God speaks in dreams and visions God speaks in many different ways They are ministering spirits Hebrews begins with a grand affirmation. God, who has spoken to man through intermediaries, has now spoken to us by His Son, a Son who is God Himself in all His splendor and power (Heb 1:1-4). The author underlines the fact that the Son is superior to angels moving through His own power giving a way to God Almighty. Jewish tradition held that angels gave the Old Covenant (the Pentateuch, the Law) to Moses. This One through whom God has now spoken is superior for He, not angels, is spoken to by God as “My Son.” He is superior, for angels are commanded to worship the Son. He is superior because angels are servants, while the Son sits on the throne. The Son is superior not only as Creator of the universe, but as One who in endless life sits at God’s right hand. Angels are ministering spirits; not masters of the universe, but servants of God’s saints. And as we call them forth, they will come as we call them. In the Old Testament God spoke through angels giving the Old Testament through angels, and He spoke through the prophets, and the word of God has always been prophetic speaking down through the Ages through holy men made perfect, through the Holy Spirit. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds: Many times and various ways (Heb 1:1) Old Testament revelations came in dreams and visions, through prophets, and in direct messages from the Angel of the Lord. The revelation that comes through Christ continues this tradition, but is a final, ultimate revelation because its agent is God the Son. The Gk. makes the meaning of key phrases clear. The “radiance” of God’s glory is apaugasma, which is a brightness shining from within, and a brightness caused by an external source. Jesus shines with His own and with the Father’s brightness—and the two lights are one. The phrase “the exact representation of His [God’s] being” is the character. In the 1st century this indicated the imprint of a die, such as the impression on coins. Jesus “bears the stamp” of the divine nature itself. The “name” in biblical times summed up all a person was. Though eternally superior to angels as God, Jesus also “became” in accomplishing our salvation. The name “Saviour” was added to His laurels. The use of this term does not suggest an origin for Jesus subsequent to that of the Father. Rather prototokos is frequently used as a technical theological term, applied only to Jesus. It affirms His supreme rank and His unique relationship with the Father and His unique position within the family of God (also Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15, 18; Rev. 1:5). This verse quotes Ps. 104:4. It is taken by some to refer to forms God’s angelic servants may take ( 2 Kings 6:17). It is more likely that this phrase, in a passage intended to exalt Christ, contrasts the fiery glory of angels with the awesome radiance of Christ’s true deity. Fire is impressive. But not when compared to the awesome power of the sun. The right hand is the traditional place of power and authority in the biblical world. Christ not only laid the foundations of the earth, and possesses endless life and existence, He also exercises all the power and authority of Deity. The Gk. word angelos means “messenger.” It is used 175 times in the N.T. The N.T. teaches that Satan leads a host of evil angels (Matt. 25:41; Jude 6), whom many believe are the demons of the Gospels, dedicated to harm human beings and resist God’s purposes. God’s angels, on the other hand, are committed by Him to serve and support us, who are the “heirs of salvation” (Heb. 1:14; Matt. 18:10; Acts 12). While angels have a supportive ministry, and no doubt protect and in other ways help believers, this passage reminds us that Jesus, not angels, is to be the focus of our faith. Paul sternly scolds those who exalt angels rather than Christ (Col. 2). Angels is not God, but created beings, who were created by God Almighty.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:42:59 +0000
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