Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity: therefore God,
even thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy
fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the
beginning hast laid the foundation
of the earth; and the heavens are
the works of thine hands: they
shall perish; but thou remain:
and they all shall wax old as
doth a garment; and as a vesure
shalt thou fold them up, and they
shall be changed: but thou art
the same, and thy years shall
not fail.
Hebrews 1:9-12
In the beginning of this letter the writer sets forth the divinity of Jesus Christ. This must be done also for us for if we do not understand and declare the divinity of Jesus Christ then we have assigned Jesus Christ to be nothing more than an angel and as an angel He does not have the power to forgive sins. There is a comparison between Jesus Christ and the angels. Angels are servants of God with a mission set forth by God for them to exercise as ministers to do His pleasure, His will. The inferiority of the angels to Jesus Christ is plainly pointed out to us for Jesus is said to be greater, the Only Begotten Son of God and this Psalm is quoted here: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Psalm 45:6-7). If this Scripture is not set in context and is used only as a proof Scripture to prove the Jesus was created and only an angel no matter how superior then error is formed and heresy is promoted.
Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, took on the form of man to be the mediator between man and God. God anointed Jesus Christ qualifying Him to be the mediator. This office of mediator was confirmed, as reported that the Spirit of God descended upon in Him in the form of a dove at His baptism. Jesus Christ as man, sent by God to perform this ministry of redemption, to serve God in this manner abased Himself so that He might redeem us to God. This anointing was above others who too were servants of God doing God's will, but not as mediators between God and man. Jesus is said to have the anointing of the oil of gladness above His fellows. Now, if one does not take time to understand this account, that Jesus was above His fellows will lead a person to say that Jesus was only a created creature and an angel. So what is meant by "fellows?" Does Jesus Christ have equals? No! The word translated "fellows" or "companions" simply means those who share, and both the angels and Jesus Christ share in the service of God. They are sharing in a heavenly calling, and by this calling they are associates for each will have or have had a regal position in relation to the earthly, messianic kingdom. As a Man Jesus has "fellows", and as an anointed Person: but, and this is the difference we must understand: Jesus was and is the Creator of all things, that includes the angels, His fellow associates in the Messianic Kingdom, and Jesus Christ has an unction to be the Redeemer. Jesus Christ as Man, the Wisdom of God who came to be this One to Redeem man was also a partner, an associate with all prophets of God, priests and kings, and of the apostles, all who were and are employed as servants of God on earth and in any service given to God by angels who were created by God, Jesus Christ: "But to which of the angels said He at any time, sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies they footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:13-14)?
Think upon this: we have angels ministering for us, to us, and we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and we have the resurrected Jesus Christ, the God/Man who died for your redemption sitting at the right hand of God making eternal intercession for us. So then, why are we not doing what God has commanded for us to do? Why are we so worried about the things of this earth? We do we desire to be prosperous, successful, to have some form of self-realization? Why? Are we not saved from this world and all it sinfulness? Yes! God did this, Jesus Christ God's Wisdom did this, the Holy Spirit applies all this to us, not some angel, but God. With so great a cloud of fellows in the service of God are we not to also be a fellow of God, of Jesus Christ? Yes! God has called you, not so that you can live apathetically, no, to be in service with Him, to be a witness for Him, to minister to others with Him. Will you accept this calling?
Arise, shine; for thy light is come,
and the glory of the LORD
is risen upon thee. For, behold,
the darkness shall cover the
earth, and gross darkness the
people: but the LORD shall
arise upon thee, and His glory
shall be seen upon thee.
Isaiah 60:1-2
Live as servants, fellows, with God
Richard L. Crumb
No comments:
Post a Comment