Hebrews Chapter 1
By
Jim Bomkamp
1. Authorship:
Tradition has attributed the apostle Paul to be the author
of Hebrews, however the language style has been analyzed to be different than
his other writings. Variety of subject
matter invariably brings a variety of linguistic style. The apostle John wrote the gospel of John,
1-3 John, and Revelation each of which has a completely different grammatical
style. Due to its unique content and
subject matter, probably Paul is the author.
If Paul is not the author, then the author must be
someone in Paul’s party such as Apollos, Barnabas, or Priscilla and
Most likely the author was of Jewish heritage.
2. Date Of Writing:
It is impossible to accurately fix the date of the
writing, however it was obviously written before the destruction and overthrow
of
3. To whom addressed:
Though none are specifically addressed, the book was
written to Jews who had embraced the profession of Christianity but were
struggling with their Jewish background and environment which had caused them
to stumble in their walk with Christ (probably the Jewish Christians in
Jerusalem and Judea were the initial recipients). They were content to know only the very
basics of Christianity and had continued to practice Judaism.
Though the book was initially addressed to Jewish
Christians who hadn’t continued to grow in their relationship with Christ, all
Christians can make application to their lives of the exhortations written in
the book, and thus it is a valuable book for all.
4. Purpose of Writing:
The purpose of the writing of the book was to thwart
the spirit of backsliding that had permeated the Jewish Christians’s lives
through their lack of knowledge and faith in
Christ and the salvation He gives to us.
The superiority of Christianity to Judaism is the primary
theme taught. The key word is
"better," which is used 13 times.
The book shows the superiority of Christ over
angels, Moses, Joshua, Abraham, Levi and Aaron.
In Old Testament times the Jews had been spoken to
and led by God and His servants, human and angelic, and it was very difficult
for them to realize now that what they had received was only meant to be
temporary for it was not God's full and complete revelation capable of giving
life.
Jesus Christ IS "God's word to man" since
He is God's only and unique Son. Jesus
Christ is the “Truth,” with a capital “T.”
Everything in the revelation of God to man contained in His Word point
to and are fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is
God, and only through Him God's word and laws are placed in man's regenerated
heart.
We have new life and are complete only in Jesus, and
the law can only bring death ("The law is our tutor to lead us to
Christ," Paul wrote).
5. Messianic Interpretive Style:
In the book of
Hebrews there are many Old Testament scriptures that are quoted and interpreted
as being Messianic in their scope.
However, the interpretation in some cases seems to go beyond the
original intention of the scripture. The
liberals and skeptics have tried to discredit the book’s inspiration as a
result of this, however what we should understand concerning these scriptures
is that the author is pointing out that the Holy Spirit had embedded in these
scriptures prophetic Messianic glimpses that the writer may not have been aware
of. The embedding of Messianic glimpses
should actually reveal the finger of the Holy Spirit working in the inspiration
of scripture.
6. VS 1:1-3 - “1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the
fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days
has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom
also He made the world. 3 And He is the
radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds
all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;” - God previously spoke to His
people through prophets now He has spoken to us through His Son
6.1.
Notice initially here that
there are no greetings beginning this letter.
Therefore, the letter must be a treatise of sorts. We do see some salutations at the end of the
letter.
6.2.
Notice also how in verse 1
the author immediately begins to describe and discuss the Old Covenant and how
God worked in the Old Testament writers’ lives.
Then, the author begins immediately to contrast the Old Covenant with
the New Covenant. This is done to show
the superiority of the New Covenant to the Old.
6.3.
God has spoken unto man as verse 1 says. Paul called scripture the very "oracles
of God."
6.4.
The one object of the Epistle we are studying is to lead us to God, to
reveal God, and bring us into contact with God.
6.5.
Nature only reveals to us that there is a "divine power" that
has created all things, however man needs a revelation by God in order to know
God. The Bible is the written record (as
directed by God Himself) of that revelation of God to man.
6.6.
In many "sundry ways" means that the Old Testament fathers of
our faith had God reveal Himself to them at different periods. God’s word was not a revelation given forth
all at once, rather it came about by 40 or more authors and covers a period of
about 4,000 years, and thus it became a "progressive revelation" of
God and His plans for mankind. The
scriptures consist of five books of Moses, Historical books, Poetical books,
Didactic books, and Prophetic books.
6.7.
The author will now begin to
discuss what really is the most foundational doctrine of our faith as
Christians, the very nature of Christ Himself.
Upon who Jesus is depends everything else which we believe and practice
as Christians.
6.8.
The “last days” are the days when God is speaking to us in His
Son. Jesus Christ’s coming was an
eschatological event that is portrayed here as ushering in the “last days.” Jesus Christ is the final and complete
revelation of God to man. As one has
written "Jesus Christ IS God's word to man."
6.9.
All that happened before was preparatory to Jesus Christ coming, dying,
and resurrecting and becoming the word of God to us.
6.10.
No further revelation from God is forthcoming or needed for man (no
"continuous revelation").
Jesus Christ is the revelation of God's heart and mind to man and the
consummation of all the ages and eternity itself shall be in Christ.
6.10.1.
Before, God had spoken
by means of men of God, now one who is divine speaks to us. He must be pre-eminent.
6.11.
The attributes that constitute our fleshly conception of “sonship”
generally are likeness and identity of nature, derivation of being,
posteriority, inferiority, affection on behalf of father and son. However, not all of these apply to Jesus who
is described as the eternal God, creator of all things, etc.. Primarily the idea of likeness and identity
of nature explain the “sonship” of Jesus Christ to God the father.
6.12.
In verses 2 and 3, the
author makes seven different declarations in order to define the nature and
character of Jesus. Seven is
significant because it is the number that symbolizes perfection.
6.12.1.
Jesus is the ‘heir of all
things.’
6.12.1.1. In Jewish culture, the
firstborn was always the legal heir of everything in a family.
6.12.1.2. God's final goal for all
things for eternity is that Christ is made heir to all things. Jesus Christ created all things, we will read
in this book, and thus everything created belongs to Him.
6.12.1.3. Everything is given to the
Son and He is over all and reigns at the "right hand of God," far
above all rule and dominion both in this age and in the one to come.
6.12.2.
Through Jesus ‘He made the world.’
6.12.2.1. As God the Son, Christ is the
creator of the world. "He is before
all things," Col. 1:18 says, and yet, in Genesis chapter 1 the scripture
says in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Therefore, Christ is God.
6.12.2.2. One writer has said, "Omnipotence
and infinite intelligence - both of which are necessary in the Creator - cannot
surely be delegated." Christ
surely cannot be a creature.
6.12.2.3. Jesus is identified with
wisdom personified which speaks out in the proverbs (Prov. 8:27-31).
6.12.3.
Jesus is the ‘radiance of
His glory.’
6.12.3.1. The Greek word ‘apaugasma’
is translated ‘radiance’ here, and it means “a shining forth” such as with the
rays of light from the sun.
6.12.3.2. In John 1:14, the apostle John wrote the following about Jesus, “14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.”
6.12.3.3. The qualities of deity
emanate from Jesus just as the light of our sun emanates from it to us. This "brightness of glory" must
have reminded the Jews of the cloud of God's glory which led the Israelites in
the wilderness with Moses, but into which if one were able to focus the very
person of Jesus Christ would be seen.
6.12.3.4. Jesus is the true and proper
representation of the infinite perfection of deity. "The glory of God is the supreme
beauty of His perfections, His holy, wise, and benignant excellency-that moral
goodness, without which omnipotence, eternity, and immensity, would be awful,
but not lovely," the Puritan pastor John Brown once wrote.
6.12.4.
Jesus is ‘the exact representation of His nature.’
6.12.4.1. The Green word ‘charakter’
here is translated ‘exact representation,’ and this is the only place it is
found in the scriptures. This word has
been adopted into our English language, however the word does not mean what our
word “character” means, it speaks of far more than that. The word expresses that of a die and the
impression of an image that it makes upon a coin. As a figure perfectly engraved, Jesus Christ
resembled the Father. Jesus is “the express image of His person.”
6.12.4.2. John 1:14 says, "the
word became flesh." God's word to
mankind was expressed in the best possible terms we could ever relate to,
"the flesh." He was "God
manifest in the flesh," thus He can perfectly become God's word to us.
6.12.4.3. As a person once said, “If
you want to know what God is like, you just have to open up the scriptures and
take a long look at Jesus Christ!”
6.12.5.
Jesus ‘upholds all things by the word of His power.’
6.12.5.1. The Greek word ‘pheron’ is translated
‘upholds’ here, and it means “sustaining.”
When it says "upholds all things by the word of His power,"
the word uphold seems to refer then both to preservation and government. Col. 1:17 says, "in Him all things hold
together."
6.12.5.2. Ruling and literally holding
the entire universe together are to Him not taxing, "He speaks and it
is done, He commands and it holds fast."
6.12.6.
Jesus ‘made purification for our sins.’
6.12.6.1. We see here a basis for the
foundational doctrine of Christianity:
His atonement for our sins. The
place of beginning of Christianity in our hearts and lives is that sin must be
cleansed away. Because of Jesus’ death
upon the cross for us, He now is exalted to the high position, "seated at
the right hand of the Majesty on high."
The efficacy of His sacrifice is traced to who He is in the first
place, the eternal creator Himself.
6.12.6.2. Jesus Christ made the sacrifice of Himself on Calvary’s tree for the
atonement of our sins so that they could be removed from us.
6.12.7.
Jesus ‘sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.’
6.12.7.1. Psalm 110:1 speaks
prophetically about this work of the Messiah sitting at the right hand of the
Lord, “1 The Lord
says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool
for Your feet.””
6.12.7.2. This speaks of the finality
of the work of Jesus which was completed upon the cross of Calvary. When Jesus’ work was done, He sat down.
6.12.7.3. Being seated at the right
hand of God does not mean in a lower position than God, but rather seated upon
His throne ruling over all, Rev. 3:21.
Jesus is now reigning as king over all.
6.12.8.
There are several
applications which we Christians must make of these truths to ourselves:
6.12.8.1.
The liberal theologians have criticized us fundamentalists for focusing
too much upon Jesus, however these verses reveal that a true understanding of
the nature of Jesus Christ must lead us to place Jesus as central in all that
we do and think. We cannot exalt the
Name of Jesus Christ too greatly.
6.12.8.2.
We must reject any other way to God other than Jesus. We must realize that Jesus is God’s
revelation to us, that He is all that we will ever need.
6.12.8.3.
There is no reason to look beyond the Bible for a further revelation
from God: Jesus is His full and complete
revelation to man.
6.12.8.4.
Whenever a person begins to look for a revelation of God that goes
beyond the Bible, we must realize that the reason he is doing that is because
he does not understand the revelation that God has made to us in the
Bible. To understand the revelation of
Jesus to mankind as revealed in the Bible, is to realize that there is no other
revelation that a person will ever need.
6.12.9.
If we Christians know in our hearts that it is He who reigns upon the
throne of Heaven, then we will also know victory over all of our
circumstances. If we know that He is on
the throne, how could we then worry about our circumstances?
7. VS 1:4 - “4 having become as much better than the
angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” - Jesus has a more excellent
name than angels
7.1.
Beginning with this verse
and continuing on through the rest of this chapter, the author is now
attempting to show the superiority of Jesus to angels. In the remainder of this chapter the author
tells us that Jesus is superior to angels because:
7.1.1. He has a more excellent Name.
7.1.2. Jesus is the only unique ‘Son of God.’
7.1.3. The angels worship Jesus, for He is God.
7.1.4. The angels are of a transitory nature such as the wind or fire, however
Jesus shall remain unmovable and unchanging forever.
7.1.5. Jesus is ‘God.’
7.1.6. Jesus laid the foundations of the world (creator of all).
7.1.7. No angel was ever raised up to the right hand of God.
7.2.
There is evidence that there
was angelic worship going on during the time of the early church. The Gnostics most likely ushered this
in. It is the inappropriate emphasis
upon and worship of angels that is in focus in the rest of this chapter.
7.2.1. In our world today, there are many people who are placing too much
importance upon angels. Some are seeking
a relationship with God through communication with angels rather than through
Jesus Christ. Others are seeking
experiential contact of all types with angels.
Some are worshipping angels.
7.2.1.1. Jesus is the only way to God
(John 14:6,7). The scripture clearly
teaches that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5).
7.2.2. Some Christian cult groups
must be rejected because their doctrines contradict the clear teaching of the
word of God in this chapter as it explains that truth concerning the nature of
Jesus Christ that is so essential to right doctrine, for instance:
7.2.2.1. The Jehovah Witness cult
erroneously claims that Jesus was an angel (Michael) before his incarnation,
however this chapter clearly contradicts this central doctrine to their faith.
7.2.2.2. The Mormons, which are another cult, erroneously claims that before
being born on earth that Jesus Christ was the “spirit-brother” of Lucifer (the
name for Satan before he became a fallen angel), however this chapter
contradicts this central doctrine to their faith.
7.2.3. We must gain understanding
from this chapter and reject those false prophets who elevate angels to an
unscriptural position.
7.3.
The word "name" in scripture is often used to signify high
rank or reputation. Jesus, having
"inherited a more excellent name than they" (the angels), came about
because of His bearing of our sins in His body on the tree in the atonement for
our sins. Being God the Son in the first
place, His perfect sacrifice of Himself guaranteed or caused him to inherit
this more excellent Name.
7.4.
Phil. 2:4 says the Father has given Jesus a name that is above every
name. The name of angels is not their
dignity of character but their designation as "spirits." Jesus is the only unique "Son of
God," that is His designation and therefore He has a better name than the
angels.
8. VS 1:5 - “5 For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee” ?
And again, “I will be a Father to Him and He shall be a Son to Me” ?” - Yahweh has never considered
an angel to be a son in the sense that Jesus is His Son
8.1.
(Psalms 2:7 and 2Sam. 7:14) - Angels in the Old Testament are called
sons of God, however that designation seems to imply simply that they are
creatures of God, with none of the qualities or qualifications of Jesus the
only unique Son of God.
8.2.
We as Christians are called sons of God in the New Testament and thus
we share in all that God has given unto Christ.
However, this occurs because "adoption as sons" into God's
family, not the result of the eternal nature of our being (as is the case with
Jesus being the only unique Son of God).
8.3.
People think variously that when it says, "today I have begotten
thee," that it refers to:
8.3.1. The presenting the only Son
of God to the angels.
8.3.2. It simply refers to the
incarnation.
8.3.3. It refers to His
resurrection from the dead.
8.3.4. It refers to His undertaking
the administration of His duties when He was seated at the right hand of God,
in possession of the heritage of the nations.
8.4.
Angels as ministering spirits can tell of the wonderful life that God
has, but the Son “is” that life of God and gives it. “He that hath the Son, hath life,” Jesus
said.
9. VS 1:6 - “6 And when He again brings the first-born
into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”” - When Jesus was brought into
the world the angels worshipped Him
9.1.
(Psalms 97:7, “7 Let all those be ashamed who serve
graven images, Who boast themselves of idols; Worship Him, all you gods.”)
– Jesus’ place as creator is upon the throne, the angels as creatures, are
before the throne, thus angels worship the Son of God.
9.2.
Whatever diversity of opinion there may be among men as to worshiping
Jesus, heaven is of one mind, Rev. 5:6-13, “6 And I saw between the throne
(with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out
into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the book out of the right
hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the
four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb,
each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers
of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You
to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for
God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and
nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to
our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” 11 Then I looked,
and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures
and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of
thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was
slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and
blessing.” 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the
earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard
saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and
honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.””
9.3.
If creatures mighty as angels worship Jesus, then we creatures ought to
do likewise and follow their example.
10.
VS 1:7 - “7 And of the angels He says, “Who makes His angels winds, And His
ministers a flame of fire.”” - The Lord makes His angels winds and a flame
of fire
10.1.
(Psalms 104:4, “4 He makes the winds His messengers,
Flaming fire His ministers.”) - Having shown the exalted position of the
Son of God, the author now shows the subservient and lowly position of the
angels, a position such as even material things like the wind and
lightning.
10.2.
Angelic creatures then are merely instruments of the divine agency as
are the wind and lightning.
11.
VS 1:8 - “8 But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, And
the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.” - In contrast to angels, the
Lord sets His Son upon His throne as God forever and ever
11.1.
(Psalms 45:6,7, “6 Your throne, O God, is forever and
ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom…7 You
have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has
anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.”) - To no earthly
person could the title of "God" be applicable, nor could a perpetual
dominion. Therefore, these verses quoted
from Psalms 45 could only properly be ascribed to the Messiah.
11.1.1.
Note here that God is calling the Son “God.” This is yet another evidence in scripture for
the doctrine of the “Trinity.”
11.2.
To any who admit divine inspiration of scripture, this verse is
straight forward and clear. The throne
is where a king administers judgment and other royal functions, it is therefore
a symbol for Jesus' royal power and authority.
11.3.
"We receive a kingdom that cannot be moved," the scripture
records, and this is because our King Jesus is God and His kingdom shall be
forever.
11.4.
Christ is a righteous king, and the scepter from earliest times has
been a badge of royalty, an emblem of the integrity of the monarch
administering justice. The
administration of His kingdom is strictly and invariably just, He shows
partiality to none.
11.5.
Jesus is shown here as ruling upon the throne of which the angels are
subjects.
11.6.
We Christians need to be faithful and loyal subjects to the Kingdom of
God over which Jesus reigns. Since He is
establishing His Kingdom, we ought to be the ones ushering Him into men’s lives
to rule them from within.
12.
VS 1:9 - “9 “Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee
With the oil of gladness above Thy companions.”” - Because Jesus loved
righteousness and hated lawlessness the Lord anointed Him
12.1.
In ancient times, the anointing of oil was used when appointing a king
to power, and therefore what this verse says is that because of Christ`s total
and complete righteousness He is anointed as king of God's holy kingdom. His kingdom is over and above and greater in
duration than any other kings who have had a dominion upon this earth
("his fellows").
12.2.
This "oil of gladness" is the complete satisfaction and
happiness brought about by the reign of His kingdom.
12.3.
Some have taught that the anointing of Jesus with the Spirit
"without measure" is the "oil of gladness," and that this
anointing occurs because of Jesus righteousness, and, that now Jesus gives the
Spirit to whomever He will.
13.
VS 1:10 - “10 And, “Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the
earth, And the heavens are the works of Thy hands;” - Jesus created the heavens and
the earth
13.1.
(Psalms 102:25-26, “25 “Of
old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 “Even
they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.”) - It has
been said that these verses in Psalms would not have been directly ascribed to
the Messiah but that the Holy Spirit taught the Apostles that they were in
reference to Christ the Messiah.
13.2.
The words "in the beginning" refer to the creation of the
heavens and the earth by Christ and thus plainly reference the first words
found in Genesis, giving yet another example of the divinity of Christ being
taught.
13.3.
This is the foundation chapter of this book and the divinity of Christ
is taught as the foundation upon which we rest.
13.3.1.
It is only because of His divinity that we can have our lives changed
by His cleansing power and indwelling of us.
13.3.2.
All that we learn of the person and work of Christ has any meaning at
all because of His divinity.
13.3.3.
Truly, if He is not God our faith is in vain and we have no hope
whatsoever.
13.3.4.
If He is God the Son, then He knows us, appoints and orders all the
circumstances of our life and nothing comes into being but what He causes or
allows to come into being. There are no
unforeseen circumstances.
14.
VS 1:11-12 - “11 They will perish, but Thou remainest; And they all will become old as
a garment, 12 And as a mantle Thou wilt
roll them up; As a garment they will also be changed. But Thou art the same,
And Thy years will not come to an end.”” - The heavens and earth will one day perish but
the Lord will remain the same
14.1.
Jesus is shown in these verses as not only the creator of all things
but the author of all the changes through which they will pass. With perfect ease these mighty changes will
be effected by Jesus. On the day of the
Lord (2 Pet. 3:5-7,10), He will fold them up (the heavens and the earth) as a
garment that is taken off, or a mantle that is rolled up.
14.2.
These events will take place after the 1,000 year reign of Christ which
will occur after the rapture and the 7 years of tribulation.
14.3.
The author is quoting from Ps. 102:25-26 in these verses. Other scriptures speak of this same event
occurring:
14.3.1.
Isaiah 34:4 speaks about the same thing occurring, however Isaiah
writes that the sky will be rolled up.
14.3.2.
In Isaiah 51:6, Isaiah writes about this same scenario, however he says
that the sky will vanish.
14.3.3.
Peter writes about this same thing in different language in 2 Pet.
3:5-7,10, as he describes the heavens and the earth melting with great heat and
all the works of this earth being burned up.
14.4.
These varying descriptions of the same event leads me to one of two
conclusions.
14.4.1.
It could be that the writers were all using figurative language and
that we then must be careful not to interpret them too literally.
14.4.2.
Also, it could be that each of the writers tried their best to explain
something in human terms that they had seen prophetically and that as a result
these accounts vary in their detail.
14.5.
Scripture says (Rev. 21:1 for instance) that there will be a new
heavens and earth, and Isaiah writes about this same event in Is. 65:17, and
includes that the former things will not come into our mind. Rev. 20:11 reveals that this event of the
earth being melted and the heavens vanishing or being rolled up will occur at
the Great White Throne Judgment of non-believers. Then, the new heavens and new earth will be created
after all non-believers (those who are not God’s people) are thrown into the
lake of Fire, Rev. 21:1.
14.6.
The almighty (who is Jesus) does not become weary or tired the
scripture says, so He has the power to be able to do with the heavens and earth
what is described here.
14.7.
Jesus remains forever, forever the same.
15.
VS 1:13-14 - “13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right
hand, Until I make Thine enemies A
footstool for Thy feet” ? 14 Are they
not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those
who will inherit salvation?” - Yahweh has never told an angel to sit at His
right hand
15.1.
(Psalms 110:1, “1 The Lord
says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool
for Your feet.””) - Sitting at the right hand of God means to reign upon
His throne as king, and yet we see that at this present time all things are not
subjected to Jesus because Satan for a time is the god of this world. However, the Son is prophesied here as ruling
upon this throne of God until that time when everything shall be brought in
subjection to His throne, and wickedness is fully punished. Such a privilege no angel has or ever will be
given, this too is only for the Son to experience.
15.2.
God is described in scripture as being jealous of His honor, and a
jealous God who will not give His glory to another. Therefore, the Son must be God for Him to
receive the honor described (see Rev. 5:8-14, 7:9-12).
15.3.
In verse 14 we are described as those who are also to inherit
something, namely,
"salvation." Salvation
involves being rescued from the penalty of our sins upon receiving Christ. We are also being saved from our sins daily
as we die to self and let Him live His life through us. Salvation is also future for the Christian,
for he shall one day be saved from the presence from sin for all eternity.
15.4.
The angels’ function is simply to minister to us in this process we are
in of living in Christ with the inheritance of salvation guaranteed to us. See Matt. 26:64.
15.5.
When we see Jesus as described in this chapter, seated upon the throne,
we can believe the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, see
Eph. 1:17-22.