at James chapter 1. James chapter 1 verses 13 through 15 it says this. Let no one say when he is tempted. I am being tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself Tempts no one.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed listen by his own evil desires then desires when his conceives gives birth to sin and Sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. So whenever you're tempted you're tempted by your own evil desires.

You might not be tempted by my evil desires because we're two different people. Your evil desire might not tempt me at all. You're tempted by your own evil desires. So whatever it is that you desire this evil desire that is in you that tempts you if you give in to it.

It's sin. That's what it's saying. It's seeing and if you live in that sin it Produces death and it says that he came to deliver us from the power of death.

The power of death.

So I believe that it's temptation we hit we have here we have. The devil uses our desires when he tempts us. If you remember 1st John chapter 2. 1st John chapter 2 introduces us to the three ways that each and every part each and every one of us are tempted so so Satan has Three tools in his tool belt and it's the lust of the flesh.

The lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Lust of the flesh lust of the eyes and the pride of life. So we have like if you go back to Adam, let's just go back to Adam real quick. So we have Adam sin first lust of the flesh this this fruit, whatever it was Was good for the eyes.

I mean it was good for the flesh. You know if you eat it it feeds your flesh it's good for the flesh, right. So we have the lust of the flesh and then we have the lust of the eyes this fruit. Whatever it was was pleasing to their eyes like they look at it and they desired it.

Then we have the pride of life and we go back to Genesis chapter 3 and we can see that this fruit Satan tells them that if you eat it, it will make you like God. It would make you wise which enters into the pride of.

Life.

And so we have this one sin that Adam fell into that brought death. That brought forth death. So Romans 5 verse 12 says this therefore Just as Jesus came into the world through I mean just as sin came into the world through one man talking about Adam and death through sin.

So death spread to all men because all have sinned. Alex when you and I were born brother, we were born dead in our trespasses and sins, right?

And listen, so is every one of you.

So is my sweet little baby that was just born back there along with his brother along with his sister and along with your children. Because of what Adam did. You and I are born separated from God. We're born in sin.

The Bible is clear. We Our trespasses and sins have Enslaved us it has hypotosoled us it has subjected us. We are enslaved to this nature that we're born with. And as we read and study scripture we see the Bible is clear that the soul that sins that you and I will die.

Is that the fountain Ezekiel 18? We see in Romans chapter 6 verse 23. It says that the wages of sin is death. The wages of sin is death. If you ever wonder why you die, let me tell you. Because the wages of sin is death I'm gonna die and when I die God's gonna give me my paycheck for my sinning.

He's gonna say here paid in full. Your death that is your wages for your sin. Each and every one of us we earn our wages. We're gonna earn our death. We are working our way to our death. How my sinning even as a Christian.

If you say you have no sin, you may God out to be a liar. And the truth is not in you. 1st John chapter 2. I mean 1st John chapter 1.

Verse.

11 13 You make him out to be a liar. We're sinful, but that verse goes on to say but the free gift of God is eternal life. You do not earn eternal life, but you have earned your death sentence. So yes, every one of us will die, but Jesus listen to this.

He came to remove the fear of death. He came to remove the fear of death. Jesus whenever we have Lazarus dying and. And John chapter 11 and. And so we have Lazarus Has died. He's waited four days and he comes and before he raises Lazarus Sister Martha approaches him and asking him, you know, you know.

Talking about she believed in the resurrection of the life. They believed in him. She wished that he was here earlier to help Lazarus. Jesus says to her verse 25. So verses 25 through 26, he says Jesus said to her I am speaking of himself.

I Am the resurrection in the life. Whoever believes in me though he died yet shall he live and Everyone who believes in me Shall never die. Do you believe this? So we have here if you believe in Christ you shall never die.

Now is this talking about physical death.

No.

But it is talking about a spiritual death and an eternal death. Those who believe in Christ those who have their faith in Christ. If I right now was to fall over and die. Which I hope I get to finish the sermon first.

If I was to fall over and die. Before my body hits the ground my I will be dancing where angels tread. I'll be in the presence of a holy holy holy God. And listen as much as my children would want me back once I got into the presence of God.

I would not want to come back. How would not want to be back here? Because it is if I'm like I've never died we gained something great. Look at 1st Corinthians. 1st Corinthians chapter 15.

Verses.

54 through 57. This right here is speaking about the resurrection of the dead. Remember as when I was reading earlier I said we believe in the resurrection of the dead. This is when the perishable puts on Imperishable and the mortal puts on Immortality.

Then shall come to pass the saying that is written death. Where is your victory? Oh Death, where is your victory? Oh death. Where is your sting. The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God. Who gives us who's he talking about here? Who's the us those who have their faith in Christ who gives us the victory through our Lord? Jesus Christ as we transition. If you are in Christ, listen to me death Is not something you should fear.

You should not fear death. Now you should not fear death brother. You should not fear death. But what you should fear Is not living your life for him. If you're in Christ, you should fear not living your life for him not dying.

If you tie you're gonna be in his presence you should fear not living your life for him now. That's what you should fear. That's what I fear. You know, I hear people all the time talking, you know, tell me all the things that I do.

I mean, you don't know me.

I.

Want to live for this Jesus who gave his life for me. I won't. When I die for my children. To say, you know, he wasn't. You know, he might not have been the best day. But he lived for God. He truly believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and he lived for God.

That could be. That's the greatest thing that can ever be said of me. By my children who see me all the time. Who knows my flaws. My wife who knows my flaws. Yeah, he might not rub my head. I'm talking as if I'm her.

He might not have patted me on my head every time I cry. But he lived for Jesus Christ. He repented. His faith was in Christ. Point number three is a purpose. Another purpose why Christ came was to satisfy the justice of God.

Hebrews 2 16 through 17. It says for surely it is not angels that he helps.

Right.

God did not become an angel to die for angels, but he came a man and he died for a man. But surely it is not angels that he helps but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest and The service of God to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

So trick question. Who are the children of Abraham? Is It the Israelites those is it the Israelites physical is Hebrew Israelites or is it those who have received Jesus Christ by faith? Answer. Yes. Yes, it's both the children of Abraham.

It's both. There's no other way around it it's both. And I'm gonna prove both real quick. So Galatians chapter 3.

Verse.

5 through 9 if I can find it. Galatians 3 verse 5 through 9. Does he who supplied the Spirit to you and work miracles among you do so by works of the law or by hearing with faith. Just as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness know then that it is those of faith who are the children who are sons of Abraham and The Scriptures foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles that's me and you by faith.

He preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying All the nations be in you shall all the nations be blessed. So then Those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham the man of faith. Listen you go back to Genesis chapter 12.

Genesis chapter 12. You have God preaching to Abraham the gospel. Why did God preach to Abraham the gospel? Because the Gentiles are going to come to faith because I mean you. Me and you. Why did he preach to him then?

Foreseeing that the Gentiles will receive him by faith. He preaches the gospel to Abraham. We are not a by-product. We are not an afterthought a plan B. Oh his people rejected him. Let's figure this out.

We're not dispensational.

This is not a plan B. It would say purpose. So it's clear those who are of faith are children of Abraham. But also in this letter it is this letter that we're reading Hebrews is written to the Hebrews.

The actual title for this book originally was to the Hebrews. Not to Gentiles to the Hebrews. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah of the line of King David. So we cannot let this truth go. Missing whatever we do.

We cannot forget. This is truth. The answer is yes both those who have faith in Christ and the natural descendant Israelite Hebrews are children of Abraham one by faith one by birth. Jesus addresses them still speaking of the of the Hebrews.

He addresses them as children and His brothers in verses 12 13 and 14, but listen not because of the fact that they're Hebrews. So right here in verse 12 chapter 2 verse 12 13 and 14 He addresses them as children and brothers not on the fact the basis of them being Hebrews.

But on the basis of them having faith in Jesus Christ. But in verse 17 that we're at right now verse 17 where it says. Like his brothers he had to be made like his brothers. This is speaking of the of the fact of Jesus Christ coming as an Israelite as a Hebrew with the purpose of becoming a merciful high priest and to make propitiation verse 17 again.

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers. This is speaking physical Israelite a Hebrew in every respect so that he might become a merciful high priest. In order to be a high priest you had to be a what an Israelite.

He had to become an Israelite. He had to be a Hebrew in order to become a merciful high priest and the service of God to so the purpose was to be a high priest. The benefit was to make.

Propitiation.

To make propitiation for our sins. So again, he had to be made lower then he had to be made like his brothers a little lower than the angels for two reasons. And as we've been in chapter 2, I don't know if you've noticed this but it keeps on giving us two reasons.

Like every time I've preached it's given us two reasons why this has had this has had to happen. Just to do a little review. Verses 9 verses 6 and 9. It was to subject the world to come and to taste death for everyone.

Verses 10 and 13 it was to make the founder of our salvation perfect through suffering and to sanctify the children of God his brothers. Verses 14 and 15 to destroy the devil and to deliver from death and lifelong slavery.

And in verse 17, he is to satisfy the justice of God and he does so by becoming a high priest and making propitiation. Notice this. Each one of this is a purpose and a benefit. The purpose I'm gonna list the purpose first the purpose to subject the world to come to make the founder of our salvation Perfect through suffering to destroy the devil to satisfy the justice of God.

Every one of these is dealing with his crucifixion. The benefits. To taste death for everyone to make to satisfy the to sanctify the children of God and his brothers to deliver from from death and slavery and to deliver from death and lifelong slavery, but by becoming the high priest and making propitiation.

It's still each one of them pointing to the cross of Christ that the cross of Christ had two purposes it was to destroy the The works of the devil who was enslaving us who kept us from coming to Christ and by him doing so His act of obedience now causes all people you and I to be made to be set free.

He has tasted death for us. He he has sanctified the children of God those who believe in him. He has destroyed death. The he has destroyed death the temptation of death and the lifelong slavery and he has done so by becoming a high priest.

It just it all comes together so the cross has its purpose but it also gives the benefit. In our Old Testament the primary purpose of the high priest was to serve as a representative and Mediate between people in Yahweh.

So the people could not be in the presence of Yahweh. So the high priest once a year would go into the Holy of Holies. He would sacrifice for unintentional sins of himself and he would sacrifice for Unintentional sins of his brothers and he would go into the Holy of Holies and he would meet with God.

He would make the sacrifice. He was our mediator he was our Representative he is what brought people and Yahweh.

Together.

So the high priest would go into the tent of meetings and he would meet with God a second Timothy. You don't have to turn there, but. Listen to second Timothy chapter 2 verses 5 and 6. This is dealing with the work of the high priest saying for there is only one God and there's one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all.

Which is the testimony given at the proper time? This is saying there's no longer any need for it earthly high priest. You don't need someone. Sacrificing a lamb and going into the Holy of Holies and sprinkling blood on the Ark of the Covenant.

Why. Because Jesus is our mediator there's only one mediator not the high priest the the physical descendants of Aaron who are the Levitical priesthood not them but Jesus Christ. And listen Catholics not Mary.

Listen Mormons not Joseph Smith. Listen Jehovah's Witnesses not Charles Taze Russell. Listen Seventh-day Adventist not Ellen J. White. Jesus Christ alone is the mediator between God and man. We don't need anything else.

All we need it's Christ. There's one mediator between God and man the man Jesus Christ. So the service of the high priest was to make propitiation. You remember I think it was two weeks ago I explained in layman's turn what propitiation is and I said something like imagine if Trinity was to kick her soccer ball into a neighbor's window and That window cost is 80 bucks.

Trinity does not have 80 bucks. So I reach into my pocket. Pull out 80 bucks and pay Her fine pay what she owes. She does not have 80 bucks. That 80 bucks is the propitiation for her sin for her wrongdoing.

So I supplied the propitiation the people. Pitiation is just a payment for wrongdoing. A Payment for wrongdoing. The high priest would go and make the payment for wrongdoing. Turn to Hebrews chapter 9 real quick verse 6 and 7.

These which I've already kind of touched on. I just want you to sit in the scriptures these Preparations haven't been made. The priests would regularly go into the first section. So it's speaking of the holy place.

Perform performing their ritual duties. But into the second speaking of the Holy of Holies only the high priest goes and he but once a year the Day of Atonement and Not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.

So this when he would go into the the The Holy of Holies the Ark of the Covenant the payment was blood. So they would sacrifice a lamb and they would spill this lambs blood and the Holy of Holies on what's called the the Ark of the Covenant.

That blood was the Propitiation. It was the payment for their wrongdoing. The priest had to slaughter the lamb and put the blood on.

There.

As we transition the purpose and the benefit of the Incarnation Jesus being born of a woman under the law so that he as high priest the mediator between God and man can make propitiation his His. Him being the mediator him being the high priest he is both the sacrifice and The one who sacrifices.

Jesus gave himself up for us. He became sin. He who knew no sin became sin. He goes into the the Holy of Holies in heaven and he offers the sacrifice. So So what we see on earth, you know through the Gospels we see on earth Christ being crucified.

But if you read the book of Revelations, it has a lamb being slaughtered. Jesus is the lamb that was slaughtered. He is our propitiation, but the Bible calls him the high priest and he's the sacrifice.

He's both.

His a mediation work deals with him being the high priest and the sacrifice. He's not only the one who supplies the the propitiation. He is the propitiation. He is the payment been. Last point is the To give the ability to overcome sin.

Listen, this is a benefit Hebrews 2 18 for because He himself has suffered when tempted he is able to help those Who are being tempted. So we have Jesus as God the second person of the Trinity. Cannot die Jesus as God the second person of the Trinity cannot die.

Jesus as God the second person of the Trinity cannot be tempted. He cannot be tempted. Jesus as God second person of the Trinity cannot be tempted. That's according to James chapter 1 verse 13. God cannot be tempted but Jesus as as the one person who took on another nature.

Jesus as the incarnation, Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God, who has two natures, humanity and divinity, did die and was tempted. By dying, he makes atonement for our sins, and by living, he undergoes temptation, and by undergoing temptation, he is able to help those who are tempted.