14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
Hebrews now turns to the core reason for incarnation—Christ must suffer death to free us from the power of death.
14 Inasmuch [since] then [therefore]
These words introduce a conclusion from the preceding verses. Since humanity has human nature, Jesus took on that nature as well. The “then” or therefore develops further the preceding argument of the purpose of the incarnation (He 2:9-10).
as the children have partaken [share in common] of flesh and blood [human nature],
“Children” refers to the children of the previous verse (He 2:13).
To partake of “flesh and blood” is to share humanity in common. This is a statement that Jesus shared in the experience of humanity in unequivocal terms. All human beings share human nature in common.
He Himself likewise shared [become a member of a group] in the same,
The Greek word for “likewise” comes from two words: alongside and nearby. Jesus by His incarnation took His place alongside and nearby humanity. In like manner He took on humanity. His humanity was the same as any other human being.
The word “shared” here is not the same word as “partaken” in the previous clause. “Partaken” speaks of the characteristic sharing of human nature, whereas “shared” addresses the thought that Jesus voluntarily accepted humanity to His person. The Son was both undiminished deity and true humanity.
“Shared” is to become a member of or belong to a group. The Greek word is made up of two words: to have and with. The Lord has human nature with the rest of humanity. He did not have humanity in His eternal state; He was incorporeal in eternity (Jn 4:24). The Son did not have a human nature in eternity. He took possession of a body at His incarnation. He became a member of the group called humanity at His incarnation. The only way humans could be saved was that the Son become Jesus, a human. Jesus shared common humanity with the human race. The word “shared” indicates that Jesus took on human nature.
that
The “that” here indicates the purpose of Jesus’ incarnation. A primary purpose for the incarnation was that He would die to destroy the power of the devil.
through death
The Son could not have died without becoming a human being. Jesus defeated the devil by His death. The devil held the power of death, but Jesus defeated death with death.
He might destroy [render inoperative] him [the devil]
“Destroy” carries the idea of annulment of the devil’s power. Jesus’ death defeated Satan’s power over believers. “Destroy” in the Greek means to render inoperative, not to annihilate. Jesus did not annihilate Satan at the cross, but his power was broken. Spiritual death has no more power over the person who believes that the cross saves his soul.
who had the power [dominion] of death,
“The power of death” is the devil’s power over those who fear death (Mt 12:29). That fear enslaves them to his purposes. This Greek word for “power” means dominion. Satan had at one point dominion over death; he was sovereign in that realm. Jesus broke that dominion.
The devil holds the power of death in a secondary and not in a primary sense. Death is the darkest event that anyone can face. Jesus conquered death by His death. There is no dualism in the world: God is sovereign; nothing operates without His control. Satan is no rival to an absolute God.
There has always been a link between sin and the power of death; death is the penalty for sin. Christ’s death paid that penalty; He removed eternal death for those who believe on Him. Christ’s death is the gateway to eternal life.
that is, the devil,
The devil is the power behind death; however, God holds the ultimate power over death. The death of Christ on the cross was the death that destroyed Satan. It was at the cross where the encounter between heaven and hell occurred. The cross rendered ineffective the power of the devil. Jesus defeated death with death.
PRINCIPLE:
The death of Jesus defeated the devil.
APPLICATION:
Jesus by dying became sovereign over death. The reason Jesus became incarnate was to die or pay the penalty for our sins. He broke the power of eternal death on our souls. He broke the back of Satan in doing so.
Jesus deprived the devil of his power to cast the fear of death in people. Jesus rendered that problem inoperative (2 Ti 1:10). There is no fear of death in believers because they cannot experience spiritual death. Jesus did that for them. He is Lord of both the dead and living (Ro 14:9).
Jesus destroyed Satan by taking away his weapon of death. God required that someone pay the penalty of death. Since believers died in Christ, the devil lost his power over them.
The purpose of the incarnation was not a sentimental, saccharine attempt to identify with men in general. It was no attempt to give a tribute to the dignity of man. The Renaissance man was of no value to Him. The purpose of the incarnation was to die with a human body for the sins of man. He took our hell on the cross.
I thought all humans are born spiritually dead and then that believers are made spiritually alive with Christ at the point of salvation. If so, how do you explain your comment “There is no fear of death in believers because they cannot experience spiritual death”?
Lori, There is no fear of PHYSICAL death because they cannot experience spiritual death.
Hello Grant. Your phrase “they cannot experience spiritual death” confuses me. Do you mean that believers can no longer experience spiritual death since they became alive spiritually at the point of salvation?
Lori, yes, that is what I am attempting to say. Eternal life begins at the point whereby one believes on Jesus–they have and hold (Greek) eternal life at at that point (Jn 5:24).
Hello Grant. The problem with your view is that salvation is a process and not instantaneous. The bible never says”you are saved”but you”shall be saved”.If a believer didn’t have to participate in his own salvation, why did Jesus command us to abide or remain in him. Regeneration and sanctification has to happen before glorification.True born again believers do pass from death to life when they initially accept Christ but they must be inwardly outfitted before they can be put on their outward glorified body in order to enter heaven Lori is right all men are born “dead in trespasses and sin” according to Ephesians 2:5 and Colossians 2:13. However, Paul describes the believer as being ” dead to sin” pictured by baptism. Romans 6:2-4. Believers are to reckon or consider themselves dead to sin as Jesus died to sin,thus they are crucified and buried “with him”. The crucifixion of the old man and his burial results in the awakening and resurrection of the new man who has new found freedom to serve a new master in a newly life. The dominion of sin is broken in their lives and the He delivered them from the bondage of fear of physical death because they would experience eternal life. Hebrews 2:14
So ” being dead to sin” is what a believer is after confession, baptism, and at some during the
regenerative work of the Holy Spirit.
Being “dead in sin”is what a believer was before his or her confession.
If believers, especially new ones would look at their water baptism and say “as it all happened to Jesus on the cross and out of the grave, it also happened to me”. Live out what happened, Don’t respond to sin like a dead man don’t respond to pain. Cease your old master slave relationship with it because Christ has set you free -now you are free not to sin. Keep the old man buried so that sin through him can not reassert it’s power. Don’t make reservations for sin neither revisit old ones. Drink the sincere milk of the Word of God that you may strengthen the new man. Study it to show yourself a workman unto God rightly dividing (separating it from lies, false doctrine, and heresy) the word of truth. Most of all pray for God to increase your faith. It’s a beautiful experience!
Delano, the problem that you have is that Scripture everywhere says that salvation is instantaneous, not progressive. There is no Scripture that indicates that salvation is progressive. Everywhere when referencing sanctification, it refers to progressive sanctification. John 5:24 says that the movement we put our faith in the finished work of Christ we pass from eternal death to eternal life (while we are still physically alive). See my study on John 5:24 here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/2017/01/24/john-524/ Also, see my studies on the old and new man in the passages that deal with those subjects.
Good afternoon Grant. Your response to the the fact that salvation is a process and not instantaneous is inconsistent with mine in that I mentioned process and you mentioned progress, which are different in meaning.
Think of a meat processing plant where livestock comes in the door alive and after being slaughtered, cut up, and packaged it is shipping out to distributors. However, if a machine broke down or a significant number of employees didn’t come to work the processing of the meat would be interrupted or slowed down. The process would remain intact, but it’s progression interfered with. The new testament as a whole teaches salvation is the procession of saving faith into the progression of active practical faith. In other words, believers should grow as they go!
How then can salvation be instantaneous?
Sin interfer with the regenerative and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit just as a broke machine or absent employees disrupt and interfer with the processing of meat!
How then can salvation not be a process?
Satan with his hooks in their flesh have and still do cause many to apostatize and abandon the faith. 1Tim.1:20
Yes, upon having saving faith a believer do pass from spiritual death to eternal life. Eternal life began here and now.
You say we pass from eternal death to eternal life. Grant this can not true! An unbeliever is not eternally dead, although he is condemned to eternal death because of his unbelief. John 3:18. In other words, the unbeliever live under condemnation, but if and when he believes that condemnation is removed because the blood of Jesus justifies him.
How can someone who is eternally dead have a chance of ever being saved? The eternal dead do not exist on earth, but in hell.
The blood of Jesus have paid the believer,who exercise obedient faith, passage to eternal life and points the way.
1.If you abide in me. If a Man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch…. and they are burned up. John 15:6-7
2. If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm UNTIL THE END. Hebrews 3:6
3. If we hold THE BEGINNING of our confidence steadfast UNTO THE END. Hebrews 3:14
4. If we (don’t) sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth because there is no more sacrifice for sin…. but a certain fearful indignation of judgment…. Hebrews 10:26-27.
5. If we believe TO SAVING OF THE SOUL. Hebrews 10:39.
6. If we ( don’t) turn from the Holy commandments. 2 Peter 2:21
7. If we (don’t) fall from our steadfastness. 2 Peter 3:17
8.If we(don’t) DEPART from the faith. 1Timothy4:1
9. Finally Grant, I am sure you remember ( without citing) Paul said WORK OUT your salvation in trembling and fear.
Salvation is free, but conditional. We must participate by our obedience in what God has done and is doing.
Delano, whenever you add works to salvation you commit the error of salvation by works, albeit keeping your salvation by works (which the book of Galatians argues against). The book of John gives one condition for salvation–the word to believe occurs 99 times as the only condition for salvation. It is not the work of preserving our salvation. Christ’s work on the cross was “finished” and it was sufficient according to Hebrews 9. The books of Galatians and Romans argue that a person is justified or declared righteous, as righteous as God is righteous at the point of salvation. See my commentary on Romans 4 and 5 in that regard. That declaration or justification in God’s eyes took place by faith and faith alone. If you want to see arguments for eternal security, go to this study: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/eternal-security-2/security-of-the-believer-3/ Go to my studies on the other verses you cite because you take those verses out of context in every case. The passage in Philippians 2:12 that says you are to “work out your own salvation” has no reference to eternal salvation of the soul in the context. The argument is the salvation of the church at Philippi from a church split. See my study there as well. If you want another study on eternal security go here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/eternal-security-2/security-of-the-believer-3/
Grant, first of all you seem to read into my responses things I didn’t write. First you construed my posting about salvation being a process to progressive sanctification. Now you are interpreting participation in salvation to mean adding works to salvation.
I said nothing about adding works to salvation.I am well aware of salvation through faith by grace. There’s nothing a man can do to merit , deserve, or earn salvation or else salvation would not be a gift. I understand the doctrines of justification by faith and God’s declaration of rightouness on all who believe.
Participation in salvation mean sharing what Jesus did long ago in real time. Such as living like our old man have been crucified “with him” and the old man buried “with him”. Then live as though we are raised ” with him” to live in the newness of life. Romans 6:2-8. We have to mortify the deeds of the body, by the Spirit.Romans 8:13. Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness. Romans 6: 12-13.
I know that human effort without the Spirit’s enabling power avails nothing in the believers life. However the bible does speak about having” good works” because he or she is saved, not to gain salvation or to remain saved. Grant, works is simply what a believer does whether they are “of the flesh” or ” of rightouness”.
In each letter to the churches in Revelations 2:1-29 and 3:1-22 the language”I know your works ” is consistent.
Works without faith is dead. James 2:14-26 and 3:13
Jesus worked and he told his disciples that they would do greater works. John 5:17 and 14:12
Study to show yourself approved a workman…1Timothy 2:15
Read Titus 2:14 ; 3:1 and 8 ;3:14.
Belief or faith must be continued. Colossians 1:23 and Acts 14:22.
These scriptures do not teach that works add to salvation, but rather “good works”is a product of salvation.
Active love, acts of compassion, giving, helping or serving others, service in the church, and so forth are all “good works” seen in believers who continue in the faith.
Grant, I am not communicating back and forth with you because I see you as unlearned in scriptures, however your post to Lori H got my attention and the Spirit urged me to post to you.
If you respond to this post, please try not to misconstrue what I have said
Search the scriptures with readiness of mind to see whether these things are so. Acts 17:11.
Delano, I do not believe that I misconstrued what you have said. The moment you say that a person keeps himself saved by works, he has left the principle of salvation by grace, that is, Christ solely paid for all of our sin both past, present, and future. As a person did not become saved by works, he cannot become unsaved by bad works. There are no Scriptures that teach someone can lose their salvation once God has declared him judicially as right as God Himself is right (the central argument of the book of Romans). That declaration was not by anything that man has done; sin was completely and fully paid by Christ, which allowed an absolute God to accept us into His presence forever. It was a judical action of God by nothing man has done or can do. I cannot pay for my sins, only our Savior could do that. Galatians 2:21 says that we frustrate the grace of God when we attempt to say that righteousness comes by the law, by keeping the law. That passage says that if we hold to your position, “Christ died in vain [Greek: without a cause].” If it were possible for a man to save himself, there was no purpose for Christ’s finished work. Delano, you do not truly believe in justification by faith without works because you add something to faith. Salvation is by faith alone, by Christ alone, that is, without any help from the believer. I do appreciate the grace with which you make your arguments but that does not justify the error that you present to the public. The book of James teaches that faith works, that is, works are an outcome of genuine faith. That is an indication that a person has truly come to faith.
Grant, no where in my post did I say a person keeps himself saved by works. In fact, I specifically said that the bible does speak about having good works BECAUSE he or she is saved not to”gain salvation or to remain saved”.
How could you have misinterpreted that?
I also agreed that a man can’t do anything to merit , deserve, or earn salvation or else salvation would not be a gift, as the scriptures describe it. Therefore we agree on that subject.
I did not post about losing salvation or law keeping for salvation.
With respect to me erring before public, I believe that is for the public to decide.
I observed that your response only mentioned faith works once.I cited an abundance of scriptures proving believers are to have good works that confirm genuine faith, not merely indicate it as you say. Why didn’t you cite an abundance of scriptures proving otherwise? I’m not talking about the faith a man must have when he comes to God. Hebrews 11:6. This saving faith alone justifies him, which I fully agree with.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE THINGS HE DOES that gives evidence to his saving faith? The things that demonstrate his belief in God through Christ.
I challenge you to read Hebrews 11:4-29 and you will notice the words “by faith” followed by an old testament character and some kind of action taken or work done by them.
Then reconcile what James said about faith being dead with works. CAN FAITH SAVE . So as the body without the spirit is dead ,so faith without works is dead. James 2:14 and 26. Hebrews is consistent with James in that their faith was working together with their works and by works their FAITH WAS MADE PERFECT. James 2:22.
Answer these questions Grant. What is “dead faith”? Is it possible that imperfect faith can please God. Hebrews 11:6.
Please focus on the challenge only. I would like to hear how you reconcile these passages to support your belief that good works are not required by God of those who have genuine faith him.
On line 49 in my post in stated ” faith with works is dead” but I meant without.
Delano,
There is no need for my delineation of faith-works in James or Hebrews because my free commentaries online demonstrate clearly my view on those passages. I try to keep to the issue at hand, which was launched by your affirmation that salvation is a “process.” My reply was that there is no Scripture that affirms that doctrine. It contradicts passages that affirm that a person becomes a Christian instantly by faith. It appears that you confuse sanctification with salvation. Obviously, sanctification is a process and an outgrowth of saving faith.
Later, you affirmed that a person becomes a Christian “here and now,” which should have clarified your position, but then you went on to give a number of conditions for salvation (which you called “salvation is the process of saving faith”). Then you made the statement that “Salvation is free, but conditional.” The moment you said that you add something to faith alone. It appears that you add conditions to saving faith such as these, which is your list:
1.If you abide in me. If a Man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch…. and they are burned up. John 15:6-7
2. If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm UNTIL THE END. Hebrews 3:6
3. If we hold THE BEGINNING of our confidence steadfast UNTO THE END. Hebrews 3:14
4. If we (don’t) sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth because there is no more sacrifice for sin…. but a certain fearful indignation of judgment…. Hebrews 10:26-27.
5. If we believe TO SAVING OF THE SOUL. Hebrews 10:39.
6. If we ( don’t) turn from the Holy commandments. 2 Peter 2:21
7. If we (don’t) fall from our steadfastness. 2 Peter 3:17
8.If we(don’t) DEPART from the faith. 1Timothy4:1
9. Finally Grant, I am sure you remember ( without citing) Paul said WORK OUT your salvation in trembling and fear.
If you mean that a person must grow in their faith after salvation, we agree, but that is not the implication of your concept of “conditional” in your words “salvation is free, but conditional.” That has been the basis of my response to you. When you add something to saving faith (not progressive sanctification) then you have introduced a gospel of works.