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CONTRITION OF CHRIST. Hebrews 2:5-9. 6/4/2023. #6.
5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have 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 do not yet see all things put under him. 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, might taste death for everyone.
1. The position of man
a. The creation of man was wondrous
a1. Man in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28) – unique in all creation
a2. Man was given dominion over all God’s creation on earth
a3. God interacted with Adam and Eve directly before the Fall
b. After the Fall, man was still made in the image of God, but now the image was marred by sin
a1. God still worked with man to bring about his redemption
a2. John 3:16 God still loves man even though he is in rebellion against God
2. The humiliation of Christ
a. Matthew 1 the Incarnation of Christ is an astounding act of humiliation whereby the Mighty God became a man, one of his creatures
b. Hebrews quotes Psalm 8, where David marvels at how God regards man and made him just a little lower than the angels
c. Jesus was still God, but now also man
d. Jesus was not “made” (poeo) a little lower than the angels, but he “became” (ginomai) a little lower…
a1. Jesus was always God (He was not “made” God or became God)
a2. Jesus was not made a new creature, but he became man without leaving off being God
e. Philippians 2:3-11 Jesus emptied himself out of the power and glory of His deity in order to walk among men
a1. Hebrews 1 He never stopped being God
a2. He laid aside His omniscience, omnipresence, powers, and glory (He did not know
when he was coming back when he walked the earth, He did not shine, He grew in grace and knowledge…)
a3. He felt human limitations of fatigue, hunger, thirst, pain, and anxiety
a4. John 11 Jesus did all things through the will and power of the Father
a5. Jesus suffered death as a man, but his deity made his payment effectual for man
f. It is the humiliation of Christ that made him worthy
a1. He suffered all temptation, humiliation, persecution, and death as a man, but without sin or deviation from the will of God
a2. He became our example as to how to resist temptation, testify of our faith, persevere through trials, remain faithful, and worship + serve God fully
3. Death for all
a. Jesus tasted death so man would not have to do so
a1. Those who believe immediately transition from mortal life to eternal life
a2. Revelation 20 only those who reject Christ will taste the second death
b. All that Christ did was by the grace of God
a1. God’s love for man was so great, that He gave His Son to become a man to die for man
a2. Jesus then took back His glory and honor
c. By His death, Christ gained and even greater glory
Key verse: Philippians 2:3-11
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.