A Better Way: Better than Angels
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Intro:
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Tonight, we will begin a study through the book of Hebrews. The title of the series is, [A Better Way]. The subject of tonight’s message is [Better than Angels].
One of the last classes I took at Evangel for my Masters was called Lean Six Sigma. Sounds exciting doesn’t it, it wasn’t. The professor worked for Xerox as the Vice President Corporate Lean Six Sigma.
In essence, what he did was go into Xerox companies that had a production problem and see how he could help them find a better way. He developed a process that helped companies find a better and more efficient way to run their business.
When they required us to take the class, they told us if we could get five people who wanted another course, we could split and take something different.
I tried my hardest to convince four other classmates to go with me. But they explained, this will be good for us. There are four levels of those who have taken Lean Six Sigma, yellow belt, green belt, black belt, and master black belt.
They promised us if we finished the class we would get a GREEN BELT! Much to our disappointment we didn’t actually get a belt, but a certificate.
I decided I would use my green belt knowledge of finding how to be more efficient at home. When we had people over I decided to help Bekah find a better way of preparing the dinner.
I gave helpful suggestions. I explained how if she tweaked her process cooking for a crowd could be much more efficient. I tried to convince her she could even relax more if she would let me help her find a better way.
I quickly learned my green belt meant NOTHING! And now I agree Bekah’s way is the best way!
When the writer of Hebrews sent this letter, he wanted his audience to understand, Jesus provided a better way. Before we look at the specifics of this truth, let’s ask a question that Christians have struggled with since the early church.
Who wrote the book of Hebrews?
Unlike other New Testament letters, Hebrews does not begin with the name of the author. Many people have debated who it might have been.
Was it Paul? Was it Barnabas or Luke?
My dad asked me who I thought it was, I said, I am not sure. He said, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT IS PAUL, BUT CLEARLY IT ISN’T. IT DOESN’T EVEN SOUND LIKE HIM!
In studying, I have read some authors who convince me, it had to have been Paul. Then I will read another book, and they will convince, there is no way it is Paul.
It is safe to say, since the bible is silent on the topic, we do not have to form an opinion.
Why did the author write this letter?
Many scholars agree the book was written to Christians who had a Jewish background. It is most likely these Jewish Christians lived in Rome.
When we say Jewish Christian, we mean they had a Jewish instead of a Gentile background. When these Jewish people became believers, their Jewish relatives, bosses, and neighbors wanted nothing to do with them.
Couldn’t they turn to the Romans for help. Though they were Gentiles and unbelievers, surely they could understand? At this point in the Roman Empire, the Emperor was Nero.
He went crazy and burned much of Rome and then blamed Christians. It was during this persecution that Paul and Peter were killed.
The believers in Rome were in between a rock and a hard place. The Jews and Romans both persecuted them. Therefore, they thought about going back to Judaism.
The rules, rituals, and religion that governed their lives for years seemed safe. The author set out to write this letter to encourage them not to return to their former life.
In essence, the author explains, DO NOT GO BACK, YOU HAVE FOUND A BETTER WAY THROUGH JESUS!
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 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 worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding 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,
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 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 worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding 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,
He begins the book with one name, GOD. Unlike other epistles, which began with the author’s name, Hebrews starts with God. What did God do?
At various times throughout human history He spoke to His people. His interactions were incredible, be it through visions, dreams, voices, writing, or angels.
While God’s encounters in the Old Testament were hard to top, Jesus’ arrival on earth did just that. Everything in the Old Testament pointed to the coming of Christ.
It is as though He is crescendo of a song that has built slowly over thousands of years. Everything we need to know about God, we learn through Jesus!
Therefore, if they returned to Judaism, they would go back to a belief system that while good, was incomplete. They knew the fulfillment of the Jewish faith, through Jesus.
The author’s aim is to encourage them, don’t go back, you have found a better way. To make his point, he methodically shows how Jesus is the better way.
Chapters 1-2 show Jesus is better than angels. Let’s divide the chapter in three parts, [He is the Better Person], [He has the Better Power], and [He has the Better Position].
Let’s begin
1. He is the Better Person
1. He is the Better Person
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Angels are nearly universally recognized, but they are also misunderstood. People lump angels into a superstitious group of beings that do good or bad things depending on what kind of angel they are.
Jewish faith taught that angels were the highest beings next to God. For them, they knew Cherubim and Seraphim surrounded the throne of God crying out holy, holy, holy.
They knew of times that the Angel of the Lord came and spoke to their forefathers like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, or Joshua. Therefore, they held angels in high regard.
However, Jesus is better than the angels because of who He is as a person. Unlike angels, who were created by God, Jesus was never created, He has always existed.
Therefore, the writer used Old Testament passages to make his point. Did God every say to the angels, “You are My Son and I will be Your Father?
No, the Father and Son have a unique relationship. The Son is not the Father, and the Father is not the Son, but they are God.
When Jesus came to earth, He was 100% Man and 100% God. He was a person who looked, acted, walked, and talked like us. Angels never did that.
Furthermore, God never told people to worship angels. Angles do what God wants them to do. They go on special assignment for heaven.
Therefore, one of their roles is to Worship the Son. He is the only Person capable of saving humanity from their sin. Their position is inferior to the Son, therefore they praise and worship Him for who He is and what He does for humanity!
Jesus is superior to angels because He is the better person!
2. He Has the Better Power
2. He Has the Better Power
7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Angels do have power. Let’s look at the background of angels for a moment. The bible does not tell us when God created them, but they were created before He formed the earth.
At some point before creation, Lucifer, the angel responsible for worship in heaven, decided he wanted to usurp God’s authority.
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. 2 Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the Lord; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors. 3 It shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: “How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased! 5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the rulers; 6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He who ruled the nations in anger, Is persecuted and no one hinders. 7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing. 8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, And the cedars of Lebanon, Saying, ‘Since you were cut down, No woodsman has come up against us.’ 9 “Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations. 10 They all shall speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? 11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.’ 12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. 16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’ 18 “All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house; 19 But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, Like the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot. 20 You will not be joined with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land And slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named. 21 Prepare slaughter for his children Because of the iniquity of their fathers, Lest they rise up and possess the land, And fill the face of the world with cities.” 22 “For I will rise up against them,” says the Lord of hosts, “And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, And offspring and posterity,” says the Lord. 23 “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says the Lord of hosts. 24 The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand: 25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders. 26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?” 28 This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died. 29 “Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, Because the rod that struck you is broken; For out of the serpent’s roots will come forth a viper, And its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent. 30 The firstborn of the poor will feed, And the needy will lie down in safety; I will kill your roots with famine, And it will slay your remnant. 31 Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved; For smoke will come from the north, And no one will be alone in his appointed times.” 32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the Lord has founded Zion, And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it.
When he decided he wanted to sit on God’s throne and replace him, he was cast out of heaven. In his rebellion, he swayed one-third of the angels to go with him.
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Let’s read a brief story to paint this picture:
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Since Satan’s rebellion, God’s angels and Satan’s angels (demons) fight. In the future, Satan will try once more to destroy God’s angels. In Revelation we read that he will not succeed. God will give Michael the power to defeat Satan and his fallen angels.
Angels have power, but Jesus has the better power. Why? Because He is God and He has supernatural power that is unmatched and uncontested!
While on earth, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Through His death, burial, and resurrection He defeated Satan. Now He send His power to us through the Holy Spirit.
We now share in this power because Jesus who is ALL POWERFUL delegates His power to us.
Though angels have power, their power is given to them by God. No one has to give Jesus power, instead we praise Him because He has the better power.
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
Omnipotent means having unlimited power, able to do anything.
Jesus is better than the angels because He is the better person, He has the better power, and...
3. He has the Better Position
3. He has the Better Position
10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.” 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.” 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
Though the angels were present at creation, they have not always existed. Only God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit hold the title of eternal.
Jesus has always existed and he will always exist. One day the world will be transformed and renovatated in preparation for etertiny, but Jesus will never change.
His position remains the same. Jesus possesses His power, because of His position as a member of the Godhead. He sits at the right hand of the Father.
He has a throne in heaven, where the angels surround Him with eternal worship. The angels do not have this luxury, for their position in heaven is lower than Jesus.
Then the writer asks, as God ever told the angels to sit at my right hand or the earth will be your foot stool?
Think of those words?
My whole life Dad has always had “his” chair. No matter who is over, even guests, if they sit in his chair, Dad walks in with a chuckle and motions them to get out of his chair.
When we were really little, had had an older worn out golden chair. We called it the “golden throne.” He also had a scratched up leather footstool. We really weren’t allowed to sit in the golden throne.
Eventually, he upgraded to a La-Z-Boy. And to this day, that is HIS chair.
Jesus sits on a throne, it belongs to Him and only Him. He holds the position of Savior, Spirit Baptizer, Healer, and Coming King. No one will ever take His position or change His position.
What position do the angels have?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Angels are ministry spirits, specifically servants who God dispatches to help those who God saved. Angels have are obedient to God’s command.
They serve in Jesus’ mission to save humanity. Therefore, angels deliver messages from God, bring answers to prayer, and provide protection.
Therefore, the focus is on Jesus, not the angels for Jesus is better than angles in His person, power, and position.
Close:
We do not pray to angels. We do not call on angels. We do not look for angels. We pray to Jesus. We call on Jesus. and We look to Jesus.
Close:
The writer of Hebrews does not ease his way into making his point. He comes in full force: if you are thinking of turning back to your old life, don’t. You will NOT find a better way.
When I felt prompted to go to Hebrews, at first, I was a little nervous. There is so much deep content. However, my heart is stirred in reading this ancient letter.
Something I notice is the supernatural power of God, displayed through Jesus being better than the angels.
We live in a day when people do not know where to turn for help. Therefore, they look for alternatives, but they leave them feeling empty.
What we have to do is help them see the that Jesus is better than everything else.
One author summarizes this truth, “God’s angelic servants minister to us, but only God’s Spirit can minister in us. God’s angelic servants protect us physically, but only God’s Son can save us spiritually” (Swindoll, p. 23, Hebrews).
One author summarizes this truth, “God’s angelic servants minister to us, but only God’s Spirit can minister in us. God’s angelic servants protect us physically, but only God’s Son can save us spiritually” (Swindoll, p. 23, Hebrews).
One author summarizes this truth, “God’s angelic servants minister to us, but only God’s Spirit can minister in us. God’s angelic servants protect us physically, but only God’s Son can save us spiritually” (Swindoll, p. 23, Hebrews).
We do not pray to angels. We do not call on angels. We do not look for angels. We pray to Jesus. We call on Jesus. and We look to Jesus.
We live in a day when people do not know where to turn for help. Therefore, they look for alternatives, but they leave them feeling empty.
What we have to do is help them see the that Jesus is better than everything else. Therefore, we must start by calling on Jesus and thanking Him that He is better.
He is better than our sins
Better than our past
Better than our problems
Better than our sickness
Better than our plans
and Better than anything!
