Hebrews Sermons 

Christ is Better Than the Angels

 

Scripture Readings: Psalm 110:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-2:4

November 13, 2016 • Download this sermon (PDF)

Congregation of Christ: Before we get to our text, let us first examine the background of the Book of Hebrews. We will not understand this book correctly without knowing the basics: author, audience, date of writing, and purpose and occasion.

(from biblia.com)
(from biblia.com)

First of all, who wrote this book? Unlike the letters of Paul and other New Testament writers, the author of Hebrews does not mention his name. From the earliest days, the names suggested include Paul, Clement of Rome, Luke, even Apollos, but no one really knows. What we know is that the author was very knowledgeable of the Old Testament, especially the temple, the priesthood and the sacrifices. We also know that the author was highly educated, using sophisticated Greek language and style and a mastery of rhetoric. From hereon, we will call the author “the Preacher.”

Who were the audience of the book? The author assumes that the readers have good knowledge of the Old Testament, so his audience were Jews, or even Gentiles who were converts to Judaism. Of all New Testament writings, no one surpasses Hebrews in its 31 direct quotations of Old Testament texts. Near the end of the book (Heb 13:24), the writer sends greetings to “those who come from Italy,” and Rome had the biggest Jewish population in Italy. So most likely, his readers were Jewish Christians living in Rome. These believers were also immature and weak in their faith, the author saying to them, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.” (Heb 5:12).

What was the occasion or purpose of the writing? In A.D. 49, when Claudius was the Roman emperor, he expelled Jews from Rome because they incited trouble against fellow Jews who converted to Christianity. This persecution reached its height when Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome in A.D. 64. So it was most likely written during that time to encourage Christians to persevere and not go back to the old covenant institutions in the midst of persecution (Heb 10:32-35; 13:3).

The author actually calls his writing as “a word of exhortation” (Heb 13:22), which is another word for a sermon (Acts 13:15). Because of this, combined with the lack of the usual opening words of a letter, most interpreters conclude that Hebrews is actually a sermon.

And as we study this sermon, we will see that the main theme is that Christ is greater than all: angels, prophets, and old covenant temple, priesthood and ceremonies. Therefore, Christ has fulfilled all Old Testament institutions which were mere foreshadows of his Person and his atoning work on the cross. He is the better and final High Priest, Prophet and King.

With this background in mind, let us begin to meditate on the first “Christ is Better” theme: Christ is Better Than the Angels,under three headings:first, Because He is the Son of God; second, Because He is the Final Word; and third, Because He is the Great Salvation.

Because He is the Son of God

The Preacher begins by saying that in the past, God spoke through the prophets, “but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son,” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity. He then gives us several attributes of the person and work of the Son.

The first is that God appointed him as “heir of all things.” What is his inheritance? Psalm 2:8 has the answer, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” So his inheritance is the whole earth, all of the nations that God the Father gives to him. In 2:5, the Preacher says that the world to come will be subjected to the Son. Christ’s inheritance has already begun in this age when the Gospel is preached to all the nations, and believers will come from all peoples of the earth. In 1:13, he says that the Son is now sitting at God’s right hand, exercising authority over all things. But the completion of this authority is still in the future when he returns from heaven in power.

The Son is the heir because of his relationship to his Father as “the firstborn” Son (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15, 18). In verse 5, the author quotes Psalm 2:7, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you” Then he quotes 2 Samuel 7:14, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son” In the Old Testament, the firstborn Son has the largest inheritance. Brothers and sisters, you too are heirs of God’s promises. What promises? You are adopted children of God (John 1:12), and as such, you have all the rights and privileges of natural-born sons. Like Christ, you too are “firstborn” children “who are enrolled in heaven” (Heb 12:23). And as firstborn children, you too have an inheritance (Eph 1:11, 14). Paul says you are “fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph 3:6). Again, Paul says that eternal life is your inheritance, “being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit 2:7).

The second attribute of the Son is that God made the universe through him. The Son is the agent by which God the Father created the universe. In 1:10, the Preacher quotes the creative works of the Lord (YHWH) in Psalm 102:25-27, but then attributes these works to the Son. Paul says, “there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Cor 8:6). He says again, “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” (Col 1:16). So John also says, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

The third attribute of the Son is that he is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” The glory of God is usually the intense brightness and splendor of God. The word “imprint” or “representation” is used for engraving, as in the engraving on coins. Don’t we sometimes say that a child is an exact copy of the father or mother? So the Son is an exact copy of the substance of God. This is why the Nicene Creed says that the Son is of the same, not similar, substance or essence as the Father. Christ is of the same “form” or “image” of God (Phil 2:6; Col 1:15; 2 Cor 4:4).

The fourth attribute of the Son is that he “upholds the universe by the word of his power.” This is the Son’s continuing involvement in the sustenance of his creation, “In him, all things hold together” (Col 1:17). This includes his providential care of his people.

In the fifth attribute, “purification for sins” refers to Christ’s offering his own body and blood for sin. It is superior to the Old Testament purification because it is “once for all” (Heb 7:27). The forgiveness of sins that results from his act of purification is complete, perfect and eternal. In Chapters 9 and 10, the author expands on this subject.

After his sacrifice, he ascended into heaven and “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” The author quotes Psalm 110:1. Being seated at the right hand of God is symbolic of his power, authority, greatness and favor over all creation that God has given him. From this exalted position, Christ rules as Judge and Lord of creation. For you believers, he mediates on your behalf, sending your prayers to the Father in heaven (Rom 8:34).

The seventh and last attribute of the Son is that he has become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” In this book, the Preacher mostly explains that Christ is superior to the Old Testament temple, priesthood and sacrifices. But in this first chapter, he explains how Christ is superior even over angelic beings. This is because his name, “Son of God,” is superior to any other name in the universe. His “status,” “title,” “rank,” or even “person,” is “superior” over or “better” than any other. His name is a name that is above every other name (Eph 1:21; Phil 2:9). His complete Person and Work are “more excellent” than any other’s in the Old Testament (Heb 8:6).

Being the Son, he is “God” (v 8) and “Lord” (v 10) worthy of worship (v 6). He has a throne and a scepter (v 8) because he was anointed as King (v 9). He created the heavens and the earth (v 10), and exalted to God’s right hand (v 13). These verses also emphasize that the Father and the Son are two distinct Persons, but having the same substance.

What is the relationship between the Son and angelic beings? The Son sits on his eternal throne, while angels worship him. The Son also sends out the angels to minister to and help his people. Therefore, angels are servants of both the Son and his people. The Son therefore is superior to angels in both his Person, work and status.

Because He is the Final Word

Next, the Preacher explains that Christ is better or superior than the angels and all creation because he is the final and more excellent Word or revelation of God. In the past, before the Son came down from heaven, God spoke “many times and in many ways” through his prophets. These “prophets” include all the writers of the Old Testament, from Moses, through the Psalms, Proverbs and wisdom books, all the way to the prophets. But the Son gave the final and superior revelation of God because he himself is the Word of God. He himself is the fulfillment of everything that God has promised in the Old Testament.

This means that God has an important message to his people, the Church. And the focus of this message is Jesus Christ his Son. The Son came “in these last days.” When was this written? About 64 A.D., about 30 years after Christ ascended into heaven. So from that time 2,000 years ago, the “last days” have broken into the world. From the first century till now, and until Christ returns from heaven, the author considers the whole period as the “last days.”

So there is a dynamic and a continuing connection or a link between the prophets of old and the Son who has the final Word. The Old was of promise, and the New was of fulfillment of the Old. So God continues to speak today through the Son through all Scriptures. This means that we are not to ignore or reject the Old Testament, because we cannot understand the New Testament without it. So it is a big mistake to give to others interested in God only the Gospel of John, or only the New Testament, and not the whole Bible.

But if Christ is in heaven, how does he speak today? He speaks through his appointed preachers who proclaims his spoken Word. And what do they speak?

Because He is the Great Salvation

The messengers of Christ today speaks of his gospel of salvation. Chapter 2 opens with the word “Therefore,” because the following four verses of encouragement are grounded in Chapter 1. Since Christ is better than angels, and since his Word is final and authoritative, Christians are then exhorted to “pay much closer attention” to his Word. We must diligently read the Scripture, studying and meditating on it regularly, whether at home or in the worship service. If we don’t do this, we will “drift away from it.” We will be like ship without a rudder or without sails or with a dead engine, adrift at sea. Those who are not hungry for God’s Word will be easy prey for false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing.

If God’s people in the Old Testament were punished because they rejected the Law given by angels to Moses (Deut 33:2), how much more will the punishment be against those who reject the final Word of the Son today? The Son’s Word is “such a great salvation” that neglecting it has severe and eternal consequences, “a just retribution.” The Son first revealed this great salvation through his preaching of the gospel of repentance and faith in him (Mark 1:15). This gospel of salvation results in eternal life or eternal death. There is no other salvation given by God except through faith in the Son.

Though the readers of this book may not have heard Jesus preach, they have assurance that his salvation is great and true because of two things. They have heard it from those who have actually witnessed and heard the Son. The second assurance is that God “bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus performed divine works, which he also bestowed upon his apostles through the Spirit.

This is in opposition to those today who teach that miraculous signs and wonders still continue today to save people. The Son has the final, authoritative Word, sufficient for the salvation of all of God’s people. The time for signs and wonders is past since we have the complete, sufficient Word. He doesn’t whisper in your ears, or send you dreams and visions, but speaks to you through his Word.

Beloved Friends, we have seen that the Son is superior over everything in the universe, even angelic beings. This is because of his unique relationship with God the Father. His name is above every name in the world. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. All the world’s presidents, prime ministers and kings are subject to him and serve him. He warns us of the greater punishment that we will receive if we neglect the salvation he offers.

Therefore, let us heed his Word because his Word is a great salvation, that is, the only Word that gives eternal life. Jesus himself declared, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life” (John 5:24). The disciples also testified to Jesus, “You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).

Therefore, let us not neglect the study of right doctrines, and not depend wholly on our experience or emotions. For right doctrine leads to right living. Let us continue with our firm faith in Jesus, who is the Christ, the eternal Son of God, who has revealed to us his Father, and who has purified us from our sins by his blood shed on the cross.

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