The Daily Word of Righteousness

Attaining the Inheritance, #6

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

The Scriptures suggest that when Satan rebelled against God a large number of angels followed him, including some of the angels of great status and authority in Heaven. It is against these "principalities" and "powers" and "rulers of the darkness of the world" that the saints must struggle as they attempt to lay hold on the inheritance they have been given through Christ.

One of the most interesting of the experiences we will have when we die physically is to gain the acquaintance of the angels.

Some of the angels, such as Gabriel, are permitted to be close to the Presence of God. Paul refers to the "elect" angels (I Timothy 5:21). This is a peculiar expression, in that we think of Divine election only in terms of people. But Paul charged Timothy concerning godliness, calling on the elect angels as witnesses.

God has intelligent creatures who are able to make choices but who are not human beings. The uniqueness of the human is not his intelligence or that he can make choices. It is that he is in the image of God and has a soul capable of union with God.

As we have said, some of the angels are of great glory. Compared with them we are as the dust of the ground.

But the Lord Jesus has been made "so much better" than the most exalted of the angels. How has He "obtained a more excellent name than they"? By inheritance!

What has Christ inherited that is so much more excellent than what is possessed by Gabriel, or Michael, or by any other angel? His name.

What name has Christ received that is so much more excellent than the name assigned to any of the angels? The name Son!

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (Hebrews 1:5)

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalms 2:7)

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. . . . (II Samuel 7:14)

No angel, or any other creature of God, ever at any time has been referred to as God's begotten son. The inheritance of son ranks far above all other inheritances.

Of the numerous persons of majesty and glory in the heavens, only the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Being the Son of God makes Jesus the Heir of all God Is and possesses. There is no other name as important as that of son. The other spiritual personages must defer to the Son, giving honor to Him. He is the Heir of all the things of God.

Being a son means that Jesus not only is the Heir of God but also partakes of God's Divine Personality and Nature and is in the image of God. The son of any person is of that person's being and nature and is in his image (although there are many exceptions to this because of the sin and corruption in the earth).

To be continued.