To answer this question, we need to take several things into consideration.
Our focus should be on the spiritual. After all, we are not of this world. Jesus said of his disciples as he prayed to God, the Father, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it” (Jn 17:14-16). If we are not of this world, then this means we are part of the spiritual world and should operate in it.
Our battle is a spiritual one. In Ephesians, we read: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ep 6:12). We far too often focus on people rather than the power behind the person causing them to do what they are doing. This causes us to miss the important message that this person is being manipulated by dark spiritual forces who is our true enemy.
Next, we must recognize where we should fight. We operate in the spiritual just like the angels do. Satan, who is spiritual, is against those who follow Christ. We must fight where our enemies dwell. This brings us back to the question we asked last time: does this mean we should partner with God’s holy angels?
There are at least seven ways Christians and angels are similar:
1. Both Are Called Sons of God
Angels: In Job we read: “On what were its [the Earth’s] footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels [in Hebrew: ben Elohim: i.e., sons of God] shouted for joy?” (Jb 38:6-7).
Us: And in Galatians: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children [in Greek huios: i.e., sons] of God through faith” (Ga 3:26).
Contrary to popular belief, all humans are NOT God’s children. Everyone is born into Satan’s kingdom, not God’s Kingdom. We find proof of this in the Gospel of Matthew: “Again, the devil took him [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me’” (Mt 4:8-9).
Action must be taken to become part of God’s Kingdom. In the Gospel of John, we have Jesus speaking to Nicodemus: “Whoever believes in him [Christ] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (Jn 3:18).
And in Colossians, Paul states, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Cl 1:13).
We are not equal as “Sons.” Our inheritance is not the same as that of angels. There is no scripture stating angels’ status changes. Yet, if we accept Christ for our eternal future, several things change for us. Angels are either in God’s kingdom or Satan’s kingdom. We go from Satan’s kingdom into God’s kingdom when we accept what Christ did for us. Apparently, angels had one chance to choose sides. It seems a third of the angels followed Satan and the remainder followed God. Their fate and loyalty were then sealed for all eternity. Humans, on the other hand are given numerous opportunities to choose Christ. Why is that? We don’t know for sure, but it could be that angels were originally in God’s kingdom, and some chose Satan over God. Humans on the other hand are born into Satan’s kingdom so God is giving every opportunity possible for us to choose his kingdom.
Our current status is not the same as that of angels. In Ephesians, we read: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ep 2:6). Therefore, we have been made joint-heirs with Christ, and Paul goes on to say we have been given authority with the same power that raised Christ from the dead if we yield to the power of the Holy Spirit (Ep 1:19-20). Our future status is also not the same as that of angels. In 1 Corinthians, we read: “Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!” (1Co 6:3). The authority Christ has won for us will be for all eternity.
2. Both are servants of Jesus Christ to do his bidding
For angels, we read in Revelation: “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant (Greek: doulos: i.e., bondservant or slave) with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!’” (Rv 22:8-9).
For us, as stated by Paul in Galatians: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant (Greek: doulos: i.e., bondservant or slave) of Christ” (Ga 1:10).
We both willingly submit ourselves to God like a bondservant or slave does to their master. But our position is by choice.
Let’s further look at the term “doulos” (or bondservant / slave). First, we need to understand that the term “slave” is different from that of a “servant.” A servant is one in the employ of another and can one day be on their own. They have a will different from their employer. A slave, especially a bondservant, on the other hand, is the property of another and can never be on their own. They have no will different from their owner. From these two passages just mentioned, we read that both angels and the followers of Christ have only the will of Christ which they enact.
3. Both are Christ’s Messengers
There are several examples in the Bible where angels delivered messages from God to various individuals. Angels delivered a message to Abraham (Gn 18:2) about the prophesied birth of Isaac and to Lot (Gn 19:1) to get him to leave Sodom as God promised Abraham. The angel Gabriel delivered a message to Daniel (Da 8:15-16) for which he prayed about, to Zechariah (Lk 1:19) concerning the birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary (Lk 1:26-28) concerning the birth of Christ; many angels delivered a message to shepherds (Lk 2:8-11) about Christ being born in their manger.
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2Co 5:20). Both are in this world but not of this world just like an ambassador who is not in their own country but represents their country. We are in Satan’s kingdom but are representing God’s Kingdom. We also have diplomatic immunity. We are not subject to the laws Satan uses to control his subjects. We are under the laws of God and his will only.
Both angels and Christians deliver what has been charged to them to deliver and to whomever is designated. Angels deliver whatever message God or Christ wants delivered to whomever they designate. Christians deliver the message of the Gospel to fellow humans so they can also have the opportunity to choose Christ as their Savior.
We operate under the directive Christ gave to his disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I command you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 28:19-20).
Can you begin to see why we should be caring about angels? We are in a partnership with God leading us both. Isn’t it awesome? Next time, we’ll go over the additional four reasons we should be caring about this partnership. I hope you’ll join me.
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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens