Letter to the Hebrews Volume 14

Jesus Christ' Suffering for Humanities Sin has brought and continues to Bring many sons/daughters to Glory Part 2

Hebrews 2:11-12 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, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee. KJV Note: MKJV = Modern King James Version

As we declared in the last study/commentary, the Blood of Jesus Christ is the ONLY acceptable payment for everyone's sin debt, but at the same time His Blood is the means, the method, and the manner in which all of us who are sanctified and who are continually being sanctified get clean and washed from our sin, "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," (Hebrews 2:11) (KJV). For example in the natural when a person's body gets muddy or dirty or filthy from work or play then he or she can only get clean or washed from that filth or dirt on their body by using soap and water, blowing yourself with air won't work, standing in the sun won't work, rolling around on the ground won't work. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, nothing else can give a soul a true sense of being washed and cleansed from sin but the Blood of Jesus, as it is written, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us." (1 John 1:6-10) (MKJV).

The English phrase 'He that sanctifieth' is translated by the Greek word hagiazō which means to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate. The Perfect and Sinless God of Very God (Jesus Christ) of whom we are sanctified and continually being sanctified by His Blood is not ashamed nor does He ever feel shame in calling me (Clifford DeWayne Tate, Sr.) His brother and so He feels about everyone of His sons and daughters that He has redeemed, as it is written, "And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. And You made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign over the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10) (MKJV). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ not being ashamed to call us brethren, "NOT ashamed to call them brethren. Why should He be? It is no condescension to acknowledge the fact of brotherhood, any more than it is humility to be born. And yet there is One who had to empty and humble Himself in becoming man; and for whom to call men His brethren is a depth of unimaginable condescension. We would say that a prince was not ashamed to call his subjects his friends, and to eat and drink with them, but we should not say it of a subject. This word 'ashamed' is meaningless in the present connection unless there underlies it the lofty conception of Christ's person which is enfolded in the first chapter of this epistle. If He be, and only if He is, the 'brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person,' is it condescension in Him to enroll Himself amongst our fraternity."

It is the Son of God Jesus Christ who declares God the Father to every adopted son and daughter (John 1:18) and therefore the writer of Hebrews tells us that it is our Lord Jesus Christ who declares God the Father to His adopted children in the Church, "Saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto Thee." (Hebrews 2:12) (KJV). The writer here is quoting a Psalm of King David (Psalms 22:22). This is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ said to the first disciples after His Resurrection just prior to His Ascension back to heaven when He said these words to Mary Magdalene, "Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things to her." (John 20:17-18) (MKJV). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of how Christ declared the Name of God to His brethren, "What is that 'name'? The syllables by which men call Him? Surely not. But the name of the Lord is the manifest character of God; and therefore the only possible way of declaring Him is not by words but by acts. A person can only be revealed by a person. God can only be shown to men by a life. Words will never do it; they may represent men's thinkings, but they never can certify God's fact. Words will never do it, they may suggest hopes, fears, peradventures; but unless we have a living Person whose deeds on the plain level of human history, and in this solid world of ours, are the manifestation of God, our thoughts of Him will neither be solid with certainty nor sweet with comfort. It must be a human life which is more than a human life, but yet is thoroughly and altogether man, that to men can manifest God. Our highest conceptions of the divine nature must be in the form of man. Between the little sphere of the dewdrop and the great sphere of the sun that is reflected prismatically in it, there is absolute identity in the laws that shape their round. So limited humanity has such an analogy with unlimited divinity as that, in the mirror of manhood, the brilliancy and ineffable brightness of the Godhead can be manifested. That life, the life of Jesus Christ, is the making visible for men of the glory of the invisible God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…