Christ's Supremacy Over Angels: Worship and Revelation

 

Summary

In our exploration of the role and nature of angels, we delved into the critical distinction between the worship of angels and the worship of Christ. This distinction is crucial because, throughout history, some have mistakenly venerated angels, a practice that contradicts the core tenets of Christianity. The book of Hebrews provides a profound insight into the superiority of Christ over angels, emphasizing that while angels are heavenly beings, they remain creatures and are not to be worshipped. Worship is reserved for the Creator alone, and ascribing it to any creature is idolatry.

The opening chapter of Hebrews reveals Christ as the ultimate revelation of God, the Creator of the universe, and the appointed heir of all things. Unlike angels, who are servants, Christ is the Son, the express image of God's person, and the brightness of His glory. This high Christology underscores the divine nature of Christ, affirming His deity and His role as the sustainer of all things by the word of His power.

The text further explores the concept of sonship, which is not about biological generation but about the unique and intimate relationship between the Father and the Son. This relationship is marked by Christ's obedience and His exaltation to the right hand of God, a position of cosmic authority that no angel or creature can attain. The name given to Christ, "Lord," signifies His divine authority and the fulfillment of His redemptive work.

As we reflect on these truths, we are reminded of the role of angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. They are not objects of worship but are part of God's provision for His people, aiding us in our spiritual journey. This understanding sets the stage for our next exploration of fallen angels and the nature of Satan as depicted in Scripture.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Superiority of Christ Over Angels: Christ is not merely a heavenly being but the Creator and sustainer of the universe. His divine nature and role as the appointed heir of all things set Him apart from angels, who are servants and not to be worshipped. Worship is reserved for the Creator, and ascribing it to any creature is idolatry. [01:27]

2. Christ as the Ultimate Revelation of God: In the past, God spoke through prophets, but in these last days, He has spoken through His Son, who is the express image of His person and the brightness of His glory. This revelation of Christ as the Creator and heir emphasizes His unique role in God's redemptive plan. [04:11]

3. The Concept of Sonship: The sonship of Christ is not about biological generation but about His unique relationship with the Father. As the only begotten, Christ's sonship signifies His divine authority and His role as the heir, distinct from angels who are servants. [17:25]

4. The Exaltation of Christ: Christ's obedience and humility led to His exaltation to the right hand of God, a position of cosmic authority. This exaltation is not about elevating His divine nature but about His incarnate ministry, highlighting His role as the King of kings and Lord of lords. [20:03]

5. The Role of Angels as Ministering Spirits: Angels are sent by God to minister to the heirs of salvation, aiding believers in their spiritual journey. They are not objects of worship but part of God's provision for His people, reminding us of the spiritual support available in our struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. [21:35]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:39] - The Issue of Angel Worship
- [01:27] - Christ's Superiority in Hebrews
- [02:15] - Idolatry and Worship
- [02:53] - God Speaks Through His Son
- [03:36] - Christ as Creator
- [04:11] - The Unique Heir
- [04:50] - The Brightness of His Glory
- [06:03] - Divine Glory and Deity
- [07:35] - The Image of God
- [08:34] - The Express Image of the Father
- [09:08] - Christ's Elevation Above Angels
- [10:18] - The Incarnate Christ
- [11:30] - The Name Above Every Name
- [13:19] - Jesus is Lord
- [14:36] - Sonship vs. Servanthood
- [15:40] - The Arian Controversy
- [17:25] - Begotten, Not Made
- [19:01] - Worship of the Firstborn
- [20:03] - The Session of Christ
- [21:35] - Angels as Ministering Spirits
- [23:11] - Preview of Fallen Angels Study

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 1:1-4
2. Colossians 1:15-20
3. Philippians 2:5-11

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Hebrews 1:1-4, how is Christ described in relation to God and creation? What roles and attributes are ascribed to Him? [02:53]

2. In the sermon, what issue did the early Christian community face regarding the worship of angels, and how does the book of Hebrews address this issue? [01:27]

3. How does the sermon describe the concept of sonship in relation to Christ, and how is it distinct from the role of angels? [14:36]

4. What is the significance of Christ being seated at the right hand of God, as mentioned in the sermon? [20:03]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the difference between worshipping the Creator and worshipping creatures, and why is this distinction important for Christians today? [02:15]

2. In what ways does the sermon highlight the superiority of Christ over angels, and how does this understanding impact the Christian view of worship? [21:12]

3. The sermon discusses the exaltation of Christ due to His obedience and humility. How does this concept challenge or affirm your understanding of leadership and authority? [12:41]

4. How does the sermon interpret the role of angels as ministering spirits, and what implications does this have for believers in their spiritual journey? [21:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you might have placed undue emphasis on spiritual beings or practices. How can you refocus your worship solely on Christ, the Creator? [02:15]

2. The sermon emphasizes Christ's role as the ultimate revelation of God. How can you seek a deeper understanding of Christ's nature and His teachings in your daily life? [04:11]

3. Considering the concept of sonship, how can you cultivate a more intimate relationship with God, recognizing your identity as a joint-heir with Christ? [17:25]

4. In what ways can you demonstrate humility and obedience in your own life, following Christ's example of exaltation through servanthood? [12:41]

5. How can you become more aware of the spiritual support available to you, such as the ministering role of angels, in your struggles against worldly challenges? [21:35]

6. The sermon discusses the dangers of idolatry. Are there areas in your life where you might be inadvertently placing something or someone above God? How can you address this? [02:15]

7. How can you actively participate in your spiritual community to encourage others to focus on Christ's superiority and avoid distractions that lead to idolatry? [01:27]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Divine Supremacy Over Angels
Christ is not merely a heavenly being but the Creator and sustainer of the universe. His divine nature and role as the appointed heir of all things set Him apart from angels, who are servants and not to be worshipped. Worship is reserved for the Creator, and ascribing it to any creature is idolatry. The book of Hebrews emphasizes this distinction, reminding believers that while angels are significant in the heavenly realm, they are not to be venerated. Instead, our worship should be directed solely to Christ, who embodies the fullness of God and holds authority over all creation. [01:27]

Hebrews 1:3-4 (ESV): "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your worship remains focused on Christ alone, avoiding the temptation to elevate any other being or thing to a place of undue reverence?


Day 2: Christ as God's Ultimate Revelation
In the past, God spoke through prophets, but in these last days, He has spoken through His Son, who is the express image of His person and the brightness of His glory. This revelation of Christ as the Creator and heir emphasizes His unique role in God's redemptive plan. Unlike the fragmented messages delivered by prophets, Christ embodies the complete and final revelation of God, offering a direct and personal connection to the divine. This understanding calls believers to deepen their relationship with Christ, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of truth and guidance. [04:11]

Colossians 1:15-16 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."

Reflection: How can you actively seek to know Christ more deeply as the ultimate revelation of God in your daily life?


Day 3: The Unique Sonship of Christ
The sonship of Christ is not about biological generation but about His unique relationship with the Father. As the only begotten, Christ's sonship signifies His divine authority and His role as the heir, distinct from angels who are servants. This relationship is marked by an intimacy and obedience that sets Christ apart, highlighting His divine nature and His role in the divine plan of salvation. Understanding this unique sonship invites believers to reflect on the depth of Christ's love and obedience to the Father, which serves as a model for our own relationship with God. [17:25]

John 1:14 (ESV): "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of intimacy and obedience in your relationship with God, following the example of Christ's unique sonship?


Day 4: The Exaltation of Christ
Christ's obedience and humility led to His exaltation to the right hand of God, a position of cosmic authority. This exaltation is not about elevating His divine nature but about His incarnate ministry, highlighting His role as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ demonstrated the ultimate act of humility and service, which resulted in His glorification. This truth encourages believers to embrace humility and service in their own lives, trusting that God honors those who follow Christ's example. [20:03]

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV): "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so 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."

Reflection: How can you practice humility and service in your daily life, following Christ's example, and trusting in God's promise of exaltation?


Day 5: Angels as Ministering Spirits
Angels are sent by God to minister to the heirs of salvation, aiding believers in their spiritual journey. They are not objects of worship but part of God's provision for His people, reminding us of the spiritual support available in our struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. This understanding of angels as ministering spirits encourages believers to rely on God's provision and to be aware of the unseen spiritual assistance that is available to them. It also serves as a reminder of the broader spiritual reality in which we live and the importance of remaining vigilant in our faith. [21:35]

Psalm 91:11-12 (ESV): "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Reflection: In what ways can you become more aware of and grateful for the spiritual support that God provides through His angels in your daily life?

Quotes


Now, again, remember that angels are heavenly beings, and they come from the very presence of God; but even as heavenly beings, they are still creatures, and to ascribe worship to a creature of any importance or of any rank, is to be engaged in the sin of idolatry. [00:01:41]

The first commandment, the second commandment, the third commandment, the fourth commandment, all prohibit, one way or another, any involvement in the worship of a creature. And so let's turn now to the book of Hebrews, to the very first chapter, where we read in verse one these words: "God, who at various times and in various ways, spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." [00:02:40]

This is not the only place in sacred Scripture where Christ is revealed as the Creator of the universe. In John's Gospel, the Logos, who was manifest in the incarnation of Jesus, is the one by whom and through whom all things were made. The book of Colossians also stresses what we call the "cosmic Christ," who is the Creator of the universe; and so the things that spell -- that call attention to the uniqueness of Christ in this opening word here, is the reason why He's the consummate revelation of God. [00:03:29]

Now, Christ alone is the appointed heir of the Father. We become joint-heirs with Him by virtue of our adoption, but only Christ has -- as it were -- has the natural, or essential relationship to the Father as the only begotten of the Father, as the rightful heir of God. So he says, "He has been appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He made the world" -- and then the next verse, which is a marvelous verse -- "who, being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power." [00:04:25]

When we think about the glory of God, the refulgent majesty that blazes from time to time through biblical history, where that glory, such as in the Shekinah cloud, or the glory that surrounded the appearance of the angels around Bethlehem that we've spoken of, the glory cloud that takes Christ up into ascension and so on, that there's this brilliant light that is associated with the glory of God; and what the author of Hebrews says is that the Son is the very brightness of that glory -- that is, He belongs to the essence of the divine being. [00:05:16]

And He's the express image of the divine person of the Father, and I think that that is an expression as the eternal Word, who is the eternal expression of deity, in the Word. That seems to be the context of what he's saying here in this text; but again, this is all anticipatory for what comes later, where he said, "He upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had, by himself, purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has, by inheritance, obtained a more excellent name than they." [00:08:34]

The elevation above the angels is the elevation of the incarnate Christ over the angels, because remember, in creation, as the Psalmist tells us, we -- you know, we -- the Psalmist asks the question, "When I consider the sun and the moon and all that Thou hast ordained, what is man that Thou art mindful of him or the son of man, that Thou dost visit him? Yet Thou hast created him but" -- what? "A little lower than the angels." So human creatures are a lower order of creation from the angels. Angels are of a higher order. [00:09:39]

Now, they don't tell us what the name is here that is the more excellent name that Jesus receives. Now, it may be in light of the immediate context of the passage, that the name that is a more excellent name than the angels, is simply referring to the title, 'son', which is what the focus of attention here is. On the other hand, elsewhere in the Scriptures, we're also told of Jesus' gaining a name as a result of the perfection of His obedience, and that name is not the name 'son'; it is the name 'Lord'. [00:10:51]

And so what Paul is saying there is, "Look at this pattern that has been given to us by Christ, who gave up His privileges that He enjoyed in heaven to condescend to our lowliness, to take upon himself our humanity, and to bear humiliation in our stead." And so that's the way we should be behaving towards our brothers and sisters, willing, not to guard our own status or stature, but to give it away for the benefit of others. [00:12:13]

The author uses the rhetorical question here quite effectively because he says, "For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you'." He doesn't call angels sons. Angels are servants, not sons. "And again, 'I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son'. But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says" -- now let me just back up again. [00:14:20]

And so the angels are subordinate to Christ because the angels are commanded by God to worship Him. And of the angels he says, "Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. And you, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundations of the world'," and so on. [00:19:29]

They don't rule the cosmos, but the good angels are ministering spirits, sent forth by God; and they're not sent to minister to everybody. They're sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation -- to believers -- and whether we have one guardian angel or the heavenly host, such as surrounded Elisha, is a matter of continual debate. But we do have a great help. [00:21:28]

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Transcript
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