Please click here for the audio and click here for the video portion of this message. Please click here for a copy of the bulletin.
BETTER THAN THE ANGELS. Hebrews 1:5-8. 04/30/2023. #2.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” 7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
1. The exalted position of angels
a. Angels are heavenly beings created on day on
a1. Nehemiah 9:6 God created angels along with the hosts of heaven
a2. Angels did not exist before creation
a3. Job 38:1-7 the angels sang for joy as they watched God create the universe
b. Angels were the highest of creation, but they were not eternal beings
c. Jews held angels in high regard
d. Jesus claimed to be higher than the angels
e. 108 ref. to angels in OT and 165 in NT (most in Revelation where Satan leads 1/3 to rebel – Revelation 12)
f. Angels can take human form and minister to saints
2. The humbling of the Son of God
a. Jesus is eternally God (Isaiah 9:6; John 17:1-5)
b. Philippians 2:5-11 when Jesus became a man he humbled himself (emptied himself out of
the privilege of his glory)
a1. Psalm 8:4-5 man was made a little lower than the angels (Jesus became a man)
a2. Colossians 2:9 Jesus never left off being God
a3. As man, Jesus was made lower than the angels, but as God, he is higher than them
c. As man Jesus felt fatigue, hunger, thirst, pain…
d. Jesus did his work in the power of the Father
3. Jesus is far better than the angels
a. No angel has been called God’s Son
b. No angel has been given a throne to rule all
c. No angel is called the firstborn
a1. Firstborn = chief born (most important)
a2. Jesus is the most important person ever born, for he is the Savior (Psalm 2:7)
a3. Colossians 1:15-18 Jesus is both the creator of all things and chief born of all creation
d. Ps. 97:1-7 no idol is to receive worship
a1. Matthew 4 Jesus told Satan that he was to worship God alone
a2. John 20:28-29 Jesus received worship from Thomas (“my Lord and my God”)
e. Angels are great, but Jesus is far greater
a1. Psalm 45:6-7 it is Christ’s throne that lasts forever (Is. 6:1-6)
b1. Jesus is referred to directly as God
b2. He holds the king’s scepter forever
a2. Ps. 2:9-11 every knee shall bow before him (even those who are condemned)
a3. Angels are ministers and flames of fire, but Jesus is the king whose dominion is forever
b1. Satan had usurped dominion over the earth (prince of this world)
b2. Jesus takes the rule back from the great usurper
f. If Jesus is far better than the angels, he is better than anything else as well (wealth, fame, pleasure, long life, comforts…)
a1. If Jesus is superior to all, he is the only one worth our devotion, focus, and service
a2. 1 Cor. 3:12-15 many will find out too late that they wasted time and effort on useless vanities (Ecclesiastes 12)
g. One cannot embrace both the Lord and the world
h. Hebrews starts out with the top (angels)
a1. Jesus is better than all else (Moses, Law…)
a2. Jesus is greater than what world offers
Key verse: Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [b]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.