C. Victor over the Power of Death... 2:14b 1. Victor through Death. 2. Victor over Death. 3. Victor over the Devil E. 2. Death Is Catastrophic A.

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1 Congregational handout; outline sermon text on following pages Sermon Notes & References Jesus, Our Victor Hebrews 2:14-15 March 9, 2014 A. Introduction 1. Politics of Death C. Victor over the Power of Death :14b 1. Victor through Death 2. Victor over Death 3. Victor over the Devil E. 2. Death Is Catastrophic A. 3. The Bible s Opposing Message B. D. Victor over Fear of Death :15 1. Free from Fear B. Jesus Is Our Victor :14a 1. A Champion 2. Our Champion C. 2. Satan s Shackles Shattered F. E. Conclusion 3. Our Man D. A B C D Hebrews 9:27 Job 14:1,5; Psalm 90:10,12; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Genesis 3:4-5; John 12:31 2 Corinthians 4:4 Hebrews 2:9; Luke 11:21-22 E F Colossians 2:13-15 Colossians 1:13; John 8:34-36

2 {1}. Hebrews 2: Jesus, Our Victor A. Introduction 1. Politics of Death {2}. a. Belgium has been at the forefront in legalising euthanasia (A) 12 years ago they made euthanasia legal for the elderly (B) but about 1/3 of such deaths have been carried out without requests (C) in December, 2013, they expanded the law to include any child with the capacity of discernment to make such a request with parental consent (D) Belgium has abandoned the elderly, and now they are saying they will abandon their children b. In Quebec, the medical-aid-in-dying Bill 52 has been delayed, and it is hoped will itself die on the order paper with the closing of the legislature c. one political party has as part of its policy statement (A) resolved that euthanasia be de-criminalized (B) (C) its leader using the familiar, misleading term, death with dignity as an aside, I noticed that they have also passed a resolution for a $16 billion national daycare scheme and am reminded that one of the strategies of both Nazi-Fascist and Communists countries has been to isolate the children from the parents in order to capture the control of the next generation to their vain philosophies 2. Death Is Catastrophic a. the problem is that politicians who advocate such laws (A) have little understanding of death; at least of other peoples deaths (B) they are like the doctor who was preparing papers to enable an 80-plus year old woman to move to Israel {3}. (1) when asked about her health she recited her various complaints (2) Well, Mrs. Weiss, he said, you have to expect things to start deteriorating. After all, who wants to live to 100? (3) she looked him straight in the eye and replied, anyone who is 99! (C) those who make such requests or have them made on their behalf and those who carry them

3 out, have little idea of what it means to be ushered into eternity in such a fashion (D) And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, (Hebrews 9:27) b. but godless people do not want to contemplate such a thought (A) euthanasia is a euphemism to make such death appear friendly (B) it is compatible with the idea that nothing exists beyond the grave (C) A fellow skeptic once asked the famous atheist Voltaire if he would speak some words of comfort to a friend who was dying. Voltaire responded, I don't think I can do that. The thought that there might really be a hell plagues me continually. {4}. (D) many unbelievers would prefer to believe that life is meaningless, as in Macbeth s words on hearing of the death of Lady Macbeth, She should have died hereafter; Out, out, brief candle! Life s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. {5}. (E) unbelievers prefer to think that if this life becomes meaningless, then death (without judgement) is an improvement 3. The Bible s Opposing Message a. about life and death (A) it is the living God who gives us life; my life belongs to Him (B) euthanasia is the devil s deceit to usurp the sovereignty of God (C) Job had it right: Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. (Job 14:1, 5) yet man wants to transgress God s limits (D) so the Psalmist gives solid reason for persisting in life, even in times of our deepest distress: As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their

4 pride is but labour and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:10, 12) b. death is not a friend; death is an enemy; death is the enemy (A) death is the final, the ultimate enemy (B) writing of the resurrection, Paul says, The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26) (C) the devil loosed that enemy upon us when Adam and Eve gave in to his enticing words 4 You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:4-5) (D) but Jesus at Calvary publicly took on the devil Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (John 12:31) and defeated the devil, and with him, death c. let us consider this more fully in the verses before us this morning B. Jesus Is Our Victor :14a 1. A Champion a. the Philistine army stood on the hill on the other side of the valley b. from them went forth this huge warrior, 6 cubits in height, a giant c. in the valley below with booming voice he challenged Israel d. send forth your champion and we will engage in battle e. the nation of the champion who lost would be subject to the other f. but no one emerged from the ranks of Israel s army to meet this foe g. even King Saul, head and shoulders above the rest of the people, was diminutive beside this Philistine named Goliath h. then God sent His champion, David, a mere youth, a shepherd boy but a man after God s own heart David who trusted in God i. Goliath was vanquished, and Israel was delivered from fear and death 2. Our Champion a. since the time when Eve, then Adam, disobeyed God, the devil has held mankind in his sway, rule and power he is the god of this world who has blinded the minds of the unbelieving (2 Corinthians

5 4:4) b. this champion of evil, the devil, has slain millions by his lies c. who will go forth, a Champion for mankind to face this foe? Who can? d. wait!... there is such a man (A) He is the son of that David (B) He is even the man with God s own heart (C) truly a man, who through His perfect, sinless life was able to stand up as man s representative (D) to challenge the devil (E) the seed of the woman who would bruise the serpent s head (F) to fight against Satan in his own kingdom, the domain of death e. Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, Hebrews 2:14a 3. Our Man a. in looking at Hebrews 1, we came face to face with the truth that this One who in these last days has spoken to us from God (A) is none other than the Son of God Himself, (B) that there is no discernable difference to be found in the nature of God the Son from the nature of God the Father, and, (C) make no mistake about it, says Hebrews 1, He is immeasurably greater than the greatest of all created beings, the angelic hosts b. upon this fact the writer of Hebrews builds in this second chapter (A) namely that the salvation He has proclaimed the gospel message is the most important news that a person can ever hear (B) (C) for the Triune God has given witness that the gospel is real this gospel was not only presented, but was also accomplished, by the Man who is God But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9) c. we see Jesus; Jesus; (A) son of Mary, son of David, son of Adam, son of man

6 (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) because of this: man is flesh and blood and man is lost in sin Jesus partook of the same was made flesh and blood, but without sin so that he might be mankind s champion, their battle hero at one point in His ministry, speaking to the religious rulers about the battle between Himself and Satan, Jesus said, 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armour on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. (Luke 11:21-22) Jesus, our Champion, our Man, by going to Calvary, entered the strong man s fortress, on our behalf and in our place and so it came to pass that this last Adam, Jesus is C. Victor over the Power of Death :14b 1. Victor through Death a. that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, b. Jesus took Satan s weapon that is death, the death that the devil had brought upon mankind (both physical and spiritual death), and He turned that weapon around upon our foe who has been wielding it against all humanity: the weapon of death c. by death man s great enemy through the ages He became Saviour d.... How paradoxical... If ever death had appeared to be triumphant, it was when Jesus of Nazareth, disowned by His nation, abandoned by His disciples, executed by the might of imperial Rome, breathed His last on the cross. Why, some had actually recognized in His cry of pain and desolation the complaint that even God has forsaken Him. His faithful followers had confidently expected that He was the destined liberator of Israel; but He had died not in the forefront of the struggle against the Gentile oppressors of Israel, but in evident weakness and disgrace and their hopes died with Him. If ever a cause was lost, it was His; if ever the powers of evil were victorious, it was then. {6}. e. but this was not defeat; indeed even in death Jesus was 2. Victor over Death a. years ago in the TBC choral we had a special arrangement of the hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous {7}. Cross the third verse goes

7 See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? b. and then came this transitional stanza But He rose again, And lives in my heart today, Where all is peace And perfect love! c. which introduces the fourth verse as a triumphant, victory song Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small: Love so amazing, so divine, Shall have my soul, my life, my all. 3. Victor over the Devil a. for reason into which we shall enquire more deeply, Lord willing, in days to come, that death of Jesus, the man who is God, forever dealt the death blow to sin, the root cause of death b. by dealing with sin, by dealing with death, in Satan s very domain c. Jesus became Victor over the strong man, Satan, entering into his household and taking the devil s possessions us out to freedom d. Paul describes Jesus victory parade in this fashion: 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (Colossians 2:13-15) D. Victor over Fear of Death :15 1. Free from Fear

8 a. and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. b. have you ever experienced it? (A) you have to do what is usually such an easy thing for you to do (B) maybe it is a physical, athletic activity (1) but you have over-thought it; so fear creeps into your mind (2) and your muscles tighten up and won t respond (C) maybe it is to speak before a group (1) you stand up, look out at the crowd; and fear comes (2) you mind forgets, your tongue hesitates, and you stand there (D) if you have ever sung in public (1) it came easy in practise; but this is the big moment (2) fear tightens your throat; your breathing becomes erratic (E) fear constrains us so that we cannot do what we want c. the fear of death, brought upon us by Satan with his power of death (A) constrains mankind, limits mankind (B) so man is unable truly to live; life is but a shadow of God s intent (C) for, Satan has made mankind prisoners of sin (D) prisoners of death (E) prisoners of fear (F) but Satan s Shackles Shattered a. and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. b. Jesus rose from death and was victor over sin c. Jesus laid waste the forces of evil and was victor over Satan d. Jesus accomplished salvation on the cross victor over the fear ot death e. Jesus walked this earth in a resurrected, new, spiritual body and sent His disciples, His friends, now His brethren to proclaim that salvation from sin through faith in Christ f. the result from this is that God works For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (Colossians 1:13) the shackles are shattered, and the believer

9 leaves the prison house of sin g. Satan is no longer the fearsome overlord; no, Jesus, who is one of us, our Victor, is now our Lord h. 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36) E. Conclusion 1. Jesus Is Our Victor 2. Where Do You Stand? a. are you still in the prison house of sin? b. shackled by the fear of death? c. then even now come to Jesus, the Victor, to be delivered d. do you believe in Jesus Christ but find yourself tormented by doubt e. behold, it was for this reason that the Son left heavens glory to live as a man like you and me, so that He would free us who all our lives have been enslaved by the fear of death f. for Jesus Christ lives, and through Him so can we only believe.

10 by Garth Hutchinson, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church of Aurora (Ontario): may be distributed or quoted freely, only let this be done to the glory of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ (Titus ii.13). Except as noted otherwise, quotations are from the New American Standard version, used by permission. Various other English versions of the Holy Bible may be used in this sermon. Explanatory additions to the Bible text are shown in braces. Version identifiers are: ASV American Standard Version of 1901 AV Authorized (King James) Version of 1769 NAS New American Standard version 1960, 1995 The Lockman Foundation (usually the 1995 edition) NIV New International Version 1984 by the International Bible Society NKJV New King James Version 1979 Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers WEY The New Testament in Modern Speech 1902, 1912 R. F. Weymouth Some of the commentaries and resources used in the preparation of this message are identified as follow: Barnes Notes on the New Testament, et alia, by Rev Albert Barnes, Gall & Inglis, Edinburgh BM Biblical Museum, Editor James Comper Gray, ca 1870 EBC The Expositor s Bible Commentary, 1986 Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 49530, Michigan Hebrews, by Leon Morris EGT The Expositor s Greek Testament, Hodder & Stoughton Hebrews, by Marcus Dods Gill Exposition of the Old Testament, Exposition of the New Testament, by John Gill, D.D. Kerux The sermon & illustration data base compiled by Rev. David Holwick at the web-site, NICNT The New International Commentary on the New Testament The Epistle to the Hebrew, by F. F. Bruce RWP Robertson s Word Pictures of the New Testament, by Dr. A. T. Robertson TYN The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries Hebrews, by Donald Guthrie 2. Information from The Interim, 104 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1X9, March 2014; articles on pp 1-2, Death, Life, Old Age, related by Alan Smith Kerux illustration # The Plague of Hell, contributed by Dan Erickson Kerux illustration # Macbeth, Act V, Scene V Wm Shakespeare 6. NICNT, in loc., (page 49) 7. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, by Isaac Watts ( ); source of transition unknown