💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
Scripture
Points
- What are some common ideas about angels today?
- Angels are quite popular in society today, even amongst non-Christians and people who haven’t even read the Bible.
- Many books and movies are about angels.
- Although our society is fascinated with angels, the church has largely been silent on angels.
- Without a biblical understanding of angels, there are great dangers. We can become susceptible to the deceptions of fallen angels.
- Mohammad received the Quran from someone he believed and taught to be the angel Gabriel
- Joseph Smith likewise received the Book of Mormon from a supposed angel named Moroni
- But Paul taught us to test the angels and to be wary of false gospels from fallen angels. Galatians 1:8
- We must also be careful not to be overly fixated on angels.
- Most depictions of angels in our culture are a made up product of human imagination, but these are not in line with what we see in the Bible.
- What does the bible teach about angels?
- Angels are always masculine. There are no female angels in the bible
- They can travel instantly
- They are immaterial spirits. Hebrews 1:14
- They do not have a physical body (though they have, on occasion temporarily taken a physical body)
- They do not all have wings. Only the cherubim and seraphim
- There’s no indication that they age.
- They are created but they exist for all eternity
- They are terrifyingly powerful beings1.
- e.g. In Genesis 3, angels guard Eden with flaming swords
- Exodus 14 says an angel held the entire army of Pharaoh at bay
- In Revelation, the angels battle with the dragon and overcome it.
- Angels are creatures created by God.
- Not spiritually evolved humans.
- The bible shows no indication whatsoever that humans have or ever will become angels.
- 1 Corinthians 6:3: we humans will judge the angels
- God sent His only Son to die for humans, not for angels.
- Blaise Pascal: We are the scum and the glory of the universe.
- He’s referring to how we are sinners in the sight of God, and yet God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place.
- 1 Peter 1:12 : the angels desire to know the plans of God
- Hebrews 1:14 : the angels are ministering (serving) spirits sent out to do service for those who will be saved.
- Takeaways:
- We should have a biblical-only view of angels. Not the false view from our secular culture.
- We should never allow angels to replace God.
- For many people, an angel is preferable to God. We want a guardian angel, but are uninterested in God.
- We want a personal guardian angel who is out our beck and call.
- This preference for angels is an offense to God: Exodus 20:3-6.
- We are told to have no other gods before Him.
- For many people, an angel is preferable to God. We want a guardian angel, but are uninterested in God.
- We must never worship angels:
- Colossians 2:18-19 : Paul taught not to worship angels.
- Revelation 19:9-10 : John worshipped an angel, yet the angel refused him and told John to direct his worship to God.
- We were never told to pray to angels.
- In our text we see some ways that angels are ministers:
- Psalm 34:7: God’s angel protects and delivers those who fear God.
- Are there examples of angels serving in the bible? Yes:
- In Daniel 3, the men refused to worship an idol. They were condemned to death but an angel saved them.
- In Daniel 6, Daniel was thrown into the Lion’s den but God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.
- Acts 12:5-7 : God sent an angel to bust Paul out of prison.
- Elisha and his servant were also delivered thanks to angels.
- Psalm 91:11:
- Angels also give guidance and messages from God.
- The word angel in Hebrew actually means messenger. They deliver messages from God.
- Genesis 16:7-9: God sent a message to Hagar
- Genesis 19:16-19 God sent angels to Lot in Sodom, to warn them of the coming danger
- The angels sent the message that God would send the judge Samson in Judges 13.
- Angels appeared many times with many messages in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
- the angels even ministered to Jesus when he was recovering from his temptation in the dessert. (Matthew 4).
- both Stephen and Paul say that the word was given to us by the ministry of angels.
- Angels also provide comfort, strength, and encouragement
- Elijah fled persecution from Jezebel
- Daniel 10:18-19
- Hebrews 1:14: the angels are ministering spirits
- Angels also serve as God’s ministers of judgment:
- God used angels to scatter the people of Israel, Babylon, Nineveh
- to kill the first born in Egypt
- Acts 12 shows us that an angel smote Herod with worms
- The angels derive their power and authority from God.
- Apart from God they can do nothing.
- In Psalm 103:
- God commands the angels to worship Him.
Application
- When we learn about angels in the bible then we learn far more about God.
- It teaches us that God is actively involved in this world.
- God did not make this world and leave it and forget it
- Colossians 1:17 God holds all things together. The world could continue without, but it could not go on without God.
- He is to be worshipped by all men and all angels.
- Many people do not bless the LORD, nor worship God.
- We cannot worship God without the work of Christ.
- It teaches us that God is actively involved in this world.
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions
Footnotes
Footnotes
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Despite this, cherubim are depicted as flying babies in our culture. 🤦🏼♂️ ↩