Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

It was by inheritance that Christ had obtained this more ex cellent name than the angels. Even when He was but a babe in Bethlehem, the angels were directed to worship Him. It is a prin ciple founded in God’s kingdom that creatures never worship oth er creatures, as this is reserved for the Godhead alone. When, for example, John was about to worship the exalted and beautiful angel who brought the message recorded by him in Revelation , the angel quickly frustrated his intention with these words: “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10. A short while after that, a similar situation happened and again the angel admonished him. “But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!’” Revelation 22:9. Therefore, the fact that God said of Christ, “... let all God’s an gels worship him” ( Hebrews 1:6), is clear proof that He recognized Christ as more than a creature, either Angel or Man. Christ is God in the creature. It is proper to worship Him whose throne is forever and ever, who loves righteousness and hates iniquity.

The study of Hebrews chapter 2 reveals Christ’s relationship to us. Just as the first chapter declares His complete one ness with God, chapter 2 sets forth the completeness of His identification with sinful, fallen humanity. Paul explains and emphasizes the point that Christ did not come in sinless flesh, but in the same fall en, sinful flesh that you and I are born with. He says, “Inasmuch then as the chil dren have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same.” ( Hebrews 2:14, NKJV) He stresses the fact that Christ’s flesh was no different from

Christ with two lives

God

Christ

man

any of Adam and Eve’s descendants since the fall. Only in this way could Christ totally identify with us and be tested as one of us. As a result of His complete victory in sinful flesh, He can strengthen us to likewise resist temptation and overcome sin.