The Founder of our Salvation

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?