Captain of Our Salvation

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.


Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


The captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


What does that mean exactly? Perfect through sufferings.


Luk 22:15 and he said unto them, `With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my suffering


Act 1:3 to whom also he did present himself alive after his suffering, in many certain proofs, through forty days being seen by them, and speaking the things concerning the reign of God.


Pe 2:19 for this is gracious, if because of conscience toward God any one doth endure sorrows, suffering unrighteously;
1Pe 2:20 for what renown is it , if sinning and being buffeted, ye do endure it ? but if, doing good and suffering for it , ye do endure, this is gracious with God,
1Pe 2:21 for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,
1Pe 2:22 who did not commit sin, nor was guile found in his mouth,
1Pe 2:23 who being reviled--was not reviling again, suffering--was not threatening, and was committing himself to Him who is judging righteously


1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange at the fiery suffering among you that is coming to try you, as if a strange thing were happening to you,
1Pe 4:13 but, according as ye have fellowship with the sufferings of the Christ, rejoice ye, that also in the revelation of his glory ye may rejoice--exulting;


1Pe 4:19 so that also those suffering according to the will of god, as to a stedfast Creator, let them commit their own souls in good doing.


Suffering.


Suffering
SUF'FERING, ppr. Bearing; undergoing pain, inconvenience or damage; permitting; allowing.

SUF'FERING, n. The bearing of pain, inconvenience or loss; pain endured; distress, loss or injury incurred; as sufferings by pain or sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs.


Pain, sorrow, damage…


Christ suffered. Christ who relived the suffering of so many. Christ who took away the pain many suffered with for years. Christ who healed, who helped, who forgave so many during His ministry was called to suffer.


I have a question… the Son of God, pure from sin lived in a world filled with sin and pain, and suffering. Could it be that He suffered more than we can fully comprehend? He did say this…


Luk 22:15 and he said unto them, `With desire I did desire to eat this passover with you before my suffering


Could it be that it wasn't until He was to cry out these words-- Mat 27:46 and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a great voice, saying, `Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' that is, `My God, my God, why didst Thou forsake me?'

…that He didn't feel the full effect of the suffering, when He was alone on the cross. Yes, He felt the pain of the physical abuse, abuse that He suffered without deserving it at all whatsoever, but the mental , emotional anguish of feeling abandoned had to be beyond our comprehension, why? Because we are not alone- ever. We have not been abandoned even at our lowest point. We have access to our forgiving Father, our longsuffering Father, our Savior, no matter what we go through. Christ was alone. He had to bear the pain, the suffering alone to give to us salvation. We are called to suffer, Christ being our example.


1Pe 2:21 for to this ye were called, because Christ also did suffer for you, leaving to you an example, that ye may follow his steps,


People think this is horrible, that we are called to suffer. But if you live in this world, you suffer. There is no way you can live here and live in Christ's love without suffering. This world is filled with so much suffering that our suffering can even come from watching others suffer. If we are heartless, if we give ourselves over to Satan we will have a lack of compassion, we won't suffer as much. Compassion won't be as prominent in our lives. Have you ever wondered how some people can abuse others, how they can purposely cause them pain, and even enjoy it? Have you ever witnessed the suffering of another without your heart aching for their pain? Maybe you can answer yes to those questions, I don't know, but if the answer is yes then falling on your knees and begging God to give you a heart that truly loves your fellowman is in order. Satan has twisted us, Satan has warped us into self-centered people whose main purpose is self- even when we help others He's twisted it into being a selfish act. Take some time to notice the selfishness in other- not to condemn them NO WAY, but sometimes when we see something in another it can be a reflection for us. We can see ourselves in them. We need to recognize how selfish we are in so many ways, even little ways. Our greatest example, the greatest light we need to look to is our SAVIOR, in His light we can see our failings and cling to His light, not ours. We need to be bathed fully in HIS light, having NONE of our own. HE is the LIGHT! We are to be illuminated by Him, any light we have to show to others is HIS light, not our light. When our light shines before others it's to glorify GOD, not to bring us glory. When we suffer, even if it's pain from witnessing the suffering of others we are following in the example of our Lord and Savior. It's when we no longer suffer that we really should wonder about our walk with Christ. I'm not saying we can't have any joy in our lives. We can praise and glorify our Lord and Savior and we can even find the Peace that passes understanding in Christ, but in this world of sin, reeking of thousands of years of sin ruled by the prince of darkness, suffering will be ours. We may count it JOY when we suffer, but that joy is in the knowledge that we have a Savior whose suffering brought us salvation. There is hope and joy in the world to come, in living with our Lord and Savior. Our joy needs to be in Christ. If we find joy in ourselves without Christ we are deceiving ourselves, or being deceived. Our joy, our hope, our faith, our love, our light is all IN CHRIST!


Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


The captain of OUR salvation perfect through sufferings.


Sin brings suffering.
Joy in suffering is knowing sin has been defeated by our Lord, by our Savior!


May God bless and keep us always IN HIM! May we suffer as He suffered and count it all joy knowing salvation is found in Him, that beyond ALL suffering lives our Savior and life everlasting in HIM!


By His Grace!



Amen.