the church of Christ 

meeting in Marana, AZ

The Captain of our Deliverance -- Heb2:5-18

MissionImpossible?

• To Slay      the accuser, holding power of death - v14.
• To Deliver      the POW's held in his prison - v15.
• To Rescue      Adam's race -- children of Abraham - v16.

Jesus, Accomplished Warrior

• Greater      than all the messengers before Him (Heb1). Divine Nature (vs3,8).
• Such      greatness - come to earth - for a time (2:9). A dusty, lowly training      ground.
• Practiced      to Perfection: achieved intended goal, consummated as a Captain (v10).

Paradise Lost (Genesis2&3)

• Man given      dominion (1:26,28) & appointed keeper* of God's garden (2:15).
• Violated      by mis-stewardship (2:16/3:6) -- cursed and expelled (3:17-19).
• Cherubim,      with fiery swords, appointed guardians* of the tree of life (3:24).

Death Reigns

• Adam,      struggling under curses, sees the death of his first-born (Gen4:8)
• Lost:      innocence, relationship, confidence, joy, purpose, dominion, home, life.
• Death      stalks the earth. Each generation in hopeless grip of arch-enemy (Gen5).

Enter the Captain -- Heb2

• The      Stage Now Set: we don't see humanity in dominion -- far from it...
• But,      Look! A Man, temped, wrestled with death, & conquered our foe!
• In      Dominion over the coming world (v5). Ready to bring many sons to glory!

HOW does He deliver?

• He      Sanctifies (v11): arouses and revives prisoners from stupor, aware of God.
• He      Delivers (v15): POW's led out, slaves of fear now emancipated, free people.
• He      Propitiates (v17):  quenches the      fiery Divine wrath, making way for mercy.

Victory over Death 1Cor15

• The      Sting of death: Sin (v56). We are lethally injected when submit to sin.
• He did      NOT submit, but remained untainted. Yet, experienced death, undeserved.
• Final Victory      is now Built-In (v57). He returns to eliminate death forever.

Look & See Jesus!

• He experienced      death for everyone of us (Heb2:9). And He conquered.
• Now crowned      with glory and honor - our Captain, perfected, victorious.
• Calling,      "Brothers, come out. Brave soldiers, join Me! Let's go home."

Arouse from stupor, poor captive. Look upon your Captain. Follow Him to freedom & glory!

notes by David Teel Monday, March 10, 2014