The Captain of Our Salvation

Temple Baptist Church - 11-7-2018

Hebrews 2:7-11

Introduction:

A.  In verse 11, Jesus is called the “Captain of our salvation.”  “Captain in only one descriptive term or name given to our Lord Jesus Christ.  The word “captain” comes from a Latin word meaning “chief.”  We use the word “Captain” in many ways in the English language.

1.  A Captain is one who oversees a sea going vessel.

2.  A Captain is one who is a rank given to one in charge of a company in the military.

3.  A Captain is the title given to certain civil servants such police or fire departments.

4.  A Captain is a pilot in command of a large commercial aircraft.

5.  A Captain, in sports, is one designated as the head of the team.

6.  A Captain, in the church, is a title given to its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

7.  A Captain, in our text, is one who is responsible for our salvation.

B.  In Joshua, chapter 5, we see our Lord appear to Joshua in a Theophany or Christophany.

Joshua 5:13-15  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  (14)  And he said, Nay; but ascaptain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  (15)  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.  (A position of authority, power, and worship.)

C.  Our verses for tonight show us what our Captain did for us in His incarnation.  His authority, power, and glory revealed in Jesus Christ.

1.  We see Jesus in His humanity.  Verse 7 – “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels.”  Almighty Jehovah God, conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary, chose to dwell upon this earth—robed in flesh. 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Micah 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.  (Made – to bring to pass something that would not naturally occur.  The eternal Son of God born in the flesh.)

Galatians 4:4-5  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

2.  We see Jesus in His Father’s glory.  Verse 7 – “thou crownedst him with glory and honour.” 

John 1:14 (And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:15-19  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  (16)  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  (19)  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Hebrews 1:2-3  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (3)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

3.  We see Jesus in His sovereign authority.  Verses 7-8 – “didst set him over the works of thy hands:   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. But now we see not yet all things put under him.” Jesus made it all, Jesus runs it all, Jesus owns it all!

Ephesians 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Romans 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

4.  We see Jesus in His vicarious atonement.  Verse 9 – “ 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.” 

Philippians 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  (Jesus did two things for us concerning our sins: expiation – the removal of sins; and propitiation – the appeasement of a thrice holy God.  Both were necessary to restore fellowship and favor.)

6.  We see Jesus in His example.  Verse 10 – “to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” 

1 Peter 2:21-25  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  (22)  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  (23)  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  (24)  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  (25)  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 3:18  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:  (Our suffering in a righteous manner will help others to see Christ in us.)

7.  We see Jesus in His purpose.  Verse 11 – “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.”

Ephesians 1:6-7  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  (7)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hathtranslated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.