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Tag: Epistle to the Hebrews

Ministering Spirits

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in Hebrews, What’s new?.

Angels are ministering spirits

What does it mean that angels are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14)?

Hebrews 1:14 includes information about the ministry of elect angels to believers: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Angels are spiritual beings involved in many different tasks, and part of the elect angel’s work is to serve, or minister to, believers in different ways.

The Greek word for “ministering” refers to being in service to others. Being servants, angels are said to “serve” believers, which in the original Greek has the idea of someone waiting a table. The author of Hebrews refers to angels as ministers or servants to those who have trusted in Jesus for salvation, and the context of Hebrews 1 specifically contrasts the service of angels with the greater work of Jesus, since He is superior to angels (Hebrews 1:5–14).

As “ministering spirits,” angels serve believers in several ways. At times, angels are sent by God to answer prayers. An example of this is when Peter was imprisoned shortly after the execution of James (Acts 12). As Peter was in his cell chained between two guards, “the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (verse 5). “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists” (verse 7). The arrival of an angel to rescue Peter was an obvious answer to the church’s prayer. God can use angels to answer our prayers just as He did in this instance, even if it is not in a visible manner.

Another way that angels are ministering spirits is that they are sometimes sent to encourage believers. In Scripture, angels encouraged and attended the Lord Jesus at least twice: after He was tempted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43). Paul was encouraged by an angel during a storm at sea (Acts 27:23–24).

Providing protection for believers is another service that angels do for the Lord (see Psalm 91:11). An army of angels surrounded Elisha in 2 Kings 6, protecting him from the Arameans. Daniel was protected in the lions’ den by an angel who “shut the mouths of the lions” (Daniel 6:22). Many people believe in personal “guardian angels”; it could be that every believer has an angel assigned to him for protection, but there is nothing specifically stated in the Bible about personal guardian angels.

Despite the ministries that angels carry out for believers, it is important to remember that the Lord of hosts is our Savior, and He is the one who ultimately sends them. Angels do not act on their own accord, nor are they omniscient or omnipresent (Psalm 148:5). The holy angels do God’s bidding. It is God alone who deserves the praise and glory for the answered prayers, encouragement, protection, and service that angels carry out for believers.

We are grateful for the “ministering spirits” that God has ordained, and we give God praise for His care for us. For all their power and glory, the elect angels know their role as servants of the Most High. Like the angel in Revelation emphatically said to John when the apostle tried to worship him, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” (Revelation 22:9).

Godly fear

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in Hebrews, What’s new?.

What does it mean that Jesus had godly fear (Hebrews 5:7)?

Hebrews 5:7 says, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” The KJV translates “reverent submission” as “he feared,” implying that Jesus possessed godly fear. It sounds strange to hear that the Son of God feared God, but that was surely the case.

Godly fear and reverence are synonymous, denoting a profound respect infused with awe and admiration. Godly fear is not the panic induced by danger, but rather the amazement experienced when beholding a wondrous sight or standing in the presence of power and grandeur. In C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a character asks if the lion Aslan is safe. Mr. Beaver replies, “Safe? . . . Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you” (Collier Books, 1970, p. 75–76).

While the contemporary world may prefer a “safe” and indulgent god, Scripture portrays God as “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34:6‭–7‬, NLT). The godly fear we have of God stems from both His unfailing love and perfect holiness—God is not safe, but He is good.

‬‬‬‬ In His earthly life, Jesus exemplified the Perfect Man, giving a blueprint of true humanity. One of the things that characterized His earthly existence was an unwavering alignment with the Father’s will, in stark contrast to Adam’s rebellion. As part of His example, Jesus demonstrated godly fear by submitting to the Father’s will at all times. Even in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will in godly fear (Matthew 26:39)—what a contrast to Adam’s lack of submission in the garden of Eden. Jesus frequently made declarations that showed godly fear, such as, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).

In His perfect righteousness, Christ became the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, and those who trust in Christ are clothed with His righteousness. Yet His godly fear served a dual purpose—not only to be our righteousness but also to provide an example for Christian living. Paul stated, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‭–8‬‬).

‬‬‬‬ The book of Proverbs declares, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10a). Jesus, the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), perfectly exhibited godly fear. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody the same reverence toward God, leading to a life of wisdom.

Appointed unto men once to die

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in What’s new?.

What does it mean that it is appointed unto men once to die (Hebrews 9:27)?

Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (KJV). The Letter to the Hebrews focuses on the superiority of Jesus and the responsibility we have to pay attention to Him. Hebrews 9 emphasizes Jesus’ superiority in His role as the mediator of a new and eternally lasting covenant. Near the end of the context, the writer of Hebrews states that it is appointed unto men once to die (Hebrews 9:27). What the author means in saying this helps us understand another way in which Jesus is superior and worthy of our trust and our love.

First in this context, the writer explains that the first covenant—the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 19:5–6)—had its own regulations for worship (Hebrews 9:1–2). He specifically cites the tabernacle and its furnishings (Hebrews 9:2–5). When the tabernacle was constructed and operational, the priest would enter the outer part of the tabernacle regularly to present sacrifices (Hebrews 9:6). But, more rarely, the high priest would enter to bring sacrifices for sins committed in ignorance (Hebrews 9:7). The writer explains that the tabernacle and the regulations for worship there—including the continual sacrifices—illustrate that these things did not resolve the sin problem once and for all; rather, they looked forward to Someone who would (Hebrews 9:8–10). This is important for several reasons—one being that it is appointed unto men once to die (Hebrews 9:27).

While the priests entered a physical tabernacle made with human hands and had to offer sacrifices many times, Jesus entered the holy place not made with human hands and offered one perfect sacrifice—Himself—to resolve sin, providing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11–12). In this way Jesus resolved the problem of sin and death—a problem that destined people once to die. The sacrifices of the Mosaic Covenant were many and were temporary. They could not take away sin; they could only point to the need for that sin to be dealt with once and for all. Jesus, as the Perfect Sacrifice, was able to cleanse us from sin and free us from death (Hebrews 9:13–14).

When He did this, Jesus also became the mediator of a new covenant (predicted in Jeremiah 31). That covenant, for Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 31:31), would provide for the people to have forgiveness and to be God’s people (Jeremiah 31:34). The new covenant would be God’s way of resolving sin and death for the people of Israel and Judah. Jesus’ sacrifice not only provided eternal redemption for all who would trust in Him, but also provided the means for the new covenant to be fulfilled for Israel and Judah one day in the future—they also were stricken with the sin problem, because “it is appointed unto men once to die.” The old covenant did not provide righteousness to the people of Israel; it only showed the need for redemption in Christ (Galatians 3:24). Thus the new covenant is superior to the old covenant, and Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant is superior to Moses (Hebrews 9:15–22; 3:1–6).

Jesus’ sacrifice was once for all, not like the oft-repeated sacrifices the priests brought. And His sacrifice was effective as an acceptable sacrifice to the Father. By His own sacrifice He “put away sin” (Hebrews 9:26), thus resolving the problem of death that results from sin. It is appointed unto men once to die and after that to be judged (Hebrews 9:27). Because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, we no longer need to fear death because we will be raised in new life (1 Corinthians 15:20–21). We no longer need to fear judgment because it is by grace through faith that we are delivered from sin (Ephesians 2:8–9). We will not be condemned for sin because we are forgiven and made righteous in Jesus. When He comes again, it will not be for judging the sin of those who have been redeemed (Hebrews 9:28).

It is appointed unto men once to die, but Jesus has conquered sin and death, and for this reason, we must pay close attention to Him and what He has done and said (Hebrews 2:1).