- Hold On to Christ Hebrews 2:10–18 Life hits fast and it hits hard. One diagnosis. One betrayal. One bill. One temptation. One tragedy. And suddenly you are hanging on for dear life. When life punches you in the gut, you don’t need cliches. You don’t need govt. You need a Savior. You need someone stronger than the storm you are in. Hebrews 2 says there is only one answer: Hold on to Christ. Because when the storm comes you survive by what you hold on to. And Hebrews 2:10–18 shows us why we can hold on, how we must hold on, and what Christ has already done so we never let go.
- Hold on to Christ because He will sanctify you Through Suffering Hebrews 2:10
- 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.
- Sanctification. The process of being more like Christ, growing in Holiness and righteousness
- Justification is a one time event. Sanctification is a life long event. If you’re growing at all-in it
- This Scripture verse from Hebrews is outlining that (once again) Jesus being God (for whom are all things and by whom are all things) has the goal of bringing many sons to glory
- Get this- Jesus wants you to be holy more than you want to be holy. His desire is to bring you to himself, and as you’ve given your life to him, you are now in the father’s hands and he Is working on your sanctification. It’s a PROCESS. Like gym- Join one day, grow whole life.
- In this chapter, when He’s saying “don’t drift” He’s also saying “hold on” Christ is doing it
- 1 Thes 4:3 READ AND KEEP UP ON SCREEN For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
- God’s will is for you to be sanctified! In what way? According to Thessalonians,
- Controlling your body, Your passions, Not taking advantage of others, being Holy
- That’s sanctification. Growing in Christlikeness and holiness. In those areas
- But HOW do we grow in this? The bible has a very simple prescription- Suffering
- As Christ suffered to bring us to him, we now join in his suffering to be like him and grow in him
- Suffering sometimes makes no sense, why am I going through this? To grow in him.
- Philippians 3:10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.
- When you are in the fellowship of his sufferings you are being conformed to the image of Christ
- There is no other process friend. If you don’t suffer you don’t grow. If you don’t suffer you don’t become sanctified. The process of sanctification is the process of learning to suffer (nice lol)
- There’s a sense of illegitimacy if you don’t suffer. Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
- What does it mean to you?
- Be glad when you suffer because it proves your sonship. It proves you’re of God when you suffer
- And let me say this. Christian suffering isn’t just physical pain, financial woes, work trouble, car problems, To-do lists and business challenges.
- It’s the toil of walking daily in holiness and suffering for being a Christian-fighting flesh
- It’s like this- when you fight sin, its suffering. Its also suffering when you partake, but fighting it is hard. Talked to Guy who got high all the time- no dealing w problems. Meth creates problems, but dealing with problems while wanting to ‘check out’ in sin, is a suffer. The struggle hurts.
- Not giving into your desires hurts. Not going back to old ways. Not succumbing to sin.
- Anger is easy. Revenge is easy. Hurting others is easy. Indulging flesh is easy. Its HARD to fight
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
- When I was in college, many guys went and did bad things. I spent a lot of time in dorm room alone on Fri/sat nights worshipping and drawing. Earthly loneliness is a suffering!
- Do this- Romans 5:3–4 glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character and character, hope. HOLD ON and GLORY in Tribulations
- James 1:2–4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. HOLD ON and COUNT IT ALL JOY
- 1 Peter 1:6–7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith HOLD ON AND GREATLY REJOICE
- Suffering brings the sanctification that produces Character, hope, patience and genuine faith!
- When suffering hits, don’t run. HOLD ON TO CHRIST because suffering is proof God is sanctifying you as His son or daughter.
- Hold onto Christ because He Conquered Death – Hebrews 2:14–15
- 14 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, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
- Christ’s suffering wasn’t temporary (well sort of-he did resurrect). His suffering lead to the cross
- We have ‘partaken of flesh and blood’- we’re real people who experience real physical pain
- But Christ DIED for us (through death he might destroy) to DESTROY the power of death
- Through his death we are now released of the fear of death. A lifetime bondage.
- Every human has felt the fear of death. It is universal. But the Bible says this fear is bondage. It controls people. It steals obedience and silences boldness. Jesus died to destroy that bondage.\
- By His death, He destroyed the one who held the power of death and released us from fear.
- I’m not afraid of dying, I’m a afraid of HOW I’m going to die. Fire, drowning, plane, etc
- But Jesus says- this fear of death is a BONDAGE. It keeps you from living if you’re always in FEAR
- 1 Cor 15 Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting O Hades, where is your victory. Rev 1:17–18 Do not be afraid I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
- Ro 6:9 Christ,having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him 2 Timothy 1:10 our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
- What does it mean to you?
- Stop fearing death! As I was writing this in the air- jumble jumble- its scary! (remember the way of dying) Dying in a plane Crash sounds horrible. Not the death, the falling for long time.
- I was delivered from fear of death. You know you can still be saved, walking w God and still have an unbiblical fear? I needed deliverance. Few years ago- in worship service. God gave me a vision of myself in the grave. In my class As, and then I saw the vision of being raised. Peace
- John 11:25–26 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
- I finally saw it, believed it, and now appropriate it as a promise of God for ME
- This promise- Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues O Grave, I will be your destruction.
- You can have this same deliverance from fear of death through Christ. He has conquered death
- You no longer have to live in bondage or fear. You HOLD ON To CHRIST and death is defeated!
- Christianity isn’t just a forgiveness from sins religion, it’s a eternal life religion- no fear in death
- John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
- Those of us in Christ do not need to fear death because he has conquered it and we live now
- Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth for the Lord has spoken.
- Christ has conquered death. Therefore stop living in fear. You are not in bondage. You are not a slave to the unknown. You do not fear the grave. Jesus holds the keys. Jesus owns your future.
- Jesus is your resurrection. When fear whispers-HOLD ON TO CHRIST. When anxiety rises- HOLD ON TO CHRIST. When death looms- HOLD ON TO CHRIST. You will live forever!
- Hold onto Christ because He Intercedes as Our High Priest – Hebrews 2:17
- Not only has he conquered death he now reigns as our high priest
- 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
- He’s paid for our sins and now stands before God on our behalf and continues to intercede
- This is a theme that flows a lot through Hebrews– Jesus the High Priest
- It’s because the Hebrew listener would greatly understand the role of a high priest.
- In the OT, the High Priest was responsible as the intermediary between man and God
- Man wasn’t holy enough, but the Priest was cleansed, prepared and purified for man
- Jesus is now (and has always been) our high priest. We’ll talk more about this in future
- Romans 8:34 It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
- But here’s why this theme of the high priest is important in this discourse of Hebrews
- This section covers our sanctification (becoming more like Christ) and our fear of death (walking in victory on this earth) and those two things- Suffering and death are being ministered to us and for us by a mediator and intercessor on our behalf- Passing through HIM
- 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
- This is a very important distinction and connection to the OT history to the Jews and US
- Ex 28:29–30 Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the Lord continually.
- This word picture of Aaron is a precursor to the reality of Christ: YOUR name Before the LORD
- That means Jesus is there, as high priest, offering sacrifices directly to God for you by name!
- Your process of sanctification isn’t on you! You’re in it, but he’s really in it as well. BY NAME
- THIS MEANS he’s walking through all of it with (insert name) in mind- This is the God that said
- Isa 43:1 Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are Mine.
- Isaiah 49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.
- He KNOWS you and is before GOD for you! The one who never sleeps or slumbers HOLD ON
- Its not just that we HOLD ON to CHRIST he HOLDS ON TO US. He intercedes for YOU BY NAME
- Matthew 28:20 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
- Do you know how you HOLD on to Christ the high priest?
- One- You catch yourself when you think Its all on you. You REMIND Yourself of this truth
- Here’s how it looks practically- You think and transform your mind. “I’m not alone in this”
- Two- You lay it down before him. This is why I love the altar time. You can do it from your seat, you can do it from your car, shower, toilet or bed. Anywhere. But you still have to lay it down
- But there’s something powerful when You’re in worship. You bow down and LEAVE it there
- Three- You declare- I’m Holding onto Christ! There’s nothing wrong with a declaration. It’s a REMINDER of your Victory. It’s a Battle Cry in the midst of suffering and Fear! I Got a priest!
Here’s the slam dunk– You hold onto the High priest in your sufferings and fear because-
- He Understands Our Weakness and will HELP YOU– Hebrews 2:18
- When you hold on to Christ you’re holding onto the God who became man who understands
- 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
- Because Jesus has suffered for us on the Cross, and redeemed us from death he can aid us
- What does that mean? It means that he can aid your sanctification, he can aid your fears, he can aid your holding on. You are weak and you don’t have what it takes to do it on your own
- Tough Mudder- many years ago- once and only. Very hard to do. Through the electrocutions- Ps Jay, helping me through it. At the end, Dan pulling me up. I felt like I was in an 80s movie
- You are not going though this process without a helper. An advocate. He understands
- We’re weak. Man we’re weak. Sometimes it seems like we can’t get through a week
- Small trials turn into big ones. Things we should have been able to overcome seem to fester
- I don’t doubt that any of you don’t want holiness. I know you do. We all do.
- But it can become DISCOURAGING when it seems like you’re not getting any traction
- You beat yourself up, you just give up the fight and live away from sanctification
- But this is a victory for you today- A reality you need to understand.
- Look at this scripture again- 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. He was TEMPTED and he is able to help those who are tempted!
- Can someone praise God with me for that? That we’re not walking through this alone!
- Because Jesus has suffered for us on the Cross, and redeemed us from death he can aid us
- You don’t have what it takes! I don’t have what it takes. I still got years before I get to glory and I can’t do it on my own. I don’t have the strength, the power, the will, The knowledge.
- On my best day I’m wretch who still cant seem to figure out what to do or how to do it.
- Psalm 103:13–14 As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame He remembers that we are dust.
- Oh thank you for your pity Lord! Thank you for knowing my frame! That I’m dust!
- MY ONLY OPTION IS TO HOLD ON TO CHRIST. I don’t have any other play. I’ve got nothing
- Let me end with This- You’re being sanctified. Hold on to Christ- He’s doing it. You’re suffering and have fears- Hold on to Christ. He’ll deliver you. You are failing- Hold onto Christ He’s your high priest. You Think you’re alone? Hold onto Christ. He will never leave you or forsake you
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