Jesus And The Angels Series

HoHum:

Angels have been a topic of discussion in our world for several years. “Highway to Heaven” and “Touched By An Angel” are two TV shows that peaked a lot of interest in angels. Even some movies have angels in the plots. Angels are not the chain-smoking, hard drinking, womanizing creatures portrayed by John Travolta in the movie “Michael.’ Angels are definitely not humans, especially not dead humans who earn their wings as portrayed in Frank Capra’s classic movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

WBTU:

But who and what are angels? Have some information in the Bible but not much and definitely not enough to satisfy everyone’s curiosity.

Angels are created beings and they do God’s bidding from heaven.

Angels are not omniscient - they can’t read your mind

Omnipresent - they aren’t everywhere at once - even though they are fast

Omnipotent - their powers are limited

Can only do what God allows them to do

Cannot create or sustain anything

Cannot have faith or be saved

Always point to God’s glory - not their own

Even so - many even to this day worship angels. And Christians in the first century were tempted to give them a higher place than they ought. Among some early churches angels were the object of worship - especially in Colossae, Ephesus, and Crete.

In a way the arguments to the original readers about Jesus being superior to the Angels is very applicable to our own times. The proponents of New Age beliefs do not dismiss Jesus out right; they merely demote him to the status of an angel, or spirit guide.

The common New Age practice of “channeling” is nothing more than demons acting through men and women who make themselves available to evil spirits so as to receive supposedly “hidden wisdom” alleged from the past or from other worlds.

Today there are two cults that teach that Jesus is just an angel. Jehovah witnesses teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. Mormons believe that Jesus is a cherub, the brother of Lucifer.

Thesis: These verses, mainly out of the OT, give us 4 reasons why Jesus is superior to the angels.

For instances:

His name is superior (vs. 4-5)

It is true that the name of Jesus is superior.

Philippians 2:8-11: And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Peter says in Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven (Jesus Christ of Nazareth) given to men by which we must be saved.

However, this is talking about more than the name of Jesus. Several people, even today, have the name Jesus. It is talking about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, not a son, but the Son. Vs. 3

Matthew 16:16: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Angels are servants, while Jesus is the Son. To be a son in a family is superior than a servant. “Son” is used many times in this chapter.

C. Vs. 5- Angels as a group have been referred to as “sons of God” (Job 1:6, 2:1) but no individual angel has ever been called the “Son of God.”

Angels worship and serve Jesus, who is their God (Vs. 6-7)

Vs. 6- angels are worshipers. The Son is the object of worship. The object of our worship is One who is greater than ourselves. Angels worship Christ who is greater than any angel.

We are warned by the Apostle Paul not to be deceived into the worship of angels Colossians 2:18-19: Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.

Any real angel (there are demons) will urge you not to worship them but to worship only God.

Vs. 7- Angels bring about God’s message (the wind) and His judgment (the fire.)

The Father Himself calls Him (and not any angel) God and Lord (Vs. 8-12)

Vs. 8-9: This is where God calls Jesus God. John calls him God in his gospel, Paul called him God, Thomas called Him God - now God calls Him God.

Jesus is not temporary - He is here to stay and He will be King forever. The Psalm was sung at weddings and at coronations of kings. Jesus was prophet, priest, and King. The anointing here would be that of a King. Angels are not kings - they do not rule, they merely carry out orders - that is their purpose.