THE HELMET, SWORD&SHIELD

The main point of the inspired writer is explicitly clear and firmly direct. Here again the key point is stressed that discreetly defined the premier objective the miraculous “incarnation” of the Son of God.

As has been stressed across the great span over the centuries of “redemptive history” as chronicled in Holy Scripture, the Lord Jesus was born into this world over 2100 years ago for the expressed purpose “to die.”

And, here in this key section of Hebrews, the directing hand of the Spirit of God prompted the inspired writer to explain to us the very reason why.

Note that there are no other peripheral matters remotely being interjected into the critical discussion. He deliberately keeps at bay the enormous, ancillary plethora of life crippling and debilitating human issues and problems that have plagued the global populations of humanity since Adam’s fall.

Promptly, our focus is directed to the key matter that affects the lives of every single human being on the planet; that is, the paramount issue of “death.”

The central point being made concerning the only begotten, Son of God is that graciously and humbly took on our human form, or as was detailed: “then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same.”

Indeed, as Philippians 2:6-8 further wonderfully explained to us: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Again, God the Son did so for the exclusive purpose of gaining the potential to die. In other words, we should fully understand that “as God,” He could not die.

And, it is equally true that as an angel, or as He appeared in some earlier O.T. form as a Christophany, it was yet impossible for Him to experience death. However, to become like us (i.e. “flesh and blood”) this became the only means whereby He could have the experience.

Now merely to begin to contemplate broader implications of that astonishing reality is hugely overwhelming and ultimately incomprehensible. But, the Lord is not asking us to attempt to analysis the greater depths of its inferences.

Here are simply directed to accept that affirmed spiritual and physical reality, and by faith allow the broader impact of that divine truth to transform the sin-cursed condition and eternal status of our fallen souls.

WHY, “TO DIE”

Repeatedly, throughout the record of Scripture we are reminded that the Lord’s death was in fact fully and absolutely “substitutionary in nature. In other words, He did not die “just to die,” but as Hebrews 2:9b so indicated: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Note more closely the highlighted phrase: “that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

What a wonderful blessing of divine grace! It is absolutely true that the “propitiatory” sacrifice of the Suffering Savior was completely universal in its scope and potential application.

THROUGH DEATH

Christ’s triumphant victory over death secured the gift of eternal life for all who have personally placed their faith and trust in His completed work of redemption. This grand spiritual realization has been so noted in the inspired text of Romans 6:23 that affirms: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

And as such, the practical application of 1 Peter 3:18 now can be experienced by all who humbly repented and embraced the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Both looking backwards at Calvary and projecting forward to future of our (Christ followers) glorification, the key text joyfully proclaimed: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”

Christ’s substitutionary death impacted the universe of fallen humanity in three aspects:

He “dethroned/destroyed” the governing dictator of Death – the Devil
He completely abolished the eternal dominion of death over the lives of “the redeemed.”
He destined the ultimate removal of death from the sphere of life

THE DETHRONED (DESTROYED) DICTATOR

The main focus text explains that the reason behind this wonderful realization lies in the fact the on Calvary the proxy administrator of death (“the Devil”) has been “dethroned” and the eternal dominion, or “bondage-sting” of death has been broken in the life of “the redeemed.”

In Matthew 28:18, the Lord Jesus triumphantly declared to His disciples (and us): “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

This grand declaration affirmatively reiterated the earlier proclamation that He had stressed in John 5:26-27, where He explained: “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.”

This is a sure reality; but it is true, it still has yet to become a physical present manifestation. Alluding to this very point Hebrews 2:8b rightly noted: “But now we see not yet all things put under him.”

Yet, as the initial section of the key text states, its ultimate eventuality is a divine surety, for the Lord God has decreed: “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.” (v. 2:8a)

Now clearly, this fact does not mean that the presence and power of death has been eliminated from the sphere of natural life. The decreed curse of sin (ultimately death) is still fully operational in this sphere of physical life.

Without question, each of us (humanity) knows the painful surety of the universality of the divine life-curse cited to Adam (and his offspring) Genesis 3:19 that remarked: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

And since that day, sadly it has been the case and described in Romans 5:12: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

And as such, whether we embrace this bible truth or not, Hebrews 9:27 has rightly outlined our unavoidable plight in this sphere of natural life: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Nevertheless, according to Scripture, through His death on the Cross, that is as far as death can impact the life of the Christ follower. But sadly, it yet remains the case that the dominion of death still eternally impacts the lives of those who rebelliously rejects that atoning work of Jesus Christ.

ndeed, 1 John 5:13 emphatically declares: "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

"To Dethrone Death’s Dictator and Destroy Death’s Dominion”

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Hebrews 2:14

WHY, “TO DIE”

THROUGH DEATH

THE DETHRONED (DESTROYED) DICTATOR

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