Our last lesson from the first chapter of Hebrews was upon the power and greatness of Christ. He is infinitely superior to the angels,—seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high,—“being made so much better than the angels as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” The study of the greatness of Christ is not for intellectual amusement, but for spiritual upbuilding; for since He has given Himself for us,—for our sins,—we know that all His power and glory are put forth for our salvation. Therefore the Apostle Paul prayed,
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church.” Ephesians 1.17-22
All Christ’s greatness and power therefore are for the benefit of the church. This is why we rejoice in His exaltation. He is far above all principality and power, so that when God brought the first begotten into the world, He said, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Yet of these beings, so infinitely inferior to Christ, we read that God “makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.” Hebrews 1.7
It is astonishing what a misconception people in general have of the angels of God. There are not a few who think that they are the spirits of departed men, forgetting that angels existed before man was created. Man was made a little lower, or, for a little while lower, than the angels (Hebrews 2.7), which is sufficient evidence that angels are not dead men, and that men never become angels. When God laid the foundation of the earth, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38.7