Chapter 2 verses 9-13– In the previous verses we are told that God created man to inherit the universe with Jesus Christ. At present we do not see everything “placed beneath his (man’s) feet.” Verse 9: “But we see Jesus Who was made a little lower than the angels” (exactly as was His fellow man–vs 7), Who suffered and died so that man, having his PAST sins forgiven (Rom. 3:25), can live in righteousness and thereby qualify to be “heirs and joint-heirs with Christ.” He died so that those who live like Him in this life (1 Jn. 2:6) can live with Him in the next life, being joint-heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17) of the entirety of creation. But note the qualifier at the end of  Romans 8:17: “if they suffer with Him (for righteousness’ sake) so as to be glorified with Him.” Verse 10 notes that Jesus was MADE PERFECT by His sufferings. As we are told in 1 Jn. 2:6 we must “walk even as He walked” which means that we must suffer for being righteousness as did our perfect Example. Anyone who has embraced Jesus as his Lord has suffered the consequences for doing so. “ALL who will live godly in Christ Jesus WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION” for being righteous, just as did the Lord. In this way He will “bring many sons in to glory.” See Persecution. Jesus is “the Capitan of their salvation” only if they follow Him in righteousness and suffering, He being their perfect example (vs 10). In verse 11 we are told that Jesus gladly calls His “brethren” those who “… do the will of My Father in heaven(Mat. 12:50). This Jesus did in order to qualify to be His Messiah. We who will sit with Him on His throne (Rev. 3:21) must also “walk as He walked.” Those who do not will be rejected as were the 5 foolish virgins.

Verses 12 and 13: Here Jesus said that He will declare God’s name to His brethren and sing praises to Him in the midst of THE (God’s only) CHURCH (congregation–Ps. 22:22). The message is simple and to the point: Those who obey Christ’s Father are Christ’s brethren who will be found in the (only) church that God recognizes. These, and only these have become Christ’s brethren. All other “Christians” are counterfeit. L.J.