spiritual battle, Made Lower Than the Angels (Heb.1-9)

Jesus is God!  He is part of the Trinity.  There is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - three Persons in One - because there is only one God.

I like to think of it this way (putting it into a human perspective):  I am a mother, I am a wife, and I am also an employer (of myself) - yet I am only one person.  Each "person" of myself has very different roles.  Now, of course, that is only how I can explain God!  If I could actually explain God perfectly - then either I'd be God and/or God would not be much of a God.

So here the scriptures explain how Jesus created everything, including the angels...

(Hebrews 1:1-14)  God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited 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 a Father to Him and He shall be a Son to Me”?

6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,

“And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

7 And of the angels He says,

“Who makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.”

8 But of the Son He says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.
9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

10 And,

“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands;
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment,
12 And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said,

“Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies A footstool for Your feet”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

People had begun to believe that the angels delivered the Mosaic Law.  It was the Lord (Jesus) who delivered the Law first, and then He confirmed everything when He came with signs and wonders and miracles - - - to fulfill the Law, and bring us salvation and grace - - - so we could live in righteousness.

Without Jesus, there is no way we can live in obedience to the Law.  People are eternally doomed without Jesus...

(Hebrews 2:1-4)  For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Jesus humbled Himself and came to earth in flesh (still 100% God and also 100% man) - willingly becoming lower in rank than the angels - in order to take our place on the cross and pay the price for all sins.

After His resurrection, Jesus then ascended back to heaven and took His rightful place at the right hand side of God.

And it will be Jesus Who will reign in the Millennial kingdom (NOT the angels)...

(Hebrews 2:5-13)  For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying,

“What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?
7 “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; 
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying,

“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put My trust in Him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”

Angels have already made their choice!  So - Jesus did not die on the cross for angels, but for mankind!  Because we are born into sin with an eternal death sentence, we are slaves to sin and to Satan.  Therefore Jesus came to earth in flesh to die for everyone - so that when anyone chooses to believe in Him - we will be saved and set free from Satan's power...

(Hebrews 2:14-18)  Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

God's angels are shown as servants even in the decorations of the earthly tabernacle, where earthly priests once had to continuously offer sacrifices for sins committed...

(Hebrews 9:5-10)  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

When Jesus came to earth to die for our sins, He came as the perfect High Priest, in perfect obedience, to offer Himself up as the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God - to pay for all sins once and for all.  For anyone who puts their faith in Jesus - they are saved and given eternal life...

(Hebrews 9:24-28)  For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

From this we see: 
- Jesus created everything (1:2, 10).  This would include the angels (1:7)
- angels were created as winds and as flames of fire (1:7)
- angels are considered God's ministers (1:7)
- God's angels are shown as servants even in the decorations of the earthly tabernacle (9:5)
- angels are ministering servants, sent out to serve believers (1:14)
- God has never called or considered any angel His son (1:5)
- Jesus is God's Son, heir of all things (1:2)
- Jesus came to earth in flesh for a little while being made lower in rank than the angels (2:7, 9)
- Jesus came to die for mankind, not for the angels (2:16)
- after His work on the cross, Jesus became much better than the angels (1:4)
- Jesus will reign in the Millennial kingdom (NOT the angels) (2:5)
- all angels worship Jesus (1:6)
- right now, mankind is lower in rank to the angels (2:7, 9)
- when we become believers, we become children of God (2:11)
- Jesus died for our sins so that when we believe, we will be free of death and Satan's power (2:14-15)
- Jesus is the Spirit of grace (10:29)

- people had begun to believe that it was angels who delivered the Mosaic Law (Heb.2:2), taking this from David's words (Ps.68:17).  It was Jesus who fulfilled the Law and brought salvation and grace so that we could live in righteousness (Heb.2:3-4, 9)

Personal experience:  I find it interesting when people complain or make fun of those who go to church, saying things like - "What a drag to be a Christian because you HAVE to go to church every week!" - or - "Churches are so institutional!  They just want your money!"

Meanwhile, people love to get together with others who have things in common, and will pay for the opportunity to do just that.  Satan uses that inclination to mock God in many different ways, mimicking the rituals and rites of church ceremonies.

Consider how many cults and religions have different forms of sacrifices.  Or they have different forms of initiations which mimic baptism and communion.

Even when one joins a gym or any other sort of membership club, you sign up and you are forced to pay for that service whether you frequent the place or not!  NOT to say that joining such an establishment is a sin, but it is interesting how religious people can get about staying committed to these "institutions", but struggle with the concept of attending church.

Today's takeaway:  God is so good!

We should DESIRE to go to church to not only learn more about Him, but to praise and worship Him for everything He has done for us!

And we should DESIRE to not only give a portion of our income which God has blessed us with, but also desire to serve Him and our fellow Christians with a portion of our time, energy, gifts and fellowship...

(Hebrews 10:19-39)  Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.