Jesus: The Author of our Salvation: Pt. 2

But 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. For 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. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of 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 subject to lifelong slavery. For 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 become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Halloween and All Saints Day happen to be two holidays that fall on the same day—October 31—but that is all they have in common: Halloween is a celebration of eternal death, All Saints Day is a celebration of eternal life. Halloween is a celebration of monstrous evil, All Saints Day is a celebration of glorious righteousness. Halloween is a celebration of the Devil’s work, All Saints Day is a celebration of Christ’s work. Halloween is a celebration of sin, All Saints Day is a celebration of sanctification.

As I was thinking about this contrast this week it occured to me that it is a powerful illustration of God the Father “bringing many sons to glory” through the suffering of His Son Jesus. We see the power of Christ to destroy both the Devil and death in verses 14-15 of our text.

Hebrews 2:14–15 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of 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 subject to lifelong slavery.

In the eleven verses that comprise today’s Scripture lesson there are a total of 10 things Christ has accomplished for us as the Author of our salvation. Thankfully I don’t have to preach a 10 point sermon this morning to adequately cover all ten! Students of the Bible have long recognized that all the negative effects of Adam’s fall can be categorized under two main categories:

The Guilt of Sin

The Power of Sin

In the same way, the work of Christ and all its benefits is directed at providing a cure to either the Guilt of Sin or the Power of Sin. We just sang of this a few moments ago:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be for sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.

So in moving His people from the grave yard of Halloween to glory of All Saints Day, Jesus became two things for us:

The Cure to Sin’s Guilt

The Cure to Sin’s Power

Let’s begin with seeing how Jesus meets the first need:

Jesus is the Cure to Sin’s Guilt

The Cure to Guilt is found in verse 17.

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

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.

A propitiation is a very special type of sacrifice. A propitiation turns away the wrath of God against a person’s sin by placing that sin upon another person and having that person suffer there penalty of sin, which is death. (Gen 2:16-17, Rom 6:23) Notice that I said “person” not “animal.” I am fully aware that animals were used under the Old Covenant as sacrifices of propitiation. However, as we read in Hebrews 10:4, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Only a human can be a sacrifice of propitiation for another human being. Moreover, this person must be sinless to be eligible to be the sacrifice and must be divine in order bear the weight of God’s wrath against sin. This is why in chapter 2 there is so much stress upon Jesus’ humanity.

Notice in verses 14-16 of our text destroys the Devil. The Devil’s other name is Satan, meaning Adversary. The primary way the Devil stands against us is by his accusations. He is called the “accuser of the brethren” in Rev 12:10. Even after our conversion, our daily sin gives the Devil plenty of things to accuse us of!

In the book of Zechariah we have a beautiful picture of how the propitiation of Jesus defeats the accusations of the Devil.

Zechariah 3:1–5 ESV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

Now understand, this is a prophetic vision—it is pointing to a greater reality. Satan was not accusing Joshua because he had unclean clothes, but because his sin made him unclean. Joshua’s righteousness, just like ours is “like filthy rags,” (Is 64:6) but the Lord rebukes Satan. The Lord rebukes Satan because he clothes Joshua in someone else’s righteousness. As redemptive history unfolds, we learn whose righteousness this is—it is Christ Jesus’ righteousness!

Romans 3:21–22 ESV

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

When a person places their faith in Christ Jesus, they receive salvation as a whole lump sum. This clearly seen in the Golden Chain of Salvation found in Romans 8:30.

Romans 8:30 ESV

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Notice that everything in this sentence is in the past tense. Contrary to John Piper, our “final salvation” is so secure God can speak of it in the past tense!

However, when we look at our lives in this present world we don’t see glory, we still see sin and death. What is going on? This is what is going on: Although our right to all the benefits of salvation is received in its fullness as soon as we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our experience and enjoyment of those benefits is worked out in our lives in a gradual process called sanctification.

This brings us to the second point:

Jesus is the Cure to Sin’s Power

We find sanctification listed as one of the benefits in verse 11.

Hebrews 2:11 ESV

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Notice who sanctifies us in this verse—Jesus! When Christ gives us His righteousness, He gives us His righteousness in its fullness. Not only is this righteousness sufficient to give us the legal standing of righteousness before God, it has the power to actually make us righteous as Jesus is righteous. A few moments ago I read from Romans 8:30, which theologians call “The Golden Chain of Salvation,” but now I want to read from verse 29:

Romans 8:29 ESV

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Our predestination does not just include freedom from the guilt of sin, but also the power of sin! We are predestined to “conform to the image of his Son.” Now John Piper imagines that if we don’t cooperate with the grace of God by doing our part that we can undo God’s eternal plan to bring those he has predestined to glory. This is an impossibility, because is wholly based on the work of Christ. Jesus does not need our help or our cooperation! On the Judgement Day, God the Father will not only pronounce us righteous based on the righteousness of Christ, but because Christ by the Holy Spirit has sanctified us, we will be righteous as He is righteous! We will be saints in the fullest sense of the word!

However, just because Jesus does not need our help, doesn’t mean we don’t need Christ’s help! This is why twice in this text we are told that one of the benefits of Christ’s suffering is that he is able to “help us.” In verse 16 we read that He “helps the offspring of Abraham” and in verse 18 we read this:

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

By definition sanctification includes our willing, striving and doing. Not because these things are conditions of sanctification, but because being holy by its very nature includes them. A holy person wills holy things. A holy person strives to be holy. A holy person does holy things.

It is a great frustration and sorrow that in this life that we are so frequently unholy. The Devil is busy both tempting us and accusing us. This is why we so desperately need a Great High Priest interceding for us and helping us in our time of temptation. At times it can seem as though the whole world is against you, but remember this—Jesus has your back!

Conclusion: Jesus is Our Only Hope

As I close this message, some of you probably wondered why I did not mention the third celebration that occured on October 31—the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. I didn’t forget about it, but I wanted to save it for the end to remind us of the importance of the doctrines it defended. We are saved by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, on account of Christ Alone.

These doctrines are the bridge that move us from being a zombie in the grave yard of the Devil to being a glorious saint in the Kingdom of God! However, to place our hope and faith in anything or anyone other than Christ alone is to close that bridge. The book of Hebrews is full of warnings about this. I urge you today, make sure you are placing your hope and faith in Christ alone. Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you that you have so masterfully planned and accomplished our salvation through your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you that He is the double cure for sin. By your Holy Spirit help us to place our faith and hope wholly on the work of Christ alone. Amen.

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