I was working on my laptop while waiting on a friend who had gone into a local store when suddenly I heard a voice say, “Sir, I see you are into godly literature.” A man in a suit had noticed I had a copy of J. I. Packer’s Knowing God sitting on the dashboard. It turned out this gentleman belonged to a major religious cult and wanted to encourage me to come to a service to observe the Lord’s Supper, which, according to their very flawed teaching, only the 144,000 could partake of. Everybody else has to watch.
As the conversation
continued he rightly pointed out that I, as a trinitarian {1}, believe that Jesus Christ is all God and all man, but went on to allege that such could not be because Jesus was limited and subordinate to the Father. I immediately replied Christ was that way (or shall I say Way) for our salvation. Sadly, to many the subordination of Christ seems to be a contradiction, or if one does accept the truth there are many that do not know that His subordination becomes ours if we are saved. In other words, the life that He lived to please the Father actually becomes our own if we surrender to God through Christ.Hebrews 5:8-10 gives an example of this: “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” From this we shall look at six aspects of God’s loving rescue for us. In fact, from the first letter of each aspect we will spell out the word “rescue.”
I. Royalty 8a “Although He was a Son, . . ."
While “son/s of God" may refer to people or angels at times throughout Holy Scripture, when connected to Christ it points to His position in the Godhead being fully God as the Son. The fact that He is fully God is shown in various ways, including, but not limited to, His direct connection to YHVH, a number of passages like 1 John 5:20 indicate He is God, and He accepted worship (Matthew 8:2, Mark 5:6, Luke 24:52, John 9:38 et al. cf. Acts 10:25-26, Revelation 19:10, 22:9).
Additionally, the Holy Scriptures are clear that no mere man could provide salvation for us (Psalm 49:7 cf. 49:15), nor could any of the angels (Job 4:18, Psalm 73:25, Hebrews 1:1-6). God has always subsisted as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit so we may obtain salvation in Him. The Holy Scriptures are clear it was the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who always was the Son.
As it is within our own being that our soul and spirit commune with each other (although not always harmoniously), within the Godhead the Father and Son commune with each other (always harmoniously). This, in itself, could describe the Son as rich, but it also would be the fact that because He is God He is all powerful according to His holiness, all knowing, immutable, and more.
The Word of God is clear that mankind is to honor the Son as royalty (Psalm 2:12), “Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” And in Luke 20:9-19 it is expected that He is to be completely respected and never rejected.
Yet Hebrews 5:8-10 goes on to point out this was not the Way to save, to rescue mankind. God does not want mere puppets doing His will. He desires we willingly serve Him from a pure heart with love. So, as the Son, He made the rescue we need in order to truly be His sons and daughters. We could just say “sons” since that term could generally mean all children, whether male or female, or change “sons” to “children,” provided we realize we must become the redeemed children of God through Christ.
II. Emptied 8b “. . . He learned . . ."
Indeed Christ is very God in our flesh yet He chose to live and respond to the Father as we should. He chose not to hold on to His access to His prerogatives of deity (Philippians 2:5-11). He chose to learn to spiritually walk like we are to walk. This is why He said in John 5:19, “. . . the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." This is because, in part, of what He quoted from the Law to satan {2} as recorded in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
Perhaps in this age of technology we might, to a degree, look at in the sense that our internal spiritual program has been severely damaged. No matter what we try to do, or what anyone else does, it remains damaged. Now, somewhat as on some personal computers, we would be asked to make a “rescue disc” in case of computer failure, and to do so we start with a blank disc. Christ became our spiritual “blank disc” so that through His life in obedience to the written Word and directed by the Holy Spirit He, if we might say it this way, became our “rescue disc.”
III. Submissive 8b-d “. . . He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”
For our salvation, for our sake, He responded and ministered in ways that pleased the Father. All of this is placed directly in us when we make Christ our King. When and how He prayed, taught, healed, rebuked, kept silent, and much more is deposited into each true disciple when they commit to God through Christ.
It has been said that in the Christian walk that obedience to God is our expression of our love for Him. The submissiveness of Christ to the Father was a willful and loving submissiveness which is resident with each true Christian. This is precisely how we are to serve God, not as a puppet or base slave, but as his loving son or daughter.
IV. Complete 9a “And having been made perfect, . . .”
I remember reading that statement
for the first time and being slightly bewildered. If Christ is God in the flesh why would He need to be made perfect? Perfect here means to be completed. As a “blank disc" He had to be and do everything we need to do and be. Along with that, He had to fulfill the Jewish Law and prophecy, and be victorious in testing at all points (Hebrews 4:15). From the time He was conceived to the time of His resurrection Christ created a true life of sonship with the Father for us so that in our daily lives we should loving live for Him at all times.
V. Ultimate Savior / Salvation 9b-d “. . . He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,”
So, we are not saved from sin, self, the wrath of the Father, hell, and more due to our own works, but by the finished work of Jesus Christ. The once “blank disc” was made complete with all that we would need to please the Father and dwell with Him for eternity. Christ is our rescue, for He said in John 15:5, “. . . for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
All the requirements for righteousness were met by Him and are place into anyone who truly receives Him as their Savior. He fulfills all the requirements of God positionally and in action, covering our natural sinfulness. For example, one might have mere religion, keep all the commandments and “feel” they have a great relationship with God. However, without Christ within our sinful nature is not covered, hidden from the Father by the life of the Son (Colossians 3:3).
By faith through grace Christ’s purity and acts of obedience are placed into those who truly trust Him. But note well that the verse states, “to all those who obey Him.” This means we are to lovingly cooperate with His will in our lives. As we remain in Him He enables us to do His works. He is the very way of life to please God, and the only way to be saved (John 14:6).
VI. Eternal Aid 10 “being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek."
His fulfillment of what God requires for each of us continues into all eternity. He is the High Priest between us and the Father. His victorious life intercedes for those who are in Him. He is a High Priest that personally knows our daily life with its frustrations, disappointments and more. Christ knows firsthand what it means to be human. This is why, if we are truly saved, we are exhorted in Hebrews 4:16, “. . . let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
He is not a priest from the Aaronic line, nor one from the Vatican or any other religion, but according to the order of Melchizedek. See Hebrews 7 for details on this. Hebrews 7:23-25 states, “The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
What A Great Loving Rescue
In holiness, love and mercy, Jesus Christ took our death and punishment so we might receive His life and blessings. He took our place that we may be placed with Him for eternity. He encourages all to forsake their sins and place their full trust in Him.
Notes:
{1} Trinitarians do not believe there are three Gods. The Holy Scriptures are clear that there is only God. They also show He subsists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is very similar to the fact that while each of us are just one being, we subsist as body, soul, and spirit. Notice the “common denominator”? God is a spirit and so is each of us!
{2} Not capitalized on purpose. Experts Column gives me the freedom to express myself in that way.
{3} An article that will deepen your walk with Christ along the theme of this article is To Hear The Voice Of God and may be read at http://holybibletreasures.expertscolumn.com/article/hear-voice-god .
This article was written in the form of a sermon (message) outline with comments. God willing by INSERT DATE HERE (hopefully much sooner), you should be able to hear the actual message (sermon) by selecting a link at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M449 .
Unless otherwise noted all Holy Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates. * = For other versions the spelling of some words is updated for our time in addition to changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates.
Not responsible for any advertisements appearing with this article nor am I necessarily in agreement with any of them. The statements of this paragraph hold true not only for this article, but for everything I have placed on the Internet.
