Main Text: Hebrews 2:14–15 - “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Central Truth
Jesus entered into our humanity, went
to the cross, died our death, and through His death broke the power of the
devil so that we no longer need to live as slaves to fear.
1. CHRIST SHARED OUR HUMANITY
Hebrews 2:14 says:
“Since therefore the children share in
flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.”
Jesus did not save us from a distance.
He came into our condition.
He took flesh and blood.
He became truly human.
John 1:14 says:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us.”
Why did He become like us?
Because what He did not assume, He
could not redeem.
Christ came into the very realm where
humanity had fallen under sin, death, condemnation and Satan's oppression.
But there is an important distinction:
Jesus became like us in humanity, but
He did not become sinful in nature.
He was without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 says:
“Yet without sin.”
Therefore, Jesus could stand in our
place as the spotless Lamb of God.
2. JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE ONE
WHO HAD THE POWER OF DEATH
Hebrews 2:14 says:
“That through death he
might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Notice something very
important.
Jesus destroyed Satan
through death.
This appears to be a
paradox.
Satan thought the cross
was his victory.
But the cross became
Satan's defeat.
The devil used death as a weapon
against humanity.
But Jesus entered death voluntarily
and came out victorious.
Colossians 2:15 says:
“He disarmed the rulers and
authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
The cross was not God's defeat.
The cross was God's victory.
3. THE CROSS WAS NOT SIMPLY AN
EXAMPLE—IT WAS A DIVINE EXCHANGE
This is where the
teaching of Watchman Nee becomes particularly helpful.
Nee repeatedly
emphasized the believer's identification with Christ.
The Christian life
begins with what God has accomplished in Christ.
Romans 6:6 says:
“We know that our old
self was crucified with him.”
Notice the language:
“with Him.”
Not merely He died.
But:
We died with Him.
Romans 6:4:
“We were buried
therefore with him by baptism into death.”
Romans 6:5:
“We have been united
with him in a death like his.”
And Romans 6:11:
“So you also must
consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
This is the heart of
identification.
Jesus died for us,
but there is also a deeper reality:
We died with Him.
He was raised, and
therefore we have newness of life in Him.
4. WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR OLD MASTER?
Before Christ, humanity
was under the dominion of sin and death.
Romans 5:12 says:
“Sin came into the world
through one man, and death through sin.”
Sin brought death.
Death brought fear.
Fear brought bondage.
And Hebrews 2:15
describes the result:
“And deliver all those
who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Look at the progression:
Sin → Death → Fear → Slavery
The devil exploited this condition.
But Jesus entered the very place of
our bondage.
He went into death.
He conquered death.
He rose from the grave.
And therefore the chain has been
broken.
5. THE DEVIL'S POWER WAS BROKEN
THROUGH CHRIST'S DEATH
We need to understand
Hebrews 2:14 carefully.
It does not mean that
Satan became nonexistent.
Nor does it mean that
Satan has no activity in the world.
Rather, his decisive
authority and claim associated with death have been defeated through Christ's
victory.
Jesus said:
“All authority in heaven
and on earth has been given to me.”
—Matthew 28:18
Colossians 1:13 says:
“He has delivered us
from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved
Son.”
That is deliverance.
We have changed
kingdoms.
We have changed masters.
We have changed
spiritual position.
We are no longer under
Satan's dominion.
6. THE REAL PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY
FEAR—IT IS THE BONDAGE PRODUCED BY FEAR
Hebrews says:
“Through fear of death
were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Fear can become a
master.
Fear says:
- “What if something happens?”
- “What if I lose everything?”
- “What if I become sick?”
- “What if I die?”
- “What will happen to my family?”
- “What will happen tomorrow?”
The devil can use fear
to keep people in bondage.
But the believer has a
different foundation.
Psalm 23:4 says:
“Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are
with me.”
Why?
Because death is no
longer the final word.
Jesus said:
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
—John 11:25
7. WATCHMAN NEE: SEE YOURSELF IN CHRIST
One of the strongest themes in
Watchman Nee's teaching is that the believer must learn to see himself in
Christ, rather than continually looking at himself apart from Christ.
This is essential for overcoming the
accusation and intimidation of the enemy.
The enemy says:
“Look at yourself.”
God says:
“Look at Christ.”
The enemy says:
“Look at your failure.”
God says:
“Look at what Christ has
accomplished.”
The enemy says:
“You are still the same person.”
The gospel says:
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation.”
—2 Corinthians 5:17
Your confidence is not:
“I am strong.”
Your confidence is:
“Christ is strong in me.”
Your victory is not based upon your
ability to defeat Satan.
Your victory is based upon Christ's
victory over Satan.
8. CHRIST'S DEATH DEALT WITH OUR
OLD MAN
Romans 6:6:
“Our old self was
crucified with him.”
This is where many
Christians struggle.
They try to improve the
old life.
But Christianity is not
primarily self-improvement.
It is new life in
Christ.
The cross does not
merely say:
“Try harder.”
The cross says:
“The old man has been
dealt with.”
Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified
with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
This is not simply a
doctrine to memorize.
It is a truth to live.
9. WE MUST LIVE FROM CHRIST'S VICTORY, NOT TRY TO PRODUCE
OUR OWN VICTORY
Suppose someone gives you a house that
is completely paid for.
You do not spend the rest of your life
trying to pay the purchase price again.
You simply live in what has already
been provided.
Likewise, Christ has accomplished
something for us that we could never accomplish ourselves.
At the cross:
Sin was dealt with.
The old man was crucified.
Death was conquered.
Satan was defeated.
The power of fear was
broken.
Therefore, Christian
living is not:
“Lord, help me somehow
obtain victory.”
It is:
“Lord, teach me to walk
in the victory You have already accomplished.”
10. HOW DO WE WALK IN THIS VICTORY?
A.
Believe what God says
Romans 6:11:
“Consider yourselves
dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Faith begins by agreeing
with God's Word.
B.
Reckon yourself identified with Christ
You died with Christ.
You were buried with
Christ.
You were raised with
Christ.
You now live in Christ.
C.
Refuse the dominion of fear
2 Timothy 1:7 says:
“For God gave us a
spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Fear does not have the
right to govern the believer.
D. Set
your mind on Christ
Colossians 3:1–3:
“Seek the things that
are above, where Christ is... For you have died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God.”
Your life is hidden
with Christ.
That is your position.
11. JESUS DID NOT ONLY DELIVER US
FROM DEATH—HE DELIVERED US FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH
This is the wonderful
conclusion of Hebrews 2:15.
Jesus came:
“to deliver all those
who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
The gospel does not
promise that Christians will never die physically.
The gospel promises that
physical death is not the end for those who belong to Christ.
Paul could therefore
say:
“To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
—Philippians 1:21
Why could Paul say that?
Because death had lost
its ultimate authority.
1 Corinthians 15:55 says:
“O death, where is your victory? O
death, where is your sting?”
Christ has conquered the grave.
12. A WORD TO THE CHURCH
Church, do not live like people who
have never heard the gospel.
You are not waiting for Christ to
obtain victory.
Christ has already won the victory.
You are not trying to convince God to
accept you.
You are accepted in the Beloved.
You are not trying to defeat Satan
through human strength.
Christ has already triumphed over the
powers of darkness.
You are not trying to manufacture
spiritual life.
Christ is your life.
Colossians 3:4:
“When Christ who is your life appears,
then you also will appear with him in glory.”
CONCLUSION: FROM FEAR TO FAITH
Hebrews 2:14–15 gives us
a powerful movement:
Christ came into our
humanity.
↓
Christ entered death.
↓
Christ defeated the
devil.
↓
Christ broke the
dominion of death.
↓
Christ delivered us from
fear.
↓
Christ brought us into
freedom.
Therefore, believer, you
do not have to live as a slave to fear.
Your old master has been
defeated.
Your old identity has
been dealt with at the cross.
Your life is now in
Christ.
So, when fear comes,
don't begin by looking at yourself.
Look
to Christ.
When Satan accuses you, don't argue
with him in your own strength.
Stand upon what Christ has
accomplished.
When fear of death comes, remember:
Jesus entered death for you.
Jesus conquered death for you.
Jesus rose from death.
And because He lives, you have
life.
Preaching Declaration
Church, let us declare this together:
I am in Christ.
I have died with Christ.
I have been raised with Christ.
My old life has been dealt with at the cross.
Sin shall not have dominion over me.
Satan is a defeated enemy.
Death is not my final destiny.
Fear will not rule my life.
Christ is my life.
Christ is my victory.
Christ lives in me.
Therefore, I will live by faith and not by fear.
In Christ, I am free!
Key Scriptures for
the Sermon
Hebrews 2:14–15; Romans 6:4–11; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:14–15;
Colossians 3:1–4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:54–57; John 11:25–26;
Philippians 1:21; 2 Timothy 1:7.
