Thank you. May God be pleased
to give us grace for just a little while to forget about ourselves
and concentrate on our Redeemer and worship Him. My subject tonight
is Redemption, the Study of Angels. Redemption, the Study of Angels. And I have two texts for the
message. Ephesians chapter 3, If you want to turn there and
then find 1 Peter 1, Ephesians 3 and 1 Peter 1. In Ephesians 3.10, the Apostle
Paul tells us that the purpose of God in the accomplishment
of our redemption by Christ Jesus and in the preaching of the gospel
of his free grace in Christ is to the intent that now into principalities
and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church
the manifold wisdom of God. Now, the principalities and powers
in heavenly places are heavenly angels. The second text is in
1 Peter chapter 1. 1 Peter chapter 1. Peter tells us that our redemption
and salvation in and by Christ Jesus, according to God's purpose,
are things the angels desire to look into. Let's read these
two texts in their context. Begin in Ephesians chapter 3
and verse 8. Unto me who am less than the
least of all saints is this grace given. A man called and gifted
and sent of God to preach the gospel is given great grace. This is a grace given to us that
I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ
and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who
created all things by Jesus Christ to the intent, that is, this
is the purpose, that now unto principalities and powers in
heavenly places to the angels of God might be known by the
church, might be known by the experience of the church, by
the worship of the church, by the message of the church, the
manifold wisdom of God. According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness
and access with confidence by faith of him Now in first Peter
chapter 1, let's begin reading at verse 3 first Peter chapter
1 verse 3 Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. I which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively, a living hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away. An inheritance
reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time. wherein ye greatly rejoice in
this great salvation in Christ, in this hope God's given us,
you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, year
in heaviness, through manifold temptations, through many, many
trials, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious
than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,
might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing
of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, ye love, in whom, though
now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls. of which salvation the prophets
have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that
should come to you. Searching what, or what manner
of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and
the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that
is to these prophets, that not unto themselves but unto us they
did minister the things which are now reported unto you by
them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost
sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look
into. God's purpose of grace toward
fallen man is so infinitely wise and comprehensive that the benefits
of redemption of our souls by Christ even reach to the angels
of God around his throne in heaven. God's purpose of grace in Christ
Jesus in the redemption of our souls by Christ so infinitely
comprehensive that it reaches even in its benefits to the angels
of God around the throne. Now, elect angels do not need
redemption. They never knew sin. When Satan
led his revolt in heaven, and one-third of the heavenly angels
followed him in rebellion, God, by His mighty mercy, reserved
the angels that fell not in their original estate without sin. In His goodness and mercy, He
preserved and preserved them, kept them from falling. So they
need no redemption. Redemption was accomplished for
fallen men. The angels need no grace. Grace
is for sinners. Yet the angels of God are greatly
benefited by our redemption. Let me show you four things in
this message. Number one, the angels of God
are indescribably more interested in you and me than we ever imagined. Because we cannot see, speak
to, or hear the heavenly angels, we tend to ignore them. But they
never ignore us. They are not indifferent spectators
with regard to God's church and kingdom. These pure, holy, heavenly
angels have a keen interest in God's saints upon the earth.
Now, I'm fully aware that Roman and pagan superstitions talk
about Guardian angels and they tell us to pray to angels and
teach us that when babies die, they are transformed into little
angels Well the foolish notions and traditions of men and women
ignorant of the things of God we give no regard to we Obviously
reject those traditions. They're they represent nothing
but ignorance on the part of those who hold them But we must
not neglect the teachings of God with regard to these heavenly,
holy creatures whom God Almighty created for a specific purpose,
specifically for our benefit. What does God tell us in his
word about these holy creatures? Turn to Hebrews chapter one,
Hebrews chapter one. Let me show you three things
clearly revealed in the book about the heavenly angels. Number
one, They were created by God to be ministering spirits sent
forth to minister to those who shall be the heirs of salvation.
I recall years ago, many years ago, this is, oh, 40 years ago,
I heard Brother Charles Alexander preaching in West Virginia, a
little church down in Anstead, West Virginia, Beacon Baptist
Church. And he was dealing with the fall of Satan. And he suggested,
and I think he suggested with great reason, that one thing
that was involved in Satan's fall, Satan knew and he was commanded
of God that he was created by God to be servant to man. He was created by God to serve
God's elect. The holy angel created by God
to serve a lesser creature. Hmm. Can you imagine? Can you imagine what must have
gone through him? Pride lifted up his heart. I
won't do it. I won't do it. Now, whether that's
the case or not, I don't know. But certainly pride was found
in his heart. Here, the scriptures tell us
that God created the angels to serve his people. Hebrews chapter
one, verse 14. Are they not all ministering
spirits, serving spirits, sent forth to minister for them who
shall be heirs of salvation? So the angels of God were created
by him. specifically to serve the interest
of those people chosen of God to be the heirs of salvation.
Not just those who possess God's salvation experimentally now,
but those who shall possess God's salvation at the appointed time
of grace. And in time past, God spoke to
men by angels. He doesn't speak to men by angels
today. We have the gospel clearly revealed
in the full revelation of God given in Holy Scripture. But
the angels still minister to those who shall be heirs of eternal
salvation. For one thing, they secretly
protect sinners in life until God is pleased to call them by
his grace. They secretly protect chosen,
redeemed sinners in life until God is pleased to call them by
His grace. The sinner loved and chosen of
God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, cannot and shall
not perish. They cannot die. until they're
called by God's grace. I think we have a clear picture
of this in the prodigal son. The prodigal took his substance
from his father's hand and wasted his substance in riotous living.
But all the while, the father was informed of his son's whereabouts
and what he was doing. He obviously had a servant following
his son, giving report all the time. When the son came home,
he wasn't the least bit surprised. There was a ring and a robe and
a calf ready for that son when he came home. Now, whether that's
an illustration of this or not, it certainly does illustrate
it. Our heavenly father sends forth his angels to protect his
own. And in the days of our rebellion,
and our ungodliness, our constant rebellion against God, the angels
of God protected us from ourselves and from hell itself. Constantly
watching over God's elect and they rejoice over repenting sinners
when they've been brought to life and faith in Christ. That
same parable of the prodigal son begins with a parable of
a lost sheep, and the sheep is found, and the shepherd lays
it on his shoulders and carries it home, and rejoices. And there's rejoicing in the
shepherd's house. Likewise, the angels of God rejoice
over one sinner who repents. The angels of God, imagine that,
imagine that. The angels of God rejoice when
a sinner believes. The angels of God clap their
hands and give praise to God when a sinner is converted by
omnipotent grace. Secondly, turn to Psalm 91. Psalm 91. The angels of God encamp
around God's saints in this world and keep us in all our ways. Somebody said, do you believe
in guardian angels? We have a guardian angel. No,
sir. I got a whole bunch of them. A whole bunch of them. The angels
of God encamp around us. Back right after I went to pastor
at lookout, Brother Elmer Harrell and his wife were in vacation
in Florida for the winter. When they got back, Elmer called
on to lead us in prayer. And the first time I heard the
man pray, Very simple man. He prayed Lord in Camp round
about us. I Thought that's a strange way
to speak and camp round about us. Look here in Psalm 91 verse
11 He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all
thy ways They shall bear thee up in their hands Lest thou dash
thy foot against a stone the angels of God encamping around
us, keeping us as a guard around the camp. Elisha, you remember,
had a servant and servant was scared to death in second Kings
chapter six. And Elisha said, Lord, open his
eyes that he may see. He said to his servant, he said,
those that are with us far more than those that are against us.
And the servant couldn't see it. And he opened his eyes and
looked and saw the angels of God as chariots of fire all around
them, all around them. So it is with God's people everywhere
they go. Number three, the heavenly angels,
we're told in Luke chapter 16 and verse 22, come with the Lord
Jesus to carry our souls home to heaven when we die. As the
angels of God, the chariots of God transported Elijah into glory. So the angels of God come with
our Redeemer when it comes to call his saints home to glory. They are specifically created
by God to serve his elect. And these angels of God gladly
do the work. Don't you find that amazing and
wonderful? What are you compared to an angel?
What am I compared to an angel in knowledge, in power? What
are we compared to angels, those heavenly spirit beings? And yet
those angels far superior to us are made by our God to be
subject to his people, to serve his people. And for the glory
of God, they gladly serve the lesser creature. Now then, what
was it that you find yourself above? What service is too menial
for me? Or what service is too low for
you? The angels of God, for the glory
of God, gladly serve you and me, his people. All right, second. Let me show you one reason why
the angels gladly minister to those who shall be the heirs
of salvation. These heavenly angels behold the manifold wisdom
of God in the redemption of our souls by Christ Jesus. Now, without
question, the angels saw his wisdom and power in the creation
of the world. They shouted for joy when God
spoke the world into existence. But when they look into the matter
of redemption, they behold many facets of divine wisdom and goodness
they could not see anywhere else. In the ages past, the angels
desired to see the mysteries of redemption, but were not able
to do so. That's at least part of the meaning
of Peter's words. The angels of God from the beginning
of time have desired to look into this wondrous mystery of
redemption. I'm certain that's one reason
we had the picture we do in the making of the mercy seat. You
remember Moses was commanded of God to make the mercy seat
to cover the Ark of the Covenant. He'd make that mercy seat of
pure gold and mold with the mercy seat two cherubs, each cherub
facing the other, their wings touching one another as they
look down upon the mercy seat. As if the angels of God are facing
one another, looking down continually upon the mercy seat. that which
represented atonement, redemption by God's dear son of our souls
ever looking into this mystery. I just said to the men back in
the office, but the Rex was asking about the passage he just read
for us back there. And this book. It just gets bigger and bigger
and bigger. The more I study it, the bigger
it gets, the less I know. It's just bigger all the time. Particularly, the subject of
redemption gets bigger and bigger and bigger all the time. When I was a young man, I read
the best works of theology concerning redemption. Owen's Death of Death,
Arthur Pink's The Atonement, the very best of works dealing
with redemption. And the doctrine, I got down
pretty good. Got down pretty good. Didn't
have any questions about the doctrine. It's crystal clear.
But the subject, oh, my soul. I haven't begun to scratch the
surface yet. of the wonder of redemption.
The angels look continually into the work of our Redeemer as our
Redeemer. Now, since the resurrection and
exaltation of Christ, the angels of God see the glory of Christ,
our Redeemer, as our Redeemer. Turn to Revelation chapter 5.
Let me show you. Revelation 5. John begins the book of Revelation
with God's people giving praise to Christ because he's redeemed
us. He continues that in chapter 4. We get to chapter 5 and verse
11. And I beheld and heard the voice
of many angels round about the throne and the beast and the
elders And the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands
of thousands. Angels, angels saying, many angels
saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain. Angels,
they don't know anything about redemption. They've never experienced
redemption. They don't need redemption. But
they behold the glory of Christ as our redeemer. And they bow
before his throne and say, worthy is the lamb that was slain to
receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor
and glory and blessing. The angels now behold more clearly
than ever. The glory of God. in the face
of his son, our crucified savior, and therefore rejoice before
his throne. Looking on Christ, the God-man,
the risen, exalted son of God, filled with all the fullness
of God, the angels see the grand purpose of God in everything. They now see manhood as God intends
manhood to be. They were there when God created
Adam in the garden. And they were there when Adam
sinned. They saw what Adam was. They saw what Adam became and
what we became in him. And they behold the last Adam
seated on the throne of God. That's what God intended when
he made man. That's man standing now in whole
manhood in the person of the Redeemer. And now they see in
him the manifold wisdom of God. They see in Christ and the redemption
of our souls by Christ, God's glorious sovereignty exercised
in a way they could not see it before. For when our Lord Jesus
came into the world, he passed the fallen angels by and took
on him the seed of Abraham. He passed by one third of the
heavenly host who had fallen in darkness, reserved in chains
of darkness, gave them no mercy. And he took hold of the seed
of Abraham and chose to redeem his elect by the sacrifice of
his son. The angels of God understand
the rule of his universal providence, ordaining, permitting, and overruling
all evil and sin for his greater glory and the saving of his people. The angels of God see what few
men can see. God in infinite wisdom brings to pass everything that
comes to pass in time. for the ultimate end of saving
his people, making them to be as his darling son. The angels
of God see God's wisdom in the way redemption was accomplished.
God became a man. God, as a man, obeys his own
law to bring in everlasting righteousness for man. God, as a man, is made
sin and put to death as a man for our sins. God, as a man,
is exalted to heaven and given the reigns of the universe. And
they see the wisdom of God in the marvelous method of his grace,
saving sinners, using other sinners to preach the unsearchable riches
of his grace to them. God saves sinners by the use
of sinners saved by His grace. Don't you find that amazing?
God saves sinners by the use of other sinners, telling sinners
about the Redeemer. Oh, God used me for that end.
Oh, God used you for that end. Go everywhere telling sinners
about the Savior. Maybe God will use you. for the conversion of his own.
What a joy, what a joy. The angels would look at it and
say, oh, what an honor is yours. Oh, what a privilege is yours. And the angels of God understand
far better than me in the method of God's operations of grace.
They see the manifold wisdom of God in the biography of every
saved sinner. Over the lives of God's elect,
They would write one word, grace. Wise, infinite, rich, abounding,
free grace. Can't you imagine how the angels
behold Onesimus around the throne of God now? Onesimus, let us
tell you what God did for you all the days you were on this
earth. Let us tell you how God sent us to protect you in your
rebellion until the time of your calling. That Philippian jailer,
that crusty old man, can't you imagine the angels of God discussing
with him that which they did for him, preserving him in all
of his battles and in all of his rebellion until the day God
called him by his grace. And yet there's something the
angels desire to know, which only redeemed centers can tell
them. I don't doubt at all that the angels of God see and understand
the purpose of God, the wonders of God's providence much better
than we can. And they see the glory of God
more fully than mortals on the earth can see it, but they look
to us. to learn the wonderful knowledge
of redemption experienced and felt. They can never know, Larry Brown,
the blessedness of forgiveness. They come here and meet with
God's church to learn about forgiveness, to learn about what it is to
be forgiven of sin and saved by God's free grace. They can
never know, but by us, the bliss of righteousness freely bestowed. They can know, except by listening
to us, the depth of peace and satisfaction we find in blood
atonement. And they can never know, but
by God's saints, the gratitude of love recovered. Reckon how the angels of God
must have stooped with wonder, with amazement, and with joy
at that woman we read about earlier who came in and washed the Savior's
feet with her tears, wiped them with the hairs of her head, and
kissed his feet just because she loved much, having been forgiven
much. Third, our redemption by Christ
is inexpressibly beneficial to the elect angels. How can that
be? The angels are not redeemed,
but that doesn't mean that redemption has nothing to do with them.
They gain much by the redemption and salvation of the church.
Christ, as the God-man mediator, has become the head of the angelic
host. Paul tells us in Colossians 2
that Christ is the head of all principality and power. Look
at Ephesians chapter 1, Ephesians 1. As God, obviously he's head
of everything, but his headship as a man is something that he
earned by his obedience unto death as our substitute. God
made all things to be subject to man. to the man Christ Jesus
and subject to you and I, who are one with Christ, men and
women in Christ. The creed of Ephesians 1 20,
when he walked in Christ, which he wrought in Christ, when he
raised him from the dead and set him down in his own right
hand in 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 have put
all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all
things, even the angels to the church, which is his body, the
fullness of him that filleth all in all. This is part of our
savior's reward for his obedience to God as our substitute. And
having Christ to be their head is a matter of great benefit
to them. Now, They see God better than they could see him before.
Now they enjoy nearer, freer, more intimate access to God than
they could before. And the angels of heaven are
enriched by our redemption in that they are brought into union
with man. Turn to Hebrews chapter 12, Hebrews
12. Verse 22. Paul says, you've not
come to Mount Sinai. You've not come to the mount
where Moses went up into the mountain in darkness. But you've
come, verse 22, unto Mount Zion, unto the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem. Now watch how he describes it.
And to an innumerable company of angels. to the General Assembly
and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven,
and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant,
and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than
that of Abel. By Christ's mediatorial redemptive
accomplishments, the whole creation of God, disjointed by sin, is
united in one blessed communion so that the people of God and
the angels of God are brought to this general assembly. The
heavenly angels shall contribute to our eternal happiness and
we to theirs. How? I cannot imagine. Moreover, our redemption by Christ
will cause the angels of God to prize God's goodness to them. In goodness, God preserved them
in holiness when many angels fail, just as he's preserved
his own in electing grace. In goodness, God kept them from
knowing the bitterness and sorrow of sin. And in goodness, God
allows them to serve the interest of his glory and the interest
of his grace in the salvation of sinners. Now, just briefly,
Let me show you that there's a lesson in all this for us. If the angels of God so highly
honor the gospel that they constantly desire to look into it, how much
more redeemed sinners ought to prize this gospel? Children of
God, we ought to prize and cherish the gospel of Christ. how we
ought to admire, love, and worship our Redeemer, who took on Him,
not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham. Let Christ
crucified then be the subject of our constant adoration, meditation,
and study. You won't mind reading Philippians
chapter 3 with me again, will you? Philippians chapter 3, here's
the Apostle Paul's attitude toward the Redeemer. Let it be ours
as well. Verse seven. What things were
gained to me? I counted loss for Christ. Yea,
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord. For whom I have suffered
the loss of all things and do count them but done. that I may
win Christ. Brother Rex, that's what our
Lord was talking about, taking up your cross and follow me. And be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his
death. if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead. Paul writes as though nothing else much concerned him. Do you read it that way, David?
Nothing else much concerned him except knowing Christ. Nothing else much concerned him
except knowing Christ. God teach me that lesson. If
by any means, verse 11, I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead, not as though I had already attained, either were
already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend
that for which also I am apprehended of Christ. Brethren, I count
not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forth into those
things which are before. I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Oh, my soul
set these goals ever before your heart to be found in Christ,
to know Christ, to apprehend Christ, to win Christ. Nothing else much matters. Be
found in Christ. to know Christ, to apprehend
Christ, to win Christ. Nothing else much matters. How
earnestly we ought to labor to make Christ known. The angels
must sigh and the demons of hell must laugh to see God's church
taken up with and divided by trivia, by trivia. And that's what all the nonsense
is that divides men and women who know God. Just trivia, just
trivia, causing us to ignore Christ. How the angels must mourn
and the demons of hell laugh to see God's church taken up
with trivia and ignore the Redeemer. I get letters every day asking
questions that ought never to be asked. They just don't mean
anything. They just don't mean anything.
They are questions about nonsense, questions that you can't find
answers for that will satisfy anybody, and questions about
nothing. Some folks get upset because
you have musical instruments in the church, others because
you don't. written with this kind of nonsense.
There were folks, when Benjamin Keech started the church that
was later pastored by John Gill and C.H. Spurgeon and John Rippon,
Metropolitan Tabernacle is what it's called now. That church
continued for 250 years preaching the gospel of God's free grace
with just five pastors. But when Keech first started
that congregation, he also started an innovative thing. He started
something nobody had ever heard tell of before. He started writing
hymns, and the congregation actually sang them. Actually sang them. And they
thought, well, nobody's done this. This is horrible. And there
was a big split amongst Baptist folks in London in the 1600s
over whether you ought to have hymns sung in the church or just
psalms sung in the church. I mean, split over the thing.
division over whether or not women wear head coverings. Oh,
how the angels of God must sigh and the demons of hell laugh
to see God's church taken up with such things. How we ought
to love Christ, who so loved us that he became one of us,
lived for us, died for us, Rose again for sat down in heaven
for us rules the world for us and saves us by his grace. Oh
May god be pleased to make you and me See what the angels have
seen? Look at one more passage with
me psalm 68 psalm 68 Verse 17 The chariots of God, the chariots
of God are 20,000, even thousands of angels. The Lord is among
them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou has descended on
high. Thou has led captivity captive. Thou has received gifts for men.
Yea, for the rebellious also. that the Lord God might dwell
among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily
loatheth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. The
angels of God, 20,000, thousands of angels. God daily loathes
his people with benefits. He that is our God is the God
of salvation. Unto God the Lord belong the
issues from death. Here's a fallen race. Out of
this fallen race, God is going to bring forth some to life,
and that's God's work. And the angels of God stand in
awe before him for his great redeeming work through his son. Where Satan holds his cruel seat,
and guilt swells its tide. To trembling souls the news is
sweet, Christ Jesus crucified. Angels adore with sweet surprise
the friend who loved and died. Justice beholds the sacrifice,
Christ Jesus crucified. You heralds go, his death proclaimed,
and no, no theme beside. Preach to the poor, the blind,
the lame, Christ Jesus crucified. My soul survey that precious
blood, which cleanses when applied, and let your trust be in your
God, Christ Jesus crucified. Let saints below and saints above
behold his wounded side. This is our savior, God of love. Christ Jesus crucified. May God give you grace to know
Him. Amen.