2 ways the incarnation helps you persevere in a sin cursed world
I. Understand the Role of Mankind (2:5-8)
A. To bear God’s image
Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
B. To rule over creation
Hebrews 2:6-7 - But one has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and have appointed him over the works of Your hands…
Psalm 8:6-8 - You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
C. Temporarily be lower than angels
Hebrews 2:5 - For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 - Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
D. Prepare for the coming kingdom
Hebrews 2:8 - You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
Daniel 7:18 - But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.
Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
2 Timothy 2:12a - If we endure, we will also reign with Him…
II. Embrace How Jesus has Fulfilled this Role (2:9)
Hebrews 2:9 - But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
A. See that Jesus is fully God
Colossians 2:8-10 - See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority…
Hebrews 1:3 - And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…
Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus…
B. See that Jesus is fully man
Matthew 21:18 - Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.
John 4:6b-7 - So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”
1 Corinthians 15:45 - So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Romans 5:18-19 - So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
C. See that Jesus was temporarily lower than the angels
“This tension between the ‘now’ and the ‘not yet,’ between what is present reality but not yet seen, expresses what may be referred to as ‘the inaugurated rule of Christ.’ That is, the reign of Christ and the reality of Christian experience have begun, but will not be fully actualized until a final consummation at the end of the age. The Son’s rule is already a reality; that reality, however, must be confessed by faith until we see its full impact at the end of the age.” (Guthrie, G. 1998. Hebrews, p. 99)
D. See that Jesus was crowned with glory and honor through suffering and death
Philippians 2:8-11 - Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
E. See yourself through the Grace of Jesus tasting death for you
Romans 6:5 - For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection…
2 Timothy 2:10-13 - For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
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