Author Archives: John Sanzone

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CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION. Hebrews 2:10-13. 6/11/2023. #7

¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” ¹³ And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

1. Perfection personified

                a. Hebrews states that it was fitting for Christ to suffer

                                a1. Fitting does not mean that Christ deserved to suffer, for He did not suffer for His sins

                                a2. Fitting = proper (Greek word prepon as in Eng. words proper, appropriate, prepared)

                                                b1. Under God’s plan Jesus was the only one worthy to fulfill the payment for man’s sins (proper payment)

                                                b2. Jesus fit perfectly in God’s plan

                b. God’s plan to save man predates creation and so the price for that payment also predates creation

                                a1. Man was created by and for God

                                a2. God’s plan redeems man for God’s glory

                c. Many come to faith via Christ’s proper sacrifice

                d. Jesus became the captain or originator of our faith

                                a1. Greek word arche, as in monarchy, archeology, archetype, or architect

                                a2. Without Christ there would be no salvation

                e. Christ was made perfect through suffering

                                a1. Perfect is a misleading word (in Eng., it implies flawless, which Jesus already was)

                                a2. Greek word telos, meaning completion, to finish as in Eng. telephone, television, telescope, or telegraph

                                a3. Jesus’s suffering completed his task of securing our salvation (a necessary step)

                f. Are things have been given to the Son, so by Him all things are completed both in redemption and in judgment until the work of this age is done

2. Set apart for glory

                a. Once Jesus sanctified (set apart) believers via His work on the cross, believers became holy through the application of His payment for them

                b. Once believers became holy through Him, He made them His brothers

                                a1. Though He is Lord of all, he elevated us to being both sons of God and brothers and sisters of Christ

                                a2. The holy work of salvation on the cross created a new relationship for us

                c. Christ is not ashamed to call us His brethren

                                a1. Before His Father and the angels

                                a2. To this end did He go to the cross

3. Testifier

                a. Not only did Jesus redeem and sanctify us, but He also testified of the Father to us

                                a1. We only know of God because the Lord has revealed him to us

                                a2. The Spirit inspired holy men to write the Scriptures, which in turn reveals to us both the nature and will of God by which we are illuminated to understand what God has revealed

                b. Jesus then leads the saints in worship (praise)

                c. Jesus accomplished 3 things by redeeming us:

                                a1. He opened the door for us to truly worship God as children of God

                                a2. As the Incarnate Christ, He demonstrated His trust in the Father by going to the cross (we can trust Him as well)

                                a3. He made those who were enemies of God to become children of God (His brothers)

                d. Hebrews 12:1-4 since Jesus thought it fitting to enter the world as a man in order to pay for our sins so that we will be redeemed, how should we respond?

Key verse:  Hebrews 12:1-4¹ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

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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.

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FOCUS ON FAITH. Hebrews 2:1-4. 5/28/2023. #5.

¹ Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, ⁴ God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

1. Pay attention!

                a. Since Jesus is more important than angels and all other created things, both He and His message should be treated as paramount importance

                b. “Earnest heed” = lit., to have as first (priority)

                                a1. A chosen focus, allowing no distractions

                                a2. To make faith to top priority of life

                c. “That which we have heard” = to hear and accept the gospel message is to adopt a new life path

                                a1. II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24 to be a new creation is to adopt a new life in Christ

                                a2. Requires rejection of fleshly desires

                d. “Lest we drift away” = revert to old sinful life

                                a1. Not to lose salvation, but to live for self

                                a2. Must remember that sin is our default setting (not to live for Christ is natural)

                                a3. Jewish believers wanted to live like OT Jews under the Law

2. The higher word

                a. The words of angels came true

                                a1. The angel’s words to Lot about Sodom

                                a2. The angel’s words to Hagar

                                a3. Gabriel’s words to Daniel

                                a4. Gabriel’s words to Zechariah

                b. Christ’s words are far more important

                                a1. About salvation, judgment, future…

                                a2. Angels’ warnings had consequences

                                a3. Jesus’s warnings have greater consequences

                c. Can’t escape judgment if we ignore salvation

                                a1. Acts 4:11-12 only one way to be saved

                                a2. To neglect salvation is to lost forever

                d. For Christians to neglect salvation is to not to live as if one were saved (the Corinthians were prideful, lustful, envious, vindictive, stubborn…)

                                a1. To be more concerned about houses, things, entertainment, and image than about Christ is to neglect salvation

                                a2. To avoid gathering with God’s people in worship, serving, and prayer is to neglect one’s salvation and suffer loss (I Chronicles 3:12-15)

                e. Matthew 6:25-34 the world and concerns in our lives can be very distracting, pulling us away from our focus

3. Multiple witness to our faith

                a. Our faith is confirmed by many witnesses

                b. Verses 2:3 “confirmed to us by those who heard Him”

                                a1. Some teach that this eliminates Paul as the author of Hebrews since he heard Him

                                a2. All this could mean is that Paul was not one of the original disciples with Jesus on earth (an actual eye witness)

                c. God bore witness to his Son’s ministry

                                a1. Luke 3:22 God the Father declared that He was pleased with His Son at His baptism

                                a2. Matthew 17 God again bore witness of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration

                                a3. John 12 the Father declared that he will glorify Jesus as He had done before

                d. After Jesus’s resurrection God gave signs through his disciples

                                a1. Acts 2 the miracle of diverse languages

                                a2. God healed the sick, lame, blind, and raised the dead through his disciples

                e. Through prophetic fulfillment, testimonies, and many signs, we have an abundance of evidence

                f. Coming to Christ and serving Him = top focus (anything less leads to loss of ministry, reward, and joy)

Key verse: Matthew 6:25-34²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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FOOTSTOOL THEOLOGY. Hebrews 1:13-14. 5/21/2023. #4.

¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? ¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

1. Angels on high

                a. Angels were created as servants of God

                                a1. Nehemiah 9:6 created on first day of creation

                                a2. Jeremiah 31:1-8 praised God throughout the creation process

                b. Angels were assigned certain estate

                                a1. Their assigned position was the highest of all creation

                                a2. Angels were privileged by the grace of God to abide in heaven as God’s personal servants

                c. Lucifer was not satisfied with his position

                                a1. Lucifer was the greatest created being

                                a2. Lucifer wanted to be equal with God

                                                b1. Isaiah 14, Ez. 28 in rebellion Lucifer led one-third of the angels against God

                                                b2. Revelation 12 Lucifer and the rebel angels were defeated and cast out of heaven

                                a3. Lucifer became Satan and his followers became the demons

                d. Lucifer tried to take the spot reserved for the Son of God (it was no Lucifer’s place)

                                a1. Genesis 3 using the same temptation he succumbed to, he tempted Eve, who fell

                                a2. Jude 1:5-7 the angels who left their proper domain are reserved for everlasting chains

                e. Only by staying in one’s proper calling can he serve well and fulfill his assigned divine purpose

2. At the right hand of God

                a. Jesus was assigned by the Father the position of Savior, ruler, and judge

                b. Psalm 110:1-4 Jesus is a priest out of the order of Melchizedek (priest and king: Gen. 14), and will rule until all his enemies are made his footstool

                c. I Corinthians 15:20-28 after all of Christ’s enemies are made his footstool, he will give everything back to the Father, who will be all and all

                d. Six times Psalm 110:1 is referenced in the New Testament (NT)

                                a1. It is quoted more times than any other OT verse, denoting its significance

                                a2. Matthew 28:18 all authority in heaven and earth have been given to Jesus

                e. Jesus’ function is multi-folded

                                a1. Colossians 1:15-18 creator of all things

                                a2. I John 2:1-2 sin offering for mankind

                                a3. John 3:16 Savior to all who believe in Him

                                a4. Hebrews 4:16 at right hand of Father interceding for the saints

                                a5. I Corinthians 3:12-15 judges works of believers

                                a6. Revelation 20:11-15 judge of all mankind

                                a7. Revelation 21 creator of the New Heaven and earth

                f. Only Jesus can sit on the throne as Lord and judge

                                a1. No created being can rule over creation

                                a2. The task of all creation is to exalt the Lord in His position as Lord of all

3. Everyone in his place

                a. The main tasks of angels now is to minister to believers (angels were sent to Elijah, Daniel, Peter, John, Joshua, Hagar, and Zechariah)

                                a1. We may never know how many times angels have protected us

                                a2. Angels know their estate

                b. The main job of angels and men is to praise God

                c. Each person also has his own position and tasking

                                a1. None of us are God

                                a2. We are called as people of faith

                                a3. Romans 12:4-6, I Corinthians 12 some are pastors, missionaries, teachers, administrators, musicians, supporters, comforters…

                d. Each person thrives in the estate in which he is called (not trying to be something else)

Key Verse: I Corinthians 15:20-28²⁰ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. ²⁸ Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

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WHEN A MOM’S HEART BREAKS. JOB 2:4-10. MOM’S DAY. 5/14/2023.

⁴ So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” ⁶ And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” ⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. ⁸ And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

1. Job had a wife

                a. We often concentrate on Job’s unprovoked suffering and the strength of his faith

                b. In a way, Job’s wife suffered even more deeply

                                a1. She not only had lost her 10 children and financial security, but she watches her husband suffer with painful boils

                                a2. She does not have anywhere near the level of faith that her husband had

                                a3. Her husband could not comfort her and she had no strength to comfort him

                                a4. To her, Job’s declaration of faith must have seemed like empty platitudes

                                a5. There is no indication of friends helping her through her grief

                c. Women feel things more deeply than men

                                a1. The emotional makeup of a wife and mother are often more personal

                                a2. Men can more easily internalize their grief, working silently through pain

                                a3. Women often verbalize their anguish

2. The pain of a woman’s loss

                a. A mother who has lost her children is angry at the circumstances and often angry at God

                                a1. A feeling of undeserved punishment

                                a2. As bonds are broken, the soul is bitter

                b. Often is such situations, a wife will express her anger in ways she doesn’t really mean

                                a1. “Curse God and die” = curse (to sarcastically bless; an insincere invoking of God) – bless God in the same way He blessed you

                                a2. Job 19:17 in her frustration she disdain’s her situation and takes it out on Job (“even your breath stinks”)

                c. Often in frustration we take out our anguish on those nearest to us (ex., a wife mad at her husband because he died and left her alone)

3. A mother’s cross

                a. Moms bear many burdens of care, loss, lack of appreciation, toil, setbacks, insecurity…

                                a1. They deeply feel the pain of their husband losing a job or health

                                a2. The loss of a child or rejection by a child never leaves them (personal)

                b. It is difficult to be hard on Job’s wife

                                a1. Job’s response to her was spiritually correct, but emotionally insensitive

                                a2. Job was in no position to give care

                c. Job’s wife needed someone to feel her pain

                                a1. She couldn’t identify with Job’s faith

                                a2. She needed time to grieve and comfort

                d. God expects wives to have great faith and show great fortitude and patience (I Peter 3:1-6)

                                a1. High spirituality is hard and a struggle

                                a2. Compassion and grace for wives needed

Key Verse: 1 Peter 3:1-6

¹ Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

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