2007 Book of Hebrews Series – “More than Angels”
Hebrews 1:3-14
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – January 14, 2007

Prayer Introduction: We have all heard amazing stories about angels. Dr. Mitchell, a well-known neurologist in Philadelphia, was home in bed after one very tiring day; but he was awakened by a persistent knocking at the door. It was a little girl, poorly dressed and deeply upset. She told him that her mother was very sick and needed his help. Even though it was a bitterly cold, snowy night and he was bone tired, Mitchell dressed and followed the girl. He found the mother desperately ill with pneumonia. After treating her, Dr. Mitchell complimented the sick woman on her daughter's persistence and courage. The woman gave him a strange look and said, “My daughter died a month ago.”

John G. Paton, a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, had his mission headquarters surrounded one night by hostile natives, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed all that night. At dawn they were amazed to see the attackers just turn and leave. A year later the chief of that very tribe was converted to Christianity. Paton then asked him what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them that night. The chief asked Paton a return question: “Who were all those men you had with you there?” Paton told him there had been no one except his wife and himself, but the chief insisted they had seen hundreds of men standing guard – big men in shining garments with drawn swords.

The stories are amazing; but what is more amazing is the result that people hold angels in higher regard than the one who sent them – and the one to whom they were sent. Angels are pretty amazing, but Jesus is just flat out incredible. This is what Hebrews chapter 1 shows us. Let’s pray as we begin…High King of Heaven. You sit upon your throne so that even the angels worship you. We are living in a culture, O Lord, which affirms the presence of angels more than they affirm your presence. Help us to reverse that trend, beginning with ourselves. Help us to put you in the right place – the highest place – in our hearts. Touch us, now, with your Word, with your truth, with the Holy Spirit through the Holy Scriptures. We pray now for the preacher in the pulpit. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!

READ Hebrews 1:1-14: From these verses I would have you Worship Jesus More than Angels; Know God Loves You More than Angels; and Be More than Angels.

I. Worship Jesus More than the Angels

First, I would have you Worship Jesus More than Angels. This would seem obvious, except that survey after survey comes back showing that not only the world – but also Christians – have greater faith in angels than in Jesus. 72% of those who profess to be Christians believe that “Angels exist and influence people’s lives;” but only 52% believe that Jesus lived a perfect life; and that Jesus returned to life physically after his death on the cross [2001 Barna Survey].

            Remember TV gave us, “Touched by an Angel” not “Touched by Jesus.” And notice that you get more e-mails about angels than about Jesus.   Neither the world, nor even Christians, gives Jesus the credit he deserves; not in belief and certainly not in practice.

            Verses 2-3 give 7 description statements about Jesus, showing his supremacy over angels:

(1) Appointed heir of all things (v.2)

(2) Through whom he made the universe (v.2)

(3) Radiance of God’s glory (v.3)

(4) Exact representation of his (God’s) being (v.3) Or as the Westminster Shorter Catechism (#6) says, “the same in substance, equal in power and glory.” Jesus is God – in the flesh.

(5) Sustaining all things (v.3)

(6) Provided purification for sins (v.3)

(7) Sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (v.3)

            “So” says verse 4, “he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” And if that isn’t enough to convince you, verses 5-13 give 7 Old Testament quotations displaying the supremacy of the Son above angels. Including the quote in verse 6, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” We will sing in the hymn after the sermon, “let angels prostrate fall.”

            The angels bow down in worship. The angels recognize that it is Jesus who is to be worshiped. Angels are not meant to be worshiped at all – they only want to bring worship to Jesus. “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, let angels prostrate fall.”

            7 descriptions of Jesus’ supremacy. 7 Old Testament quotations about Jesus’ supremacy. Remember, the number 7 in the Scripture often means “complete, perfect, fulfillment.” Here we have 7 descriptions PLUS 7 Old Testament quotations. Let there be no doubt that Jesus is the perfect Son

            And so this year – two thousand AND SEVEN (2007) – we are calling on the perfect Son, who has fulfilled the Law’s demands, to do his perfecting work in us, that we might have victory over the sins in our lives.

            This victory comes not from looking to the angels; but by looking to the cross of Christ.

II. Know God Loves You More than Angels

And so I would also have you Know God Loves You More than Angels. Both angels and humans were created by God; but angels are never said to be made “in the image of God” like humans are. And did you know that someday, God will give us authority over angels, to judge them: “Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!” (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Judge angels? Yes. Remember that some angels fell into sin – the chief of which is Satan, with his demon followers. 2 Peter 2:4, “(For if) God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment…” Likewise, we read in Jude 6: “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home – these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”

            And here we see the most amazing aspect of how God loves us more than angels: Consider that while some angels sinned, none were saved; but God did provide for the salvation of humans who sinned.

The fact that we have been saved from a life of rebellion against God means that we are able to sing songs, that angels will never be able to sing, for all eternity. All the great songs proclaiming our redemption in Christ, are ours alone to sing.     Angels do not sing songs about the cross. Only human Christians can “glory in our redeemer.”

The supreme act of God’s love was not for His angels, but for you and me. Of all His created beings, God loves you and me most of all.

In Hebrews 1, Jesus is exalted as God’s Son. Do you know the first act that God did after justifying you – after declaring you righteous in His sight through Jesus’ sacrifice? He adopted you as His child. Only you, Christian, have the great privilege of calling God your “Heavenly Father.” Not even the angels get to call God, “Father.” God’s love for you in the cross is the love of your Father.

            Do you know what else? Hebrews 1:14 tells us that angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.”

            Psalm 91:11-12 says, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

God has sent his angels to serve you; because your Heavenly Father loves you.

III. Be More than Angels

And so, finally, I would have you Be More than Angels. Live out the redeemed life. Keep your resolutions. Be set free from your sin by the Son, knowing that you are also a child of God. Be set free from your sin by the appointed heir of all things, knowing he calls you a co-heir. Galatians 4:7 says, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”

            In my devotions this week I read this from Charles Spurgeon: “…for you are named by his name, and made one of his brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, ‘I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ’s.’”

            There are three things that keep us from seeing God, and our relationship with him, rightly.

            (1) Subjectivism – when we base our view of God on feelings and emotions. This is the leading cause of confusion in the world today. Our world exalts feelings and emotions. People will even talk about the feelings or emotions from a “spiritual experience.” But what spirit? 2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

            God loves you, whether you “feel it” or not. God loves you always, whether you “feel it” or not. He will never leave your nor forsake you. He is always there for you, whether you “feel it” or not. When you are struggling with temptation, call out to him – whether you “feel it” or not.

            (2) Legalism – when we base our relationship with God on our own performance. C.J. Mahaney defines legalism this way: “Seeking to achieve forgiveness from God and acceptance by God through obedience to God.”

            You already have His forgiveness and acceptance; and it had nothing to do with your obedience. His forgiveness and acceptance of you is based completely on the obedience of His Son, Jesus.

When you fail to keep your resolution, you don’t lose God’s forgiveness and acceptance. Romans 8:38-39 are some of the most reassuring words in all of Scripture – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, [neither kept or failed resolutions] nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 (3) Condemnation – when we are more focused on our sin than on God’s grace. This is a main reason that we fail to keep our resolutions. We focus on the resolution, rather than focusing on the God who will help us keep our resolution.

Last week, I said that the first step in keeping your resolution was to have an accountability partner who would pray for you and pray with you – who would walk to the cross of Christ with you, that you would have victory over your sin.

Condemnation comes from being so overwhelmed by our sin that we stop being overwhelmed by God’s grace in Christ. I love the two sentences that summarize the Christian faith: “(1) Cheer up, you’re a lot worse than you think you are; and (2) Cheer up, God’s grace is a lot greater than you think it is.”

            Your accountability partner needs to be there, to call you to account when you stop asking Christ to crucify your sinful desires. And your accountability partner needs to be there to remind you to focus on the cross, rather than on your sin.

            One person has noted, “A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results.” Sometimes we need the kick in the pants. Sometimes we need the pat on the back. Your accountability partner needs to know when to employ which.

            And so, if step one is to find an accountability partner who will pray for you and pray with you – who will go with you to the cross of Christ – step two is for you and your accountability partner to remind each other, continually, that the cross is where we are forgiven and accepted by God.

            It isn’t based on feelings, but on the fact that Jesus died for you. It isn’t based on your obedience, but on his obedience. And it doesn’t come from focusing on your sin, but by focusing on God’s grace.

            God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you. God loves you so much that He sends His angels to protect you. God loves you so much that He wants you to have victory over the sins and temptations that plague you. God loves you so much…

MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!