We just started a sermon series from the book of Hebrews...a series I have entitled: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.
We began this study last week. It’s a great book to study for the summer. We do not know who wrote the book of Hebrews, but we learn more about the divine nature of our Lord and His heavenly authority from Hebrews than from any other place in scripture.
We also get a glimpse at where we fit into the heavenly scheme of things. Despite being loved and cherished by God, in the grand scheme of things we are somewhat incidental.
In Hebrews chapter two we find out that mankind was created a rank below angelic beings (vs. 7). This notion flies in the face of western contemporary Christian thought. Christians today seem to think that it is all about us, that we are the reason for everything. But we learn in Hebrews that when it comes to the heavenly ranking of beings, we are little more than an enlisted private in God’s army. We are valuable to God, but it’s not all about us.
Continuing in chapter two we find that our Lord Jesus became an enlisted private, a man just like us. Like us, Jesus was created a little lower than the angels (vs. 9). This is really an incredible insight when you begin to consider the ramifications...ramifications that are a little too technical and weighty for a sermon maybe.
Let me explain in the limited space I have left on this page. You see Satan is an angel (Exe. 28:14). He was created to be the most beautiful and powerful of all angels, a guardian cherub. Though Satan was a beautiful and powerful angel; he became proud and corrupt (vs. 17). The writer of Hebrews is telling us that when Jesus became a man, He lowered himself in rank to be a little lower than the angels which includes the most beautiful angel of all, Satan.
Jesus Christ, His life and ministry, was an incredible expression of God’s power and might. God took something, the Christ, who was created a little lower than Satan and defeated him with it. This was the heavenly equivalent of, “I’m going to show you! Satan, I can defeat you with both hands tied behind my back!” What God is saying in the Genesis 3:15 prophecy is, “Satan, I am going to take something lower than you and defeat you with it!”
So you see, in the grand scheme of things, we are incidental. Yes we are loved by God. Yes Jesus came and died for us. Yes God values us; we are made in His image. But it’s not all about us. God would have defeated Satan whether He needed to save us or not. God chose to defeat Satan and save us at the same time because of His love for us. But in the grand scheme of things...we are incidental...it’s not about us. Remember: God created us to worship Him. Really, it’s all about Him.
We began this study last week. It’s a great book to study for the summer. We do not know who wrote the book of Hebrews, but we learn more about the divine nature of our Lord and His heavenly authority from Hebrews than from any other place in scripture.
We also get a glimpse at where we fit into the heavenly scheme of things. Despite being loved and cherished by God, in the grand scheme of things we are somewhat incidental.
In Hebrews chapter two we find out that mankind was created a rank below angelic beings (vs. 7). This notion flies in the face of western contemporary Christian thought. Christians today seem to think that it is all about us, that we are the reason for everything. But we learn in Hebrews that when it comes to the heavenly ranking of beings, we are little more than an enlisted private in God’s army. We are valuable to God, but it’s not all about us.
Continuing in chapter two we find that our Lord Jesus became an enlisted private, a man just like us. Like us, Jesus was created a little lower than the angels (vs. 9). This is really an incredible insight when you begin to consider the ramifications...ramifications that are a little too technical and weighty for a sermon maybe.
Let me explain in the limited space I have left on this page. You see Satan is an angel (Exe. 28:14). He was created to be the most beautiful and powerful of all angels, a guardian cherub. Though Satan was a beautiful and powerful angel; he became proud and corrupt (vs. 17). The writer of Hebrews is telling us that when Jesus became a man, He lowered himself in rank to be a little lower than the angels which includes the most beautiful angel of all, Satan.
Jesus Christ, His life and ministry, was an incredible expression of God’s power and might. God took something, the Christ, who was created a little lower than Satan and defeated him with it. This was the heavenly equivalent of, “I’m going to show you! Satan, I can defeat you with both hands tied behind my back!” What God is saying in the Genesis 3:15 prophecy is, “Satan, I am going to take something lower than you and defeat you with it!”
So you see, in the grand scheme of things, we are incidental. Yes we are loved by God. Yes Jesus came and died for us. Yes God values us; we are made in His image. But it’s not all about us. God would have defeated Satan whether He needed to save us or not. God chose to defeat Satan and save us at the same time because of His love for us. But in the grand scheme of things...we are incidental...it’s not about us. Remember: God created us to worship Him. Really, it’s all about Him.