Not Ashamed to Call Them Brethren

I'm speaking this morning from
the book of Hebrews, the second chapter, Hebrews chapter
2. It says here in verse 6, Hebrews
2 verse 6, But one in a certain place testified,
saying, what is man that thou art mindful of him." Now you'll
want to turn to Psalm 8. Paul refers to David, this one
in a certain place, who testified saying, what is man that thou
art mindful of him is David. In Psalm 8, David said in verse
3, Psalm 8 verse 3, When I consider thy heavens, not the heavens,
when I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the
moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that
thou art mindful of him? and the Son of Man that thou
visitest him. For thou hast made him a little
lower, for a little while inferior to the angels, and hast crowned
him with glory and honor." Now watch this, "...thou madest him
to have dominion over the works of thy hands. Thou hast put all
things under his feet." all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beast
of the field, the fowl of the air, the fish of the sea, and
whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea." Now let's
go back to our text. He asks this question, what is
man? Verse 6, that thou art mindful
of him. What is man that God takes notice
of him? The least grain of sand on this
earth is not so small as man is compared to heaven and to
God. When we think of the heavens,
When we think of the sun, the moon, and the stars, David said,
which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful
of him? Now, I know that most men, most
women in the pride of our hearts, see no wonder here. They see
no wonder in God's being mindful of them. They think God should
be mindful of them. But any man who knows his prayalty, who knows his flesh, is astounded
that God should be mindful of us. Will God Almighty, God of whom
it is said, the heaven of heavens won't contain him and the earth
is his footstool. The earth, the whole earth is
his footstool. Will that God have respect unto
me? Whom the scriptures say, of whom
the scriptures say, is a worm? Will the Lord of heaven acquaint
himself with such a sinful creature? as we are enough to die for us? Will the Lord God of heaven and
earth open his heaven to us, his arms, yea, his heart to us?" The hymn writers said, man is
but a piece of clay that's animated by heavenly breath
And when that breath God takes away, he's clay again by death. What is man that art mindful
of him? Now, let's read the rest of this
and see of whom he's speaking. But one in a certain place testified,
saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the Son
of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower,
for a little while inferior to the angels. Thou crownest him
with glory and honor, and didst set him over the work of thy
hands. Thou hast put all things in subjection
under his feet, For in that he put all in subjection unto him,
he left nothing that's not put unto him. But now we see not
yet all things put unto him. Now, many people believe that
the Scripture here is referring to man's position on earth before
he fell, in other words, Adam. in the original creation, and
well it may in certain ways. Let's turn to Genesis 1, and
let's look at this a minute. There is a sense in which this
verse can apply to men, to man, as God created him before the
fall. For it says in Genesis 1, 26,
now look at it. Genesis 126, and God said, let
us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them
have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the
air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in
his own image. In the image of God created he
him. Male and female created he them. And God blessed them and God
said to them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth
and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and
over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that
moveth upon the earth. So back to the text now in Hebrews. The people who believe that this
passage here refers to man and his position on the earth before
he fell, I say to them, it may well in certain ways apply to
man. But Paul the apostle appropriates
these words, listen, to man as he's represented by the man,
Christ Jesus. That's right. These words refer to men as they are represented
by the man, by our Lord Jesus Christ when he walked the earth
in the flesh. So look at verse 9. But we see
Jesus And this clearly identifies the one of whom the apostle speaks. But we see Jesus who was made
for a while a little lower than the angels. He was made flesh. He was made of a woman. He was
made under the law. And through, listen to it, for the suffering of death. That's
why He became a man. That's why He came to this earth,
for the suffering of death. Now read this verse and put in
parenthesis, for the suffering of death. But we see Jesus, who
was made a little while, a little lower, for a little while inferior
to the angels, we see Him crowned with glory and honor. That's
the way we see Him. That's the way He is. For a little
while, he was made lower than the angel's father's suffering
of death in order that he, by the grace of God, should taste
death. He couldn't taste death as he
was. One with the Father, the brightness
of his glory, the express image of his person. Without a human
body, God can't die. So we see Jesus, this is who
this is talking about, all things are unto him. The last thing
he said in verse 8, but now we see not all things yet put unto
him. Doesn't look that way now, does it? It is. It is by decree. It is by design. It is by death. Someday it will be in perfection,
in reality. The last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death. But this is talking about our
Lord Jesus Christ, who experienced death for all His people. Turn
to Philippians chapter 2. But we see Jesus. Oh, my. Philippians chapter 2. Look over
here a minute. Philippians, the second chapter,
beginning with verse 5. Listen to this. Let this mind
be in you. which was also in Christ Jesus,
who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God, who being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself
of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men for a little while, lower than the
angels, inferior. And being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death for
the suffering of death, to taste death for every son, for every
believer. Even, ah, the ignominious death
of the cross, even the death, not just death now, mind you,
but the death of the cross, the wrath of God for our sins, a
criminal's death, not an honorable death, a dishonorable death.
But, look at that verse again, being found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself, became lower than the angels, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath
highly exalted him. We see Jesus. I see Him who for
a little while was inferior to the angels for the suffering
of death, that He might taste death. I see Him crowned with
glory. That's what it says. Wherefore
God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is
above every name, that at the name of Jesus Every knee shall
bow in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, and every tongue
shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. All right, back to our text. We see Jesus, verse 9, for a
little while inferior to the angels, lower than the angels. Why? that He might die for our
sins, that He might taste death for every man, every believing
man. I see Him crowned with glory
and honor, verse 10, for, now watch this, verse 10, I want
to read it and then go back, for it became Him, read it with
me, see if you see what He's saying. For it became Him, for
whom are all things, and by whom are all things. in bringing many
sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
suffering." What's that saying? Well, this is what it's saying.
There's three persons there. It became him, that's the first
person, in bringing many sons, that's the second group of folks,
the sons, to make the captain of their salvation, that's the
third one. Who's the first one? It became Him. It became the
Father. It became the Father. For whom
are all things? That's the Father. By whom are
all things? That's the Father. To make the
captain of their salvation perfect. He made the Son perfect. Glorify
thou me. Glorify me that I may glorify
you. That's the Father he's talking about here. It became Him. What
do you mean it became Him? It means it's an act worthy of
Him. It's becoming. You see somebody with a suit
on, you say, that's not becoming to you. That's right. You see them dressed in a fitting
manner, you say, now that's becoming. That's where you ought to look.
Somebody does something wrong, you say, that's not becoming
to you. That's not like you. That's not an act worthy of you.
Well, this is what it's saying here. This is characteristic
of God to do something like this. It's worthy of God. It shows
His love and His mercy. It reveals His kindness. It's
becoming to God to love sinners, to determine to save them, to
give Christ to people, to make Him their Savior. That's becoming. Somebody gives a large gift to
someone, you say, well, that's just like Him. He's that way.
He's generous. He's kind. Becoming to Him. That's
just like Him. And that's what He's saying here.
It's just like the Father to do this. Becoming to Him. Alright,
second group of people is us. In bringing many sons. Many! I wish we could enlarge our vision. I know sometimes we get to meeting
in these little cells and groups and handful and say, well, boy,
there's just nobody being saved today. Quite the contrary. That's
what Elijah thought. He's sitting over there moaning
and groaning. He said, I'm the only one left.
The Lord shook him up a little bit. He said, now, bud, I got
7,000 just like you. Because you never met them doesn't
mean they're not there. You're drawn into your own little
circle, your own little group. You think you're the only one
right. You're not the only one. God has a people out of every
tribe, kindred, nation, and tongue unto heaven, a number that no
man could number as the sands of the sea and as the stars of
the sky. That's right. People. People. Many sons. Many. Many. Oh, and bringing them. Not inviting them, bringing them.
He died but just for the unjust that he might bring us to God. Bring them. He's going to bring
many sons. Where? To glory. He's not going
to open the door and say, you can come in if you want to. They're
coming in. He's bringing them on his shoulders.
The Lord of hosts. That's right. That's the third fellow, third
person here to make the captain of their salvation. That's Christ.
Why is he called the captain? Because he's the conqueror. He's
the conqueror. He's the king. He's the Lord.
He's the author and finisher. He's the one that did it. He
whipped the enemy, made him, conquered him. Captain of our
salvation. And how can it fail when there's
such a captain? How can it fall through when
there's such a glorious, victorious conqueror, the captain of our
salvation? Make him what? Perfect. What's
that talking about? Perfect through suffering. Well,
turn over a few pages to Hebrews 5. Hebrews chapter 5. Let's look at this. Hebrews 5,
verse 8. Make him perfect through suffering. Though he were a son, And what
a son he is! Though he were the king of kings,
though he were a son, though he were the father's beloved,
though he were the only begotten, though he is all in all, yes! Learned he obedience by the things
which he suffered. And being made perfect, he was
already perfect. Perfect God, perfect Lord, perfect
man. But he became the perfect substitute. He became the perfect righteousness.
He became the perfect surety. He became the perfect representative
by the things he suffered. See, he was made under the law
like I was. But I didn't keep it. I was imperfect.
He kept it perfectly. He had the same commandment I
did. The commandment says to you, and to you, love God with
all your heart. You didn't do it, did you? Imperfect. He did. Do God's will perfectly. You didn't do it. He did. Perfect. Tried in all points, yet without
seeing. Watch it now. Being made perfect,
He became the author, the captain of eternal salvation to those
that obey Him. You got it? For God's glory,
for our salvation. Listen in simplicity. Jesus Christ
suffered all that the law of God required as a man, and all
that justice demanded, He suffered on the cross. He suffered, and
He did it perfectly. He was perfectly identified with
us. He was perfectly acquainted with
our sufferings, every jot and tittle of the law. And He became
a perfect Savior because He obeyed it perfectly. So I have a representative
who's perfect. If any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ, the perfect one, the righteous.
If you're praying to Mary, Hail Mary, Mother of God, full of
grace and truth, pray for us poor sinners, you got problems
because she's not perfect. No, imperfect. So she can't help
you. If you're praying to Saint Jude,
you've got a problem. Because Saint Jude's not perfect. I have an advocate who's perfect. Who's righteous. Who's perfectly
holy. God the Father cannot refuse
him. Because he's perfect. Not only
can the Father not refuse him because he's the Son, but he's
the perfect Son. And he can't refuse him. And
that's verse 10, it became the Father, for whom are all things,
and by whom are all things, in bringing many of us rascals to
glory, to make, He did all this, to make the capital of their
salvation perfect through suffering. Now watch this, this is the very
heart and foundation of our gospel. both he that sanctified," that's
the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the one that sanctified
us. And they who are sanctified are all of one. They're of one Father. That's
what that says first, they're of one Father. He said, I go
to my Father and your Father. There's one body One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, one God and Father of Christ and of us. You know what? They're of one. Not only are they of one, but
they're one in nature. They're one in nature. He became
a man and was numbered with us, and we're one with Him. Turn
to John 17. Let me show you that. John chapter
17. Listen to this, John 17, verse
22. Verse 21, he's praying for his
people, that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in
me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the
world may believe thou hast sent me. John 17, 22, And the glory
which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one as
we are one, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
perfect in one, that the world may know that thou hast sent
me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me." You see that
verse 11? For he that sanctified, and they
who are sanctified are of one Father, they are of one nature,
and they are one in glory. They glorify them with the glory
which thou hast given me. For the witch called, listen,
he's not ashamed to call them brethren. All right, listen. When I consider
thy heavens, the work of thy hands, the earth,
the stars, the moon, the sun, the things thou hast made, what
is man? Such an insignificant piece of
clay. the thought mindful of him. I'll
tell you why. For he that sanctifieth and they
who are sanctified are one. They have one Father, one nature,
one glory. Because he came down here and
was made flesh, made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death. For that's just like the Father
in bringing many of us sons to glory, to make the captain of
our salvation a perfect Savior through His suffering. And He's
not ashamed of us. I hear people say, I'm not ashamed
of Jesus. Well, why should you be? My soul. That's silly. That's the silliest
thing I ever heard. I'm not ashamed of the gospel,
you dummy, why should you be? The gospel is so far above you,
it's amazing God even lets you smell it. I tell you what I want
to know, is he ashamed of me? He's got a right to be, and he
ought to be. And I deserve to be put off in
shame. Here's the glorious message,
he is not ashamed to call us brethren. He's not ashamed of
me." Men are so far away from the gospel, it's amazing. This
generation is 90 miles away from the nearest gospel outpost. That's
right. He's not ashamed of us. They
say, well, do you know the Lord? Listen, does He know you? That's
the thing. That's the question. At the judgment,
they said, we know you, and he said, I don't know you. At the judgment, they said, well,
we preached in your name and cast out devils, did many wonderful
works. I never knew you. My sheep hear
my voice. I know them. And I give them eternal life.
There's the thing, does he know you? Is there any evidence? Is there any revelation? Is there
any suspicion that He might know me? I wish somebody would say things
like that. I wish somebody that got the
ear of this world would say, wait a minute, wait, hold on
here. Hold on a minute. Come to a screeching halt. Stop
the merry-go-round and sit down and listen. Here's the reality. He's not ashamed. And he said,
verse 12, I will declare your name among my brethren. I'm going
to tell them who you are, Father. I'm not ashamed of my brethren.
And I'm going to declare your name unto my brethren. I'm going
to tell them who you are. I'm going to tell them who you
are. And in the midst of the church
where two or three are met in my name, I'm going to be in the
midst of that church, and I'm going to sing praise to you.
I'm going to do it right there in the midst of them. Oh, they're
going to be singing, but I'm going to make their singing accepted.
They're going to be praying, but their prayers ain't worth
two cents. I'm going to be making them affectionate. I'm going
to do the singing. Frank, it ain't no good for me
and you to sing unless he sings with us. And no good for us to
pray unless he prays with us. No good for us to worship unless
he's interceding. We're wasting our time. But I'm,
he said, they and I are one. And I'm not ashamed of them.
And I'm going to declare your name to them. And I'm going to
sing in the midst of that church, verse 13, and again, I'll put
my trust in thee, Father. And again, behold, behold, here
I am. Behold, what's that mean? Look!
Look at us. I am the children which you gave
me. Here we are. Mike, this is it. See, so this
is it. What is man that is not mindful
of Him? Nothing. But there is one, a
man who came from glory. We see Jesus, who is made a little
lower than the angels. For a while, to suffer death,
to suffer death, I see Him now exalted at the right hand of
God. Because it is just like God. in bringing many of us sons
to glory, to make the captain of our salvation perfect through
his suffering. Because he that sanctifieth,
and they whom he sanctified are one by covenant grace, by incarnation,
numbered with the transgressors, one in death, one in resurrection,
one in glory, seated together. And he's not ashamed. to call
them, my brethren. And he says, I'm going to sing
praises to you. I'm going to first declare my
name to you, my brethren. I'm going to tell them who you
are. I'm going to tell them who you are. No man knoweth the Father
but the Son, he to whom the Son revealed. I'm going to tell them
who you are. I'm going to tell them. And then I'm going to sing
with them, and you're going to hear me sing. And I'm going to
pray, and you're going to hear me pray. And I'm going to praise
you, and we are all going to praise you as one. And here we
are, behold, I and the children which God gave me." Here we are. For as much then as the children
are partakers of flesh and blood, boy, we are, aren't we, more
flesh than blood. regrettably, unfortunately, but
flesh and blood. He, oh here's the good news,
he also himself, his very self, likewise, just like you, conceived
in a womb, hovered over nine months, and brought forth, took
power of the same, that through death he might destroy him that
hath the power of death." That is the devil. He whipped him. Forty ways from Sunday, we used
to say. Met him and found nothing in
him, he whipped him. Watch it now, "...and delivered
them, and delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage. That's us. Scared to die. Holding on to this frail flesh. But He has delivered us because
of His death. He's delivered us from the fear
of death. You know how He delivers us from
the fear of death? Now we're one, remember. First,
by dying himself. You remember when we were children,
and the children today, I bet, do the same thing because children
aren't any different in any generation. But when we were children and
when we were out hiking and we'd come to a place to cross a ravine,
there'd be a log across there. Looked kind of slippery and small
and they, four or five of us, said, you go first. No, you go
first. No, you go first. And then somebody
would. And then we'd all go. Or you'd
come on a swimming hole and it looked kind of rough and fast
and rapid and there's the old swing of the vine hanging on
the limb and somebody would say, you go first. No, you go first. Well, somebody would go first
and he'd swing out there and drop you and then we'd all come.
And just keep doing it, you know. Somebody went first. Some brave
person went first. You go first. He did. He did. He died. That's right. And he arose. The footprints
lead out of that grave as well as in. And he arose. And he's exalted. And he's praying
for us. That's what it says. Who can
condemn us? It's Christ that died, yea rather
is risen again. Who is risen, ascended to heaven,
who intercedes for us. He took the sting out of death.
Took the sting. What is the sting of death? A
little boy came running in, crying one day. He pulled his arm. His
mama said, what in the world is wrong with you? He said, an
old bee out there had been chasing me all morning, and he stung
me. And the mother looked there,
and there it was, that black stinger right there in his hand.
And she took the tweezers and pulled it out, put a little something
on it and kissed it, you know, and said, now get on out and
play. He said, but that old bee is still out there. She said,
he's out there, but he can't hurt you. He said, he can't hurt me? No,
he lost his stinger. He can't hurt anybody anymore.
And our Lord took the sting of death, which is sin. And while sin is still out there,
he can't hurt God's people. He's got no stingers. He's gone. Don't be afraid to die. He changed the character of death. Let me read you something. It's not death to die. to leave
this weary road and with our brotherhood on high to be at
home with God. It's not death to close these
eyes long dimmed by tears and wake in glorious rest to spend
eternal years. It's not death to bear the sword
that sets us free. free from dungeon chains to breathe
the air of boundless liberty? Is not death to fling aside this
old sinful dust and rise on strong angelic wings to live among the
just? Jesus, thy King of life, thy
Chosen, cannot die. With thee they conquered the
strife. and reign with thee on high." Martin, Augustus' top lady said
this, I want to give you this and I'll let you go. Augustus'
top lady said, deathless principle arise, soar
thy native of the skies, jewel of Christ by Jesus bought, to
his glorious likeness wrought. Go to shine before his throne. Go to deck his priestly gown. Go his triumph to adorn, made
for God to God return. Lo, he beckons to thee from on
high, fearless to his presence fly. Thine the merit of his blood,
thine the righteousness of God, Angels joyful to attend, hovering
round thy pillow-bend, wait to catch the signal given to escort
you to your home in heaven." They're waiting. The angels are
waiting for the signal, bring him home. Bring him home. They're waiting. Don't be afraid
to go with them. You'd be afraid to go with me,
but don't you be afraid to go with them. He took the fear of
death. He took the fear of death. All
right, let's sing. When I can read my title clear,
number 497.

Not Ashamed to Call Them Brethren

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