God's Care: Humanity's Dignity and Jesus's Help

 

Summary

Simply being human, as opposed to being an angel, is proof of God's awe-inspiring care for us. This profound truth is rooted in the position and help that God has given to humanity. In Hebrews 2, we see that God did not subject the world to come to angels, but to humans. This is a reflection of the dominion God granted humanity from the beginning, as seen in Genesis and Psalm 8. Despite the fall of man, which temporarily demoted humanity below angels, there is a promise of future restoration. This future hope is not based on our merit but on God's gracious plan, highlighting our identity and worth as image-bearers of God.

Moreover, the help that Jesus provides is another testament to God's care. Jesus lived the life we were intended to live and died the death we deserved. His incarnation and perfect obedience made Him the perfect sacrifice, satisfying God's wrath and offering us salvation. This help is not extended to angels but to the offspring of Abraham, those who believe in Christ. Jesus's help is profound because He truly understands our struggles, having been tempted yet without sin. His victory over temptation and death assures us that we can overcome through Him.

This understanding should transform how we view ourselves and others, recognizing the dignity and worth God has bestowed upon us. It calls us to live out our God-given authority responsibly, starting with ruling our own lives according to His standards. While we may struggle, Jesus's help is available to us, enabling us to live the life God intends. This assurance is not universal but is limited to those who follow Christ, emphasizing the importance of faith and repentance.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Gracious Position for Humanity: God has granted humans a position of dominion, not based on our merit but as an inherited gift. This challenges evolutionary theories of survival of the fittest, reminding us that our worth and authority come from God's plan. This truth should lead us to worship God and rule according to His desires, recognizing the dignity and worth He has given us. [13:16]

2. The Temporary Demotion and Future Restoration: The fall of man caused a temporary demotion below angels, but there is a promise of future restoration. This hope is rooted in God's plan to restore humanity's dominion in the world to come, emphasizing His awe-inspiring care for us. This future reality should shape how we live today, ruling our lives according to God's standards. [20:07]

3. Jesus's Help Through His Life and Death: Jesus lived the life we were intended to live and died the death we deserved, providing the help we need to fulfill our God-given position. His perfect obedience and sacrificial death satisfied God's wrath, offering us salvation and the ability to overcome sin. This help is not extended to angels but to those who believe in Christ. [24:46]

4. The Beauty of Jesus's Help: Jesus's help is profound because He truly understands our struggles, having been tempted yet without sin. His victory over temptation assures us that we can overcome through Him. This understanding should lead us to run to Jesus in times of temptation, knowing He can help us because He withstood the full force of temptation. [29:16]

5. The Limit of Jesus's Help: Jesus's help is limited to those who follow Him, the offspring of Abraham. This emphasizes the importance of faith and repentance, as only those who believe in Christ can receive His help. This truth challenges us to examine our faith and ensure we are living as followers of Christ, relying on His help to live the life God intends. [40:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction and Personal Updates
- [05:30] - Hebrews Series Overview
- [08:45] - Jesus is Better than Angels
- [13:16] - God's Position for Humanity
- [20:07] - Temporary Demotion and Future Restoration
- [24:46] - Jesus's Help for Humanity
- [29:16] - The Beauty of Jesus's Help
- [35:50] - Jesus as Our Proud Elder Brother
- [40:39] - The Limit of Jesus's Help
- [45:00] - Application and Encouragement
- [50:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 2:5-18
- Psalm 8
- Genesis 1:26-28

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Hebrews 2:5, to whom did God not subject the world to come, and what does this imply about humanity's role? [13:16]

2. How does Psalm 8 describe humanity's position in creation, and what is the significance of being made "a little lower than the angels"? [20:07]

3. What does Hebrews 2:16 indicate about the specific help Jesus provides, and who are the recipients of this help? [24:46]

4. In what way does the sermon describe Jesus's understanding of human struggles, and how does this relate to His ability to help us? [29:16]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of humanity's dominion in Genesis 1:26-28 challenge the idea of "survival of the fittest," and what does this suggest about our identity and worth? [13:16]

2. What does the promise of future restoration in Hebrews 2:5-8 mean for believers today, and how should it influence our daily lives? [20:07]

3. How does Jesus's life and death provide the help we need to fulfill our God-given position, and why is this help not extended to angels? [24:46]

4. In what ways does Jesus's victory over temptation and death assure us of our ability to overcome through Him, and how should this impact our response to temptation? [29:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your understanding of your identity as an image-bearer of God. How does this influence the way you view yourself and others? [13:16]

2. In what areas of your life do you struggle to exercise God-given authority responsibly? What steps can you take to align your actions with God's standards? [20:07]

3. Consider a recent situation where you faced temptation. How can you apply the understanding of Jesus's help to overcome similar challenges in the future? [29:16]

4. How does the knowledge that Jesus's help is limited to those who follow Him challenge you to examine your faith and commitment to Christ? [40:39]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to rely more on Jesus's help. What practical steps can you take this week to seek His guidance and strength? [24:46]

6. How can the assurance of future restoration and dominion shape your perspective on current struggles and challenges? [20:07]

7. Think of someone in your life who may not understand the depth of Jesus's help. How can you share this message of hope and assurance with them this week? [29:16]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Gracious Gift of Dominion
God has granted humanity a unique position of dominion over creation, not because of our merit but as an inherited gift from Him. This challenges the notion of survival of the fittest, reminding us that our worth and authority are rooted in God's divine plan. As image-bearers of God, we are called to worship Him and exercise our dominion responsibly, recognizing the dignity and worth He has bestowed upon us. This understanding should lead us to live in a way that reflects God's desires and purposes for our lives. [13:16]

Psalm 8:4-6 (ESV): "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet."

Reflection: In what ways can you exercise your God-given dominion responsibly in your daily life, reflecting His desires and purposes?


Day 2: Hope in Future Restoration
The fall of man resulted in a temporary demotion below angels, but God's plan includes a promise of future restoration. This hope is rooted in His desire to restore humanity's dominion in the world to come, demonstrating His awe-inspiring care for us. This future reality should shape how we live today, encouraging us to rule our lives according to God's standards and to hold onto the hope of restoration. Our current struggles are temporary, and we are called to live with the assurance of God's ultimate plan for us. [20:07]

Hebrews 2:5-8 (ESV): "For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, 'What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.'"

Reflection: How does the promise of future restoration influence the way you handle current challenges and struggles in your life?


Day 3: Jesus's Sacrificial Help
Jesus lived the life we were intended to live and died the death we deserved, providing the help we need to fulfill our God-given position. His perfect obedience and sacrificial death satisfied God's wrath, offering us salvation and the ability to overcome sin. This help is not extended to angels but to those who believe in Christ, emphasizing the unique relationship we have with Him. Jesus's life and death are a testament to God's profound care and love for humanity, inviting us to rely on His help to live according to His will. [24:46]

Hebrews 2:14-16 (ESV): "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on Jesus's help to overcome sin and live according to God's will?


Day 4: The Empathy of Jesus
Jesus's help is profound because He truly understands our struggles, having been tempted yet without sin. His victory over temptation assures us that we can overcome through Him. This understanding should lead us to run to Jesus in times of temptation, knowing He can help us because He withstood the full force of temptation. His empathy and victory provide us with the confidence to face our own challenges, trusting in His strength and guidance. [29:16]

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: When faced with temptation, how can you actively seek Jesus's help and strength to overcome it?


Day 5: The Necessity of Faith and Repentance
Jesus's help is limited to those who follow Him, the offspring of Abraham. This emphasizes the importance of faith and repentance, as only those who believe in Christ can receive His help. This truth challenges us to examine our faith and ensure we are living as followers of Christ, relying on His help to live the life God intends. It is a call to genuine faith and repentance, inviting us to align our lives with His teachings and to trust in His provision and guidance. [40:39]

Galatians 3:7-9 (ESV): "Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.' So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your faith and ensure you are living as a true follower of Christ, relying on His help and guidance?

Quotes



"And so he's making this argument, he's continuing the claim about how Jesus is better than angels, but then he's talking about the work that God and Jesus are doing, specifically with humans. And so when he says it wasn't this to angels that God gave subjection, he's going to move on into an exposition of Psalm 8 here." [00:11:19] (20 seconds)


"The fall of man caused the mankind, humanity to go a little lower than the angels. Now, this is where I told you that the author of Hebrews almost verbatim quotes Psalm 8, but he makes a change here. So in Psalm 8, it just says, and he made him a little lower than the angels." [00:14:12] (18 seconds)


"In Hebrews, he makes an emphasis here where in verse seven, he says, you have made, you made him for a little while lower than the angels. There's a big difference there. So David doesn't say for a little while in Psalm 8 because he's thinking of the present reality of humanity when he's just thinking about it." [00:16:12] (20 seconds)


"You see, the fall, when man sinned against God, that created the world into chaos. That threw the world into chaos. And it separated man from God and it disrupted the order. And it really had a tremendous impact on all things in creation, including the position of dominion that God had given to Adam and to humanity there." [00:17:32] (19 seconds)


"Sin made a havoc of everything. It just messed everything up. And so this was a temporary demotion from this picture for this position. That's why he goes on in verse 8 here, when he says, putting everything in subjection to his feet. And he says, at the present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him." [00:18:12] (20 seconds)


"What the author here is doing is he's anticipating the reader saying, wait a minute here. So we're supposed to have this position. And you're making the case, well, it's not the angels he gave this great position. He gives to humans, proven of God's care, his awe-inspiring care." [00:18:52] (15 seconds)


"He says, but yet this exhibit A doesn't really seem to be very powerful because humans don't have everything in subjection to them. And the reason why is because sin caused that problem. But yet, the hope is given there when he says, he says, for a little while. Because there will be a future. There will be a future restoration to this position." [00:19:32] (28 seconds)


"In verse 5, look back in verse 5, it says, now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come. Now a couple weeks ago when we were going through chapter 1, and I was talking through the word use of the world here that the author does here. I mentioned that the word that he uses here is only found twice in the entire book." [00:20:12] (24 seconds)


"We have this promise that one day Jesus is going to come back. Isn't that going to be a great day? One day Jesus is going to come back. He's going to set everything right. All the chaos of this world, all the things that sin caused, all the problems that sin has caused our world, all the disruption of order, all that, when Jesus comes back, he's going to set all things right." [00:21:32] (26 seconds)


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Transcript
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