THE KINGLY OFFICE OF CHRIST

 

By Gary Ray Branscome

 

The Bible not only testifies to Christ’s kingly office (His Lordship) by telling us that He is King, but by telling us that God has given Him dominion over all of creation. For example: when the Bible says, “Jesus came to them, and said, All power is given to me in heaven and in earth,” we need to realize that as God that power was always His (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, those words are telling us that because He is both God and man, His human nature shares that power. The words, “Our Lord Jesus Christ is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and Lord of lords,” tell us that He is the King of Kings (1Timothy 6:14-15). Ephesians 1:20-23 tells us that God set Christ, “At His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under His feet”. The words, “All things have been given to me by my Father,” also tell us that “all things” are under Christ’s authority (Matthew 11:27). The words, “The LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask me, and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession,” again testify to Christ’s dominion (Psalm 2:7-8). As do the words, “You made Him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under His feet” (Psalm 8:6). “For God has put everything under His feet. But when He says that everything has been put under Him, it is evident that this does not include the one who put all things under Him” (1Corinthians 15:27). [See Dan. 7:13-14, Psalm 110:2, Phil. 2:9-11.]

 

Although the words, “God has put everything under His feet,” tell us that Christ has one universal kingdom, theologians often speak of His threefold kingdom, the kingdom of power, the kingdom of grace, and the kingdom of glory (1Cor. 15:27). That is not because there are actually three different kingdoms, but because in governing He makes a distinction between the saved, the lost and those with Him in heaven. The words, “The Lamb will conquer them: because He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those who are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful,” make a distinction between the lost [whom He will “conquer”], and the saved [who are with Him] (Revelation 17:14).

Strictly speaking, because God has put everything under Christ’s feet, all things are a part of Christ’s kingdom of power. However, we speak of the lost (including the fallen angels) as being under Christ’s kingdom of power because they are not included in His kingdom of grace. As it is written, “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1Corinthians 6:9). In contrast, the words, “He has rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of His dear Son,” speak of the kingdom of grace, which excludes unbelievers (Colossians 1:13). And, the words, “The Lord will rescue me [Paul] from every evil plot, and will save me for His heavenly kingdom,” speak of the kingdom of glory, of which Paul was not yet a part (2Timothy 4:18).

 

The words, “Jesus said to him, Truly, truly, I tell you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” // “For whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith,” tell us that we can only enter the kingdom of God through faith (John 3:3, 1John 5:4). And, since the kingdom of grace excludes unbelievers, the kingdom spoken of in these passages is the kingdom of grace. Moreover, the words, “The kingdom of God is within you,” apply to all who trust in Christ (Luke 17:21). For, “Scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise might be given to those who believe, through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 3:22).

          Furthermore, because we enter Christ’s kingdom of grace through faith in Him, every passage of Scripture that assures us of eternal life through faith in Christ is telling us that Christ’s kingdom of glory is an extension of His kingdom of grace (or vise versa). Passages like, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” and, “I was shown mercy as an example for those who are going to trust in Him for everlasting life” (John 3:14-15 and 1Timothy 1:16). Or the words, “We believe that we will be saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:11). Or, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).  While the words, “Father, I also want those, whom you have given me, to be with me where I am; and to see my glory, the glory that you have given me: because you loved me before the creation of the world,” tell us that all who trust in Christ will experience the glory of heaven (John 17:24).

The words, “If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him,” tell us that Christ is at work in all who trust in Him (John 14:23). In contrast, the words, “You formerly walked according to the way of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience,” tell us that Satan is at work in all who do not trust in Christ (Ephesians 2:2). And, the words, “We are now God’s children, but what we are going to be like has not yet been revealed: however we know that, when He appears, we will be like Him; for we will see Him as He is,” tell us that what God has planned for those who trust in Him is more than we can even imagine  (1John 3:2). “As it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9).

 

Because all power “In heaven and in earth” has been given to Christ, we know that He is in control (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, even though it often looks to us like Satan is in control, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, knowing that, “All things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). That is why it is written, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God: and those that exist are established by God” (Romans 13:1). Now, of course, if political rulers begin to persecute Christians the words, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” apply (Acts 5:29). However, the words, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world,” tell us that we should not take up arms against the government (2Corinthians 10:4). If two governments are fighting, that is a different matter, and sometimes Christians are called upon to bear arms. But, we should not attempt to spread the Gospel by violence. On the other hand, because Christ is in control, we can expect political rulers to protect the church, make the streets safe, and punish crime so that we are free to spread the Gospel while living, “A quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1Timothy 2:2). As it is written, “Rulers are not a terror to those who do right, but to those who do evil” and are “Sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those who do right” (Romans 13:3, 1Peter 2:14). Moreover, the words, That is the foundation upon which I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it,” tell us that Christ’s church will prevail (Matthew 16:18). And the words, “There is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved,” tell us that there is no salvation apart from faith in Christ’s finished work, and His grace will never be withdrawn from the earth (Acts 4:12).