Hebrews chapter 2, I'd like to
begin by reading one verse, one verse of scripture, verse 10
here in Hebrews chapter 2. For it became Him, speaking of
God, it became God the Father, for whom are all things, and
by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory to make
the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. You recall that one of the ways
in which the bride described her bridegroom in the Song of
Solomon was with these words. Describing him, she said, he's
altogether lovely. Altogether. view him from any
perspective, and you'll find no fault in him, no flaw, no
defect. And behold Christ in whatever
view, and he, our bridegroom, is without fault, is he not?
He's perfect. In each view we have of Christ
represented in the four Gospels, He's without fault. We have one
picture, but four views of that same picture in Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John. In Matthew, he's Christ our King. In Mark, he's Jehovah's righteous
servant. Luke, he's the son of man. And in John, he's Emmanuel. He's God with us. Behold. Behold, God with us. Four views of the same picture
and in each and every one, we find that Christ is altogether
lovely. He's perfectly God. Perfectly God. He who was in
the beginning with God, was God, was made flesh. He became perfect
man and dwelt among us. A perfect mediator and savior. And here in Hebrews chapter 2
verse 10, he's called the captain, the captain of our salvation. We want to consider several ways
in which Christ is the captain of our salvation. In the Old
Testament, I learned this when I was preparing this message,
there are 13 different words in the Hebrew of the Old Testament
translated from this word captain. And in the New Testament, in
the Greek, there are three or four more words. Their meanings,
among other things, include champion. Champion. I like that. Leader. Prince. Initiator. Ruler. Chief. Commander. And only Christ, nobody
else, but only Christ claims every meaning of all those titles. He's the only one that all those
words, all those descriptions can be applied to. He's our Joshua,
Joshua who led Israel into the promised land, our Joshua. The
Lord Jesus Christ will bring, as we read here, many sons to
glory. The captain of our salvation
shall bring many sons to glory. Consider, as we said, how appropriate
this title is to our Lord Jesus Christ, the captain of our salvation. First of all, he was the one
the only one that God Almighty commissioned to be the captain
of our salvation. He said this over and over himself,
did he not? Turn, if you will, to a very
familiar passage in which our Lord states this very thing in
John's Gospel, chapter 6. John, chapter 6. God commissioned
him, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be the captain of
our salvation. This is one of my favorite passages
of Scripture. I know I say that about a lot
of passages of scripture, but I find this so encouraging. Here
in John 6, he speaks with authority, doesn't he? He speaks as one
in charge. He sounds like the commander-in-chief. Here in John 6, verse 37, all
that my father giveth me might come to me. No, no. Most of those that the Father
giveth me shall come to me." No, that's not what he says.
No, the captain doesn't speak in that way. He says, all that
the Father giveth me. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me. And him that cometh unto me I
will in no wise cast out for I came down from heaven not to
do mine own will but the will of him that sent me. And this
is the Father's will which it sent me, that of all which he
had given me, I should lose nothing. Like Pharaoh told Moses, there
won't be a compromise, there won't be a hoof left behind. We're taking everything out of
Egypt. All that the Father giveth me,
I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day. Yes, he sounds like the commander-in-chief,
does he not? Turn with me to Galatians chapter
4. Galatians chapter 4. Again, we're told that God the
Father commissioned him to be the commander, the captain, the
prince of life, to be our redeemer and savior. Galatians 4, but,
but, When the fullness of time was come, oh, this merits another
behold, does it not, my soul? Do you by faith see this? Have you ever viewed Him in this
light? When the fullness of the time
was come, God sent forth His Son, His Son, made of a woman,
The eternal son of God became, as we read in Hebrews 2, flesh
of our flesh and bone of our bone. He was made like unto his
brethren. Isn't that something? God sent
forth his son made of a woman, made under the law, because he
didn't come to destroy the law. He came to fulfill the law, and
he did. to redeem them that were under
the law, verse 5, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Yes, the captain of our salvation,
our prince, our commander-in-chief agreed to come in that everlasting
covenant of grace. He agreed to come and do everything
Everything that God Almighty required to be done. Everything
that was necessary to bring these many sons unto glory, the captain
of our salvation agreed to do. Turn, if you will, here in Hebrews,
to chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews 10 and verse 5. Wherefore, when he cometh into
the world, Nobody else ever spoke this way. When he came into the
world, he said, Sacrifice, an offering thou wouldest not, but
a body, a body hast thou prepared me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come, in the
volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God. That's no small statement. Above
when he said, sacrifice an offering and burn offerings, an offering
for sin thou wouldest not neither had pleasure therein, which are
offered by the law. Then said he, lo, I come to do
thy will, O God. He taketh away the first that
he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,
once forever. Behold, I come to do thy will,
O God." That's important. God's will being done. It must
be done perfectly. It must be done completely or
none will ever be saved otherwise. Will never be saved otherwise.
People seem to think that Because man failed to keep the law, the
law condemns man, proves him guilty, shuts his mouth, points
him to a savior. But because man couldn't keep
the law, but somehow Christ in coming, God by that, lowered
his standard. The law was a hill too high for
fallen man to climb, so somehow Christ did something that lowered
God's standard. Oh no. No, God never lowered
his standard. The captain of our salvation
was born under the law and perfectly kept God's holy law. He's the
only man who ever did. And Christ, our captain, did
so perfectly and he did so completely. And what a great work it was. what great obedience it required,
what satisfaction God Almighty demanded. We read it became Him,
that is, God Himself. It was necessary for Him to make
the captain of our salvation perfect through suffering. Scott
Richardson used to say, before God can do anything for you,
He must do something for Himself. Before God Almighty ever justifies
any sinner, he must be absolutely just in doing so. There's no
setting aside of his law. There's a satisfaction to his
law. That's why God is faithful and
just when he forgives the sinner. He demands perfect obedience. He demands perfect satisfaction. Behold, the captain of our salvation
rendered both. Both. Perfect in righteousness. He obtains a perfect redemption
for us. God demanded perfection and He
got it. He got it. God Almighty is absolutely
satisfied with the Lord Jesus Christ and He's absolutely, completely
satisfied with everyone who is in Christ. That's why we're told
in Romans 8 and 1. There is now therefore Isn't
that glorious? There is now, therefore, at this
very moment, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Oh, what a place to be. Secondly,
the captain of our salvation is the head. There's only one
in charge, Mike. I wasn't in the military. I didn't
serve. Mike did. Mike, I imagine it
would have been quite encouraging to you, would have been very
comfortable to you to know that the one who you followed had
all the authority, had absolute authority. He was in charge. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the
head, the ruler of his church. In Joshua chapter 5, listen to
these words. And it came to pass, this is
before Joshua marched around the walls of Jericho and they
fell. 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? And he
said, nay, but as captain of the host of the Lord am I come.
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and
said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? And the
captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from
all thy foot, for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua
did so." Oh, may God enable us to do the same thing. The bow
before our Joshua, the captain of our salvation, our redeemer,
our leader, and worship him. I once remember reading a story
concerning Mr. Spurgeon. A man came to hear
Mr. Spurgeon preach and he wasn't
able to get in. So one of the members of the
church gave up his seat so this man could hear Spurgeon preach.
And he waited for his friend afterwards. After the service
was over, his friend was leaving the tabernacle and the man who
gave up his seat asked him, what did you think of my pastor? What
did you think of my preacher? And he said, oh, I guess he was
all right. He said, what do you mean? What
do you mean? He was disappointed in the answer.
What do you mean? He said, oh, I didn't think too
much of him, but oh my soul, what a Savior. What a Savior. Oh, that man preaches a great
Savior. Oh, blessed is that preacher
who like John the Baptist says, behold the Lamb of God. Don't stop with me. Don't see
me. Oh no. Behold the Lamb of God. He and he alone taketh away the
sin of the world. And salvation is only realized. Salvation is only experienced. Grace is only received from the
hands of him, the captain of our salvation. He's the one in
charge. Turn if you will to Isaiah chapter
55. Isaiah chapter 55. Verse 3, we read, incline your
ear and come unto me. Hear, and your soul shall live. And I will make an everlasting
covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. The sure mercies of David. David's son and David's God. Why are His mercies sure? Why
are they certain? Because they rest upon Jesus
Christ Himself. Look at verse 5. It speaks of
Him. Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people,
a leader and commander to the people. That's why the mercies
of God are certain to them. Turn, if you will, to Ephesians
chapter 1. How high did God exalt His Son? How exalted is the captain of
our salvation? Well, let me put it this way.
There's none above Him. There's none above Him. There's
none greater. There's none equal to Him. He's
above all. Look here in Ephesians chapter
1 verse 20. Speaking of God the Father, which
he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above
all principality and power and all might and dominion and every
name that is name. Oh, it's at that glorious name
of Jesus that every knee shall bow and none other, not only
in this world, but also in that which is to come. and hath put
all things, no exclusions, no exceptions, and hath put all
things under his feet, my, what a great God and Savior he is,
and gave him to be the head over some things, no, all things,
to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth
all in all." Yes, he's our commander-in-chief. He has all power. He's omnipotent. He's omnipotent. That means all power. And that's what he himself said.
All power is given unto me. Think of that, child of God.
Think of that. All power. All power that's necessary
to keep you from falling. All power required to bring you
to glory. All the power necessary to present
you before the throne of God without a spot or a blemish or
any such thing. The captain of our salvation
comes forward this morning and he says, all that power in heaven
and in earth is given unto me. He says, Father, you've given
me power over all flesh. I like that. I like the sound
of that. That helps this weak, fallible,
failing sinner comfortable. It gives me hope. That one who
holds me in his hand has all power. Oh, the glorious captain
of our salvation. He's responsible for all of his
troops. Our general, our captain, he's
responsible for the salvation of all those the Father gave
him. I like that too, Louie. I like
that too. Because the truth is, the truth
is, if he's not, if I'm not kept by the power of God, I'm a goner. I have no hope. That's just a
fact and it's true of you as well as it is me. The responsibility
for the salvation of all those that the Father entrusted into
the hands of the captain of our salvation is all up to Him. Everything. Here in Hebrews 2,
look again if you will at verse 13. And again, this is God the
Son speaking to the Father. I will put my trust in Him and
again behold, behold, I, I. Oh, but behold another one. Behold I, that is Christ, but
He's not alone. He's not alone. I, Father, and
the children, and the children which Thou hast given Me, He
loses none. He loses none that the Father
committed into His hands. Glory to His name. I'm happy
to know that the salvation of this sinner is entirely the work
of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have no other hope. I have
no other hope. I'll tell you this this morning,
if any part is left up to my effort, If any part of salvation
is left up to my effort, I mean any part of it, or my so-called
free will, I'm a lost man. But I find no other teaching
in scripture but this, God's word declares from beginning
to end, salvation is of the Lord. I think I'll just rest right
there. I think I'll just cast my lot. Stock and barrel, just
roll everything over on the omnipotent shoulders of my great God and
Savior, the captain of my salvation. I think he's able. I think he's
able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that
day. I don't know that you've had
opportunity to read the short article by John Warburton in
our bulletin, but he wrote, the longer I live, And I agree entirely
with this. The longer I live, the more I
feel that if there was one thing left undone, if the devil was
not conquered, sin not expiated, justice not satisfied, the law
not honored and magnified, death not overcome, and every burden
carried, I should not have a ray of hope. Is that your testimony? Is that your testimony, brother-in-law?
I see and feel now that if one hairbreadth is left for me to
do to merit heaven, or bring as a plea before God, I'm undone
forever and ever. Thank God that's not the case. But looking to the captain of
my salvation, I can sing, Jesus paid it all. When I had nothing
to pay, Jesus paid it all. Paul, in writing to Philemon
concerning Onesimus, he said, if he owes you anything, whatever
he owes you, put it on my account. I'll be responsible for all of
his debts. And my Lord and Savior paid all
the debts that this sinner owed to a offended God. He paid it
all. And now in the record of heaven,
this sinner has a clean slate. Jesus paid it all. He's responsible for my salvation. The captain, he's responsible
to bring me home. He's responsible to present me
before God without a spot or a blemish or any such thing. The captain, he's the one that
leads the way, isn't he, Mike? He leads the way. Our Lord, our
captain, Not only leads the way, he is the way. He said, I am
the way. And he never, he never deserts
his followers. He always leads the way. Turn
if you will to Luke chapter 18. Luke chapter 18. Our Lord here
speaking. In Luke 18 verse 31, and then
he took unto him the twelve and said unto them, Behold, we go
up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written in the prophets,
or by the prophets rather, concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished. He shall be delivered unto the
Gentiles, and he shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and
spitted on. And they shall scourge him and
put him to death. But the story doesn't end there.
And the third day, he shall rise again, just like he said he would. Turning, if you will, to John's
Gospel, chapter 10. John chapter 10. Yes, the captain
of our salvation leads all of his followers along. This is
what he tells us in John's Gospel 10 verse 3. To him, the faithful
shepherd, the porter openeth. And the sheep hear his voice,
and he calleth his own sheep by name, and he leadeth them
out. And when he putteth forth his
own sheep, he goeth before them. He always goes before them. He
always leads the way. And the sheep follow him. for
they know his voice. Yes, our faithful shepherd, the
captain of our salvation, leads his dear children along. Child of God, no matter where
you might journey in your pilgrimage from here to heaven, no matter
in what dark valleys you may trod, you're sure to see the
footprint of the captain of your salvation. He went that way before
you. And we follow in his steps. In
trials, in heartache, he's went that way before. And when you
come to the time, when that time comes, Brother Lowe and I were
talking this morning before service, the older you get, the faster
time flies. Young people, when we're young,
we don't believe that. I remember thinking 40 was old.
Man, not anymore. I don't think that way anymore.
When you get older, time has a way of changing your perspective. Oh, how fast time flies. And
many of us are nearing that time when we shall walk through the
valley of the shadow of death But I'll find that he, the captain
of my salvation, has walked that way before me. Thou art with
me, David said. I won't be afraid. Why not, David? Why not? How do you know you
won't be afraid? Because thou art with me. He
whose mercy and goodness have followed me all the days of my
life, he won't forsake me then. He'll be with me. Oh, my soul. and he'll hold to my hand. As
over this river I go. I am with thee always. I'll never
leave thee nor forsake thee. Look here back in Hebrews chapter
2. Hebrews 2 and verse 14. For as
much then As the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,
that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death,
that is, the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Deliver them. Look, if you will, in 1 Corinthians
chapter 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Verse 20, but now, I like that
too, don't you? But now, right now, at this very
moment, the captain of our salvation sets upon his mighty throne of
grace. But now is Christ risen from
the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. For
since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of
the dead. For as in Adam all die, even
so in Christ shall all be made alive. And the captain of our
salvation was victorious in all that he came to do. Everything
that God Almighty commissioned him to accomplish, he did. The prophet said, and listen
to these words, he shall not fail. Call his name Jesus, he
shall save his people from their sins and he shall not fail. He'll bring in an everlasting
righteousness and he shall not fail. He'll bear the sins of
all of his people in his own body on the tree, and he shall
not fail. Into his hands is committed the
keeping of all of his sheep, and to bring them at last unto
glory, and blessed his name, he shall not fail. When you hear somebody talking
about a Christ that's trying to do something, that wants to
do something, that's attempting to do something, I want you to
know this, that's not the same Jesus spoken of in God's Word
because concerning him we read, he shall not fail. Listen to this. Verse 3 of chapter
1, Christ being the express image of God's person and upholding
all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself. John, that doesn't sound like
he took a stab at it. It doesn't sound like he took
most of the steps and left some for us to do. No. When he had
by himself, oh behold him, when he had by himself purged our
sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. He entered in one time into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. That's the
same thing that was prophesied by the prophets concerning him. He shall not fail. Turn, if you
will, to Isaiah chapter 53. Isaiah chapter 53. Oh, what a picture here of our suffering Savior. but
also of our victorious Savior. Isaiah 53 verse 10. Yet it pleased
the Lord to bruise him. He had put him to grief. When
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed,
he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in his hand. He shall see it to the veil of
his soul and shall be satisfied. My, my, how could that ever be
said if one for whom he suffered and died, whose sins he bore
away should perish under the wrath of God? How would he ever
be satisfied? Not so. By his knowledge shall
my righteous servant justify many. Our text says he shall
bring many sons unto glory. He shall justify many for he
shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great And he shall divide the spoil with the
strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death. And
he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bared the sin of many,
and he bared away, and made intercession for the transgressors. Last of
all, the captain of our salvation loses none of his followers."
None of his sheep. We read it a moment ago. Again,
I repeat the words of our Redeemer. Father, I and the children, I
lost none. One with him. Turn, if you will,
to Revelation chapter 14. We have a picture of this here.
In Revelation chapter 14, we read in verse 1, and I looked,
that is John speaking, He said, I looked and lo, a lamb stood
on the mountain Zion, victorious, triumphant, glorious. A lamb stood, but he's not alone. And with him, this number representing
all God's elect, and with him, oh one when he died, one when
He arose, one when He triumphed over His foes, one when in heaven
He took His seat, and heaven sang, oh, hell's defeat, one
with Him, and with Him. And so shall they ever be with
the Lord, with Him. What a description. What a very
good description of heaven, of glory. What is that? Oh, it's
to be with Him. It's to be with Him. Oh, thank
God. None of His people shall ever
weep any tears of sorrow, any tears of regret in heaven. There'll
be no more sorrow and no more pain and no more sickness and
there'll be no more death because He that sits upon the throne
says, Behold, I make all things new, but even above and beyond
all that, we're told they shall see his face, and that will be
glory for me. With him, all the redeemed. Turn, if you will, to chapter
17 here in Revelation, verse 14. These shall make war with
the Lamb, and this doesn't surprise us, and the Lamb shall overcome
them. For he is Lord of lords and King
of kings, and they that are with him are called and chosen and
faithful." What a joy it must have been that day at the Red
Sea, when Moses stood with all the children of Israel on the
other side. On the other side. Not one had
perished. All of their enemies had been
destroyed, but not one of the children of Israel had perished.
They all came out, just like God said they would. And is it
any wonder that Moses led them in a song of praise? In Exodus
chapter 15, after seeing that great work which the Lord did,
they feared the Lord and believed the Lord. And in verse 1 of Exodus
15, we read these words. Then sang Moses and the children
of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will
sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider hath
he thrown into the sea. Look down at verse 9. The enemy
said, I will pursue. I will overtake, I will divide
to spoil, my lust shall be satisfied upon them, I will draw up my
sword, my hand shall destroy them. Hmm, pretty bold talk.
What happened? Thou didst blow, that's all,
thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them, they sank
as lead in the mighty waters. Who is likened to thee, O Lord,
among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in
holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders. Thou stretchest
out thy right hand to earth, swallow them. Thou and thy mercy
has led forth the people which thou has redeemed. Thou has guided
them in thy strength into thy holy habitation. Look down, if
you will, at verse 17. Thou shall bring them in. Yes,
thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of
thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made
for thee to dwell in, in the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy
hands hath made. And in that time, in that day,
when the Captain of our salvation brings all of his own to glory,
They shall sing with one heart and voice, we're told in Revelation
15 and 3, the song of Moses and of the Lamb. They'll sing in
united heart and voice, perfect harmony. Worthy is the Lamb. Oh, what a day that shall be. Turn, if you will, to Colossians,
Colossians chapter 2. We'll bring this to a close.
Galatians chapter 2. Thank God for the glorious captain
of our salvation. I need everything. Everything
necessary to bring this sinner from here to glory and Christ
has everything that I need. Here in Galatians 2 verse 13. And you being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against you, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, knelling it to his
cross, and having spoiled, the word there is disarmed." Disarmed. He satisfied God's law and now
it has no threat to all those in Christ Jesus. He disarmed
principalities and powers. He made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them. Up from the grave he arose with
a mighty triumph over his foes. He arose forever from the dark
domain And He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose. He arose. Hallelujah. The captain of our salvation
arose. Glory to His name. Amen.