“that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death…and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:14-15)
Our “walk” with Christ will take each of us through various trials and tribulations. The promise of God in Scripture is to use these trials to strengthen us: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). Even David, the man after God’s own heart struggled with such trials, most notably with lust and detailed in 2nd Samuel chapter 11 as he pursued Bathsheba to the point of using his position to affect the death of her husband. However, David repented and ultimately expressed his faith in God to carry him through such trials in the future: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Ps 23:4).
The ultimate work of God to provide hope for His adopted sons and daughters is detailed in the 2nd chapter of Hebrews. Jesus, who “was made a little lower than the angels” (Heb 2:9), now has “all things in subjection under his feet” (Heb 2:8) and is “crowned with glory and honour; that by the grace of God [He] should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:9). As the Creator God, Jesus, “for whom are all things, and by whom are all things” (Heb 2:10) became one of us – “partakers of flesh and blood…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death” (Heb 2:14). Now that the devil no longer carries the power of death, we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). For God “hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). We, therefore, have no need of fear of things like trials and death, for Christ “took on him the seed of Abraham” (Heb 2:16) so that “he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17). RST
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