Hebrews Chapter 2 

• Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

The world around us thinks lightly of the bible. I hear negative comments about the bible constantly but now we are beginning to hear it from preachers. If they stop teaching the depth of the word for the sake of a false unity then we are in big trouble. Verse one states that we ought to give the more earnest heed to what we have heard (this of course means what we have heard from the word of God). It is time to return to the authority of the word rather than abandon it. Heed means not only read but to listen to, to take advice from and live by what we read. We might change, but the authority in the word of God stays the same.

• Hebrews 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
• 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
• 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

If the angels were judged for disobedience, how much more would we be judged to whom the gospel was given freely by the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel does not apply to angels. They cannot receive it or refuse it; yet they still were judged by God when one third of them followed after Satan and disobeyed God. We have been given the way out of sin and the way to eternal life without sin with a new body that cannot suffer or die. If we refuse this good way and prefer to ignore the salvation paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ, how much more will we face judgment for this great neglect. God will bear witness to the gospel by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit working through believers will convict of sin, heal the sick and do miracles to confirm the word and bring people to Jesus Christ.

Miracles and healings are never to exalt individual believers and are never meant to draw followers after a certain person other than Jesus Christ. They are not for raising money and making someone rich. They are to glorify Jesus Christ and bring more souls to Him. They also are done as verse 4 states, "According to His own will." They are done by the Holy Spirit and by the will of God, not by the will of man.

We have been given the ultimate answer for eternal life. The way was prepared and made easy for us. Now even more than when the book of Hebrews was written is the way of salvation known all over the world in many places; yet we see  so many living day by day and ignoring the path to eternal life.

The simplicity of the gospel is preached less and less.

I have even read articles where speakers are instructing people that are going out to work in soul winning, not to mention words like "born again" because the listener will not understand what is being talked about. Yet Jesus spoke of it and thought it very important when He said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Being born of the spirit is the thing that saves us from being lost and spending eternity in hell. I would say that it is very important to speak of it.

Repenting or turning from our ways and then turning to God is necessary for salvation. Jesus came to save us from sin and it is very important to repent of sin when we come to Christ for salvation. Repent means to be sorry enough for our sins that we are willing to give them up and allow God's spirit to bring a change in us. Sin is the little thing that separates us from God. If we are still in our sins and have not received the way of salvation through Jesus Christ before our physical death, we will remain that way through eternity. Salvation is more than a conversion to a religion or a change from one religion to another. Salvation is a change that only God can do within an individual. It is something miraculous. It is instantaneous and it is from God.

Salvation comes when we believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, turn away from our sins and turn to Christ for salvation. Then God's Holy Spirit changes us within and we are "born again" by the spirit of God. It is not something we can do ourselves or that anyone can do for us. It is us and God. No proxy baptism, no water baptism, no sacraments, no ritual, no priest, no prophet, no confirmation ceremony and nothing can save the soul but the spirit of God entering and changing that soul, making the soul which once was dead in sin, alive unto God.

• Hebrews 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

The gospel is for humans and not for angels. It replaces any other way to God that was previous to the gospel. It fulfills the law given by Moses and even the word of angels cannot replace the gospel.

• Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

The gospel is superior to anything one might receive from an angel, real or imaginary. Jesus is the head of the church and is over and above anything before or after Him.

• Hebrews 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
• 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
• 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

Man had authority over all creation. He was lower than angels but over the creation. Man chose sin over obedience to God and man has to be the one to redeem the soul from sin and accept eternal life reversing the curse. That is why Jesus had to become a man. A man chose sin, so a man had to choose not to sin but obey God.

• Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
• 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Even though Christ suffered much and was tempted in all points by Satan, He never once broke the law of God or sinned in any manner. He was perfect and was able to become the perfect sinless sacrifice for all mankind. When He was killed, it was a just perfect man suffering the penalty of sin even though He had no sin. He paid the price of death for our sins.

The penalty for sin is death both physically and spiritually. Christ paid the price for us even though He did not deserve death. That made the way for all who repent of sins and believe in Jesus Christ to be saved from sin and live eternally with Him in heaven. Before the death and resurrection of Jesus, mankind (men, women and children) had no hope and no way out of eternal hell.

• Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

When we are made clean or sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ, we become one in unity with Christ and He even calls us brethren.

• 1John 1:7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Look at this as beautiful. A new way, a new life and a new beginning. Jesus truly brings that way to all who believe in Him.

• Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Singing and speaking praises unto God is an important part of worship. I had a man ask me once why we sing and praise God? Why don't we just go out and do good works instead? I replied, "With all that God has done to save us and give us eternal life, how can we not praise and sing unto Him?" When we read the book of Revelation that is what we see happening around God's throne. Praise, praise and more praise. And it is loud. He is worthy of it all.

• Hebrews 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
• 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

In order for Christ to deliver us from the power of sin and Satan's control, He had to become flesh and become one of us.

• Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

If we truly trust in Christ, we do not have to fear death. For when we die in Christ, we really do not die but go immediately to Heaven to await the resurrection of the body which comes later. The soul and spirit do not die at the time of physical death.

• 2Corinthians 5:6 Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord
• 7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight);
• 8 we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

What a glorious beautiful promise and a hope. No fear, but only comfort and assurance.

• Hebrews 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Christ did not come as an angel or an angelic being but as one of us through the seed of Abraham. From Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Judah (the Jews), down to King David, making Jesus eligible to become the future king of Israel.

• Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Jesus is both king and high priest. He made the way for the reconciliation for the sins of all people who will believe in Him. Naturally the sins of those who reject Him will not be redeemed. They who reject Jesus have no other way to be saved and will die in their sins.

• Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

We do not go through anything that Jesus did not suffer on our behalf. In fact when He was on the cross, not only did He suffer physically but all of the sins of mankind that were ever committed were laid upon the perfect sinless body of Jesus Christ.

• 2Corinthians 5:21 Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

We now can be righteous and holy through faith in Jesus Christ when we repent or turn from sin and receive Jesus Christ in our lives.

A big price was paid for every single individual in the world, we can either accept or reject this good way.

We don't have to hate, we don't have to kill, we don't have to be a slave to sin. We can be holy, we can be righteous and inherit eternal life by just receiving Jesus as savior and Lord of our lives. He made the way, all we have to do is receive this good way to eternal life. DC