Jesus: Our Author of Salvation and Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, the Founder and Author of Our Salvation

Jesus Christ is the founder and author of our salvation, the one who stepped in from the very beginning to restore what was lost through sin and to bring hope and redemption to humanity. He is not a distant creator but the one who initiated and completed the plan to save us, even when we did not deserve it. From the Garden of Eden, God’s plan was to send Jesus, who would crush the power of evil and offer salvation to all who believe. This foundational truth means that our faith is not based on human effort, but on the finished work of Christ, who has everything under His control and has made a way for us to be reconciled to God. [02:13]

Hebrews 2:9-10 (ESV)
"But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust Jesus as the founder and author of your salvation, rather than relying on your own efforts or understanding?

Day 2: Christ’s Complete Control and Our Hope in Uncertainty

Nothing is outside the control of God; even when the world seems chaotic and broken, Jesus reigns with authority, and His ultimate victory is assured. Though we do not yet see everything in subjection to Him, we are called to pray and live with confidence, knowing that God’s power is greater than any circumstance we face. This assurance transforms our prayers and our outlook, reminding us that our hope is not in what we see, but in the One who holds all things together and is working all things for His glory and our good. [08:10]

Hebrews 2:8 (ESV)
"…putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him."

Reflection: What is one situation in your life that feels out of control, and how can you bring it to Jesus in prayer, trusting that nothing is outside His authority?

Day 3: Jesus, Our Brother Who Shares in Our Humanity

Jesus became fully human, experiencing every aspect of life, including suffering, temptation, and even death, so that He could truly be our merciful and faithful high priest and call us His brothers and sisters. He understands our struggles, our pain, and our temptations because He lived them Himself, yet without sin. This means we are never alone in our trials; Jesus is with us, not ashamed to call us family, and He is able to help us in our weaknesses. His solidarity with us gives us confidence to approach Him with every need, knowing He truly understands. [17:40]

Hebrews 2:17-18 (ESV)
"Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to remember that Jesus understands your struggles and stands with you as your brother?

Day 4: Freedom from the Fear and Power of Death

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus destroyed the power of death and the devil, delivering us from lifelong slavery to the fear of death and giving us hope beyond the grave. The world may fear death as the ultimate loss of control, failure, or separation, but in Christ, death has lost its sting. We are promised eternal life and reunion with loved ones in Christ, and we can face the unknown with confidence because Jesus has already gone before us and prepares a place for us. This freedom changes how we live today, releasing us from fear and empowering us to live with hope and courage. [24:32]

Hebrews 2:14-15 (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."

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus has conquered death change the way you face your fears or uncertainties about the future?

Day 5: Sanctification—Being Made Holy Day by Day

Salvation is not just a one-time event; Jesus continues to sanctify us, making us holy and transforming us daily into His likeness through the work of the Holy Spirit. This process means that we are not left unchanged, but are continually being shaped, refined, and set apart for God’s purposes. Even though we may struggle and fall short, God is faithful to complete the work He began in us, and we are called to cooperate with His Spirit as He carves away sinful desires and forms Christlike character in us. Our journey of sanctification is evidence of God’s ongoing grace and love in our lives. [16:24]

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (ESV)
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."

Reflection: What is one area where you sense God is working to make you more like Jesus, and how can you intentionally cooperate with Him in that process today?

Sermon Summary

Hebrews 2 draws our attention to Jesus as the founder—or author—of our salvation. Just as we’re often fascinated by the origins of things, it’s vital to understand the origin of our hope and redemption. From the very beginning, God had a plan for humanity, even after we failed in the Garden of Eden. Instead of abandoning us, God set in motion a rescue plan, promising that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. This plan culminated in Jesus, who stepped into our world, taking on flesh and becoming “a little lower than the angels” for a time, so that He could taste death for everyone.

Jesus’ incarnation wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. He truly became like us, experiencing the limitations, pains, and temptations of human life. He didn’t float above suffering—He entered into it fully, even to the point of death. In doing so, He became the second Adam, undoing the curse brought by the first. Through His suffering and death, Jesus destroyed the power of death and the devil, freeing us from lifelong slavery to the fear of death. Now, nothing is outside His control, even if we don’t yet see everything made right in our world.

This reality changes how we pray and how we live. If we truly believe that nothing is outside of God’s control, our prayers can be bold and full of faith. We can face suffering, loss, and even death without fear, knowing that Jesus has gone before us and will come to bring us home. He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters; He sanctifies us, making us holy day by day. Our salvation is not just a ticket to heaven, but an ongoing transformation as we are made more like Christ.

Jesus is also our merciful and faithful high priest. Because He suffered and was tempted as we are, He is able to help us in our own struggles. He knows what it’s like to be misunderstood, to be betrayed, to face pain and loss. He stands with us, interceding for us, and offering us grace and strength. In Him, we find forgiveness, hope, and the power to live free from the bondage of sin and fear.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is the founder and perfecter of our salvation, stepping into human history not as a distant deity but as one who fully embraced our humanity. He became “a little lower than the angels,” experiencing our struggles and limitations, so that He could truly be our representative and redeemer. This profound identification means our salvation is rooted in God’s deep understanding and love for us. [06:49]
2. The work of Christ is both complete and ongoing—He has subjected all things under His feet, yet we live in the “already, not yet” tension where the fullness of His reign is still to come. This calls us to live in hope, trusting that even when the world seems chaotic, nothing is outside of His control. Our prayers and our faith can be bold because we serve a God who holds all things together. [08:10]
3. Jesus’ suffering and death were not forced upon Him; He willingly chose the cross out of love for us. In His suffering, He made our salvation perfect, taking upon Himself every punishment we deserved. This means our forgiveness is secure—not because of our merit, but because of His finished work. We can approach God with confidence, knowing our debt has been paid in full. [15:17]
4. Sanctification is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Jesus not only saves us but also sanctifies us, shaping us day by day into His likeness. Even as we struggle with sin and imperfection, He is faithful to continue His work in us, never ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. Our identity is rooted in this relationship, and our hope is in His transforming power. [16:24]
5. The fear of death no longer holds us in slavery because Jesus has conquered it. He delivers us from the power and penalty of sin, and even from the fear of the unknown. When our time comes, we can trust that Jesus Himself will come for us, having already walked the path through death to resurrection. Our future is secure in Him, and we are free to live with courage and peace. [23:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - The Fascination with Founders
[01:59] - Jesus: The Founder of Our Salvation
[02:13] - God’s Plan from the Beginning
[03:25] - Humanity’s Intended Glory and the Fall
[04:09] - Jesus’ Subjection and the “Already, Not Yet”
[06:08] - Dominion Lost and Restored
[06:49] - Jesus as the Second Adam
[08:10] - Nothing Outside His Control
[09:24] - Jesus Tastes Death for Everyone
[12:02] - Perfected Through Suffering
[16:24] - Sanctification: Becoming Holy
[17:40] - Jesus Our Brother
[19:43] - Psalm 22 and the Cross
[22:04] - Jesus Destroys the Power of Death
[23:46] - Freedom from the Fear of Death
[28:51] - Jesus, Our Merciful High Priest
[31:22] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 2:5-18 — - Genesis 3:15
- Psalm 8:4-6

Observation Questions

In Hebrews 2:5-9, what does it mean that Jesus was made “a little lower than the angels” and then crowned with glory and honor?
According to the sermon, what was God’s plan for humanity after the fall in the Garden of Eden? ([02:13])
What does Hebrews 2:14-15 say about the power of death and the devil, and how does Jesus address this?
How does the sermon describe the process of sanctification? ([16:24])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says Jesus “tasted death for everyone.” Why was it necessary for Jesus to fully experience human suffering and death? ([09:24])
The preacher talks about the “already, not yet” tension—Jesus has authority over everything, but we don’t see everything made right yet. How should this shape a believer’s perspective on suffering and unanswered prayers? ([04:53])
Hebrews 2:17-18 calls Jesus our “merciful and faithful high priest.” What does it mean for Jesus to help us when we are tempted, and how is this different from other religious leaders or heroes? ([29:39])
The sermon says Jesus is “not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.” What does this say about our identity and relationship with Him? ([17:40])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to pray boldly because “nothing is outside of God’s control.” Are there areas in your life where you pray small or hesitant prayers? What would it look like to pray with more faith in God’s power this week? ([08:10])
The fear of death is described as a kind of slavery. Do you find yourself anxious about death or the unknown? How does knowing Jesus has conquered death change your outlook? ([23:46])
The process of sanctification means Jesus is making us holy day by day. Can you identify a specific area where you see God changing you, or an area where you want to invite His transforming work? ([16:24])
Jesus became like us and experienced pain, temptation, and loss. When you face struggles, do you find it easy or hard to believe that Jesus truly understands? How might this truth affect the way you approach Him in prayer? ([21:46])
The sermon says our forgiveness is secure because of Jesus’ finished work, not our own merit. Are there ways you still try to “earn” God’s approval? How can you rest more in what Jesus has done for you? ([15:17])
The preacher mentioned that Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. How does this truth impact your sense of belonging and worth? ([17:40])
If Jesus is our merciful and faithful high priest, how can you rely on Him more when you are tempted or struggling? Is there a specific temptation or challenge you want to bring to Him this week? ([29:39])

Sermon Clips

He is the founder. We're going to see this. The founder, the author of salvation. And he looked out there in the Old Testament. You might have heard of the prince of Persia or the prince of Arabia or the prince of of this. the there were angels that were over certain areas and what he's going to say is in the future and the future is now in the new kingdom that has come with Jesus that now is not subjected uh it's not the angels it's Jesus that has subjected everything now you may have noticed that everything isn't perfect yet everything isn't perfect yet everything's not the way so we have this concept of already not yet he's put everything under subjection. [00:04:13]

But we're waiting for that final day when he finally puts it all together, when he finally destroys the power of sin and everything in this world. And so we're waiting for that day, the world to come. He talks about that world to come is today and also in the future. We have something to look forward to in completion. [00:04:54]

Basically this is the psalmist declaring hey you know what what is that humanity had this great honor in the beginning we were having everything to be subject under us. The Bible says in Genesis 1:26, "And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish in the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." [00:05:51]

So in other words, he came to earth. He came to earth and took a subservient role below the angels in in the fact that he was on earth and not in uh necessarily in heaven where he was. I can't imagine what it was like for Jesus. I really can't. I I think about this to come from glory and have everything going for you and then to come down to earth. [00:06:50]

He became the second Adam. The first Adam let us down. The first Adam brought sin into the world. The second Adam brings the hope and and of the destruction of sin. And he put everything in subjection. It says that he left nothing outside his control. Nothing is outside the control of God. We need to stop there just for a second. [00:07:38]

When you pray, do you pray like this? I'm going to be honest with you. Sometimes I struggle in this area. But it says right here that there is nothing outside of his control. If you truly believe that, you have amazing prayers that you can pray. Well, God, this is big. And God's like, uh, did you see the part where it says nothing's not under my control? I got it all. [00:08:10]

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone. So here's the plan. [00:03:58]

It means that every single person the wages of sin I hate to be the bearer of bad news according to the book of Romans is death. Every single person in this room deserves to die for their sins. And so what happens is the founder of our salvation steps in and says I will taste death for everybody. And now that I have tasted death, everyone does not have to taste death in the in the eternal death. [00:09:26]

That when we die, we have hope beyond the grave. Yes, we may we still physically die and until he finally conquers that final thing which it talks about revelation, he finally conquers. That is what we are talking about today that we are uh he tasted death for everything. And so we now have access to Jesus is the other thing. [00:09:57]

For it was fitting that he for whom and by whom all things exist in bringing many sons to glory should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers. [00:11:57]

In other words, the one who created everything decided that he was going to come and suffer on the cross for us. That was his plan. Nobody forced Jesus to be on the cross. Nobody made him be on there. In fact, he was taunted when he was on the cross, saying, "Why don't you just come down? You can show us how great you are. You caused other people to be healed. Why can't you be healed?" Jesus stayed on the cross because it was his decision to go to the cross and suffer. [00:14:26]

Every single one once and for all punishment was taken for us. We no longer have to take punishment for our sins. That's just amazing. And if that if you're not grasping that, that's amazing because I I I've said this many times. When I get to heaven and and and I stand before my father and I and he says, "You are forgiven." I'm going to be like, "Have you read the file? I'm serious. That's how I think." [00:15:36]

If you're truly a follower of God, day by day, the Holy Spirit is working on your life to make you holy. He works. He It says he sanctifies. And the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. And we're all being led to be sons of glory. So he is making you better every day. He is he is uh carving off the sinful desires in your life. [00:16:31]

He is over us, but he comes down to be our brother. He has that brotherly connection to us. He is our brother in Christ. He is our brother in God. And he is Christ. And he's not ashamed to call us that. Again, go back to my earlier note. I I'm like, really? You want to call me your brother? [00:18:05]

Sin is not in control of you anymore because Jesus came and partook and became flesh with us and took the ultimate sacrifice so that we could be set free. Not just from our sins, but not just from the the the power of sin or the uh penalty of sin, but from the power of sin. And we have that hope in him and deliver us. [00:23:12]

You know what happens when you die with Jesus? Jesus comes and gets you. It says, "Behold, I am preparing a place. I will come and get you." He comes right to you. And it's not because you're perfect. It's not the unfamiliar. And how do we know that he knows the way? He's already done it. He died on the cross and he rose from the dead. Do you think he knows the the way? Yes. He's like, "Just follow me. I got it." [00:27:11]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?