HEBREWS 2:9-16 | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 14, 1889

(Lesson 4, October 26, 1889.)

1. For whom did Christ die?

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Heb. 2:9.

2. Will all be saved for whom he died?

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Peter 2:1.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." John 5:40.

3. Were the sufferings of Christ necessary to our redemption?

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." "Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Heb. 2:10, 17.

4. Wherein did it "become" God to have Christ suffer?

5. Did the Son of God need to be made perfect in character?

"For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.

"For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Heb. 7:26.

6. Was he lacking either in power or glory?

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Heb. 1:2, 3.

"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." John 17:5.

7. In what sense could Jesus be made perfect through sufferings? See note.

8. How is he the Captain of our salvation? Ans.—He is our Commander, Leader, going before us through all our obedience, trials, temptations, and sufferings.

9. How is it that the sanctifier and sanctified are all of one? Ans.—God is the Father of all, and they are united in one.

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." John 17:21.

10. Who are the brethren of Christ?

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matt. 12:50.

11. Notwithstanding his greatness and glory, what condescension does Christ show?

"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." Heb. 2:11.

12. Of whom will he be ashamed?

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38.

13. What nature did he assume?

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Heb. 2:16, 17.

14. Why did he assume our nature?

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." "Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Verses 14, 17.

15. Whom will he destroy through his death? Verse 14.

"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Rom. 16:20.

16. How and by whom was death introduced into the world?

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12.

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8.

17. What did Christ come to bring?

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:17.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10.

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11.

18. Can death, then, be the friend of man? 1 Cor. 15:26; Jer. 31:15-17.

19. What effect does the fear of death have on man?

"And deliver them, who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage." Heb. 2:15.

20. By whom alone can this fear and bondage be removed?—Ib.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Rom. 8:14.

NOTES.

IT became the Father to make his Son perfect through suffering. The attributes of God, both love and justice, required that a worthy sacrifice should be offered for man's redemption. Rom. 3:25, 26 shows that the sacrifice of Christ was necessary that God might be just, maintain the integrity of his government and law, and yet justify penitent sinners. In this view it was indeed fitting, or becoming, in the Father to provide such a sacrifice as the sufferings and death of his Son. In no other way could God's justice be honored; in no other way could sin be removed. Heb. 9:22.

IN what sense was he made perfect through suffering? To some the idea may seem to be a great mystery, but it contains the richness of the gospel; not only in purchasing us by his blood, but in partaking of our trials, temptations, and afflictions, he is brought near to our consciousness. Thus there is a unity insured which could not be without his suffering.

Were a man of immense wealth, who had never known suffering and care, to approach the poor and wretched and endeavor to offer them consolation, his words would be but sounds of mockery in their ears. But suppose one who had been immensely wealthy, and had resigned all, had become poor for the sake of the poor, had taken their severest sufferings upon himself, and even died that they might have life, then the poor hungry souls would hang upon his words with comfort and delight. Every tear that he shed would fall like a balm. There would be a union of hearts, for they would know his heart; they would understand and appreciate the strength of his sympathy, the depth of his love. Such a Saviour has the Father given to us, and the Scriptures assure us that he can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, because of the temptations and agony through which he has passed. Had he never suffered, he could never be all that the weary heart longs for; but by his sufferings he can satisfy every longing heart, because by his own experience he is able to enter the secret chambers of human woe. Thus it is easy to see that his perfect adaptation to our every want is through his sufferings. Thanks be to God for such a Saviour.

WILL the object of the death of Christ be accomplished? Will he destroy Satan? Most expositors pass this idea by, as though this were a work too great to be accomplished, or which the Saviour had no desire or thought of accomplishing. It seems to be taken for granted that Satan has, by some means, gained a right to eternal life. We cannot imagine that the existence of Satan, or of any moral evil, can be a desirable thing in the universe of God. The Lord did not originate sin, he never created an evil being. Angels and men were all created upright, but they fell, and have become desperately wicked. Now it appears reasonable and just, yes, necessary, that God should place intelligent creatures on probation, and permit them to form their characters as they should choose, for there could be no character at all without choice; and he reserves all to the decisions of the judgment. But we could not vindicate the government of God if he had originated sin, and planted moral evil in the hearts of his creatures. And it would likewise disparage his character and government, if, after sin had intruded itself into his fair creation, and marred it with its hateful work, he would perpetuate it and give it an eternal abiding-place in his dominions. Said the Saviour, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." Matt. 15:13. It is a cheering thought that the universe of God will be restored to its sinless, happy state, in which it was created. See Rev. 5:13.

THE idea that Christ laid not hold of angels, or partook not of their nature, brings up the question of representation in the fall and recovery of man. Adam's sin involved his whole posterity in ruin. He stood as their representative, and the gifts of God to him were intended for all his race. See Gen. 1:28; Ps. 115:16. But as none of Adam's posterity represented a race, none of them could involve his posterity by his action. And therefore none of them has sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. See the argument on representation in the fall and recovery, in Rom. 5:11-21.

HEBREWS 2:9-16.

NOTES.