November 24, 2024: Sunday School

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:14-18
• Sermon
• Prayer of Dismissal

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Sermon Title: Why the Son Had to Become Man

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-18

I. The Solidarity of Christ with Mankind

A. The children share in Flesh and Blood horizontally — all humanity shares the same material nature B. Christ "likewise partook of the same things" — he entered into full human flesh and blood C. This solidarity is the foundation for the meaning of his death on behalf of those brothers

II. The Purpose of His Death: To Destroy and Deliver

A. Christ partook of flesh and blood so that "through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil"

1. 1 John 3:8 — the Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil
2. Death is the devil's great achievement, the instrument by which he works against God's design

B. Christ came to deliver "those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery"

1. The fear of death manifests in efforts to avoid or postpone death, denial of the afterlife, anxiety, and bondage to the present moment
2. 1 Corinthians 15 — "O death, where is your sting?" — Christ accomplished the death of death (John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ)
3. Believers need no longer fear death eternally, even if residual fear remains

III. The Recipients of His Work: The Offspring of Abraham

A. Verse 16 narrows the focus — Christ came to help not angels but "the offspring of Abraham"

1. Angels are creatures but not image-bearers; Christ did not come to help them
2. The offspring of Abraham are those who share Abraham's faith — those who believe the promises of God
3. Galatians 3 — Christ himself is the offspring of Abraham, and by faith believers share in that identity

B. Christ came to help those who are needy — a sweet and personal word for believers

IV. The Nature of His High Priesthood

A. Verse 17 is a key verse of the entire book: "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"

1. Philippians 2 — he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, born in the likeness of men

B. He is a merciful high priest

1. Mercy = undeserved; the entire Incarnation was an act of undeserved condescension
2. He has the disposition of mercy toward those he came to save

C. He is a faithful high priest

1. All previous high priests failed to fully atone for sin; the Old Testament priesthood was a shadow and type pointing forward
2. Christ is faithful before God — he is sinless
3. Christ is faithful to accomplish what he set out to do for man — he is simultaneously the Lamb and the Priest, offering himself

D. Anselm of Canterbury, Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man): the debt owed for sin could only be paid by God, yet it had to be paid by man — therefore the same person must be both God and man

1. Only as the God-man could Christ fulfill the function of high priest and make propitiation

V. The Comfort and Application of His Priesthood

A. Hebrews 4:15-16 — "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need"

B. Because Christ was sinless, his temptation was in a sense greater than ours — he never gave in, so temptation never ceased; he endured it to the fullest degree

C. 1 Timothy 2:5 — "there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"

D. Believers can draw near with confidence — not because of their own merit but because of his merciful disposition and his faithful, finished work