Bulletin (6/27/21): Christ our Great High Priest

 

Our Great High Priest

“after the order of Melchizedek.”

(Pastor Terry L. Reese, Valley GBC, Armagh, PA; 6/27/2021)

 

I. OT Levitic/Aaronic Priests offered sacrifices unto God on behalf of the people for the cleansing of sin, serving as mediators between God and man, representing the people before God.

 

The importance of their sacrifices.

1. Holding back the outbreak of the wrath of a Holy God

who dwelt uniquely amongst the Hebrew Nation.

2. Picturing the future atoning work of Messiah (Heb. 10:1)

 

The limitations of their work: The blood of animals could not answer as our saving propitiation (Heb. 10:1-4).

 

II. The Better Way: JESUS, the MESSIAH, the ultimate High Priest who offered a once-for-all sacrifice unto the Father of infinite and everlasting value (namely, Himself) on behalf of His people. He is thus both offering and offeror (Heb. 1:3, 9:11-12, 10:9-14; 1 John 1:7). 

 

A. His Priesthood is that of Melchizedek—of a higher order than that of Aaron (Gen. 14:18-20; Ps.110:4; Heb. 6:19-20, 7:1-28).

 

B. The Post-Ascension Priestly Ministries of Christ.

We have a sympathetic & merciful High Priest (Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16) who is alive and who ever ministers on our behalf, bringing us nigh unto God, ever interceding on our behalf! (Heb. 7:23-25; Rom. 8:34; 1John 2:1-2).

The Three Holy Children respond to the King (Dan. 3:16:18)

 

o   This account also demonstrates that they took seriously the truth of Matt. 10:28:

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

o   Also, this incident is a dramatization of Jesus’ words in regard to Disciples’ proper expectations for this Age as we stand in testimony unto the Nations:

 

Mark 13:9-11: “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.  And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.”

 

o   The Three Holy Children, as true disciples, knew that whether we live or die, it is ultimately a “win/win-more” situation! We gain Christ either way!

Php 1:21: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

  

o   Modern missionary martyr Nate Saint (1923–56), killed in Ecuador:

The way I see it, we ought to be willing to die. In the military, we were taught that to obtain our objectives we had to be willing to be expendable. Missionaries must face that same expendability.

 

o   This account also underscores the necessity for believers to engage in Biblical Civil Disobedience rather than disobey the express command and revealed will of God as given in Scripture. Note the following examples:

 

o   The Hebrew midwives disobedience to Pharaoh’s cruel edict (Ex. 1:16-21), for which they were blessed by God (1:20-21).

 

o   Moses’ parents hid their child from Pharaoh (Ex. 2:2)—an act of faith (Heb. 11:23).

 

o   Daniel’s refusal to compromise his prayer life & habits (Dan. 6:10).

 

o   Mordecai’s refusal to bow before the wicked anti-Semite, Haman (Est. 3:1-5).

 

o   Peter & John’s disobedience to the Jewish High Council, which commanded them not to speak nor teach in the Name of Jesus:

Acts 4:19-20: But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

 

o   Peter and the full company of Apostles also defied the same command from the High Council, preaching before the people in the Temple.

Acts 5:29: But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

 

o   Future saints will also refuse to worship the Antichrist Beast during the 70^th Week of Daniel (i.e., the Great Tribulation; Rev. 13:15, 15:2, 20:4).

Sermon Notes: Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King

 

Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King

(Pastor Terry L. Reese, Valley GBC, Armagh, PA, Sunday, June 13, AD 2021)

 

TEXT: 2 Chon. 26:3-5, 16-21.

 

Introduction.

The Heidelberg Catechism, focusing on the word “Christ:”

Q. Why is he called "Christ," meaning "anointed"?

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.

 

In I Tim. 2:1-6, Paul gives us the joyful announcement that there is one Mediator between God and Man, the God-Man, Christ Jesus. He is the one, all-sufficient Mediator between a Holy God and a sinful Humanity. He is the one appointed Mediator for all categories of men—regardless of race, creed, social-status, sex, etc.)—and we should thus pray for the salvation of all categories of men everywhere.

 

In order to adequately understand the work of CHRIST, we need to examine His unique three-fold Messianic office, through which He brings complete fulfillment to the important mediatorial offices of the OT.

 

Three OT offices to which men were anointed with oil and appointed by God to serve in a representative function, acting as mediators between God and man: Prophet, Priest, and King. These offices were essential within the Theocratic Commonwealth for the salvation and preservation of the Old Testament community.

 

A mediator: one who takes a middle position between two parties, and principally with the view of removing their differences (Job 9:32-34). A mediator bridges the gap—and the gap between God and man can only be ultimately bridged by the one Mediator, the Incarnate God/Man, Jesus the Messiah. 

 

I. The Messiah/Christ: the “Anointed One,” unique Holder of the Threefold Office

Jesus the CHRIST is the central figure whom the Old Testament foreshadows and the New Testament proclaims as the fulfillment of prophecy fact.

 

John 5:39-40: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

 

It is therefore essential to understand the biblical portrayal of the Messiah (Heb. masiah; Gk. Christos; the Annointed One), whom God has anointed to redeem his people and creation.

 

Unlike OT anointed office holders, we observe that Christ uniquely holds all three offices. Uzziah was severely judged when he unconstitutionally intruded upon the priest’s office (2 Chon. 26:16-21).

2 Chon. 26:16-21: But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor, and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God." Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense.  And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him. And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.

 

Messiah, however, was prophesized to be uniquely qualified to be both King and Priest, holding a higher Priesthood than Levi (Ps. 110:4, Heb. 5:5-6), joining the two offices (Zech. 6:9-15).

 

Ps. 110:4  The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

 

Zech. 6:9-15: ⁹The word of the LORD also came to me, saying, ¹⁰"Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah; and you go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon. ¹¹Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. ¹²Then say to him, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. ¹³Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices."' ¹⁴Now the crown will become a reminder in the temple of the LORD to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen the son of Zephaniah. ¹⁵Those who are far off will come and build the temple of the LORD." Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely obey the LORD your God.

 

As we shall see, the OT expectation of Messiah was not simply that He would be a prophet, or a priest, or a king—but that He would embrace all three offices. Our Lord reminds His Disciples on the Road to Emmaus of this:

 

Luke 24:25-26: And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"

 

Thus, today, in order to fully appreciate and understand the work of Christ, we must nor view Him merely as a prophet, a priest, or a king, but rather as the Anointed Messiah in Whom all three offices are perfectly realized and fulfilled. We have in Him everything that we require! And we require much!

 

II. Question: Why a Threefold Office? Answer: we are a needy people!

We require a triple cure, or remedy for a threefold illness of ignorance, guilt, and the tyranny and bondage that oppresses us due to the pollution of sin…

 

1.    Ignorance. Our minds are darkened and clouded by sin…

We needed the supreme Prophet to reveal the Father and His will unto us…

 

2.    Guilt. We stand guilty before God in our guilt and shame…

We needed the ultimate High Priest to offer a perfect atonement for our transgressions… and who continually pleads our cause with the Father…

 

3.    Tyranny and bondage. We need the Stone not cut-out by human hands (Dan. 2) to crush the power-centers of this world and bring us the Kingdom of God… but who shall, in the meantime, powerfully reign over the hearts of His people.

We are polluted vessels, carrying a hopelessly corrupt sin nature around with us, making ourselves and our world miserable…

 

SUMMARY…

Let us close where we came in: The Heidelberg Catechism:

Q. Why is he called "Christ," meaning "anointed"?

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.

 

“These three offices of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King are the key to the purpose of the incarnation. His prophetic office was involved with the revealing of God’s message; the priestly office was related to his saving and intercessory work; His kingly office gave him the right to reign over Israel and the entire earth.” (Paul Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology)

 

We need no other Mediator or cures for what ails us… Thus, He is the only Way through which men must lawfully approach God.

 

In the threefold mediatorial Messianic Office, we find our cure! Let us in further messages examine the aspects of the so-called munus triplex, or "threefold office" in depth.

Bulletin Notes (6/6/21): "Behold, the Man!"

 

“ECCE HOMO!” (“Behold, the Man!”)

(Sunday, June 6, AD 2021; Pastor Terry L. Reese)

 

I. Christology: The Doctrine of Christ.

A. Biblical Christology: Affirms that Jesus Christ is both truly & fully God and truly & fully man, having two complete and distinct natures joined in one Person.

B. Heretical Christology: typically rejects or else reduces either His Deity or else His Humanity, or misunderstands the relationship and union of the two Natures.

 

II. Historic errors regarding the Humanity of Christ.

A. Gnosticism (Docetic Theory) denied His genuine humanity. He only appeared to be human (cf., 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7).

B. Apollinarianism reduced His Humanity. Jesus was only partially human (i.e., the Logos replaced a rational human soul).

 

III. The Humanity of Christ: genuine & complete.

A. Straightforward, direct Scriptural testimony.

(Matt. 1:1; Mark 6:3; John 1:14, 5:27, 8:40; I Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor. 15:21)

 B. In Christ we see all of the distinctive marks of a true humanity.

1. He began earthly life as a babe, like other men (Luke 2:5, 12).

2. He grew & developed as a true human being (Luke 2:40, 52).

3. He displayed the emotions found in a normal human being (Isa. 53:3; Matt. 26:38; Mark 3:5; Luke 10:21, Luke 22:44; John 11:35, 12:27).

4. He displayed normal human appetites (Matt. 4:2, John 19:28).

5. He displayed certain human limitations (Matt. 8:24, 24:36; Mark 11:13; Luke 22:43; John 4:6). These limitations reflect the Self-emptying of Christ, or kenosis (Phil. 2:5-8).

6. He had the appearance of a human being (John 1:10, Phil. 2:8).

7. His humanity is seen in His suffering & death (John 1:10).

Note: He had a Human Spirit (contra Apollinarianism)!

 

Summary: He had all of the essential characteristics of a true human being, but was without sin (Heb. 4:15).*

 

*Question: “To err is human.” Can one be sinless, yet human?

Answer: His lack of a sin nature does not minimize nor negate His genuine humanity. Sin is an abnormality—it is not an essential, vital, nor permanent component of human nature. Adam was originally without sin—and ultimately so will every glorified saint!

An Answer to the King (Dan. 3:16-18)

 

v. 16: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.”

o   Not intended as an expression of disrespect for the king, which would have been in violation of the revealed will of God for the exiles.

Jer. 29:7: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.”

 

o   The statement represents an affirmation that they did not need to engage in some sort of long-winded, lengthy (and doubtlessly ineffective) personal defense.

 

o   They had already resolved their course in their hearts, and would give the king a clear and direct answer (in contrast to the Chaldeans of ch. 2).

 

o   They didn’t need further time to reconsider.

 

o   They didn’t need to “pray about it;” some things are Scripturally clear!

o   e.g., We don’t need to follow the counsel of polytheistic Mormons to “pray for wisdom” (James 1:5) with regard to their truth-claims—we have Deut. 6:4!

 

o   There was nothing more to be said!

o   Their refusal to bow was deliberate.

o   The king should have known their personal loyalty to him, as well as their religious scruples.

o   Their minds were made up; the die was cast.

 

v. 17: "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”

o   An affirmation of the absolute Sovereignty of God over the delegated and qualified sovereignty of Nebuchadnezzar—a lesson that Nebuchadnezzar himself would learn in Daniel 4:

Dan. 4:35: "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'”

 

o   Perhaps expresses a degree of hope that God would choose to deliver them, in light of Nebuchadnezzar’s reckless challenge of v. 15 (cf., 2 Kings 18-19, the destruction of King Sennacherib following his blasphemous claims).

 

v. 18a: "But even if He does not…” (“…the grandest words in their entire speech;”—G.C. Luck)

o   While they may have hoped for deliverance, there was no arrogant presumption of it; God is free to act in accordance with His sovereign will (1 John 5:14).

 

o   We are not in God’s place to determine what is best for us, and for the realization of God’s eternal plan. Deut. 29:29: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God…”

o   We cannot presumptuously demand a miracle from God, or the irregular suspension of normal physical laws on our behalf (Matt. 4:4).

o   God has set in place regular patterns in nature (cf., Gen. 8:22).

o   We live by Faith, not Sight (John 20:29, Heb. 11:1, 1 Pet. 1:8)! Also, the prophetic Word takes precedence over signs & wonders (2 Pet. 1:19).

o   Even OT days were not days of endless miracles! The Days of Moses (the establishment of the Covenant) and Elijah (the crisis of national Baal worship) were atypical.

o   Sometimes, it is unto the greater glory of God for believers to inherit the Martyr’s Crown (Peter, in John 21:19; the Tribulation Era Martyrs, in Rev. 6:9-11).

o   God’s perfect will for us is not always to be equated with what we personally find pleasant.

o   Herman Hoyt once observed that if it is God’s will for you to be sick, then you are better-off being sick than healthy.

 

o   Death brings an end to the believer’s suffering (2 Tim. 4:18), and seals his testimony!

"We multiply when you reap us. The blood of Christians is seed" (Tertullian, Apologeticus)

 

o   Note: Righteous Uriah was killed by King Jehoiakim, but Jeremiah was protected from his power (Jer. 26:20-24).

o   The Apostle James was killed by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2), but Peter was delivered (Acts 12:7-19).

o   Various believers have experienced a variety of fates before God:

 

Heb. 11:32-36: And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

 

v.18b: “…we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image…"

o   They knew not what earthly fate awaited them, but they did know some other things:

…they knew the Living God, redemptively,

…they knew that He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient,

…they knew that in one form or another He would vindicate them,

…and they knew that no matter what, they would obey Him!

 

"The quiet, modest, yet withal very positive attitude of faith that these three men display is one of the noblest examples in the Scriptures of faith fully resigned to the will of God. These men ask for no miracle; they expect none. Theirs is the faith that says: 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,' Job_13:15."—H.C. Leupold

 

Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

 

o   The Three Holy Children understood that their cannot be a “secret” discipleship.

Matt. 10:32-33: So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Daniel 3: Matthew Henry & the Three Holy Children

 

Matthew Henry’s (1662 – 1714) List of Seven Reasons why bowing-down to the King’s Idol might have seemed advantageous to the Three Holy Children (summarized and adapted):

 

1.       They weren’t required to renounce their own God, and neither were they required to verbally profess faith in the idol. They were only required to bow down before it. Sin minimized.

 

2.       This bowing was only a momentary act; they were not required to embrace idolatry as an ongoing way of life. They could have quickly bowed, and then later on sought God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Sin a little now and patch things up with God later.

 

3.       They could have rationalized this momentary disobedience by observing that they were under duress, and that an all-powerful sovereign had ordered them to do it. The “Nuremberg” Defense; they were just following orders.

 

4.       The king had been their benefactor, to whom they owed much; surely a little bit of compromise and flexibility was in order if it demonstrated their gratitude and preserved the king from further embarrassment. Be reasonable!

 

5.     It might be deemed excusable to adhere to local custom and “Do as the Romans Do,”  particularly within the context of a strange and distant culture.  “They might be excused if they should go down the stream, when it is so strong.”  Concession to the demands of popular culture.

 

6.       Compared to acts of their leaders and ancestors, such as the sinful kings of Judah (e.g., Manasseh) who engaged in gross idolatry—even defiling the Temple itself—their small act of compromise would seem like “small potatoes” in comparison. If “everyone else” is doing it, what’s the big deal, anyway? Keep it in proportion!

 

7.     Pragmatism: What possible good could they do for the Hebrew people if they were dead? On the other hand, if they remained alive and in high office, everyone would profit in the end. The ends always justify the means.

 

In the end, however, they rejected them ALL in favor of ONE REASON: God said NO!

 

Ex. 20:1-6: ¹And God spoke all these words, saying: ²" I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ³" You shall have no other gods before Me. ⁴" You shall not make for yourself a carved image --- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; ⁵you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, ⁶but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

The Eternal Pre-Existence of Christ (Parts 1 & 2): May 23 & 30, 2021

The Christ Before Christmas:

The Eternal Pre-existence of Christ; Part I

(Pastor Terry Reese; Valley GBC, Armagh, PA; Sunday, May 23, AD 2021)

 

I. The Pre-Existence of Christ: Its importance.

 

A. It is inseparably linked to His Deity.

 

B. Such a study has great personal devotional value.

1. It enhances our appreciation of the OT (John 5:39 Luke 24:25-27).

2. It gives us new insights into the Nature & work of Christ.

Studying His Pre-Incarnational activity provides a revelation of His thousands of years of OT ministry unto His People!

 

For example, we see Him as Creator… as the One who delivered Hagar & Ishmael… as the One who called Moses and led Israel through the Wilderness… as the One who commissioned Joshua, and who delivered His people from Assyria in the days of Hezekiah.

 

We are reminded by Micah (5:2) that the coming One has been Ruler from Eternity!

 

II. The Pre-Existence of Christ: A survey of various viewpoints.

A. Denied by those who deny His Deity in any form.

i. The “nice man” of Liberal Theology & infidel philosophy.

ii. The “Second Moses” of Ebionite Theology (an ancient heresy).

iii. The Islamic Prophet Jesus (accepted by ¼ of humanity!)

 

B. Temporal pre-existence (vs. Eternal Pre-existence).

i.e., Jesus existed before Bethlehem, but not eternally.

The ancient Arian heresy, embraced by various pseudo-Christian cults (e.g., the Watchtower Jesus, Mormonism).

 

C. The Biblical Witness: the Word is Eternally Pre-existent.

1. Much OT Testimony (Isa. 9:6, Micah 5:2).

 2. The entire fabric of the NT: He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last (Rev. 1:17 & Rev.  22:13; cf., Isa. 41:4, 44:6, 48:12).

 

a. The Testimony of John the Baptist: John 1:15.

b. The Testimony of our Lord: (John 6:62, 8:56-59, 16:28 17:5, 17:24)

c. The testimony of the Apostles (John 1:1-3, 1 Cor. 10:4, Phil 2:5-7, Col. 1:16-17).

 

III. Conclusion: a crystal clear teaching!

But men still persist in unbelief! 1 Cor. 2:14!

The Christ Before Christmas: Part II

(Pastor Terry L. Reese; Valley GBC of Armagh; May 30, AD 2021)

 

“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to  them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”—Luke 24:27

 

I. The Eternal Pre-Existence of Christ: Its importance.

A. Inseparably linked to the matter of His Deity. (Mic. 5:2, Isa. 9:6).

 

B. A matter of great devotional value.

1. It enhances our appreciation of the OT (John 5:39, Luke 24:27)

2. It gives us new insights into His Nature and work.

 

II. Q: “What was the Eternal Son doing before Bethlehem?”

A: He is the Creator & Sustainer of the cosmos! (Jn1:1-3; Col.1:16-17)

 

III. OT Testimony concerning His pre-Incarnational ministry.

A. Theophanies: a means of communication (Ex. 33:20).

Theophany: a temporary & sudden manifestation of Deity in a sensible form that is tangible to the human senses.

Not like the Incarnation! Temporary manifestations; not a genuine or permanent assumption of humanity (Gen. 18). Theophanies had no past nor future; only a brief ministry for revelational purposes.

It seems that Theophanies were usually the Son, prefiguring and anticipating the Incarnation and the Son’s role as the visible Member of the Godhead (exception: Dan. 7:9; a rare theophany of God the Father).

 

B. A Theophany: “the Angel of the Lord” (Heb., malak YHWH)

The term “Angel” (“Messenger”) is used of men, created angels, and, in this case, of God Himself. Context determines meaning.

 “The Angel of the LORD” can be identified with Christ in His pre-Incarnate state; a Person identified with God—and yet, distinct in Personality; One who is sent.

 A functional emphasis: Christ is YHWH in terms of His Deity, Being, and Essence, and co-equal with the Father. In relation to the Father, however, He acts functionally as One who is sent.

This anticipates NT revelation concerning multiple Personality within the Godhead.

 

1. Some of His Appearances and proofs of His Deity:

a. Gen. 16:7:  To Hagar, by the spring. (cf. v. 13).

Gen 16:7: The angel of the LORD found her…  13: So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen Him who looks after me.”

 

b. Gen. 21:17: To Hagar & Ishmael. 

Gen 21:17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven…

 

c. Gen. 22:11-12; 15-16: To Abraham on Mt. Moriah.

Gen 22:15-17 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven  and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD…

 

d. Gen. 32:24-30: To Jacob at Peniel (cf. Hosea 12:4)

Gen 32:30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

Hos. 12:4  He strove with the angel and prevailed…  

 

e. Ex. 3:1-6, 13-14: From the burning bush (cf. Acts 7:30-34)

Ex 3:2: And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. 14: And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."

 

f. The One who led Israel in the Wilderness.

>Compare Ex 14:19 with Ex. 13:21.    

>Who was the Rock? Comp. 1 Cor. 10:4 with Deut. 32:4, 15, 18, 30-31.

 

g. Judges 13:2-3: Manoah & his wife [cf., Judges 6, Gideon].

Judges 13:3: “And the angel of the LORD appeared…” Judges 13:22:  And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

 

h. 2 Kings 19:35: When Sennacherib of Assyria threatened

Jerusalem in the Days of Hezekiah; 185,000 killed!

 

THUS: We have One who was God, speaks for God, accepts worship (e.g., Ex. 3:5, in contrast to created angels, as in Rev. 19:10 & 22:8-9)… and yet, is distinct, and “sent.”

 

2. His identification with Christ; the pre-incarnate Son. 

a. Judges 13:18: “WONDERFUL!” (cf. Isa. 9:6).

b. Mal. 3:1: “The Messenger of the Covenant” is Christ!

c. The Angel of the LORD’s ministries mirror those of Christ, especially prefiguring His reconciling ministries:

 

i. Rescuer, Redeemer, Deliverer (Gen. 48:15-16; Ps 34:7, Isa 63:8-9).

ii. He comes as Destroyer of God’s enemies (Assyria; cf., Rev. 19:11-21)

iii. He comes as One who is sent (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21)

 

d. His disappearance after the Incarnation!

 

C. Other Theophanies; Christ identified as the LORD (YHWH).

1. Joshua’s Commander of the Army of the LORD (5:15; 6:2).

 2. Isaiah’s LORD is the Second Person of the Trinity (Isa. 6).

John 12:41: Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him.