Hebrews 1:3b-14 "Christ Above the Angels"

Read Hebrews 1:3b-14.

"'Let all the angels worship him."' NIV

People have had a fascination with angels for centuries. Their power and abilities has always been a mystery to mankind. And because of their invisible eternal quality, we have never really been able to pin down who they are. The Scripture speaks some about angels, and the author of Hebrews here makes it very clear that they are not equal in any way to Jesus Christ, the Son.

The Jews revered the angels because the law given at Sinai involved angels. So Hebrews is making sure that the Messianic Jews understood the angels place in the hierarchy.

What I love about this passage is not so much where the angels are in relation to Christ because I already believe they are below Christ. But this passage says so much more about Christ's relationship to the Father and His status as God. He is placed over the angels and made equal with the Father. Christ was at the creation of the world. He is the one who completed the purification for sins. He sits at the right hand of the Father. All beings, including angels worship Him. Even His enemies are a footstool for His feet. Christ's superiority is clearly established.

Then the author closes out the chapter reminding us that angels are just ministering spirits sent to serve us, the redeemed. While that is comforting in itself, that I serve a Master that is God of all is so much more.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look up the verses regarding angels that the author of Hebrews sites.
2. Do you rely on angels to guard you or the power of Christ who lives within you?
3. Read Billy Graham's book "Angels, Angels, Angels." Fascinating read.

Colossians 2:9-10 "The Fullness"

Read Colossians 2:9-10.

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives...." NIV

Wow, I don't think I've ever realized the richness of Colossians before. I can't move forward more than a couple of verses at a time. I keep getting stopped dead in my tracks.

Here, Paul is very clearly declaring the divinity of Christ. The fullness of the Deity would be all power and authority that God holds, Christ equally holds. There is no separation of duties, no hierarchy of position. Equal beings with equal powers. One and the same.

Paul is obviously addressing the heresy of the Gnostics that was so rampant at the time. But his "proclamations" (See May 2nd post.) of Christ as Deity is relevant to the foundations of the beliefs of all Christians. If we are going to be Christ-followers, rooted in Him and His power, we must know that we are following the one true God. God incarnate -- full and complete though in human form. And that is exactly what Paul is declaring here.

I love the word, fullness. Christ was not just part God. He didn't just get the spectacular miracle-worker part. He didn't just embody the great orator portion of God. He was completely God in all aspects. He was the all-knowing, all-seeing God. Nothing was hidden from Christ in knowledge or power. He was all He could be as God.

Now here's the kicker -- because Christ was all He could be as God (fullness of the Deity), we are all we can be in Christ (been given fullness in Christ.) I am absolutely as complete in Him as I can be on this earth. What all that completeness includes will be discussed in the rest of Chapter 2, but for right now, I just bask in the great mystery and wonder that I have been given fullness in Christ. And in that fullness, I am truly free!

Further Thoughts:

1. Search for other passages that address the Deity of Christ.
2. We will continue to grow while on this earth, but do you live as one that is complete in Christ? If no, what needs to change?
3. How would your life change if you truly lived the fullness of Christ?

Matthew 17:1-13 "And We Shall Be Changed"

Read Matthew 17:1-13.

"There he was transfigured and his clothes became as white as the light." NIV

The word, "transfigured" in the original Greek is "metamorfovw" (pronounced metamorphoo, which is obviously where we get our word, "metamorphosis.") It means "to change into another form, to transform." It's just like a caterpillar entering a cocoon and emerging as a beautiful, soaring butterfly. Jesus' appearance changed to where He literally shone with the glory of the Almighty.

Romans 12:2 uses the exact same word when it says to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Then in 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul tells us that "we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." As Christ was changed, so we are being continually changed in His likeness with His glory shining from our lives. But it only happens through the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we must choose to live Christ-like lives, but it is through surrender to His Spirit and His work in our lives that we can shine for His glory. It is not something we do; it is a state of being that He creates within us. And it takes time and submission. The caterpillar must surrender to the confines of the cocoon to be changed into its new form. In the same way, we die to self to take on His glory.

Further Thoughts:

1. Read through the other accounts of the transfiguration in Mark and Luke. How are they similar/How are they different than Matthew's account? What new truths can you glean from the other perspectives?
2. Do you shine with Christ's glory? If no, why not? What is stopping His glory?