Good morning. Welcome to Trinity Baptist Church. If you haven't already been welcomed,
we're going to be in Hebrews chapter one this morning. Did you guys enjoy last week in our
family day? It was such a great day and I see some faces that were here last week or back again this
week and we're just so grateful that you're here and we're going to have a great day in God's Word.
Today's sermon is among the texts that we're going to talk about is among some of the most
complex that I've preached since I've been here. And so I saw Lisa Bate, she's walking back right
now, but I saw that she posted something online this week that said, my pastor's really excited
that FIFA World Cup soccer's here because he likes seeing people struggle to make three points in 90
minutes. Shots fired. I think that's what's going on here. But if you want to be friends with her,
she's hilarious online. But anyway, I had four points planned for this morning. If you look at
your bulletins, you got your handy-dandy bulletins, and if you're, it's your first time here,
we have this little place where you can fill in blanks and keep notes. I think the more
sense is you engage as I teach, the more you'll remember and we're kind of aiming for life change
and belief change happens before life change. And so you'll see that I have four points this
morning, but I don't have four points. I've got two. But don't think I'm going to be short.
Am I scaring anybody? You guys are like, that's funny, pastor. No, it's going to be good.
This particular passage is our third in the series in Hebrews. We started a study in Hebrews,
and Hebrews really is a study not just in this New Testament book. It really becomes a study as
you walk through it, and you'll see this today. It becomes a study in the Old Testament as well,
because the person who's writing, and we don't know who wrote the book of Hebrews,
other than the Holy Spirit, we know he wrote it. God wrote a book and we know that. But he's writing
to primarily a Jewish audience, and actually there's a couple of different kinds of Jews
that he has in mind, and we'll go over that at some point. But as he kind of gets into this
particular book, what we're going to find out is that the theme of our series, Jesus is Greater,
really is the theme of the book of Hebrews. Jesus really is Greater. You'll find the word Better
strone out throughout all of this book, because Jesus is Greater. That's the point
that we're going to make over and over again, and I hope that it gets into your heart and into your
soul, and that you live that out in your life. Today, this particular passage really does focus on
Jesus' superiority to angels. Now, when I say the word angel, what kind of thing comes to mind
in your heart and mind? When you think about angels, what do you think about? Anybody think about
anything with wings? Okay, you have the angels. Some angels have wings that are described as having
wings. Share of them and share of them. Some do not. We're going to talk about that a little bit.
You think about, in our culture, you think about things like who remembers the series Touched by
an Angel. You've ever watched that? That went on for a long time. When I was a kid, there was a
movie called Angels in the Outfield. Do you remember seeing that? There's all kinds of stories,
and our culture has thoughts about angels, and of course, we know the Bible talks about that.
Talks about angels. The word angel means messenger, and we're going to find out today,
this is the point of the lesson, the point of the sermon today. Jesus is superior in every way.
He's superior to angels in four ways. We're going to get to two of them this week, and then we'll
hopefully get to two of them next week. I don't think I'll take more than two weeks to get to this.
But of course, we think about angels a lot this time of year, don't we? We do. What are some songs
with angels in them? Angels we have heard? Not yet. It's not even December. Come on, people. Hey,
be honest. Who has their tree up already? Who does not have their tree up already? Amen. Amen.
Let's get through Thanksgiving. We guess we kind of did, right? Amen. We think a lot about angels
this time of year, and you're going to see, we're going to talk about that a little bit today too.
Jesus really is superior in every way, and he's superior in these four ways that we're going to
talk about. Two of them today, two of them next Sunday. Okay? Here's the first way Jesus is superior
to angels. We're going to get this right from the text. Jesus has a superior name. He has a
superior name. He's the Son. They are worshipers. Now, I know I've introduced this sermon talking
about both Jesus and angels, but this is primarily a sermon on Jesus. We're going to learn a lot about
him today. Hebrews 1, 1-3, let's catch us up to where we've gotten so far. We've gotten through
three verses in the first two sermons. Here's what it says, God who at sundry times and in
diverse manners spake in times past under the fathers by the prophets. Okay? So God spoke
in times past as of this writing to under the fathers. Who are the fathers? That was the Jewish
patriarchs under the people in the Old Testament in various portions and in various ways. Diverse
times, diverse manners. That's what it calls sundry times, diverse manners. That's what the
scripture says. And it's talking about in many portions and in many ways God spoke and his
speaking was partial because it was not a full revelation. It was a partial revelation. It's
progressive revelation unto the fathers by the prophets. And he says, in these last days,
God has spoken. God has spoken unto us by his, who is it? Son. You see that word son? Who's the son?
Jesus is the son. Who is this Jesus? Verse two, whom he has appointed heir of all things.
Who owns everything? God does. Jesus does. He's the heir of it by whom also he made the world. Hey,
how did this world get here? God created it and Jesus was active in creation.
Christmas was not the, what we study is Christmas. This incarnation of Jesus wasn't his beginning.
It was him becoming flesh. He existed before the world began. He has always existed. He always
will exist. He's eternal. He says in verse three, who being the brightness of his glory, the express
image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he has by himself
purged our sins, sat down in the right hand of the majesty on high. Jesus Christ created the world
and he redeemed the world. He by himself bought back our sin. There was a, there's folks last week
that got saved. I'm so excited about that. That called in the name of the Lord to save them and
God could save them because Jesus paid the price for their sin. Jesus bore them, bore their sins
and the wrath for their sins on himself on the cross and shed his blood for the covering of their
of their sins and they're going to heaven today, not because they're super good. They're going to
heaven today because Jesus is good. That's why. So we've talked about this. God speaks, God has
spoken. God spoke in times past. He has spoken through his son and that's what we get when we
get to verse four. Okay. He says, let me just, let's run up to it again, who being the brightness of
his glory, the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of this power,
when he had by himself, purged our sins, sat down in the right hand of the majesty on high.
He sat down. That means the work of redemption is over.
And as he's sitting there at the right hand of the majesty on high,
verse four, he's being made so much better than the angels.
So much better than the angels as he by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Now,
I want to be real honest with you. There are portions of scripture that are milk and there's
portions of scripture that are bread. This is a portion of scripture that's meat. Okay. So you're
going to have to keep up with me a little bit and digest this as we go. Names seem to me to be more
important to people in biblical times than they are now. I found a good way to connect with people
is I do this with teenagers sometimes, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'll ask them their
name and they'll tell me I say, well, do you know what your name means? It amazes me how many people
don't know what their name means. Do you know what your name means? My name, Benjamin means
son of the right hand or favorite son. Don't you think I tell my brother that quite often?
His name is Shadrach. We call him Shad. That's a name that was given to the Hebrew children. It was
a Babylonian name and to their pagan God tribute to their pagan God. So my name means favorite son.
His name is a tribute to a pagan God. Got that Shad? All right. Okay.
Names, his other name is Joshua. Joshua Shadrach, Joshua Yeshua, Jesus, the name above all names.
He still doesn't know. Hasn't figured that out. Okay. Here we go. Names in biblical times meant
something. To be given a name was done on purpose. This is not uncommon, though, even in our day.
The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus Christ was given a more excellent name than they. Here
we introduce to the point of the rest of the chapter. Okay. Jesus Christ is being revealed as
so much better than the angels. Now, I want you to get something that will confuse you if you're
not careful. And verse four, it says, being made so much better. The word here translated made
is genomai, which is a change in state, not a change in existence from not existing to existing.
Some people will come to this verse and say in the English and the King James Bible and say,
oh, look, being made, see, Jesus was created. Jesus was not created. This is talking about his
incarnation. He went from not having a body to having a body. Are you with me? Okay. And so
this is not talking about being created. The author wants us to know that the revelation
about Christ is clear about his superior superiority of the angels. How do we know
he's superior? Well, the author uses a word here. He says by inheritance, this word inheritance,
an inheritance comes by being a relative, a son or daughter or an heir. What does this inheritance
do or prove that Christ obtained a more excellent name than they? The heir more often than not has
this has the same name as the one given the inheritance. So remember what's being proven
that Christ has a more superior name because he's obtained this better name. What is that better
name? The better name is son. It's son. The son is better than the servant. Remember, what's the
point? I've got two points today. You got to remember this point because I'm about to go into a bunch
of stuff. Here's the point. Jesus has a superior name. He's better than the angels. He's better
than everything, but he's better than the angels because he's the son. They're worshipers. He has
a better name. Now, let me talk a little bit about angels. In the created order, mankind is certainly
greater than the plants and the animals. Some people are really confused about that.
God created man in his own image. He did not create dogs in his own image. He did not create
animals in his own image, and he created man in his own image. And then he gave us a stewardship
over the earth. We are to have dominion over the earth and to subdue it. We have a stewardship
of the earth. We shouldn't purposely try to destroy the earth. We know that, but we do know that
there's going to be a new heaven and a new earth. Angels are also created beings, and as wonderfully
made as we are, they are created beings that are higher than man. What do you mean higher than man?
Well, Psalm 8 says this. Check this out. What is man? The Psalmist says that thou art mindful of man,
of him, and the Son of man that thou vices him. For thou hast made him a little, what does it say?
Lower than the angels and has crowned him with glory and honor. Thou made us him have
dominions over the work of thy hands. Thou hast put all things under his feet.
So we know that man in the created order is a little lower than the angels. A few facts you need to
know about angels. The first thing, this isn't in your notes, but think through this with me. Angels
are created beings. Angels are created. According to Scripture, there are a lot of them. Daniel
710 says, a fiery steam issued and came forth from before him. Thousands, thousands ministered unto
him and 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him talking about angels. The judgment was set and the books
were opened. In Revelation chapter 5, it says this, and I beheld and heard the voice of many angels
round about the throne and the beast and elders and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000
and thousands of thousands. How many are there? There's a lot. There's a lot. You may be thinking,
Pastor Ben, you believe that there's such a thing as angels? Absolutely. Absolutely. What were they
saying? They're saying with a loud voice, worthy as a lamb that was slain to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. In God's order of creation, angels are
higher than mankind. After the fall of Satan, there are no longer subject to sin and its effects.
I'm going through a lot here, but hang with me. They do not have flesh and blood, though they
do have bodies. We're told to be careful because we could entertain them. Unaware, as it says later
in Hebrews. What was their purpose? They give glory, worship, and service to God. Angels can appear
in different forms. Matthew 28, 3-4 describe an angel at Christ's resurrection this way. And behold,
there was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back
the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning and his raiment
white as snow. And for fear of him, the keepers did shake and became as dead men. Angels must be so
impressive as to cause fear at their appearance. Almost every time one appears in Scripture,
their first words to the person is what? Fear not. Don't be afraid. Some say, well, that's because
they startle people. Maybe. I think that would startle me if one just appeared to me. But I also
think that they're in their many forms. They can be rather impressive. Angels are intelligent. They
have emotions. The Bible describes angels rejoicing over a sinner who repents, for instance. Angels
do not marry. They're not given in marriage. The Bible says Mark chapter 12 verse 25, for when they
shall rise from the dead, neither talking about human beings, for when they shall rise from the
dead, they neither married nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels which are in heaven.
So we know that angels don't procreate. Angels must not die for not told any, we're not told
anywhere in the Scripture. I don't know this for sure, but we're not told of any angel dying. So it
may be that they're made all at once. They were made all at once in one number to which there are
none being added and none being taken away. Just an interesting thought. Angels are organized and
divided into ranks. The Scripture tells us Colossians 1.16 says this, for by him, by Jesus,
were all things created that are in heaven. You see that? And that are in earth, visible and
invisible. And did God create some things that are not visible to us? Yes, He did. Whether they be
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, do you see the different ranking and order? All
things were created by him and for him. Ephesians 1.20, we just went through this. Talking about
Christ, which he wrought in Christ when he raised it from the dead and set him at his own right hand
places, far above all what? Principality and power and might and dominion in every name that is named
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Speaking of fallen angels in 6.12, it says
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The word angel means
messenger. Messenger. They minister to God. They serve God. They do whatever God wants them to do.
They are spectators at times to the works of God and other times they're participant
in those works. Sometimes they're doing God's judgment. Sometimes you see in the Bible,
He's helped, they're part of helping God to judge. Sometimes they're a part of God's
a plan of redemption, not that they're executing redemption, but that they're
that they're helping in what He's wanting to do that's positive.
So that's a biblical that I just went through that very quickly and I'm sure I'm going to get
lots of questions today about angels. Let's talk about how the Jews themselves have viewed angels
because the book of Hebrews, has anybody can you tell by the name of the book who it's to?
It's to Jewish people. So how did they think about angels? Why if the author is making the case that
Jesus is superior and he's going to talk about Moses and he's going to talk about how he's
appeared to all kinds of other people, why does he start out with angels? Well the typical Jewish
view of angels would have been informed by both scriptures and traditional teaching of Jewish
teachers in that day. They believe that angels like the Bible says were created higher in the
order than man. They were the closest thing to God without being God themselves. Some believe that
God did not do anything without consulting angels. There are some Jewish people that believe that
angels are like a Senate. There's like an angelic Senate and that God did not do anything.
For instance there are some because they did not understand the Trinity. They don't recognize
the second person of the Trinity at times. They saw in Genesis where the Bible says let us make
man in our image and the image of God created him there male and female. There are some that believe
he's not talking about the Trinity. He's talking about angels. The us is let's talk, he's talking
to the angels. That was part of what they thought. Of course we understand that God is one but there
are three persons in the Trinity. The angels didn't create the world. God did. They believe the angels
were, they also believe that angels were used to deliver the first covenant to them. This set them
talking about angels in high esteem with a Jewish audience. And we see some New Testament kind of
approach to this. In Acts chapter seven you have the Stephen who was a martyr who was being
martyred. This is what he said. He's talking to the Pharisees that killed Jesus. He says you
stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. You do always resist the Holy Ghost as your
fathers did. So do ye which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted and they have slain
them which showed before of the coming of the just one? Who's the just one? Jesus, right? Of whom
you have now been the betrayers and murderers whom have received the law by the disposition of
angels and have not kept it. So the Holy Spirit allowed what Stephen said here about how they got
the law that it was ministered to them at least in some way by angels. How? I don't know but the
Holy Spirit left that in there. Okay. Did they have a high view of angels? Did they? They did.
Galatians 319. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions till the
sea should come to whom the promise was made and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
This is the apostle Paul's comment on angels. Many people though, they're right to have a high view
of angels but some of them had too high of you of angels. Some wrongly worshiped angels. Paul says
something about this in Colossians chapter number two. Let no man beguile you of your reward and a
voluntary humility of worshiping of angels and treating into those things which he hath not seen
vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind. You know Satan's an angel and you know what his number one
desire is? He wants to be worshiped. He wants to be worshiped and so there are some that would do
that. Since the author of Hebrews has a Jewish audience in mind and since his desire is to
sow Jesus's superiority in every way, he decided by the Holy Spirit to start with Christ's superiority
to angels. So do you understand a little bit of how they thought? Here's where we get into back
to verse number four. Here's what he says, being made so much better than the angels as he by his
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than day. Let's talk a little bit about that different
more excellent name. Jesus Christ has a different and more excellent name than the angels and thereby
shows that he has a different position relative to the Father. To what name is the author referring?
He's referring to him being the Son. Now this was a big deal and the Jewish reader would have
understood this. Look at verse five. Now you're going to see this over and over in the book of
Hebrews and over and over in this chapter. When he says in verse five, for unto which of the
angels said he at any time. Okay and when he says this he's going to say it over and over again in
this passage he's referring to what God said through Old Testament writings. Okay so this is the
author now quoting the Old Testament. This is why I say a study in Hebrews is a study at some level
in the Old Testament. Okay stay with me. Are you guys with me? Okay. For which of the angels said
he at any time? Did he tell any angel what he's about to say? Okay. Thou art my Son, this day
have I begotten thee. And again I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son. Now let me
ask you before you do any study. Did God ever say to any angel you're my Son today I've begotten you?
What's the answer? No. See Jesus is superior. He has a different name.
Did he ever say I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son? Let's just talk about two
passages as we get through this point. That first quote for unto which of the angels he said at any
time thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee. That was the Father's declaration in Psalm chapter
2 verse 7. In Psalm 2 verse 7 it says this I will declare the decree the Lord hath said unto me
thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee. This is the point that the author makes about Jesus
being called the Son. Being begotten of the Father. He's the only Son because he's the only one begotten
of the Father. Now what does it mean to be begotten? What does it mean to be begotten? Probably the
most famous verse in the Bible has that word begotten doesn't it? You know it John 3 16 say it
with me for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believe it
then him should not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus is the only begotten Son. There are
times when we're called sons and daughters of God those who know Christ. There are times where
angels are called sons of God but they're not begotten sons. See I was begotten of Dennis Jennings
and Melanie Jennings right? Now God knew knew me in the womb the Bible says he you guys believe that?
Not me specifically. Who believes that God knows about babies in the womb? God values life in the
womb. They're human life from the moment of conception. But I'm not begotten in the way that
Jesus was begotten. Jesus has eternally existed as the second person of the Trinity. So how is
he begotten? The Bible refers to him being begotten in two ways. He has begotten through his
incarnation at the virgin conception and birth. Luke 1 35 says this and the angel this is the
angel talking. Interesting there's an angel in this verse talking to Mary. She says how am I going
to have a baby? I've never known a man. Right? And the angel answered and said to her the Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also
that holy thing which shall be born of these shall be called what? The Son of God. He gets a new name.
He gets a new name. This is the better name to which the author refers. He's called the Son
the angels are not called the Son. He's the Son. Why? The Son of God Jesus Christ did not come to
be at his conception in incarnation. He was given the title of Son at his incarnation when he was
begotten of the Father. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall
overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son
of God. Now why was that important? He was fully God and fully man.
The second way he's declared to be begotten as the Son is in the resurrection.
In Acts chapter 13 there's a little bit of digging you have to do to get here
but stay with me. It's really interesting. Here's a great way to study your Bible. When
a New Testament author quotes an Old Testament author it's good to find out if any other New
Testament author quoted that same passage and that's exactly what happens here. Paul and this
is part of the argument some people make to say that Paul is the author of Hebrews. I don't think
that he is. We can have coffee and argue about it. It'll be fine. Okay. But Paul talks about this
same verse Psalm chapter 2 verse 7. Today I've begotten you. You'll be my son. Today I've begotten
you. This is what he says and look how he refers to this verse in Acts chapter 13. Okay. It says
this in verse 26. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham and whosoever among you
feareth God to you is the word of this salvation set. For they that dwell at Jerusalem and their
rulers because they knew him not nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every
Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him. Let me pause. This is Paul. He's at Antioch
Pisidia. Okay. A different Antioch than the one in Greece. One where he went and he gets the chance to
preach the gospel like Paul does all the time and he's speaking to a Jewish audience when he's
doing it right here. And he says, this is so cool. Hey, I want to tell you what just recently happened.
The news you haven't gotten yet is this. Those that dwell in Jerusalem because they knew him
not nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day. The Old Testament talks
about this guy Jesus who we have met. They have fulfilled them the voice of the prophets in condemning
him. And though they found no cause of death in him Jesus yet desired they desired they pilot.
These are the the Jewish rulers desired that pilot should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all
that was written of him. And by the way, this crucifixion that they wrote about him going through
that was written that was written about in Psalm chapter 22 and Isaiah chapter 53. Do you get it?
All the things the prophets said they were instrumental in fulfilling.
And when that had happened they took him down from the tree and laid him
in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead. And when he was seen many days of them which came
up from Galilee to Jerusalem, who's that? That's all his disciples who were his witnesses under
the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings. Good news. What's the good news?
What's the good news? What's the good news? The gospel, right? How that the promise which was made
unto the fathers God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children and that he raised up Jesus again
as it is also written in the second Psalm. Here it is. Thou art my son this day have I be gotten thee.
What's the day? Resurrection Sunday. And as concerning that he raised up him up from the dead
now no more to return to corruption. He said on that wise I will give you now this is so cool.
I will give you the sure mercies of who? David. Paul sees Psalm 25. Thou art my son this day
have I be gotten thee. The same way the author of Hebrews did. Jesus being declared a son
and begotten of the father was not only in his birth but was also in his resurrection. Paul
say prove it Pastor Ben. Oh I just did in Acts but let me prove it again in Romans. Romans chapter
one verse three says concerning his son. You see it? Who's son? God's son. Jesus Christ our Lord
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. What is that? That's it Bethlehem.
He's a seed of David. He's born in the town of David. He's of the line of David.
And declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of wholeness. Why?
By the resurrection from the dead. You see it? Because Jesus was declared to be the son of God
with power through the incarnation. The conception and the virgin birth. Because Jesus was declared
to be the son of God with power through the resurrection from the dead for our sins. We
know that Jesus Christ is superior in every way to angels. He has obtained the name of son. A
name that they were never given. He is the only begotten son. He has a superior name. He is a son.
They are, what are they? They're worshipers. Look at verse six and again when he bringeth
in the first begotten in the world he saith and let all the angels of God worship him.
This is a quote from Psalm 97. Let all the angels of God worship him. Deuteronomy 32-43 from the
Septuagint. Which was the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The angels of God are mighty
and wonderful. They're above men but they are not worshiped by God and should not be worshiped by men.
They worship God. He doesn't worship them. In fact when Christ was born into the world,
what happened? Angels showed up. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will toward men.
When he was resurrected from the dead the angels were there to announce his resurrection.
It says in verse seven, another angel saith, he maketh his angel spirits and his ministers
aflame a fire. They worship him because he has a superior name. He is the son. They are worshipers.
That leads us very quickly to our second and possibly the last point for the day.
And it's closely aligned to this first point. He has a superior name. He's the son. They're
worshipers. Number two, he has a superior position. He is the king. They are what? Servants. They're
servants. Look back in verse five. He says, for under which of the angels saith he at any time,
thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. And again I will be to him a father and he shall be
to my son, me to be a son. In verse five, we've already mentioned the first quotation. This
quotation that says I will be to him a father and he'll be to me a son. But there's another quote
in that verse. He says, and again, you see in verse five, and again I will be to him a father
and he shall be to me a son. This is another quote from the Old Testament. I want you to get this.
This is so cool. This is so cool. At least I think it's cool. I hope you think it's cool. All right.
He's quoting 2 Samuel chapter seven verse 14. Let's read the full context starting in verse 12.
This is Nathan speaking by God to David. Okay, Nathan was a prophet. David was the king.
Right? And this is what God says through Nathan to David. Verse 12. And when thy days be fulfilled
and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out
of thy bowels and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will
establish the throne of his kingdom. How long? Forever. I will be his father and he shall be my
son. There's the quote. If he commit iniquity, I will chase him with the rod of men and with the
stripes of the children of men. But my mercy shall not depart away from him as I took it from Saul,
whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established. How long?
Forever before thee thy throne shall be established forever. God only has a say at once, but he doesn't
just say at once. How long will David's kingdom be established forever? This is part of the Davidic
covenant. God tells David that his house and his throne shall be established forever. It's established
forever. The prophecy had an immediate fulfillment in Solomon in the national sense. God had told
David, you're not going to set up a temple, but I'm going to let your son set up a temple, and
that's exactly what happened. In a larger and more incredible sense, it refers to David's
greater son of another nature who was it, Jesus. Because in Hebrews chapter one verse eight, it says,
but unto the son he saith, here it is, thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. O scepter of righteousness
is the scepter of thy kingdom. Almost every one of these verses that he's quoting, almost every
one refer to back to the Davidic covenant. See, Jesus Christ was born in the line of David.
And what is his position by being an heir, the heir of all things that we saw in verse two?
You guys got your bibles open? Look back at verse two. What does it say?
Let me get there too. He becomes an heir, right? Hath in these days spoken undisputed by
some whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom he also created the world. By being an heir,
and by having obtained through an inheritance a name that is greater than the angels, he's also
been given a throne. And this throne is not just a theoretical throne. The Lord Jesus Christ,
the only begotten Son of God, will rule and reign on the throne of David forever,
just as God promised. Do you guys believe that? Who thinks he'll do a better job than what we
currently got? That's not hard, right? I don't care what letter you got next to your name, Jesus
is going to do way better. Way better. He will be a benevolent dictator. He will have art.
If he died for me, I think he has a right to lead. I think I can trust him.
Look at what it says in verse nine.
Above thy fellows. There was a near fulfillment in the Psalm referring to Solomon sitting on the
throne of David. But we find that this quote through progressive revelation gives us insight in
Hebrews 1-8 and 9. It refers to one greater than Solomon. This is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ,
who is Jesus Christ as a son and heir. He is the king that will sit on the throne to rule and to
reign. Who then are the angels? Well, verse seven tells us. And of the angels, he saith,
who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire. Here's the point. Point number one,
he is the son, they're worshipers. Here's point number two, he is the king. They're his servants.
He is the king. They are his servants.
Isn't this exactly what's predicted in Revelation?
I know it's on the screen, but can everybody grab your Bibles and go to Revelation chapter five?
I'm going to say in conclusion, and you can believe me.
In conclusion, check out Revelation chapter number five.
Now, before I read this, I want you to know there were dozens of predictions written hundreds of years
before Jesus's first coming that all came true. There are dozens of predictions about his second
coming. And if his first coming came true, you better believe that the second set of predictions
are going to come true. Okay? This in Revelation chapter five, we are taken up into heaven.
And there's a lot of mystery to this, but there's some that's really clear. Okay?
Revelation chapter five, start in verse one. What's the point? He is the king. They are
their servants. Their servants. Okay? And I saw on the right hand of him that was sat on the throne
a book written within and on the backside sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong, what is it?
Angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof
and no man in heaven nor in earth nor under the earth was able to open the book, neither to look
thereon. And I went much, this is John writing, I went much because no man was found worthy to open
and read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders sayeth unto me, weep not, behold,
the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, the root of the tribe of Judah, the root of David,
the root of David, who is that? hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof,
and I beheld and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the
elders stood a lamb, as it has been, as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book
out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four
beasts and four elders and 20 elders fell down before the lamb, having everyone them harpsons,
gold and vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song,
saying thou art worthy, Jesus, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for
thou wasst slain, and hast redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred and tongue and
people and nation, and has made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld and heard the voice of many, what is it, angels, rounded out the throne and the beast
and the others, and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud, vote, listen, if you don't like loud music, you're not going to like heaven.
It's going to be loud. What's their new song? Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power
and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing in every creature which is in
heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are on the sea and all that are in them
heard I say, blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne
and unto the lamb forever and ever. And the four beasts said, what'd they say? Amen. And the four
and 20 elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever. Isn't that good?
I said all of that to say this. If we are a little lower than the angels,
if they're superior to us, and yet Jesus Christ has been given a greater name than they,
he's the Son, they are worshipers, then shouldn't we tremble in the presence of God
to worship him and honor him with our hearts and our lips and our lives? If he's the Son
and their worshipers and they're a little bit above us, but he's far superior to them and us,
shouldn't we offer him the best worship we possibly can? And worship isn't just what we do
when we sing. And it's not just what we do when we gather here. Worship happens with our entire lives.
Who's worthy? He is worthy. Who's unworthy? Point to who's unworthy.
It's called grace. There's no one here that's better than anybody else in that sense.
It's all level at the foot of the cross. Why is he worthy? Because he's the one who was slain.
He has a better name. He's the only begotten of the Father. He's the only one that's resurrected
out of his own power. And he said this because I live, you can live also. If he can resurrect
himself out of the grave, he can resurrect you out of the grave. If he's the eternally existent one
who sits on a throne as a king and will come back one day to conquer and to sit forever on that throne
of David, to rule and to reign forever. And the angels are his servants. Shouldn't we serve him too?
Teaching a Sunday's class. Helping out at the doors. Being kind to a neighbor.
Speaking up with the gospel when it's more convenient to be silent. Who's worthy?
He's worthy of our service. He's worthy of our worship. Jesus is greater. Shouldn't we worship?
Shouldn't we worship rightly?
When we gather together, the music isn't for you.
Not really. Who's it for? It's for him. We're not worshiping ourselves. It's not about what we want.
It's about him. When we serve each other. Here's what's so cool. God says, hey, serve me. Okay,
Jesus, how do I serve you? Love other people. He doesn't need anything from us.
He doesn't need anything from us. We need a lot from him. He says, when you give a cold cup of
water in my name, you've done it to someone who needs it. You've done it unto me.
He is worthy.
Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof. For Thou has slain
and has redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.
Every kindred and tongue and people and nation. Every kingdom and tongue and people and nation.
Jesus died for you. Jesus died for you. He didn't just die for the Jews. He didn't just die for the
pretty people. He didn't die for the people who were pretty moral. Just them. There's no one that's
really that moral. We're all messed up. We're all messed up. We just have, we have different flavors
of sins. Your sin flavor may not be my sin flavor, but Jesus died for me and he died for you.
We ought to worship. We ought to serve if for no other reason than this Jesus did not die for any
angels, but he came and died for you and for me. The Bible says this in Romans chapter 10.
Who are, whosoever believeth in him shall not be ashamed. That word ashamed doesn't mean
you won't be embarrassed by the fact that you believe in him. It means that if you put your
trust in him, you put your full weight on him. He's never going to let you down. If he says
you can be saved, put your call in the name of the Lord and you'll be saved.
Believe in your heart that Jesus has lowered and confessed with your mouth.
If you do that, if you put your faith in him, he won't let you down. He who comes to me, he says,
I will in no wise cast out for whosoever, for whosoever, for whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved. He's way better than the angels. And when we acknowledge that he's who,
he said he was and that he can take away our sin, that he was slain for our sins,
we can know heaven as our home. And then as he makes us his kid,
then he empowers us to live a life that honors him and to worship him and to serve him,
a life that gives him glory and honor because of what he's done for us.
Would you bow your heads and close your eyes on me this morning?
Let me ask you a question. If you were to die today,