My Notes From Hebrews 2: The Incarnation, The Gospel Explained

Hebrews 2: 5-18

The Incarnation, The Gospel Explained

Review:                What are the major themes of Hebrews?

                                What is the topic of Hebrews chapter one and two?

                                How does the writer make Jesus glorious in chapter one and two?

It should be noted that Hebrews is written from a human point of view or from a human perspective. For example in Hebrews 2:8 the Scriptures are clear that Jesus is in control of everything. Not a molecule or a cell is outside of His sovereign hand. Yet, from a human point of view, it looks like Jesus is not in control. Life happens. When your husband is laid off his job, the financial trouble life brings, the troubled child, the troubled teen, material conflict, the unexpected happens; all seems that God is not in control…BUT Everything is in subjection to Jesus, even if it does not seem like it. That is walking by faith, trusting God, and living out the gospel.

God becomes like us

1.       Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. But how? Why is this important? If you do not believe this you do not believe in Christianity. Jesus is relational, therefor Christianity is relational. Christ identifies with us in every way.

Read 1:3 and read 2:14

·         Which words are relational in verses 2:10-18

·         Why is it biblically important that Jesus became like us?

·         Is temptation sin?

·         What are your biggest temptations right now?

2.       Christ becomes like us when He was born from a womb and when He died. Death. Everyone dies. Our culture does a great job masking the pain of death. The hectic lifestyle, the background noise in life, and the tech toys null us to reality of death. Our culture is good at downplaying the fact that they will die. From a human perspective it seems that Satan controls death. BUT.. Through Jesus’ death; death is defeated. The Bible compares believers being set free from death the same way slaves are set free. Jesus delivers us!

•     How are we slaves to death?

•     How should believers view death?

•     Explain, the biblical view of death?

3.       A better gospel presentation.

The Bible explains the Gospel plan in verse 10 and 17 better than most gospel tracts. American evangelicalism often does a poor job explaining the gospel. Hebrews helps; it answers questions like: What is the purpose of Christ death? What is the purpose of the gospel: “To bring many sons to glory” v.10 WOW! That is us…to bring us to glory.

Breaking down verse 17:

·         Jesus had to leave His throne in Heaven to become like us.

·         Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest

·         Jesus makes propitiation for the sins of the people

The gospel is looking back and forward. Through the teaching of the New Testament, we understand the purpose of the Old Testament by looking back and allowing the New Testament writers (by the Holy Spirit) interpret the Old.The Old Covenant points to Christ. The old is a picture, not the reality. Damage is done by teachers and pastors who do not understand the purpose of the Old Covenant and then teach it as if is still applies to believers today. We are not under the Old Covenant! We are under the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21 & Galatians 6:2).The original hearers knew and understood the function of a high priest. Jesus is better. His covenant, the new covenant, actually does something that the old covenant could not with Israel. That is create a people that loves Him, worships Him, and are His beloved. Those that are His have their sins forgiven, are part of His family, and are part of the New Covenant family. Hebrews will continue to unpack this for us throughout the rest of the book.

Jesus and the new covenant

I am starting to teach through the book of Hebrews. This book of Bible explains the purpose of the cross, the advantage of the new covenant, the passing of the old covenant, and exalts Jesus above everyone and everything. 

The major themes of Hebrews:

1.      

Jesus is better than angels, Moses, Joshua, and all the old covenant system (including the sacrifices, and the Ten Commandments).

2.    

  Jesus ushers in a covenant that is better than the old covenant. The old covenant could not produce a real people of God. The old covenant was a type, a picture, and a shadow of the better covenant: The new covenant. The new covenant, which is secured through Jesus, produces real belief, real forgiveness of sins, a real changed life, and a real people of God which is the church. See Luke 22:20.

3.      

As you can see the word better is a theme of Hebrews.

4.      

Hebrews is both a warning and a comfort for believers. The warning is strong. If someone who professes decides to go back and live under the Law of Moses, he is turning his back on Jesus. Some Hebrew believers were wanting to go back under what is inferior to that which is superior. They wanted the picture not the fulfillment, which is Jesus. The old could never take away sins, never.  

5.      

Believers need to take comfort in the cross. Only with the new covenant between Jesus and His church does forgiveness of sins, a changed heart, and the reality of the types and shadows found in the old covenant find its true fulfillment.

6.     

The church that received this letter was suffering persecution for their faith in Christ. The author of Hebrews encourages them to stand firm in the cross and what Jesus accomplished in the face of persecution.

The book of Hebrews connects the dots of the old covenant to the gospel. God had a reason for giving the old covenant with all of its laws, promises, and demands. It pointed to someone greater. All the types and shadows found in the old covenant point to Jesus and His new covenant realities.