The Gift Worth Understanding

The First Christmas Gift

The Gift Worth Understanding

Hebrews 2:5-18

When we truly understand a gift it helps us to truly appreciate the gift

Jesus Came Into This World To

1. Recapture our lost destiny (5-9)

• We were created to have Dominion

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”” (Genesis 1:28)

• Through Sin we suffered loss and defeat

• Jesus stepped into our situation

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6–8)

2. Bring us into His forever family (10-13) 

Jesus is:

• Our Substitute

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18)

• Our Leader/Example/Pattern (8-9)

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

• Our Sanctifier

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

3. Defeat Satan and Deliver us from death (14-16)

• The Sting of death has been removed
•  The Judgment beyond death need not be feared
• Christ’s Resurrection guarantees our own

4. Help us in our trials and temptations (17-18)

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

  (Hebrews 4:14–16)

Kinds of Suffering:

• The kind we Can avoid
• The kind we Cannot avoid
• The kind we Must Not avoid

Some Significant Conclusions: 

• Only Jesus can Save Us

• Jesus Understands

• Victory can be ours

Making It Personal:

• Have you personally received the greatest gift of all, the gift of Jesus Christ made possible by God’s grace?

• Does your life today reflect the life of one who has been transformed by the power of Christ Jesus?

• How are your responding to the trials and temptations of your life?

• “Who’s Your One?” Will you spend time this Christmas season praying intentionally for them to receive the greatest gift of all Jesus Christ?  How will you seek to share Christ with them this Christmas season?

• Who can you share these truths with?