Christ Suffered with Purpose
3 March 2019 AM – Hebrews 2:10-18 – Heb19 – Scott Childs
Introduction: As the Sovereign of all that exists, Christ suffered many things just to become a human like one of His creation. (Philippians 2:7) “But made himself of no reputation [He emptied Himself], and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ” He suffered by leaving the splendour of heaven, living in a body, and being exposed to man’s sin. He did not lay aside His deity, but He did empty Himself of His glory. He humbled Himself more than any other did. He became a man so that He could suffer the cross and hell for helpless sinners. (Philippians 2:8) “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” We cannot possibly comprehend the suffering that Christ endured while on earth.
Transition: In this rather complex section, God gives us three purposes for Christ’s suffering that are a tremendous help us.
The first purpose for Christ’s suffering was …
1. To complete His divine mission, v.10-13
a. Suffering made Christ perfect or complete, v.10
1) Read v.10. In other words, “It suited God, who created all things for Himself, bringing many humans as sons into glory, to make the Captain of their salvation complete through suffering.”
2) Suffering with and for humanity was part of God’s eternal plan for Christ. He planned this from the time He created the earth. (Revelation 13:8) “… the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
b. Christ’s suffering as a human enables believers to live in harmony with Him, v.11-13
1) Verse 11 says that Christ, the sanctifier, and believers, the sanctified, are one. Believers are united with Christ.
2) To sanctify means to set apart from the common and to reserve for God’s holy service. It is to separate from profane things and dedicate to God.
3) When a person trusts Christ, He supernaturally sanctifies that believer. Once cleansed, He separates him from his old sinful way of life and reserves him for God’s holy service.
4) If you are a Christian, you have no right to indulge in sinful pleasures of this life. God has set you apart for His holy service alone. You are a sanctified saint.
5) Once He sanctifies us, Christ is able to do several things.
a) He is able to call us His brethren, v.11
b) He proclaims God’s name through us, v.12
c) He sings praise to God through us, v.12
d) He trusts God with us, v.13
O Because God wants our voluntary love, He created man with a free will, able to choose right or wrong. He knew that man would disobey and sin, so He planned for Christ to become a man and die for all men’s sin. There is no greater love!
The second purpose for Christ’s suffering was …
2. To destroy the devil and deliver his slaves, v.14-15
a. Christ needed a human body in order to die, v.14
1) God created humans with flesh and blood. We are mortal or able to die.
2) At His incarnation (human birth), Christ took on human flesh and blood to become mortal like men. He did not become like an angel. Angels are spirits. That would have served no purpose.
3) Christ came to this earth for one purpose, to die for the sins of the human race. (John 3:16) “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.” (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Luke 19:10) “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
b. By His death, Christ destroyed and delivered, v.15
1) Without question, Jesus was born to die.
2) Note the word “that” in the middle of verse 14. It means in order that. Christ took on flesh and blood in order that He might die.
3) The Holy Spirit here identifies two specific purposes of Christ’s death.
a) He died in order that He might destroy (i.e., to deprive of force) him who holds the mighty power of death, that is the devil.
(1) Max Alderman states… Satan chose to fall from his original lofty state. His choosing to do evil is the first recorded instance of rebellion taking place. It showed up originally as a sin of pride, giving us understanding as to why God hates pride so much and instructs us to do the same (Proverbs 8:13). Satan’s pride is described in this manner in Ezekiel 28:17, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” In Isaiah 14:13-14, we notice five statements that characterized the haughtiness of Satan which led to his being cast out of heaven. (Isaiah 14:13-14) “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
(2) The devil, since the original sin in the Garden of Eden, has humans in his powerful grip leading them to eternal death. Christ put an end to Satan’s mighty death grip on men by paying sin’s debt in full. Forgiveness is now available. Satan is a defeated foe awaiting his doom in the lake of fire (Re 20:10).
b) Christ also died in order to deliver those who have been in the fearful bondage of eternal death. Jesus said, (John 8:36) “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Praise God, Satan’s grip is broken “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
The third purpose for Christ’s suffering was …
3. To help those who are tempted, v.16-18
a. Christ became a human, NOT an angel, v.16
1) Christ did not take on the nature of angels.
2) He took on the nature of man through the seed of Abraham. This fulfilled God’s promise right after Adam sinned. (Genesis 3:15) “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
b. Becoming the God/man, Christ is able to help men, v.17-18
1) It behoved Christ to be made like the brethren. The word “behoved” means to be indebted to or under obligation to do something.
2) The incarnation was necessary in order for Christ to become our merciful and faithful high priest, v.17. As our high priest, He sacrificed, not a lamb, but Himself and offered His sacrifice to God as the eternal payment for our sin. (Hebrews 10:10) “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” As our high priest, Christ makes reconciliation for our sins. He became our propitiation to satisfy God’s wrath toward man’s sin.
3) There is more! Because Christ suffered, resisted Satan’s temptations of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and endured the greatest temptation – to escape the cross – He can now help us overcome any temptation we face. The word “succour” means to help.
Conclusion: Today we have noted three purposes for which Christ suffered. (1) He suffered to complete His divine mission. (2) He suffered to destroy the devil’s grip and deliver his slaves. If you have been a slave fearing death, Christ offers you forgiveness and eternal life. (3) He suffered to help you when you are tempted. No one has ever faced greater temptation than Christ did. His victory enables Him to help us. You CAN have victory over sinful habits if you will depend on Christ.
Song: Just As I Am – 249