Why did God become a man? In this Christmas message, we explore 6 reasons that are given for this question in Hebrews 2:14-18.
6 Reasons God Became A Man
Hebrews 2:14-18
Intro: Read. Pray.
At Christmas we marvel at one great truth – God became a man. Just stop and think about that for a moment. The infinite God, who has always existed, who created the universe by just commanding it come into existence, who has need of nothing, who knows all things, and is everywhere present at the same time, that God humbled Himself by compressing Himself into a tiny squirming helpless baby! This baby grew up to manhood, experiencing all our needs – food, water, air, sleep. Why would God do such an astounding thing?! If He is so vast, so majestic, so powerful, so immense, why would He come down to just one planet in one solar system of hundreds of billions of solar systems, and become one of the human race?
That’s the question I want to explore with you this morning, as we prepare to worship Jesus Christ this Christmas season. And to do so, we are going to meditate on Hebrews 2:14-18.
Hebrews 2:14-18, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
In this passage we are told that Jesus “partook of flesh and blood” (14), and “had to be made like his brethren in all things.” But why? Why Christmas? Why did God come into our world as one of us?
1. To Die
through death. Pure Deity can’t die. Angels can’t die. The only way for men to be saved from sin was for a Perfect Man to die on their behalf. The Father, Spirit, & angels could not be their Savior, because they can’t die.
the children. Who are “the children”? We are told that since the children share in flesh and blood, Jesus partook of the same. Well, who are they? The context will help us here.
10 – For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory…”
11 – “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father”
12 – “I will proclaim Your name to My brethren…”
13 – “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”
The children in verse 14, are the many sons Jesus brings to glory, those who are sanctified, Christ’s brethren, and the children God gave Him. Clearly, this is not everyone in the world. This is describing the elect, those that the Father gave to the Son to represent and save.
Who are the children God gave Jesus? Let’s look at the gospel of John for answers.
Jn. 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me…” The children God gave Jesus are those who come to Christ.
Jn. 6:39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” These children will not be lost, but instead be raised up in glorified bodies to spend eternity with Christ on the last day.
Jn. 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” What do we learn about those God gave to Jesus? They are His sheep, they hear His voice, they follow Him, Christ gives eternal life to them, and they will never perish.
So, I hope it is very clear to you, that when we read about “the children” in Heb. 2:14, we are not talking about everyone in the world. We are talking about all whom God will save; not the lost. We are talking about the sheep, not the goats.
These are those the Father chose in Christ before the foundation of the world and predestined to be adopted as sons (Eph. 1:4-5).
He Himself likewise also partook of the same. This was a voluntary choice on the part of Christ. We had no choice but to be flesh & blood. He voluntarily entered our world. This is great condescension! It’s a little like become a cockroach to save a colony of cockroaches. Phil.2:6 says that “although Jesus existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
- If we would ever be like Him, He must be made like us.
- If He would ever give us His Spirit, He must take on our flesh.
- If we would ever be partakers of the Divine Nature, He must partake of human nature.
2. To Render the Devil Powerless
He might render powerless. This does not mean that Jesus has eradicated the devil. No, he is still around doing mischief, but his power to destroy the “children” is gone! Col.2:15 says that at the cross Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities, making a public display of them, having triumphed over them.” 1 Jn.3:8 says “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
In fact, in Col. 1:13 we are told that Christ “rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” We are no longer in Satan’s kingdom. He is not our King. Therefore, He has no authority over us any longer. Christ has authority over us, and our allegiance belongs to Him. Satan is rendered powerless in our lives because we are not under his dominion.
Him who had the Power of death. How did the devil have the power of death? Think about it for a moment. The devil, through his deception and temptation, was able to introduce sin into the world. The wages of sin is death. So, by introducing sin into the world, he also brought in death. So, through his temptation of our first parents, Satan has been able to bring about the death of every person! Death is inevitable – 100 out of 100 die. And the reason they all die is because of sin. If we had no sin, we would not die.
However, our death does not separate us from God, like it will for unbelievers. Instead, our death ushers us into the very presence of God Almighty. The devil is powerless to destroy us through death, because death simply brings us to God.
3. To Deliver Those Enslaved to the Fear of Death
Death is terrifying to people. Hebrews 2:14 says that men “were subject to slavery all their lives.” Slavery to what? The fear of death. Men are afraid of what they will face once they have died and they must find ways not to feel this intolerable fear they have. Most men simply try to ignore it. They refuse to think about their death. They don’t speak of someone who died. Instead they say he “passed away.” They are driven to shut their eyes and blank their minds to every thought that they will die and stand before God.
The Christian is the one person on this planet who doesn’t need to fear death. He can calmly stare death in the face and not blink or shudder. I don’t fear death any more. I don’t look forward to the dying part, but I’m excited about the life I will experience after death. Death is not something to frighten us. It’s the gateway into Paradise.
The apostle Paul had learned this lesson. He says in Phil. 1:23, “having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.” The life in the age to come is very much better than our lives here and now! Saints, it’s not until we reach this point that we can really live.
The apostle Paul says in 1 Cor. 15:54-57, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sing? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The sting of death is sin, but Christ has atoned for and canceled our sins through His death. The power of sin is the Law, but Christ has fulfilled the law through His perfect life. That’s why death is swallowed up in victory! That’s why we have the victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ!
At one point many Chinese missionaries were being prepared to go into Asia to reach the lost. Their trainer asked them 4 questions:
- Do you know the Lord?
- Do you know the Bible?
- Do you know the culture?
- Are you ready to die?
It was only when they were able to answer “Yes!” to all four questions that they would be sent out as missionaries.
4. To Make Propitiation for Sins
He does not give help to angels. “helps” is literally “to help by taking by the hand.” It reminds me of Genesis 19 when God saved Lot and his family from destruction when He rained down fire upon the city from heaven. When Lot hesitated to leave, the angel seized all of them by the hand and brought them out of the city before God destroyed it. Picture a man sinking into quicksand. Right before he goes under, someone reaches out their hand and grabs his hand above the quicksand and drags him out. This “help” is referring to delivering from sin and death. Here is a startling truth. There is no possibility of salvation for angels. The holy angels do not need salvation, and the fallen angels are not offered salvation. Jesus did not take on the nature of angels to die for them. He only assumed the nature of humans to die for them. Their case is absolutely hopeless. All they have to look forward to is judgment in hell.
He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. We are told that Christ does not help angels. So, who does He help. We are told here it is the “descendant of Abraham.” Gal.3:29 says, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” The Bible does not say that Christ gives help to the seed of Adam. He doesn’t save the entire human race. He saves all who trust in Him, all who belong to Him, all who are united to Him.
make propitiation. How does Jesus “help” the descendant of Abraham. How does He save them. We have already been told in verse 14 that it is through death. But what does He accomplish in His death. Here we are introduced to the fourth reason God became man. Notice in both verse 14 and 17 the explicit statement that Christ became man. 2:14 – “He Himself also partook of flesh and blood.” 2:17 “He had to be made like His brethren in all things…” But why was He made like His brethren in all things? The end of verse 17 tells us “to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Just what does it mean to make propitiation for the sins of the people? A “propitiation” is a wrath-averting sacrifice. It refers to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, by which God’s holy wrath is averted, and His justice is satisfied. Now, sometimes people think that the idea that God is angry with sin and sinners is something that is unworthy of God. They believe that God is not angry, nor is He wrathful. However, there are over 600 references to God’s anger and wrath in the Bible! In fact, there are more references to God’s wrath than God’s love in the Bible!
God’s holiness, righteousness & justice burns against sinners! But God also loves them. Therefore, God had several options: 1) He could cast all people into hell (and He would be perfectly just in doing so); 2) He could save all people; 3) He could save some people. In the final analysis, God chose to do option 3. But in order to save some of them, He had to become one of them. He could not remain aloof, detached as pure Deity and still save them. Since man sinned and brought death and the curse upon Himself, another Man must come and live righteously and die for sin to abolish death & restore all back to Paradise. It would not be just to punish an angel or an animal for the sins of humans. They are not responsible for our crimes. A human must stand in the place and stead of sinners to receive their just due. But not any man would do. All men have sinned. If a Man is to stand in the stead of sinners, He must be free from all sin in order to receive the punishment due to them. If he is guilty himself, his death is only payment for his own sins. But if he is sinless, God can allow Him to bear the punishment for the sins of others. Therefore, God’s propitiatory sacrifice must be a Perfect Man. Since no humans were perfect, and no angels would qualify for this work, God Himself became a Man. Only Jesus was qualified to pay our debt of sin because He had no debts of His own.
Sometimes theologians will speak of Jesus as our Surety. A surety is one who assumes responsibility for another’s debts if they default on a loan. We all defaulted. We all failed to pay God His just due of obedience. Therefore, Jesus assumed our debt of sin and paid it in full on the cross.
5. To Become A Merciful and Faithful High Priest
merciful and faithful. As a high priest, Jesus is merciful to us, and faithful to God. He is merciful because Heb. 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” He is able to sympathizes with us. He has been tempted. He has suffered. He knows what it’s like to be hungry, tired, thirsty, sleepy, suffer, die, and be tempted. He can relate to us. And He has mercy on us in our weakness.
High Priest. In the Old Testament, the high priest was the one who represented the Israelites and offered sacrifice for their sins, which He performed on the annual Day of Atonement. The high priest of Israel was a type of Jesus Christ. The high priest of Israel was the shadow; Jesus is the reality. The high priest provided a picture of what Christ would come and do. Christ represents His people and offers the one fully sufficient and final sacrifice for sins.
No human being can offer a sacrifice for sins. Christ has already offered it, and there is no need for another. He offered Himself Heb.10:10 “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” 1Tim.2:5 says that “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Jesus is the one mediator between God and men. We make a serious mistake when we claim that Mary or the saints are mediators between us and God. None of them can represent us to God by offering a sacrifice for sins, and thereby bringing sinners back to God.
in things pertaining to God. The ESV translates this as “in the service of God.” Even as my high priest, Jesus is serving God! Even when He was dying, He was dying for God! We are not the center of the universe – God is! Eph.5:2 says, “Christ gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” We are beneficiaries, not the center. As a high priest He is faithful to God.
6. To Help Us in our Battle Against Temptation
Able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Jesus is able and willing to help us in our temptations. Because He shared in our flesh and blood, He has gone through temptations Himself and understands our situation completely. But Christ doesn’t automatically give us victory over temptation. When I’m tempted to lust, or pride or selfishness what must I do? Heb. 4:15-16 says, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore 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.” There’s our answer! That is what we must do when we are tempted. We must draw near to the throne of grace. We must go to God in prayer. We must seek God for help in the battle and victory over our sins. How often do we do this when we are tempted? We can’t win this battle on our own! We must have God’s help to overcome, and He offers His help to those that draw near to the throne of grace. Is that something that you do? We must learn to go to Him for help against temptation!
Conclusion
As we approach the celebration of the birth of Christ this Christmas, let’s remember why God became a man:
- God became a man in order to die for the children
- God became a man in order to render the devil powerless against the children
- God became a man in order to deliver the children from the fear of death
- God became a man in order to make propitiation for the sins of the children
- God became a man in order to be a merciful and faithful high priest on behalf of the children
- God became a man in order to help the children in their battle against temptation
Are you a child of God. Are you one of the sons of God He is bringing to glory? God became a man for you!
Which one of those 6 reasons are you most thankful for today? I know that every single one of these are precious, but at this point in your Christian life, which one hits you the hardest?
If you are not a child of God, why do you delay? Repent and believe the gospel this morning! The gift God offers you is infinitely greater than any other gift you could receive this Christmas! It is far more valuable. Why do you just leave it in the hands of God, when He is holding it out for you? Receive it. Rather receive Christ, because Christ is that gift.
“For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”.
The greatest fool is the one who knows that God has acted in history to deliver him from the greatest peril, and offers that salvation to him as a free gift, but then shrugs his shoulders in indifference and walks away. Don’t be that person!
Let’s pray.
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