DRIFTING AWAY FROM THE KING OF ANGELS (HEBREWS 1:4-2:4) Penge Baptist Church 19 th January 2014 Who is Jesus? Fix our eyes on him!

Hebrews 1:4-2:4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”

But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same,and your years will never end.”

To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” ? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Background Hebrews was written to Christians from Jewish background, under pressure to return to “old faith” Angels exalted in Judaism of the time as givers of the law to Moses And some believed Michael the Archangel would rule God’s kingdom So who is Jesus? What are angels? What danger of turning away did the hearers face? And us?

Jesus, the Son and the King “You are my Son; today I have become your Father” (from Psalm 2:7) “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” (from 2 Samuel 7:14) “Your throne, O God, will last for ever…” (from Psalm 45:6)

Jesus, the King of Righteousness About the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (from Psalm 45:6-7)

Jesus, the King for Eternity He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same,and your years will never end.” (from Psalm 102:25-27)

Jesus, the King who is Victorious “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” ? (from Psalm 110:1)

And what are angels? Created spiritual beings, with no physical body, high intelligence and power, able to make moral choices, carrying out God’s purposes “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” (from Psalm 104:4) “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

The angels’ relation with Jesus… “So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” “when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.””

…and with us “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” “Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3) Protect us – but also witness our misdeeds Show us God’s mercy An example of obedience and worship Reality of the unseen world When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17)

The Danger of turning away from the Gospel For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The Monarch has come in person!

How might turning away come about? Worship of angels “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.” (Colossians 2:18) Demoting Jesus to a created being Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons deny the Trinity “Believing anything that suits you” The New Age/Postmodern paradigm The New Atheism Richard Dawkins and his hatred of God

Drift – the greatest risk “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” A boat without a motor can hit the rocks… …and harm the community at the same time… …as we become spiritually lazy and even obese

Our defence Knowing who Jesus is – the King of Angels - and fixing our eyes on him Let Scripture speak truth as in Hebrews Always being filled with the Holy Spirit Seeking daily intimacy with Jesus in prayer Aiming to grow as a disciple of Jesus – and it being evident in our lives