God has wonderful good news of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ! “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” (1 Peter 2:24). He suffered the wrath of God for your sins and my sins during the three dark hours when He was nailed to the cross of Calvary. In John 3:16 we see that God so loved the world. This is the verse that led me to be saved from the punishment for my sins.  Let us look at who the Christ was that died for us.

Christ was never “made” anything (John 1:1-5): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Christ had no real beginning because He had none. He is the “I am” (John 8:58).

1. “Flesh” – became manhood, “manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16). John 1:14: The “only begotten,” the unique one with the Father, “full of grace and truth.” – 2 Cor. 8:9: “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” The poverty of the perfect One. (Ecc. 9:13-18, NKJV) “A poor wise man seemed great to me. There was a little city [the world – a speck in God’s universe] with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. [Satan – John 10:10 “The thief cometh to steal, kill and destroy.] Now there was found in it a poor wise man [Christ “though He was rich, He became poor”], and He by His wisdom delivered the city [“God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification and redemption” – 1 Cor. 1:30]. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.” [Though few, some remember Him (1 Cor. 11:24). One out of ten lepers – the Samaritan (Luke 17:16).] Vs. 16-18: “Then I said: ‘Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.”

• “Obedient unto death” – Phil. 2:8 – death is the last step of obedience. The death of the Cross was planned in the eternal ages by the Godhead (Acts 2:22,23; Prov. 8:22-31) and is:

(1) Shame – rejected by man. But He “despised the shame” (Heb. 12:2,3).

(2) Atonement – Man’s need met – His blood makes atonement for the soul (Lev. 17:11).

(3) Curse – “Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree” (Gal. 3:13). The Penalty of God – Only a priest without blemish can approach the altar (Levites 21:22,23). Christ “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21). “In Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). He “did no sin” (1 Pet. 2:22).

(4) For God’s glory – (John 10:17,18). When Judas had gone out Jesus said:”Now is the son of man glorified” (John 13:30,31).

• “A little lower than the angels” Heb. 2:9,10 – v.10 is an expansion of v.9. “It became Him.” Just like Him. There is no Saviour for the fallen angels. The Messiah’s suffering was foreign to the thinking of the Jews.Peter said: “Be it far from you Lord” (Matt. 16:22); to the two on the Emmaus road, Jesus said: “O fools slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken (Luke 24:25). A stumbling block to the Jews for they looked for His kingdom and foolishness to the Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:23). But it was in perfect keeping with the character and nature of God. This same God of the universe (Rom. 11:36) is bringing many sons to glory. “If sons then heirs” (Rom. 8:17). We are heirs (Heb. 1:14) therefore sons (2:10). To be His children is an inestimable favor. To be sons is supremely blessed. Paul alone uses the word of “sons” until Rev. 21:4-8. – Heb. 2:11-12: Christ and the sanctified (holy) persons are all one company before God. All as men and we are humbly grateful that He calls us brethren. But though He instructs us to pray: “Our Father” (Matt. 6:9), He always prayed “My Father” (John 17). He says: “My Father and your Father” (John 20:17). So, we should never call Him brother. He is “our Lord and our God” as Thomas said (John 20:28).

• “Dead” Rev. 1:12-13,17-18 – “The First and the Last” is the title of Jehovah (Isa. 44:6). No one is greater before or after. “I am the living One and became dead, and behold I am alive unto the ages of ages, Amen; and have the keys of death and hades. Death holds the body (James 2:26) and hades holds the spirit and soul (Acts 2:27,31). He has total authority regarding unseen hades and death. Total control to raise the dead and reunite the soul and spirit with the body from the condition of hades.

• “Author of eternal Salvation” – Heb. 5:7-9 – v. 8 says that Christ learned obedience by experience but did not have to learn to obey – He delighted to do the Father’s will (Psa. 40:8; Heb. 10:5&7). “Being made perfect” Gr. Teleioo m. complete and to bring to a desired end. Isaiah 50:4: “The Lord GOD hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as the learned.” He did not learn how to obey like we do, for there was no rebellion in Him. As God, He knew what obedience was but never experienced it. “I do always those things that please the Father” (John 8:29). He increased in wisdom and was subject to His parents (Lu. 2:51), but we must learn how to obey. v.9: “Author” He is salvation in Himself. Simeon said: “My eyes have seen Thy Salvation” (Lu. 2:30). – The gospel is not only an appeal, and invitation and a promise. It is a command (Acts 17:30,31) and a demand (Acts 3:19). We don’t really believe unless we obey (Rom. 1:5; 16:25-27). Salvation was produced by obedience of the Redeemer and is made available to the obedience of the redeemed (1 Pet. 4:17). Romans 10:9.