THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION Hebrews 2:10
God has purposed that he
will bring many sons to glory; but he has determined that he will do so by a
chosen Captain, a Captain greater than Joshua, who will fight for his people
and bring them safely into the Canaan of glory. Yes, God will bring his sons to
glory, but he will do so only by the Captain of our Salvation, Jesus Christ.
Sinners cannot come to glory but by this Captain (John 10:9; 14:6). Christ is
called the Captain of our Salvation because...
1.
The captain has all
authority and power. The captain of an army is invested with the authority and power of
the king himself. The captain's word is the king's word. The king's treasures
are the captain's treasures. Even so, the Lord Jesus Christ has all power and
authority given to him for the saving of his people (John 17:2).
2.
The captain makes all the arrangements for
the army's march. He decides what path the troops will take, where they will camp, and
how long they will stay at any place. And he supplies all provisions for them.
Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ mapped out our path in divine predestination,
supplies us with our needs and directs our steps according to his wise and good
providence.
3.
The captain's word is the law by which the
whole army is governed. Soldiers are not allowed to do each one what he chooses. The troops
do not make up their rules of conduct and principles of warfare as they go
along. That is the captain's business. In the Church and Kingdom of God Christ
gives the marching orders. They are not optional. His Word is our law. He alone
determined what our doctrine and duty is, what our faith and practice must be;
and he has given these things to us in his Word.
4.
The captain is more than a commander, he is a
leader. The
captain leads the way. You will never go in any path of duty, walk through any
fiery furnace, go through any deep valley, climb any high hill of difficulty,
or endure any temptation, but where you will find the footprint of the
Crucified One., who is the Captain of your salvation.
5.
The captain encourages his
men.
When the
Lord Jesus appears to us and we hear him say, "It is I, be not afraid,” that is all that is required to calm
our hearts and sustain our souls.
6.
It is the captain's delight to reward his
followers.
As David's spoils were shared equally by all the army, the timid as well as the
brave, the weak as well as the strong (1 Sam 30:24), so the Lord Jesus Christ
will bestow upon all the many sons he brings to glory all the glory he has won.
We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). That means that
all the glory which Christ now possesses as our Mediator shall be ours (John
17:5,22).
7.
The captain is responsible both for the army
under his command and for the victory. It is true, we are engaged in a warfare. We must
fight continually, resisting sin, contending with the world, the flesh and the
devil. But the battle is not ours. It is the Lord's (Ex. 14:13-14; 2 Chr.
20:15). Christ, the Captain of our Salvation, is the One responsible for our
salvation; and "he shall not fail!”