August 2. Afraid of death, no more.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood,

he himself likewise partook of the same things

that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death,

that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death

were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2.14 and 15.

How does Christ deliver us from the fear of death and set us free to live with the kind of loving abandon

that can let goods and kindred go this mortal life also.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood.

The term children is taken from the previous verse and refers to the spiritual offspring of Christ,

the Messiah.

These are also the children of God.

In other words, in sending Christ, God has the salvation of his children, especially

in view, since the children share in flesh and blood. He himself likewise partook of the same flesh and blood.

The Son of God who existed before the incarnation as the Eternal Word, John 1-1,

took on flesh and blood and clothed his deity with humanity.

He became fully man and remained fully God. That through death,

the reason Christ became human was to die. As pre-incarnate God, he could not die for sinners.

But united to flesh and blood, he could.

His aim was to die.

Therefore, he had to be born human, mortal, that he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil.

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