Hebrews 5:9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
Jesus learned obedience and trust in the Father through the temptations and suffering he faced. The ultimate test was going to the cross. The cross represents Jesus’ total trust in God. Jesus was made “perfect” once he made the ultimate decision to offer his life for the salvation of all humanity. We often think of the atonement in terms of Jesus paying the price for our sins and serving as the substitute for us: we should die on the cross as sinners, not the perfect Jesus. However, this verse offers us a different perspective about the atonement. Salvation is now available to those who put their total trust in the Father just like Jesus. This is not a human effort, though it will demand all of who we are. Faith is not a form of works. Faith is a form of release and is seen through obedience. We do not earn our salvation through obedience to a set of laws but through trust. The obedience that is required is to respond to the call to go to the promised land of God’s rest. This image means that we must place our lives in total depend upon God and move in the direction God desires for us. Faith is the key. Jesus had total and perfect faith shown by his willingness to go the cross. He trusted that the Father would raise him from the dead. That is the height and depth of faith. Is this level of faith impossible for us as humans? The author of Hebrews does not think so for several reasons. One is that Jesus is our high priest and makes it possible. He is the author and perfecter of this faith. Two is that Jesus’ sacrifice takes care of the problem of sin and gives us a new and purified heart. Three is that others have taken this path of faith (ch. 11), though only in part because they came before Jesus.
For older posts, click here.