The Superiority of Christ over Angels
Hebrews 1:4-14 (Pastor Heo)
4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”? Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
his servants flames of fire.” 8 But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”10 He also says,
“In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.” 13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Theme: The superiority of Christ Jesus
- Message: Live by Faith! Be assured!
Last part of verse 3: Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, so is superior to everyone – including angels.
What do we need to study about angels? Who are they? What is their function?
Why do we need to be reminded of the superiority of Christ?
Angels – the word is mentioned 100+ times in the OT, and 160+ times in the NT. The doctrine of angels is “angelology”
Let us study briefly about angels. (Actually, I have not much interest in angels, but to know more about Jesus, we need to know about the nature of angels.)
Angels:
- Created beings (not creator)
- Spiritual beings (not visible)
- But sometimes can appear in visible form – like people (Genesis 18, 19 – visited Abram and Lot)
- Sometimes they shine like glorious light
- Sometimes appear with wings (cherubim, seraphim)
- There are several ranks and orders of angels
- Archangel, herald, etc.
When were they created? The timeline is indicated nowhere in the Bible – but we can assume it happened before the creation of the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth…” – we can assume God created these beings before creating the physical world.
In Genesis 3, Satan (fallen angel) was already there.
In Job, “The angels shouted for joy at the foundations of the earth…”
How many angels?
“Many”
Rev 11:5 “Many angels numbering thousands upon thousands, ten thousand times ten thousand…”
What is their main function? They have their own ministry, mission, job.
Greek “angelos” = English “angels” = “messenger / herald”
There main purpose is to deliver God’s message to men.
Four main functions:
- Continual worship and praise to God
- Communicate God’s message to Mankind
- Angel Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus
- When Joseph heard Mary was pregnant, he was going to quietly divorce her – but an angel appeared to him and convinced him otherwise
- When Jesus was born, angels appeared and visited the shepherds in an open field at night and announced the “Good News of Great Joy!” (the gospel) – the first person who preached the gospel was an angel
- Angels rolled the stone back from Jesus’ tomb and said, “Do not be afraid, he is not here – he has Risen!”
- Angels minister to believers (serving and helping us by the order of God)
- Angels dramatically delivered Paul and Peter from prison
- Angels are present with the church
- rejoice at the conversion of sinners
- watch believers lives with interest
- carry believers spirits away at death
- In the future, they will be God’s agents in the final judgment and second coming of Christ – they will execute the judgment against Satan and his demons.
Rev “At the last day, the angels will open the seals and blow the trumpets and pour out the bowl of wrath.”
Wow! Angels are great! So great!
Question: Why do we need to be reminded of the superiority of Christ over all angels?
2 reasons:
- Angels are SO great and awesome that some thought (and still think) that Jesus is an angel, or just the “boss” of angels. But this is terribly wrong.
- No matter how great angels are, Jesus is not A superior angel but superior TO angels.
- Some people thought angels bring believers’ requests to God and intercede on our behalf to God – this is also terribly wrong.
- There is only one mediator between God and man: Jesus Christ.
- We do not need any other mediator.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life – no one comes to the Father except by me.”
Romans “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and gain access to this grace through him.”
5 Superiorities of Christ over Angels
Even today, this is our faith statement
#1 Jesus’ Superior Name
v. 4-5
“4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”? Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?”
You have your own name. This is a Proper Noun. In Bible times, a name reveals a person’s nature, rank, dignity. So, from eternity to eternity, Jesus has a Proper Noun Name: SON. This is not a common noun.
In the water baptism from John the Baptist, he came out and heaven opened and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him, I’m well pleased.”
A similar thing happened during Jesus’ transfiguration – with three disciples on top of the mountain. His face and clothes shone like the sun, and a voice from the clouds came, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.”
God wants all human beings to focus on Christ.
“Listen to him!” Are you listening?
His name – from eternity to eternity – is SON. He is the Prince, the future King, the future Ruler, and the Son God.
There is only ONE God – in three persons: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
This is called the “Triune God or Trinity God.”
#2 Superior Honor
v. 6
” 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.””
Worship belongs to God alone.
Yes, we must encourage and build up and edify each other, but worship ONLY God. If you idolize anything else – put in in the place of God in your life, this is sinful.
In Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4, Satan said, “Bow down and worship me and I will give all the kingdom of this world and its splendor.” Jesus announced strongly (angrily?), “Get away from me Satan! It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God alone.'”
Jesus himself is God.
Rev 5:11 “Many thousands upon thousands of angels gathered together and encircled the throne [Where Jesus sat down] and in a loud voice they worshiped singing, ‘worthy is he who was slain to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom, and honor, and glory, and praise.'”
Can you imagine this today? All the angels in heaven kneeling down and worshiping. So who is higher? Jesus. You can never compare them. But, sadly, some people still make this mistake.
#3 Superior Status
v. 7-9
“7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
his servants flames of fire.” 8 But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.””
The angels are servants, but the Son rules the universe. His throne, scepter, annointing, give us the dimensions of his sovereignty. And he established his righteousness by becoming the sacrifice for our sins. “The oil of joy” is heavenly joy – and he is eternally enthroned, annointed, sceptered, sovereign – in control of everything – past, present, future.
Do you recognize this? Believe this? He is sustainer of all things.
#4 Superior Existence
v. 10-12
“10 He also says,
“In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.””
Already I said, angels are created beings – they are very temporal, changeable, dependent. But Christ is unchangeable in his power, authority, design.
Heb 13:8 “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Listen to the message of Christ.
#5 Superior Vocation
- His vocation is “Sovereign King”
- “Sovereign Ruler”
- “King of Kings; Lord of Lords”
v. 13-14
“13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until *I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet*”? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? “
Who are Jesus’ enemies? Those who do not confess him as Lord nor accept him as Savior. God considers them his enemies.
In his first coming, Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for the multitudes.
His leadership is shown here. At that time, it was human custom that the defeated king should prostrate himself and kiss the feet of the victorious king – and the victorious king put his feet on that king’s neck so that he became his footstool.
Like this, all people will fall down and worship him as Lord.
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above all names that at his name every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
Jesus is superior to ALL – because he is creator and God.
We must trust in Christ with all we are and all we have.
God bless us all through Christ’s superiority.
Let us fix our thoughts and eyes on Christ.
God bless you.
Let’s pray.
