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).