Since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. 16 For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:14-18
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Friday, June 5th, 2026
Dear Disciple of Christ,
Last week I focused on the coming of the Spirit following the event itself. This week again I’d like to focus on the theme for the previous lessons – The Athanasian Creed. I’m really rejoicing in the reality of the creed’s truths, that come from Scripture. If your congregation is using the Lutheran Book of Worship, do you remember the last time you were asked to turn to page 54 in the front of your hymnal (where the lengthy Athanasian Creed can be found)? In fact, most Trinity Sundays it wouldn’t be used anyway. Let me mention that last weekend our temporary senior pastor brought out a responsorial copy of that Athanasian creed. Did I hear you sigh? Have I lost you already? Though it is the longest of the three ecumenical creeds, it lays out directly some things that are part of the faith that aren’t the easiest to understand but of great value to trust and believe..
One of these is the doctrine of the Trinity. The Athanasian Creed takes this concept and breaks it down into an understandable statement (three part, as you’d expect). The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. Yet, there are not three Gods but One God. All those facts come from Scripture. Though the word “Trinity” is not a Biblical word (not found used in the Bible), the concept (and teaching) is. God the Father has created all that is seen and unseen (Hebrews 11:3). The Son has redeemed us, buying our freedom from slavery to sin (Galatians 3:13). What the Son did shows His divinity (who else stills storms and exorcises demons and raises the dead? The Spirit sanctifies us (1 Peter 1:1-2). Yet, though each is God we know also that there are not three Gods but just one God (1 Timothy 2:5).
The second doctrine that is difficult to grasp is Christ’s “incarnation”, referred to in the Hebrew’s text above. Jesus is true (truly) God and true (truly) man (faithfully presented as well in the Athanasian creed). Those miracles confirm His divine nature. Never had it been heard that a person born blind was given sight. Who else can command the storms to cease and the dead to live but God! So, Jesus says, believe in Him for the works He does (John 14:11). Divinity is claimed by Jesus again and again. “Before Abraham was, I am” Jesus says, using the form of the word for God, “I am” (John 8:58). Jesus claims that again and again. “I am” the bread of life (John 6:35). “I am” the vine (John 15:1). Similarly He is the gate, the good shepherd, the way and truth and life. His divinity is part of the doctrine of the Trinity referred to above. To see Jesus is to see the Father! (John 14:9).
But the incarnation includes human nature in the One born of woman. Born of a virgin, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and the power of the most High overshadowed her (Luke 1:26-35). She gave birth to her firstborn Son. He was not called “Joe Jr.” but “Jesus” because He would save His people from their sin. Thus, as the Hebrews text says above, Jesus “partook” of our same nature, that of flesh and blood. He was like us in every way except for sin, and that is the crucial and necessary issue (2 Corinthians 5:21). For Christ to be the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world, for Him to be able to bear the punishment for us sinners, He had to be without sin or His death would pay the price of His own sin and not ours.
So the coming of Christ raises the question of life and death and sin and grace. Our sin is evident not only to God and to ourselves but it is also evident to others. If we were to say we have no sin we would simply be kidding ourselves and the truth would not be in us (1 John 1:8). So, in repentance, we turn to the Lord and find He has open arms and has been waiting for us patiently in order that we live. The author above points out the effects of sin on our spiritual lives. We have been subjected to lifelong bondage by our fear of death.
What an odd concept that is. To think, we fear the end of life and in that fear, we are unable to live free lives. We are slaves to sin (John 8:34). Realizing death is coming, we are immobilized, frozen in sin, unable to free ourselves. But when our Savior comes, the One Who paid the price for our sin, being Himself without sin, our new life can then begin. The new life we receive (yes, one might call it being “born again”) comes from Christ (John 3:1-11). Though our bodies are locked in a losing battle with sin and death, Christ rescues us (Romans 7:21-27). He has set us free from sin and we have become “slaves of righteousness,” owing our salvation to the gracious Lord.
We are now able to live an abundant life, the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). This new life is filled with God’s love and grace and we bear that to everyone with extreme, Christ-like sacrifice. We realize why Jesus called us by indicating we must deny ourselves, pick up our crosses and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). We bear the cross to be ready to love as Christ loved us and forgive others the way we have been forgiven (graciously, frequently and unconditionally). We do love because He first loved us and gave Himself as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
So our previous lives are “left behind” already. Those lives focus only on this world and dread the next. The new life we have in Christ finds joy in Him and invites Him and the Father to make their home with us forever (John 14:23). Of course that verbal invitation would be “incarnated” in our lives so it is seen in the world. We let our light so shine before others that they see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Instead of dreading the end of this life, we live a repentant life, turning to live in Him and inviting Him to live in us. That brings peace and joy that never ends and is never taken from us by any power or struggle we know (Romans 8:37-39).
1) Which is harder for you to grasp; the trinity or the Incarnation of Jesus?
2) Do you understand why Christ had to confront death from His sinless life in order to pay the price for our sin?
3) Isn’t it joy to know that nothing in this life or the next is powerful enough to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus?
May the Spirit empower our lives of faith that we live in Christ and He live in us.
Peace in Him,
Pastor Johnson