The Founder of our Salvation

January 31, 2023

Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, January 29, 2023.

Sermon text: Hebrews 2:5–18



The Founder of our Salvation


Right out of the gate, we see another "angel" contrast, specifically that it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come. So to connect this set of verses to the previous set of verses, when we speak of salvation, at least part of what we are talking about is "the world to come."


When Jesus comes back he will establish a new heavens and a new earth, the fulfillment of every covenant promise and the fulfillment of our salvation. 


Point # 1: There are at least two components to our salvation... NOW... and FOREVER.


Next, we are shown more details about the now and forever of our salvation. The author goes straight to Psalm 8, which explains our salvation in terms of "subjection." Subjection means to be "placed under the control of another."


Point #2: God's plan is for EVERYTHING to be placed under the control of US!


Now this is quite a remarkable consideration! Part of God's plan for the salvation of His children is for there to be NOTHING left outside of our control. In his infinite wisdom, he desires for us to reign and rule over this world... to be able to exercise dominion.


Point #3: You are more likely to drift from your salvation, if you think it is only about this life.


Viewing our faith and salvation as only impacting us now can lead to feelings of meaninglessness, which almost always lead to feelings of hopelessness. We have placed our faith in Jesus, and something bad happens to us or someone we love, and we say things like "What's the point?" OR "Why do bad things happen to good people?" We are consumed with the present, and the present is consuming us. The hope of glory has turned into the fog of meaninglessness. 


So what now? God has a plan for us to have everything in subjection to us, and nothing outside of our control, but it’s not working. 


We agree, we do not yet see this happening. But what else do we see?


Perfection Through Suffering

9 - "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.

10 - For it was indeed fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering."


WE SEE HIM!


This is the first time in the book of Hebrews that Jesus is mentioned by name. It's like a big fancy timely entrance.


But then it changes. He fulfills what we have yet to experience, but he plays a unique role...

  • Jesus experienced the suffering of death
  • Jesus, by God's grace toward us, tasted death for everyone


We don't "taste death." We just "die." Why? The wages of sin is death.


Only one who is sinless can "taste" death and not die. That is what Jesus has done. He emptied himself and became obedient to the point of death on a cross, he was buried, but did not stay buried. On the 3rd day he vacated the grave and conquered death. He only tasted it. It could not hold him down. The good news of the Gospel is that He is risen! And He didn't only conquer His death, but the death of all who would put their faith in him for the forgiveness of their sins. And the next verse explains how God's plan plays out.


Point #4: It was fitting for God to make Jesus perfect through suffering.


Now this can be really confusing! How can one who is "all-knowing" learn? How can one who is perfect, be perfected? 

Sometimes when a particular piece of Scripture is confusing, we have to take a minute to go back to what we know. For example, we know that Jesus is perfect. He has no imperfection. So this must mean something other than “the imperfect Jesus suffered in order to be made perfect.” 

Hebrews 5:8-9 "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him."


He learned obedience through what he suffered... To understand this we have to zoom out... In as much as Jesus had never suffered, he also had never been tested. Before coming to earth, He only knew sinless fellowship with God outside of time. He had never been tempted.


As well, this is the only time that we have had someone come from the presence of God the Father, and dwell with us in the human form of us. For Jesus to be perfected, was for Jesus to be tested. He had never been in a scenario where someone else's words provoked him to anger, or doubt, or fear, or jealousy. He had never worked soil that would push back with thorns and rocks. He had ever been tempted to provoke his children to anger, because they had been unruly and defiant. He had never been tempted to numb himself with alcohol or food as a means of hiding from the feelings of futility that can come from hard days.  He had never experienced cravings. 


There is a great frustration in sharing your struggles with someone, and they respond with phrases like "Well, now you know how I feel" or "Welcome to my world".


And if Jesus had not been perfected through suffering, if he had not learned obedience through what he suffered, if he had not left the Father's side, from where he had dwelled in all perfection outside of time, and come to our world, and taken on flesh, and experienced struggle, we might very well look to him and say, "No, you don't know I feel. You don't connect with me. You and I are not the same! I have never dwelled sinlessly with God, and you have ONLY dwelled sinlessly with God! You have not faced loss, heartache, grief, confusion, temptation, fatigue, or anxiety. You don't know how I feel."


But He does. He experienced a kind of anxiety in Gethsemane where he cried tears of blood. In tasting death for us, he experienced all of the emotions that would lead to a prayer to his Father, saying, "If it is at all possible, please let this cup pass from me... don't make me drink it... if there is any other way." But there was no other way. According to the writer of Hebrews, this was "fitting." All other attempts would not be "fitting." 


Point #5: Jesus gets you. 


Point #6: Jesus' obedience proves the worth and glory of God.


Jesus, as a member of the trinity, experienced perfect unity, described biblically as a dance, with the Father and Holy Spirit. He knows God's ways. He knows God's thoughts and intentions. He knows God's eternal plans. He knows God's love and tenderness and wisdom and glory. He knows the joy and fulfillment of obedience. And at EVERY opportunity where Jesus could have chosen disobedience to God, he looks to God the Father who he knows perfectly, and he looks back at the temptation, and he says "Not worth it" EVERY SINGLE TIME. 


Persevere to the end. Christ’s sacrifice achieves for us the reality mentioned at the beginning of this passage. Because our sins are forgiven, we will eternally reign and rule with Christ in a new heavens and a new earth, where nothing is outside of our control, and everything is in subjection to us and Jesus. As you fight to not drift from this great salvation, look to Jesus. He understands you and he is able to help those who are being tempted. 



Discipleship Questions:

  1. How does an eternal perspective keep us from neglecting our salvation?
  2. What are some things you see in our world today that make faith hard?
  3. In your own words, how was Jesus perfected through suffering?
  4. What impact does Jesus’ suffering have on your relationship with him?
  5. What if Jesus had never taken human form and suffered?
  6. How does Jesus’ suffering magnify the worth and glory of God?
  7. Why is Jesus able to help when you are tempted?




Arm Yourselves

June 11, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

I Believe That We Will Win

June 3, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

Who Can Be Against Us?

May 27, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
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