Worship of Distinction by John MacArthur

Worship of Distinction

"When He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, 'And let all the angels of God worship Him'" (Heb. 1:6). Jesus Christ is greater than angels because He is worshiped. Even though Jesus Christ humbled Himself and was made lower than the angels for a time, angels are still to worship Him. Since angels are to worship Him, then Christ must be greater than them. Angels have always worshiped Christ, only they worshiped Him as God. It wasn't until His incarnation that angels were commanded to worship Him as God's Son. It is a sin to worship anyone or anything but God—in fact, note how sternly the apostle John was rebuked for worshiping angels (Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9). So the very fact that angels are to worship Christ verifies that Christ is indeed God. At present, the angels don't fully understand the entire picture of God's redemptive plan. Peter tells us that the prophets didn't understand all that they wrote, "seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow" (1 Pet. 1:11). Then he added, "Things into which angels long to look" (v. 12). They are still trying to figure out things they don't understand. But that won't always be the case. Notice that Hebrews 1:6 says, "When He again brings the first-born into the world" (emphasis added). God already brought Christ into the world once—at the second coming He will bring Him into the world in blazing glory. Then the fullness of the prophecy of Psalm 97:7 quoted in Hebrews 1:6 will come to pass: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." In His second coming Christ is revealed in full glory as the Son. More than ever we have reason to join the heavenly chorus in declaring, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing" (Rev. 5:12). Suggestion for Prayer Thank God for His wonderful plan of salvation. Ask Him to make it more real to you every day. For Further Study Read Revelation 5:1-11 and note the reactions of the angels to the Lamb of God. What specific event motivated their response? From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.