Question:
I have a question after reading Hebrews 2:14-17: Was it no special advantage to Christ that He was of divine origin, “the only-begotten Son of God”? How can we who are born in sin be what He was when He knew no sin?
Answer:
Made Like unto His Brethren
I have a question after reading Hebrews 2:14-17: Was it no special advantage to Christ that He was of divine origin, “the only-begotten Son of God”? How can we who are born in sin be what He was when He knew no sin?
Jesus was not only divine but human. He was as truly human as any man who walked upon the earth. Let us consider:
- He was one with the Father “before the world was,” God’s “Fellow,” the One in whom “were all things created,” the eternal Word. See John 17:5; Zechariah 13:7; Colossians 1:16; John 1:1-3.
- “From the foundation of the world,” Christ gave Himself, “emptied Himself,” that He might break the power of sin, unify God’s broken creation, and save man. See Revelation 13:8; 1 Peter 1:20; Philippians 2:5-8. When He did this, He gave up all, thinking “it not robbery to be equal with God;” He “made himself of no reputation,” laying aside His Deity, “and took upon him the form of a servant.”
- In the carrying out of His sacrifice, He first became an angel among the angels, Chief Angel, Archangel, only because He was the most devoted messenger of God. He is called Michael in this position, meaning “who is like God.” See Exodus 23:20, 21; Isaiah 63:9; Daniel 10:21; 12:1; Jude 9.
- His next step was becoming “in the likeness of men.” See Philippians 2:7; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:14-17. In this step, the eternal Word “became flesh,” the same as we; for He was “born of woman, born under the law,” under its condemnation, as a human, having the flesh with all the human tendencies; a partaker of the “flesh and blood” of humanity; “in all things” “made like unto His brethren,” “suffered being tempted.” And He met all the temptations even as you and I must meet them, by faith in God’s will and Word. There is not a tendency in the flesh of humanity but what dwelt in His. And He overcame them all.
Was it no special advantage to Christ that He was of divine origin, “the only-begotten Son of God”? — That He was of divine origin was no special personal advantage, for He used no inherent divine power in His conflict with evil. His victory was of faith. His divine origin was against Him, for all the powers of evil were hurled against Him as against no other. He suffered in proportion to the perfection of His holiness and His hatred of sin. But it was of special advantage to be the begotten of God, yet that same advantage comes to every soul of earth who will accept Christ. For “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born [margin, “begotten”], not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. And thus, though we were born in sin, we by faith become “partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4. God thus places us on vantage-ground in Christ Jesus, and He’ll do so for every soul who receives Him. He “emptied Himself” of all His glory and Deity to become one with us so that we might empty ourselves from all our selfishness and become one with Him. “For he [the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him…” Colossians 2:9, 10. If the work were of ourselves, we should be discouraged; but if we are willing, He will make us what He was and what He is. God gives us in Christ Jesus all the vantage-ground that He possessed; will we not accept it and rejoice in it? Of course, it means conflict and struggle; it did to Jesus; but He conquered for us, that He might conquer with us and in us. See Hebrews 2:9-18; 4:14-16; 5:7-9; 7:25.
