Heir of The Universe

Hebrews 2

Chapter two of Hebrews begins with the implications of chapter one’s message. Since God has spoken in His Son, Jesus Christ, since Christ is the Heir of all things, and since Christ will rule supreme over all in the future, God’s people must pay careful attention to what He is communicating. There is the danger of allowing these teachings to slip away because of inattention to them (Heb. 2:1). Newell stated that “Drifting is the quietest, easiest, most delightful way of dying!”

The Law was given with the assistance of angels and it required serious punishment for violations. Likewise the New Covenant spoken by God the Son certainly requires greater retribution to those who “neglect” this “great salvation” (Heb. 2:2, 3). Salvation is the sum of all the benefits and blessings believers will experience after they return to earth to reign with Messiah. God’s people must not “neglect”—treat lightly or be careless with—the great salvation they possess. Their deliverance will be more fully realized and experienced in the Millennial Age of the earth. This salvation is great because it was first mentioned by the Lord Jesus, it was confirmed by the apostles who heard Christ and taught it, and it was accompanied with signs and miracles from the Holy Spirit (Heb. 2:3-5).

In the “world to come,” the Millennial Age, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, will rule over the entire world. This was Adam’s original purpose to rule the world for God and under God, but he forfeited this when he fell into sin. Christ will be the full realization of this glorious anticipation of the Son of Man ruling the “world to come” for God. Angels will not experience this, but God incarnate will upon His return from Heaven. Christ was made a little lower than the angels and was crowned with the glory of reigning over all of the works of God (Heb. 2:5-8).

Currently though everything is not subject to Christ, the Son of Man, as King of the World. Instead Christ appeared as a man to become the sacrifice for all sin with the purpose of bringing many sons of God to glory. Through His sufferings Christ was perfectly fitted to become the Captain of believer’s salvation (2:9, 10). No, today He is crowned with glory and honor at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Believers are His brethren and He with them are viewed as “one” (Heb. 2:11). Christ will one day lead them in the worship of God singing praises to Jehovah in the church (Heb. 2:12). Currently believers are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:20-23; 2Cor. 5:21). This too is an extraordinary expression of grace!

Christ was incarnated also to destroy the works of the devil through His cross (Heb. 2:14). He completely overthrew—disannulled his power—Satan who had the power of death and wielded it to strike fear in the hearts of men. This clears the way for Christ to rule supreme over the entire world in Satan’s stead. The Lord Jesus’ incarnation also fit Him to be a faithful and merciful High Priest to His believing brethren (Heb. 2:17). He entered fully into the human experience gaining understanding of their struggles. As their High Priest, He made reconciliation for sins and since He suffered temptations as they did, he aids believers through their temptations (Heb. 2:18). All of God’s redemptive plans in Christ Jesus are certain to be fully realized and He the Son of Man will rule the world to come.