Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 2

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:8-9

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 2:5-9, the third of three divisions in Hebrews 2:1-9, and the commentary shares how these verses connect Genesis and the first Adam to Christ, and see "see Christ as the fulfillment and climax of [the creation story line], as the commentary refers to this final division as "honoring the coronation of the Last Adam."  The first Adam, made in God's image (Genesis 1:26), was given dominion over the earth and all of its inhabitants, and also commanded in Genesis 2:17 not to (see also Psalm 8 where David refers to the Creation story and Genesis 1-2) eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  However, the commentary emphasizes that while "the first Adam failed to carry out the duties of image-bearing, the last Adam has succeeded." We are referred to 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 for Paul's writing on Christ as the "last Adam."  The commentary then moves to how Hebrews 2:5-9 highlights the tension in the "already-not yet aspect of the kingdom of God" where "[t]he kingdom of God and the reign of Christ are in some senses already inaugurated, yet we are still waiting for the kingdom’s consummation...We may not see all things subjected to him, but “we do see Jesus” who has fulfilled every aspect of the Old Testament and secured his regal throne in glory."  The commentary, then, comes back to the contrast between the first and Last Adam: "[Jesus] has been crowned with glory and honor because he has fulfilled his messianic task of suffering and death. The result of his suffering is redemptive. Christ has “[tasted] death for everyone.” The first Adam plunged humanity into sin and death; the last Adam was plunged into death for the sake of humanity. The work of the last Adam undoes the work of the first Adam.  As the One who fulfills the task originally given to Adam, Jesus represents the ideal man who bears God’s image rightly and exercises dominion over the cosmos. He has inherited the place of dominion spoken of in Psalm 8. He is superior to all things, including the angels."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good and You have done what no other can do - You redeemed my life and sin and gave me salvation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Hebrews 2

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:3b-4

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 2:3b-4, the second of three divisions in Hebrews 2:1-9, and the commentary builds on yesterday's warning to "spiritually hear" the messages of the gospel, and to "anchor" ourselves to the Word, lest we drift away towards eternal damnation. The commentary shares that if Jesus is more superior than angels, "[h]ow much more guilty, then, are those who reject the “great salvation” declared by the incarnate Lord himself? This new stage in redemptive history brings great privileges, but also great responsibilities."  The commentary then pivots to describe how Christ's message - the New Covenant brought about by His blood - is superior to angels' messages in four ways:

• Spoken to us by the Lord - v3b
  
• "Confirmed to us by those who heard [Him]" - v3b
• God himself testified the veracity of gospel "by signs and wonders and various miracles" - v4
• Through the showering and distribution spiritual gifts throughout the church - v4

On this last point, the commentary emphasizes that "the author of Hebrews helps us strip away our misconceptions about why spiritual gifts exist. Spiritual gifts are not an end to themselves to be used for our personal, private enjoyment. Spiritual gifts edify the church (see also 1 Corinthians 14:3-5; Ephesians 4:11-12) and testify that Jesus Christ is Lord."

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are a great God who not only gave me ears to spiritually hear Your message, but You also gave me salvation and so much more - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

Hebrews 2

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:1-3a

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 2:1-3a, the first of three divisions in Hebrews 2:1-9, and this first division exhorts believers to - in light of how Jesus and His messages are more superior than angels (Hebrews 1) - heed the "warning signs of spiritual drift."  The commentary describes this drift as a nautical image whereby such drift is not one wave at a point in time but instead a slower, meandering process, where we fail to take Jesus' words to heart.  This of course happens both corporately (by churches that water down theology in an effort to gain believers) and individually by those who fail to drop "the anchor of our souls in the deep waters of the Word of God" and allowing for reading of God's Word supernaturally, and enabling spiritual hearing which the commentary defines as "believing, obeying, and submitting to what is heard. Right hearing is more a matter of the heart than a function of the ear. We must hear with our hearts."  The devotion ends with with both good and bad news. "The gospel is good news. The good news is only good, though, when it is accepted in place of the bad news. The bad news is we are truly deserving of hell for our transgression of God’s righteous requirement. The really bad news is we will be even more accountable to God if we reject Christ. The seriousness of the gospel cannot be overstated. The gospel is good news for those who repent of their sin and trust in Christ. It is terrible news for those who do not."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great, great God and Your Word is worthy of my close attention as it is Good News!  Thank You for sharing this Good News with me and saving me.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

 Hebrews 2

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is initial observations of Hebrews 2:1-9, which contains three divisions. Hebrews 2:1-9 builds on Hebrews 1 by starting with a focus on who Jesus is and then turning to what Jesus has done - His actions and the implications).  Hebrews 2 looks at Jesus as the author of our salvation and how we should not neglect our salvation (see also Philippians 2:12 for text that exhorts believers to work out their own salvation), as we have no other means but through submission to Jesus to escape eternal damnation (v3).  The message of angels (i.e. Gabriel in Luke 1) was reliable as were the many prophecies of the Messiah declared by Isaiah and others (see .  Believers of today (beyond what was seen during Jesus' days - v4) can also testify of God's work in their own lives.  In v5-9, we, once again (see also Hebrews 1), read how God reigns over all of the universe and its inhabitants and how although we may not see (until we see Him face to face) all of His dominion and providence, we can be assured that He is in control.  Believers are reminded as well that Jesus became like us, so that through His own suffering, death, and resurrection, He could empathize with all that we experience, take our sins to the cross, and give us victory over sin and death.

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are a great God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - unbelievably so!  You suffered and died for me, then rose from the grace and gave me victory over sin and death...thank You Jesus for my salvation!  I am not deserving...the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

 Hebrews 1

And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:13-14

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 1:13-14, the fourth and final division of 1:1-14 as described by my commentary. The commentary starts by describing how v13 quotes Psalm 110:1 which "communicates that Yahweh promised the Messiah utter dominion over the world."  The commentary then discusses the role of angels in God's kingdom.  Believers should be clear that angels serve God - a key theme for all of v1-14. The commentary shares: "angels are messengers of God and that they carry out his purposes. The angels function as witnesses of major redemptive-historical events, such as the birth of Christ....God works all things for the good of his church (Rom 8:28). This includes the ministry of angels."  The commentary provides a number of examples from scripture how angels function in the service of God, including: after the Fall, standing watch at the "border of the garden of Eden to exact vengeance on anyone who would try to eat from the tree of life," and in Revelation where "Christ will lead an angelic army in the last day to execute his just judgment on the world."  The commentary ends by ensuring believers understand that angels "pale in comparison to the glory of the Redeemer, the Son of God, Jesus Christ."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves and who is superior to angels in every way, and who reigns over all the universe and everything that inhabits it.  I am amazed that You love me...and saved me...despite my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

 Hebrews 1

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.  But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” Hebrews 1:10-12

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 1:7-12, the third division of 1:1-14 as described by my commentary. The commentary shares how v7-12 build on Hebrews author's emphasis that Jesus is greater than angels, describing how language from the text refers to Psalm 45:6-7 and 102:25-27. Key to this division, however is v10-12 which my commentary highlights as "the distinction that exists between the creature and the Creator....The contrast is specifically between things permanent and things temporal. Creation will perish. It will “wear out like clothing.” The Son, on the other hand, will not. The Son is eternal and permanent. Whereas the created order is subject to change, decay, and ultimate destruction, the person of Christ is unending and unchanging. His years have no end. He knows no change."  This distinction is core for believers to understand as an attribute of God and also so that we do not become too enamored with creation but instead enamored with God. Also, the author of Hebrews will ultimately delve deep into what God has done but is setting the stage first by establishing who God is. Understand who God is and be enamored with Him!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - I know that Your Kingdom lasts forever and that You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God's angels worship him.”

 Hebrews 1

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God's angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:5-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 1:5-6, the second division of 1:1-14 as described by my commentary.  Here, my commentary describes how "[t]hrough the author of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit is providing his own inerrant, infallible commentary on the Old Testament. In other words, we are learning from the author of Hebrews himself the importance of reading Scripture in the light of the rest of Scripture, specifically in the light of the New Testament." The commentary indicates that the following Old Testament passages are quoted/referenced in Hebrews 1:5-6:

• Psalm 2:7
• 2 Samuel 7:14 (within the Davidic Covenant)
• Deuteronomy 32:43
  

The commentary for this division wraps by stating: "[t]he argument is clear. The angels worship Christ; it is not Christ who worships the angels. The angels declare the birth of Christ; it is not Christ who declares the ministry of angels. The angels are not called sons, but that is the very name that Christ himself, the Davidic Messiah, has inherited."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blesses me with Yourself as You reveal Yourself generously!  Thank You Jesus that I can come to know You and through this love You!  I am blessed!  Yet I am undeserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo, etc.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.