Believe in Angels but Worship Jesus

While Christians believe in the existence of angels, worship is reserved solely for Jesus Christ. This sermon addresses common misconceptions about angels and then elaborates on the supreme authority and divinity of Jesus as revealed in Hebrews 1:4-14.

The sermon dispels four common "fantasies" about angels:

* Angels are human beings who have died. Scripture reveals angels are mighty spiritual beings who serve God and obey His word (Psalm 103:20). They are distinct from humans and even long to understand the salvation God offers to humanity (1 Peter 1:10-12).

* Angels appear as chubby babies with wings. The Bible describes angels appearing in various forms, including as ordinary people, extraordinary creatures, and with dazzling, glorious appearances.

* All angels are good and obey God. This implies that some angels, often referred to as fallen angels or demons, do not obey God.

* Angels must be seen to be real. The Bible teaches that angels are real, whether seen or unseen. It also warns against worshipping them, as seen when John was rebuked for attempting to worship an angel (Revelation 22:8-9).

Hebrews 1 provides five reasons why Jesus is superior to angels and why worship should be directed to Him:

* Jesus is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:4-5). God never called an angel His "Son" in the same unique, eternal sense as He calls Jesus.

* Jesus is worshipped by the angels (Hebrews 1:6). Angels are commanded to worship Jesus, signifying His divine nature.

* Jesus is the forever King (Hebrews 1:8-9). His throne is eternal, and His kingdom is one of righteousness.

* Jesus is our Creator (Hebrews 1:10-12). He laid the foundation of the earth, and while creation will perish, Jesus remains eternal and unchanging (Hebrews 13:8).

* Jesus directs the angels as they serve (Hebrews 1:13-14). Angels are ministering spirits sent out to serve those who inherit salvation, all under the authority and direction of Jesus, who sits at God's right hand.

We believe in the reality of angels as spiritual beings who serve God, but they firmly worship Jesus Christ alone because of His unparalleled divine nature, eternal kingship, role as Creator, and ultimate authority over all creation, including angels.