Apostle’s Creed: 1st Article-Angels

Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions

Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great…Ps 91:11-12 He will command…Heb 1:14 Are not all angels…

Eph 6:12 Our struggle…1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled…

Memorization Verses:

Angels and DemonsDraw a picture of the real spiritual forces doing

battle in your life. Show symbols of the fight.

Pray:

Praise the Lord, you His angels, for… Lord, help our struggle against the spiritual forces of evil… Thank you for sending angels to… Let your holy angel be with me that…Help us to…because of the prowling devil…May all creatures…

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1. Lord God, we all to Thee give praise,

Thanksgivings meet to Thee we raise,That angel hosts Thou didst createAround Thy glorious throne to wait.2. They shine with light and heavenly

graceAnd constantly behold Thy face;They heed Thy voice, they know it

well,In godly wisdom they excel.3. They never rest nor sleep as we;Their whole delight is but to beWith Thee, Lord Jesus, and to keepThy little flock, Thy lambs and sheep.4. The ancient Dragon is their foe;

His envy and his wrath they know.It always is his aim and prideThy Christian people to divide.5. As he of old deceived the worldAnd into sin and death has hurled,So he now subtly lies in waitTo ruin school and Church and State.6. A Roaring lion, round he goes,No halt nor rest he ever knows;He seeks the Christians to devourAnd slay them in his dreadful power.7. But watchful is the angel bandThat follows Christ on every handTo guard His people where they goAnd break the counsel of the Foe.8. For this, now and in days to be,Our praise shall rise, O Lord, to Thee,Whom all the angel hosts adoreWith grateful songs forevermore.

Discussion

“Philosophers have argued for centuries about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but materialists have always known it depends on whether they are jitterbugging or dancing cheek to cheek

Tom Robbins quotes (American Novelist. b.1936)

Pay attention to your dreams - God's angels often speak directly to our hearts when we are asleep. 

The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.  

George Elliot

1st Article, Angels: Discussion

An angel is a spiritual creature created by God without a body for the service of Christendom and the church.

Martin Luther

It is very right that these blessed and immortal spirits, who inhabit celestial dwellings, and rejoice in the communications of their Creator's fullness, firm in His eternity, assured in His truth, holy by His grace, since they compassionately and tenderly regard us miserable mortals, and wish us to become immortal and happy, do not desire us to sacrifice to themselves, but to Him whose sacrifice they know themselves to be in common with us.

“Church Fathers: City of God, Ch. 7 (St. Augustine)." NEW ADVENT: Home. Web. 21 Jan. 2011.

1st Article, Angels: Christian Discussion

To your offspring I will give this land’ he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. Gen 24:7

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Gen 28:12

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: Is. 6:6

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Ps. 103:20

j)lm (ma’lak): Messenger or representative, often a functional symbol for God’s appearance (Theophany)

 yhwh ml(j (ma’lak Yahweh): Angel of LORD, Preincarnate Christ

vr# (Seraph): Fiery one, worship God, reflection of holiness (m# (Shama): To listen, give heed, and declare/proclaim out

1st Article, Angels: OT Exegesis

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the

angel, praising God Luke 2:13

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. Matt 28:1-7

Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the

devil and his angels Matt 25:41

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against

the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and

Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. ... Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time" (Revelation 12:7-9,12).

Aàggelov (Angelon): A messenger or emissary who is sent out.

Ouranios stratia/ (Ouranios Stratia): Army or band of representation

Mixah/l (Michael): One who is like God. Chief archangel of the Israelites

dia/bolov (Diablos): One who falsely accusses

Satana=v (Satanas): Adversary with the intent of apostasy

1st Article, Angels: NT Exegesis

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water' " (Revelation 14:6,7).

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:1,2)

eu´AggeÑlion (Evangelion): Good news and glad tidings!

Angel from Rev. 20: symbol of Christ and His work on the Christ and the empty tomb.

1st Article, Angels: NT Exegesis

Angels protect the Holiness of God (Cherubim) Bar the entrance to Eden Decorate the Temple walls and the Ark itself

(are you sure?...pretty sure)

Angel of God proclaims truth to men (Seraphim) Brings prophecies and ordains prophets for Israel Visits Abraham and rescues Lot Protects the three in the furnace

Angels reflect God’s holiness (archangels, hosts) Worshiping Him in the highest Listening and declaring His words for its own sake

1st Article, Angels: OT Context

Visitations focusing on Christ’s incarnation Declaring to Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph Rolling back the tomb, announcing resurrection

Focus on the spiritual warfare between men, angels and Satan (introduction of demons) Jesus heals infirmities, exorcisms, and unbelief Demonic power instrumental in the death of Jesus

The Spirit of God giving messages, comfort and power Great Commission Events in Acts

Angel as a metaphor for Christ (connects the OT with NT)

1st Article, Angels: NT Context

Angels convey a spirit of comfort, stolidity, and unwavering peace as far as it reflects the Gospel Angels are not worshipped, but encourage worship Angels do not have authority, but remind us of God’s

authority

Christ IS the true “angel of the Lord” that binds Satan His action of bringing good news to fallen man is

the basis for worship The Spirit gives us a nature to worship God and serve

neighbor Entertaining people as if they were angels

(emissaries of God)

1st Article, Angels: Christ and Worship

Which invisible beings created by God are especially important to us?

What else does the Bible tell us about angels?SS: Messengers Announcing Important EventsM: Good Angels are…T : Good Angel NarrativesW: Evil Angels are…Th: Evil Angel Narratives

1st Article of the Apostle’s Creed:Angels

“Messengers” God frequently used angels to announce important events in history of salvation.

Luke 1:1-38; Mt 1:18-21 The births of John the Baptist & Jesus

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 3He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Lu 24:4-7 Resurrection While they were perplexed about this, behold, two

men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

Acts 1:10-11 Ascension and 2nd coming

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

SS: Maker: Creation

Spirit Beings, Created Holy, Many and Powerful; They serve God and help us

Gen 1:31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day

Dan 7:10 Thousands upon thousands attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him

Lu 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God

Ps 103:20-21 Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you

His servants who do His will. Ps 91:11-12 He will command His

angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone .

Heb 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

M

Good Angel Narratives2 Kings 19:35 One angel put to

death 185,000 of Sennacherib’s army

2 Kings 6:15-17 Elisha and his servant were protected by the heavenly hosts.

Acts 12:5-11 An angel set Peter free.

T

Devils or Demons Rebelled Against God, Many and Powerful; They hate God and seek to destroy everything that is good, especially faith in Christ

2 Peter 2:4 God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment.

Mark 5:9 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

Eph 6:12 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

Mark 4:15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes along and takes away the word that was sown in the

Jn 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he

lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be self-controlled and alert Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

W

Evil Angel NarrativesGen 3:1-5 The serpent led Eve

into Sin Job 2 Satan sought the

destruction of JobMat 4:1-11 The tempter tried to

mislead Jesus

Th

ConclusionGod frequently used angels to announce important events in history of salvation. They are spirit beings who were created holy. Some angels rebelled against God. They are the devils or demons. The good angels are many and powerful. They serve God and help us. The evil angels are also many and powerful. They hate God and seek to destroy everything that is good, especially faith in Christ. Prayer: O God, the Father of our Savior Jesus Christ, Ruler of all things, before You stand thousands and thousands, and ten thousand angels and archangels. Sanctify, O Lord, our souls and bodies and spirits. Search our consciences, and

cast out of us all that is contrary to Your holy will. And grant us to call upon You, our holy God and Father who is in heaven. Amen. (St. James, 4thc.Worthy of glory from every mouth, and of thanksgiving from all tongues, and of adoration and exaltation from all creatures is the adorable and glorious name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who created the world through His grace and its inhabitants through His mercy. Amen.

1st Article: Humanity

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