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Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
Mount
Baker
Beacon
Volume 02, Number 30
07/23/2023
Published
by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ
Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692
Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
Web site:
Mt. Baker church
Editor......John Bass
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In this issue:
“Angels:
Origin and Purpose”
Steven J. Wallace
“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false
humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not
seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind” (Col. 2:18).1
There is always a lot of interest and wild imagination regarding the subject
of angels. Hollywood has cashed in on the subject by making various shows to
capture the interest of the people in the world with “Touched by an Angel,”
“City of Angels,” “Angels in the Outfield,” and others. Like today, angels
interested those in the first century—some even
worshiped them!
Where did angels come from?
The Bible teaches that angels are created beings.
Speaking of man, the Holy Spirit says, “You have made him a little
lower than the angels…” (Heb. 2:7). This seems to imply that angels were
therefore made a little higher than man. In Psalm 148 we find angels
poetically mentioned with the sun, moon, stars, the heavens of heavens, and
waters above the heavens praising the Lord. The reason? “…For He commanded
and they were created” (Psa.148:5). Although angels are great, the Lord
alone is to be exalted (Psa. 148:13). His name is greater than anything
found on earth, in the heavens, or above the heavens. Although notable
beings, angels are not worthy of worship because they are
creatures—supernatural creatures, but still creatures, nonetheless.
We can also know that angels were created good and have the freedom of
choice to do good or evil.
The apostle Peter stated, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned,
but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of
darkness, to be reserved for judgment” (2 Pet. 2:4). God did not spare them
when they sinned. “Sinned” is from a Greek word that means to miss the
mark and wander from the path. Jude mentions that some angels did
not keep their proper domain (Jude 1:6). Since they have sinned, they
have the choice to do good or evil. Further, in order to sin, they must have
law and are held accountable to that law. However, unlike man, Jesus didn’t
die to redeem angels (Heb. 2:15, 16).
What is true with angels is also true of Satan. “He who sins is of the
devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose
the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil”
(1 Jn. 3:8, emp. added, SJW).
What purpose did angels serve?
Like any creature, there is a purpose in its creation.
Angels were created to worship and serve God.
Hebrews 1:6, “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He
says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’”
Angels were created to minister in things pertaining to salvation.
Hebrews 1:7, “And of the angels He says: ‘Who makes His angels spirits And
His ministers a flame of fire.’” They are ministering spirits sent forth to
minister (Heb. 1:14). The idea is that angels are quick to administer the
service commanded of them. Recall how suddenly the chariot of fire appeared
for Elijah (2 Kin. 2:11). Later, Elisha prayed that one could see those who
were with him, and he was able to see the mountain full of horses and
chariots of fire (2 Kin. 6:15-17). Angels served in announcing the births of
Samson and Jesus (Jud. 13:3, 4; Matt. 1:20, 21).
Angels were created to assist in judgment.
Two angels went down into Sodom to see the status of the city and give a
warning to Lot (Gen. 18:20-22; 19:1ff). They were involved in the judgment
of the city. An angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night (2
Kin. 19:35).
Angels had a part in administering the law
(Gal. 3:19; Acts 7:53; Heb. 2:2; Rev. 1:1). We find them administering
information to certain men such as Elijah, Joseph, and Philip (2 Kin. 1:15;
Matt. 2:13; Acts 8:26).
Angels were created to administer to Jesus.
We read of them doing this after His temptation (Mk. 1:12, 13).
Many other things could be listed. Angels are seen in Scripture opposing
evil men, assisting godly men, opening prison doors, etc. Paul said an angel
stood by him while he was in the storm in Acts 27:23-25.
We could spend time in another article looking at some things angels can
presently do. But let’s be assured that they cannot add to or subtract from
the instruction revealed in the gospel (Gal. 1:6- 10). Salvation is only
discovered through the written word. Take advantage of it today! The angels
in heaven want you to (Lk. 15:10)!
1
Unless noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James
Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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THE ROCK
Craig Thomas
In Psalm 28 David pours out his heart to the Lord for
His aid, comfort, and protection. May we learn from David’s example that
the Lord is the only true “Rock” (v.
1) upon which we can build our lives. Jesus addressed this when He told the
story of the contrast between the “wise man who built his house on the
rock” versus the “foolish man who built his house on the sand” (Matt.
7:24-27). Anyone with even a cursory understanding of sound construction
principles knows that when the “rains descended, the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat upon” those two houses what the result would be.
The wise man’s house “did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”
On the contrary, the “foolish” man’s house “fell”; and “great
was its fall.” The obvious point is not construction principles; it is
life principles! The wiseman’s life remained solid, serene, and pleasing to
God because he built his life on hearing and obeying God’s Word (Matt.
7:24). The foolish man’s life “came apart at the seams” because he did not
hear and obey God’s Word (Matt. 7:26). When the storms of life roll in with
their howling winds and driving rain what will you do? If you’ve built your
house properly by relying on the true “Rock” you will be buffeted and
challenged but survive the experience and be the better for it (Jas. 1:2-4;
1 Pet. 1:6-7). If the Lord is
not your “Rock” you will be between the proverbial “rock and a hard
place.” You will be washed downstream and suffer utter destruction.
People of that spiritually unprofitable mindset believe they can cruise
through life unscathed by problems. This Psalm explodes that myth! Things
may appear “hunky dory” but the bill for taking the Lord for
granted always, sooner or later, comes due. As David said:
“4 Give
them according to their deeds,
And according to the wickedness of
their endeavors;
Give them according to the work of
their hands;
Render to them what they deserve.
5 Because
they do not regard the works of the Lord,
Nor the operation of His hands,
He shall destroy them
And not build them up.” (Psa.
28:4-5)
It is easy to delude ourselves into the
false notion we can spend our lives satisfying self and ignoring the “Rock” and
never
have to answer for it. That is the epitome of self-deception. Ultimately “the
righteous judgment of God” will hold us accountable and the “Rock” “’will
render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by
patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness — indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every
soul of man who does evil” (Rom. 2:6-9). As each day of our life is
lived, we are building our eternal house. How is yours coming along? Do you
have flood insurance?!
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Created by Tyler Rorvig-Rieksts, last updated.
07/23/2023
The Mount Baker Beacon is a
weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA.
Send all questions, comments to the editor, John Bass at (360) 325-5149
or johnbass2468@gmail.com |