Hebrews 2:14 For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same… I. FROM WHAT FEAR OF DEATH ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD DELIVERED BY JESUS CHRIST. 1. Not from the natural fear of death, which in itself is a sinless infirmity, like sickness or weariness. Our Lord Himself sometimes expressed an aversion to death (John 12:27; Matthew 14:35). 2. From a slavish fear of death, which "hath torment" in it (1 John 4:18), and unfits them for the duties of their particular callings, and disables them from prosecuting the things that belong to their peace and welfare. II. BY WHAT MEANS AND METHODS ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD DELIVERED BY CHRIST FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH? 1. I shall show you what Christ hath already done to deliver or free the children of God from the fear of death. The death of Christ hath made death to look with another face than formerly it had. The death of Christ must needs sweeten the forethoughts of death to the chosen of God, because that He died in their stead: He did not only die in their nature, but in their room; not only for their good, but also in their stead. (1) Christ by His death hath taken away the true reason of the fear of death; that is, the curse and condemnation of the law of God (1 Corinthians 15:56). (2) Christ by His death hath deprived the devil of the power of death; and by this means also He hath delivered the children from a servile fear of death. 2. Let me proceed to show you what He continues still to do, in order to the freeing and delivering the children of God from the fear of death, and the bondage that ensues thereon. (1) He worketh and increaseth those graces of His Spirit in them which are destructive hereof, and opposite hereunto. (2) He delivers them from it by convincing and persuading them that they shall not be losers, but gainers, yea, great gainers, thereby. (a) It consists in a freedom from all evil. Which is subdivided into the evil of sorrow, and the evil of sin. (b) It consists in the fruition of all good. Believers, when they die, they enjoy God Himself, who is the chiefest good. (3) Christ delivers believers from the slavish fear of death, by giving them some real foretastes of heaven and of eternal life. Application: I would exhort you to prize and improve this great privilege. 1. You must be earnest with God, that He would apply to you this benefit of His Son's death by His blessed Spirit. 2. You must give all diligence to the attaining of a greater measure of faith, love, and hope. 3. You must "resist the devil," and withstand His temptations, not only to other sins, but to the sin of despondency in particular. (R. Mayo, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; |
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