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God Sends His Angels to Watch Over and Guide Us
Catholic Key ^ | September 29, 2007 | Bishop Robert W. Finn

Posted on 09/29/2007 3:35:01 PM PDT by NYer

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To: OpusatFR

I’ve posted losts and lots of it, thanks to the HDSG. I’ve never run into you disputing it


81 posted on 09/30/2007 2:56:54 PM PDT by 1000 silverlings (Quote of the day: You’ve lost me completely with that last ‘obtusity’.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
Where in Scripture does it say we are to love anyone but God for all eternity? Where does it say in Scripture we are to praise and glorify anyone but the Triune God of all creation? You must have missed this part in my earlier post: The doctrine of angels is part of the Church's tradition.

Tradition in this case seems to equal sentimentalism. Maybe if I wish it enough, and repeat it enough, it will become true.

82 posted on 09/30/2007 3:39:25 PM PDT by suzyjaruki (Why?)
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To: P.O.E.
Thank You!

These are truly special prayers to guide us through the day; a constant reminder that our Lord has sent His angels to minister to us in our need.

83 posted on 09/30/2007 4:44:32 PM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Good post, I concur. Salvation is all the work of God. His name itself testifies to this. His name isn’t, “God saves, with a little help from his cooperational created friends’”.


84 posted on 09/30/2007 4:52:44 PM PDT by Cvengr (The violence of evil is met with the violence of righteousness, justice, love and grace.)
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To: 1000 silverlings

Are you speaking in some code? What are you talking about and why are you addressing me?


85 posted on 09/30/2007 4:56:41 PM PDT by OpusatFR
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To: suzyjaruki

Matthew 18:10 states, “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” In the context, “these little ones” could either apply to those who believe in Him (v. 6) or it could refer to the little children (vv. 3-5). This is the key passage when the discussion of guardian angels comes up. There is no doubt that good angels help protect (Daniel 6:20-23; 2 Kings 6:13-17), reveal information (Acts 7:52-53; Luke 1:11-20), guide (Matthew 1:20-21; Acts 8:26), provide for (Genesis 21-17-20; 1 Kings 19:5-7), and minister to believers in general (Hebrews 1:14). There are so many more instances of these in Scripture.

The question that is difficult to answer is whether each person or each believer has an angel assigned to him/her. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel had the archangel (Michael) assigned to it (Daniel 10:21; 12:1), but you do not have anywhere in Scripture where it states that an angel was “assigned” to an individual (they were sometimes sent to individuals on different instances but no mention of “permanent” assignment is given). One commentator states that the Jews had fully developed the belief in guardian angels during the time between the Old and New Testament periods. Some early church fathers believed that each person had not only a good angel assigned to him/her but also a demon as well (I am not sure who they believed assigned the demon, whether Satan or God). But at any rate, the belief in guardian angels has been around for a long time.

If one is to understand from the Matthew 18:10 passage that guardian angels are referred to, it would seem that these angels are not in an active duty, but rather “always see the face of” the Father in heaven. The active duty or oversight seems then to come more from God than the angels. In our society today, it is “in” to believe in angels. We have movies that focus on angels; we have series on TV which portray angels as being assigned to help. Scripture makes it clear that although angels possess superhuman power and knowledge, they are created beings just as we are and are “nothing” in comparison with God. As such, they are not to be worshipped (Exodus 20:1-6; Colossians 2:18). Rather, worship is to be reserved for the Trinity alone. Unfortunately, while the shows about angels give lip service to God, the Son of God is rarely mentioned (if at all). And God says, in John 5:23 that if one does not honor the Son, he does not honor the Father who sent Him.

It cannot be emphatically answered from Scripture whether each believer has a guardian angel assigned to him/her. But as stated earlier, God does use them in ministering to us. I believe that it is scriptural to say that He uses them like He uses us, i.e. He in no way needs us or them to accomplish His purposes, but chooses to use us nonetheless (Job 4:18; Job 15:15). And in the end, whether we have an angel assigned to protect us or not, we have a greater assurance that God gives: that if we are His children through faith in Christ, He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28-30), and that Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). If we have an omniscient, omnipotent, all-loving God with us, what does it really matter whether there is a finite angel along side of us or not?

Recommended Resource: What the Bible says about Angels by David Jeremiah.


86 posted on 09/30/2007 6:09:23 PM PDT by Athena1
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To: 1000 silverlings; NYer
Matthew 18:10 states, “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” In the context, “these little ones” could either apply to those who believe in Him (v. 6) or it could refer to the little children (vv. 3-5). This is the key passage when the discussion of guardian angels comes up. There is no doubt that good angels help protect (Daniel 6:20-23; 2 Kings 6:13-17), reveal information (Acts 7:52-53; Luke 1:11-20), guide (Matthew 1:20-21; Acts 8:26), provide for (Genesis 21-17-20; 1 Kings 19:5-7), and minister to believers in general (Hebrews 1:14). There are so many more instances of these in Scripture.

The question that is difficult to answer is whether each person or each believer has an angel assigned to him/her. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel had the archangel (Michael) assigned to it (Daniel 10:21; 12:1), but you do not have anywhere in Scripture where it states that an angel was “assigned” to an individual (they were sometimes sent to individuals on different instances but no mention of “permanent” assignment is given). One commentator states that the Jews had fully developed the belief in guardian angels during the time between the Old and New Testament periods. Some early church fathers believed that each person had not only a good angel assigned to him/her but also a demon as well (I am not sure who they believed assigned the demon, whether Satan or God). But at any rate, the belief in guardian angels has been around for a long time.

If one is to understand from the Matthew 18:10 passage that guardian angels are referred to, it would seem that these angels are not in an active duty, but rather “always see the face of” the Father in heaven. The active duty or oversight seems then to come more from God than the angels. In our society today, it is “in” to believe in angels. We have movies that focus on angels; we have series on TV which portray angels as being assigned to help. Scripture makes it clear that although angels possess superhuman power and knowledge, they are created beings just as we are and are “nothing” in comparison with God. As such, they are not to be worshipped (Exodus 20:1-6; Colossians 2:18). Rather, worship is to be reserved for the Trinity alone. Unfortunately, while the shows about angels give lip service to God, the Son of God is rarely mentioned (if at all). And God says, in John 5:23 that if one does not honor the Son, he does not honor the Father who sent Him.

It cannot be emphatically answered from Scripture whether each believer has a guardian angel assigned to him/her. But as stated earlier, God does use them in ministering to us. I believe that it is scriptural to say that He uses them like He uses us, i.e. He in no way needs us or them to accomplish His purposes, but chooses to use us nonetheless (Job 4:18; Job 15:15). And in the end, whether we have an angel assigned to protect us or not, we have a greater assurance that God gives: that if we are His children through faith in Christ, He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28-30), and that Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). If we have an omniscient, omnipotent, all-loving God with us, what does it really matter whether there is a finite angel along side of us or not?

Recommended Resource: What the Bible says about Angels by David Jeremiah.

87 posted on 09/30/2007 6:09:27 PM PDT by Athena1
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To: Campion

I am pretty certain that the point in question is whether or not we have individule ‘personal’ guardian angels. i.e. hovering over me from birth to the grave. No where in scripture can I find a passage that makes this claim.

The good Dr. makes the point that Christ is sufficient for salvation. The Holy Spirit guides and convicts all to the glory of the father, we do not have ‘guiding or guardian angels’. God’s angels do His bidding not ours.


88 posted on 09/30/2007 6:09:31 PM PDT by Athena1
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To: OpusatFR

?????


89 posted on 10/01/2007 5:08:37 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy (Hillary '08...Her PHONINESS is REAL!!!)
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