Running To Win

Dave McAllister: Pastor Lutzer, if angels are all around us, should we try to make contact with them?

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer: Dave, the answer to your question is no. Let me tell you why. When you begin to enter into the spirit world, you have no idea what you're going to encounter. I can't discuss this in detail except to say this: people have connected with what they thought were angels, only to discover that they had contacted demons.

Let's make sure that we recognize that the best way for us to connect with the spirit world is to believe on Jesus Christ as Savior. The angels are given to us. We don't see them. Occasionally, of course, an angel may help people. I've heard those kinds of stories. But make sure that you're not the one trying to connect with them.

Dave McAllister: We here at Running to Win are deeply committed to make sure that the doctrine that we teach is based on the Bible. We're in 50 different countries in seven different languages, all because of people like you. Now, at the end of this message, I'm going to be giving you some contact info so that you can become partners with us in sharing the good news of the Gospel. For now, let us listen.

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer: Michael and his angels are warring against the dragon and his angels, and they are cast down, and they are very, very angry, these defeated angels, because they know that their time is short. And those angels that we're going to talk about in another time, they are the ones who'll be confined forever in a place called hell. The Bible says that there is torment there day and night. That's where they are headed.

Angels are very interested in us. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians, Paul says women should make sure that they are in subjection to men. That's the way in which we can contemporize the context. He says and do it because of the angels. You read that and you say, why would angels be interested in the way in which we worship?

Well, they have seen insubordination. They have seen rebellion, and so they're very concerned that a church service be done decently and in order. I have absolutely no doubt that angels are here today observing us worship God. In fact, we've had people who are demonized, people who have evil spirits, who find it difficult to come into the church.

I had somebody say I could get as far as the steps of the church but couldn't come in. Now, why would that be, unless perhaps God in His grace were to give us angels here that make this an entirely different place? It's not a substitute for the presence of God, don't get me wrong, but angels observe our worship.

Today we're going to be questioning a young man. we're going to be questioning him about his doctrine and with a view to ordaining him. And so this morning, I was reading 1 Timothy chapter 5, verse 21, where Paul, speaking to Timothy, a younger man, said, Timothy, be sure to keep these rules, and I'm charging you to do that before God and the elect angels. So angels will be there to watch what happens.

Angels, they minister, they execute judgment. Now, there are two things that should absolutely fascinate us. There are two truths that should be transforming to us. And that's what I want you to lay hold of today.

The first is this: our exaltation as sinners. I want you to just grab hold of this today and don't let it go. Because the Bible says that we as human beings are for a little time lower than the angels, but we're going to be exalted above them.

Now, we will not have their bodies. We will not be able to fly the way in which they do. We will have our bodies that are new bodies given to us. The Bible says that we shall see Christ as He is, and we will be like Him because we see Him as He is. But we are going to be exalted far above them in authority.

You say, why is that? Why would we be above the angels? Well, think about this: angels, despite all of their advantages, and we've often thought to ourselves, wouldn't it be wonderful if we were an angel? Actually, if you're a believer in Jesus today, don't trade places. Because listen carefully.

Angels are created independently. One word that could be used is discreetly. That is to say, God created a whole host of them, hundreds of millions as is very clear from the scriptures. And so God created them, but they have no family connections. They do not procreate, for example, as Jesus explained. Angels have no uncles, aunts, cousins, mothers, and fathers.

So they do not share any family relationship with Jesus Christ. For example, no angel could ever call Jesus Christ a brother. And the reason that we inherit what Jesus inherits is because we are Jesus Christ's brothers, the Bible says.

And the scripture says that we shall be heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, so that when the title deed of the universe is read and Jesus receives His inheritance, we participate in that inheritance. Now, if I still haven't rung your bell at this point, keep listening.

And then the Bible says that we shall rule with Jesus Christ. We shall rule with Him in the kingdom, and then we shall reign with Him forever and ever. And we will have an exaltation that is above the angels. We are only for a little while lower than the angels.

The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, he says, can't you as elders settle disputes within the church? Do you have to go outside of the church to settle those disputes? He said, do you not know that you shall judge angels? Now, I think that the word judge there does not mean adjudicate as much as it does we will rule over angels.

Angels will eventually be a part of God's creation over which we have control. That amazing statement that Jesus makes in the book of Revelation, I wouldn't give it to you unless He said it. He says, he who overcomes, to him I shall grant to sit with Me on My throne, even as I overcame and sat with My Father on His throne.

If there's anything that should grip our souls today and be transforming, it is the fact that we as sinners who don't deserve anything are graciously going to be exalted above the angels. And God says you're going to be on display throughout all of eternity so that angels and anyone else that's watching, and the angels will be there to watch, the elect angels will be.

He says that they may behold My grace and My wisdom forever because you're going to be on display. How could somebody who sinks so low in the end be exalted so high? That's one thing that should grip us.

But there's something else that should stir us with equal passion and depth. And that is that the angels themselves are so interested in salvation. Earlier I quoted 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 12, where it talks about the fact that the prophets were trying to understand who the Messiah would be and when He was going to come. And they were puzzled.

And you can tell from the Old Testament, they made these prophecies, but they couldn't fit them in, and they didn't know the time when Jesus was coming, just like we don't know the time when He's coming again. And we're trying to figure it out, just like the prophets tried to figure it out the first time.

And then Peter says, and these things the angels desire to look into. Hmm, that's interesting. The angels were on hand when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. In fact, when the man was driven out from the Garden of Eden, God protected the garden so that now they wouldn't eat of the tree of life as unredeemed sinners and live forever.

God says, I'm going to use death as a means to get them to My presence. And so the Bible says that God sent cherubim. Those are angels to guard the door of the garden, the gate, so that mankind couldn't go in. Cherubim and a flaming sword were set there because God says you're not going back to Eden. You can't recreate paradise. It's all lost. From now on, I'm going to become a redeeming God, and some people are going to benefit from that redemption. But that's the end of that particular era.

So angels were there. They saw it. They were there when God chose Abraham. In fact, some of them, as I mentioned, showed up for lunch and Abraham fed them. They were there a little later on when Jacob needed some comfort because he was going to meet Esau the next day, and the Bible says that the angels of God met him. They were there.

Angels were on hand when the book of Daniel was written. In fact, Gabriel was sent specifically, specifically to help Daniel write his book and to bring him the messages from God about the coming of Jesus Christ that would happen eventually. So they were on hand.

Now Jesus is born in Bethlehem, and they not only tell the shepherds, unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior. All right, they've said all that. And then what? And suddenly there is with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill among men.

I'm saying to myself, why are they so excited by redemption that they themselves do not participate in? These are the elect angels who don't need redemption, and there they are absolutely praising God and thrilled that Jesus came to save sinners who eventually are going to be exalted above them. Where's all this excitement coming about?

And then after Jesus is born, Jesus dies on a cross and then He goes up to heaven from the Mount of Olives. And who's there? Well, who's there first of all at the resurrection? Well, angels. And by the way, it says regarding one of the angels at the scene of the resurrection, a young man in shiny garments. I have to smile. These angels were created probably hundreds of thousands of years ago, and they can still look young. Doesn't that make you long for heaven, folks?

All right, they're there at the resurrection. Then Jesus ascends to heaven and there are two angels who are saying, why are you looking steadfastly into heaven? This same Jesus who went from you into heaven will likewise come again as you have seen Him go into heaven.

And then when Jesus returns, there are the angels to gather the elect, the Bible says, from the four corners of the earth, and to judge those who do not obey and believe the Gospel. And why all this happiness over a sinner that converts? Remember, we're talking about beings who derive no personal benefit at all from the plan of redemption.

And yet there they are, they are singing and they are giving praise to God because of God's redeeming of sinners. Why? First of all, obviously, they are beings totally free of envy. Not a single envious thought. They rejoice over our exaltation as if it were their exaltation. That's why there's a cosmic celebration in heaven every time a sinner repents and the angels rejoice.

Why? It's because the angels understand in ways that we do not, the staggering cost of our redemption. They are amazed at the humiliation of God at the incarnation. They are no doubt grieved at the pride of man.

And when they see how far Jesus came from His glory in ways that they understand that we don't, and then they see Him lying there in a manger, and then they are there at the crucifixion and all of the ways in which Jesus Christ was misused and abused and treated unjustly, when they see all that God went through to redeem sinners, they rejoice and they say, God, how could You show that much grace? What a beautiful God we have that we serve.

And now I want you to visualize that the curtain that divides us from heaven has been opened, has been split in two. Eternity is beginning. You and I have died. We have redeemed bodies. We understand better now than we ever have what redemption is all about.

And we open that curtain, and what do we see? This is what God's word says: and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders. And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and glory and honor and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying, blessing, glory and honor and power be unto Him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever. They're still singing praise to God over our salvation.

And they're grieved over how casually we take what cost God so much. Now, there's no doubt that we're going to join the angels. People say, do angels sing? I believe definitely they do. And if they only chant, then they chant a song.

Of course, music is the universal language. Yes, angels sing. And we're going to join them in song. But maybe there's going to be a time where the angels say, hey, let us be quiet for a while and let us listen to the redeemed who know Jesus as their Savior, who know the benefits of what God did for them, who've actually have it applied to them. Let's listen to the redeemed sing.

And so like the words of the hymn writer put it, I'm sure it'll be true that at that point they will just fold their wings because they do not know, at least not by experience they do not know, the joy that our salvation brings. Would you join me in prayer?

Our Father, we thank You today for angels. We thank You that You created them for us, but also for Your glory, of course. Thank You that You use them according to Your good pleasure. Thank You for all the times we have been preserved from harm because of angels that we don't know about that someday will be explained to us.

Thank You, Father, that they are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. And we ask, Father, that in Your grace and in Your love, You might make us even as they are, giving praise to You because of the cost of our redemption.

And thank You that someday we will sing with them, but someday we may also sing alone as redeemed sinners. And at that point, they will have to be silent, though they rejoice with us as if our exaltation were theirs. Teach us from them, we ask, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Dave McAllister: I don't know about you, my friend, but I am deeply encouraged to know what lies on the other side for those who have trusted Christ as Savior. Very quickly, I'm holding in my hands a letter that we received from someone who said that the sermon I heard today was exactly what I needed to recognize that I had unconfessed past sin in my life that kept me in turmoil.

This is a person who is quitting drinking, but nonetheless, still reacting to the past, still being plagued by all kinds of thoughts. This person continues, this morning in the way to work, I talked out loud to God about every past sin that has plagued my mind at night or unwelcome thoughts.

Now here's what I want to emphasize: the reason that we receive reports like this is because of you. This ministry of Running to Win is not the ministry of a man, of a church, or an organization. It is your ministry. You are our partners.

Very quickly, would you consider becoming what we call an endurance partner? Here's what you do, and I want you to make sure that you follow through with this and get some info. You can go to rtwoffer.com. That's rtwoffer.com, and when you're there, you click on the endurance partner button, or you can call us at 1-888-218-9337.

Of course, the amount that you contribute is entirely at your discretion, but at the same time, it helps us even as we plan our budget. Investigate it. Once again, here's the contact info: go to rtwoffer.com, click on the endurance partner button, or call us at 1-888-218-9337.

It's time again for you to ask Pastor Lutzer a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Today's question deals with what should happen after a Christian dies. A listener named Steve emailed the following: as Christians, can our dead bodies be cremated? Are there any biblical passages about this?

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer: Well, Steve, you've asked a very interesting and important question, and it's a question that I approach with an awful lot of caution because I do know Christians who have been cremated. And sometimes that has surprised me, but there are those, you know, who ask for cremation, and of course, in our society, a greater number of people are being cremated.

And there may be times when cremation is good. Certainly, this was true during the time of the plagues when disease was spread, and then you have also times when people have no choice. We think of those who died at 9/11 and those who were cremated alive, so to speak.

But if you have a choice, may I say to you, Steve, I believe that as a Christian you should choose burial. Let me give you a couple of reasons. First of all, because the early Christians followed the example of Jesus and the apostles. They were all buried. Jesus was buried, of course, and the apostles were too, and in those early centuries, graves were important, and I still think that they are important.

But also, the Christians believed that burial was a better way to express the sanctity of the body. Because, you see, our bodies are created by God. When we bury them, we are like the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, we are putting them as a seed into the ground.

And just as an acorn eventually becomes an oak, in the very same way that the seed we plant eventually is going to produce the body. Because God is going to raise the body, He's going to change its molecular structure, of course, and create something brand new, but with pre-existing materials. You think, for example, of Jesus who still had the scars in His hand and in His side.

The bottom line is this: I don't think that cremation is a sin because the Bible does not specifically warn against it. But it is interesting that other cultures, particularly in the East, they believe in cremation because in their mind, this means that we go back to the original one. The body is to be dispersed in nature. Christians have always said that because of the importance of the body and because of the resurrection, burial is to be preferred.

Dave McAllister: Some wise counsel from Dr. Erwin Lutzer. Thank you, Pastor Lutzer. If you'd like to hear your question answered, go to our website at rtwoffer.com and click on Ask Pastor Lutzer, or call us at 1-888-218-9337. That's 1-888-218-9337.

You can write to us at Running to Win, 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60614.

Guest (Male): If the devil wore a red suit with horns and a pitchfork, we'd laugh. Satan wants you to think he doesn't exist. The Bible says though that he walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The real devil is an angel of light. Even Christians can be deceived and find themselves giving in to temptation from the enemy of our souls.

Next time on Running to Win, another chapter in the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Plan to tune in as we expose the devil we abhor. Running to Win is all about helping you understand God's roadmap for your race of life. Thanks for listening. For Pastor Erwin Lutzer, this is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.