HEBREWS 1:14 'ANGELS AND THE GLORY OF CHRIST'

RGHP/4               Hebrews 1&2 - 'Such A Great Salvation '          PSC 26/1/14 

'ANGELS AND THE GLORY OF CHRIST'

Hebrews 1v7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” v14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

It was an angel who released Peter from Prison: Acts 12:1-19. Imagine hearing Peter preach about this angel, would you be disappointed?

My approach to these verses is not just what do they tell us about angels, but what do they reveal to us of the glory of Christ?

There are some 275 passages of scripture that refer to angels. They are mentioned in 17 OT books and 17 NT books (although not every reference refers to them as angels, sometimes they are called messengers, holy ones, God's host, his army, sons of the mighty, etc.

1. THEY ARE HIS ANGELS....HIS MINISTERS

[1] God created them through the Son - Psalm 148:2 & v5. They have been alive since the beginning of creation. They do not grow old. They do not die. Nor do they marry or reproduce and have little angels - Mark 12:25

The Bible speaks of angels, cherubim, seraphim, and ark angels. Different spiritual beings with an order of different ranks among them.

[2] They are called 'holy angels' - Luke 9:26. They need to be holy because they serve a perfectly holy God. They have never sinned. They live a life of constant obedience. They always carry out the Lord's will. They do so willingly and gladly.

[3] Some sinned. Lead by Satan in a rebellion against God-2 Pet 2:4 & Jude 1:6. There is no salvation for the fallen angels. Jesus did not die to save them. God is a God of justice. Judgement is real. Believers will judge the angels: 1 Cor 6:3.

We who also rebelled and sinned. We who like them did not deserve a Saviour. They didn't get one. We did. How humbling is that!

[4] Those who resisted the temptation by Satan to rebel against God are called the elect angels -1 Tim 5:21. They are elect in the sovereignty of God.

[5] They are spiritual beings and usually invisible, but can take on an appearance so that men can see them - 2 Kings 6:17.

At times Angelic-fever manifests itself in the world and in the Church. Remember Satan can appear as an angel of light. Most believers never knowingly see an angel in this life.

[6] Angels have great powers - Daniel 6:22; Isaiah 37:36;2 Peter 2:11; 2 Thess 1:7. How many are there? Rev 5:11..myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,

[7] These magnificent beings worship the Son. Isaiah saw Jesus' glory in Isaiah 6v1. When we worship, angels join with us in worship. They will do so throughout eternity.

2. WHAT DOES THE LORD HAVE THEM DO?

v14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? The author expects only one answer to this question: YES they are.

Some like Gabriel stand in the presence of God - Luke 1:19. No angel has ever been invited to sit on the throne. That is the honour and prerogative of the Son alone.

They are his servants - 1 Peter 3:22. He sends them to serve believers: They take great interest in what God is doing for believers 1 Peter 1:12

They were involved in the ministry of Jesus; In the announcement of his coming to Mary; In announcing his birth to the Shepherds; They helped him in his weakness after the period of his temptation in the wilderness - Mt 4:11 Again in the garden of Gethsemane: Lu 22:43. How did they do this? Again we no details are given. But they can and they did.

They announced his resurrection; They spoke to the Apostles after his Ascension; They greeted his return to heaven and his exaltation; They do his bidding; They will return with him Mt 25:31 And will gather all people before him; Mt 13:41,49 They will cast unrepentant sinners into hell - Luke 12:8; They rejoice over the repentance of sinners - Luke 15:10.

How do they serve us? As Jesus commands. They are part of the means by which he cares for us. [1] Spiritual battle - Eph 6:12; [2] For the most part invisible - Psalm 34:6-7; [3] As they strengthened Jesus in Gethsemane so they do us. Do we have a guardian angel? The Lord watches over us. Psalm 121. He sees and he may send his angels to serve us when he sees the need. Their mission is to minister to us.
You are an heir of salvation - 1 Co4 2:9 & Heb 11:16.