One of the heresies that crept into the Church was that Jesus is a great Teacher, but just a Man. Last week God told us in Hebrews that Jesus is no mere Man – that He is God in the flesh. A mere Man, no matter how moral, could not have paid for our sins on Calvary. We are all born sinners, all, that is, but Jesus Christ. He was born into humanity to save us from the condemnation of our sins.
While some were saying that Jesus is just a Man, others claimed that Jesus was no Man, but an Angel of God. The Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and the Muslim cults teach that Jesus was an Angel or an Angelic messenger. But as we come to Hebrews once more we find out, NOT ONLY is Jesus NOT JUST a Man, but
Jesus Is Better Than The Angels
Hebrews 1:4-8 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
We can read the first verse of today's text:
"Being made so much better than the angels"
Word Study: That's very plain. Jesus is NOT an Angel, because Jesus is "so much better than the angels". The word rendered "better" is the Greek kreittōn, which means "being more advantageous, more excellent, stronger, nobler, best or superior to". This word is used frequently throughout the Book of Hebrews to show how superior Jesus is. God spoke His Word to the Old Testament Saints often through Angels. For instance, God sent the Angel Gabriel to speak to both Zechariah and Mary of Nazareth:
Luke 1:19 (ESV) … I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
To Zechariah the Angel Gabriel brought the news that John the Baptist, the Greatest Prophet who ever lived according to Jesus (Matthew 11:11) would be born out of his Elisabeth. To Mary of Nazareth the Angel came with the great news that she would bear the Son of God. In fact, the Bible says that
Galatians 3:19 (ESV) … {the Law of God} was put in place through angels by an intermediary
God used angels to bring the good news, and to share aspects of the Law of God with humanity through the Prophets. But angels could not bring what Jesus brought. Angels helped bring the Law, and told of the coming Messiah. But Jesus as THE MESSIAH brought us a BETTER {kreittōn} HOPE
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a BETTER {kreittōn} hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
The Law of God – ordained by angels - gave man HOPE that we could be at peace with God, but the Law "made nothing perfect", for it relied on animal sacrifices at a Temple on an altar. Animals cannot adequately atone for our sins. But Jesus, God become Man, Perfect Man, died once for all for our sins. Because of His Blood shed for us, we stand justified, righteous in the eyes of God. We are, as believers, sons and daughters of God because of our position in Christ.
Jesus took the animal's sacrificial position for us, so that we could positionally be made sons of God in Him.
The Law was the Old Covenant, the Covenant of works. Sins could only be covered or atoned for by animal sacrifice. Various ceremonial and cleansing laws had to be strictly followed under the first covenant. But Jesus brought in a BETTER {kreittōn} covenant that offered BETTER {kreittōn} PROMISES. We read:
Hebrews 8:6 But now hath {Jesus} obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also {Jesus} is the mediator of a BETTER {kreittōn} covenant, which was established upon BETTER {kreittōn} promises.
Jesus Is MADE BETTER Than The Angels
Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels
Word Study: The words translated "Being made" is the Greek ginomai, which means "to come into existence, to come from one form into another". We studied last week where Jesus Christ is eternal God alongside the Father and the Spirit. In order to save us, He had to enter humanity. God had to become flesh. When the Angel told Mary that she was going to have the Messiah, he said:
Luke 1:35 … The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
God would, through the virgin birth, become Man. Jesus did not become an Angel, but a Human.
Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels {The Lord our God} saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
This is a quotation of:
Psalm 104:4-5 {God Who} maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Angels are not like humans. Humans are created from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7; 3:19). But Angels are different in their creation. They are "spirits" (Hebrew rûaḥ, pronounced roo'-akh), which means "like the wind, breath, or spirit". When Jesus resurrected from the grave the disciples, on first seeing Him, thought He was a ghost or an angel. Jesus said:
Luke 24:9 … a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Mankind is carbon based, just as the earth is. But Angels are SPIRIT. They are also "a flaming fire", the Hebrew lāhaṭ 'ēš (pronounced law-hat' aysh) meaning "that which blazes and burns but does not burn up". Angels are like the sun, which is why they are often referred to as "stars" (Revelation 12:4). Angels "excel in strength" (Psalm 103:20), and are so powerful that one angel killed 185,000 armed Assyrian soldiers in one day (1 Chronicles 21:15; 2 Kings 19:35). In the Created Order, Angels are much more powerful than humans. Though Jesus as Infinite God is GREATER than the Angels, in order to become human – like us – Jesus had to become LOWER THAN the Angels.
Humans are LOWER than the Angels. We are not as powerful. They are created of light, and we of carbon.
King David wrote of how God honored humans in creation. He said:
Psalm 8:4-8 (ESV) … what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the {Angels} and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
Humans are LOWER than the Angels, but Jesus as eternal God is HIGHER and greater than the Angels.
The Law could not save us. Angels could not save us. So God lowered Himself, becoming "LOWER THAN THE ANGELS" to bear the wrath that we all so richly deserve.
The Scripture says:
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Jesus Who is GREATER than the Angels allowed Himself to be made LOWER than the Angels – just like us – so that He could take the penalty of death in our place. We are told again:
Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Word Study: The word "inheritance" is the Greek klēronoméō, which means "he is the HEIR". The HEIR of something is the one who legally is the "next of kin", the person who will receive properties or goods from a relative. The Angels are not HEIRS of God. They are created beings. We previously studied verses 2-3 which says that "God appointed Jesus HEIR OF ALL THINGS, through Whom HE ALSO MADE THE WORLD". Jesus is God's Son. Jesus is eternal, without origin (John 1:1-3). The Angels had beginnings and endings. But Jesus is God. God the Father said of the Messiah:
Psalm 2:7-8 (ESV) … The Lord said to Me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Everything created – even the Angels – belong to Jesus. He is the Heir of all things. This is why the Bible says:
Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV) Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Both We And The Angels Worship Jesus
Hebrews 1:5-6 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Jesus is "BEGOTTEN" of God:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Word Study: The word rendered "begotten" is the Greek monogenes. My commentary notes:
"According to the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG, 3rd Edition), monogenes has two primary definitions. The first definition is "pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship." This is its meaning in Hebrews 11:17 when the writer refers to Isaac as Abraham's "only begotten son" (KJV). Abraham had more than one son, but Isaac was the only son he had by Sarah and the only son of the covenant. Therefore, it is the uniqueness of Isaac among the other sons that allows for the use of monogenes in that context. The second definition is "pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, unique in kind." This is the meaning that is implied in John 3:16 (see also John 1:14, 18; 3:18; 1 John 4:9)."
There are many Angels, and many humans, but Jesus Christ is unique. He is the monogenes, the unique Son of God. Jesus as God was never created (as we have established before), but "became flesh and dwelt amongst us" (John 1:14). When Jesus became perfect Human, entering the world through the virgin birth, the Father said of Him "let all the angels of God worship him". This is what happened when – that wonderful night in Bethlehem – the Angel announced Christ's birth to the shepherds. After the announcement:
Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Angels are NOT to be worshiped. Angels serve as guardians of those who are saved by faith in Christ (Hebrews 1:14). When John the Revelator saw an angel in Heaven, he bowed down to worship it. But the angel said, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets. ... Worship God!" (Revelation 22:9). Our Lord Jesus said:
Matthew 4:10 (ESV) … You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
Only God is to be worshiped. Man is not to be worshiped. Angels are not to be worshiped. Taylor Swift is not to be worshiped. Donald Trump is not to be worshiped. Only God. Jesus is God.
And God the Father directed the angels to worship Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is God Incarnate. To hammer this point home we are told:
Hebrews 1:8-9 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Jesus Occupies A Righteous Throne
Humans sit on thrones. The fallen Angel Lucifer sought to take God's Throne. But Jesus legitimately sits on an eternal throne. The Bible here quotes the Messianic Psalm:
Psalm 45:6-7 (ESV) Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
Jesus sits on a Throne. There are those who say that you can be saved by receiving Jesus as Savior only, and if you later want to do so, you can receive Him as Lord. This is false doctrine. The Bible makes it clear that Christ is to be received as BOTH Lord and Savior. We read in:
Romans 10:9-13 (ESV) … if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
In the early Church Christians would never have been bothered by the Romans and the Pharisees and Chief Priests had they just said "We believe Jesus is Savior". Had you believed that, and kept your belief to yourself, there would never be any problem. The problem was that the early Church believed Jesus was BOTH LORD AND SAVIOR, and preached this as the Gospel. Christians were not only imprisoned, but KILLED OUTRIGHT because they believed Jesus to be both Lord and Savior. In Acts chapter 5 the Apostles were brought before the Ruling Council of Israel called the Sanhedrim. The Council demanded:
Acts 5:28 … Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
The Apostles did not hesitate, saying:
Acts 5:29-32 … We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
The Apostles make some startling claims here. First, "We ought to obey God rather than men". A "Christian" who claims to be saved, but who will not follow and obey Jesus, is no threat to anyone. I doubt they are even Christian. But second, the Apostles identified Jesus as "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior". Jesus is both Lord and Savior. Finally, the Apostles said "God hath given to them that obey him … the Holy Spirit". Those who OBEY Jesus are given the Holy Spirit. The Bible is clear that:
Romans 8:8-9 … they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Jesus sends the Holy Spirit of God to those who believe on Him, those who have received Him as both Lord and Savior. Obedience to Christ is the condition of receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:
John 14:15-17 (ESV) "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Jesus is both Lord and Savior. We as His people are His Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. We love Him, and we follow Him.
Hebrews 1:8-9 … a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Those who are saved by Grace – like myself – often fail the Lord. But we do not revel in the failure. When we fail, we confess our sin. We repent, and turn back to the Blood of the Cross.
We as members of His Kingdom do not endorse sin, because Jesus LOVES righteousness but HATES iniquity. His scepter is RIGHTEOUSNESS.
What is "RIGHTEOUSNESS"? It is what God has said is right. God is the Creator. Jesus is Creator God.
Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
People change. Times change. Fashions change. Our earth changes. In my lifetime I have seen public morality change drastically through the false doctrines of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion". I read that a "professor" wrote in Scientific American:
"[T]he science is clear and conclusive: sex is not binary, transgender people are real."
New Atheist and Oxford Biologist Richard Dawkins (who believes there is no such person as God) replied to the foolish professors article:
"This ridiculous article (shame on the once-great Scientific American) ignorantly misunderstands the nature of the sex binary. … Sex is not defined by chromosomes, nor by anatomy, nor by psychology or sociology, nor by personal inclination, nor by "assignment at birth", but by gamete size. It happens to be embryologically DETERMINED by chromosomes in mammals. … But it is universally DEFINED by the binary distinction between sperms and eggs. You may argue about "gender" if you wish (biologists have better things to do) but sex is a true binary, one of rather few in biology."
God created all things. He has given everything order. Though we may try to manipulate right and wrong, God has set all things according to His standard. If you are saved by Grace, you are called to live to honor Him Who saved you. There is not an Old Testament God and a New Testament God. What God said is wrong in the Old Testament – unless He has rescinded it – it is still wrong in the New Testament, and today.
Christians, we are to live to glorify Jesus. Jesus is coming again. Until He returns, we are to live for Him. If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I pray that God the Holy Spirit will pierce the hardness of your heart, and lead you to Him this very day. And once in Christ, I pray that you persevere, loving the Lord Who gave Himself for you.
Amen. So must it be, dear Lord. Amen.
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