새벽이슬교회, 히브리서 강해 10 (히 1:7), 윤해규 목사, 2026.08.09

Today, in the tenth session of our exposition on Hebrews, I will share a message titled "We Must Be Sufficient in Jesus Christ" through the 7th verse of chapter 1. Let us together greatly change the grace given to us in this tenth session. Last time, we examined the majestic proclamation that "all the angels of God should worship Jesus Christ" through verse 6. Continuing from this proclamation, today’s text verse 7 quotes Psalm 104:4 to clearly explain the nature and limitations of angels.

The reason the author of Hebrews compares angels to Jesus is not to elevate angels in any way. It is solely to help us see the superiority of Jesus Christ. In 1st century Judaism, there was a strong interest and tradition of worshiping angels. The Jews believed that the Law was delivered through angels. In the community literature, angels were exalted as divine beings who presided over worship in the heavenly sanctuary. As the Apostle Paul warned in Colossians 2:18, some of the early church members actually fell into the worship of angels. For Jewish Christians whose faith in Jesus Christ was shaken amidst the persecutions and trials of Rome, angels were not abstract beings far removed from them. When they felt that Jesus alone was insufficient, angels became an attractive temptation, drawing their hearts as more certain mediators that appeared powerful and splendid before their eyes.

The reason Jews were attracted to and worshiped angels was due to the visions, dazzling miracles, and supernatural powers of angels. Therefore, the author of Hebrews corrects the position of angels by quoting Psalm 104:4. Let us look at the text of verse 7 together: "Of the angels, He says, 'He makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.'" The fact that God has made angels spirits means they are beings that move quickly and are modified according to God's will without independent authority. Furthermore, by calling angels ministers, or messengers, He states that they are made a flame of fire. This indicates that they are merely powerful tools for judgment and protection.

Even if angels move like invisible winds transcending time and space, and exhibit powerful abilities like flames that can consume everything, the text clearly defines the limitations of angels with the word "He makes." No matter how great they may seem, like wind or fire, they are not self-existing gods but rather tools created and used by God, mere messengers or servants. When God uses the wind, it must become wind, and when He uses fire, it must burn as fire, indicating that they are thoroughly servants executing the will of their Master.

Dear saints, what message does verse 7 convey to us today? Why is this message important that we are discussing it? Even if today’s believers do not return to the old practice of angel worship, there is a deeply rooted instinct in the human heart to establish some other mediator between themselves and God, as it feels burdensome to approach the holy God directly. The Reformer John Calvin described the human heart as a factory of idols in his work Institutes of the Christian Religion. Idolatry is not merely a problem of particularly wicked people but a universal tendency rooted in fallen human nature itself.

What is even more frightening is that this tendency does not manifest itself in an overt rejection of God. Just as Israel made a golden calf and worshiped it in the name of the Lord, idolatry often appears as an attempt to create a pathway to God according to our own thoughts. Yet, the individual is under the illusion that they are serving God. Like the Israelites, this tendency manifests in various forms throughout the ages. In the Old Testament, it appeared as visible images and foreign gods; in medieval church history, it appeared as the veneration of saints and relics; and in our present age, it appears in much more sophisticated forms. The root of all these is always the same: a strict disbelief that Jesus Christ alone is sufficient.

The idols created by the human heart operate in two main ways. This is why Reformed faith emphasizes Christ alone outwardly. Because the human heart instinctively seeks to add mediators, the church must continually proclaim that Jesus Christ alone is sufficient. Only Jesus Christ is the unique pathway to salvation and mediation. Therefore, in 1 Timothy 2:5, it states, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

But how can we know that Jesus Christ is the only mediator? We can only know this through the testimony of Scripture. Thus, the Reformers held firmly to both Jesus Christ and Scripture alone. Scripture alone maintains the unique final authority of revelation. The principle is that no new revelation, tradition, or mystical experience can hold equal authority to it. That is Scripture alone. These two principles are crucial because if they collapse, people will inevitably fill that void with other mediators and authorities. They will feel that Jesus Christ is insufficient. Therefore, they will seek to fill that space with something else, another mediator or authority.

Consider a house. If the central beam that supports the house is removed, the house cannot remain safely empty. To avoid collapsing, temporary pillars will be erected here and there. However, these temporary pillars are not as sturdy as the central beam, so eventually, over time, they will creak, shake, and the house will collapse. Our faith is no different. If the standard of the Word is shaken, we will not remain in an empty state of believing nothing. That is not the case. Rather, to fill that void, we will pull in makeshift standards from various places. That is idolatry. But what is it? It is not an idol that does not believe in God, but rather a desire to replace God with something else while still claiming to believe in Him.

Think about it. In the face of difficult decisions, if a believer's habit of approaching God through the Word and prayer is shaken, that person will turn to a famous person's book that says, "This person said this," or a well-known speaker on YouTube who gives advice, or a close friend who says, "This is what I heard." Nowadays, they might even consult AI. This person is not someone without faith. They still attend church and believe in Jesus. However, at crucial moments, what truly guides their heart is not a solid center but various voices that lead them in different directions. Why? Because there is no Word. Because there is no central beam supporting their life. When that is missing, they will wander around trying to establish their life from various places.

This is not a story about others. When difficulties arise, they consider Jesus Christ insufficient. They end up worshiping angels. It may seem like this is not our story. Today, there is a subtle desire in our hearts to worship another angel. Why can’t we remain in a neutral state of believing nothing when we lose a central focus? It is because humans are created to be unable to live without trusting something. Therefore, our hearts cannot endure a vacuum. They must fill that space with something. Thus, those who abandon the true center do not become free but rather live as slaves to many more uncertain standards. It is like a ship that loses a solid North Star and wanders aimlessly among dozens of twinkling stars.

Thus, in 2 Timothy 4:3, it says, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine." It does not say they will have one teacher, but rather many teachers. This verse accurately points out this issue. People do not wander without any teachers; instead, they have many teachers simultaneously and move around from one to another. Since there is only one truth, following multiple standards at the same time ultimately leads to a faith that only hears what they want to hear. There is no standard. They do not know what the standard is. What is it? If it sounds good to my ears, it becomes the standard. Therefore, Psalm 119:105 states, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Amen. This verse indicates that a faith that does not hold onto the Word will ultimately become a life like a house without a central beam. A lamp does not need to be many; one solid lamp can safely guide us even on a dark path. What we need is not to gather more standards. It is not about collecting many beams to support the house of life. The one solid beam already given, the one certain lamp, the Word of God, is sufficient. We must return to that.

Why do churchgoers feel that Jesus Christ is not enough and look for other things? It is because they do not listen to the Word. They attend church but do not listen to the Word. They may hear the Word in church, but they do not accept it as truth. Therefore, they wonder if there is truth elsewhere and ask various questions. In today's AI age, do we not ask more than ever? We do not just ask one place; we ask everywhere. The Word of God is not becoming the truth in this age. It is a frightening time. The principle of maintaining the issues of "only Jesus Christ" and "only Scripture" in two different realms. Only Jesus Christ is the answer to the question of who can bring me to God. The answer is only Jesus Christ. Only Scripture is the answer to the question of how I can know what to believe and follow regarding God and Jesus Christ. The answer is only Scripture. In other words, one pertains to the way forward, and the other pertains to how to know that way.

What if there is only Jesus Christ and no Scripture? How can we confess that only Jesus Christ is our saving mediator without following up with the question of where we know that fact? We have never seen Jesus Christ directly. We know that Jesus Christ is our only mediator solely through the testimony of the revealed Scripture. However, if any other authority, such as tradition, personal mystical experiences, or revelations from specific leaders, gains equal or greater authority than Scripture, then that other authority can easily say that we need another mediator besides Jesus Christ. Historically, this has indeed happened. In the medieval church, as tradition and ecclesiastical authority were emphasized alongside Scripture, the mediators through saints and Mary, as well as the sacrament of confession through priests, naturally took their place alongside Jesus Christ. Why did this happen? Because there was no Scripture. Because they could not see Scripture. In other words, if only Scripture collapses, then only Jesus Christ will also collapse. The statement "I can believe in Jesus well without reading the Bible" is a deception of the devil. How can one believe well without knowing? That is impossible. If only Scripture collapses, then only Jesus will also collapse. Therefore, it is not only Scripture. There is something else.

Thus, the Reformers cried out "only." "All." Only Jesus, only Scripture. Nothing above that can serve as a standard for knowing the truth of our salvation. Amen. The reason that if only Scripture collapses, only Jesus Christ will also collapse is that the fact that Jesus Christ is the only mediator is rooted in the authoritative testimony of Scripture. Scripture is the map that shows the way. Jesus Christ is the way itself. Scripture is the map that shows the way. But who is the way itself? It is Jesus Christ. This cannot be established if either one is missing. The moment another authority intervenes, that other authority opens the door to establish other mediators alongside Jesus Christ.

During the time of the Reformation, the Roman Catholic Church taught that not only Scripture but also the traditions of the church held equal authority. The practices that developed under this traditional authority include praying to Mary and the saints and approaching God through them. Additionally, the sacrament of confession, which states that one cannot receive forgiveness without a priest, and the supplementary devices for salvation through purgatory interviews, all naturally grew as fruits of the principle that only Scripture was blurred. It was taught that not only Scripture but also the church held equal authority. Therefore, when the church says something, it is equivalent to the authority of Scripture. Thus, even if there is no such statement in Scripture, if the church says so, it can hold that authority. What does this mean? It means it is not only Scripture. There is something else.

So, what did the Reformers emphasize? They emphasized "only." They emphasized "all." Only Jesus, only Scripture. Nothing above that can serve as a standard for knowing the truth of our salvation. Amen. If only Scripture collapses, then only Jesus Christ will also collapse because the fact that Jesus Christ is the only mediator is rooted in the authoritative testimony of Scripture. Scripture is the map that shows the way. Jesus Christ is the way itself. Therefore, if one is missing, the other cannot stand. The moment another authority intervenes, that other authority opens the door to establish other mediators alongside Jesus Christ.

The Reformers fought against the idea that the church held equal authority to Scripture. They fought against the veneration of saints and relics, and against the idea that the traditions of the entire church held equal or greater authority than Scripture. This is why the Reformation took place. The catchphrase was "Only Scripture, Only Jesus Christ." Amen. Only by returning to the authority of Scripture can the truth that Jesus Christ is sufficient be fully restored.

The devil says it is okay to come to church. He says it is okay to worship. But he says do not believe the Word. He says to hold onto something else at the center of your life. The devil is not afraid of that. "Oh, you go to church. I am so worried." No, he is not. He is afraid of whether Jesus is the only one. He is afraid of whether Scripture is the only authority. Dear beloved saints, may you be blessed to become saints who can possess the true faith that the devil fears.

Hebrews 1 precisely presents the answer to this issue. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. After the Son, there is no more revelation or mediator needed. However, throughout the 2,000 years of Christian history, there are still claims that revelation is needed after the Son. Therefore, many people claim to receive direct revelations. Is that really revelation? They are establishing another mediator. Only Jesus Christ tells us what we should believe, that He is the only mediator, and only Scripture tells us how and where we can confirm that. These two pillars are like two pillars that uphold the same truth; if one collapses, the other will eventually collapse as well. Therefore, the Reformers always held onto both. Today, we, who live with a Reformed faith, must also hold onto both "Only Jesus" and "Only Scripture."

Today, there is a tendency in the church to absolutize gifts and experiences. This is also dangerous. Reformed theology does not deny the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, at the same time, it warns against experiences themselves surpassing or replacing the authority of the Word. Nothing can be placed above the authority of the Word. Even if I have had some experience, that experience must not be elevated above the authority of the Word. However, we often see how many times our experiences are placed above the authority of the Word. When a personal conviction that God has spoken to me becomes the ultimate standard that transcends the interpretation of Scripture and the church, this is dangerously shaking the principles of the Holy Spirit. The true work of the Holy Spirit will always exalt Jesus Christ and lead us in alignment with Scripture.

However, dear friends, it does not stop there. Other mediators do not only come in religious forms. Material wealth, honor, success, and status can also become idols that arise from the same root. Therefore, in Colossians 3:5, it says, "Covetousness is idolatry." It does not say it may become idolatry; it states that it is idolatry. It equates covetousness with idolatry. Therefore, in Ezekiel 14:3, God tells the elders of Israel, "Set up your idols in your hearts." This indicates that idols are not merely physical forms but are ultimately places of trust and affection established in the heart. Where do idols reside? They are set up in the heart. Where does covetousness come from? It comes from the heart. Thus, Pastor Tim Keller accurately pointed out in his book "The God I Never Knew" that the most powerful idols of modern people are not primarily in religious forms but in success, money, power, recognition, stability, and so on.

The reason the Jews were so attracted to worship angels was that they were captivated by the mysterious appearances of angels, which manifested as visions, dazzling miracles, and supernatural phenomena. Their hearts were moved by the supernatural powers of angels, like wind and fire. Thus, in their fascination with the dazzling miracles and supernatural forms before their eyes, they forget about Jesus Christ, who rules the universe at the right hand of the invisible eternal throne. Dear saints, today, we are being spiritually reminded that we are no different. We do not disbelieve in Jesus, but we are captivated by the attractive and splendid things that are visible and tangible before our eyes, living as if we have forgotten Jesus. When we come to worship and hear the name "Jesus," it may resonate in our ears, but in the week of our lives, what truly moves our lives and hearts are the attractive and splendid things that are visible and tangible.

We hold onto the fleeting winds and flames of this world—money, success, recognition, and the influence of people—more than we hold onto the eternal King, Jesus Christ. Is that not true? We do not disbelieve in Jesus. However, the central place of our hearts is often occupied by something far more powerful than the throne of Jesus. The world always makes us envy those who have the dazzling credentials of angels, those who achieve quickly like the wind, and those who are noticed like flames. Even believers are striving to conform to this world. The Bible tells us not to conform to this world, yet we are striving and even praying to conform to it. Therefore, we are trying to raise our children to be noticed by the world, even at the expense of passing on our faith.

We believe that we need this level of material wealth and this level of status, that we need to have this level of appearance to feel truly secure. We believe that we must receive recognition and praise from others to validate our existence. Therefore, we try to fill the throne of our hearts, which should belong to Jesus Christ, with something else. Thus, we are raising our children to occupy that throne with the values of this world. Today, we are also coveting those dazzling credentials and achievements that are like wind and fire. We want to pursue them. This does not mean we should not have them. It means we are placing them above Jesus Christ. We are believing and holding onto them as if they will protect our lives more than believing in and holding onto Jesus Christ.

As mentioned earlier, Calvin stated that the human heart is a factory that constantly produces idols, and the idols produced by the human heart operate in two ways. The first is the idol of mediators. This includes religious mediums that we set up because we fear going directly to God. From the worship of angels and Mary in the past to the veneration of saints, and today, it includes spiritual leaders, fortune-telling, astrology, and so on. Do you not see churchgoers consulting fortune-tellers? There are many. This is not a thing of the past. Why does this happen? Because they feel that Jesus alone is not enough. Therefore, believers in Jesus may openly go to fortune-tellers. I pray that there are none among the members of Dawn Dew Church.

The second is the idol of trust. These are secular objects that take the place of God in our hearts. Money, success, status, the success of children, appearance, recognition, health, and so on. The world always makes us envy those who achieve quickly like the wind and those who are noticed like flames. Therefore, many Christians are striving to raise themselves and their children to accumulate credentials that will make them quickly successful and noticed by the world. These two idols share a common psychological root: the belief that Jesus Christ plus something else is necessary. It is the belief that Jesus alone is not enough. There must be a plus something. This is a strict disbelief that Jesus Christ alone is sufficient and an attempt to fill that space with something else.

The danger of the structure of Jesus Christ plus something else is that it appears on the surface to still have Jesus Christ at the center. People do not say, "I do not believe in Jesus." Instead, they say, "Of course, I believe in Jesus, but I still need this. I still need this much to feel secure." They believe that believing in Jesus alone is insufficient for living their lives. Therefore, the plus something appears in very diverse forms for each person. It appears in life and in salvation.

It is entirely natural to seek the needs we have for our physical existence. This is not to say we should not seek them. However, if the purpose of seeking is built on the belief that Jesus Christ alone is insufficient, then it becomes problematic. It becomes a need for oneself. It becomes the belief that Jesus Christ alone is absolutely insufficient for living on this earth. The plus something appears in very diverse forms according to each person's tendencies. Therefore, when such a person faces difficulties, the first thing they seek to rely on is never Jesus Christ. It is money, people, and connections. They go looking for these things. They seek these things. They feel that Jesus Christ is insufficient. They do not pray to Him. They do not have prayers of supplication to God. They believe that salvation is not sufficient in Jesus Christ alone. Therefore, they think that something must be filled through their own actions. They feel that the alpha in their own thoughts is lacking, so they always lack assurance of salvation. They believe that believing in Jesus Christ alone is not enough. They feel that they need a plus something. However, they feel that this plus something has not yet been filled, which is why they lack assurance of salvation.

The commonality among these individuals is that when this alpha is not filled, the emotion that arises is anxiety. Anxiety. When the true object of trust is shaken, we become anxious. Therefore, mapping out the emotions of anxiety that arise when this is absent is a very honest way to find the true object of our worship. Do you feel anxious when you do not worship? Do you feel anxious when money runs out? Do you feel anxious when money runs out in your life? If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot worship today, do you feel anxious? This is a light diagnosis of what you are relying on. It is not difficult. If Jesus Christ is sufficient, then the loss of other things may cause sadness or discomfort, but it will not become anxiety that shakes the root of your existence. However, if Jesus Christ is insufficient, then when money runs out, you feel anxious. When a difficult diagnosis regarding health comes, you feel anxious. It makes your very existence anxious. This reveals what you have been trusting and holding onto at the center of your life.

When you receive a severe diagnosis at the hospital, it is sad. It hurts your heart. However, it is uncomfortable during your life, but it is not perceived as anxiety that shakes your very existence. You may go bankrupt in business. However, that does not come as anxiety that shakes your existence. It may be sad and uncomfortable, and you may not live in the same house or drive the same car as before, but it is not anxiety that shakes your very existence. Therefore, panic disorders do not arise, and you do not need to take medication or suffer from insomnia or depression. The instinct of anxiety is much more honest than the faith we consciously confess. We often sing with our mouths that Jesus Christ is our everything, yet in moments of crisis, our hearts often run to completely different places. Acknowledging this gap itself is the beginning of repentance. God, I have lived this way. I say I believe in Jesus, but I have not been satisfied with Jesus Christ alone. Therefore, when this is lost, when this is insufficient, I have always been anxious. I have put my life on the line for this, and I have made efforts to worship God for this, while pretending to be zealous. Jesus Christ was not at the center of my life. This is the beginning of repentance.

When the Bible speaks of sin, it does not merely refer to individual wrong actions. It views it as fundamental disbelief in God and self-reliance. The first sin in the Garden of Eden was like this. Is God's Word sufficient? Or do I need to know for myself? When we believe that something other than Jesus Christ will protect us in moments of crisis, when we believe that something other than Jesus Christ will affirm our value and identity, when we rely on something other than Jesus Christ as the ultimate basis for our stability in times of anxiety, we are actually standing before the same question that has continued since the Garden of Eden. The root of this disbelief is essentially the extension of the first sin of humanity that began in the Garden of Eden.

Let us look at Genesis 2:16. I will share Genesis 2:16-17. Here, God clearly tells Adam and Eve that they may eat from any tree in the garden, but they must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is not simply a rule between you and me. It was a promise that God's Word would be sufficient guidance and standard for their lives. However, when the serpent approached, what question did he pose? Look at Genesis 3:1. It says, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" And decisively, he deceives them in Genesis 3:5: "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." The essence of this statement is that God's Word is insufficient. You must know for yourself to be truly complete. So, in Genesis 3:6, when Eve saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. In other words, that fruit appeared to her as something that could fill a perceived deficiency that God's Word could not satisfy—more wisdom, more assurance, and a better understanding of herself. Therefore, it was good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise.

Why do we listen more to the words of the world? It is because they seem to provide more accurate answers than God's Word, and we gain confidence that they will lead our lives down a much more stable path. Therefore, we take that fruit. We listen to that voice. The important point here is that the act of eating the forbidden fruit itself is not the entirety of sin. Before that act occurred, something had already happened in the heart. That is sin. That is the more serious sin. First, it was the belief that God's Word was not sufficient for their lives. Because they believed that God's Word was insufficient, they wanted to listen to the serpent's words. If God's Word is sufficient, would you trust the words of the world, the words of YouTube, or the words of any speaker? No. It is because they believe that God's Word is insufficient.

Secondly, it was the self-assurance that they needed to know for themselves to be safe. They believed that their lives could not be secure with God's Word alone. If they were secure, then they had to take care of their own safety. Therefore, people set up idols. They believe they need money. They believe they need success. They believe they need high status. They believe they need to live well. That is all it is. Thirdly, they sought wisdom, completeness, and stability from something other than God, from the fruit itself. They sought to enjoy and obtain that from the fruit rather than from God's Word. Therefore, they listened to the serpent's words and ate.

So, how did Adam end up? Did Adam end up happy? Did our lives produce the fruit of happiness? Know that God's Word is sufficient as God's Word. Do not place substitute means in its place. The result is that we will see how foolish it is to live that way.

Thus, the root of the first sin was disbelief in God's Word before disobedience to it. Why do we disobey God's Word? It is because of disbelief in that Word that disobedience arises. If the Word is believed, how can disobedience arise? Disobedience is directly linked to disbelief. If I believe that God's Word is sufficient, I will not seek other lamps. If I believe that God's Word is the light to my path, I will not seek other lights. If I believe, why do I need other lamps? Why do I hold onto other things? Why do I listen to other words? Do not forget that disobedience arises from disbelief.

Therefore, as a result of this disbelief, humanity has tried to grasp something other than God to make themselves complete. They try to grasp something other than God and God's Word to make their lives complete. They dream of living a happy life. Having lived that way, do we not know? Is it not time to make a U-turn? Today, we are in the same place. The question from the Garden of Eden is not just Adam's story; it is a question we face every day. Is God's Word sufficient? Or do I need more? This question continues today, albeit in different forms. In the face of important decisions in life, is the Word and prayer sufficient? Or do I need fortune-telling, astrology, or other advice? In the face of anxiety, is being a child of God in Jesus Christ sufficient? Or do I need more achievements and recognition to feel secure? In the face of assurance in faith, is the completed work of Jesus Christ sufficient? Or do I need to do more and prove myself? In all these moments, we find ourselves standing in the same place where Adam and Eve stood in the Garden of Eden. The serpent whispers to Eve, "That is not enough. You need more." That logic whispers the same to our hearts today. The types may differ, but we still want to take the fruit. We want to grasp what appears good, pleasant, and desirable.

When we try to hold onto something other than Jesus Christ as our protector, we must remember that we are standing before the same question that has continued since the Garden of Eden. Is the promise of Jesus Christ sufficient? Or do I need to do more to feel secure? The forms may have changed, but that whisper still resonates in our hearts today. The devil is still whispering to us. God's Word is not sufficient. You must eat this; you must hold onto this to make your life complete. Your life can succeed, and you can be happy. He constantly deceives us. Perhaps we are saying we believe in God while listening to the devil's voice more than we listen to God's Word, just like Adam did. May this time not just be a time of hearing but a time of returning to God, allowing this Word to resonate, pierce, and shake us. I bless you in the name of the Lord.

Let us look at 2 Timothy 3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly