OUR GREAT DELIVERER

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  (Hebrews 2:14-15)

No matter who you are or what you have done—none is without the need of salvation or beyond the reach of the Savior.  He is mighty to save.  Jesus came into this world to deliver us from sin and bring us into the family of God.  This is the theme of Hebrews 2.

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CURSE OF SIN (v.5-9).  This speaks of Christ’s incarnation as the Last Adam. Jesus stepped out of the splendor of heaven into this sin-cursed world and did so to reverse the curse as the Last Adam.  It was the first Adam—a man who brought the curse upon this creation and it would be another Man—God become Man—that would establish a new creation.  The writer stresses that it will be a Man, not an angel that will rule over the new world to come (v.5).  Verses 6-8 come from Psalm 8.  In that psalm, David looks into the vastness of the night sky, considers the countless stars, and is amazed that he a little speck on a planet which is but a tiny particle in the cosmos, could claim the attention of the Creator who made it all.  What grace is this!  Yet, it is true.  God knows you and cares for you.  He placed humans in this world to exercise dominion over the creation.  Jesus came in human flesh as the Son of Man.  He has not brought all things under subjection to Himself yet—but He will!

We are DELIVERED BY THE CAPTAIN OF SALVATION (v.10-13).  We have Christ’s identification as the Captain of Salvation.  Jesus has so identified Himself with us that as the Father sees Him, so He sees us.  The sinless One perfectly fulfilled His mission and in His suffering on the cross could cry, “It is finished!”  The expression, “the captain of…salvation” shows Him charging the gates of Hell, securing our freedom, and leading us victoriously, “bringing many sons to glory” (v.10)!  It is our position in Christ that makes us acceptable to Holy God.  As C.S. Lewis said, “The Son of God became the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God.”  We are now in the family of God and can call God our Father in Heaven!

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CAPTIVITY OF SIN (v.14-16).  This is Christ’s intervention as the Seed of Woman.  This expression is found in Gen.3:15—the serpent struck His heel, but His heel crushed the serpent’s head.  He became one of us that He might die for us.  Jesus didn’t come to redeem fallen angels, but sinful people.  He sets us free from the fear of death.  Jesus came in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

We are DELIVERED FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN (v.17-18).  That is Christ’s intercession as the Great High Priest.  He was the Priest and the offering.  He is “merciful”—willing to save; He is “faithful”—able to save!  “Propitiation” means that God is satisfied with the sacrifice.  His righteous wrath is appeased.  Our High Priest understands for He has walked among us.  Jesus knows what you’re going through.  He is not aloof from our affliction.  More than caring—wonderful grace that is—He is able to deliver you!

MEMBERS OF THE BODY

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  (1 Corinthians 12:27)

In a day when many are minimizing the significance of the local church—even among “Christians,” it is important to be reminded of what Scripture teaches—the local church is how God gets His work done in the world.  Through the assembly of believers, they are ministered to that they might be on mission for God.  It is there that truth is taught, where we are equipped, that accountability is provided, mission is conveyed, and supplication is offered together in a powerful way.  We are called to be members of a congregation—we are members of the body of Christ.

Of course, there is the church universal—all believers from Pentecost onward—a host dwelling in heaven and millions scattered through the earth today.  Most of the time, however, the New Testament uses the term, “church,” to describe an assembly of saints, meeting at a particular place, gathering for worship under the guidance of pastors and deacons.  That is how Paul is speaking of the body of Christ at Corinth in chapter twelve of his first epistle to them.

Before these Corinthians were born into God’s family and became members of Christ’s church, they were pagans (v.1-3).  Coming to Jesus meant that the Spirit of God had come to indwell them.  Each member had the Spirit residing in them, enabling them to confess that Jesus is Lord.  That is the joint confession which is made powerfully when we gather with others who have experienced salvation in the local church.

The Spirit imparts to the members gifts according to His sovereign will (v.4-11).  Each believer has received at least one spiritual gift, some have several, but none have them all.  These gifts are not to puff us up in pride, but to be employed for the edifying of the body.  The list of spiritual gifts here is not exhaustive, but representative.  There are other gift “lists” with variation.  The particular ones listed here were perhaps most visible in Corinth.  It is the decision of the Spirit of God as to what gifts we have, and not a matter of our desire for one or the other.

The Apostle uses the illustration of a human body to explain how the church should operate (v.12-31).  Just as our various organs have a specific function in relation to the health of our physical being, so the different members of Christ’s body have particular purposes—and diverse ones—cooperating together in a healthy church.  Every member is essential.  These differences, however, can become a source of strife—and it had in the Corinthian church.  Members were comparing the nature and number of their gifts with one another and what God meant for good, the Devil was using for evil.  It is like an auto-immune disease that some have today—where the body’s defense system starts attacking healthy cells and organs, thinking them to be a virus.  Just as this is harmful, and potentially deadly to our physical being, it will be to the church.

Let us discover, develop, and deploy our gifts for the good of the entire church.  This happens when love is the dominant force in our lives.  It is the, “more excellent way,” Paul refers to in verse thirty-one, and that he will describe in the great love chapter that follows.

The church is headquarters for God’s work.  Let’s plug in and get busy!

WE ARE HIS HANDS

 

“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,

My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!

I will put My Spirit upon Him,

And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.”  (Matt.12:18)

When vandals broke off the hands of the statue of Jesus at Christ the King Catholic Church in San Diego, the church did not replace the hands, but put an inscription below, “I HAVE NO HANDS BUT YOURS.”  A poem expresses that truth like this:

            Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today;

            He has no feet but our feet to lead others in His way;

            Christ has no voice but our voice to tell others how He died;

And, He has no help but our help to lead them to His side.

That is the church—the Body of Christ.  We are His hands to do His work.  That which the Lord Jesus did in His human body during the days of His flesh is now our responsibility.

There is a COMMISSION.   “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen…” (v.18a).  Jesus knew He was commissioned to seek and to save the lost (Lk.19:10).  Before He ascended back to Heaven, He gave us the same task, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21b)

There are needed CREDENTIALS.  “My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!”  (v.18b)  Christ’s resume’ was impeccable.  His Employer’s evaluation was of excellence.  While we will not be perfect—or no one could serve—we must have integrity rather than hypocrisy, seeking to practice what we preach.

There is a CAPABILITY.  “I will put My Spirit upon Him…” (v.18c).  Although He was fully God, Christ lived as model man—in dependence on the Holy Spirit.  He told His disciples that they must tarry in Jerusalem until endued with power to perform their assignment.  Our capability for our mission is found in His might.

There is a COMMUNICATION.  “And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.”  (v.18d)  God is just—and would remain so—even while justifying sinners.  Christ would take our sins and give us His righteousness.   That is the good news we communicate!  The message will not be one of condemnation, but one of compassion.

“He will not quarrel nor cry out,

Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.  

A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench,

 Till He sends forth justice to victory;

And in His name Gentiles will trust.”  (v.19-21)

Are we harsh with sinners?  Jesus never was!  He was merciful, and we are to be—especially when we consider that we are in need of mercy too!  People are bruised, and easily broken, if we do not treat them tenderly.  Their hope is only a glowing wick that needs a gentle breath to reignite it or it will be extinguished in darkness forever!  May God use us to show Jesus to our world today!