Shiloh Bible Church
Hebrews 2:5-9
Lost and Found
Introduction
A young man emerged from the Metro train in Washington, DC. The date was January 12th of this year. He positioned himself against a wall beside a trashcan. By most standards, he was nondescript—a young white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. He removed a violin from a small case. He placed the open case at his feet, and he shrewdly threw in a few dollars as seed money. And then he began to play. For the next 45 minutes, he played Mozart and Schubert on that train platform. Over 1,000 people streamed by. But most of them didn’t even take notice.
Now, if they were paying close attention, they might have recognized the young man. Joshua Bell is a world-renowned violinist. They might have also noticed the violin he played—a rare Stradivarius worth over $3 million. Bell did this as part of a perception project arranged by The Washington Post.
Now, just three days earlier Joshua Bell sold out the Boston Symphony Hall—with ordinary seats going for $100. In the subway, Bell collected about $32 from the 27 people who stopped long enough to give a donation.
Would more people have stopped had they known who was playing that violin? Would they have listened and paid more careful attention if they knew it was Joshua Bell? Probably so!
In Hebrews chapter 2, the writer tells us that we need to pay more careful attention to Jesus Christ because of who He is and what He has done.
In chapter 1 we learn that Jesus is greater than the prophets and greater than the angels. He is the Heir of all things, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He is the Revealer of God, the Redeemer of mankind, and High Priest. In chapter 2 we are told of what He has done. The writer of Hebrews tells us in 2:3 that Jesus provided a great salvation. But the question is: What kind of salvation is the writer referring to? You say, “What do you mean, Pastor Lyon? Salvation is salvation!” Well, the word salvation means “deliverance.” Sometimes the word is used to describe physical deliverance such as being rescued from your enemies. That’s how the word is often used in the Old Testament. But the word salvation can also refer to spiritual deliverance. And even then the Bible speaks of 3 aspects of spiritual deliverance.
There is initial salvation, which is past; progressive salvation, which is present; and final salvation, which is yet future. Let’s take a moment to consider each of these.
First, there is initial salvation. This is deliverance from the penalty of sin. When a person trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior, they experience this aspect of salvation. God forgives them of their sin and makes them a child of God. Because of this, they will not experience God’s wrath in hell. They are justified—which means that God declares them right in His sight. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” That’s past salvation—I have been delivered from the penalty of sin.
Now, once you’ve experienced this initial salvation, God wants you to move forward in your Christian life by experiencing progressive salvation. This is deliverance from the power of sin. As a Christian walks in obedience to Jesus Christ, he experiences sanctification—victory over sin. Philippians 2:12 says, “Continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” That’s present salvation—I am being delivered from the power of sin.
And then God will ultimately bring all believers to final salvation. They will experience deliverance from the very presence of sin itself. We will experience this aspect of salvation when we are glorified—when we receive our glorified body that sin cannot touch or taint.
So, there are 3 aspects of salvation. Past—I have been delivered from the penalty of sin; Present—I am being delivered from the power of sin; and Future—I will be delivered from the presence of sin. Now, too often we as believers only think of the word “salvation” in the past aspect—the time when we came to Christ as Savior and had our sins forgiven. But when the writer of Hebrews talks in 2:3 about our “great salvation,” I think he is referring to the third—and yet future—aspect of our salvation. At that time I will be completely and ultimately delivered from the presence of sin in my life. And, specifically, I think he is referring to the time when we will rule with Christ in His earthly kingdom in our glorified bodies. One day—in the future—Jesus Christ will set up His 1,000-year, millennial kingdom right here on planet earth.
You say, “Pastor Lyon, what leads you to believe that the writer of Hebrews is referring to this final, future aspect of salvation?” I’m glad you asked that question! Let me tell you why: it’s because of the context and flow of thought of Hebrews chapters 1 and 2. For example, look at …
· 1:2—“But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things.” One day Jesus will inherit all things. When will He do that? Look at …
· 1:8—“But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” Jesus will inherit all things when He rules in His kingdom. When will He rule in His kingdom? Look at …
· 1:13—“To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?” Jesus will inherit all things when He rules in His kingdom after His enemies are crushed at His second coming. And where will we be when this happens? Look at …
· 1:14—“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” “Will inherit”—future tense. This refers to the future salvation we will enjoy while ruling with Christ is His earthly kingdom. And then to make sure that we understand that the writer of Hebrews is referring to the future kingdom of Christ on this earth, he clearly states in …
· 2:5—“It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.” The writer of Hebrews tells us plainly that He has been talking to us about the world to come—the yet future rule of Christ on earth.
You say, “Well, aren’t we living in Christ’s kingdom now? Didn’t Jesus set up His kingdom here on the earth at His first coming?” I believe the answer to that is “No.”
At His first coming, Jesus came as our Savior to die for our sins. Today we are not living in the time of Christ’s earthly kingdom. Rather, we’re living in the time of the Church Age.
At the end of the Church Age, Jesus will return to the clouds of the air to be our Deliverer. He will take believers home to heaven to be with Him. But He will not establish His kingdom on earth at that time. Following the Rapture of the Church, there will be a 7-year Tribulation Period on the earth—a time of terrible devastation and destruction.
At the end of the Tribulation Period, Jesus will return to earth as King. And that is when Jesus will set up His kingdom here on earth. That is when faithful believers will rule with Him on this planet.
So, what is “the world to come” that the writer of Hebrews talks about in 2:5? Answer: The future kingdom that Jesus will establish on earth at His second coming.
And what is this “great salvation” that the writer of Hebrews talks about in 2:3? Answer: The opportunity that you have to rule with Jesus in His earthly kingdom.
And the writer of Hebrews tells us about our potential rulership in Christ’s kingdom. And he tells us about it in Hebrews chapter 2. In Hebrews 2:5-9, the writer of Hebrews tell us that our rulership was …
1. REVEALED BY GOD
Verse 5 says: “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.”
This statement continues the flow of thought from 1:14: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” The angels’ ministry is to serve believers. It is man who has the privilege to rule over the world to come—not angels. And the writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8 as proof.
Look at verse 6: “But there is a place where someone has testified—[and here is where he quotes Psalm 8:4-6]—: ‘What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?’”
Psalm 8 is a psalm of King David. David surveys the vastness of the heavens and marvels over the fact that God is concerned about puny man. I mean, think of it! We are only a speck of dust in the vast universe. Yet we are on God’s mind—He thinks about us; He cares about us.
The quote continues in verse 7: “‘You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.’”
Here David refers back to the creation story. In Genesis 1, we read of God’s original intent for man. Just listen as I read Genesis 1:26-28: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
So, the first chapter of the Bible tells us that God’s original intent for man was to rule over His creation. Now, look at Hebrews 2:7 again: “‘You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.’”
And then the writer of Hebrews makes this comment: “In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him.”
So, everything in creation is subject to man’s rule over it. But then the writer of Hebrews adds: “Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.”
Man is not ruling over creation according to God’s original intent. Creation doesn’t seem to be cooperating! Uncontrollable natural disasters—wild, dangerous animals—it seems more like creation is ruling over man! Why is this? Because the writer of Hebrews tell us that our rulership was …
2. RESTRICTED BY SIN
Look at the end of verse 8 again: “Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.”
So, what messed up God’s original design? What messed up His plan for man’s rulership over the earth? The answer is: Sin! Our first parents sinned—they disobeyed God. And as a result, God cursed creation. But one day the curse will be lifted. And when will that be? When Jesus Christ returns and sets up His kingdom. And at that time man will be co-rulers with Christ. Man will be able to rule over the earth as God intended.
Now, what makes all of this possible? The writer of Hebrews tells us that our rulership was …
3. RECOVERED BY CHRIST
Look at verse 9: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
Jesus became a man, born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered and died on a cross to pay for our sins. And if we trust in Him as Savior, He forgives our sins and gives us eternal life. And He also gives us the opportunity to rule with Him when He sets up His earthly kingdom. Entrance into His kingdom is a free gift, received by faith—and it can never be forfeited. But ruling with Him in His kingdom is a privilege reserved for His children who obey Him—who endure and persevere in their Christian life.
So, it is possible for a child of God to forfeit the opportunity to rule with Christ in His kingdom. How? By living a life of sin and disobedience.
Remember last Sunday morning we said that we must pay close attention to what Jesus has said? Because neglect leads to drifting; drifting leads to disobedience; and disobedience leads to punishment. And what punishment might the child of God face? Not the loss of their eternal life so that they go to hell. But rather forfeiting their right to rule with Christ in His kingdom.
I counseled once with a woman several years ago who was not a member of Shiloh. She was a Christian, married with two children. She was contemplating leaving her husband and children and having an affair with a married man she had been flirting with. I counseled her from the Word and showed her what a terrible offense that would be to her husband, to her children, to her family—but most of all to God. I told her how she would live to regret that horrendous decision. And I warned her about her embarrassment at the Judgment Seat of Christ and her loss of rewards and the possibility of forfeiting the wonderful privilege of ruling with Jesus in His kingdom. But she seemed unconcerned—she was drifting.
William Edward Parry was a British explorer. In the early 1800s he led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean. They wanted to go farther north to continue their chartings. So they calculated their location by the stars and then started a very difficult and treacherous march north. They walked the whole day. And then totally exhausted, they finally stopped for the night. They took their bearings again from the stars. And they were shocked to discover that they were farther south than when they had started. They then discovered that they had been walking on an ice floe that was moving south faster than they were moving north! They were drifting in the opposite direction.
Conclusion
The same can be true of us spiritually. If we neglect to listen carefully to what Christ said, we will begin to drift away from Him. And our drifting will lead to disobedience. And if we don’t repent, that disobedience will lead to punishment—not loss of eternal life, but loss of the privilege of ruling in Christ’s kingdom. And that would be tragic! Because you were created to rule. God created man to have dominion over His creation. And you’ll get to do that—if you continue to follow Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray.
